Hi all,

A few weeks ago I submitted my first script, a short, to Simply Scripts and recieved some mixed reviews. Taking all of those into account I decided I'd go back and do some re-writes.

However, I've started getting e-mails from producers. At first I said "no thanks" because I wanted to work on another draft, but one offered to pay cash up front (asking for a price to purchase the script as well as a price to option it). From what I've read on these boards, shorts rarely garner any money, atleast not upfront, and I'm just a college film student, so I wonder if I shouldn't atleast explore my options.

Has anyone ever sold the rights to a short (here or elsewhere) and know of an appropriate price to ask, or even what steps to take? Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Ian
bobtheballa

Hey Ian, usually people here will let their shorts get produced for free as most directors won't be willing to pay for them as they use them for practice and to get their name out there.  This is the same for you, to get a short made gives you some exsposure too.  If someone is willing to pay for your short then....sorry I wouldn't know what to ask for it.

Before thinking about how much you want, make sure that you definitelty want to sell it.

Once you have sold the rights to it, it's someone elses forever.

I presume the short you are talking about is Boxed In. The premise is fairly strong and inventive and could easily be developed into a sellable feature IMO, so it's worth considering whether you'd rather keep the idea and develop it somewhat.

I was offered £1000 for a one minute short once by an advertsing agency, so there can be some money in it. There could be considerably more in a feature length version though.

This is a tricky thing Ian.

Personally i've got so many emails that ask about my script and most of them never get back at you again.

If you can get some money out of it, do it, but most of the producer or directors will not pay. So i think it wouldn't be that bad even if you have your script made without being paid.

Cheers.

Hi all. I have received a couple modest offers for the first short that I wrote a few months ago. Each time I declined since I felt there was a bigger potential as a feature which is what I originally intended. I have since entered it into a few contests and will see how it does there. If I place, then I can market it as an award winning short or I can finish it as a feature and say that it is adapted from an award winning short. If it tanks and gets no praise, then I know it needs work and needs to be re-written or maybe its only worth the modest price I was offered.

If you feel strongly enough about the concept, hold out until you get a price you can live with or develop it into a feature.

I hope my two cents helps. I'm still looking to make my first sale.

Brad

Sounds like a good plan, Brad. If the offers are as modest as you say then there shouldn't be much to lose with lots to gain.

You can sell the rights to produce a script without selling the writes to a script.


Phil