Barcelona City Council | Capital humà

Scriptwriters are in charge of creating audiovisual content and expressing this content through the writing of the script. Among the functions of this occupation we find imagining and describing characters, plots, settings and situations, designing dialogues and, ultimately, creating attractive content for audiovisual products.
This occupation requires a broad mastery of writing techniques and a deep understanding of audiovisual language, in order to achieve the basic objective of organizing narratively in a script (through scenes, descriptions, actions, dialogues and annotations) a content that must be produced, filmed and broadcast.

These professionals create and make scripts for movies or short films, documentaries, television series, radio or television programs, commercials, plays and musicals. As scriptwriters, these professionals can work in different types of companies in the audiovisual sector, such as television and radio channels and companies, film and/or theatre production companies, and large advertising companies.

• Research the nature of the audience at whom the programme is aimed and the topic to be used in the screenplay.
• Analysis of the production requirements and requests (where it has been commissioned) in order to construct an audiovisual narrative.
• Identify the narrative potential of the various sources that may be used in an audiovisual script and consider the best way to adapt them.
• Write the structure or outline of the script, or synopsis.
• Write audiovisual content in general: construct narratives and stories for film, television or advertising.
• Make the necessary changes in the script on the basis of feedback.
• Rewrite parts of the script and be able to let go of bits that screenwriters themselves may view as essential but which the producer or director believe can be cut.
• Adaptation of novels, plays or musicals for film or television.
• Write the notebook containing audio and video cues for the director and screen design (sequences, scenes, shots, camera movements and editing).

Regulated training and graduates

• Grau: Comunicació cultural
• Grau: Audiovisual i multimèdia
• Grau: Comunicació audiovisual
• Grau: Comunicació i industries culturals
• Grau: Estudis literaris
• Grau: Humanitats
• Grau: Humanitats i estudis culturals
• Grau: Cinematografia

Complementary training

Other specific skills

Flexibility and change management: Level 2

Creativity: Level 3

Conceptual thought: Level 3

Orientation within reach: Level 2

Concern for order and quality: Level 2

Artistic

People who show an interest in the artistic field enjoy expressing ideas and feelings through the language of art A creative spirit and the motivation to convey concepts or emotions are inherent to this interest. This field includes all the activities that are oriented towards creating artistic products in their various forms: works that are musical, cinematographic or visual in nature, as well as dance and related arts.

Communication

Those who show a preference for the field of communication are interested in the generation and dissemination of information. This information, however, can have various purposes: provide information on events and occurrences, generate public opinion on a certain topic or promote and publicise a service or product. Carrying out these activities requires knowledge of various techniques aimed at communication, persuasion and marketing.

Humanities

The key interests of people who are interested in the field of humanities are studying the activity of human beings over time as well as their cultural and artistic expressions. Activities that represent this field are the creation of cultural products and the organisation of exhibitions and events, in addition to the promotion of actions for the preservation and dissemination of an artistic group. Significant knowledge of cultural, historical and linguistic heritage is required to carry out these activities.

Desktop publisher

Advertising creative

Copywriter

Community manager

Content creation manager

• Work hours

  There are no set hours for freelance screenwriters. They must be highly flexible, particularly around the dates when material is due. In television, or at least where employment contracts are concerned, there are regular hours of 35-50 hours a week, although it is common for these to be extended when material is due.

• Salary

  Salary range: between 19.597 and 28.983 euros annum gross. Median: 23.832 euros annum gross.
  
  Source: Report "Observatory of Jobs and Salaries of the Labour Market. Barcelona Activa", elaborated by ICSA Grupo. April 2015.

• Other features

  It is a significant advantage to be a member of well-known screenwriters associations or guilds.

• Human resources and equipment

  You will need to invest in technology, a physical space - office or studio - that serves as a working space and for inspiration.

• Initial investments

  The most significant investment is for training in literature, text editing, film, etc., and for building up experience with professional screenwriting teams.