Transitions - Exploring my role

What does it mean to be a screenwriter in the industry?

As a screenwriter, it is our job to write our own or other people’s ideas into a script, which would be taken into production to be turned into either a TV series of a film. We prepare our work in a way that “enables readers to envisage the setting, emotion and the way it will work on screen.” (Screenskills, 2020)  We also work together with the producers, directors and even actors to draft and redraft the script, often involving tight deadlines.

Define the skill and its responsibilities in relation to the kind of production you are proposing.

In order to become a screenwriter, you must be creative, if you aren’t, then ideas you have either won’t be conveyed in the way you want it to, or they won’t be written at all. Of course, creativity is not the most important skill in becoming a screenwriter, although it is a large part of screenwriting is based off of creativity.

Being able to write and understand a screenplay is the most important element; after all, if you can’t write a script, then you aren’t a screenwriter. You also need to be passionate about your work, as there’s no point in writing about something and spending potentially months on it if you aren’t happy with it. One thing that did surprise me as I was researching about the skills needed to become a screenwriter was that you need to have arts knowledge, which means having “deep and wide knowledge of all genres of art, so as to be able to source ideas from a range of sources and understand the cultural context” (Screenskills, 2020). An example of this is the film Casablanca, where the cultural context of the time period was used as a frame for the story in the sense of “how the German invasion of Paris acts like a character - a villain or catalyst to push the lovers apart…” (Horowitz, 2013)

First steps in Industry:

For screenwriters, who are mainly freelancers, you can either send out unsolicited scripts to production companies who will read it – although many don’t accept material this way, many require you to be a part of a company or with an agent. However, one way to get in is to pitch your idea to producers, who can secure funding for your idea and possibly pitch your idea to companies as they are reputable.

Who will read your work?

If you are beginning as a screenwriter, it is very difficult to get your work read as many production companies won’t accept material that isn’t from a production company or an agent. However, the BBC writer’s room does allow unsolicited scripts in and, if your script is selected (usually 10 – 15 writers are selected), you can become part of the writer’s team for that year’s writing development group for the specific genre your script was given to.

Another way that can help budding screenwriters, is through websites and services such as Script Angels. This website was created by an experienced script development professional Hayley McKenzie. She created Script Angel was founded in 2011 by experienced script development professional Hayley McKenzie. She built this website after noticing that new screenwriters weren't given the chance to have support from experienced script editors to help their work develop. To help with this, Script Angel focuses on offering professional and tailor-made support to these new and upcoming writers.

Bibliography:

• (Screenskills, 2020) At: https://www.screenskills.com/careers/job-profiles/film-and-tv-drama/development-film-and-tv-drama-job-profiles/screenwriter/ (Accessed on 17 May 2020)
• Horowitz, M. (2013) Script Tip: Use the Cultural Context of Your Screenplay To Improve Your Plot. At: https://scriptmag.com/features/script-tip-use-cultural-context-of-your-screenplay-to-improve-your-plot (Accessed on 17 May 2020)