If you have a passion for storytelling and a talent for translating words into visuals, a career as a screenwriter is best for you. Read this article to know about screenwriting, job roles, salary, institutes offering screenwriting courses, and much more.
How to Become a Screenwriter?
What comes to your mind when you hear screenwriting? Writing for screen, right? But it is more complex than it sounds. Suppose you are watching a comedy movie where there are 10 artists in a single frame and all of them are doing goofy things to make you laugh. Do you think they are doing it on their own? No. They are given a specific set of instructions from movie's director to perform a specific set of acts. These acts come from SCREENWRITING. So, screenwriting is about creating scenes, writing dialogues, writing screenplays and a specific set of instructions for artists who will be performing these acts on screen.
A screenwriter acts as a base of storytelling. The job of a screenwriter includes crafting narratives that captivate audience. In filmmaking process, screenwriters are unseen architects who bring laughter, tears and inspiration. They make us fall in love with characters. This is a real win for a screenwriter. If you have a talent for creativity and want to pursue a career as a screenwriter, hold on for a few minutes and check this article on how to become a screenwriter.
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The minimum passing marks for the Film and Television Institute of India Joint Entrance Test varies, however, the minimum final cut-off marks to qualify for admission in FTII are: i) 50% for General category. ii) 45% for OBC NCL category. iii) 40% for SC/ST category.
To fill the application form of the Film and Television Institute of India Joint Entrance Test (FTII JET) examination. Candidates must be minimum 21 years of age. The minimum educational qualification required for candidates to apply for the FTII JET examination is graudation in any discipline. However, for candidates who want to apply for Art Direction and Production Design course they will have to have a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Arts, Architecture, Painting, Sculpture, Interior Design or related fields in Fine Arts.
- What is Screenwriting?
- What is the job of a screenwriter?
- Salary of a Screenwriter in India
- How To Become A Screenwriter: Jobs and Career Prospects
- Future in Screenwriting
- Colleges Offering Screenwriting Courses
- Famous Screenwriters in India
What is Screenwriting?
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Screenwriting or writing for screen is art of writing scripts for films, television shows, and web series. It does not just involve writing a story, but it also includes creating characters, giving depth to each character, creating a story arc, bringing in twists and turns in the story, infusing drama and action, creating curiosity, hype, attention, and suspense, and often ending on a cliffhanger.
During screenwriting process, a writer has to create dialogues, craft characters, and develop plots that are both engaging and visually compelling. A screenwriter's script serves as a blueprint for directors, actors, and entire production team to bring the story to life on screen. In short, we can say that a screenwriter is a person who conceptualizes the story for very first time.
What is the job of a screenwriter?
As we already know about roles of a screenwriter, it is time to understand their work ethics and jobs. Apart from Concept Development, Plot Structuring, Writing, Collaboration, and Rewriting, the screenwriter has to do these.
- Creating narratives that are structured for visual storytelling.
- Working closely with directors, producers, and other members of production team.
- Ensuring that their scripts are translated effectively into final visual product.
For sound engineering, candidate's need to have a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline with Physics as a subject at senior secondary (10+2) level also they will have to qualify in the written examination of the Joint Entrance Test (JET) of 3 hours duration for 100 marks, conducted at examination centres around the country.
As per the admission process of JET exam, candidates first need to quaify in teh FTII JETe exam and subsequent rounds of the Orientation / Interview process. On the basis of performance in JET, the list of candidates shortlisted for the next level of selection will be made available on the website of the Institute. The institute will send interview letters to the shortlisted candidates directly. Students final selection will be based on their JET scores, and performance in the orientation & interviews rounds. The criteria for short listing may vary for different courses for this regard canddiates are advised to check the official notification in detail as well as the counselling page of FTII JET exam.
There is a cut off which is defined after the exam is conducted. The FTII JET cut off is defined based on various factors such as the exam's difficulty level, total number of applicants who appeared in the exam and the shifts under which the exam is conducted. Candidates who score equal to or more than the FTII JET cut off will qualify in the exam. As far as the minimum passing marks of FTII JET varies, the minimum final cut-off marks to qualify for admission in FTII for General Category is 50% for General category while that for OBC NCL category is 45%.
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Screenplay Writing Colleges in India
Script Writing Colleges in Mumbai
Salary of a Screenwriter in India
Would you believe me if I said that the sky is limit for a screenwriter when it comes to salary? Yes. The salary of a screenwriter in India can vary widely based on experience, reputation, and success of their projects. But, after one or two critically acclaimed projects, their salary can be tenfold, with some earning significantly more based on high profile projects. To get an idea about the salary of a screenwriter, candidates can refer to the table here.
| Experience |
Salary (Per annum) |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level |
INR 3,00,000 to INR 5,00,000 |
| Mid-Level |
INR 6,00,000 to INR 12,00,000 |
| Experienced/Famous Screenwriters |
INR 15,00,000 |
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Top Filmmaking Institutes in India
How To Become A Screenwriter: Jobs and Career Prospects
In past few years, demand for compelling content has opened up numerous opportunities for screenwriters. Earlier, movies were limited to only big screen; but, with OTT platforms and YouTube, scope has just broadened. Here are some potential career paths.
- Film Industry.
- Television
- Web Series
- Advertising
- Freelance Writing
Future in Screenwriting
The future for screenwriters is glorious as there is no recession in entertainment, and creative screenwriters will always be in demand. Adding fire to fuel is digital revolution, spurring a surge in content creation.
Colleges Offering Screenwriting Courses
Below are some institutions in India offering specialized courses in screenwriting.
- Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune
- Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI), Kolkata
- Whistling Woods International, Mumbai
- Asian Academy of Film & Television (AAFT), Noida
- Zee Institute of Media Arts (ZIMA), Mumbai
Famous Screenwriters in India
- Salim-Javed
- Gulzar
- Vijayendra Prasad
- Juhi Chaturvedi
- Farhad-Samji
- Anurag Kashyap and more names.
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Bottomline
The rise of OTT platforms and the increasing appetite for diverse narratives offer promising opportunities for talented screenwriters. With the right skills and networking, the potential for growth and recognition in this field is substantial. For a start, I will suggest you get a pen and paper and start dotting down your thoughts. Create situations, characters, and scenarios. You have your script ready. Pitch it to the producers, or ask your friends to shoot a short movie based on it and upload it on YouTube. You have yourself your first release!!
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Anything you would want to ask experts?
On clearing the Joint Entrance Test (JET), students can get admission into Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) as well as the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute of India (SRFTI). These two premiere institutes are the conducting body of FTII JET as well. Candidates who qualify in this exam will be eligibile to take up film making related courses in either of the two institutes.