How to earn money writing scripts for movies or series and become a successful screenwriter? step by step guide

Screenwriters are frequently requested for films and television series, being this one way to earn money online if you have the necessary skills. Like all work has a process that must be followed to do it in a professional manner and that attracts the attention of large companies.

There is a wide variety of genres that can be addressed and although there are those who think that this job is mainly for people who have been trained in careers related to social communication, this is not exclusive. One of the things that is necessary is a taste for writing and for the world of cinema and television.

If you want to start as a script writer, there are many online courses to prepare you and get good opportunities in this very competitive field and then participate in contests in which the writers are selected. The course you are starting to read will show you the highlights you need to know to earn money writing in this category.

What is a screenwriter?

A screenwriter is responsible for writing texts for series, movies or television programs. Most start out as copywriters for production companies and the ability to work in a team is required. This content is received by the actors to know what they should do and lead the sequence of their scenes. Once you establish yourself in the job, you can get scripts commissioned for specific jobs, selling the creative ideas to companies linked to film and television production.

Sometimes complete works or also episodes can be requested, adaptations, short stories or sketches for comedians. The field of work is very wide, so it is necessary have excellent writing skills, lots of creativity and organization to meet the requested deadlines, elements that will help you earn a position and gain recognition.

How much can you earn writing screenplays?

The amount that a screenwriter is usually paid It depends on the budget of the series or movie., so the payment varies considerably from one project to another. For example, if the production is low cost, not exceeding 5 million euros, the remuneration can be over 40 thousand euros for the main editor.

But that’s not the rule there are writers who can earn much lessdepending on the number of orders have during a certain period. If they are small jobs, the figure can be between 25,000 and 30,000 euros per year. It is up to the author to decide if he will accept the price paid for his work and to make the respective negotiations to achieve any improvement.

Most experts in the area say that for some it may not seem like a lucrative job, however If it is your passion, are you willing to develop it? and later become a curator of these works or a restructurer, an activity that is a much more attractive complement.

Learn how to make money writing screenplays

In this part you will find four things you can do to publicize your skills and abilities as a screenwriterwith the possibility of being known by film and television production companies that are looking for people to put together their work teams.

Go for it:

Join the SOUL

ALMA is a union of screenwriters in Spainone of the most groups writers with around 800 in its database. This organization was founded in 1989 with the intention of bringing together professionals in the area and achieving adequate recognition in accordance with their functions in audiovisual companies.

From there, the aim is to promote a basic table that helps to obtain fair prices for each job carried out, so when you join you have a protection system, providing legal advice and defense of copyright. All you have to do is enter the portal sindicatoalma.es/afiliate/check the option “I want to join” and follow each of the simple steps indicated by the platform, after which you must enter your personal and professional data.

Offer your scripts to producers

Completing the script of a feature film, series or movie is not easy at all. If you managed to do it successfully now look for a way to sell it, taking into account the regulations that govern the industry in your country, since each one has its peculiarities. So the first thing you should do is research what the requirements are. Once you’re clear It starts with the search process.

At first it may be a bit difficult to get interest, but that will help you to build a professional portfolio. You must understand that there are thousands of people aspiring to be taken into account, so the idea must be good and creative enough to captivate the entrepreneurs. Keep in mind that the first times you show your content and it is accepted, the payment will not be made in full, but probably agree quotas, because the costs of production and filming must be measured, before giving you the definitive yes.

Produce your own stories

Every year there are new aspiring screenwriters who are faced with the reality that producers and directors in many cases are involved in the writing process, which limits buying new stories somewhat. And that’s where you should think about shoot your own story, bring to the screen what you have managed to capture on paper.

here you must take charge of seeking financing to carry it out or associate with a third party that can help you in marketing. A point that you can analyze is the possibility of taking the direction and in this way lower the costs involved in carrying out your audiovisual project.

in writing contests

Here is a good motivation to write a script, participate in a contest in which financial compensation is obtained in case of winning or stay in the first places. The script has to be emotional, yet simple to be interesting to the jury.

