| Finding a Screenwriter |
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| Marguerite Pigott | |
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Page 1 of 3 So you’ve optioned a novel, or maybe you came up with a great concept, and now you’ve got to find a writer to bring it to fruition. But it’s not just about finding a writer. It’s about finding the right writer for the project. If the screenplay doesn’t work, the film won’t work, so hiring a writer is a big decision. How do you figure out who that right person is, and where do you find candidates? Here are a few steps and ideas that will help.Step One: Know your creative objectives for the filmWhat is the genre, tone and sensibility? What particular strengths must the movie have in order to satisfy its audience?
If you’re planning to use Canadian financing, such as Telefilm Canada or tax credits, you’ll need to ensure your writer is a Canadian citizen (unless you’re doing a co-production – see Production Funding in Canada for discussion of Canadian Content). First, look at Canadian work. But don’t forget to look for Canadian writers whose credits are on non-Canadian projects as well. Step Two: Finding writers who fit the billWhere do you find writers? There are a few places to look. Established writersIf you’re able to afford an established writer, identify produced projects that have the same strengths your movie needs to have, and find out who wrote them. Look at features, television, short films, plays or novels, whatever makes sense for your project. If you’re interested in hiring the writer, contact his or her agent. Most established writers belong to the Writers Guild of Canada (WGC), so before you call an agent, check the Guild website for rates and payment schedules to ensure you can afford to hire your chosen candidate. Writer’s Guild members are paid standard guild minimums and negotiate up from there. For a complete understanding of guild rates, check out their website, www.writersguildofcanada.com. You will likely need to have some development financing in place to hire an established writer. You may also want to call agents to let them know about your project and what strengths you’re looking for in a writer. They may suggest clients and send you writing samples. The WGC website has a contact list for Canadian agents under ‘Resources’ [www.wgc.ca/resources/agents.html ]. Another great place to look is the membership directory on the WGC website, www.writersguildofcanada.com . You will need WGC accreditation as a producer in order to access the directory, which provides credits and contact information and allows you to do searches by genre. Continued... |
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