About Scriptwriting

Scriptwriting is a literary art form with a wide array of applications. Scriptwriters are responsible for crafting the storylines for radio and television commercials and programs, motion pictures and video games. Like other artistic endeavors, achieving success as a scriptwriter requires talent, hard work and often luck. Many gifted scribes eagerly pursue the elusive dream of penning a hit script only to see their aspirations dashed by the subjective judgments of entertainment industry executives. Despite the long odds, the potential rewards for scriptwriting can be lucrative indeed.

History

The importance of---and financial rewards for--scriptwriting grew tremendously during the twentieth century with the advent of radio, motion pictures and television. Early American scriptwriter Roy McCardell earned $150 in 1900 for writing 10 90-second scenarios. By 1947, the script for "Woman of the Year," starring Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn, fetched $100,000. William Goldman received $400,000 in 1967 for his script for "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid." More recently, the script for the time-travel thriller "Déjà Vu" sold for $5 million in 2006.

Function

Radio and television programs and theatrical movies must be scripted in minute detail before they are produced and presented to audiences. In addition to creating a coherent story with compelling characters and engaging dialogue, scriptwriters must adhere to genre-specific restrictions and rigid time constraints ranging from 15 to 30 seconds for a commercial or two hours or longer for a motion picture.

Types

The most common types of scripts include:

* Radio and television commercials: These spots range from 15 seconds to a minute in length with the goal of selling a specific product or building brand affinity.
* Television programs: Hourlong dramas and 30-minute situation comedies have long been a staple for TV scriptwriters. Reality series have become popular in recent years and scriptwriters also play an important role in framing the narrative and selecting the specific content for these programs.
* Educational and documentary programs: Scriptwriters for these fact-based programs, which usually range from 30 minutes to an hour in length, must weave interesting narration, comments from experts and visual elements to create a final product that is both entertaining and informational.
* Movies: Successful motion-picture scriptwriters are among the highest paid of all writers.
* Video games: In this relatively new genre, scriptwriters come up with the detailed narrative framework in which the game unfolds.

Misconceptions

Many prospective scriptwriters believe they must have an agent to sell their work successfully. Having an agent can be helpful, but finding one to represent you is frequently a difficult, time-consuming task. Many production companies will consider work by unrepresented scriptwriters. Respected scriptwriting contests like Scriptapalooza offer another way for new talents to make their mark.

Potential

With the explosion of cable television programs and the rising popularity of video games, there have never been more opportunities for scriptwriters. That said, the reality is that only a tiny fraction of the scripts submitted to entertainment production companies are ever purchased. But miracles do happen. After a multistudio bidding war, Sony Pictures paid $2.5 million for a script penned by unproduced scriptwriters Bobby Florsheim and Josh Stolberg that was later discarded.

Resources

• Scriptapalooza