| bottom-link"> | | | | methods exist. but these rules and methods don't |
| Taking a look at screenwriting. | | | | need to be learned at a university. Any number |
| A screenplay is what feature length movies are | | | | of established screenwriters did not attend a |
| acted and filmed from. Screenplays are often | | | | university screenwriting program. |
| shortened in reference, and called scripts. A script | | | | Screenwriting has probably, if not certainly, |
| is used in every form of acted and filmed output | | | | surpassed the novel as the preferred writing form |
| that comes from the entertainment industry. | | | | for aspiring fiction writers. There are any number |
| Scripts are used in feature films, made for | | | | of reasons for this, and the assumption that the |
| television movies, weekly television dramas, and | | | | entertainment industry is especially glamorous is |
| situation comedies. | | | | probably one of them. But the screenplay is also |
| The study of screenwriting has become | | | | typically much shorter than the novel is, and is |
| extremely popular, more popular than the study | | | | possibly seen as a potentially easier goal as a |
| of film direction most likely, though certainly still | | | | result. |
| less popular than the study of acting. Some | | | | Screenwriters can earn considerable amounts of |
| universities now have entire programs dedicated | | | | money -- millions of dollars -- but big salary |
| completely to screenwriting. In fact, many if not | | | | screenwriters are rare. Screenwriters are also |
| most southern California universities have a | | | | often treated dismissively by entertainment |
| screenwriting program (southern California being | | | | industry decision makers, and are typically given |
| the de facto capital of the American | | | | little to no final authority. Screenwriting is not |
| entertainment industry). | | | | generally a form for those seeking control or |
| Prestigious university screenwriting programs, and | | | | notoriety. This reality is frustrating for some |
| most of these exist at southern California schools, | | | | screenwriters, and a number of them have |
| are overrun with applications. It's real world proof | | | | produced works over the years documenting |
| of just how popular the form of screenwriting has | | | | what they perceive as disrespectful treatment. |
| become. What is it that one learns by attending a | | | | Television writers tend to be received better than |
| university screenwriting program? How to write a | | | | feature film writers are within the entertainment |
| screenplay that will be seen favorably by the | | | | industry. Perhaps the time deadlines inherent to |
| entertainment industry, presumably. Acceptance | | | | television mean the television writer is less likely |
| into a prestigious screenwriting program is not a | | | | to be disregarded: their immediate work is |
| guarantee of a successful screenwriting career; it | | | | needed. Though television work may be better |
| is, however, a guarantee of networking access, | | | | for the ego, though it carries less prestige than |
| and proper connections are extremely important | | | | feature film work, any form of screenwriting |
| in the entertainment industry. | | | | comes up short against playwriting and writing |
| One does not need to attend a university | | | | novels in the areas of writer control and writer |
| screenwriting program to have a screenwriting | | | | recognition. |
| career. Rules of screenwriting exist, screenwriting | | | | |