Last updated on February 16th, 2022 at 01:59 pm

The following titles exist within the group (not technically a department) Story & Script.

• Writer
• Screenwriter
• Script Editor
• Story Editor
• Storyboards and Pre-visualisation
• Researchers

In Australian A-Z Budget — Feature Films these roles are in section A.1 Story & Script.

Story & Script are Above-The-Line. The-Line is said to differentiate the team responsible for the creative control of a motion picture from the technicians and crafts-people who make the film. More accurately Above-The-Line personnel are attached during the Development phase of a production while Below-The-Line crew are hired once the financing is in place and Preproduction phase begins. Costume, Art and Makeup departments are creative, but they still fall Below-The-Line.

Story & Script are considered Labour by unions such as MEAA and the AWG so their minimum rates of pay are defined in the standard industrial agreements for each production sector.

Writer’s remuneration on Australian feature films is often equal with the Director and Producer, due to most favoured nation clauses supported by funding bodies, unions, agents and managers.

Political Aside: The Australian Writers’ Guild “is the professional association representing writers for stage, screen, radio and online”. They publish minimum rates of pay and are affiliated with the Australian Council of Trade Unions, but only share rates with their members and members of Screen Producers Australia. Compare the approach by the Writers Guild of America West or The Writers Guild of America, East, who publish their minimums and have enforceable collective bargaining agreements with employers in their industries.

Journalists are represented by the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA Media section). When AWG claims to represent “writers for stage, screen, radio and online”, they does not cover commentary, op-ed, comedy and many other online and screen writers.

• Story & Script
• Producers
• Directors
• Production Management
• Production Accountancy
• Assistant Directors & Script Supervision
• Camera Department
• Sound Department
• Lighting Department
• Grip Department
• Costume Department
• Make-up Department
• Hairdressing Department
• Art Department
• Action Vehicles Department
• Livestock Department
• Construction Department
• Special Effects & Armoury Department
• Visual Effects & Animation Department
• Occupational Health & Safety Department
• Tuition & Technical Advisers
• Post Production Crew
• Music
• Publicity & Stills