Hello. I have a question for the ss community. I am an actor hoping to assemble a cast and crew for a feature film this summer. I have been speaking with a fellow ss member (who will remain anonymous as of now). Together we hope to launch a feature film project. With the aid of kickstarter.com I hope to raise the funds necessary for an independent feature film budget. I am looking to raise anywhere from 50,000 to 100,000 dollars. It will take a lot of effort over the course of three months of fundraising. But anyway, how much money would you expect to receive for your script and the rights to it for a a very low budget independent feature film? I am not sure as to what the length of the script is going to be (so I would assume we can predict it will be the average feature script length). I want to be as fair as possible when paying my crew, especially the script writer. Thanks.

Best,

Justin

If you're a first time writer, writing a very low budget independent film, and a third party was interested in optioning or purchasing it? You'd make next to nothing. My guess, as someone with limited knowledge, would be in the range of $5,000 to to $10,000. Other convential wisdom says 3% of the budget.

I informed this person that I was under the impression that shoudl we raise 100,dollars, 5,000 dollars would be fair compensation for the script/rights. To me, 3,000 dollars seems unfair. But above 5,000 (around 7,000 to 10,000) seems a bit high considering the budget is small. I believe the script writer is a new writer (in terms of having a script produced), however; I do not believe age or experience should dictate talent (or at least to a degree).

Are you saying that an experience writer would receive 5,000 to 10,000 for a script for a low budget feature or an inexperienced writer would receive that amount?

Thank you for your advice!

And when I said someone with limited knowledge I meant me, btw... (0:

Best not to concern yourself with experienced writers because (a) they probably wouldn't get involved in a bootstrap production and (b) you probably couldn't afford them even if they would...

I think your offer of $5,000 is more than generous especially if the scriptwriter is to this point unproduced.

Ajr,

Thank you very much. You have been very helpful!

Best,

Justin

No problem. Good luck with it.

I'd say five grand, plus points on the end.


Phil

Phil,

Hello. What do you mean "points on the end?" A percentage of the gross or credit? If so, that sounds fair. I am new to this and am conducting research on all of this. ANy reccomendations on a great source for this information? Thanks.

Best,

Justin

Gross points.  Percentage of what comes in.


Phil

Justin,

This depends entirely upon whether your production company is going to be a signatory to any guild agreements, as the guilds have minimums.  The issue goes beyond the screenwriter:  there's SAG, AFTRA, DGA, WGA, IATSE, etc.

I may deal with Sag seeing as somebody I hope to cast as a principal is a sag member.