5 answers
Blake
Student
Fruitland, Idaho
1
Question
Asked
568 views
Is screenwriting a reliable occupation?
I am unfamiliar with how the film industry works, and I am curious as to being a screenwriter is a full-time occupation or something similar to a "gig" job. Also, could AI threaten the existence of human-made films?
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5 answers
Patrick Phillips
screenwriter
21
Answers
San Francisco, California
Updated
Patrick’s Answer
Hi, Blake. Is screenwriting a reliable occupation? It's just as reliable as any other job. How you get there is different for everybody. Here's how I got there:
1. Studied film & tv in college, got that degree.
2. Started out working as production crew on commercials, tv shows and movies in my area (Pacific Northwest). From there...
3. Moved to LA with idea of being a screenwriter. Like others have suggested, my day jobs varied but I was "around the bizness". I had to start all over in my career from the film sets to the offices and writing rooms. Got a job as a writer's assistant. Then I was painting a producer's office at a lower budget studio and talked my way into a writing a script for that producer for very little money. Then another. Then I was hired full time as a staff writer. Again, low budget movies, shot in Europe and posted back here, and not exactly big dollars or career-defining movies but I was a working screenwriter. And there was a line of people behind me to do my job if I didn't want to it.
4. Writing all the time and being talented isn't enough. Sometimes luck is involved; but other people are ALWAYS involved in your writing career. Studios and networks changes, cultural tastes change, tech and distribution models change. But the hard work always remains.
5. Speaking of tech, yes AI affects screenwriting like anything else. For me, it's still just a brainstorming or image creation tool. Trust me, no AI is gonna spit out a complete Oscar-winning screenplay or movie anytime soon. Or ever. Nor will AI launch your screenwriting career. That's still all you.
Follow all the storytellers and follow their stories. How they did it. What worked, what didn't. And best of luck, Blake!
1. Studied film & tv in college, got that degree.
2. Started out working as production crew on commercials, tv shows and movies in my area (Pacific Northwest). From there...
3. Moved to LA with idea of being a screenwriter. Like others have suggested, my day jobs varied but I was "around the bizness". I had to start all over in my career from the film sets to the offices and writing rooms. Got a job as a writer's assistant. Then I was painting a producer's office at a lower budget studio and talked my way into a writing a script for that producer for very little money. Then another. Then I was hired full time as a staff writer. Again, low budget movies, shot in Europe and posted back here, and not exactly big dollars or career-defining movies but I was a working screenwriter. And there was a line of people behind me to do my job if I didn't want to it.
4. Writing all the time and being talented isn't enough. Sometimes luck is involved; but other people are ALWAYS involved in your writing career. Studios and networks changes, cultural tastes change, tech and distribution models change. But the hard work always remains.
5. Speaking of tech, yes AI affects screenwriting like anything else. For me, it's still just a brainstorming or image creation tool. Trust me, no AI is gonna spit out a complete Oscar-winning screenplay or movie anytime soon. Or ever. Nor will AI launch your screenwriting career. That's still all you.
Follow all the storytellers and follow their stories. How they did it. What worked, what didn't. And best of luck, Blake!
David Robkin
Consulting
10
Answers
Monrovia, California
Updated
David’s Answer
AI threatens all human creative activities, but the battle is not lost. As for your question, Screenwriting is not a full time occupation until it is. Being a professional screenwriter is a career you have to achieve by proving your abilities so it starts as something you spend all your time on while working a day job until you sell a script/story/project and it is successful. If you want to be a writer, do two things: start reading EVERYTHING and start writing ALL THE TIME. You become a good writer the same way to get to perform at Carnegie Hall: Practice.
Michelle M.
Actress
3284
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Blake !
Screenwriting is an awesome profession and one in which you can be creative and write about things you feel strongly about and communicate messages that are important to you. It is more like a project based career and the creative fields are an opinion business so that means it's just a matter of submitting your work and waiting to hear back if it was accepted.
Artificial Intelligence is not the future, rather, it is the present and you can use it for your screenplays or you can choose to write your screenplays yourself like many screenwriters are still doing. The Writers Guild has some provisions about AI which you can read about at the link provided below.
It would be beneficial to you to begin learning about the Film Industry and a good way to do that now would be to take some online introductory and other Film classes online as well as start volunteering at some studios. Some places to seek volunteer work would be at The Film Garage 208 in Idaho Falls, FishDawg Productions in Boise, and Emerge Film Solutions would all be good to inquire about volunteer work. There are no film companies in Fruitland, Idaho.
Some websites for film classes online, some free, are offered at Coursera which offers a course titled "Write A Feature Length Screenplay For Film Or Television," Story and Plot provides a free email course with 11 essential lessons for screenwriters, New York University Professor John Warren offers three free courses on his website, including "Writing the Short," "Writing the Short: School Edition," and "Writing the Scene," Bulletproof Screenwriting also releases free masterclasses and workshops monthly. Learning about the film industry and how to write for it will start making it real for you and not just a wondering thought.
