scriptwriter; playwright; screenwriter
Refers to a writer who creates scripts for plays, films, television, or similar productions. The term is neutral and commonly used in professional contexts.
He is a famous scriptwriter who has worked on many dramas.
To become a scriptwriter, you first need to learn how to write scripts.
脚本家 is a more common and general term for a scriptwriter or screenwriter. 台本作家 is slightly more specific to stage or broadcast scripts, but they are largely interchangeable.
劇作家 specifically refers to a playwright for theater, while 台本作家 can cover scripts for various media including TV and film.
Compound of 台本 (script) and 作家 (writer). The exact historical derivation is straightforward; the term emerged naturally as a way to describe a writer specializing in scripts.