![]() ![]() The “holy grail” of screenwriting where a writer is brought under contract with a studio, production company, or producer to develop and write a script. ![]() It’s not uncommon for other writers to have worked on the same script or concept before being commissioned to another writer.įeature Assignment. These projects are usually based on existing IP such as books, games, and so forth, meaning there is some record of success. Rather than the writer coming to the idea in the “spec script” scenario, commissioned scripts involve a hired writer being brought to an established idea to be brought to life. Spec scripts represent most of the script market in Hollywood each year with a very (very!) slim minority actually making it to screen.Ĭommissioned Screenwriting. Traditionally the story was invented by the writer, but that doesn’t mean it has to be an original idea per se lots of spec scripts are written about established IP (like public domain), or other people or events. “Spec” scripts are written independently and not commissioned by a film studio or production company. This is by far the most common role and what most people associate with a screenwriting career. ![]() So, why do we do it, what does it look like, and how does it work? In many ways, it’s its own language, and one you can have more confidence in after reading about our other Screenwriting 101 pillars. Screenwriting is the ultimate game of “show me, don’t tell me,” and a massive exercise in storytelling efficiency. Alternatively, a short parenthetical description of a “wistful” or “daydream” performance may help more subtle convey the reaction the character is having (more on this as well!). Instead of saying “It reminded her of her childhood”, the screenwriter would have to add a flashback scene of the character as a child to see how it relates to her current circumstance. Whereas other mediums can include unlimited contextual detail or omniscient perspectives, screenwriting relies on visual communication, and it’s crucial to think about how every action literally looks as you’re writing. But what does that actually look like on screen? Screenwriters don’t have the luxury of telling you what a character is thinking, feeling, or doing they have to show you. Think about it like this: the sentence “It reminded her of her childhood” is easily understood in a book or poem and acts as a nice piece of emotional context to let us know the character’s internal thoughts and feelings. It’s a wholly unique process completely independent from writing novels, poems, or essays, especially when it comes to the extremely specific format that screenwriting requires (more on that later). After all, film, TV, and video games are all visual mediums, and the scripts that tell these stories need to externalize a character’s internal motivations. Everything in screenwriting revolves around the visual. ![]()
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