Hey guys,

I got a script on here called Age of Superheroes. A person has emailed me, asking how much I'm selling it for.

I'm a real amateur and don't know how to respond. I'm not getting my hopes up, it will probably end up as nothing but how would members of the board act in this sort of situation.

Thanks

Matthew

If it's a feature, pretty sure WGA has guidelines for minimums. Based on film budget.

An initial option is usually 10 percent, From what I've read. Other board members have had stuff made. Could probably help you more.

If somebody offered me a twelve pack for one of my scripts at this point, I'd probably take it. Just get your work on film. Lest it's your true baby.

James

Quoted from jwent6688 If it's a feature, pretty sure WGA has guidelines for minimums. Based on film budget. An initial option is usually 10 percent, From what I've read. Other board members have had stuff made. Could probably help you more.

Obviously I've never sold a script either, but I've heard more like 3-5%.

Talk to people like Shelton, Phil...they'll be able to help you out.

Congrats on the interest, by the way.

WGA does have minimum guidelines, but those only apply if you're working with a signatory.  if you're not, they're free to offer you whatever they want, and it's up to you to accept or decline.

I've found that asking for 3% of the budget as a sale price and 3% of the adjusted gross revenue on the back end has been a fair deal.

Options can be anywhere from $1 to tens of thousands of dollars.  Personally, I would accept either.

Does the script warrant a high budget?

I always thought an option was 10 percent of final sale of the script. If WGA minimum is 75k for films over 10 Mil budget, it sounds more realistic. Not a percent of film budget. Am I wrong???

Again, twelve pack sounds good. Just film the farking thing.


James

Mat, do you know anything about the person who wants to film it?  Or how he sees your script being filmed?  Is he a film student or a director with twenty years experience?

I'd go with 3% of the production, myself.


Phil

Hey guys, thanks for the advice.

The script warrents a pretty high budget film. I'd expect the film to cost a lot to produce. At the moment, the script isn't signed up to WGA, so I think they're free to offer what they like.

I think I need to do some research. Do you guys think I should find out more about the buyer before I go forward, or ask the buyer how much he or she is willing to buy the script.

Research the guy.  You may decide that you don't want him filming your script.


Phil

Try this link. It has PDF's on all WGA contracts. The most important thing is to listen carefully and document the entire process via whatever paper trail you can generate. Beware the option game. Remember never do for free things you do well.

http://www.wga.org/uploadedfiles/organize%21/LBA_Handout_10.pdf

Quoted from Majorgeneral316 Hey guys, thanks for the advice. The script warrents a pretty high budget film. I'd expect the film to cost a lot to produce. At the moment, the script isn't signed up to WGA, so I think they're free to offer what they like. I think I need to do some research. Do you guys think I should find out more about the buyer before I go forward, or ask the buyer how much he or she is willing to buy the script.

Find out what you can about them, then go into details about what they think the budget will be.  I wouldn't ask them what they want to pay, because that just starts a whole merry go round of hassle.

The script being registered with the WGA or not has nothing to do with what they're required to pay, but them being a WGA signatory or not does since they're required to abide by minimum purchase prices if they are.

Not to say you can't use WGA rates as a bargaining tool though.

tell them you have other parties interested but you would love to hear their offer. That way you get an idea of what their ballpark is.

Just curious if this is a US based producer or company.  If not, the WGA regulations would seem to be moot.  Did the guy specifically say he wanted to buy your script, or option it?  If it's an option, he pays a (usually) small fee and secures the exclusive rights to your script for a certain period, usually one year.  Superheroes are big right now, so maybe this guy read your script and wanted to jump on it before anyone else.  Good luck with it.

How about:

3.  You agree on a lesser price up front.  You get some back end points. And you are credited as the writer.

I don't see why you shouldn't get credit as the writer in any situation.


Phil

When you say back end points, what do you mean?

Quoted from Majorgeneral316 When you say back end points, what do you mean?

A percentage of the profits.

Quoted from Shelton A percentage of the profits.

