They work a lot, but get a penny: 4 myths about the profession of a screenwriter that are very far from reality

1. Screenwriter is an exceptionally creative profession

And here it is not. Even those who struggled with writing in school can become successful screenwriters. The fact is that the field of activity of screenwriters is not limited to serious cinema: in some areas, they will have to work according to strict specifications from the customer. Creativity and creativity in this case will be valued less than diligence and attentiveness.

For example, TV show writers do not need to have a higher education in philology and deep knowledge of classical literature. For those who make up the "skeletons" of TV shows, it is more important to understand the basics of psychology and be able to predict the reactions of viewers. The scripts of many programs are far from literary texts and are more like a constructor. Topics, facts, references, infographics, cuts of frames - you need to prepare intriguing details, from which the hosts will assemble the final show during the shooting.

Often, the work of screenwriters of TV series has nothing to do with the everyday life of writers. In such projects, masters of the word are often invited to tenth or even hundredth episodes. The characters have already been worked out, the style is defined, and sometimes the final is known - it remains only to continue story according to the given "keys", so much so that the audience ratings do not fall and the producers remain satisfied. Here again, knowledge from psychology, familiarity with your genre, attentiveness to children, and even the basics of marketing will come in handy. The same applies to specialists who create commercial films: such films often have to be assembled, like a puzzle, from the audience's "wants", the requirements of age ratings and strict specifications from sponsors. At the same time, writers of independent streaming series, games and feature films have greater creative freedom and can bring their fantasies to life on screen with almost no restrictions.

The course "Profession screenwriter» by Skillbox. The platform has gathered various speakers for the program: for example, you can learn from a playwright who is a Golden Mask nominee. And also get to know the co-author of the Epidemic series: the project has earned attention in international broadcasting and a 7.2 rating on IMDb. For students who not only artistic stories are interesting, Skillbox invited an expert with many years of experience in game development and the creator of travel shows and documentaries films.

I want to write scripts!

2. You can't get into the industry from the street

Perhaps now is the time to break into the world of cinema. In 2021, the production of Russian TV series increasedvedomosti.ru 1.5 times. It is possible that the creation of films will also grow after the departure of large companies from the domestic film market. Among the offers there are also vacancies for scriptwriters for video bloggers. Such a start has its advantages: there can be a little more freedom and diversity on the Web than on television, and such an experience will be a good line for a portfolio.

You can get a beautiful case in your career piggy bank already at the training stage. For example, students Skillbox course will release their own short films - with finished works in the resume, it will not be so scary to respond to vacancies and send your ideas to studios.

Another way into the industry is through festivals and grants - even if you don't win, you can show off your talent in front of the right people. The course will help prepare for such tests.Profession screenwriter» - the mentors of the program have no less stringent criteria for evaluating students than the jury of professional competitions. In addition, students will face a variety of tasks, from documentary research to self-presentation and defending their ideas in front of the public. The experience of speaking and participating in pitchings will add self-confidence to students, and work in “video workshop» Skillbox on creating your own short film will help you get acquainted with representatives of the television and film industry.

Learn how to get into the field of cinema

3. Salaries are low, but you have to work 24/7

And pass again. Many screenwriters set their own schedule and can work remotely from anywhere in the world. It all depends on the industry you choose. For example, on television, especially in the news departments, the schedule may be in shifts: 2/2 or 7/7. Freelancers easily take root in game development — it’s easy to find project employment, internships, and a free schedule here. And in the case of scripts for TV shows and films, experts often spend months on material and determine how many hours per day or week to devote to the text. The main thing is to hand over the work to the predetermined deadlines.

You can also study on your own schedule. Students Skillbox it will take only 3-5 hours a week to master the program, and it is not necessary to pay for the course right away. The platform itself will cover the costs for the first six months, and you can make the first payment after 6 months of training. To expand the geography of career opportunities, go to bonus English tuition — knowledge of the language will be useful for working with foreign customers and international services.

Now about money. Without experience, you can count on offers up to 50–70Jobs for screenwriters without experience / HeadHunter thousand rubles; with a couple of years of experience salary bar will riseJobs for screenwriters with up to three years of experience / HeadHunter 1.5–2 times. And specialists who have been working in the industry for three years or more often move into the category of producers, where higher prospects open up. 200 thousand rublesJobs for screenwriters with three years of experience / HeadHunter per month. Finding a worthy offer is not always easy, so it is important to confidently respond to vacancies, find interesting studios and feel free to send them synopses of your work. Skillbox students will also master these skills during learning.

4. Screenwriters are born, not made

Talent is important in any profession, but patient training and sincere desire will help even those who have always considered themselves a "physicist" to become top screenwriters. In addition, there are not as many “lyricists” in the profession as it might seem. Communication with directors, editors and producers turns dreamy candidates into real pros: there is a lot of teamwork in this area, and each project goes through dozens of rounds of edits.

Regular communication with the professional community will help students acquire the necessary soft skills. Among them, for example, the skill of teamwork and environmentally friendly communication, the ability to calmly perceive criticism and respect deadlines.

42 thematic modules, divided into 5 blocks, will cover all theoretical and practical niches. In the first block, you will master the basics of screenwriting: learn how to keep the viewer's attention, understand what a concept, logline, application, synopsis, episode plan, script are and how they differ these concepts. And also learn how to write interesting dialogues and work out characters that you want to empathize with.

During the second block, students will receive answers to more mundane questions:

• How to get into the film industry and pitch your idea?
• What are the characteristics of documentary film production?
• What creative tools to use?
• What copyright laws should a screenwriter know and how to protect their rights?

The third stage of training is dedicated to creating exciting stories for video games, and the fourth block is the author's course by Alexey Karaulov. Together with the screenwriter of "Epidemic" and "Call DiCaprio!" you will write the pilot episode of the series and learn how to present the project to the producers. Finally, at the fifth stage, students will have to defend their final project The script for a show, movie, or video game. In the future, a well-developed concept with feedback from mentors can be sent to studios or used for specialized contests and pitchings.

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