How to hire a freelance Script Writer?

Written by 90 Seconds

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Last updated: October 4, 2023

Script writers are responsible for creating the story and narrative direction of everything from feature films to sitcoms and cartoons, to musicals and commercials. Script writers must create characters and write plausible dialogue based on the character design and setting, craft a plot, set stage directions based on the dialogue and plot, and then work with the director and producer to bring their vision to life.

What to look for

What kind of writing background does the script writer have?

Are you looking for a script writer to help your documentary tell a story, or is your video a short commercial in a fantasy setting? Some writers are better at working from imagination than observation, and may be best-suited to a specific genre or are looking to branch out.

What medium has the script writer typically worked with?

Writers come in all forms, and a writer who has worked primarily in TV will have different expectations than a script writer who has largely worked on feature films or commercials. Script writers and narrative designers in video games and other interactive media will have different expectations for writing a film or TV script since the medium is static.

Know what you need

What is your source material?

If you are adapting your video production to be from an existing work such as a book and it closely resembles the original work, it still requires a whole new script to be written from scratch. Even if your production is loosely based on various creative works, it needs to be taken into account when writing the script.

Will there be extensive fact-checking and interviews involved?

Videos like documentaries can have significant amounts of interviews, and both historical fiction and documentaries often require extensive fact-checking. While some artistic license may be taken for fictional works, you don’t want poor public perception of your video if the script is based on factually incorrect things. Both facts and interviews also weigh heavily on crafting a narrative around them and require a different process than writing a script purely from vision.

What is the audience you have in mind?

A family-friendly film meant for children is going to have different needs for dialogue and characters than a hard-hitting Netflix-exclusive drama for young adults. The same is also true of a science fiction series where the audience has a certain sense of humor and educational level compared to a reality TV show for the everyman.

Questions to ask a potential candidate

What type of projects have you worked on?

Have you worked on anything very well-known?

Who were your biggest influences for script writing, and what made you want to go into it?

How well do you work with [appropriate-size] production teams?

Think about your influences in general, as well as for the video production in mind. Ask if the script writer also likes those influences and is familiar with them.