Quoted from Warren That's great, I like it

Me too!

Hmm

WGA minimums are fine as a guide but they tend to get new writers excited and potentially set false expectations, you see it all over FB and reddit.

Fortunately we're all too sensible to be seduced by such numbers

I think a lot of this will come down to the Producers who've optioned the book, what experience and track record do they have, what budgets they've worked with previously, and what funds can they get access to this time.

If some, or any of the above, is known then it might help you work out where to pitch your quote.

You can potentially look at layering the quote some more too, e.g. A for commencement, B for outline, C for 1st draft, X for second draft, Y for subsequent polishes, Z for Production bonus... that sort of thing.

I'd also be careful with rights, as you don't own the underlying rights to the Novels in this case.

One way you could look at this is based on time $X per hour, or $X per page and work out what you'd be comfortable with.

The two other things I personally like to keep in mind are... I get paid nothing at all whilst I'm writing a spec script, and if I genuinely feel that the project is going to get made how valuable could the 'Written by' credit be on my CV.

Best of luck with it Warren.

Quoted from AnthonyCawood Hmm WGA minimums are fine as a guide but they tend to get new writers excited and potentially set false expectations, you see it all over FB and reddit. Fortunately we're all too sensible to be seduced by such numbers I think a lot of this will come down to the Producers who've optioned the book, what experience and track record do they have, what budgets they've worked with previously, and what funds can they get access to this time. If some, or any of the above, is known then it might help you work out where to pitch your quote. You can potentially look at layering the quote some more too, e.g. A for commencement, B for outline, C for 1st draft, X for second draft, Y for subsequent polishes, Z for Production bonus... that sort of thing. I'd also be careful with rights, as you don't own the underlying rights to the Novels in this case. One way you could look at this is based on time $X per hour, or $X per page and work out what you'd be comfortable with. The two other things I personally like to keep in mind are... I get paid nothing at all whilst I'm writing a spec script, and if I genuinely feel that the project is going to get made how valuable could the 'Written by' credit be on my CV. Best of luck with it Warren.

Thanks for the advice, Anthony.

I do think I will end up going with a per hour system. I think I have it pretty much sorted.

Just need to send it off and see what they say.

Just an FYI, Warren, and you may have already determined what you would ask for, but the general rule of thumb is that the screenwriter is typically going to make about 1% of the overall budget of the film.  But there can be conditions attached to that; e.g., I signed a contract where I was going to be $28,000 on a film where the estimated budget was $2.8 MM, but it was conditional on the film getting funding (it never went anywhere, s0 I didn't get paid -- other than in valuable experience -- for a crapload of work).  You might ask for the estimated budget for the film and gauge that as your starting point.  Also, you might want a condition added that if the film doesn't get funded, you're still entitled to "X" amount.  So if the film's budget is $1 MM, you ask for $10K, and if the film doesn't get funded or made, you get 1/2 that amount.  Just a thought, and it's something I wish I had asked for on that film.

Gary

Quoted from Gary in Houston Just an FYI, Warren, and you may have already determined what you would ask for, but the general rule of thumb is that the screenwriter is typically going to make about 1% of the overall budget of the film.  But there can be conditions attached to that; e.g., I signed a contract where I was going to be $28,000 on a film where the estimated budget was $2.8 MM, but it was conditional on the film getting funding (it never went anywhere, s0 I didn't get paid -- other than in valuable experience -- for a crapload of work).  You might ask for the estimated budget for the film and gauge that as your starting point.  Also, you might want a condition added that if the film doesn't get funded, you're still entitled to "X" amount.  So if the film's budget is $1 MM, you ask for $10K, and if the film doesn't get funded or made, you get 1/2 that amount.  Just a thought, and it's something I wish I had asked for on that film. Gary

Thanks for the input, Gary.

I actually just sent over my terms which I think are very reasonable. I worked on a per hour system and have asked for half up front and half on completion.

Will see how it is received.




Thanks again everyone else. No more advice need on this thread

I don't want to jinx it but this really looks promising, it also looks like it's moving into a three-feature deal. Three unrelated stories. A novel adaptation, a play adaptation, and one of my own completed scripts.

This deal has been in the works for a long time, maybe a year or longer, nothing happens quick.

I sent my asking fee a few months ago, which has all but been agreed on. I couldn't be happier with the outcome, this is serious writing money in my opinion.

At the moment face to face (Zoom) meetings are being set up with the filmmaker and a separate one with the producers to discuss going forward.

Nothing is certain until the funds hit my account and I type FADE IN, but damn this has felt very legit and very professional all the way through. It has taken a long time to get to this point but communication has always been strong and excitement from their end has been constant throughout.

Will keep you all in the loop regardless of outcome, but I think I have something here... I hope I have something here.

Fingers crossed, I hope it pans out for you!

So, Warren...

You're adapting an existing novel to screenplay, adapting a separate Play to screenplay, and they are also Optioning or purchasing one of your screenplays? Which one, or you can't say?

Fingers and toes crossed here too.
You'll be busy for sure and raking it in. Wow!

Awesome news, Warren.

Exciting times ahead!

Quoted from ReneC Fingers crossed, I hope it pans out for you!

Thanks, Rene. So do I.

Quoted from LC So, Warren... You're adapting an existing novel to screenplay, adapting a separate Play to screenplay, and they are also Optioning or purchasing one of your screenplays? Which one, or you can't say? Fingers and toes crossed here too. You'll be busy for sure and raking it in. Wow!

Thanks, Libby.

Well I'm not doing any of it yet, but yes that is what is on the table.

The original screenplay is Shaka. it's what caused him to get in touch with me in the first place a year or so ago.

The filmmakers/producers are South African's living in South Africa. Shaka and the novel are both South African stories, so two scripts from my motherland. The play is a WW2 story, so it's quite an interesting mix and would keep me very busy for quite some time. If it happens I doubt I will have any time for my own ideas, but that's okay.

Quoted from Matthew Taylor Awesome news, Warren. Exciting times ahead!

Thanks, I sure do hope so.

Great news Warren, fingers, toes, eyes, legs crossed for you!

Quoted from AnthonyCawood Great news Warren, fingers, toes, eyes, legs crossed for you!

Thanks, Anthony. Appreciate it.

Quoted from Warren I don't want to jinx it but this really looks promising, it also looks like it's moving into a three-feature deal. Three unrelated stories. A novel adaptation, a play adaptation, and one of my own completed scripts. This deal has been in the works for a long time, maybe a year or longer, nothing happens quick. I sent my asking fee a few months ago, which has all but been agreed on. I couldn't be happier with the outcome, this is serious writing money in my opinion. At the moment face to face (Zoom) meetings are being set up with the filmmaker and a separate one with the producers to discuss going forward. Nothing is certain until the funds hit my account and I type FADE IN, but damn this has felt very legit and very professional all the way through. It has taken a long time to get to this point but communication has always been strong and excitement from their end has been constant throughout. Will keep you all in the loop regardless of outcome, but I think I have something here... I hope I have something here.

Wow! Great news! This is terrific!