Screenwriter vs Director: What’s the Difference?

A screenwriter writes the screenplay: the story, structure, characters and dialogue. A director interprets that screenplay and leads the production, working with actors, the cinematographer and the editor to turn the pages into a film. Some people do both and are credited as writer-director.

• The screenwriter decides what happens. The director decides how it looks and plays.
• Scripts often change during production.
• Writing your own material is a common route into directing.

What does the screenwriter do?

The screenwriter builds the story from idea to finished draft: the plot, the characters, the scenes and the dialogue. On most features the writer does most of their work before production begins, often through several rounds of notes from producers.

What does the director do?

The director takes the script into production. They cast with producers, block scenes with actors, choose shots with the cinematographer, and shape the final cut with the editor. Their job is to make the script work on screen.

How do they work together?

On features, the director usually has more creative control during production, and the script may be revised to suit locations, casting or budget. In US television, the writer-producers lead the show and episode directors often rotate.

Should you do both?

Many directors start by writing short films they can make themselves. Understanding both jobs helps either way: writers who think visually write more producible pages, and directors who understand structure make better choices on set.

Questions

Can the director change the script?

Yes, often with the producers and sometimes with the original writer or a new one. How much changes depends on the project and the contracts involved.

Does the director write the script?

Usually not. On most films the screenplay is written by a screenwriter, and the director is hired to make it. When one person does both, they are credited as writer-director.

Can a screenwriter become a director?

Yes. Writing and directing a short film is the most common way to start.

Related course: Screenwriting 101