Writing assignments are the primary source of income for professional screenwriters in Hollywood - so this is a very valuable process to learn.
Writing assignments with Indie producers can help you break into the movie industry. Writing assignments with Studio level producers can make you $250,000 and above per script.
Of course, to get there, you’ve got to be a high quality screenwriter and you need to understand how the writing assignment process works.
There are four main types of writing assignments:
1. Your pitch: You pitch the producer your idea and they pay you to write it.
2. Their pitch: The producer has an idea she wants written. You pitch a take on it, and if she likes it, she pays you to write it.
3. The adaptation: The producer has the rights to a book. After reading it, you pitch a take on it, and if they like it, they pay you to write it.
4. The rewrite: As a successful screenwriter, you can get paid to rewrite purchased scripts by producers.
Each of these is handled differently and have different requirements. You’ll get an overview of how each type of writing assignment works and what you need to do to get there in the “Biz Class” part of the contest.
HOW DO I GET WRITING ASSIGNMENTS?
In the feature industry, there are three markets of producers for writing assignments:
- Studio
- High-budget Indie
- Low-budget Indie
The easiest strategy is to work your way up the ladder from low budget Indies to higher budget Indies to Studio projects. If you’re a great writer and are easy to work with, you’ll move up that ladder quickly.
Let’s be clear: There are writing jobs at each of these levels.
If you come in with a solid writing sample, a great attitude, and the willingness to deliver on a producer’s vision, you are a great candidate for that writing job.
As you get more writing credits and successes, you’ll move to the next level. Being successful in Hollywood is as much about being professional and collaborating as it is about being talented and skilled. Blowing producers away with amazing writing that matches exactly what they’re looking for is the best way you can achieve that.
WANT TO LEARN THE WRITING ASSIGNMENT PROCESS?
The Biz of Screenwriting “Biz Class” teaches the process. The contest part simulates the process, giving you specific criteria for the contest scene you write and then “producer notes” to modify your scene according to their vision. This will challenge your creativity and give you a taste of what it is like to work with a producer on a project.
You’ll stretch your creativity and gain new levels of flexibility - but even more important, it will make you a better writer and a better candidate for writing assignments.
Join the Biz of Screenwriting 2 Contest/Class.