AI Use Grows, But Pay and Credit Lag: Key Takeaways from "The Right Draft: 2026"
A new Tulsea-Ormax study shows AI is now part of day-to-day writing for many Indian screenwriters, while old pain points around pay and credit have worsened. The nationwide survey of 254 writers finds 41% use AI tools at least sometimes, and half don't see AI as a career threat.
Yet perception and timeline pressure are real. Nearly seven in ten believe AI lowers how producers value human creativity, and 50% say producers now expect faster turnarounds because they assume AI will be used.
How Writers Are Using AI
- Three-quarters say AI helps in early development: pitches, references, and first drafts.
- More than 70% of writers who use AI don't feel comfortable revealing it publicly.
- Practical read: AI is a drafting and research assist, but disclosure norms and creative credit are unclear.
Chaitanya Hegde, co-founder of Tulsea Media, said: "With the second edition of 'The Right Draft,' we wanted to deepen the industry's understanding of writers' on-ground experiences - across pay, credit, feedback, nurturing structures, and now AI. The data points to some meaningful shifts and some stubborn constants. Our hope is that the report helps move conversations from perception to process, and towards more consistent, fair, and creator-friendly systems."
Pay and Payment Discipline Are Slipping
- 74% don't feel fairly paid, up from 63% in 2023.
- Over half say payments aren't timely; almost four in five must keep chasing money already due.
- Two-thirds have never been offered or asked for profit-sharing or bonuses tied to box office or viewership.
Credit and Visibility: Still Uneven
- Over half disagree that writers receive fair credit.
- Nearly two-thirds say there's no defined, consistently followed industry standard for crediting.
- More than half don't get equal credit when co-writing with directors; 60%+ report the same with senior writers.
Where Scripts Matter (And Where They Don't)
- Theatrical films: only 6% say producers value scripts over stars; 83% believe stars dominate.
- Streaming and TV fare better, but the perceived value of scripts on streaming has fallen since 2023.
Nurturing, Mentorship, and Redressal Are Thin
- Only 19% have access to good mentors (down from 30% in 2023).
- 76% feel the industry lacks adequate infrastructure to help writers develop their craft.
- Fewer than four in ten have access to effective grievance-redressal mechanisms.
Shailesh Kapoor, founder-CEO of Ormax Media, said: "Writers sit at the core of the storytelling ecosystem, yet too many friction points remain structural rather than episodic. By measuring writer sentiment across key dimensions, 'The Right Draft' is intended to be a practical input into how the industry can build stronger alignment, accountability, and creative ownership."
What's New in the 2026 Edition
The report spans seven sections: The Right Pay, The Right Credit, The Right Feedback, The Right Value, The Right Nurturing, The Right Tools, and The Right Environment. It expands the 2023 study by adding microdramas and a deeper look at how AI is reshaping writing workflows.
Action Plan for Working Writers
- Set your AI policy upfront: Define where AI can be used (research, ideation, beat sheets), where it won't (final dialogue, character voice), and how disclosure will work. Keep an AI-use log to protect originality and credit claims.
- Protect timelines: If turnaround is shortened due to assumed AI use, adjust scope, milestones, or fees in writing. Add buffer for rewrites approved by producers.
- Fix payment hygiene: Negotiate milestone schedules (signing/start, treatment, first draft, polish), net-30 terms, late-fee/interest on delays, and a kill fee. Tie handovers and next-phase starts to cleared payments.
- Push for upside: Ask for success fees or bonuses tied to viewership/box office thresholds. If that's declined, seek step-ups on renewals or reversion rights when projects stall.
- Nail down credit: Specify order, format, and placement across film, trailer, poster, platform UI, and metadata. Seek equal "written by" billing with directors on co-writes and a clear arbitration route for disputes.
- Strengthen feedback and documentation: After every call, send a recap email. Track change requests, versions, and approvals. This paper trail helps with both credit and payment enforcement.
- Build your peer system: Form writer rooms and feedback circles if formal mentorship is scarce. Rotate reads at key milestones (outline, first draft, production draft).
- Skill up on AI the right way: Use it for research, alt-lines, and structural passes, then do a human polish for voice and subtext. Consider structured learning paths if you're new to these tools.
If you want practical courses to sharpen AI use for writing workflows, explore these role-based AI course picks.
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