What Is An Open Writing Assignment?

As you win more credits and make your way as a professional screenwriter in Hollywood, you will most likely be put up for Open Writing Assignments (OWA’s).

An Open Writing Assignment is a paid assignment where you will be tasked to write a screenplay for a production company. This is a paid assignment and one for which you will receive on-screen credit. 

But how exactly do you get these OWA opportunities? What do they mean for your career and how do you make the best out of the opportunity?

Open Writing Assignments (OWAs) represent one of the more prevalent avenues through which screenwriters can earn income. While selling a pitch or optioning/selling a spec script are viable methods of monetizing your screenwriting, they occur less frequently than being compensated for crafting a script based on someone else’s vision, as exemplified by OWAs.

An OWA typically involves a project that someone, often a studio or production company, seeks to hire a writer for. OWAs come in various forms, ranging from adaptations of pre-existing intellectual property (IP) to revising screenplays they have previously commissioned or acquired, and even revitalizing established properties.

To secure an OWA, you typically compete with several other writers, each presenting their concepts for how to reshape the project, address its weaknesses, and bring it to a point where it can ideally be greenlit for production.

For aspiring screenwriters aiming to establish themselves professionally and receive compensation for their work, mastering the art of assessing material and presenting your unique perspective on it through pitches is a crucial skill to develop.

What this blog post will cover:

• What is an Open Writing Assignment?
• How to Prepare for Open Writing Assignments?
• How Much Money Will I Make?
• How to Define An Open Writing Assignment (OWA)?
• What Happens After Contract Signing

What Is An Open Writing Assignment?

An open writing assignment is a contractual arrangement between a writer and a production company or studio. Its purpose is to create a screenplay for a project currently in development by the studio or producer. In this scenario, it’s the producer who initiates contact with the writer, presenting an idea or concept they wish to transform into a script.

These concepts can encompass a wide range, including books they’ve acquired, optioned articles, real-life stories for which they hold rights, or screenplays requiring revision by another writer.

How to Discover Open Writing Assignments (OWAs)? The domain of Open Writing Assignments tends to be somewhat exclusive. Typically, you’ll only come across such opportunities through your manager or agent, particularly agents, as they are the ones authorized to legally pursue work on your behalf.

Given that your representatives are well-informed about the current industry landscape, they are aware of Open Writing Assignments and can submit your profile when a production company issues a call for pitches.

Alternatively, you may receive a direct invitation from a production company, particularly if you already have established connections. This underscores the importance of networking.

If the production company expresses interest in your profile, they will provide your representation with all the necessary information to prepare a pitch. Frequently, the production company has secured rights to a piece of intellectual property (IP), such as a novel or published article.

Consequently, you may receive access to this IP along with any pertinent information. Occasionally, these additional details are kept somewhat confidential and are shared in a meeting between you and the production company before you commence working on your pitch. In such cases, this meeting offers an opportunity to acquaint yourself with the individuals involved and generate anticipation for your pitch.

Being invited to participate in an Open Writing Assignment is an exceptional opportunity that can propel your career forward. However, it’s important to be aware that you may not be the sole writer invited to pitch for a particular project. This is standard practice in these assignments.

No formal commitments are made to you or any other writers at any stage, unless explicitly specified otherwise. You will not receive compensation for preparing a pitch, which can be a time-intensive process. However, if you are selected for the assignment, you will receive a substantial payment.

It’s crucial to bear in mind that the story being developed is not yours; it belongs to the production company or studio, which often holds rights, especially in the case of IP. Additionally, anything you pitch may be incorporated into the story, even if they choose to collaborate with another screenwriter.

While this may appear inequitable, it’s a risk you must be willing to accept in pursuit of the opportunity presented by an Open Writing Assignment, which can significantly impact your writing career and likely lead to more such opportunities in the future.”

How Do You Prepare For An Open Writing Assignment?

Armed with valuable insights provided by the studio or producer, you are now prepared to commence your presentation. Your presentation can take either verbal or written form, depending on the context. However, it’s highly likely that you’ll be expected to deliver a pitch deck to an audience composed of the company’s executives and producers.

An effectively crafted pitch deck holds the potential to establish the narrative tone for the film or series. Keep textual content concise, utilize key phrases, and incorporate visuals to convey your creative vision.

Be ready to engage your audience as you guide them through the deck, making it an engaging experience. Effortlessly paint a vivid picture of their story as envisioned by you, and remember to highlight the characters’ development arcs, as every narrative commences with its characters.

If you’re working with intellectual property (IP), ensure that you’ve conducted thorough research to demonstrate your familiarity with the subject matter. In essence, your objective with this pitch is to enable them to readily answer the question, ‘Why should we select you as the storyteller for this project?

How Much Money Will I Make With OWA?

The compensation you receive varies based on your prior experience and your representatives’ negotiation skills, of course! For newcomers, non-WGA contracts typically offer figures in the lower to mid five-figure range.

However, if it’s a WGA (Writer Guild Of America) contract, you’ll typically commence around $68,000 for a non-original feature concept. The WGA maintains a list of their minimum payment schedules.

Numerous companies offer Open Writing Assignments without being WGA signatories, often developing projects for major channels like Hallmark, Lifetime, or streaming platforms. In such cases, the compensation is typically lower than WGA rates.

