Hey there,

I didn't know where else this would fit, so if this is the wrong subforum, please somebody move it to the right place.

So, I got contacted by a british independent producer who wants me to write a feature script for him within the next four weeks, but he doesn't offer any payment. All I'd get would be written by credits and a copy of the finished film.

All I got is the name of the film, the names of the characters and a pretty generic logline with lots of room for interpretation.

I'm not quite sure what to make of this. I tried to google him and I found him, but he doesn't seem to have any production history in films, only some produced music tracks, singles and albums.

However he claims to have a production company in place and he needs to submit the script in mid september. I've now asked him to give me a bit more info about this, like what does his equipment look like, does he have a team in place, is there any previous work I could have a look at.

Would be nice if anybody could share their experience here and give me some advice.

Thanks.

I wouldn't do it, especially not a feature length script. Sounds like his production company isn't very successful.

If they can't pay you at least a few hundred quid then let them find some other sucker.

R

No pay and you have to do it in four weeks!

Unless there's some pay on the backend then I wouldn't commit to this type of 'opportunity'!

Just mho of course

Anthony

I would be politely out

Thorsten,

I'd agree with everyone else.  My instinctual reaction: Oh, HELL no.  It's far too much work, with no guaranteed payback... not even the credit, because you have no assurance that production will get successfully off the ground with a good end result.  IE: any work for hire should be paid up front.  Not on the back end, either - because you have no way to ensure there will be a profit.

My five cents.

--J (W)

Hey,

thanks for your replies - I had the same feeling about this. I wouldn't mind writing it without a compensation if I was confident it would be made in a good quality and I got the writing credits for it, but this whole setup seems quite unprofessional to me and I'm not sure if this is a serious offer, or just someone who just felt like making a movie after he woke up in the morning.

Thx guys.

Did the guy find you here at SS? I think he approached Dena too.

Even when they have credentials the deal can fall through... like they don't get funding or something. That can even happen with the big boys, with A list casting. So with somebody like this, it's even less likely. I wouldn't waste my time with dreamers... but sometimes, the harshest lessons are ones we have to learn ourselves.

The notion of the public toward writers and their value is critical to absurd.

Then, there are those fake industry persons between us wanna make something while giving nothing. Complete absence of respect toward performance.

Well, and the complete exploitation industry. Not aiming to make films at all, wanna exploit only...

I said that several times in different contexts: I hope we are aware of our position. It might be a bright place for some, no envy of course. But there are more, who keep/push the quality and quantity to its best. For those it's darkness, survival, experience, and grace of course <- Because I can read about how a children soldier gets recruited for real, and not from fake journalism or whatever kind of media. You won't get that from another source if there's no one telling you.
I can't honor my colleagues enough, or buddies, whatever you say in your country. Always a drink to you or a greeting from my side, no matter how the beef is about minor nonsense between us...

Out of curiousity, what is the Log about?

Quoted from TonyDionisio Out of curiousity, what is the Log about?

A group of young adults who finish their studies and try to keep up their friendship in their after-college life.

Quoted from Angry Bear Did the guy find you here at SS? I think he approached Dena too.

No, he contacted me through my networkISA profile.

Just recently someone asked me how much I'd charge to write 'their' story...I said $1500....but never heard back from them.... I am not writing a feature for free. I've written shorts for free and I still do from time to time if I know they will get made and done with quality. But a feature? No way...too much brain power...too much of your creative juice ....but lately it seems writers are getting cheaper and cheaper and it's a bit discouraging to me.

If you already have the creative juices flowing, then write it. It will be YOUR script unless you sign something (which I would not).

If they love it, then drop on them what you need for your efforts. That logline is just an idea that can't be copyrighted. In the end you'll have a script that's yours to shop around if they don't like your price.

James

Quoted from jwent6688 If you already have the creative juices flowing, then write it. It will be YOUR script unless you sign something (which I would not). If they love it, then drop on them what you need for your efforts. That logline is just an idea that can't be copyrighted. In the end you'll have a script that's yours to shop around if they don't like your price. James

It's risky... email correspondence can count as a contract. If another producer were to make this later down the line and it made money... then the guy with the original idea (proof in email correspondence) could stake a claim to a percentage.

Please correct me if I'm wrong. I've never studied law.

I think it depends how much of the script is from their ideas, if they give you chracters, plot points etc then they could claim an involvement, potentially a 'Story by' type credit.. and then it would get messy...

It's one of those things that is probably best clarified and documented up front, you can still get a contract written up even if there's no pay.