It all starts with a script.

Duh. Right?

That’s like saying dinner starts with a recipe or a skyscraper starts with a blueprint.

But that doesn’t change the simple truth. If they don’t have a script, they can’t make a movie.

Hollywood has always undervalued the work of screenwriters. It all starts with us, but we’re the most replaceable cog on the development assembly line. When you’re actually trying to package and sell a script, you’ll quickly learn that directors and movie stars have more sway and power over the movers and shakers in Hollywood than even the most successful screenwriter ever can.

Sucks, right?

Yes, but… That doesn’t take away your value or the value of your work. A good script is what attracts everyone else to the party. Directors are desperate for a powerful story they can put on screen. Actors want that movie star role. Producers and studios want to make money (and sometimes great movies, and occasionally both at the same time).

So don’t get discouraged that screenwriters are undervalued. Because you have the power to create your own value. The right script at the right time can absolutely move mountains. If I didn’t believe that, I would have walked away from this business a long time ago. There are, after all, much easier ways to make a buck.

But we don’t do this because it’s easy. We do this because we’re screenwriters. We’re storytellers. This isn’t just a job. It’s a calling.

If you’re ready to tackle the beast that is a screenwriting career, let After Fade Out help you! Our founder is a working screenwriter who has won multiple script contests and been featured on the Black List. We’re here to help make your screenplay the best it can be!