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In negotiations now. I'll see if we can come up with something we both can find fair.
It's kind of funny, I got an email shortly after from a young man who really enjoyed my script, and I love his enthusiasm, so if we can't come up with something we both find fair, I'd happily let the young man shoot it.
One more thing to add. After I signed the contract with this group, they registered the script with the WGA under my name and used my contact information on the submission. Obviously, they can claim it's rewritten and give another writer credit for the film, but this still made me feel a little better about their intentions based on this first step.
Be careful here. I know of criminals that use the film industry for fraudulent scams. They get an innocent writer on board with a script, then use that as leverage to apply for funds from various places. Once the funds are received, the gang disappears and the only link to them is the writer.
Sometimes there are other attachments aside from the writer too. Anybody willing to work for free is at risk of falling for one of these types of scams. Whether that be writers, directors, actors or editors.
One gives the appearance of a definite film in the works and the more attachments there are, the more credible the project looks.
Always be sure to get an option fee at the very least for a feature. A grand or two may not be much, but it can help determine the wheat from the chaff.
Sometimes there are other attachments aside from the writer too. Anybody willing to work for free is at risk of falling for one of these types of scams. Whether that be writers, directors, actors or editors.
One gives the appearance of a definite film in the works and the more attachments there are, the more credible the project looks.
Always be sure to get an option fee at the very least for a feature. A grand or two may not be much, but it can help determine the wheat from the chaff.
Generally agree with a minor exception. Students/newbies - I have received requests to use one of my shorts by a student/grad student or someone just starting out of college. I have permitted this with no payment but there is an agreement that I own the script, they have no rights to it, I may give the script to others, etc. i.e., not really optioning it to them - just allowing them to have non-exclusive use of the material.
I've never been paid for a short and have let 11 of them go so far. Nobody makes anything from a short, they're all about showing off. So I'm there for the same reason as everyone else. To be paid too would be greedy, IMO.
I've been aware of this type of scam regarding features for a number of years and think I was involved in one up to a point. I jumped ship as soon as I smelled something fishy. I also hadn't written anything on the project.
Some of these guys go as far as setting up fake publishing businesses. They can do lots of things that give them apparent legitimacy.
I've never been paid for a short and have let 11 of them go so far. Nobody makes anything from a short, they're all about showing off. So I'm there for the same reason as everyone else. To be paid too would be greedy, IMO.
I've been aware of this type of scam regarding features for a number of years and think I was involved in one up to a point. I jumped ship as soon as I smelled something fishy. I also hadn't written anything on the project.
Some of these guys go as far as setting up fake publishing businesses. They can do lots of things that give them apparent legitimacy.
Yup.
The fringe writing industry is no different to me then the - "How to make millions in real estate people", the "How to pick stocks people" - the "Send me your donations and you'll go to heaven people." - The "I will tell you which team to bet on people.". They all prey on ambitions one way or another and would all be doing it rather than selling it if they were any good at it.
Not near an expert in this area (farthest thing from it) - but to me shorts serve three purposes - you have a real shot at getting them made and there is a high from seeing what you wrote on a screen - it can be motivating and personally rewarding. (2) they are little building blocks that you can point to when trying to sell a feature. (3) They are great tool to get better at the craft.
i.e., I would give shorts away - never ever a feature.
I sell most of my shorts, no set price, depends on the producer/film maker... I will occasionally give them away, usually to students, but otherwise I see no harm in asking 'what's your budget for purchasing the script?' The money then goes into Inktip subscriptions, competition entries etc.
Like Dave, I'd never give a feature away, and that includes doing deals that are based purely on back end points and also not writing features on commission for free... time, effort and creative energy is expanded and that should have some value.
IMHO of course
Hope this particular company and their somewhat unusual business model are legit and get some films made for the SS members hwo've signed up.