Between Actors and Screenwriters

Screenwriting, aside from being a solitary work is also a behind the scene work. A screenwriter functions in the back stage and gets a closing screen credit which is written in small print and made to scroll up very quickly before the eyes can pick out the names.

These days however, a writer/producer ensures that the name is bolder and gets a place in the opening credit. That’s a milestone really. In Nollywood, very few producers accord the screenwriter, the respect he deserves, so getting a paltry sum for a screenplay is common place. Not so with the actors.

Because the actor takes the centre stage and has a large fan base, he enjoys fame and fortune. The temptation is there for a screenwriter to want to change career and take on the actor’s garb in a bid to get fame and fortune.

The differences between an actor and a screenwriter

1. Actors reign for a season while a screenwriter reigns through seasons.

2. The earning rate between an actor and a screenwriter is 7:3

3. An actor’s reigning season could last for as long as 5years whereas a screenwriter’s relevance could last for 30years.

4. An actor’s fame and fortune decline with his age but a screenwriter’s dexterity increases with age.

5. Most famous actors are young, sexy and good looking while a famous screenwriter could be an old nerd man.

So screenwriters occupy the back stage to write screenplays that make an actor famous and occupy the center stage. We know our roles are different and we grumble not at our seemingly obscure profession. We are content with our calling as screenwriters, taking the backstage.

Ultimately, our fame resonates amongst executive producers who value our expertise.