With so many headlines and internet pundits lamenting the state of the industry, it feels like there are dark clouds over our heads, which makes focusing on your creative ambitions a big challenge. 

Between the COVID-19 lockdown, strikes, the recession, and just the general glumness that can come with looking at social media, it’s hard not to feel as though we’ve hit a collective wall. While there’s never been more information or ingenuity at our disposal, many don’t know where to look next or how to pull themselves out of this hazy feeling.

But the truth is, there are opportunities, and in 2024, you have more control over where to go to find them than ever before.

A Constant Evolution

The first thing to remember is that the entertainment industry is constantly evolving. Television upended film and radio, and for years, radio wasn’t even looked at as a primary destination for storytelling. But now, the stories that audiences loved decades ago have been reignited in the form of audio dramas (AKA scripted podcasts).

Film was “dead,” according to some in recent years, with many looking at the 2024 summer box office as evidence that theaters are on the way out. But this was quickly dismissed again when Inside Out 2 blew away expectations. Plus, while theaters are having their ups and downs, films have been finding new avenues for distribution, such as going straight to streamers or cable networks.

Right now, you’re not limited to only writing a feature film or television pilot script. You can sharpen your skills with short stories, novels, fan fiction, audio dramas, sketch comedy, short films, content creation for social media, and so much more. It’s not just about selling your scripts, you should also be developing your craft and finding new ways to get your work in front of other people. 

In an interview with Pirelli.com, Oscar-winner Steven Spielberg spoke to this topic:

“There are so many different ways that we are getting our entertainment today, it’s not just on the big screen and it’s not just on the TV screen, it’s on the iWatch, it’s on the Samsung, it’s on the iPhone. … So it’s not just television you celebrate and it’s not just movies, but it’s all this free expression coming from young people all over the world that are trying to tell their stories in a couple of minutes or even twenty minutes or even four minutes.“

It’s important to remember that there’s never been a time when people didn’t want to be entertained. The trick is finding where people are getting their entertainment, keeping yourself motivated to keep looking for those new opportunities, and adapting to them. Right now, there are countless avenues to network, improve your writing, gain exposure, and even see your script made.

Read More: How To Use Smaller Projects as a Writing Career Springboard

Buying Has Slowed, Not Halted

While online chatter may argue that “no one is buying anything”, that’s an untrue overgeneralization. Simply reading the trades every day will allow you to see the amount of projects being sold—and it will also allow you to see the trends. Like the recent big spec sales at Orion and Paramount. While Paramount has only purchased five scripts, the deals made show that the studio, and others like it, is eager to pay high dollar to acquire strong material.

Sure, the total number may not be what we’re “used” to seeing, and television series in particular are taking up fewer headlines. With so many streamers and audiences hungry for new entertainment, these platforms need fresh content for their audiences. 

As long as there’s demand for content, then studios, networks, and streamers need to find a way to get it. Your goal here is to get your work in front of people. Which leads us to…

Networking Is Your Friend

One of the biggest things that has happened in the past few years is layoffs within studios, networks, and production companies. Many of the people who lost their jobs were development executives. These unique individuals are still at work though! Many have opened their own production companies and are making projects independently. 

With technology having progressed so much in the last couple of decades, it’s never been easier to produce a script and great platforms online to help you crew up. And if you don’t want to make your own projects, independent producers are looking for fresh material. The more people you’re networking with, the better your odds of making your project without waiting for the green light of a studio or streamer. 

We’re very likely to see the independent space boom like we haven’t seen since the 1990s as many producers, writers, and directors seek this path and take their projects to festivals rather than developing them in-house with studios.

But how do you get your scripts in these people’s hands if you don’t want to produce your work on your own?

You Have More Access Than You Know

Thanks to the internet, there have never been more ways to access producers and financiers than now. You can seek out a contest or fellowship featuring managers and producers looking for new material. Screenwriting contests, like LaunchPad, provide great access to industry professionals and networking opportunities. The connections made can lead to larger opportunities for years to come as your career grows. These contests want to see you succeed and shout your success to the industry.

You can also utilize social media to learn from the countless writers and creators who have jump-started their careers by networking online. You can also find industry professionals on platforms providing great wisdom from their own experiences and information about great opportunities. 

The fear right now is real and it’s totally normal to commiserate with others about how tough it is. But this industry has seen ebbs and flows before and it will again. The challenge for you is how you stay proactive NOW to keep moving your own work forward, get it in front of people, and outlast the current flow so that you’re at the front of the pack with the next flow. 

There’s never been a time in mankind’s history when humans didn’t want to be entertained. And storytelling grew out of that. The only thing that changes is how they seek out entertainment. Audiences are there, you just have to give them a reason to look at what you’re selling. So how are you getting your work in front of people to make your future happen?

Read More: How To Build a Career as a Feature Screenwriter: A Q&A with Marc Manus