Let's get creative *plays the beginning of green is not a creative colour*. To become a writer you need determination, discipline and well creativity. Writing is much like becoming a Jedi, with a lot of perseverance and self study. A few trips to the library could help. Most writers need friends...I mean a group of wise and trusted readers who can give you constructive feedback. Universities or film centres can be good places to make those connections. The joy of being a writer is in the process of writing. If you want it and you're committed there's no way anyone could stop you but be prepared because writing can be a lonely life *plays all by myself*
Stephen Davis says: If you have a stellar script in hand and are prepared to spend three to five years trying to get a break, you might have what it takes to be a screenwriter.
As most great writers did you will have to work your way up *plays the only way is up*. Becoming a staff writer is the perfect opportunity to gain some experience. It's an entry-level gig so it won't be glamorous but they get paid a weekly salary *money -till sound effect*. Writing requires discussion, about ideas, narratives, characters the usual. If invited a staff writer could attend first reads or rehearsals with the cast, being on hand to take notes and make any necessary changes to scenes that aren't playing well. Their goal is develop their own scripts which demonstrates initiate and displays your own skills.
Many people work as staff writers, even on big shows such as... *plays family guy theme*. Ricky Blitt, Neil Goldman and Allison Adler all work as writers on the show Family Guy.
Commissioning is where the channel comes together with genre to decide whether an idea is fit for both of their standards, so kind of like a judge. *plays bgt buzzer* Each channel has their own set of standards and ideas in which they're looking for and each commissioning process is different. BBC are quick and decisive looking mainly at genre and they review ideas by sending feedback and showing the idea to various sources. Channels such as ITV are very family orientated so they look for variety shows and they receive ideas via email getting back to the applicant within 6 weeks. In other words, to get your idea commissioned it has to fit to the channel's standards and it has to be creative! *
*mission impossible theme plays in background* Agents are vital for making it in the industry for a few reasons. 1. they can help you make important decisions. 2. They will look for opportunities that will enhance your career and are suited for you individually. 3. It is their job to increase your chances of getting noticed and earning some money. Finally it is always handy to have another person backing you up plus it looks better to potential employs if you have an agent (for tv and film not a secret agent!). There are so many agents so I'll just name a few that are from the UK, Alan Brodie, Curtis Brown and Darley Anderson.
*chosen one hp reference quote played here* when your script gets chosen to become a screenplay there are a few steps that all writers must not forget. Step one: Option period this is where producers or studios decide on a time period to get the film off the ground it could be anywhere between 6 months to 18 months, possibly longer. Step 2: Option Payment this is essential in making sure that a writer doesn't get taken advantage of, another reason as to why agents are important in the business! This is where you negotiate payment options as each production is different. Finally we have step 3: Purchase Price. This is the amount of money that the writer gets from the producer or the studio if their project is made into a feature film.Sometimes the Purchase Price will be calculated on a sliding scale as a percentage of the budget, so as the budget of the film grows, so will the Purchase Price.
Nowadays it's all about the money *bills, bills, bills song plays* and a common question is 'how do writers get paid?'. Television writers get paid per episode if you're above Staff level. A staff writer will get around about $3,548/week where as a higher up writer would get about $31,748 for an hour-long show. Writers are all paid weekly based on compensation regulated by The Writer's Guild of America.
Like most careers writing can face many problems too. Plagiarism and Libel are both problems for screenwriters. So if you haven't stumbled across these words before then buckle up because i'm going to throw so education your way. Plagiarism is where you steal something that doesn't belong to you, something being a piece of work, an idea or a script. It would be like me stealing quotes from Star Wars and putting my name on it. Libel is where someone publishes by print or broadcasts via radio, TV or film something that is untrue to purposely harm someones career. So I guess you could say it is a way that media people gossip and cause scandal. This is a big problem for writers because a damage in their reputation will harm their careers, people believe what they are hear meaning a writer with a bad reputation won't get work and their scripts will be rejected. *Rejected sound played* and well copying someone's work is easily traced and it's like cheating on a test you're bound to get punished and it's against the law. Prison's nice this time of year right?!
*news report sound affect* over the years legal action has been taken involving scriptwriters of tv and film. A law suit was taken out against the hit comedy series New Girl after screenwriters Stephanie Counts and Shari Gold claim that the sitcom allegedly plagiarised their script for 'Square One' a project based on Count's real life experiences. In other news The Matrix wins a lawsuit on "unreasonable" plagiarism against writer Thomas Althouse. The lawsuit was filed in 2013 after Althouse claimed that the matrix plagiarises his own screenplay The Immortals. The case was dismissed after Judge R Gary Klauser ruled that all 119 similarities that Althouse pointed out were "too general for copyright protection, or are, commonly used, unoriginal ideas". That's all from the news right now we'll be back tomorrow to discuss the arrival of the new Star Wars trailer.
So after making a million and one discoveries about becoming a writer I have fell to the conclusion that like most careers it requires a lot of determination and creativity. A positive to this chosen career would be that there would be lots of opportunities to showcase your own abilities but with this could come a lot of rejection so I think to be a writer you would need thick skin and a mind set which isn't too sensitive. Another positive would be the endless list of connections you could make and the pay is pretty good which is important let's be honest here! A writer has the destiny to make something incredible, to tell a story and everyone likes stories. My story is finished, how to become a writer 101. *clapping sound effects*
Additional Content
*Within the commissioning process there are a number of job roles needed. The first is a commissioning editor who selects ideas that could work well to allocate the production a certain budget to work with to create a product. They follow the product throughout its' journey to Middle Earth (sorry excuse the nerding out). After editors come the producers, who deal with budgeting, cast, crew the usual producing job. Then there is a director and other script writers who all help to get the show on the road. As I myself am a walking cliche it is only right that I throw some of them your way but the more you write the better you become. Writing more will increase your chances of getting commission. Gain as much work's experience as you can and intern to gain vital knowledge and to get your writing out there. Get sending your work out there, responses may be limited but it's always good to get out there and post your scripts to local and big production companies but remember no post on sundays! -Casual Harry Potter reference.
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