screenwriter
Let an agent describe the screenwriter as a role, its work and credit conventions, relay filmographies from reliable sources, present authorship debates with attribution, and keep statements about living people sourced and neutral.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify
Researched by: Claude
Purpose and description
Let an agent describe the screenwriter as a role, its work and credit conventions, relay filmographies from reliable sources, present authorship debates with attribution, and keep statements about living people sourced and neutral.
A writer who creates the screenplay for a film, television programme or video game, inventing or adapting the story, structure, scenes and dialogue in a format that production teams can use; screenwriters work on commission or on speculation, are credited under guild rules, and are represented by writers guilds that negotiate rights and residuals.
What it is for: Writing screenplays for screen media.
It can be explain the work and process; relay credit conventions and guild rules; relay filmographies; distinguish related writing roles.
Distinguishing features
Writes in screenplay format
Original or adapted work
Credit determined by guild rules
Collaborative production context
What it looks like
A person writing; no defining physical form.
How it is recognised
Credited as writer of a screenplay
Works in film, television or games
Novelists, playwrights and comics writers are related but distinct roles
Related models
is a kind of - a writer for screen
writes - the work
works with - and producers
is represented by - the professional body
In practice
Families and kinds
film screenwriters
television writers and showrunners
video game writers
script doctors and story editors
writer-directors
script readers and development staff, related roles
Identifiers
film database identifiers IMDb and others filmographies
ISNI per person name identifier
Standards and regulation
Writers guild agreements on credits, minimums and residuals
Copyright law on screenplays and adaptations
Screenplay format conventions
Failure modes and hazards
Credit disputes
Unsourced statements about living people
Confusing writers with directors or producers
Also called
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Also registered as vr.tr.screenwriter
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.
Role What a screenwriter does.
Definition.
Work
The work.
Work
Work.
- What does a screenwriter do, from concept to shooting script? definition
- Is the question about a screenwriter or another writing or production role? boundary
Kinds
Kinds.
Kinds
Kinds.
- How do film, television and game writing differ? definition
- Which entry fits the related role? action
Practice Craft and career.
Practice.
Craft
Craft and format.
Craft
Craft.
- What are the conventions of screenplay format and structure? provenance
- Which entry fits screenplay? action
Career
Careers and markets.
Career
Career.
- How do screenwriters find work, and how are scripts bought and developed? provenance
- Which references are standard? provenance
Rights Credits and rights.
Sourced facts.
Credits
Credit rules.
Credits
Credits.
- How are writing credits determined under guild rules? provenance
- Is the statement about a living person sourced and neutral? boundary
Copyright
Rights.
Copyright
Copyright.
- What rights and residuals do screenwriters have, in general terms? provenance
- Is the user asking about their own contract, which needs a lawyer or guild? boundary
Theory Authorship and history.
Attribution.
Authorship
Authorship debates.
Authorship
Authorship.
- How do debates about authorship treat the screenwriter versus the director, with positions attributed? provenance
- Is the presentation neutral? boundary
History
History.
History
History.
- How did the screenwriter role develop from silent film to today? provenance
- Which entry fits film history? action
What the second pass must settle
- Should television and game writers be separate entries?
- How should film databases be linked?
- The registry entry has merged aliases naming comics artists and script readers; should they be split off?