Do people hire people to write remotely or do they tend to want a screenwriter who is able to be on set all teh time? Currently, I live in a place where most of our film industry is connected to a local college and if you aren't a student, there isn't a lot of work.
But I would love to do more in this industry.
Most writing is done long before anyone's on set and, yes, that can all be done remotely. Certainly no one is going to reject a great screenplay because the writer doesn't live nearby.
That said, those of us who don't live in LA are probably sacrificing a lot of networking opportunities. :)
If you're a tv writer, you work onsite. If you're a screenwriter, that script is usually out of your hands long before there is any kind of "set". You may need to be available to attend meetings during the writing (if it is a work for hire situation) or negotiations for purchase/option (if it's a spec) but you won't be needed once all that is done.
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Out of sight, out of mind. From my talks with WGA Screenwriters, you want to be close to the power- producer, Director, Exec, Lead Star. Close as sit in same room and be involve. At the studio level, it doesn't make any sense to stay secluded. Writers get replace because other Writers and their Reps are whispering into ears of your employer. Be a shadow and safeguard your credit. On Location is a luxury. Make sure you survive development stage.
Mary Helen, can we connect...I need to ask you a question? Thanks
Susan Sexton Sent you a request.
If someone hires you to write a script - you work for them and follow their rules. If you work for a TV network - you'll be cooped up in the Writer's Room all day (not glamorous nor is the pay all that great.): You will be in the on site studio. Spec writers can be anywhere the internet reaches. In film, many Directors run a closed set - that is; the writer is often excluded from the set. (someone else is going to rewrite your stuff anyway.
I live near Rochester NY and all the feature film work I have done is done here for productions in Georgia and California. I was invited on the set in Oakland but it was more of a "Hey come watch your script in action, it'll be fun... but oh bring your laptop just in case! (and I was glad I had it because there was a question on an earlier draft of the script and I had the answer on hand!) I was told that when my next one films (Texas) I'll be invited to hang out as well but for the most part, once I'm done writing, I'm out of the picture unless the director wants to ask me a question or get an opinion.
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Btw I found a great shirt for my next set visit. It reads, "Don't throw me off the set, I'm the screenwriter."
Yes they do hire remotely.
If you want to write films you can do that remotely, since the screenwriter isn't usually involved in the production process, except maybe for a few rewrites. The writers sometimes get invited to set, but in my experience they've never played an active role in production, unless they're also producers or some other role.
TV, on the other hand, will require you to live where your writers room is. For some shows, the writer's room and the production happen in different cities. For instance, production on the shows Nashville and Still the King happen in Nashville, but every other stage of filmmaking happens in LA, including the writing. But for multi cam sitcoms shot in front of a live audience, the head writers for the episode will need to be on set in case a joke doesn't land, so they can make updates on the fly.
Every single one of my sold scripts have been done remotely. Several of these people I've never seen in person.