Scriptwriters prepare stories and instructions for films, television, plays and commercials. Their role is essential to the production process. Script editors check that scripts meet standards, provide feedback, and manage the relationship between writers and the production team. A scriptwriter's work begins when a director chooses a concept and the scriptwriter creates writing to accompany the director's plan. Writers often find work through directors they know or by pitching ideas to production clients. Types of scriptwriting include radio drama, factual programming, and fiction for film and television. Legal considerations for scriptwriters include copyright, plagiarism, contracts, and agreements regarding the purchase and optioning of scripts.

1. Script writing process
Scriptwriters/ screenwriters - The roleof a scriptwriter,also known as a screenwriter, is to prepare stories
and instructions for films,television,plays and commercials.Thescriptwriter's roleis essential,as withouta
scriptwriter there is no production.
Scripteditors - Check scripts areup to standard,Give their feedback on scripts and discussany issues with the
production team, Manage the relationship between the production team and the writers, Come up with
amazingideas for the story/script,consistentwith the style of the show they are workingon.
Commission behind being a scriptwriter – the scriptwriter’s work will begin once the clienthas handed the
control over to the director who will then pick who he wants as the scriptwriter or itwill havebeen chosen for
him. The scriptwriter will receivethe director’s plan and they will createthe writingto go alongsideit.
How to get work as a scriptwriter – many writers will find work through directors they are associated with or
by applyingand pitchingthere ideas for the writingto clients who organisethe production of a piece of
content. The way they tend to pitch is by lookingover what the director has chosen to do and trying to make a
scriptto go alongsideit.
Types of scriptwriting:
Scriptwriting: Radio - Radio drama is the most intimate relationship a scriptwriter can havewith their
audience, and yet it can also cheaply createanythingthat you can imagine.This also the most cost efficient
sideof scriptwritingbecauseyou don’t have to create a picture to go alongsidethe script.
ScriptWriting:Factual Programmes – the scriptwritinginvolved around factual programmes is quitestraight
forward because most of the writingcomes from other peoples work and you’re justapplyingitto your
work/script.
ScriptWriting:Fiction (Film& TV) - Every screenplay and teleplay begins with a thought or idea, and
screenwriters use those ideas to write scripts,with the intention of sellingthem and havingthem produced.
The majority of the time, a filmproject gets initiated by a screenwriter and becausethey initiated the project,
the writingassignmentexclusively becomes his or hers.
Legal requirements behind scriptwriting:
Copyright - Your firsttask after coming up with a great idea for a movie is to write as detailed an accountof
your idea as possible.Generally,a page or two is not sufficient.Pitchingideas blind to a filmcompany can be
considered a form of an open invitation to thieve your ideas.A non-disclosureagreement is a bindingcontract
where each party agrees not to discusstheir ideas with anyoneelse unless certain pre-agreed conditions are
met.
As a writer, knowing a littleabout the legal sideof your craftcan save you a lot of aggravation.The following
topics areparticularly important:
- Copyright
- Plagiarism
- Fair use/fair dealing
- Libel
- Contracts
- Publishingcontracts
- Screenplay contracts
- Option agreements
- Shopping agreements
- Scriptpurchases