Screenwriting : Staying in your own country while you are a screenwriter. by Steven Gibson

You can be anywhere and work as a screenwriter. But it is more difficult if you aren't located in NY or LA because of meetings...though many meetings are virtual now. If you are staffed on a show, you need to be where the room is located. The catch 22 is: your representation can sell you and your writing no matter where you are, but in order to get that representation, you will likely have to meet with them. Interviews I've heard usually state that they are more likely to rep you if you are local. Once you are established, you can live wherever you want.

"Is it possible to work as a screenwriter without moving to Hollywood?"

Yes.

Dude, Toronto and Vancouver are major movie making hubs. My two kids get regular extra work and have done a couple ads in TO.

Yes, Stage 32 and similar platforms are proof positive.

Honestly, the Canadian film fund (not sure of its precise name) favors Canadian screenwriters, at the expense of American screenwriters - so why move to the US and compete against an exponentially larger crowd of writers to try to break into the industry? Stay home and narrow your odds!

Yes. And I've seen several recent ads for people looking for Canadian writers. It's at Screenwriting staffing.

I had an article published by Arc Digital a few years back about this obsession; Hollywood or Bust - Why we need to stop California Dreamin’

You can be a screenwriter from anywhere and should not limit yourself to Hollywood which is something a lot of writers trying to break in do either consciously by investing all their dreams in that lifestyle or unconsciously by using services targeted at it. It can also be highly lucrative to work with growing regions without the corporatised pressure and with the bonus of being more valued as a creative.

I always said I would only travel to LA to actually make a movie and I'm glad I stuck with that. I just know of too many people who've thought it would make their life easier only to get spat out the system burnt out with nothing to show for it. It can be a real detriment to be a complete unknown with zero connections or funding in that environment.

Just know that filmmaking communities tend to be highly insular, you need to be targeting them all globally, and you may break into one on the other side of the world while getting nowhere with the one on your doorstep.

Also think realistically about how career paths work and what choices you may need to make. I know of union writers getting zero credits, hating the nature of their work, struggling to get paid, just about making LA rent, and having to setup kick-back deals to do low budget indies while others are making more per hour churning out multiple simple scripts to TV movie production houses and others are getting enviable salaries writing non-stop for new Chinese prodcos. People massively over simplify things and, if you're not careful, they'll lead you to do the same. There's a lot of unemployed elitists out there.

Don't even have intention to move...except occasionally for award ceremonies, festival cocktail parties, etc...

I sold two screenplays to Hollywood producers while living in Minnesota. You may want to get a Hollywood-based agent to make it easier, but I didn't have one. Also, don't rule out Canada, the CBC and Canadian Film board only buy from Candian writers.