There is a young lady who has moved to a new city for the first time in a while. It is the first time that she is in a city of males where she has to reach out to people and make her work done.
What are the qualities of a character that come to your mind?
Probably an independent person. Slightly scared and vulnerable individuals too. But at the same time having the power to make their own decisions and be accountable for them. This is exactly what a screenwriter takes inspiration from.
Advaita Kala, the screenwriter of Kahani did base the character of Vidya Balan based on the experiences that she had when she moved to a new city for a job.
This is how screenwriters write scripts and screenplays. If you are interested in screenwriting read further to know how to become a screenwriter– the education, skills, job preparation, and salary insights.
An author of screenplays who creates material for visual media is called a Screenwriter. They compose screenplays for television, advertisements, video games, feature films, short films, and other media. A script’s dialogue, characters, and plot are all created by them. They are someone who works in the writing industry and adapts stories for various media.
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In your 11th grade, it is advisable that you choose subjects like English literature or Mass communication if your school offers them. However, there is no mandatory subject that you should have to take admission in the undergraduate programs required to become a Screenwriter.
If you’re unsure about a job as a screenwriter, you may test it out by registering for a range of time and money-saving online courses. There is no prerequisite for them, thus you can enroll in a few of them by Udemy or Coursera after getting your 10th grade.
| Certificate Course | Duration |
| Screenwriting Workshop | 7 hours of video content (self-paced) |
| Beginning Screenwriting made easy- Screenwriting course | 2.5 hours of video content (self-paced) |
| Scriptwriting: Write a pilot episode for a TV or web series | 1-3 Months |
| Creative Writing: The Craft of Plot | 1-4 Weeks |
| Learn Screenwriting with movies you know | 1-hour content (self-paced) |
How to become a Screenwriter after the 12th?
A) Undergraduate and Diploma courses to become a Screenwriter in India
Some of the undergraduate courses that help you in becoming a screenwriter in India are:
| Undergraduate Degree | Duration |
| Bachelors in Journalism and Mass Communication | 3 Years |
| B.A. in Literature | 3 Years |
| Bachelor in Fine Arts | 4 Years |
| B.A. In Film Studies | 4 Years |
There are also some diploma courses that you might give a try:
| Diploma Course | Institute offering the course | Duration |
| Diploma in Screen Writing | Whistling Woods | 1 Year |
| Diploma in film screenwriting | Actor prepares | 3 Months |
| Advanced Diploma in Screenwriting | Whistling Woods | 2 Years |
| Program in Screenwriting | ZIMA | 6 Months |
| Screenwriting certificate program | Mindscreen Film Insititute | 6 Months |
| Screenplay and direction | Institute of creative excellence | 3.5 months |
Also read: How to become a Creative Writer
B) Top Colleges for screenwriting courses
What to Study Abroad to become a Screenwriter
A) Undergraduate/Diploma Courses
The undergraduate course that you can check out abroad include:
| Undergraduate Degrees | Estimated Duration |
| B.S. in Communication | 48 Months |
| B.A. (Hons) in Journalism | 36 Months |
| Bachelors in Arts in Communication Studies | 48 Months |
| Digital Communication and Multimedia Journalism B.A. | 48 Months |
| BA Hons in Book and Media Studies | 48 Months |
| Bachelor of Science in Comparative Media Studies | 48 Months |
| Bachelors of Arts in Fine Arts | 48 Months |
| Bachelor of Arts in Film and Media Studies | 48 Months |
The name of these programs and the duration would differ depending on the country you apply to. You can also apply to certain diploma/certificate programs that you can choose to go for if you don’t want to invest so much time and effort.
| Diploma Courses | Institute offering the course | Duration |
| Screenwriting Class | New York Film Academy, USA | On-campus: 1-12 weeks Online: 4 week-15 weeks |
| Diploma in Screen and Media | New York Film Academy, Australia | 1 Year |
| College Graduate Certificate in Scriptwriting | Algonquin College, Canada | 1 Year |
| An Introduction to a screenwriting course | Fututrelearn, UK | 2 weeks |
| A Masterclass in Screenwriting | Story Academy, Sweden | 1 Year |
B) Top Colleges
To become a serious screenwriter, there are things that you need to do before you get your first job. Some of the tips include the following:
A screenplay functions as a kind of blueprint or production guide for movies. Writing a script that can be filmed requires an understanding of the fundamentals of filmmaking, including transitions, camera angles, voice-overs, and scene-setting. Knowing how movies are made will help you anticipate when and how your work will be used. This can assist you in writing in a screenplay-appropriate style.
The ability to produce speculative scripts is one of the best things about screenwriting. These are scripts that you did not commission or get paid to write. You don’t have to make them into movies; they are your own stories that you may add to your portfolio. To finish a script and include it in your portfolio, can require a lot of effort and perseverance. Nevertheless, it is worthwhile because your portfolio can attest to your screenwriting skills and aid in your employment search.
Even though it’s not required, relocation is advised if you wish to work in the mainstream film industry. Since screenwriters collaborate closely with producers, directors, and other writers, it would be preferable if everyone lives nearby. You have a better chance of finding employment in a city that makes movies.
Want to boost your chances of getting admission abroad? Sign up for the Clever Harvey JuniorMBA Advertising Course and add a real industry project to your student portfolio.
A lot of the payment depends on what kind of script you are working for. Is it for a film? TV? Commercial? Short story? Etc. Additionally, the kind of production house backing the film also matters. However, on average you can expect to earn around 40,478 per month in India.
The number of variables affecting the payment remains the same for screenwriters abroad. However, a general overview of the salary is provided in the table below:
| Country | USA | UK | Canada | Spain | Germany | Australia |
| Entry-level salary per year | $66,375 | £31,595 | $54,384 | €43,441 | 44.124 €. | $103,998 |
Read more: Career as a Choreographer
Screenwriters usually freelance their work. However, there are certain agencies that you can check out if you want to start fresh:
Scriptwriting is fun when you like being in dreamland with characters. Basic knowledge of how humans react is important for you to write dialogues and create a scene. Thus, other than good English proficiency see to it that you understand basic human psychology.
Starting pay for TV and streaming are in the vicinity of 50,000 to a lakh per month, and after you have a few popular series behind your name, they can increase to multiple lakhs.
You will require English language proficiency, outstanding written communication abilities, perseverance, and willpower.
Some of the Celebrated Script Writers from Indian Cinema include Satyajit Ray, Jaideep Sahni, Anjum Rajabali, Vishal Bhardwaj, and VK Vijayendra Prasad.
You must first understand the language of movies, which is screenplay writing. It has a structure and writing style that can be learned. You can submit your script for a web series, movie, or short film to numerous online competitions after writing it. Don’t forget to join SWA India and attend their workshops.
There are many things to think about when writing a script, which might be intimidating. However, before you even consider what should be in the paper, what exactly is script writing? In comparison to writing for any other format, scriptwriting is a very different animal.
Only submissions sent through an authorized literary agent, a producer, an attorney, a manager, or an entertainment professional with whom they already have a working relationship are accepted by Netflix. Sadly, they won’t accept any ideas that are provided in any other way because they are deemed to be “unsolicited submissions.”
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