Abstract
The Hollywood paradigm of screenwriting is claimed to be the universal approach to storytelling. The paradigm is said to be ‘in our DNA’ and override cultural difference. It is declared the most popular cinema narrative form with audiences internationally. These claims of universal application and appeal are challenged in this article via a case study of Australian feature films and their appeal to Australian audiences. Interviews with industry practitioners establish the dominance of the Hollywood paradigm at the government screen agencies and in industry discourse, but its weak uptake by some of Australia’s most successful screenwriters. A link between national mythology, national narratives and a distinctly Australian idiom in screenwriting is investigated. A contrast is drawn with the influence of American national mythology in shaping the Hollywood paradigm.
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