What is an OWA? (OPEN WRITING ASSIGNMENT) - Screenwriting 101

Open Writing Assignments were my first job

The term OWA gets thrown out a lot. But I don’t think a lot of writers even know what it means. The OWA - aka the open writing assignment - is often the meal ticket for new screenwriters.

It’s when a production company / producer has a property they already want to do (sometimes have paid other writers over the years but never got it a script that was greenlit by their buyer). An OWA has a higher chance of happening if you book because, to put it in layman’s terms, they have invested a shit ton of time, energy and money into the project already.

You will come across producers or agents who have access to OWA lists. You will meet people who are looking for writers to pitch on their OWA.

For me, personally, my first writing credit “MY ONE CHRISTMAS WISH” starring Amber Riley for UPTV was an OWA. The producers had run out of funds to hire WGA writers and the story, a true story, had never been pitched or written in a way that the network, UPTV, was willing to green light.

Until yours truly came along!

LOL.

But seriously, OWAs are out there. The downside? You’re pitching on something you don’t own. Unlike an original script where you own the rights and can take it anywhere. Forever. When you write an OWA for a company they already own it, so you better hope they make it, and pay you. Which they will if you get it in writing.

Write on.

-Spyder