The contests are divided into several themes, highlighting synopsis, treatment, short films, feature films, series, cinema, television or documentaries, among others. Each type of script has its special characteristics, but with the experience gained you will be able to refine and cover new fields.

Best courses to be a screenwriter

The training to be a screenwriter is constant, you have to update yourself with the new trends and ways of working if you are a member of the guild. But, if you have the concern, you also have the opportunity to train and become a professional prepared to perform the functions.

In the following list you will get ten of the best courses available online in which you have the option of training as a professional screenwriter:

Script writing for film and TV

The course presents a creative way to tell the stories and bring them to television or film. Everyone has their way of counting them and here you will get tricks, tools and techniques so that the idea goes into action. In addition, you will distinguish an anecdote from a real project. You can access from your address https://www.domestika.org/es/courses/554-escritura-de-guion-para-cine-y-television.

The cost of the course is 14.99 euros and consists of nine chapters in which all the content is developed from the hand of the scriptwriter and writer Julio Rojas. Upon completion, you will be able to create a fiction project. It is aimed at all creators who do not have any specialization.

Script for animation series

Since the beginning of a projectand how to achieve it, you will get it with this course that costs 14.99 euros hand in hand with Fernando Salem, who works as a film director and screenwriter. You will learn how to tell the story, write the script and shape the ideas, obtaining a sample of the most representative works.

Throughout the workshop, you will develop the idea of ​​an animated series or movie to offer your project to production houses or streaming sites. It is aimed at professionals and students who want to make scripts their way of life. No prior knowledge is required to enroll. You can access from your address https://www.domestika.org/es/courses/388-guion-para-series-de-animacion.

Development of fiction series

The filmmaker and screenwriter of Chilean origin, Hernan Caffierois the driver of this course that will take your ideas to real projects for online platforms and television. They will teach you the correct procedure to determine the relevant information that your script as well as how to convince those who are interested in your idea to buy it from you.

It is convenient for the realization to have a computer that has software like Celtx or Final Draft, that will help you put together the fictional series. You will know all the steps you must take to be successful in your functions. You can access from your address https://www.domestika.org/es/courses/500-desarrollo-de-series-de-ficcion.

Creation of web series

One of the main purposes you should have when presenting a project is create a pilot chapter to present it to production houses. In this course you will learn how to do it, including the organization of the casting to select the actors and get the permissions to record the shooting scenes. You can access from your address https://www.domestika.org/es/courses/44-malviviendo-creacion-de-una-webserie.

You are going to find a way to prepare a dossier for a web series, highlighting how to finance a project and monetize YouTube videos, as well as improving the ways of distributing content. In total it has 17 lessons including 21 additional resources, with the possibility of accessing in three different languages: Spanish, English and Portuguese.

Comedy course with Judd Apatow

This comedian with years of experience teaches you from the first class how create successful stories, monologues and movies with the intention of making the public laugh and entertain. The course contains a total of 31 lessons in 6 hours and 34 minutes. In broad strokes, Judd will teach you to produce, write and direct comedies for both television and film. The price is from 15 euros per month. You can access from your address https://www.masterclass.com/classes/judd-apatow-teaches-comedy.

Screenwriting course with Aaron Sorkin

this writer is an Academy Award winner with the films The West Wing and The Social Network and says that the first ideas he captured were put on a napkin, from which point he achieved success. In this grade you will learn the rules of narration, how to develop the characters and what allows a script to be sold.

The The ultimate goal is to get the text you write to sell to your audience. You can access from your address https://www.masterclass.com/classes/aaron-sorkin-teaches-screenwriting.

Dramatic writing course with David Mamet

The instructor for this course is David Mamet who in 26 lessons teaches everything related to the art of writing scripts. One of the outstanding films in which he has participated is American Buffalo, one of his main inspirations to develop in the dramatic industry.

Mamet has won a Pulitzer Prize and in this class he teaches his students the art of writing, the basic rules of acting, the skills needed to create a play, and how to develop a dialogue. You can access from your address https://www.masterclass.com/classes/david-mamet-teaches-dramatic-writing.