These payments are typically divided into milestones. For instance, if you’re offered $30,000 for a non-union contract, you might receive $10,000 upfront, another $10,000 upon delivering the first draft, and the remaining sum distributed across rewrites, for instance.

Payments for an OWA are often divided as follows:

• An upfront fee to commence work
• A payment for creating the outline
• Compensation for the initial draft
• Payment for subsequent rewrites
• Compensation for the production draft

At any stage, the production company can choose to terminate the contract and engage another writer. They’re not obligated to pay the entire agreed amount unless stipulated otherwise in the contract. Payment is contingent on the completion of each milestone.

While you stand to gain much from an Open Writing Assignment, particularly your first, it’s advisable not to be excessively demanding regarding contract terms. Avoid requesting items typically not extended to newcomers.

Familiarize yourself with deadlines and customary compensation for writers at your level. Focus on your core task: writing. Being overly demanding with initial contracts can leave a negative impression.

Your contract will also define the rights to the script. Since it’s not your original concept, you won’t hold copyright to the script, preventing you from presenting it to another production company. The contract will also specify on-screen credits, typically denoting “written by,” a critical clause in the agreement.

What Happens After Signing the Contract

Now comes the most challenging (yet rewarding) phase: the actual writing. Typically, before delving into the screenplay, the production company will request an outline or a beat sheet for the movie.

This involves creating a document with bullet points or, in some cases, a treatment that provides a description of each scene in your script. While it doesn’t have to be fully detailed scenes, it should offer a clear summary of each scene’s content.

Many writers, like Dustin Lance, find it helpful to use cards when working on a beat sheet or outline, making the process more visual and manageable.

Once you’ve completed the outline (usually allowed two to three weeks for this part), you’ll submit it to the producer for review. They’ll provide feedback on any necessary changes to the story’s structure before you begin writing.

Preparing an outline is highly beneficial before commencing the actual writing. It serves as a valuable guide during your writing sessions, eliminating the need to speculate about the next scene or the overall direction of the story, as most of it is outlined.

However, this shouldn’t stifle your creativity. If you have a brilliant idea during the writing process, feel free to incorporate it. But having a clear sense of the story’s ultimate direction is important, especially when collaborating with others who need to approve the script.

Once the outline is finalized, you can start writing the first draft of the script. In most cases, you’ll have the opportunity to write the entire script from start to finish without interruptions from the production company, and you won’t need to send pages in advance. This is what they hired you for, so they typically respect your creative process and time.

For non-union Open Writing Assignments, you usually have four to six weeks to complete the first draft. WGA contracts might allow an extra three to four weeks, but it’s not a guaranteed extension—typically, it won’t exceed a total of nine to ten weeks.

If you find this timeframe tight, it’s advisable to practice setting shorter deadlines, perhaps three to five weeks, for first drafts. Developing the ability to write screenplays quickly will be advantageous, especially when working on your first Open Writing Assignment or in situations with tight deadlines, such as television projects.

When working on an Open Writing Assignment (OWA), it’s crucial to adhere to the established outline and not take creative liberties that deviate from the producer’s agreed-upon story.

For instance, if the producer expects a romantic comedy featuring two people meeting at Coachella, parting ways, and reuniting for a heartfelt confession of love, you shouldn’t submit an epic sci-fi where they discover one of them is an alien plotting to conquer the world through music.

While the latter concept may be intriguing, it doesn’t align with the agreed-upon outline and the story you were hired to write. Stick to the outline for major story events and enhance it with captivating moments.

Typically, your script will range from 95 to 105 pages unless the contract specifies a different page count. After submitting the first draft, anticipate receiving numerous notes—this is a standard part of the process.

Embrace feedback, as it provides valuable perspectives on your work. While no first draft is flawless, aim for a high standard, as this is the most challenging phase and often determines whether you continue or are replaced.

If you successfully navigate this phase and remain involved until production concludes, you’ll likely be the sole writer credited on-screen, a significant achievement in an industry where most scripts undergo revisions.

Before commencing the second draft, ensure clarity on the notes and expectations set by the production company. Address these notes during your rewrite to align the script with their vision.

As production progresses, there may come a time when you need to trim elements like locations, scenes, or secondary characters for budgetary reasons or due to actor or location unavailability. While this can be painful for any storyteller, it’s a standard part of the filmmaking process.

Throughout your Open Writing Assignment journey, remember to celebrate this remarkable opportunity. Being hired for an OWA officially establishes you as a paid screenwriter, a distinction achieved by only a small percentage in the industry.

Now that you’re prepared, we look forward to witnessing your next cinematic creation born from your initial Open Writing Assignment!

Frequently Asked Questions About Open Writing Assignments (AWO)

What’s an Open Writing Assignment (OWA)?

An OWA is a contract to write a screenplay for a studio or producer’s project.

How do I find OWAs?

OWAs are usually found through agents or managers who submit your profile to production companies.

Are OWAs exclusive?

No, multiple writers may be invited to pitch for the same project.

How are OWAs paid?

Payment varies but often includes upfront money, outline, first draft, rewrites, and production draft payments.

Can I make script changes in an OWA?

Stick to the agreed outline but enhance it with great moments; expect feedback and revisions in the process.