What's the difference between screenwriter and scriptwriter?

[raducangeorgiana]

I am a bit confused because I am still learning about this topic. What is the difference between screenwriter and scriptwriter? What is a screenwriter compared to a scriptwriter? Are they one and the same person? Are they two different people?

 

[Kim Welch]

I apologize for the delay in responding, and thank you for posting. They mean almost the same thing. A screenwriter writes scripts for film and television, screenplays and teleplays. Scriptwriter is a broader term for anyone who writes scripts, including radio, theater, video games, commercials and corporate videos. In film and TV, most people say screenwriter. To learn more, the Writers Guild of America website (wga.org) is a great resource, and our Screenwriting forum is a good place to ask follow-up questions.