manusforfatter

Manusforfatter is a professional writer who creates the script for a film, television program, radio production, or theatre production. The term is used primarily in Danish-speaking contexts to denote the author of the manus, or script. A manuscript includes dialogue, scene directions, and the narrative structure that guides production.

In film and television, the manuscript serves as the blueprint for production. A manuscript writer may develop ideas into treatments, draft the script, and revise it in response to feedback from directors and producers. In television, writers often work in rooms to plan episodes and story arcs; in theatre, the playwright composes the full script. The role often involves collaboration with directors, producers, editors, and performers, and it may include adapting existing material for the screen or stage.

Key skills include strong writing ability, a sense of pacing and character development, dialogue technique, and knowledge of screenplay or play formatting. Training commonly involves study in creative writing, film or theatre programs, and building a portfolio. Many manuscript writers work on a freelance basis or as staff writers within a writers' room or theatre company, depending on the medium.

The role has evolved with the rise of cinema and streaming television, emphasizing collaboration across departments and multiple revisions. While the term is Danish, equivalents exist in other Nordic languages, and the work overlaps with screenwriting for film and drama writing for the stage.