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SimplyScripts Screenwriting Discussion Board    Discussion of...     General Chat  ›  What's the minimum you would sell a feature for? Moderators: bert
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Grandma Bear
Posted: December 12th, 2011, 8:09pm Report to Moderator
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I'm curious in general because I know some people/a lot of people here want to be professional screenwriters whether it's working for a studio or writing that spec that sells for $1M. Then there are others that write mostly for fun. I put myself in the latter. I love to write and do it for fun. I like making films and do it for fun too. This is my hobby and to me it's about fun. I could never write for someone else and I would never move to L.A. So, I'm curious what the minimum you would sell one of your babies for?

I currently find myself in a situation where a production company wants to buy one of my features. One of the 7WC scripts. They read the first rough draft that I posted here       It is a low budget production. Less than 100K. They have a great team and excellent equipment and are filming at the studios in Wilmington NC.  They have distribution contracts with several outlets including NetFlix and Hulu. I'm pretty generous with my shorts and let pretty much anyone use my shorts for free. I'm not willing to give away a feature however. I just have no idea what to charge for a feature. I'm not willing to take backend points as I'm sure there will be none. I want money up front. I have also agreed to to rewrite the script to fix some major plotholes.

What would you do and what would you base that decision on?


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James McClung
Posted: December 12th, 2011, 9:23pm Report to Moderator
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I'd ask what they're offering first. It might be considerably more than what you would've asked for. Try to weasel one out of them if you can.

Take the back end profits as well. You probably won't get any but have it written in the contract just in case. You don't want to miss out on a Blair Witch Project should you have one (learned that from the South Park guys). No less than 3%.

Anyway, these guys sound like they have some resources so personally, I wouldn't ask for any less than $2,500. However since it's your first feature, I'd be slightly flexible. That said, I've signed four contracts at this point so I feel justified with a going rate of $5,000. This is a figure I've seen Phil throw out quite a bit. Makes sense to me.

But yeah. See what they can put out there first.


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dogglebe
Posted: December 12th, 2011, 10:52pm Report to Moderator
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You can always ask for points on the end, since it's such a low budget production.  That would probably be the best way to go.  Three percent of production costs (as per WGA) would only get you 3,000 dollars.


Phil
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leitskev
Posted: December 13th, 2011, 7:52am Report to Moderator
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As Phil knows, I've been on this path with a NC company trying to film a feature, and it's probably turning out to be a big mistake. But Pia's situation could be very different. I would consider that if they decide not to pay you, you would probably not be able to do much. It would cost more to sue them. But this isn't really about the money anyway, I think you just want to see your film made. Then the issue is what kind of quality it will be, and how much work they will ask of you for rewrites. A lot to consider.
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Grandma Bear
Posted: December 13th, 2011, 8:50am Report to Moderator
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James, I doubt this is a Blair Witch piece.   I know what you mean though. Your numbers were along my own thinking so thanks.

Phil, this film will be on DVD and then on the mentioned streaming outlets and some other ones I can't remember the names of. I doubt there will be any back end points to be paid.

Kevin, they better not try to use it without paying. I wouldn't sue, but I'd drive up there and scare the crap out of them. I'm good at stuff like that.  

I know where the main guy lives. In a million dollar house in a gated community. I think I'm going to say they can have it for 5K and then they own it and I will ask for nothing else but credit as writer. Even if it turns into a Blair Witch thing, I won't ask for anything more. I'm suspecting he could come up with that amount.


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CindyLKeller
Posted: December 13th, 2011, 9:12am Report to Moderator
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Pia,

Five thousand seems like such a small amount for a feature.... but if that's what you want...

Why don't you ask for five thousand upfront AND 3% of any profits.

That way you'll get your five grand and hopefully more later on.

I know there will be a lot of people either renting it or buying it just because you are the writer. I know I will.

Don't screw yourself out of any money.

Best of luck with this,

Cindy


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leitskev
Posted: December 13th, 2011, 9:35am Report to Moderator
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The company trying to film mine has no experience shooting a film.
Not even a short. The guy does seem to have connections in the industry, mostly in distribution. It seems to me, however, that shooting a feature is a huge undertaking. I can't imagine people doing it with a limited budget and no experience, but maybe I am wrong. I hope the people producing yours have made films before, at least some shorts. If not, you might have to go direct too!
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James McClung
Posted: December 13th, 2011, 10:18am Report to Moderator
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Quoted from leitskev
The company trying to film mine has no experience shooting a film.
Not even a short. The guy does seem to have connections in the industry, mostly in distribution. It seems to me, however, that shooting a feature is a huge undertaking. I can't imagine people doing it with a limited budget and no experience, but maybe I am wrong. I hope the people producing yours have made films before, at least some shorts. If not, you might have to go direct too!


