Writing is a lonely business, and for many in Indian Bollywood, it is not profitable.
Unless a screenwriter lands a big break - a hit film where he also gets credit. But until then, money and opportunities are often scarce.
A major reason, the authors say, is the “hard contracts” they must sign, which they claim are designed to protect the interests of the producer.
"Most contracts have arbitrary termination clauses and offer paltry fees, especially to newcomers," says Anjum Rajabali, a senior member of the Screenwriters Association (SWA) - India's equivalent of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) - which has more than 55,000 members across the country.
"They also don't pay writers to rework drafts and give producers the right to decide whether a writer should be credited for their work or not," says Mr. Rajabali, adding that some contracts even prohibit screenwriters from approaching the union in the event of a conflict. with the producer.
The SWA has defended members' rights for decades, but recently it has explored more assertive ways to reduce the alleged power imbalance between producers and writers. < /p>
Writing is a lonely business, and for many in Indian Bollywood, it is not profitable.
Unless a screenwriter lands a big break - a hit film where he also gets credit. But until then, money and opportunities are often scarce.
A major reason, the authors say, is the “hard contracts” they must sign, which they claim are designed to protect the interests of the producer.
"Most contracts have arbitrary termination clauses and offer paltry fees, especially to newcomers," says Anjum Rajabali, a senior member of the Screenwriters Association (SWA) - India's equivalent of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) - which has more than 55,000 members across the country.
"They also don't pay writers to rework drafts and give producers the right to decide whether a writer should be credited for their work or not," says Mr. Rajabali, adding that some contracts even prohibit screenwriters from approaching the union in the event of a conflict. with the producer.
The SWA has defended members' rights for decades, but recently it has explored more assertive ways to reduce the alleged power imbalance between producers and writers. < /p>
Image source, Getty Images
![Three of ID's top PR executives quit ad firm Powerhouse [EXCLUSIVE]](https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/ID-PR-Logo.jpg?#){kind=logo}
