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Charging for your Screenplays? (currently 2670 views) |
Penoyer79 |
Posted: February 28th, 2012, 11:57pm |
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Been Around Chaos isn't a pit, it's a ladder.
LocationAtwater, CA Posts628 Posts Per Day 0.12 |
I'm not the greatest writer in the world, but 2 of the 4 screenplays i've posted on here have been produced. one of the guys offered $300 upfront to do my script and i took it.
it got me curious - do you guys charge for Indy Filmakers and such to produce your scripts? most of you are a lot better than i am.... and if someone wants to pay me to use my screenplay.... maybe i should start charging people?
Like The Joker says "if you're good at something, never do it for free" |
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Forgive |
Posted: February 29th, 2012, 10:23am |
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Old Timer Let The Sky Fall
LocationVarious, exotic. Posts1373 Posts Per Day 0.27 |
Lots of people do shorts for free - I've never asked for money for one - feature lengths normally go for a percentage of the production budget. |
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Reply: 1 - 19 |
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dogglebe |
Posted: February 29th, 2012, 11:17am |
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I've never charged for my shorts, though I have been offered something a few times. I've always insisted that I keep the rights to my script; this hasn't been a problem until just recently.
Phil |
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Reply: 2 - 19 |
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Penoyer79 |
Posted: February 29th, 2012, 11:25am |
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Been Around Chaos isn't a pit, it's a ladder.
LocationAtwater, CA Posts628 Posts Per Day 0.12 |
i'll tell you, im starting to seriously consider it.
i've been able to keep the rights to the script - but if you give me a good price?
writing credit is really all that i demand remains. |
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Reply: 3 - 19 |
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Electric Dreamer |
Posted: February 29th, 2012, 11:45am |
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Old Timer Taking a long vacation from the holidays.
LocationLos Angeles Posts2740 Posts Per Day 0.55 |
Quoted from dogglebe I've never charged for my shorts, though I have been offered something a few times. I've always insisted that I keep the rights to my script; this hasn't been a problem until just recently.
Phil |
I'm with Phil on this, but my experience is very limited. But I'd rather parlay interest into more credit than take some cash. When looking to put together a short... Sure, keep the writer credit to myself, work closely on rewrites with the director. And find a way to enhance the production and get a producer credit as well. For example, say I can bring in a special effects guy gratis. The director can reallocate or save that budgeted expense, which means... I can turn that into a producer credit by drawing in that talent. A writer/producer credit looks better to me. I could care less about the cash right now. It's all about forging relationships and getting some credits. Which gets back to my overall mission statement for forging a career here: Demonstrate to people that don't know me that I'm worth knowing. *plink* There's my two cents. Regards, E.D. |
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Reply: 4 - 19 |
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Penoyer79 |
Posted: February 29th, 2012, 3:03pm |
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Been Around Chaos isn't a pit, it's a ladder.
LocationAtwater, CA Posts628 Posts Per Day 0.12 |
to me, if you are a serious screenwriter - why WOULDNT you try to make a few bucks on the side? why cant you have your cake and eat it too?
i dunno, seems like a no-brainer to me.
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Reply: 5 - 19 |
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Forgive |
Posted: February 29th, 2012, 6:01pm |
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Old Timer Let The Sky Fall
LocationVarious, exotic. Posts1373 Posts Per Day 0.27 |
to me, if you are a serious screenwriter - why WOULDNT you try to make a few bucks on the side? why cant you have your cake and eat it too?
i dunno, seems like a no-brainer to me.
