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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Write scripts for film or television 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
117954  Write scripts for film or television 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Audio-visual Media Production 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 04 - Communication Studies and Language Communication Studies 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 7  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L7  15 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2026-06-30   2029-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
The purpose of the learning is to equip learners with the competencies to write scripts for EITHER film or video. The unit standard will provide the learners with competencies to function in the industry due to the demand for this competency. Qualified learners will be able to increase their earning capacity, thereby contributing towards the upliftment of their communities.

Credited learners are capable of:
  • Selecting a story genre and assessing the audience.
  • Shaping the story to achieve a first draft.
  • Writing a script for audio-visual medium.
  • Pitching a story to a producer.
  • Operating as a scriptwriter in the industry. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    The credits and level assigned to this unit standard is based on the assumption that learners have already attained the following competency:
  • Short story script writing for an audio-visual medium. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    Audio-visual media pertains primarily to film and video. Further aspects relating to the range of this Unit Standard are reflected in the Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria of the Unit Standard. 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Select a story genre and assess audience for a script. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    A story that the writer wants to tell is identified in terms of genre. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The structure of the story is planned and is accordance with the classic shape. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The roles of the characters are clearly defined in terms of central character, protagonist and antagonist. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The viability of the story in terms of audience and funder appeal is accurately assessed. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Shape the story to achieve a first draft. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The writing style is appropriate to the genre of the story. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Scenes are accurately identified from a treatment. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Scenes are grouped in a manner appropriate to the genre. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    A step outline is accurately compiled. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Script lay out is compiled and is appropriate for the production and for dialogue. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Write a script for audio-visual medium. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Scripts are appropriate for the selected form. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Scripts meet the specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Specified industry standards are adhered to. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Tools and techniques are relevant for the required product. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Draft is developed into a final script in a way that optimises final production. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Strengths and weakness of written scripts are optimally accounted for. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
    Own strengths and weakness as a scriptwriter are optimally harnessed. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 8 
    Scripts are assessed for the suitability for the selected medium. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Review/proofread script for audio-visual medium. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Script is reviewed for delivery of intended message. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Shortcomings of the script are identified and appropriate action taken. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Post-production and learning points are documented. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Own development of a scriptwriter is reflected on and appropriate action taken to continually progress. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • Assessment of learner achievements takes place at providers accredited by a relevant ETQA (RSA, 1998b) for the provision of programs that result in the outcomes specified for this unit standard.
  • Anyone assessing a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with a relevant ETQA.
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this unit standard must be accredited as a provider with a relevant ETQA.
  • The relevant ETQA according to the moderation guidelines and the agreed ETQA procedures will oversee moderation of assessment and is responsible for moderation of learner achievements of learners who meet the requirements of this unit standard. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    Credited learners understand and can explain:
  • Story genres.
  • Audience assessment.
  • Structure of stories.
  • Characters and their roles.
  • Characteristics of visual media.
  • Function of dialogue.
  • Language conventions, linguistics, and vocabulary.
  • Knowledge of the industry. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems where responses to problems show that such critical and creative thinking has been used to make responsible decisions when writing a script for an audio-visual medium. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others as a member of a team, group, organisation or community when assessing the viability of the story in terms of audience and funder appeal. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage oneself and one's activities responsibly and effectively when selecting a story genre and assessing audience. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information when shaping the story to achieve a first draft. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively using visual, mathematic and/or language skills in the modes of oral and/or written presentation when documenting post-production and learning points. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems by recognising that problem-solving contexts do not exist in isolation when operating as a scriptwriter in the industry. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    Assessors should keep the following principles in mind when designing and conducting assessments against this unit standard:
  • Focus the assessment activities on gathering evidence in terms of the main outcome expressed in the title to ensure assessment is integrated rather than fragmented. Remember we want to declare the person competent in terms of the title. Where assessment at title level is unmanageable, focus assessment around each specific outcome, or groups of specific outcomes.
  • Make sure evidence is gathered across the entire range, wherever it applies. Assessment activities should be as close to the real performance as possible, and where simulations or role-plays are used, there should be supporting evidence to show the learner is able to perform in the real situation.
  • Do not focus the assessment activities on each assessment criterion. Rather make sure the assessment activities focus on outcomes and are sufficient to enable evidence to be gathered around all the assessment criteria.
  • The assessment criteria provide the specifications against which assessment judgements should be made. In most cases, knowledge can be inferred from the quality of the performances, but in other cases, knowledge and understanding will have to be tested through questioning techniques. Where this is required, there will be assessment criteria to specify the standard required.
  • The task of the assessor is to gather sufficient evidence, of the prescribed type and quality, as specified in this unit standard, that the learner can achieve the outcomes again and again and again. This means assessors will have to judge how many repeat performances are required before they believe the performance is reproducible.
  • All assessments should be conducted in line with the following well documented principles of assessment: appropriateness, fairness, manageability, integration into work or learning, validity, direct, authentic, sufficient, systematic, open and consistent. 
    		•

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    N/A 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  49317   National Certificate: Scriptwriting  Level 7  Level N/A: Pre-2009 was L7  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  MICTS 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
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    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.