National Screenwriter’s Day is a holiday that is observed on January 5th every year. It’s a day when people are encouraged to think about the screenwriters who have made their favorite movies, especially since screenwriters often do not always get the recognition they deserve. While directors and actors tend to receive all the accolades from audiences, it’s frequently the screenwriter who labored behind the scenes to write the story that’s so beloved. That’s a good reason for both aspiring screenwriters and people who enjoy watching movies to observe this holiday.

The History of National Screenwriter’s Day

This holiday was created sometime in 2015 by Screenwriting U, a website that offers classes and resources for aspiring screenwriters. It’s a holiday that has since taken on a life of its own and is now celebrated all over the U.S.

Some Fun Facts About Screenwriters

As we researched this holiday, we came across some interesting facts about screenwriters and screenwriting. Facts that we now intend to share with everyone currently reading this article.

• There are three types of screenwriters: elite, white-collar, and blue-collar screenwriters.
• Most agents aren’t looking to sign new, unproven screenwriters because they’re busy with their current clients.
• According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, writers earned a median annual wage of $62,000 a year in 2018.
• Although it’s widely reported that Tennessee Williams died from choking on a plastic eye dropper cap, he actually died from Seconal intolerance.
• Quentin Tarantino hated the movie Natural Born Killers directed by Oliver Stone, even though he wrote the script for it.
• Tarantino felt that too much was changed in Natural Born Killers from his original screenplay.
• George Romero originally wrote Dawn of the Dead (1978) with both Peter and Francine dying at the end.
• Gore Vidal was paid $200,000 for the screenplay for Caligula in 1979.
• Casablanca by Julius J. & Philip G. Epstein and Howard Koch is considered to be the greatest screenplay of all time.
• The Godfather by Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola is also rated as one of the best screenplays of all time.

Observing National Screenwriter’s Day

Anyone can celebrate this holiday. It doesn’t matter if you’re a screenwriter, an aspiring screenwriter, or simply someone who enjoys watching movies. You can celebrate this day by taking the time to learn more about the screenwriters of the movies you admire, by reading the script for the movie, or simply by acknowledging the screenwriting credit of a movie after you’ve watched it. To spread the word about this holiday, you can also use the hashtag #NationalScreenwritersDay on your social media account.