It’s seems like I’ve been away for such a long time since we went through the whole college search business. Things have been going well, DD graduated college on time, class of 2015, cum laude (so proud), and is now doing a paid internship for a large media corporation editing content for one of their online properties.
DD is happy for the current gig (it took three months of concerted effort to snag this fish), but she really wants to eventually “follow the dream” and become a scriptwriter for either TV or film. She was en English major with emphasis on writing and a minor in film and has a rather extensive online portfolio from previous unpaid summer internships in journalism, so she’s got the writing chops. But screenwriting? Hmm.
I told her to network within the company which also has TV and film divisions but she doesn’t quite know how to go about it. She’s already talked to her recruiter in HR but she one only deals with online jobs. The plan DD came up with is go to a university that has a top program specifically for scriptwriting (Boston has two, Columbia is another) for a masters degree. I would love to accommodate her, but the programs she’s talking about are prohibitively expensive and some things I’ve read in certain forums state that although theses programs are wonderful and they give you access to the “right people” (Connections! lots of connections to people in the biz who will guide you into the right internships until you’re made!), that after graduation only a small percentage of degree holders actually work in scriptwriting, or in the business at all. But DD thinks this will make her career. To me it’s an awful lot of money to outlay for the opportunity to make connections with no guarantee of even making a living from it afterwards. Med school it ain’t. There must be an alternate way.
So does anyone have any practical suggestions or strategies for someone trying to break into writing for TV or other performance media that doesn’t include a two year masters? It’s a tough slog for sure, but she’s still young, and better to have given it your best shot now and even fail than give up too soon and always wonder “what if”?
A former neighbour’s son is a TV screenwriter. It took him 10-12 years to make it big. He moved to L.A. after college and took any job in the business that he could, working his way up to working with quality people, all the while working on his scripts and shopping them around.
My 2 cents as someone who is overeducated - follow my neighbour’s son’s path. Education is great, but real world experience is what will make her career. It sounds like she’s in a good position right now. She can make the connections where she is. If she wants to study for a masters degree, she can pay for it. Harsh, but that’s my 2 cents as a PhD.
@bouders–Thanks, that’s how I"m thinking too about pursuing the path. We’re also on the same page about financing “the dream”.
I have heard that there are some scriptwriter workshops in the NY Metropolitan area that are a either single class and one a course of 8 weeks. The 8 week one you still have to pay, but it’s a mere fraction of the cost of a non-matric course at a college. Does anyone know someone who has had experience with these kinds of classes?
We have a family member who is a scriptwriter, among other things. In his case I’d say he’s definitely talented but it IS a lot about connections. He was a successful young actor for a decade or two and when he grew out of that he moved into producing and directing his own projects (film), and now mostly directs and writes (TV).
He didn’t go to college at all, I don’t think he even finished high school because he was working so much as an actor then.
So I’ll probably agree with @bouders - more experience over more school, in my admittedly limited experience.
There are very specific rules on how to FORMAT a script. A script will never get looked at unless it is in the correct format. Then of course, connections.
This is one path, but of course a lot of people try this, with little or no success. Whether the likelihood of success is better or worse with a screenwriting degree, I can’t say.
I’m from Los Angeles, and a number of my friends are TV writers. It’s not easy to break into. Some writers do go through undergrad programs (like UCLA or USC) but most don’t. You can’t get far w/out an agent, and agents don’t accept unsolicited manuscripts, so basically you need some connections to get that first break. Is she in LA? That’s where most of the action is. One friend of mine was an assistant in a writer’s room, and got a writer to read her spec script, and that got her a break. Another friend was an executive at a movie studio, and knew people to show her specs too. Another friend was a comic, and made connections that way. If it were my kid, I’d encourage her to read a couple of screenwriting books, get the script writing software, and write a couple of short spec scripts. The easiest to do are for 1/2 hour TV shows that are already on the air. If she has an original idea, she should try her hand at that too. Many, many screenplays are online now, and she should read, read, read, to learn how scripts are set up, etc. One more thing – you need to encourage her to network w/ the film/TV people inside her company. It’s a business built on connections, and people can’t be shy. If there is someone who is from her home town or her college, that makes it easier. She can send an email or call them and just say “hi, I work in this division, and I would love to learn about your division too. Can we meet for coffee or a quick chat?” Then she should have a list of questions. Good luck!
In one way or another our family has been in and out of this business for over 75 years. I believe you are correct in the assumption that a masters degree is not a guarantee for any sort of success in the industry.