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Mr Pedantic would like to just point out that you "can't have your cake and ha'penny". You can certainly have your cake and eat it. But the terms 'serious screenwriter' and 'trying to make a few bucks on the side' don't entirely sit well together. A lot of people will tell you that 'Credit is King' and if you start vying for comm scripts, then often production co's will want to know what work you've done. Credit often wins. As a lot of directors start off with lo/no budgets, then it's easy to price yourself out of the market. If I get offered money then I'll take it, but if they have no budget, then they still get the script - and I'll just ask for credit. |
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Reply: 6 - 19 |
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kidd8th |
Posted: April 25th, 2012, 3:40pm |
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New Come at the king, you best not miss - Omar Little
LocationTexas Posts18 Posts Per Day 0.00 |
I have done the same. I've had several offers, but the main thing I'm looking for is credit, hell just to see my work made is worth it. That's what it's about IMO. Seeing your work brought to life.... |
| The two words that bring us all together; "FADE IN"... |
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Reply: 7 - 19 |
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victortiti89 |
Posted: June 22nd, 2012, 12:50pm |
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You should accept whatever you can get! |
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Reply: 8 - 19 |
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Grandma Bear |
Posted: June 22nd, 2012, 1:53pm |
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Administrator
LocationThe Swamp... Posts7961 Posts Per Day 1.35 |
A writer/producer credit looks better to me. I could care less about the cash right now. It's all about forging relationships and getting some credits.
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I made a deal earlier this week for Arterial Motives. Since they can't afford to pay me a bunch of money for the script, I'm getting 20% of profits and a producer credit as well as the writer credit of course. The reason I managed this might have to do with it being my third feature with them. And since I'm kind of____(fill in the blanks) sometimes, I'm working on the fourth one. Mentioned it to them yesterday and they said they want to read it when done. Now that's planning ahead. |
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Reply: 9 - 19 |
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Electric Dreamer |
Posted: June 22nd, 2012, 3:54pm |
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Old Timer Taking a long vacation from the holidays.
LocationLos Angeles Posts2740 Posts Per Day 0.55 |
I made a deal earlier this week for Arterial Motives. Since they can't afford to pay me a bunch of money for the script, I'm getting 20% of profits and a producer credit as well as the writer credit of course. The reason I managed this might have to do with it being my third feature with them. And since I'm kind of____(fill in the blanks) sometimes, I'm working on the fourth one. Mentioned it to them yesterday and they said they want to read it when done. Now that's planning ahead. |
Holler! You're one savvy Swede! Regards, E.D. |
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Reply: 10 - 19 |
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danbotha |
Posted: June 22nd, 2012, 6:00pm |
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Been Around
LocationWellington, New Zealand Posts700 Posts Per Day 0.16 |
Credit is by far the most important thing. Anything else after that is a luxury. Make sure you insist on credit before you even start talking about money.
Daniel |
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Reply: 11 - 19 |
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Grandma Bear |
Posted: June 22nd, 2012, 6:54pm |
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Administrator
LocationThe Swamp... Posts7961 Posts Per Day 1.35 |
I don't like the word sly, but I think that might be what my husband would say. |
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Reply: 12 - 19 |
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nybabz |
Posted: June 23rd, 2012, 4:41pm |
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New
Posts70 Posts Per Day 0.01 |
It seems to me that each of you should know a few things; 1. It's imperative you be prepared to part with 'RIGHTS.' Hold up; not so fast. What that means is you are parlyaing your stuff to someone who takes over those rights and does this with some risk; why? Because they are taking your word for it that YOU OWN IT TO SELL IT in the first place. 2. Just because you lose rights, does not mean much; you should lose rights of course, unless you are about to parlay THAT into a points/back end/royalty fee (ala the WGA mins for example) which still means the same things; the 'USE' rights go to the buyer. Always. (follow the money = right to use = you better pay my writer.) Having said all of that number 3. Items are worth only what someone is willing to pay for them ie; a house in my nieghborhood may be worth 250K (I know, let's not even go there) but someone may offer only 100. The 'COMPS' in the area help the seller have a relative plum line. Ergo if that seller sells for the 100 he 'brings down' the surrounding values, but he makes some serious equity. The same applies to scripts; if you want to sell it SELL it; but be sure that if your fanny is in the ear you get points FOR it not reamed for it. Respectfully, BABZ |
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Reply: 13 - 19 |
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nybabz |
Posted: June 23rd, 2012, 4:42pm |
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New
Posts70 Posts Per Day 0.01 |
lmao nice if you can do it; fanny in the ear; should be fanny in the air. Although I have seen pippin hunt for a flea very close to, never mind lmao.bb |
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Reply: 14 - 19 |
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