So I got an email the other day from a producer expressing interest in my screenplay. (I know, haven't we all) I tried to do some research into the production company but came back with nothing. Neither in an internet search or on here. The line that strikes me as odd in the email is:

"I would love to produce your script but I would like to know if you can wait for your money when it gets financed which would be a great deal or do you want the money up front."

I assume that this may be a producer who is looking for their first script to produce and I have yet to reply as I have no idea on how to approach it.

What is the best way to respond to an email query like this? I am in foreign territory here and my gut wants to tell me something is up, like they want me to give it away for free or trick me out of my rights to it.

So anyway... This brought a couple questions to mind.

1. How can a query like this be a scam? (to what end would it benefit the scammer, which I am not saying this email is.)

2. What are important factors on who you sell your script to?

I know you eventually have to sell, that is the main reason to write something, but I would think there would be reservations over a poorly filmed version (read low budget indie) of your script reflecting negatively on your credit as a writer.

Maybe I'm worrying over nothing, but I had hoped to finish more screenplays before even having to deal with or focus on this aspect of the game.

The script in question is in my sig if anyone wants to check it out.

Thanks in advance,
John

Man, I wish Mike would hurry up and make his thread with guidance for features inquiries...

As you have surmised, JC, this is your clue:

Quoted from your guy I would love to produce your script but I would like to know if you can wait for your money when it gets financed which would be a great deal or do you want the money up front.

Yes, you probably have an amateur who is either blowing smoke, or has unrealistic expectations.

That does not mean you need to blow him off, though.

Maybe he really intends to hustle, and maybe he will succeed in scraping together some funds.  One never knows.

Offer him an option.  I hope you know what that is already.  Google it if you do not.  This gives him a chance to raise funds while dropping a little jingle in your pocket. Emphasis on "little".

For me, if he gives you any reason to be confident, I would make the monetary demands reasonable.  What counts as "reasonable" depends on you situation.

Is this a hobby, or something more?  And how many others do you have beating down the door for your script?

If he wants to buy outright but pay you later, offer up 3% of the budget before shooting begins.  See what he says.  Most agree that this is a reasonable figure, and I have never seen anybody balk at it.

There is more to it, of course -- but this should at least give you enough to put into an email.  You will need to let his responses guide you further.

He's offering a deferred deal, which is not all that uncommon.

I would suggest what Bert said, which is to go the option route, with the deferred money built in once financing is secured.

For simplicity's sake, say you agree to sell the script for a total of $50,000.  Up front, you'll grant him a one year option (where he has sole rights to the script and the opportunity to secure financing) for $1,000.

If he secures financing during that one year period, you will be paid the balance owed ($49,000) on or before the first day of shooting.  If he doesn't, you get the rights back, the $1,000 is yours, and you're free to either sell/option the script to someone else or extend the original producer's option.

Mike pretty much summed it up.  Before you discuss what your pay might be (whether up from or deferred), learn what this guy's budget is going to be.  Does he plan on shooting your script for $5,000 or $5,000,000?

There is nothing wrong with asking this guy if he's done anything before.  If he has, ask to see it.

The most important thing I can tell you is to protect your work and your ownership of it.  Does this guy to buy all the rights from you?  Or just the rights to shoot it?  If you haven't registered it with the LoC, do it today.


Phil

I found a couple of interesting links about options...Here is good a place as any to deposit them...

http://chipstreet.wordpress.com/2010/02/02/ten-things-when-you-option-your-script/
http://chipstreet.wordpress.co.....-your-script-option/

Quoted from bert Offer him an option.  I hope you know what that is already.  Google it if you do not.  This gives him a chance to raise funds while dropping a little jingle in your pocket. Emphasis on "little".

I do know what it is but as to how you word it in an email while negotiating or making first contact or reply is another thing altogether.

Quoted from bert For me, if he gives you any reason to be confident, I would make the monetary demands reasonable.  What counts as "reasonable" depends on you situation. Is this a hobby, or something more?  And how many others do you have beating down the door for your script?

This is definitely not a hobby... I worked on the script for over a year almost weekly until I got to a draft I would allow someone to read. One of the main reasons I joined this forum was to get feedback from others on my work. I need to do my part too and have only given feedback on one script so far. Finding free time is sometimes hard to do when working full time and trying to get a few pages written everyday.

Quoted from mcornetto I found a couple of interesting links about options...Here is good a place as any to deposit them... http://chipstreet.wordpress.com/2010/02/02/ten-things-when-you-option-your-script/ http://chipstreet.wordpress.co.....-your-script-option/

Thanks for posting those links. Those articles are a great find.

To the other two who have replied thus far, thanks. I have replied to the email in question and I guess we will see what happens.

John