Did you know that there are amazing film jobs for writers? Film is one of the most creative industries out there!
Every position utilizes creativity in some way. The lighting department, for example, should know the script to determine what lighting will best portray a scene’s mood/emotion. The camera team must understand how light, framing, and angles will affect and propel the story. Production assistants—in addition to being immersed in a fast-paced work environment—get to observe the most fascinating things on earth: people!
While it would be fun, discussing every film set position would take forever, so I will share the top four that are tailor-made for writers.
1. Director
Film directors are the story masters. They may not have written the script, but it is their vision that is being enacted by every member of the cast and crew. (Although sometimes the director is the writer, as is the case with the first film I was part of.)
Directors work closely with the actors to help them understand the story and the emotions behind it. They also collaborate with the Director of Photography to make sure the story is being well represented visually. The Director is the one calling the shots, and it’s his/her vision everyone is working together to achieve.
Because everyone is depending on the Director to, well, give direction, it is vital that he/she be a good communicator. If you’re a writer, you have a head start on that!
2. Screenwriter
Writer is even in this film job’s title. The thing here is to think outside the box of “regular” writing. We don’t have to stick with books, articles, and papers. We can create screenplays!
Script-writing is a different form of writing than novels or stories, but novels and stories differ from blog posts and poetry. It’s all writing, and it all takes hard work. But it’s also extremely rewarding.
In addition to writing new screenplays, we also have the opportunity to transform previous works into screenplay material. Short stories can become short films; biographies and novels can become documentaries and feature films.
When we create screenplays, we have the privilege of watching our ideas and dreams be taken to the next level: visual media. How incredible is that?
3. Script Supervisor
This is the job I do on film sets and—I’m biased—it’s my favorite. There actually isn’t much writing involved. But there is an immersion in the story, a painstaking attention to detail, and a constantly changing, challenging environment.
Before filming starts, there is a lot of prep work in which script supervisors dive into the script, the story, the characters, the timeline—everything. In order to ensure the film’s continuity throughout production, they must have an in-depth knowledge of the script. Every line, movement, and prop should at least be familiar if not memorized.
Once production starts and script supervisors are on set, things get pretty fast-paced, and they—along with all the other department heads—fall back on their prep work and knowledge constantly. Watching for continuity, catching mistakes, and keeping track of all the lines is like editing real life instead of editing words on a page. And I absolutely love it!
4. Production Designer
This is the most inherently artistic of the four positions we discuss. The Production Designer’s job is to manipulate the environment to tell a character’s story. It’s a way of storytelling using visuals instead of words. Pictures on the wall, furniture placement, knick-knacks on a character’s desk, and what food is eaten all fall under production design.
Production Designers (in following the Director’s vision) set the visual tone of the film. Whether they’re decorating a little girl’s bedroom, orchestrating a fake wedding, or creating a restaurant scene full of exotic foods, Production Designers utilize their creativity and attention to detail constantly. It is a fascinating job.
And it ties in beautifully with writing, particularly fiction writing. Writers are already adept at creating fictional worlds complete with props and “set dressing”—why not take it to a whole new level and do it for real?
Bonus
Regardless of the position, an additional benefit to working in film is that there is an insane amount of story ideas. Writers are always looking for stories and ideas—what better place to search than a film set? I can guarantee you will do, hear, and observe things that you wouldn’t anywhere else. In the short time I’ve spent in this occupation, I’ve ridden in stunt cars, carried prop drugs into a concrete ditch, and assisted with multiple fake funerals. It is a varied and fascinating field to be sure!
You will also work closely with a wide variety of people types—and we all know people are the best inspiration for our stories and characters!
While you can find countless more creative career options in film that utilize a writing mindset, these are four specific positions that directly relate to writing and storytelling and are a good fit for writers.
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