KZB260 Advanced Script Development
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | KZB260 |
|---|---|
| Prerequisite(s): | KPB116 or KTB113 or KWB113 |
| Equivalent(s): | KPB215 |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
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| CSP student contribution | $2,174 |
| Pre-2021 CSP student contribution | $1,020 The pre-2021 commonwealth supported place (CSP) contribution amount only applies to students enrolled in a course prior to 2021. To learn more, visit our Understanding your fees page. |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $4,704 |
| International unit fee | $4,944 |
Unit Outline: Semester 2 2026, Kelvin Grove, Internal
| Unit code: | KZB260 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | KPB116 or KTB113 or KWB113 |
| Equivalent: | KPB215 |
| Coordinator: | Sue Cake | susan.cake@qut.edu.au |
Overview
Narrative drama script development occurs across a range of creative contexts and for a variety of media such as film, television, theatre, streaming services, web series, podcasting, radio drama, animation and story-driven, role-playing games. Often success in one medium can lead to IP being adapted for another. Being able to write for the theatre, the screen or the ear can help build a sustainable writing career. This advanced unit builds skills and knowledge in script development processes to enable you to conceive, develop, write and pitch a compelling short script for a medium of your own choosing.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Apply advanced skills and knowledge of script development practices to the iterative development of creative works for screen, stage or other medium, including protocols for working with Indigenous culture or content.
- Demonstrate ethical and respectful engagement in collaborative contexts to provide and receive informed critique during the iterative development process.
- Evaluate and apply industry relevant tools and practices to communicate and promote your script targeting specific formats, markets and audiences.
Content
This unit focuses on building advanced skills and knowledge of script development processes to enable you to develop emotionally compelling and engaging stories for the screen, stage or other medium for performance.
Topics include:
- Developing character-driven narratives [inclusivity and expanding representation, expanding archetypes, multiple protagonist and ensemble narratives, challenging the hero’s journey transformative arc]
- Collaborative and iterative script development practices [ethical storytelling, including protocols for working with Indigenous people, culture and concepts, writing coverage, dramaturgical approaches to script development]
- Dramatic Structures [one, two, three, four and five act structure, script formats] and challenging notions of a ‘universal’ story form
- Industrial script development perspectives and processes [business of script writing, identifying opportunities, developing pitch documents, pitching]
- Writing dialogue, monologue and subtext.
Learning Approaches
This unit is taught through a combination of lectures and tutorials where students are encouraged to examine and critique examples from a number of theoretical and production perspectives. Students develop an understanding of the collaborative nature of script development processes and how to pitch their stories to an audience.
Please be advised that this unit may include the presentation and scholarly analysis of material and subject matters that may be considered confronting, such as certain representations of race, class, gender and violence. QUT counselling support is available should you feel the need to avail yourself of these services.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
You will receive formative feedback during class exercises and discussions, including collaborative script development practices to conduct peer feedback. You will receive summative feedback on formal assessment tasks.
Assessment
Overview
There are three assessment tasks for this unit that build sequentially towards an industry-ready outcome. The first assessment is a proposal document for a narrative drama script. The second assessment is a pitch deck that includes a short drama script and the third is a group pitch presentation.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Proposal Document
Write a proposal for a short (10 minute) narrative drama for the screen, stage or other medium. The key purpose of this document is to create a burning desire in the reader to read the script you will develop for A2. Create the industry relevant texts for the medium you intend to work in such as logline, synopsis, treatment or outline, character profiles, storyboards, or other relevant documents to communicate your concept.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Script
Build on the concept you developed in A1 and write a 10 page script for stage, screen or other medium.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Verbal Pitch [including refined Pitch Deck]
Building on work created for A1 and A2, work in groups to further develop the concept to create a verbal pitch for your concept for stage, screen or other medium. Your pitch must be accompanied by a pitch deck appropriate to the industry context. [e.g. casting document, storyboards, etc]
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Requirements to Study
Requirements
All students are requested to visit and review the Health and Safety information on the HiQ web pages (CIESJ Tier 1 HSE requirement).
Resources
Refer to the unit’s Canvas site for links to additional readings (via QUT Readings) and learning resources.
Resource Materials
Recommended text(s)
Batty, C., & Taylor, S. (Eds.). (2021). Script development : critical approaches, creative practices, international perspectives. Palgrave Macmillan.
Batty, C., & Taylor, S. (Eds.). (2021). The Palgrave handbook of script development. Springer.
Mamet, David. (1998). "Three Uses of the Knife: On the Nature and Purpose of Drama." Columbia University Press.
Maras, S. (Ed.). (2016). Ethics in Screenwriting : New Perspectives (1st ed. 2016.). Palgrave Macmillan UK. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-54493-3
McCallum, J. (2009). "Belonging: Australian Playwrighting in the Twentieth Century." Currency Press.
Wright, J. (Jean A. (2005). Animation writing and development : from script development to pitch (1st edition). Focal Press, an imprint of Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780080475868
https://classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/poetics.1.1.html
Other
Australian Play Transforms website: which gives you access to almost every published and unpublished play in Australia. This is a subscription made available only to students in particular Units through the library: https://apt.org.au
Risk Assessment Statement
For risks associated with using campus buildings or QUT facilities, refer to the HiQ Health and Safety information.
Where substantial computer-based work is required, particularly in the case of fully online students, you are recommended to take regular rest breaks when engaging in prolonged computer-based work, and ensure that your workstation is set up for optimal comfort to prevent strain or injury.