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 have an artistic bent of mind
• You like to read about music and art
Entry Pathway
1. Complete 10 + 2 in any stream
2. Complete a Bachelor's degree in Arts (BA.) in Filmmaking (majoring in Multimedia with focus on Screenplay — writing)/English Literature/ Journalism or similar discipline OR
Complete a Bachelor's degree in Arts (BA) in Filmmaking (majoring in Multimedia With focus on Screenplay — writing)/ English Literature/ Journalism or similar discipline followed by Master's in Filmmaking/Scriptwriting/any other related discipline OR
Complete a Bachelor's degree in Arts (BA) in Filmmaking (majoring in Multimedia with focus on Screenplay — writing)/ English Literature/ Journalism or similar discipline followed by 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, Maharashtra
2. Satyajit Ray film and Television Institute, Kolkata, West Bengal
3. MGR Government film and Television Institute, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
4. Biju Patnaik Film and Television Institute, Cuttack, Odisha
5. Dr Bhupen Hazarika Regional Government film and Television Institute, Changsari, Assam
6. Jadavpur University, Kolkata, West Bengal
7. Mumbai University - University of Mumbai, Maharashtra
8. Central University of Rajasthan, Ajmer, Rajasthan
PRIVATE INSTITUTES
(Please check if institute is affiliated and accredited with UGC before applying)
1. Amity University, Mumbai, Maharashtra
2. Kanya Mahavidyalaya, Jalandhar, Punjab
3. Whistling Woods International, Mumbai, Maharashtra
4. Asian Academy of Film and Television, New Delhi
5. Ajeenkya DY Patil University, Pune, Maharashtra
6. Techno India University, Kolkata, West Bengal
7. CMR University, Bangalore, Karnataka
8. Annapurna College of film and Media, Hyderabad, Telangana
9. Parul University, Vadodara, Gujarat
10. R.K. films & Media Academy, New Delhi
The approx. course fee ranges between INR 10,000 -5,00,000*
*These figures are estimated numbers and will vary from Institute to Institute
Scholarships & Loans
SCHOLARSHIPS
• National Scholarship Portal - Visit http://www.scholarships.gov.in. Under this portal there are Central Government schemes offered by different departments, UGC/AICTE Schemes and State Schemes*
• 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 themselves 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), Ministry of Education, Government of India and Indian Banks Association (IBA). Students can view, track the education loan applications on the website.
• 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, Gaming Companies, Animation Companies, Production Houses, Self-Employment
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 to 9 hours a day for 5 to 6 days a week, varying from company to company.
Opportunities for work exist for differently abled in this field
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.
*These figures are taken from NCS and 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 Done. Some of her notable films include Madras Cafe, Piku, Gulabo Sitabo.*
SCREEN WRITER
NCS Code: 2641.0601 | AMM054• You are a creative person
• You have an artistic bent of mind
• You like to read about music and art
1. Complete 10 + 2 in any stream
2. Complete a Bachelor's degree in Arts (BA.) in Filmmaking (majoring in Multimedia with focus on Screenplay — writing)/English Literature/ Journalism or similar discipline
OR
Complete a Bachelor's degree in Arts (BA) in Filmmaking (majoring in Multimedia With focus on Screenplay — writing)/ English Literature/ Journalism or similar discipline followed by Master's in Filmmaking/Scriptwriting/any other related discipline
OR
Complete a Bachelor's degree in Arts (BA) in Filmmaking (majoring in Multimedia with focus on Screenplay — writing)/ English Literature/ Journalism or similar discipline followed by 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, Maharashtra
2. Satyajit Ray film and Television Institute, Kolkata, West Bengal
3. MGR Government film and Television Institute, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
4. Biju Patnaik Film and Television Institute, Cuttack, Odisha
5. Dr Bhupen Hazarika Regional Government film and Television Institute, Changsari, Assam
6. Jadavpur University, Kolkata, West Bengal
7. Mumbai University - University of Mumbai, Maharashtra
8. Central University of Rajasthan, Ajmer, Rajasthan
PRIVATE INSTITUTES
(Please check if institute is affiliated and accredited with UGC before applying)
1. Amity University, Mumbai, Maharashtra
2. Kanya Mahavidyalaya, Jalandhar, Punjab
3. Whistling Woods International, Mumbai, Maharashtra
4. Asian Academy of Film and Television, New Delhi
5. Ajeenkya DY Patil University, Pune, Maharashtra
6. Techno India University, Kolkata, West Bengal
7. CMR University, Bangalore, Karnataka
8. Annapurna College of film and Media, Hyderabad, Telangana
9. Parul University, Vadodara, Gujarat
10. R.K. films & Media Academy, New Delhi
Information on Institute rankings is available at - https://www.nirfindia.org/Ranking/2023/Ranking.html
The approx. course fee ranges between INR 10,000 -5,00,000*
*These figures are estimated numbers and will vary from Institute to Institute
SCHOLARSHIPS
• National Scholarship Portal - Visit http://www.scholarships.gov.in. Under this portal there are Central Government schemes offered by different departments, UGC/AICTE Schemes and State Schemes*
• 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 themselves 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), Ministry of Education, Government of India and Indian Banks Association (IBA). Students can view, track the education loan applications on the website.
• 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, Gaming Companies, Animation Companies, Production Houses, Self-Employment
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 to 9 hours a day for 5 to 6 days a week, varying from company to company.
Opportunities for work exist for differently abled in this field
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 taken from NCS and 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 Done. 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