Since you're already involved, I'd say play it by ear, man. Nicolas Winding Refn got into filmmaking with no experience and he's about to become the next big thing. I'm also currently writing for a secret feature project in Maryland, which also involves first time producers. So far, so good...

However for future reference, I would flat out not get involved with first time producers who have never produced a short before. I PA'd a feature romantic comedy with a first time producer earlier this year. I have horror stories you wouldn't believe. It didn't even get finished.

There's people in this business who should've quit on day 1 and they're more of them than you think. Be wary of incompetence.


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leitskev
Posted: December 13th, 2011, 10:33am Report to Moderator
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Hard to say where it will go. He does have people with more industry experience to help him. Still seems like a huge mountain to climb. At the time, I had only been writing about a half a year and didn't really have any expectations for that script, so didn't think there was much to lose. Had to feel my way through the process, as I don't have an agent and have never dealt with producers/directors. There probably were not many people out there in the film world less knowledgeable than me. I know a little more now, but still pretty ignorant.

I IMDB's Refn. Looks like he got his start with a film called Push, but he was also a film school guy. That means he had training for a lot of what he needed. Probably did shorts as projects in school, plus built connections that way. So I would''t guess he had no experience.

You wrote a rom com? Wow, not what I'd expect!


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James McClung
Posted: December 13th, 2011, 11:32am Report to Moderator
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Quoted from leitskev
Hard to say where it will go. He does have people with more industry experience to help him. Still seems like a huge mountain to climb. At the time, I had only been writing about a half a year and didn't really have any expectations for that script, so didn't think there was much to lose. Had to feel my way through the process, as I don't have an agent and have never dealt with producers/directors. There probably were not many people out there in the film world less knowledgeable than me. I know a little more now, but still pretty ignorant.


That's cool that he's got some people with experience behind him. I hope that serves him (and you) well. Indeed, feature filmmaking is quite the mountain.


Quoted from leitskev
I IMDB's Refn. Looks like he got his start with a film called Push, but he was also a film school guy. That means he had training for a lot of what he needed. Probably did shorts as projects in school, plus built connections that way. So I would''t guess he had no experience.


That's not what I heard. I double checked on IMDB and indeed, he dropped out very early on.

Nevertheless, I think film school can only teach you so much. There's some things you only learn on the set.


Quoted from leitskev
You wrote a rom com? Wow, not what I'd expect!


Indeed, I did. However that's not the one I worked on. The producer wrote that script (and had the starring role). My rom com's yet to be produced however it did land me another writing gig where I wrote an even better script.

Consequently, I've got an idea for another rom com. Hopefully, I can get to it next year but it's on the back burners for now.


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Grandma Bear
Posted: December 13th, 2011, 1:08pm Report to Moderator
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Wilmington NC has a great movie studio set-up. Besides L.A I think it's one of the largest in the country. In fact, when I was doing the reality show we were going to have all our post work done there.

These guys that want my scripts are working out of those studios and they have a TV show streaming on Hulu so I know that they have done stuff in the past. They are shooting this on the Red camera which is not cheap. Hopefully things will turnout okay quality wise.

Cindy, that's what I was curious about. What others would let their scripts go for. I can see a script that someone put a lot of hard work into and feel compassionate/attached about wouldn't sell it cheap, but I figure I've only spent about 60 hours on this one. That's 1.5 weeks at a full time job so if you think about it that way, it's not that bad pay. This script in question is something I don't consider very good myself and I don't really care about it either. But that's me and maybe I'm weird.  


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Heretic
Posted: December 13th, 2011, 1:25pm Report to Moderator
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Pia,

I don't see any reason you shouldn't ask for the 5k plus points on the back end.  It's a completely reasonable offer and there's no reason to cut yourself out of the back end without even trying.
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Shelton
Posted: December 14th, 2011, 10:12am Report to Moderator
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If they're working on a budget of 100k or less, but still have the ability to get it on Hulu and Netflix, I would go 3 and 3 (3% of budget, and 3% of AGR).  I certainly wouldn't dismiss the back end portion outright when you can get both, and I think it's always better to ask for up front money as a percentage rather than a straight dollar figure.


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Grandma Bear
Posted: December 15th, 2011, 11:29am Report to Moderator
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You guys are probably right. And that sounds good.

I have a new dilemma though. One of them is also a writer and wants to do the rewrite himself. I think I know how this will play out. I've seen it happen before. Suddenly the writer credit lists the other guy first and the original writer last. I wouldn't have any say in what happens to the script at all so now I'm thinking selling it out right and then turn my back to it.  


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dogglebe
Posted: December 15th, 2011, 11:42am Report to Moderator
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You can always have in the contract that you are listed first as the writer.


Phil
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