About Screenwriters
A screenwriter is a writer who specializes in creating scripts for movies. Screenwriting is a relatively new genre of writing, only coming into existence in the early 20th century.
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History
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Screenwriters have existed since the days of silent films. The first formal organization of screenwriters began in 1921 with the advent of the Screenwriters Guild, currently the Screenwriters Federation of America. It first existed a social organization for screenwriters, but became a union during the Great Depression of the 1930s. A very famous pioneer amongst screenwriters is Dudley Nichols who wrote "Bringing Up Baby" and "The Informer," for which he won an Academy Award in 1936. He was also president of the Screenwriters Guild
Types
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According to statistics from the Screenwriters Federation of America, there are over 1000 screenwriters operating in America. There are most likely many more who do not belong to this union. Screenwriters vary by genre; some specialize in horror, action, romance, coming of age pictures or a combination of these. A screenwriter can be a script writer, a script reviser (also known as a script doctor), or a consultant.
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Function
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A screenwriter's primary function is to write the script for a movie. Screenwriters work either on speculation (also known as "on spec") or on assignment. When working on spec, a screenwriter writes a script and shops it around to prospective buyers and studios. If working on assignment, a screenwriter has been commissioned by a buyer to write a script. Most screenwriters work on spec. Not only must a screenwriter write a script, he or she must also create a logline, or premise, and pitch the script through a presentation.
Significance
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Without screenwriters, there would be no movie. Initially, a screenwriter must conceptualize a story and then make it come to life. A screenwriter has the task of writing dialogue and scene descriptions, and creating characters that contribute to the story. As long as movies exist, the career of a screenwriter will be crucial.
Identification
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Screenwriters are normally found in Los Angeles or New York, near the major film markets. A very small percentage of even Federation members are working at any given time.
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Resources
- Photo Credit m a r i s a, Flickr
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Comments
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End each act with a cliffhanger.
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Once you think you are done with the screenplay, prepare to rewrite several more times.
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I'd imagine there are well over 1000 screenwriters in America, but I suppose it's hard to know for sure. I know we alone have a team of 100.
