Does the person that buys your script pay you before or after the movie is made? I ask this because I wonder if how well the movie does in theatre matter on how much you get paid for your part in the making.

I see.......thanks.

Some people sell screenplays on average for 300 000 dollars but the lower down screenwriters wouldn't make near that much first time.

I think if the film or tv series is a smash hit they will pay you and pay you and than finally screw you somehow

Sounds believable to me. I'd ust want to sell two or three films and then make my own with the money.

Anymore... you sell a screenplay and direct your next. That is, if you sell your 1st to a hollywood production company and not some independent joint.

I've sold 2 screenplays and am pushing COFFIN CANYON off on several folks as we speak. "no word yet, still hopeful"

I sold a screenplay called "CORPIS" & another called "THE AMERICAN ANUAL" both sold for 5 grand a piece and are said to be on the upcoming list of projects for "SAID" company to use.

the process I went thru was simple... I was directed to the company with a letter of reccomendation. I sent my screenplay and a two line synopsis of it and a month later I got a call saying they wanted to buy the content out right.

Of course I jumped on it being a carpenter and busting my ass for a big pay off...

The second  screenplay I sold was much easier... They actually asked me what I had on the shelf when I recived my pay for the 1st one.

I told them and they got back with me about 5 to 6 weeks later...

Since then i've completed some 54 other screenplays. I'm building up a catalog of work, so when my time does come... I'm going to hit the ground running. FULCI himself started out this way and by gum... so will I!

Anyway, good luck and I hope to see your name in lights right along side of mine someday.

As ling as I write it, they buy it, and actually pay for it, I dont give a damn what they do with my work. I just like writing, I dont really care if it gets onto the screen or not----though that'd be quite cool.

I'm not really looking to sell anything, they'll have to come to me if they want something. I'd much rather work a 9 to 5 than take a chance on making millions in a business that is uncertain for unknowns

I plan on getting a normal job, "accidently" selling my script, and then becoming something-like-famous.

The above stated has a 0.000012 cnace of occuring, in an alternate universe trillions of miles away from ours.

Something that may work is if you work as a duo with another writer you can trust, a duo probably has a better chance than a single, you have a .0005 chance alone but with a duo you may have a .0125 chance haha

You never know

There are lots of different kinds of deals - options, pay or play, etc...but in most every deal, you get something up front, and if its a full length script you get WGA standard fees up front - you'll see a lot of $250,000 against $1m deals, which means you get a quarter mil up front against $1m if he film hits production, etc...I've never heard of someone selling a full length script for 5K, and I've certainly nevver heard of someone being silly enough to do it  twice.  

5K does sound like a little----even to me. I know some people that've sold to independent companies and have gotten around a 100,000. But I think thats a rare case.

Try freelance... sometimes you don't even get 2k for a full lenght screenplay. Try selling a "PLAY" to a local theater... see what you walk away with.

The screenplays I've sold for 5k a pop were easy out's and easier in's... When you all sell your 1st screenplays, don't expect anything more than 10 grand... please. You're only going to be setting yourself up for major dissapointment.

Like another said here or in another thread... making it in acting and or screenwriting is like winning the lottery. You will probably fail for than succeed in it.

I went in thinking I had all these great idea's and that everyone would want a piece of them in hollywood... well, that isn't the case and won't be the case for another 2 to 3 years I forsee.

I now deal with 2 very small independent production companies and as some of you know... independent film is basically like probono work... for the writer anyway.

D. Samuri... I wish you luck, but if you are under the notion of getting rich and famous and seeing your name in lights and all that... under a really short amount of time no less. You're in for a surprise.

I've been lucky enough to sell two screenplays to a company, I think alot of it had to do with a letter of rec from a very good business man. Without him in the offset, no... I don't think I'd have gotten the chance.

Will any of my other work be realized some day? I think so. I've got the backing now and alot of studios are looking at my work, but I didn't open up a gym because I thought I'd make it in screenwriting.

I wish anyone luck with the art and the craft and anyone in this thread who sells a screenplay for more than 5 grand up front... I give you my congrats. Also, when you do... put in a good word for me at the production company you are contracted to work for.  

Also, directors... D. Samuri. If you know of any directors at all... how to reach them, how to talk to them... what ever... Push your work onto them "inspite of what the books say" You could end up working on a re-write or better yet... as an on hand writer for them full time.

The best plan is to have a plan. If you know someone in the business... then yeah, you got a great foot already. If you are like me and didn't know anyone, then it's gonna be a little tuff.

Don't go for the top guys at first. Don't go to MGM, PARAMOUNT, UNIVERSAL, NEW LINE, etc etc etc etc

Start at a low end company like ASYLUM -- ALPINE -- CRYSTAL SKY's -- PARADIGM --BLAIR SILVER -- CONCEPT ENTERTAINMENT

Those are the guys I've spoke with and have delt with... they are great starter companies to pitch to. To talk to. To get information from and to build upon.

You might not get an idea sold... but if you talk to the right person you might find a project around the corner and they'd be willing to send you in the right direction.  
Again, talking to these companies will not bring wealth upon wealth... they'd laugh if you asked for a 100k for a screenplay. I'll tell you that right now. You don't have anything sold, you've never made a movie and to their knowledge you don't even have a screenplay finished... just the idea and pitch of one.

Remember that.

So... as much as you think 5k sounds a little..... even. 5k is also about what to expect if you don't belong to a guild or the union, that is until you sell a few screenplays... then you'll see profit.

I hope the above helps you out and that you won't be so blind to the goings on in the hollywood end of things, cause with the train of thought of alot of these guys here... they seem to think you have to live in hollywood to make it and they seem to think that when you do make it... money flys out of your ass and into your hand.

Balt...

Baltis, studios and production companies deal (by contract) with the guilds, and thus contracts are guaranteed. Dealing with Indy's is fine - dealing with Indy's that ignore said contracts with DGA, WGA, IBEW, IATSW etc...makes you look like a shmuck. Plus, its wrong.

All selling a script for five grand proves is that your script was worth five grand. Principles, and respect for the work and the men and women who do it, shouldn't come so cheap.

If a company proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that dispite the fact that they can't pay in the thousands, they have the resources to produce my scripts adequately, and the will to do so, I wouldn't mind a check in the hundreds.

Exactly Alan.

I do this because I love movies, and I believe I have a semi-ability to write down ideas that look good on film. I have a 9-5 job, and write when I can. If I could get something sold, no matter what the pay day would be - the thrill for me would be seeing my name on the credits and watching my idea evolve into a motion picture.

that's my rush.

...ofcourse, I would be happy with a big pay day