This article comes fromDen of Geek UK.

Hes a writer working at a point where screenwriting continues to get scant regard in some quarters.

Read reviews of a movie, and how often is the writer mentioned?

We were curious, so chatted to James about the value of screenwriting, and his thoughts on it.

Here how it went…

The first thing they ask is if Ive written anything they might have seen.

Its a fair question, usually asked with a suspicious look!

How do you respond to that?

At first, I wasnt sure what that meant.

Maybe they were asking if I specified music, or actor choices, or so on.

Did I just write the dialogue?

Or just the action?

Surely the actors made up their own words?

The director decides what happens on screen, dont they?

Which bits did I write?

Did I just come up with the idea?

Does that just come from audiences?

Once, I was even asked by a producer!

what happened after I had written the script.

They asked if it then went to the dialogue person.

2nd 2nd assistant director.

People in the industry have no excuse, and thats why this is becoming more of a problem.

Is it a problem, though?

Writers dont write to become famous, which is just as well, because that hardly ever happens.

We write because we love telling stories.

All we expect is a fair credit for our work.

But even that is getting more difficult.

In public, the director usually gets all the credit, for the whole film.

Its a huge job.

Naturally, theyll have more to say about the actual production.

Directors dont help us here, either.

One of the more unpleasant aspects of the film world is the possessory credit.

Thats in addition to their normal Directed by Bob Person credit they get two credits for doing one job!

It makes it seem as if they created the whole film by themselves, without any help from anyone.

Its a huge insult to the entire cast and crew.

The possessory credit is even cheekier when they didnt write or originate the story.

How is it by him?

And yet hes praised for his storytelling skills, because people think that directors do everything.

How have things worked out for you?

I know, crazy, right?

Everyone else who worked on it, including the writer, is left behind.

The director is seen as the main creative force.

Can you capture why this matters so much to you?

James Moran, thank you very much.