I've just received word that someone is interested in producing my short The Mute and they end the mail by asking me:

"I've been discussing it with my partners for the last few days, and we want to run the numbers and see what kind of budget we're looking at. If it can be done right and for a reasonable budget then we would love to develop this project. Right now my main question is what do you want for this script?"

I have no idea what the standard is? Or if this is even genuine?

Seems almost too good to be true.

Anybody with experience in these kinds of things?

Thanks!

If this is your first time being produced (congrats, btw), you shouldn't even be looking for money.  You should be looking for credit as writer, two copies of the finished work, and you want to retain the rights to your script.

Since they asked, you can always suggest $100 .


Phil

Quoted from dogglebe If this is your first time being produced (congrats, btw), you shouldn't even be looking for money.  You should be looking for credit as writer, two copies of the finished work, and you want to retain the rights to your script. Since they asked, you can always suggest $100 . Phil

Thanks.

I have another short in pre-production but yeah I haven't had anything produced.

That's what I thought, about the money, which is why I thought it odd that they asked me for a price instead of making an offer.

But thanks for the insights and suggestion.

As soon as I saw this, I went back and read The Mute - and I can understand why someone would be interested in producing it. Whilst I don't have any idea of what the selling rate is, I just thought I'd add my own congratulations, and I hope it all works out well.

Thanks.

I took Phil's advice (after reading a blogspot about selling shorts too) so let's see how things turn out.

Bit late now, but i would merely say get what you can.

The only thing is if people are giving financial consideration then they will almost certainly be expecting to buy the rights to the script, ie it and the characters will become their property.

No-one else will be able to produce it and you effectively will only get the one film out of it, and it might not even be very good.

$100 isn't worth selling the rights to the script IMO, even if it is a short. Either do it for free, but you keep the rights or sell it lock, stock and barrel for considerably more.

Well I suggested Phil's deal. The worst that can happen is that they say no, right?

I would not be willing to sell the rights of the script for $100, no.


Here's the blog about selling shorts btw:

http://roberthogan.blogspot.com/2007/08/selling-short-scripts.html

I did say that you should want to retain the rights to your script.


Phil

Quoted from dogglebe I did say that you should want to retain the rights to your script. Phil

Yup, and that's what I did.

I took your suggestion word-for-word pretty much.

Quoted from Death Monkey I've just received word that someone is interested in producing my short The Mute

Well it's about time.

Congrats TJ.

Hey guys,

So they're asking to buy the rights now. Any bright ideas on how much I should ask?

Oh and thanks Rob, didn't see you there.

Start with a cool Million...and work your way down.

Quoted from Death Monkey So they're asking to buy the rights now. Any bright ideas on how much I should ask?

That's something you're going to have to figure out on your own.  We can't feel these guys out for you.

That's my official non-answer and I'm sticking to it.

Phil

I think you should let them make an offer first. If the offer is higher than what you expected, then I guess you're home free. If it's lower (but still reasonable) then i guess it's up to you.

Yeah, it's just that I have absolutely no idea what range we're talking. I've decided to ask for advice from the few contest contacts I've got before I reply.

Two things to keep in mind when deciding a price:

The Mute is a short script and shorts, rarely make any money.

You wrote it on your own.  They didn't ask you to.

Given this, you may want to ask only for points on the back end.  They may take your idea and turn it into a feature length script where they can make money on it.  If you sell it for points, they might be generous.


Phil

Points would be a good way to go if you think they plan on turning it into a feature at some point.  If not, then you'd basically be giving the script away unless the short wins prize money at a festival.

I would ask for $300-$500 dollars for the rights to the short, and add in a stipulation where you would be given the opportunity to write a feature length version should it come to that.

At that time it would be a different deal (additional money and points), but you could get those stipulations in your initial contract as well if you wanted to keep things condensed.

Thanks Phil and Mike. I appreciate all the advice and experience you're handing me for free. Really.

I'll give it some thought and come up wit something.