Later on, you can consider attending Film School or a University that has a Film Department where you'd learn all about film. As a screenwriter, you'll need to be familiar with dialogue and directions, but also film jargon, camera techniques, acting and editing which would all be useful to you as a writer writing for film.
Once you have learned your craft, you could consider relocating to Los Angles or New York City, NY or you can stay in Fruitland, Idaho and submit your screenplays to various companies that have notices for screenwriters or script submissions. You'd learn all about that in film school or as a Film Major through a film department in college. You can do a search online for the websites that have work for screenwriters. Any script that may be accepted can possibly go under re-writes, edits or modifications. Now would be a good time to start taking the online courses as well as reading books about screenwriting and an introduction to the film industry. There's a lot to learn.
I hope this helps and I wish you all the best learning more about how the film industry is run !
WRITERS GUILD OF AMERICA AI PROVISIONS https://www.wga.org/contracts/know-your-rights/artificial-intelligence
Screenwriting is an awesome profession and one in which you can be creative and write about things you feel strongly about and communicate messages that are important to you. It is more like a project based career and the creative fields are an opinion business so that means it's just a matter of submitting your work and waiting to hear back if it was accepted.
Artificial Intelligence is not the future, rather, it is the present and you can use it for your screenplays or you can choose to write your screenplays yourself like many screenwriters are still doing. The Writers Guild has some provisions about AI which you can read about at the link provided below.
It would be beneficial to you to begin learning about the Film Industry and a good way to do that now would be to take some online introductory and other Film classes online as well as start volunteering at some studios. Some places to seek volunteer work would be at The Film Garage 208 in Idaho Falls, FishDawg Productions in Boise, and Emerge Film Solutions would all be good to inquire about volunteer work. There are no film companies in Fruitland, Idaho.
Some websites for film classes online, some free, are offered at Coursera which offers a course titled "Write A Feature Length Screenplay For Film Or Television," Story and Plot provides a free email course with 11 essential lessons for screenwriters, New York University Professor John Warren offers three free courses on his website, including "Writing the Short," "Writing the Short: School Edition," and "Writing the Scene," Bulletproof Screenwriting also releases free masterclasses and workshops monthly. Learning about the film industry and how to write for it will start making it real for you and not just a wondering thought.
Later on, you can consider attending Film School or a University that has a Film Department where you'd learn all about film. As a screenwriter, you'll need to be familiar with dialogue and directions, but also film jargon, camera techniques, acting and editing which would all be useful to you as a writer writing for film.
Once you have learned your craft, you could consider relocating to Los Angles or New York City, NY or you can stay in Fruitland, Idaho and submit your screenplays to various companies that have notices for screenwriters or script submissions. You'd learn all about that in film school or as a Film Major through a film department in college. You can do a search online for the websites that have work for screenwriters. Any script that may be accepted can possibly go under re-writes, edits or modifications. Now would be a good time to start taking the online courses as well as reading books about screenwriting and an introduction to the film industry. There's a lot to learn.
I hope this helps and I wish you all the best learning more about how the film industry is run !
Michelle recommends the following next steps:
John lazear
cinematographer
3
Answers
Los Angeles, California
Updated
John’s Answer
Very simple answer. Nothing in the entertainment industry is reliable.
It’s fun, challenging and sometimes lucrative, but never reliable.
It’s fun, challenging and sometimes lucrative, but never reliable.
Steve Jacobson
Creative Leader/Content Creator/Producer/Editor/Storyteller
94
Answers
Westlake Village, California
Updated
Steve’s Answer
There will always be a need for talented writers, especially now with the rise of AI. If you're aiming for a career in screenwriting, expect some challenges along the way. However, if you have strong writing skills, you can build a successful career. Look at what successful screenwriters have achieved to inspire your journey.
Writing movies can take time, as scripts need to be sold and made into films. You'll likely need a day job to support yourself during this period. Finding an agent to represent your work and possibly a business manager can be helpful, but that's for later. Remember, movie scripts are usually one-time projects, so they don't offer steady work. Television writing offers more consistency, but shows can still end unexpectedly. Many factors influence whether a show continues beyond just the writing.
It's wise to have other income options while you focus on becoming a great writer. Keep working hard and stay encouraged. Good luck!
Writing movies can take time, as scripts need to be sold and made into films. You'll likely need a day job to support yourself during this period. Finding an agent to represent your work and possibly a business manager can be helpful, but that's for later. Remember, movie scripts are usually one-time projects, so they don't offer steady work. Television writing offers more consistency, but shows can still end unexpectedly. Many factors influence whether a show continues beyond just the writing.
It's wise to have other income options while you focus on becoming a great writer. Keep working hard and stay encouraged. Good luck!