A Screenwriter or a Screenplay Writer is a person who is responsible for preparing a story script in such a way that it reflects the mood, emotions and setting of the story. A Screenwriter works with the Scriptwriter and ensures the best version of the media to be shown on the screens.
Personal Competencies
You are a creative person
You are well-versed with the basic principles of storytelling and character psychology
You have great improvisational ability
You know the culture and literary capacity of the audience and how to design narratives that are acceptable to them
Entry Pathway
Complete your 10 + 2 in any subject combination and pursue a degree in filmmaking (preferably a major in B.A. Multimedia, with focus on Screenplay- writing) /English Literature/Journalism or any other similar discipline
Or Complete your 10 + 2 in any subject combination and pursue a degree Filmmaking (preferably a major in B.A. Multimedia, with focus on Screenplay- writing) /English Literature/Journalism or any other similar discipline and then pursue a PG degree in Filmmaking or Scriptwriting as well as in any other discipline within humanities.
Or Complete your 10 + 2 in any subject combination and pursue a degree in filmmaking (preferably a major in B.A. Multimedia, with focus on Screenplay- Writing) /English literature/Journalism or any other similar discipline and then pursue a PG Diploma in Filmmaking or Scriptwriting.
* Please check the duration of the course during enrolment
Where will you study?
This course is offered by the department of Filmmaking/ Media and Mass communication. *This list of institutes is indicative only
Government Institutes 1. Film and Television Institute of India, Pune (PG Diploma ) 2. Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, Kolkata 3. MGR Government Film and Television Institute, Chennai (BVA in Screenplay writing) 4. Biju Patnaik Film and Television Institute, Cuttack 5. Dr Bhupen Hazarika Regional Government Film and Television Institute, Changsari 6. Jadavpur University, Kolkata 7. Mumbai University - University of Mumbai (UG Diploma in Screenplay writing) 8. Central University of Rajasthan, Ajmer 9. Ambedkar University Delhi - Bharat Ratna Dr BR Ambedkar University 10. Calcutta University, Kolkata
Private Institutes *(Please check if Institute is affiliated and accredited with UGC before applying) 1. Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Takshashila Campus 2. Kanya Mahavidyalaya, Jalandhar 3. Whistling Woods International, Mumbai 4. Asian Academy of Film and Television, Delhi 5. Ajeenkya DY Patil University, Pune 6. Techno India University, Kolkata (offers BFA on digital film making and VFX) 7. CMR University, Bangalore 8. Annapurna College of Film and Media, Hyderabad (Both online and on site) 9. Singhania University, Jhunjhunu 10. R.K. Films & Media Academy 11. Amity University, Mumbai (offers a BA in filmmaking) 12. Parul University, Vadodara
The course fee ranges between INR 10,000 - 500,000 depending on the type of college.*
*The above-mentioned figures are approximate numbers. This will vary from institute to institute.
Scholarships & Loans
Scholarships
• National Scholarship Portal - Please visit http://www.scholarships.gov.in. Under this portal there are Central Government schemes offered by different Departments, UGC/AICTE Schemes and State Schemes.* • Please visit http://www.buddy4study.com for details on available scholarships. This is a gateway to scholarships starting from Class XI • Scholarships are also available in the Institutes based on merit
*(Availability of these scholarships can vary from time to time)
Loans
•VidyaLakshmi, http://www.vidyalakshmi.co.in, is a portal for students seeking education loan. This portal has been developed under the guidance of the Department of Financial Services, (Ministry of Finance), Department of Higher Education (Ministry of Human Resource Development) and Indian Banks Association (IBA). •Some states have student credit cards with low interest rates, for instance, West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, etc. • All banks give education loans.
Where will you work?
Places of Work: Media houses across India, gaming companies across India, animation companies across India and production houses across India. You can be self-employed as a screenwriter.
Work Environment: It is a desk job and you may need to handle a team Travelling is a part of the job, though you may work from home at times. Working hours are 8/9 hours everyday for 5/6 days a week, varying from company to company.
Expected Growth Path
Script Researcher --> Scriptwriter/Screenwriter --> Script Editor --> Assistant Script Editor --> Group Script Editor --> Content Head
Expected Income
The approx. salary of a screenwriter is INR 42,500 per month.
