Without a doubt, screenwriting is a real profession. It is also without a doubt one of the most difficult professions to pursue. That’s because in order to make a living as a screenwriter, you not only have to write your screenplay, but you or your agent must sell it. As hard as the first part is, the second part is exponentially harder.
Most screenwriters get their start writing on speculation (writing for free and without being asked by a studio or producer to write the screenplay). Once their work is finished, it’s shopped to agents or producers. Major studios will usually not read anything written by un-agented screenwriters, though there are exceptions. Querying producers, especially independent ones, will sometimes yield a read. However, it’s the studios that have the access to the resources, financial and otherwise, and it’s the agents who have access to the studios.
Some aspiring screenwriters enroll in screenwriting programs offered by colleges and universities. While these may help you hone your craft, some would argue that the real value they offer is in the networking opportunities they provide. The fact is, most successful screenwriters have very little if any formal screenwriting education. They’re just effective story tellers who know how to make their words come to life on the page.
But even the established pros, are a long way from having it made. Even they have to write, re-write and pitch to get assignments. And they usually do this at the mercy of the producers, with no promise of reward.
If you’re one of the fortunate few to sell a screenplay, you’ve moved into the realm of the professional screenwriter. You can now become a member of the Writers’ Guild of America, which increases your credibility and, just as important, you can attract representation. Once the screenplay has been bought, though, the producer and director have complete freedom to make any changes they want.
This is often tough for screenwriters to accept but, ironically, some of the most memorable lines in movies weren’t even in the screenplay. Al Pacino’s character chanting “Attica! Attica! Attica!” in the classic film “Dog Day Afternoon” won’t be found in screenwriter Frank Pierson’s script. It was suggested to Pacino by assistant director Burtt Harris moments before the scene was filmed and improvised by the great actor.
With the number of aspiring screenwriters mushrooming, the field has gotten more and more competitive. However, thanks to digital technology, movies can be made for a fraction of the cost compared to twenty years ago, and there are many more outlets in which to offer them. Dependence on the major studios is waning, and while the days of the $1.5 million payday for spec scripts are largely gone, the demand for good screenplays is greater than ever.
No doubt about it, being a professional screenwriter is the furthest thing from a traditional career, but if you’ve got what it takes and the willingness to persevere, it can be one of the most rewarding.