I don't mean some film student making your movie. Has anyone on this site ever made money by selling one of their scripts and if so which one?

"Cold Chill" (posted in the horror section) was sold to an indie production company. Yet to be produced. "Crossfire" ( a script not posted here) was also sold and not produced. Am currently trying to get the rights back since the company which bought the script has dissolved.

How are you going about getting your rights back?


Phil

Quoted from dogglebe How are you going about getting your rights back? Phil

It was a one-man operation basically, so the "producer"  *cough, hack* owns it. Am trying to buy it back for a nominal fee since he never really accomplished anything, either before or after our dealings.

Seriously doubt it'll work since our relationship didn't end on the best of terms, but thought it was worth an inquiry.

Good luck with it.

I'm glad I've kept the rights to everything that's getting produced.  One company wanted me to give (not sell) them the rights to a script they were producing.  I refused.  Fortunately, these guys started production before any contracts were signed, so I kept everything.


Phil

Well,

I had a producer contact me to write a short from a rough treatment for him.
I told him I would like writing credit and a copy of the film.
We areed, and I wrote the script.
When the script was finished, (through a couple rewrites) he wanted to send me a check for the work I put in on it.
He was easy to work with, and very nice. Production is supposed to start this summer. The title is "Dead Lost".

Cindy

When you sell your rights to these producers, what price range are you selling them at? Are you getting royalties put into your contracts or is it a one time fee and the story is no longer yours?

Quoted from Pants When you sell your rights to these producers, what price range are you selling them at? Are you getting royalties put into your contracts or is it a one time fee and the story is no longer yours?

This can go a lot of different ways.  The script can be optioned as Pia stated above, where the producer pays for the rights to the script for a certain amount of time, say a year.  When the year is up, the producer can decide if they want to exercise their additional option (if in the original contract) or simply cut it loose.

A purchase price can go all over, whether it be a low or high fixed rate, or a percentage of the budget.  Percentage of the budget works pretty well in my opinion because it keeps you from requesting $100,000 on a $250,000 film, or $5,000 on one for 5 million.

A backend percentage is something that can also be negotiated, but isn't a given.  If you ever get into a position where this is an issue, make sure your percentage is based on gross.  Net points are called monkey points, and creative accounting can ensure you never see a dime.

If you sell the rights, you no longer have any stake in the script and the buyer is free to do with it as they like.

Most of what I said above applies to non-WGA writers.  WGA writers are guaranteed minimums based on what service/material they are providing.  The link below is the schedule of minimums for the 2008 contract.

http://wga.org/uploadedFiles/writers_resources/contracts/min2008.pdf

What about producers who want the rights to a short? What is a pay range on those?

Quoted from Grandma Bear I know of a couple of people who have had their stuff optioned. Both got about $8-10K up front. Neither got produced and both got the rights to their scripts back after one year.

I'm assuming that was for a feature?

Quoted from Pants What about producers who want the rights to a short? What is a pay range on those?

Generally, none.  The writer agrees to let the filmmaker produce the short in exchange for writing credit and a copy of the film, while still retaining the rights.

If the filmmaker is insistent on purchasing the rights and plans to produce the film on a grand scale, say 15-25k, you may be able to swing a few hundred bucks.

Shorts are more about exposure than cash.

That's good to know. I've been working on something that will be the greatest thing since sliced bread!!! ;D

I'm just joking...What I do have is a very tragic true story that I think has some major legs! I'll just keep plugging away at it and we'll see what happens.

Quoted from ericdickson I pretty much got screwed over on my last feature script that was produced called Dark Games.  It was supposed to be a micro budget with no name talent, but after I was paid my small writing fee...he tripled the budget through investors, hired decent actors like Danny Trejo and Martin Kove, and paid all the above the line crew a sight more than I got.  I no longer work for those people.   Don't be quick to agree to chump change.  Be strong and negotiate.  They can't shoot a film without a script.

What was your small writing fee, if you don't mind me asking?

Quoted from Pants What was your small writing fee, if you don't mind me asking?

Im too embarrassed to say.  It was supposed to be a very small production and wasn't supposed to go anywhere.  He ended up hiring at least 4 recognized actors and a large crew.  It's my own fault, though.  I need an agent.  

Quoted from ericdickson Im too embarrassed to say.  It was supposed to be a very small production and wasn't supposed to go anywhere.  He ended up hiring at least 4 recognized actors and a large crew.  It's my own fault, though.  I need an agent.

Couple hundred? 4 figures? 5 figures? 1 figure?

Quoted from Pants Couple hundred? 4 figures? 5 figures? 1 figure?

I googled it.  He received $666.66 in a shiny new envelope.  As an added bonus, they let him keep the envelope, but he lost his soul.

Please be wary of any contracts where you'll receive $666.66 as payment.

And now for something entirely different...

The situation Jack laid out kind of ties back in to my percentage based figures.  It's a good way to go for just this reason.

666.66 dollars, lol. Thats hilarious and sad.

Quoted from Shelton As an added bonus, they let him keep the envelope, but he lost his soul.

Well, it's always in the last place you look for it.  That's my experience.


Phil

Quoted from ericdickson Im too embarrassed to say.  It was supposed to be a very small production and wasn't supposed to go anywhere.  He ended up hiring at least 4 recognized actors and a large crew.  It's my own fault, though.  I need an agent.

On the upside, you did get your script produced in a big way :-) That oughta count for something