Juhi Chaturvedi is an art director turned screenwriter. Juhi lived in New Delhi, India for a decade while working on her job which she could use as an experience to write the script for her debut film ‘Vicky Donor’. Some of her notable films include Madras Cafe, Piku, Gulabo Sitabo.*
Screenwriter
NCS Code: 2641.0601 | MC025Complete your 10 + 2 in any subject combination and pursue a degree in filmmaking (preferably a major in B.A. Multimedia, with focus on Screenplay- writing) /English Literature/Journalism or any other similar discipline
Or Complete your 10 + 2 in any subject combination and pursue a degree Filmmaking (preferably a major in B.A. Multimedia, with focus on Screenplay- writing) /English Literature/Journalism or any other similar discipline and then pursue a PG degree in Filmmaking or Scriptwriting as well as in any other discipline within humanities.
Or Complete your 10 + 2 in any subject combination and pursue a degree in filmmaking (preferably a major in B.A. Multimedia, with focus on Screenplay- Writing) /English literature/Journalism or any other similar discipline and then pursue a PG Diploma in Filmmaking or Scriptwriting.
* Please check the duration of the course during enrolment
This course is offered by the department of Filmmaking/ Media and Mass communication.
*This list of institutes is indicative only
Government Institutes
1. Film and Television Institute of India, Pune (PG Diploma )
2. Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, Kolkata
3. MGR Government Film and Television Institute, Chennai (BVA in Screenplay writing)
4. Biju Patnaik Film and Television Institute, Cuttack
5. Dr Bhupen Hazarika Regional Government Film and Television Institute, Changsari
6. Jadavpur University, Kolkata
7. Mumbai University - University of Mumbai (UG Diploma in Screenplay writing)
8. Central University of Rajasthan, Ajmer
9. Ambedkar University Delhi - Bharat Ratna Dr BR Ambedkar University
10. Calcutta University, Kolkata
Private Institutes
*(Please check if Institute is affiliated and accredited with UGC before applying)
1. Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Takshashila Campus
2. Kanya Mahavidyalaya, Jalandhar
3. Whistling Woods International, Mumbai
4. Asian Academy of Film and Television, Delhi
5. Ajeenkya DY Patil University, Pune
6. Techno India University, Kolkata (offers BFA on digital film making and VFX)
7. CMR University, Bangalore
8. Annapurna College of Film and Media, Hyderabad (Both online and on site)
9. Singhania University, Jhunjhunu
10. R.K. Films & Media Academy
11. Amity University, Mumbai (offers a BA in filmmaking)
12. Parul University, Vadodara
Online Courses
1. Best Screenwriting Courses & Certifications [2023] - Coursera https://in.coursera.org › courses › query=screenwriting
2. Screenwriting Online Course: https://www.udemy.com/
The course fee ranges between INR 10,000 - 500,000 depending on the type of college.*
*The above-mentioned figures are approximate numbers. This will vary from institute to institute.
Scholarships
• National Scholarship Portal - Please visit http://www.scholarships.gov.in. Under this portal there are Central Government schemes offered by different Departments, UGC/AICTE Schemes and State Schemes.*
• Please visit http://www.buddy4study.com for details on available scholarships. This is a gateway to scholarships starting from Class XI
• Scholarships are also available in the Institutes based on merit
*(Availability of these scholarships can vary from time to time)
Loans
•VidyaLakshmi, http://www.vidyalakshmi.co.in, is a portal for students seeking education loan. This portal has been developed under the guidance of the Department of Financial Services, (Ministry of Finance), Department of Higher Education (Ministry of Human Resource Development) and Indian Banks Association (IBA).
•Some states have student credit cards with low interest rates, for instance, West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, etc.
• All banks give education loans.
Places of Work: Media houses across India, gaming companies across India, animation companies across India and production houses across India. You can be self-employed as a screenwriter.
Work Environment: It is a desk job and you may need to handle a team Travelling is a part of the job, though you may work from home at times. Working hours are 8/9 hours everyday for 5/6 days a week, varying from company to company.
Script Researcher --> Scriptwriter/Screenwriter --> Script Editor --> Assistant Script Editor --> Group Script Editor --> Content Head
The approx. salary of a screenwriter is INR 42,500 per month.
* Source https://www.payscale.com/research/IN/Skill=Screenwriting/Salary
*These figures are indicative and subject to change
Experts from the field
Juhi Chaturvedi is an art director turned screenwriter. Juhi lived in New Delhi, India for a decade while working on her job which she could use as an experience to write the script for her debut film ‘Vicky Donor’. Some of her notable films include Madras Cafe, Piku, Gulabo Sitabo.*
Source: https://frontrow.co.in/guides/top-5-indian-screenwriters/
*The above information is for training purposes only and will not be used for any commercial gains
story-writer, screenwriter, content-writer