The world needs stories. Why now is the perfect time to become a screenwriter – and how to break into a booming industry

Blockbusters in the cinema, binge-worthy series at home or a viral post on your For You Page all have one uniting ingredient – a powerful story. In films, series, video games, podcasts and interactive media, someone built the world and gave voice to the characters. That someone is a screenwriter.

Imaginative film-sets, talented actors, riveting screenplays – this is what primarily draws customers to the big and small screen. Alongside the director (and in some cases the actors), the screenwriter is the most powerful role in a production. Where the screenwriter invents and defines the universe, the director brings it to life and the actor embodied the story.

Over the past decade, screenwriting has evolved far beyond its traditional home in film and television. Major platforms are commissioning hundreds of new scripts each year. Video game companies are hiring writers to build immersive, branching narratives. The skills of a screenwriter have also snuck off the screen: podcasts often begin with carefully crafted scripts. Even emerging media like virtual reality and augmented reality are opening new doors for storytelling experimentation.

The film industry is bouncing back from pandemic-era disruption. Within that industry, the original screenplay remains the champion. For those excited to work in smaller production companies, 2023 was the first year that smaller production companies outweighed the output of the major 6 in the United States. Decentralised and indie-film making is not just more accessible, but also more impactful than in the past thirty years.

Meanwhile, television and streaming continue to surge – with hundreds of new scripted series released every year. Narrative and character design in video games are reaching new depths as that industry is expanding. Podcasts and VR is opening up new storytelling frontiers beyond traditional screens.

What does this mean for you? Opportunity. Across continents and mediums, writers are in demand to bring characters, worlds and ideas to life. Our Screenwriting Short Course and Screenwriting Bachelors / HE Certificate provide you with framework to learn the craft, as well a community with which to practice it.

To be sure, new technologies are changing the screenwriting scene – as well as just about every other industry on Earth. While some respond with uncertainty, others have adopted what is possible with the newest tools in our hands.

You can utilise AI models specific to scriptwriting. "ScriptBook" and "Benjamin" were both fed scripts and can advise on technical details like plot of dialogue.

Southpark created a "Deep Learning", a co-written episode using ChatGPT. The partly computer generated dialogue was given meaning and structure by the very capable Trey Parker.

Black Mirror's Charlie Brooker regularly comments on AI in his hugely successful Netflix series. In season 7's "Hotel Reverie" episode, viewers saw how the AI technology might help live more fulfilling lives.

Some screenwriters have used the tools to help create the scripts, others have provided a commentary on the effects it has had on our society.

We’re in the middle of a massive content surge. Screenwriting is no longer just about Hollywood films or cable television. Storytelling is now central to a wide range of industries and platforms:

• Film production has bounced back to pre-pandemic levels. 2,358 feature films were produced in Europe in 2023, just 19 less than in 2019.
• TV and streaming are still expanding. Hundreds of new series released annually, putting writers in high demand. That includes everything from miniseries and telenovelas to international co-productions.
• The video game industry is continuing it's expansion. Although there are many genres, the majority now rely on a captivating storylines and characters as part of the experience.
• Podcasts and audio dramas are exploding. Low-budget demands doesn't mean low quality! A microphone, solid script and soothing voice sprinkled with some audio treatment is a recipe for success.
• New formats like VR and interactive films are redefining what storytelling can be – and they need writers with imagination and flexibility to shape these experiences.

Europe has a deep history of writing for stage as well as screen. Although Hollywood has dominated the silver screen for many years, production companies are streaming over the Atlantic.

• Streaming services like Netflix, Prime Video and Disney+ are investing heavily in local content across Europe. Which is no surprise, seeing as together they take up 85% of European streaming traffic.
• Berlin has become a magnet for filmmakers, writers, and digital creators. Our international mindset and collaborative spirit is just part of it. Being in the centre of Europe makes connecting easy. Major film festivals like Berlinale, Cannes and La Biennale help our writers network with industry professionals from around the globe.

Sure, storytelling talent matters. But professional screenwriting is about much more than good ideas. It’s about learning to:

• Build compelling, character-driven narratives
• Understand the mechanics of dramatic structure
• Write across formats – short film, series, interactive game, podcast, branded content
• Collaborate in a Writers’ Room setting – pitching, brainstorming and editing with others
• Take and give feedback constructively
• Meet tight deadlines and write under pressure
• Adapt your writing for different production contexts – working with actors, directors, and sound designers
• Think critically about representation, ethics and cultural context

These aren't just writing skills. They help us across the board within the creative production ecosystem.

Here’s what our practice-led, project-based screenwriting programmes at Catalyst look like:

• Weekly writing briefs and writing rooms with peers
• Exercises in building scenes, dialogue, monologues and scripts from scratch
• Exploring genre – from horror to romcom to social realism
• Workshops on adaptation, serial storytelling and writing for games
• Collaborating with film directors and actors to see how scripts translate to the screen
• Pitching your own projects and getting comfortable in front of a creative audience
• Feedback loops – write, revise, reflect, repeat

In short: it’s about all about learning by doing, and not just reading about it.

Not everyone becomes a showrunner overnight – but the skills you gain as a screenwriter can lead to all sorts of roles and career paths:

• TV writers, staff writers and script editors
• Narrative designers in the gaming industry
• Writers for podcasts, audio dramas and branded content
• Development assistants or script readers
• Freelance storytellers creating content across formats
• Founders of their own indie productions or web series

Plus, screenwriting can be the foundation for other creative roles – directing, producing, even arts education.

The screenwriting landscape is shifting, opening up to diverse voices and new formats. If you have stories burning inside you, now’s a good time to start shaping them. You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need a place to begin – a community, a challenge, and a keyboard.

Whether you're looking to write your first script, switch careers, or simply explore the craft more deeply, the screenwriting world has room for you.

New storytelling platforms like VR, AR, interactive streaming and audio fiction are expanding what it means to be a screenwriter. At Catalyst, these frontiers aren’t afterthoughts – they’re integrated into your learning journey.

As the lines between formats blur, your skills will translate across industries and into careers that haven’t even been invented yet. Because storytelling will always be needed. And so will those who know how to shape it.