What are the characteristics of a script writer?

Answer 1

The person who writes a script for film -- whether the 'big screen' or television -- tells a story by way of a document written with a tight, precise format.

A script is used by all the collaborators on a film project -- read the credits after a movie finishes: you'll see them all -- to contribute effectively to the finished product. Collaborators include producers, actors and directors, costume staff, set designers and location managers, background actors, sound effects people and sound designers, and so forth.

Each page of a script is equal to about one minute of movie time. That's one of the reasons that the format is so tight and precise.

A script morphs through several versions from its original form -- sometimes a 'spec' script that is simply purchased, and that script writer has no more involvement -- to its final form as a 'shooting script'.

All script writers in between are charged with 'making the story better' in some way -- script doctor, some are called -- and approval of these results are mostly subjective.

If you want to be a script writer, you need:

• Command of the language in which you want to write your script
• Deep understanding of writing for a visual medium
• Complete understanding of great storytelling, especially a three-act structure
• Appreciation for the power of collaborators to interpret what you write
• Unfettered understanding of the value and necessity of being edited and rewritten.

You can learn some of these skills in a screenwriting class -- regardless of where you take the class.

Answer 2

A scriptwriter must first have an innate command of the language being used in the collaborative efforts where one works. This includes the jargon, the underlying implication of double entendres, the speech patterns of characters and so forth.

Scriptwriters usually specialize in one genre or another: you wouldn't expect Woody Allen -- a comic genre specialist, for example to write a movie that Michael Bay -- an explosion-drivven genre specialist, would direct.

A scriptwriter must also be flexible, given that collaborative efforts exist from initial script writing efforts, to production, on-set, edits and amendments required for shooting scripts.

Primarily, however, a scriptwriter must be a superior storyteller with a complete command of story structure, character development, pacing, plot development and so forth.

Learn more from every movie you watch: there are no wasted words, no wasted scenes, no wasted action in the best films. Everything you see/ hear/ feel, move the story forward and all were inserted into the story by the scriptwriter in collaboration with the team.

Answer 3

The first rule for script writing is to tell a great story and tell it well.

There may be other rules depending on which version of a script you're writing or rewriting, which genre you're writing in, which screen you're writing for, and so forth.

There are established guidelines for formatting a screenplay. Read more, below.

Be aware, however, that depending on the type of script: a short film, a documentary, a television movie, a feature film, etc., the formats can be different from what you see in the link.

Answer 4

Every writer, regardless of the product being produced, can be described as:

• Literate and articulate
• Imaginative
• Dedicated
• Resourceful
• Flexible
• Professional
• Capable
• Collaborative
• Fully emotional

Script writers often find themselves involved in deadline-driven situations where they are required to produce top-quality results under less-than-ideal conditions.

Script writers must be willing to produce their best work, have it completely rejected, and continue producing superior results.

You could describe them as among the best of mental athletes.

Answer 5

Features particular to a film script include:

• format
• structure
• genre
• length
• more, depending...

You can learn more about film scripts, below.

Answer 6

Many forms of storytelling require the skills and talents of a script writer. Depending on the storytelling environment, here are a few examples*:

• Speculation script writer usually works alone in his/her own established work environment
• Script doctors usually work in his/her own established work environment, or can also work in a producer-sanctioned environment, including a shooting set
• Serialized storyteller specialists -- think episodic television -- may work in a 'writers room' with several writers, each of which brings a separate specialty to the story line.

Regardless of the location or situation, every script writer's environment -- at some point -- forces a human to confront a blank page.

*Note that this list is not exhaustive, with primary focus on film.

Answer 7

The job of a script writer is to tell stories according to the medium being employed to tell the story, such as film.