37 Screenwriter
Screenwriter Career. Is It Right For You?
On this episode of the Unboxing Careers Podcast, Greg Zakowicz unboxes a career as a screenwriter with Randall Dottin.
Guest: Randall Dottin is the Chair of Screenwriting at NYFA’s NYC campus and a writer/director who works both in documentary and narrative fiction. His Columbia University MFA thesis film, A-ALIKE, was licensed for a two-year broadcast run by HBO and has won numerous awards, including the DGA Award for Best African American Student Filmmaker and the 2004 Student Academy Award for Best Narrative Film. In 2009, Randall was named by IndieWire Magazine as one of the Top Ten New Voices in Black Cinema. Randall’s short film Lifted, was sponsored by Fox Searchlight’s program for emerging directors, the Fox Searchlab. Lifted premiered on CBS in 2015. His documentary series The House I Never Knew is currently in production and explores how six families in Chicago, Houston, and Boston fight against becoming casualties of a housing segregation policy.
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What It Takes to Be a Screenwriter: Career Insights from Randall Dottin
Ever watched a movie or a TV show and wondered who creates the stories behind the characters, plot twists, and emotional arcs? Meet the screenwriter—the storyteller behind the screen. In this episode of Unboxing Careers, we had the honor of speaking with Randall Dottin, a professional screenwriter and Chair of Fine Arts at the New York Film Academy. He breaks down not just what the job entails but also what it takes to build a fulfilling career in screenwriting.
What Does a Screenwriter Actually Do?
According to Randall, screenwriters are the architects of every movie, TV show, or commercial you’ve ever seen. They begin with a blank page and craft stories that stir emotion, spark thought, and often change perspective. A good story, Randall says, is always about change—someone who wants something but faces obstacles in getting it. Screenwriters imagine the world, the characters, and every beat of that journey, long before the cameras ever start rolling.
Finding His Calling: Storytelling Through the Window
Randall’s journey into screenwriting began in his childhood. Growing up in Cambridge, Massachusetts, he lived in public housing and often observed the world outside his window—a lens into the human experience. From a young age, he noticed the absence of nuanced stories about communities like his on screen. He started out acting and writing plays, but it was a transformative experience during a high school trip to the UK that cemented his love for filmmaking and storytelling. Inspired by artists like Spike Lee and August Wilson, Randall knew he wanted to be behind the camera, crafting stories that reflected truth and complexity.
What a Screenwriting Project Really Looks Like
Randall shared the intricate process of developing an animated pilot called Mine. This wasn’t a solo endeavor—it was a collaborative effort involving brainstorming, world-building, character development, outlining, and multiple drafts. Over the course of a year and a half, Randall and his team held weekly writers' room-style meetings, working on everything from character bios to the rules of the fictional world. Eventually, they produced a polished pilot that premiered at Tribeca Film Festival and won multiple awards. The lesson? Screenwriting isn’t just about sitting down and typing. It’s planning, collaborating, refining, and revising—sometimes endlessly.
The Financial Reality of Screenwriting
Screenwriting isn’t typically a quick path to financial stability. Randall emphasized the importance of having a side gig—something flexible that allows time and energy to write consistently. Whether it’s a day job or teaching, many writers juggle multiple responsibilities while developing their work. Discipline is essential. Randall recommends writing daily, or at the very least, setting a consistent schedule to keep your writing muscles active.
The Must-Have Skills for Screenwriters
If you want to break into screenwriting, here’s what Randall says you need to develop:
Read Widely and Often: Reading expands your imagination, exposes you to different perspectives, and sharpens your storytelling instincts.
Watch Everything: Don’t just stick to one genre. Watching a wide range of films helps you understand narrative structures, character development, and pacing.
Write Every Day: Practice is non-negotiable. You improve by doing.
Know People: Psychology, relationships, and culture inform your characters. The best writing draws from real human experiences.
Live Your Life: Great stories come from personal experience. Get involved in clubs, travel, try new things—fill your creative well.
Speak Publicly: Screenwriters often have to pitch their ideas. Whether it's to producers, actors, or investors, being comfortable speaking about your work is crucial.
Why Film School Still Matters
Although there’s no single path into the industry, Randall is a proponent of film school. He highlighted four key reasons:
Immersion: You live and breathe filmmaking.
Networking: Many of Randall’s professional opportunities came from classmates.
Portfolio: You leave with completed projects—valuable for applications and career advancement.
Process: Film school teaches you how to go from blank page to finished product under pressure.
That said, he emphasizes that training doesn’t have to be formal. What matters most is getting the training somehow—whether through film school, self-study, or hands-on experience.
The Hardest Part of the Job? Funding and Access
When asked what he’d happily offload from the job, Randall was quick to answer: securing funding. While technology has made filmmaking more accessible than ever, getting the budget to produce high-quality feature films or series remains a massive hurdle. It’s why Randall encourages young filmmakers to use the tools they have now—smartphones, editing software, TikTok—to start creating, right now.
Common Misconceptions About Screenwriting
"Being a writer is like having homework every day for the rest of your life," Randall joked. It’s true—writing is hard, and screenwriting may be one of the most difficult types of writing to master. But the joy lies in the act of creation. Screenwriters get to build worlds, challenge assumptions, and move people with nothing but words on a page. That power is the reward.
Advice for Aspiring Screenwriters
If you're in high school or college and dreaming of a screenwriting career, here's Randall’s advice:
Start now—don’t wait for the perfect moment.
Join theater—even if you don’t want to act, it helps you understand character, dialogue, and storytelling.
Learn how to pitch—you’ll need to sell your ideas with clarity and confidence.
Write your truth—the best stories come from a place of authenticity.
Build your community—relationships open doors.
Final Words: Make Movies Now
Randall’s parting message is simple and powerful: Don’t wait. Whether you want to be a writer, director, or actor, start creating now. Use your phone. Write your script. Make your short film. Every story you tell gets you closer to the career you want—and you never know who you might inspire along the way.
Takeaways For Those Interested in a Career as a Screenwriter
Screenwriters create the world and characters for films.
Storytelling is about change and transformation.
Randall's childhood experiences shaped his desire to tell stories.
The writing process involves deep character exploration.
Collaboration is key in developing a project.
Writing requires discipline and consistency.
Reading widely expands a writer's imagination.
Aspiring writers should watch diverse films.
Writing every day helps develop skills.
Learning about history and psychology enriches storytelling. Writing is a continuous learning process.
Experiences enrich a writer's work.
Film school provides immersion and networking opportunities.
Building relationships is crucial in the film industry.
Screenwriting is one of the most challenging tasks in filmmaking.
Training can come from various sources, not just formal education.
Don't wait for the perfect moment to start creating.
Utilize available technology to make films.
Storytelling has the power to inspire and connect people.
Every writer faces challenges, but the joy of storytelling is unparalleled.
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