If you're writing for a reputable production company, you should try to get WGA minimums. Why shouldn't you? Are you presenting an inferior product compared to someone that's in the WGA? If that's so, why does the person that hired you even want an inferior product? That means they likely want to take advantage of you if they have the money to pay.

If you charge less then expected, they'll see your product as something cheap that they can get somewhere else. They won't value your time, talent and effort. Trust me, this is the perception. In graphic design, I see people charging 50$ for logos, other 1000$ to companies up to 50.000$ and more. If the designer is good, the quality gap between 1000 and 50K sometimes is very small, if there is a gap at all. But, the perception differs. You can't tell me that there aren't scripts on this board better than scripts that have sold for WGA minimums.

At the end of the day, a lot of the people that get paid more are those with the ability to sell themselves and oversell their ability. They craft a perception that their product is superior. Of course, managers and agents play a role in this, it's their job to sell their clients.

You should always try to get the most you can, and not sell yourself short. Now, this isn't always possible. So, sometimes you have to compromise and evaluate if the opportunity presented is worth the risk of investing your time and effort into something where they might go to waste.

But, always believe in yourself, in your ability and try to get what's best for you. Don't be modest. If you don't appreciate your talents and time, others won't too. It starts with you.

Quoted from Demento If you're writing for a reputable production company, you should try to get WGA minimums. Why shouldn't you? Are you presenting an inferior product compared to someone that's in the WGA? If that's so, why does the person that hired you even want an inferior product? That means they likely want to take advantage of you if they have the money to pay. If you charge less then expected, they'll see your product as something cheap that they can get somewhere else. They won't value your time, talent and effort. Trust me, this is the perception. In graphic design, I see people charging 50$ for logos, other 1000$ to companies up to 50.000$ and more. If the designer is good, the quality gap between 1000 and 50K sometimes is very small, if there is a gap at all. But, the perception differs. You can't tell me that there aren't scripts on this board better than scripts that have sold for WGA minimums. At the end of the day, a lot of the people that get paid more are those with the ability to sell themselves and oversell their ability. They craft a perception that their product is superior. Of course, managers and agents play a role in this, it's their job to sell their clients. You should always try to get the most you can, and not sell yourself short. Now, this isn't always possible. So, sometimes you have to compromise and evaluate if the opportunity presented is worth the risk of investing your time and effort into something where they might go to waste. But, always believe in yourself, in your ability and try to get what's best for you. Don't be modest. If you don't appreciate your talents and time, others won't too. It starts with you.

You got stones, I like it!

I always ask myself... how much is my time worth? How many hours is it going to take me to complete the project? Somebody else's idea is easier. They've done much of the thinking for you and it's possible to write their feature in around a week. Say for seven full six-hour days, I would want at least $1400 US. I've put in bids like that for jobs and still not got them... and that's with the employer asking me how much I'd do it for and clearly interested in me doing the job for them. That's my bare minimum. No way I would it for less. Clearly, though, there are writers out there that don't mind working for nothing... but that writer isn't me, that's what I tell myself every time somebody underbids me... their loss.

Tough one this. I’m of the opinion doing work at that kind of level could do your career more damage than good. People paying that kind of money may well fuck it up completely. But if that happens you can always take your name off the project.

However, rather than take small amounts of money, i’d rather spend what limited time I have writing and hustling for things I really want to do.

Where has that got me? Well it’s got me a lot of meetings and maybes. But some are GOOD maybes. And it’s got me one commission from a big production company. That was to write a pilot for my own concept. However - although the contract was for £20k - I only receive 5k and the rest IF they attach a network. But knowing the company’s slate I considered it well worth the risk. And so far they have at least got my work in front some big directors.

The instances I have taken 1k is optioning a spec i’d Already written and writing a treatment for my take on a true story. But again - both of these got industry eyeballs and one project has meant me developing something with a decent director.

So i’d Say do it if it means more opportunities might come your way.