Script development: Writing beyond Hollywood.

This article critically examines the dominant pedagogy of screenwriting and script development in universities, which prioritizes the classic Hollywood narrative model tied to industrial mainstream production. Using Australian screenwriter Natasha Pincus’s independent, writer-centric development process for the feature film *Fell* (2014) as a case study, it highlights the limitations of teaching orthodox rules that often marginalize the screenwriter’s creative authorship and constrain originality. The article argues for a more diverse and flexible approach to screenwriting education that values the screenwriter as a creative agent and better prepares students for independent, low-budget filmmaking contexts prevalent in countries like Australia. It also discusses systemic industry challenges where writers frequently lose control over their work during development and production, advocating for pedagogical reform to empower future screenwriters and broaden narrative possibilities beyond Hollywood norms.