A director approached me about writing a feature. I'm guessing its his first, probably has a few shorts under his belt. My question is how should I approach this in terms of money. Should I ask for an upfront fee, and defer some upon completion? I don't want to overcharge him, but I want to make it so he hires me.

I know that there are many questions I need to know about his project, and I have a list. Any advice?

Steve

Depends what you want, and if it's a feature or a short.

If it's a feature you should definitely ask for money, upfront in my opinion. The amount is up to you. They may offer you money on net profits after. Forget it, you'll get zilch. You want a percentage of gross profits. Ten per cent at least.

If it's a short then it's kinda pointless asking for money. You can on principle. You'll probably end up doing this dance until you and they are satisfied. You trying to not piss them off, and them doing the same to you until you agree.

Hopefully you will. And it will turn out a triumph.

A word of warning though. As I've said on these boards before, what happens is a film maker finds you and declares their undying love for your work. You dance for a while in a flurry of emails back and forth, Eventually you agree. Or not. Either way you never hear from them again. Then another film maker approaches you. And the dance begins again.

Mention selling or giving an option. Make it a year or less. If they can't it do it in a year they are not worth bothering with.

Best of luck. You never know. It may be a triumph. They may turn out to be amazing. But I doubt it. I hope they prove me wrong.

R

Your first question is: What's the budget? Work from there.

If this is a low budget thing and he can't really pay you up front, you need to ask for a LOT of points. Maybe even a producer credit. If he's willing to pay you to write this, you need to know who the script will belong to if the project never happens. If you write it for free, but it's his idea, this can be tricky. I've seen too many situations where a writer spends a LOT of time writing for someone else, but when nothing happens with the project, the script can't be used for anything, because the producer/director and the writer are both co-owners of the script. Also, if he does pay you to write this, make sure you two agree on rewrites. Will he pay you to rewrite or would you do that for free? Again, I've seen too many writers spending like a whole year working for free for some filmmaker. Just make sure you two have a contract that both of you are happy with.

Good luck!  :)

Quoted from Grandma Bear If you write it for free, but it's his idea, this can be tricky. I've seen too many situations where a writer spends a LOT of time writing for someone else, but when nothing happens with the project, the script can't be used for anything, because the producer/director and the writer are both co-owners of the script.

I stupidly did this twice when starting out. I'd definitely advise against this. It can be nice having someone believe in your work, but make sure they have what it takes to make it work.

One of the scripts I can rewrite and do whatever I like with as there wasn't any written contract. He gave me a concept and I wrote a microbudget feature around it. The other one though, we both own the script, luckily I only did a vomit draft before realising the guy was a dreamer. He had a couple of shorts under his belt but didn't have much in the way of common sense when it came to the crunch.

I'd suggest something along the lines of the following, based on an agreed overall payment.

20% Upfront, sort of signing on/good faith fee.
30% On production of first draft
50% On completion of an agreed final draft (second, third, fourth - whatever you agree)

You could add a step around delivery of an agreed Outline.

You can flex the total payment to suit you both and can ask for more back end points if they've got less to pay up front.

Makre sure you get a contract that covers all the salient details and make sure you are happy with the deal...

Anthony

Thanks for the help, guys. It'll come in handy when people don't seem to vanish into thin air!

Steve

LOL - know that feeling!

Anthony, you're a right mug!

Quoted from Max Anthony, you're a right mug!

two can play at that  :D :D :D

Quoted from Reef Dreamer two can play at that  :D :D :D

That's absolutely disgusting.

Quoted from Reef Dreamer two can play at that  :D :D :D

;D

You know, I've always wondered if Don made that thong himself or ordered it along with the text from somewhere. If it's the latter, he's got bigger mugs than me.

Also, good luck to StevenClark. I hope it works out!

All thongs have been previously worn by Don to ensure health and safety. Last thing he needs is somebody suing him.

Quoted from Max That's absolutely disgusting.

Now every time I look at one of your posts I can feel my gf's eyes burning into the back of me. It's that image in your sig. The first time she saw it she gave me a look as though she'd caught me watching porn. I even felt a little guilty.

Quoted from DustinBowcot Now every time I look at one of your posts I can feel my gf's eyes burning into the back of me. It's that image in your sig. The first time she saw it she gave me a look as though she'd caught me watching porn. I even felt a little guilty.

I'm thinking my signature is too much now.  WWE is a PG product these days, so you shouldn't feel that awkward ;D

I'll probably ditch it tomorrow for something else, maybe a GIF of her doing a wrestling move.

Paige is British bruh, doing it big in WWE and I suspect she'll get the Divas Championship for a third time, just waiting for it to happen.

Quoted from Max I'm thinking my signature is too much now.  WWE is a PG product these days, so you shouldn't feel that awkward ;D I'll probably ditch it tomorrow for something else, maybe a GIF of her doing a wrestling move. Paige is British bruh, doing it big in WWE and I suspect she'll get the Divas Championship for a third time, just waiting for it to happen.

I agree, you should ditch it. Makes browsing the boards uncomfortable when there's someone else in the room.

Quoted from DS I agree, you should ditch it. Makes browsing the boards uncomfortable when there's someone else in the room.

LOL, word.

Just catching up... was the thong really an OWC prize or a declaration of something else?

Quoted from Max I'm thinking my signature is too much now.

It's a good thing to consider all SS members before posting stuff like that. Not everyone is guy who drools over that sort of thing...

Quoted from Grandma Bear It's a good thing to consider all SS members before posting stuff like that. Not everyone is guy who drools over that sort of thing...

It is from a PG rated "family" product though, just saying.  I guess people can make up their own minds if it's inappropriate or not.

It's risque but nothing overly sexual.  WWE fans and wrestling fans from all over the world would rejoice at the sight of Paige licking Natalya, but maybe this ain't the place.

Doesn't matter now anyway, it's gone, replaced with Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. ;D