Screenwriter Vs Scriptwriter: What's the Difference?

Films, TV, web series, ads, etc., all need screenwriting and scriptwriting. Ever wondered how these two are different from each other? Let's find out.

Screenwriter Vs Scriptwriter: What's the Difference? - Writing for a film, TV serial, OTT series, talk show, theatre production, documentary, etc. requires different skills in a writer. There are two types of writers in this production. These are Screenwriters and Scriptwriters. These terms are often used interchangeably. However, there are some small differences between the two. Scriptwriting includes writing for live and recorded programs, talk shows, video games, etc. However, screenwriting is related to writing stories for films, TV serials, OTT series, and for any piece of production on a screen. We can say that all screenwriting is scriptwriting, but not all scriptwriting is screenwriting. Check out this article to know more about Screenwriter and Scriptwriter. Also, know how they are different from each other.

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Scriptwriting: An Overview

Scriptwriting is a profession that involves writing scripts for films, television shows, video games, and other forms of media. Scriptwriters create dialogue, characters, situations and plots for these forms of media and entertainment. They work closely with directors, producers, and other members of the creative team to ensure the success of the final product. Scriptwriters must be able to articulate their ideas clearly and work well under pressure. The job responsibilities of a script writer include working on the story idea, researching the background of the story, developing believable plots and characters, and rewriting and making changes to the script before and during production.

Scriptwriting Subjects

Although Scriptwriting courses vary by college/ university, some subjects are commonly taught in all institutions. Such as: 

• Introduction to Film Making
• Process of Thinking
• Creating & Building Characters
• Story Telling
• Copy Writing, Brand Building
• Writing for Television
• Language & Dialogues
• Adaption from Literature
• Study of documentary
• Film Analysis and History
• Culture Studies
• Writing the Series
• Film Analysis and History

Screenwriting: A Brief

Screenwriting is the art of writing stories in a screenplay format which includes the movements, actions, expressions, and dialogues of the characters. A screenplay is a written document that determines what will ultimately be a piece of visual media, such as a scene in a feature film. This writing includes everything from the external factors of the scene, such as the setting of the set, and the dialogue or body language of the actors. It also describes the feelings and atmosphere that enliven the scene. In today’s scenario, having a traditional or authentic Screenwriting degree to start a career in this field is not mandatory, but having the same can always prove to be a plus point when applying for relevant jobs.

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Screenwriting Subjects

Those interested in having a career in this field can pursue Screenwriting courses at certification, diploma, undergraduate or postgraduate level. The curriculum of these courses often covers the following topics.

Scriptwriting Vs Screenwriting: The Differences

The biggest difference between Scriptwriting and Screenwriting is the content being written. Where Scriptwriting only focuses on the lines of an actor or a broadcaster, screenwriting describes everything like dialogue, stage direction, sound effects, lighting, stage direction, etc. The script consists of a very basic description of the scene so that the actors can focus only on the scene. Whereas, the purpose of Screenwriting is to explain the scene to everyone on the production team, such as camera operators, sound techs, and even the director, so that they can take care of lighting, camera settings, etc. accordingly.

Eligibility Criteria for Scriptwriting and Screenwriting Programmes 

The eligibility criteria for Screenwriting and Scriptwriting courses may vary according to the colleges and the level of the course. So the candidates must check the eligibility criteria as per their course at the time of admission. However, the general criteria for both courses are mentioned below:

Certificate Programme: The candidate must have passed 12th in any discipline from a recognized board.

UG Degree or Diploma Programme: Candidate must have passed 12th class from a recognized board. There is no compulsion of the subject in this field.

PG Degree or PG Diploma Programme: A Bachelor's Degree from a recognized University or a Bachelor's degree in Scriptwriting or Screenwriting is mandatory.

Skills Required for Scriptwriting and Screenwriting

It would be fair to say that screenwriting and scriptwriting have more similarities than differences. The skills required for the two also overlap to a great extent. Some of these skills are mentioned in the table below. 

Entrance Exams for Scriptwriting and Screenwriting

Candidates can pursue various courses for Scriptwriting and Screenwriting such as PG Diploma in Direction and Screenplay Writing, Certificate in Screenwriting, BSc in Filmmaking, Diploma in Writing for Films and Television, NCVTE Diploma in Screenplay Writing, BA in Multimedia in Screen Writing, etc. The admission process for Script Writing courses varies from institute to institute. Many colleges offer admission based on marks obtained in the class 12th examination, while some institutes/ universities conduct entrance examinations for admissions. The entrance test usually takes place in two stages, a written test and an interview. Some entrance exams through which students can get into the above-mentioned programmes include. 

• FTII JET
• AAFT GEE
• JMI Entrance Exam
• XIC OET

Career Prospects for Scriptwriting and Screenwriting

Those interested in the field can simply show their screenplays to a manager or agency who can represent them and submit their work to a potential employer. He/she could work in an office, from home, in a movie studio, in a television studio, or on a movie set. A professional’s day-to-day activities may include coming up with themes and ideas, researching background material, developing believable plots and characters, laying out the screenplay to an agreed format, preparing short summaries of your ideas, selling your ideas or "pitching" to producers, receiving feedback on your work from producers or script editors, and rewriting the script before submitting it. Candidates who are interested in this field can work for many other job profiles besides a Screenwriter or script writer. The other career options are:

Content Developer: Content developers write and edit online content for customers or companies on demand. These professionals are expected to have good knowledge of SEO.

Content Writer: As the name suggests, content writers write content for their company. Content writers work for newspapers, magazines, news channels, websites, etc.

Director: A candidate who is passionate about filmmaking can also become a director. Just like Script Writing, film direction is also a highly creative field.

Blogger: Bloggers write, edit, post, and promote content on their web pages or websites. Usually, they are freelancers and write only on topics related to the field of their choice.

Short Film Writer: Short-duration films are more challenging to write. Often short-duration films are known to give a strong message.

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