“To scriptwrite or not to scriptwrite. That is the question..."
Who writes scripts? I’ve started to do so. Having some experience creating animation shorts, I thought I’d have a go at script writing. Visuals, after all are shorthand stories whether static or moving. The difference is simply, using words instead of pictures. So far so good.
The requirements for this discipline are the skillful use of words and your imagination. In fact a lot of imagination. The words are then translated into...visuals, for TV or film. For radio the ‘visuals’ are created in the listeners mind. One other category that exists is stage plays.
Script writing is challenging, yes. Rewarding? well that depends.
Since I’ve started on this journey I have found research one of its most satisfying aspects. What you gain is the capacity to learn as you go. If you are minded that way, then there’s no end to what you can learn as you shape up your script, not to mention strengthening your skills of creating visuals along the way. So it should be a win win, shouldn’t it?
Script writing is one of the most competitive crafts in the media market. Take the BBC. They had 5,175 Spec script submissions last year: of that total only ten to fifteen got selected and that process took six to eight months during which time the script is circulated and sifted through by teams of readers. That’s approximately 0.5%. And it doesn’t end there. Notice that I use ‘Spec script, which stands for speculative’. Eventually after months of sifting, it may go from a Director’s to Producers desk. Here comes the rub. Producers won’t or can’t finance a spec script writer, because their backers won’t release the money to an unknown. Ouch! I don’t think this is so much the case in the U.S.A. In the BBC’s case, should your work make it to the finishing line then the opportunity for development is presented, but not necessarily production. So why put yourself through this trial by fire? Well, for one, you don’t need any special qualifications. The dice do roll in favour of those who are prepared to put themselves through this demanding and sometimes wearing process. In the U.K. I think the answer lies in the fact that, the writer has to go through what is known as a ‘trial by fire.’ only then, after the suitable development are scripts selected. Hence the BBC’s offer of development. What I’ve found is that the more I write and read and observe more and listen, the more accomplished my writing becomes. The big question is... does what I’ve written warrant six months of my time? Because that’s what it takes at a minimum. I’ve heard pro’s talk in terms of scripts taking years before finally being completed. Each writer will have to make their own decision on that. The odds don’t look great, but hey, for the underdog or the outsider, the odds never look great!
We all need a dream and script writing is a dream worth having. That unique, action-grabbing story we want to share with an audience. The journey is long and can be strewn with countless rejections but - heaven knows how - if you work at your dream with great conviction it might just come true.