Although, from what I've been told by various individuals, people may never see any back-end profits because it means a % of the profits once the production costs have been met and there are many ways to fudge the numbers... but that's another story.

Quoted from MacDuff Although, from what I've been told by various individuals, people may never see any back-end profits because it means a % of the profits once the production costs have been met and there are many ways to fudge the numbers... but that's another story.

That's the difference between net and gross.  It's to the writer's benefit to get their back end worded as "adjusted gross revenue".

Quoted from Shelton That's the difference between net and gross.  It's to the writer's benefit to get their back end worded as "adjusted gross revenue".

Ah - ofcourse. I should really go read my option agreement again.

Quoted from Ryan1 Just curious if this is a US based producer or company.  If not, the WGA regulations would seem to be moot.  Did the guy specifically say he wanted to buy your script, or option it?  If it's an option, he pays a (usually) small fee and secures the exclusive rights to your script for a certain period, usually one year.  Superheroes are big right now, so maybe this guy read your script and wanted to jump on it before anyone else.  Good luck with it.

Seriously, superheroes are HUGE right now.  I spent hours searching for Kick-Ass on Blu Ray. Just an FYI for those looking Best Buy has it and while it's normally $29.99 they are running a special for the Kick-Ass Blu Ray which gets you 1 Blu Ray DVD, 1 Standard DVD and a Digital Copy all for $22.99.  The employees at Best Buy said all they've sold today is Kick-Ass on Blu Ray or Regular DVD.  

So that may seem off topic, though I'm just stating how Ryan's words are echoing truth.  I also heard that Vaughn and Goldman had to rewrite the first twelve pages of XMen: First Class because Inception used similar storylines and ideas. Coupled with the fact that The Green Hornet, Green Lantern, Batman 3, and Superman are all coming out in the next few years, Superhero movies are being churned out more than the Amish and their butter.  In fact I'm writing a superhero flick too.

I got a couple of hits on Sunset Summer of people interested.  One I'm still working with off an on, we're trying to locate funding. Another one I just declined permission to use my screenplay because he wanted to change a vast majority of the story and I was willing to make the big changes--I'm more willing to do small changes if they benefit the story and production but his made the story completely different.   Normally if it's a big budget 3-10% sounds about right, but considering your fairly new writer and I'm guessing this is your first script that's garnering attention, they'll probably want to option it. If the budget is a large budget he'll mostly like offer the WGA option minimum if he's serious about it.  but DO NOT ask him.  He should offer you it through a contract, and I'd suggest you get a Entertainment Lawyer or other Legal aide go over the contract.  But if not, get EVERYTHING IN WRITING.  You do not have to accept and have every right to decline.  While the final product on screen probably won't be word for word this draft of script, do make sure the changes he is proposing reflect your story in a positive light or at least stay true to your story you intend.  Because everyone has their own ideas about what YOUR script should be.

If it's a large budget I might try for a 24 pack. When the time comes for him to buy your script you can always negotiate for less money and incentives.  I've estimated that one could probably make my film Sunset Summer for around 2-2.5mil.  My superhero film of course would be more.  But hey Inception's budget was estimated to be anywhere from 160-250mil.  So it depends.

Best of luck!
-Matt

Haggle.

"$100" "150" "What? You cant haggle!" "Yes I can. 260." "3-370!" "500!" "$1000 and you can get a hot Italian woman along with it" "DEAL!"


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On-topic, I have to agree on the "Superheroes are big". They have been. I can't exactly pinpoint where all this kicked off, though.

I know Avatar really jump-kicked the entire "O.M.G! 3D MOVIES!" craze (as before I remember only here and there being in 3D,).

Batman kick-started the origin stories (word has it Sly Stallone now wants a Prequel to Rambo. Either this will be origin or not is still up to debate, but he wants a much much younger Rambo in it)

But Superheroes? I don't know.

But that isn't the thing, the thing is if you can do a good superhero film, then you're going to do good.

It's simply because, for the most part, Marval are going to Disney and they're spilling as much Superhero stuff as possible. It's like a convyer belt of superhero films.



Congrats though!
-Rhys!