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Get ready to celebrate National Screenwriters Day on Jan. 5 and honor the creative minds behind some of our favorite movies, TV shows, and plays! This special day was created to recognize the hard work and dedication of screenwriters all over the world who have helped shape our entertainment industry through their brilliant stories. From classic films to modern blockbusters, it's amazing to think about how many scripts have been written since this holiday was first established in 1991. So take a moment to thank your favorite writer and show them some appreciation for their craft!
<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1895</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>First Film Screenplay</div><div class='timeline-text'>The Lumiére brothers use the first ever film screenplay to create a brief short film, sparking the era of screenwriting.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1927</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>First Academy Awards</div><div class='timeline-text'>The first Academy Awards ceremony takes place in 1929, honoring achievements in the film industry, including screenwriting.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1933</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Screen Writers Guild Formation</div><div class='timeline-text'>Screenwriters form the Screen Writers Guild, later known as the Writers Guild of America, to secure better wages and working conditions.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1953</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Screenwriting for Television</div><div class='timeline-text'>With the rise of television, screenwriters begin to write for TV shows, expanding the career opportunities for many in this industry.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1990s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Digital Script Writing</div><div class='timeline-text'>The 1990s see the proliferation of digital script writing software such as Final Draft, improving efficiency and formatting in the industry.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2016</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>First National Screenwriters Day</div><div class='timeline-text'>The inaugural National Screenwriters Day is celebrated on January 5, 2016, to honor all screenwriters for their contributions to film and television.</div></div></div>
<div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Watch a movie</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Screenwriters are the people behind the scenes who create the stories that we watch on the big screen. Celebrate National Screenwriters Day by watching a movie and appreciate all the hard work that goes into creating a great script.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Read a screenplay</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Take some time to read an original screenplay and appreciate the structure and craftsmanship of the story. You'll be amazed at how different it is than what you see in the movie.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Attend a film festival</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>There's nothing like seeing a movie on the big screen! Attend a film festival to appreciate all of the writers and films that have been submitted.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Write your own screenplay</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>If you're feeling inspired, take a stab at writing your own screenplay for National Screenwriters Day. Read some books about screenwriting and get started on your dream project.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Share your favorite script</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Share your favorite screenplay with friends and family this National Screenwriters Day. Talk about why you love it so much and why it's special to you.</p></div></div>
<div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Screenwriters create the stories we enjoy</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Screenwriters are the unsung heroes of the film world. They are the ones who shape our movie-going experience by writing vivid, memorable stories that captivate us and make us feel something. Without them, there would be no movies to watch!</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Screenwriters bring ideas to life</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Most great movies begin with an imaginative idea from a screenwriter. It takes skill and creativity to bring words on a page to life in front of an audience. Screenwriters put in countless hours crafting stories that will resonate with viewers, and National Screenwriters Day is the perfect time to recognize their hard work!</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Screenwriters spark conversations</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Movies are not only entertaining, they also start conversations. After watching a thought provoking movie, many of us find ourselves talking with friends or family about what we just experienced. This dialogue is a testament to screenwriters – it means that their words were powerful enough to strike up a conversation!</p></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Screenwriting Has Its Own Unique Format</h3><p class='facts-text'>Screenplays have a specific format that must be followed, which dictates everything from margin widths to the way character's lines are written and presented on the page.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Screenplays are Usually Between 90 and 120 Pages Long</h3><p class='facts-text'>For a feature film, the standard rule-of-thumb for a screenplay is “one page represents one minute of screen time.” That's why a reasonable length is between 90 and 120 pages.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Screenwriting Software Helps Writers Stick to Formatting Rules</h3><p class='facts-text'>There is special software like Final Draft or Celtx designed specifically to help writers adhere to the strict industry standards for screenplay formatting.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Being a Screenwriter Often Involves Many Revisions</h3><p class='facts-text'>It’s not uncommon for a screenplay to undergo dozens of revisions before it gets to the final draft. This process can sometimes take up to several years.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Many Successful Movies Began as Spec Scripts</h3><p class='facts-text'>A spec script is a non-commissioned, unsolicited screenplay written in hopes of being sold. Many successful movies, such as "American Beauty" and "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," began as spec scripts.</p></div></div>
National Screenwriters Day is celebrated on January 5th every year. In 2024 National Screenwriters Day will occur on a Friday.
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