Series script with Shonda Rhimes

One of writer Shonda Rhimes’ biggest and best-known hits is Grey’s Anatomy, which was her nerve-wracking start and the beginning of a slate of made-for-television series. Are 30 videos in which you will have many tips that will enable you to develop your craft in an efficient way.

During the course of the tutorial, Rhimes will teach you how to create compelling characters, write a pilot script, how to stand out from other writers, and along with technical material that will serve as a reference to strengthen your knowledge. You can access from your address https://www.masterclass.com/classes/shonda-rhimes-teaches-writing-for-television.

Creativity and cinema with David Lynch

This director who was nominated for an Oscar shows those who enroll in his classes the creative process involved in the production of a series or film. The course is made up of 13 videos that have a total duration of almost 3 hours. You can access from your address https://www.masterclass.com/classes/david-lynch-teaches-creativity-and-film.

The instructor shows in the classes how to capture ideas and translate them into a narrative timeline in which artistic expressions are exposed to the maximum regardless of the medium in which you have to work as a screenwriter, be it the television, cinema or streaming platforms.

Audiovisual script writing workshop

This is an online course that lasts nine months for beginners in the creation of scripts for audiovisual media. There is no limit to location or hours, however everyone has the opportunity to submit a report to demonstrate their knowledge.

The course instructor is Jaime Bartolomé, expert in script and film direction, who has also managed to win several awards, including the MUCES for writing a feature film. Once the workshop is over, you will feel the impulse to tell your own story. You can access from your address https://escueladeescritores.com/curso/online/guion/.

Best screenwriting contests

At the end of the academic preparation to carry out your work as a screenwriter, now It’s time for you to show others the creative ability you have to tell stories. One of the first places you can start is in a writing contest, there you are going to show your talent to the judges and if you win the doors will open faster.

In the following list, you have several recognized contests in which you can participate and live new experiences:

ProgramIbermedia.com

This program searches help Ibero-American film producers. Together they have important courses for the design of feature films, contributing to the creation of films and the development of scripts of various formats.

If you have a script created you can go through the selection process, where a group of professional scriptwriters give you guidance to improve the content. Afterwards, you gain access to a five-week course in which you are awarded a scholarship if you meet all the requirements.

Damaautor.es

Every year there is a call for this contest that helps writers of feature film scripts. This entity deals mainly with copyright, with thousands of partners in different countries around the world, although to participate it is not necessary to be affiliated.

The idea of ​​the contest is to send a script of a maximum of two pages and at the end the selection of eight projects is made. Although there is no pay for the winner, it is the opportunity to get tanned and learn from the experts. From there, you can have a better recognition by audiovisual companies.

SGAE.es

The idea is to promote the development of film and television productions. Every year this contest is launched in which To participate, a 20-page synopsis must be submitted.. Each person is allowed only one project and apart from having the help of the professionals, you will receive a compensation of 5 thousand euros if you are the winner.

If you are not a member of this foundation, you must make a single payment of 15 euros to participate and with this you have access to the calls that are made. Also with the affiliation they have the right to enter the training courses with a significant discount fee.

University of La Laguna script contest

Authors over 18 years of age of any nationality have the opportunity to participate in this contest and for this they must submit a short film scriptthey must be original and written completely in Spanish in order to be registered.

The extension of the script should not be more than 12 pages of the theme chosen by the writer, however it must be Submit a one-page synopsis explaining the project’s argument. You can access its website from the following address: ull.es/portal/convocatorias.

FundacionSGAE.org

It is one of the most important Spanish-speaking contests in which the winner receives the reward of 25 thousand euros and the finalists about 3,500 each. The program is open to all of Latin America and to enter you must not have received an award on previous occasions.

The call is made every year in the months of April to June and some of the scripts that have been presented in the contest have been filmed, among them the Argentine film “We all have a plan” or the Spanish “Orange honey”.