I'm not the greatest writer in the world, but 2 of the 4 screenplays i've posted on here have been produced. one of the guys offered $300 upfront to do my script and i took it.

it got me curious - do you guys charge for  Indy Filmakers and such to produce your scripts? most of you are a lot better than i am.... and if someone wants to pay me to use my screenplay.... maybe i should start charging people?

Like The Joker says "if you're good at something, never do it for free"

Lots of people do shorts for free - I've never asked for money for one - feature lengths normally go for a percentage of the production budget.

I've never charged for my shorts, though I have been offered something a few times.  I've always insisted that I keep the rights to my script; this hasn't been a problem until just recently.


Phil

i'll tell you, im starting to seriously consider it.

i've been able to keep the rights to the script - but if you give me a good price?

writing credit is really all that i demand remains.  

Quoted from dogglebe I've never charged for my shorts, though I have been offered something a few times.  I've always insisted that I keep the rights to my script; this hasn't been a problem until just recently. Phil

I'm with Phil on this, but my experience is very limited.
But I'd rather parlay interest into more credit than take some cash.

When looking to put together a short...
Sure, keep the writer credit to myself, work closely on rewrites with the director.
And find a way to enhance the production and get a producer credit as well.

For example, say I can bring in a special effects guy gratis.
The director can reallocate or save that budgeted expense, which means...
I can turn that into a producer credit by drawing in that talent.

A writer/producer credit looks better to me.
I could care less about the cash right now.
It's all about forging relationships and getting some credits.

Which gets back to my overall mission statement for forging a career here:
Demonstrate to people that don't know me that I'm worth knowing.

*plink* There's my two cents.

Regards,
E.D.

to me, if you are a serious screenwriter - why WOULDNT you try to make a few bucks on the side? why cant you have your cake and eat it too?

i dunno, seems like a no-brainer to me.

Quoted from Penoyer79 to me, if you are a serious screenwriter - why WOULDNT you try to make a few bucks on the side? why cant you have your cake and eat it too? i dunno, seems like a no-brainer to me.

Mr Pedantic would like to just point out that you "can't have your cake and ha'penny". You can certainly have your cake and eat it.

But the terms 'serious screenwriter' and 'trying to make a few bucks on the side' don't entirely sit well together.

A lot of people will tell you that 'Credit is King' and if you start vying for comm scripts, then often production co's will want to know what work you've done. Credit often wins. As a lot of directors start off with lo/no budgets, then it's easy to price yourself out of the market. If I get offered money then I'll take it,  but if they have no budget, then they still get the script - and I'll just ask for credit.

I have done the same. I've had several offers, but the main thing I'm looking for is credit, hell just to see my work made is worth it. That's what it's about IMO. Seeing your work brought to life....

You should accept whatever you can get!:)

Quoted from Electric Dreamer A writer/producer credit looks better to me. I could care less about the cash right now. It's all about forging relationships and getting some credits.

I made a deal earlier this week for Arterial Motives. Since they can't afford to pay me a bunch of money for the script, I'm getting 20% of profits and a producer credit as well as the writer credit of course.

The reason I managed this might have to do with it being my third feature with them. And since I'm kind of____(fill in the blanks)  sometimes, I'm working on the fourth one. Mentioned it to them yesterday and they said they want to read it when done. Now that's planning ahead.  ;D

Quoted from Grandma Bear I made a deal earlier this week for Arterial Motives. Since they can't afford to pay me a bunch of money for the script, I'm getting 20% of profits and a producer credit as well as the writer credit of course. The reason I managed this might have to do with it being my third feature with them. And since I'm kind of____(fill in the blanks)  sometimes, I'm working on the fourth one. Mentioned it to them yesterday and they said they want to read it when done. Now that's planning ahead.  ;D

Holler! ;D

You're one savvy Swede!

Regards,
E.D.

Credit is by far the most important thing. Anything else after that is a luxury. Make sure you insist on credit before you even start talking about money.

Daniel

Quoted from Electric Dreamer You're one savvy Swede!

I don't like the word sly, but I think that might be what my husband would say.    :P

It seems to me that each of you should know a few things; 1. It's imperative you be prepared to part with 'RIGHTS.' Hold up; not so fast. What that means is you are parlyaing your stuff to someone who takes over those rights and does this with some risk; why? Because they are taking your word for it that YOU OWN IT TO SELL IT in the first place. 2. Just because you lose rights, does not mean much; you should lose rights of course, unless you are about to parlay THAT into a points/back end/royalty fee (ala the WGA mins for example) which still means the same things; the 'USE' rights go to the buyer. Always. (follow the money = right to use = you better pay my writer.) Having said all of that number 3. Items are worth only what someone is willing to pay for them ie; a house in my nieghborhood may be worth 250K (I know, let's not even go there) but someone may offer only 100. The 'COMPS' in the area help the seller have a relative plum line. Ergo if that seller sells for the 100 he 'brings down' the surrounding values, but he makes some serious equity. The same applies to scripts; if you want to sell it SELL it; but be sure that if your fanny is in the ear you get points FOR it not reamed for it. Respectfully, BABZ

lmao nice if you can do it; fanny in the ear; should be fanny in the air. Although I have seen pippin hunt for a flea very close to, never mind lmao.bb

I thought you were doing really well up to this point ...

Quoted from nybabz but be sure that if your fanny is in the ear you get points FOR it not reamed for it. Respectfully, BABZ

... when I REALLY got interested.

You make some great points though. If I sell my car, I don't expect to be able to dictate how the buyer drives it. But for a lower price, I may loan my car, and then I will make dictates.

I always accept that if someone is making a purchase of a script, they are essentially taking a gamble - it's a futures stock for the buyer, and the seller has to take that into account when they sell. But it's also a futures stock for the seller, especially where credit is concerned.

i'm charging upfront fees for my scripts. i get sole writing credit, they get creative control, and 100% of future profits.

ive been getting some pretty decent attention from amature filmmakers. I've netted $600 between two shorts..and i am currently negotiating to get 'Death Unbecoming' made.

ironically my best reviewed shorts and lower budget stuff has been ignored.....and its the ones i get flamed for with big budgets that get all the attention.

whodathunkit?

Wow. I've not been paid for shorts. I have three in production but no money. I did sign for 5% of crowd funding on one of them...but all I want is a lot of writing credits. It's like a resume the way I see it.

Are the ones you've been paid for posted on here? I'd love to read them. :)

And congrats...any money is GREAT. Benjamins rock!

I got $200 for one of my shorts. The check bounced, but he made it good.  :)

Pale Yellow
when i get emails i just tell them - i do this as part of my income... and i charge an up front fee/and request sole writing credit.. they get creative freedom and future profits. if they are still interested send me a fair offer....  if they hit my magic number i let them have it or we haggle out something fair and workable. i have yet to have a filmmaker turn me down cause i wanted to charge for my script... they are actually very willing to work with me.

Death Unbecoming is listed in my signature link. the other two scripts that have been produced are no longer on this site...if you want to read them just PM me.

angry bear....
i usually request money order or cashier checks.