Seeking a Talented Screenwriter?
Seeking a talented screenwriter? A great screenwriter needed, ASAP?
Sorry, you’re in the wrong place.
Hey, hey, hey! Hold on a second – JUST KIDDING!
My name is Michael Celender. I’m a freelance writer based in Johannesburg, South Africa. I’ve written scripts, edited synopses and treatments and consulted with budding screenwriters on their stories. Plus written and edited tons of marketing materials for a range of businesses.
What’s that you say? “How do I know you can do a truly excellent job at writing my script, Michael?”
Well, short answer is – you don’t right now. And you won’t with any screenwriter, even if they have a great reputation, even if they’ve written some amazing script that's even been produced or a script that's won some great screenwriting contest (although that does help of course). Because... not every screenwriter will be the right fit FOR YOU.
And, actually, you and your project may not be the right fit for every screenwriter.
I can’t talk for all freelance scriptwriters, but in my case I simply don’t accept every single project that comes my way.
First of all, I might be busy with another project already. Plus, I’m a bit picky. I may not like your story. Or I may not be familiar enough with the kind of subject matter it deals with or want to spend a large amount of time researching that subject to get familiar.
More importantly, I may not believe your story is a good fit for film. And that’s a very key point: not all ideas or stories will make great films. Some will, some won’t. Some may require a huge amount of work and improvising to bring it anywhere close to a workable screenplay and film.
(If I honestly don't think your project would work as a screenplay/film, I will simply let you know. This in itself could save you a lot of wasted time and energy. That is something I can advise you about in an initial session - see the free session below).
Anyway, my overall point is: it has to be a very good match between you, your story and whichever screenwriter you hire. It has to be a win-win on all sides.
To put you at ease a bit about the quality of work I can do for your project, I can offer a few things:
If you’re still not comfortable with me and my screenwriting skills after the above writing sample and session, we can even do a limited engagement whereby I write a treatment only (or the first ten pages of your script only) for a heavily-reduced fee. If you don’t like what I’ve written, you can simply move on.
Bear in mind that as a screenwriter, I can create a screenplay based on a variety of things. For example, an idea, a news article, or even an existing short story, novel or book.
My general process when writing a screenplay for a client:
And what do we have, after all that? An Oscar, of course.
Okay, not quite. But, at the very least, a completed, copyright-registered, market-ready screenplay that can be used to shop around for willing buyers (producers) in Hollywood - or that you can produce yourself.
Hopefully this short article has given you a decent, initial idea of the kind of work I can do. If not, feel free to contact me with any questions.
So, in summary, you’re seeking a talented screenwriter? You want to hire a screenwriter asap? Well, get in touch with me and put me to the test, then decide for yourself!
Return to the main Screenwriter Services page
Sorry, you’re in the wrong place.
Hey, hey, hey! Hold on a second – JUST KIDDING!
My name is Michael Celender. I’m a freelance writer based in Johannesburg, South Africa. I’ve written scripts, edited synopses and treatments and consulted with budding screenwriters on their stories. Plus written and edited tons of marketing materials for a range of businesses.
What’s that you say? “How do I know you can do a truly excellent job at writing my script, Michael?”
Well, short answer is – you don’t right now. And you won’t with any screenwriter, even if they have a great reputation, even if they’ve written some amazing script that's even been produced or a script that's won some great screenwriting contest (although that does help of course). Because... not every screenwriter will be the right fit FOR YOU.
And, actually, you and your project may not be the right fit for every screenwriter.
I can’t talk for all freelance scriptwriters, but in my case I simply don’t accept every single project that comes my way.
First of all, I might be busy with another project already. Plus, I’m a bit picky. I may not like your story. Or I may not be familiar enough with the kind of subject matter it deals with or want to spend a large amount of time researching that subject to get familiar.
More importantly, I may not believe your story is a good fit for film. And that’s a very key point: not all ideas or stories will make great films. Some will, some won’t. Some may require a huge amount of work and improvising to bring it anywhere close to a workable screenplay and film.
(If I honestly don't think your project would work as a screenplay/film, I will simply let you know. This in itself could save you a lot of wasted time and energy. That is something I can advise you about in an initial session - see the free session below).
Anyway, my overall point is: it has to be a very good match between you, your story and whichever screenwriter you hire. It has to be a win-win on all sides.
To put you at ease a bit about the quality of work I can do for your project, I can offer a few things:
- A writing sample.
- A free session – where you can tell me about the story you are envisioning, and where I can provide my input, vision, recommendations and tips on how I would put it together as a screenplay. In this session I can of course start to familiarize myself with your story idea and see if this would work as a film (and also see if it’s the kind of story I’d actually like to work on).
If you’re still not comfortable with me and my screenwriting skills after the above writing sample and session, we can even do a limited engagement whereby I write a treatment only (or the first ten pages of your script only) for a heavily-reduced fee. If you don’t like what I’ve written, you can simply move on.
Bear in mind that as a screenwriter, I can create a screenplay based on a variety of things. For example, an idea, a news article, or even an existing short story, novel or book.
My general process when writing a screenplay for a client:
- Get all needed input about the story – the characters, the message, your vision, etc.
- Research the screenplay's subject matter
- Isolate the strengths and weaknesses of the story
- Develop the characters
- Develop a basic structure and plot
- Develop a detailed story structure (outline)
- Write the 1st draft
- Get feedback from the client (and others possibly)
- Write the 2nd draft
- Get more feedback
- Final polishing (as needed)
- Register screenplay with a copyright organization
And what do we have, after all that? An Oscar, of course.
Okay, not quite. But, at the very least, a completed, copyright-registered, market-ready screenplay that can be used to shop around for willing buyers (producers) in Hollywood - or that you can produce yourself.
Hopefully this short article has given you a decent, initial idea of the kind of work I can do. If not, feel free to contact me with any questions.
So, in summary, you’re seeking a talented screenwriter? You want to hire a screenwriter asap? Well, get in touch with me and put me to the test, then decide for yourself!
Return to the main Screenwriter Services page
_________________
"Happiness and strength endure only in the absence of hate. To hate alone is the road to disaster. To love is the road to strength. To love in spite of all is the secret of greatness. And may very well be the greatest secret in this universe." - L. Ron Hubbard