ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

3 years, 4 months ago - Vasco de Sousa

There is an old saying they used to say online, the writer is at the bottom of the food chain.

That doesn't mean that the writer has no power, or should not be listened to. What it means is that professional writers don't hire people to make features. (Maybe if you're a writer-director of shorts, or you're making an infomercial, you might hire a line-producer. But for features, no.)

This is how it goes with professional feature fiction filmmaking, in every country where I interviewed professional filmmakers. (Note, advertisements and other audio-visual materials are different. Clients might write their scripts in house and act in a documentary about them. But we are talking here about movies for the cinema, not sales materials.). I have also read way too many bios, been to the festivals where I hear the making of first hand, etc.

Distributor pays production company.

Production company pays director, cinematographer, post production company, line-producer, etc.

Sometimes a director or cast will option or even buy a script. (To ensure they get to direct it or act in it.).

Even a crew member might hire one, if you really feel you need that work, but it is usually the director, studio, actor or production company that will option or buy a script.

A Screenwriter might hire someone to type up a screenplay, or spend money on an office or a secretary to answer calls, but generally does not hire other filmmakers.

An editor might have an assistant. Sometimes you will have post-production companies or effects companies that hire individuals.

Most jobs are temporary in nature on set. But studios can offer long term jobs.

Writers do not hire producers, directors, actors, etc. Your screenplay will probably be better than any film made by anyone you can afford to hire.

If people do not like your script enough to pay for it, they will not make a good movie out of it. Let them adapt Shakespeare if they can't afford a script. (Or let them talk to investors. There are plenty in the UK and USA, two of the largest economies on the planet.)

When you are ready to hire others, you are ready to hire other screenwriters too. And then you are ready to direct. (Some of my favourite directors started as writers.). Or produce.

But your screenplay is enough. A screenwriter's job is at the bottom of the food chain, meaning you don't hire other filmmakers. You can of course become a producer or a hyphenate something else if you want, but the screenwriter's job does not include doing business plans or pitch decks or finding directors or any of that.

(In fact, when I was trying to produce other people's scripts, one of the biggest turn offs was having a big team already attached to the project.)