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The cost of being an aspiring screenwriter

I'm Stephen Follows, a film industry analyst. I'm researching what it actually costs, in money and time, to pursue a career in screenwriting.

This survey takes about eight minutes. It is anonymous unless you choose to leave your email at the end.

My aim is to share what it's like to be a screenwriter building a career from the ground up.

We will only use anonymised quotes, and nobody will see your individual answers. If you provide your email, we'll send you the results early.

About you

Which of these best describes where you are right now?

*

A

Working on my first script

B

I have finished scripts but no paid writing work yet

C

I have had some paid or optioned work but it is not my living

D

Writing is part of how I make a living

E

Writing is my full-time job

F

I have stopped pursuing screenwriting

How many years have you been writing scripts with the aim of getting them made or sold?

*

Roughly how many feature scripts or pilots have you finished?

*

In a typical week, how many hours do you spend on screenwriting?

*

Writing, rewriting, studying, networking, all of it.

How old are you?

A

Under 25

B

25 to 34

C

35 to 44

D

45 to 54

E

55 to 64

F

65 or over

Do you have another job or main source of income besides writing?

A

Yes, full-time

B

Yes, part-time

C

No

D

Retired or not working