Quick question…

As amateurs, what do you think a reasonable asking fee is to write a feature from scratch? So developing someone else’s idea, not your own.

Whatever you are comfortable with. In my opinion, no less than 2% of the budget.

The 'standard' range of screenwriters charge $2,500 - $3,000 for writing a full length feature screenplay or book to screenplay adaptation. The 'Premium' range of screenwriters (who have given hit films) are more expensive. For short films the standard rate is $50 per minute of the film.Jul 9, 2018
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That's just a random search btw.

My husband negotiated something like this with a group of Indian filmmakers on their project.

Just make sure (considering it's not your idea) that you have passion for the project.

Quoted from Grandma Bear Whatever you are comfortable with. In my opinion, no less than 2% of the budget.

What if there is no budget, as in, they just want a script and then what they do with it after that is up to them?

Quoted from LC The 'standard' range of screenwriters charge $2,500 - $3,000 for writing a full length feature screenplay or book to screenplay adaptation. The 'Premium' range of screenwriters (who have given hit films) are more expensive. For short films the standard rate is $50 per minute of the film.Jul 9, 2018 https://www.quora.com › How-muc... That's just a random search btw. My husband negotiated something like this with a group of Indian filmmakers on their project. Just make sure (considering it's not your idea) that you have passion for the project.

Hmm... So I'm probably not a 'standard' writer, so less than $2500 but more than...?

It’s really hard when you’re a nobody. I guess everyone just has to be kind of okay with deal.

And yes, I love the story

Quoted from Warren What if there is no budget, as in, they just want a script and then what they do with it after that is up to them?

Whatever you think seems fair. Whatever you are willing to write the script for. I have let people use my scripts for free if for example the script in question is not my best and I'm just amazed anyone wants it at all. To write something on demand is a bit different though. Like I said, whatever you feel comfortable with.  

Quoted from Grandma Bear Whatever you think seems fair. Whatever you are willing to write the script for. I have let people use my scripts for free if for example the script in question is not my best and I'm just amazed anyone wants it at all. To write something on demand is a bit different though. Like I said, whatever you feel comfortable with.

Thanks for the advice, Pia.

If there's no budget, there are a couple of things you can still do.

For starters, how much feels good to you to write a feature? A thousand? Five thousand? Ten? Ask for half up front, half on delivery. If they agree and nothing more comes of it, you got what you thought it was worth doing it for.

I'd also try to negotiate that if it is produced, you're to be paid 2% of the final budget (or whatever you settle on), less the money already paid to you, due on the first day of principal shooting. And I'd try to build in a clause that gives you the right to do the rewrite if it's picked up, paid of course.

That's how I'd structure the deal.

Quoted from ReneC If there's no budget, there are a couple of things you can still do. For starters, how much feels good to you to write a feature? A thousand? Five thousand? Ten? Ask for half up front, half on delivery. If they agree and nothing more comes of it, you got what you thought it was worth doing it for. I'd also try to negotiate that if it is produced, you're to be paid 2% of the final budget (or whatever you settle on), less the money already paid to you, due on the first day of principal shooting. And I'd try to build in a clause that gives you the right to do the rewrite if it's picked up, paid of course. That's how I'd structure the deal.

That all sounds like excellent advice as well, thanks Rene.

I like Rene's recommendation

I've done this twice now, didn't necessarily expect the movies to get made but one did (in India).

Charged $1000 each time, my reasoning was that it's not actually one of my scripts and I'd be getting paid nothing to work on a spec script...

As other have said though... whatever you can negotiate that you are comfortbale with.

Quoted from AnthonyCawood Charged $1000 each time, my reasoning was that it's not actually one of my scripts and I'd be getting paid nothing to work on a spec script...

This definitely wouldn’t feel right. $1000 seems like peanuts for the amount of work that goes into a feature, my time is worth more than that. I think $2000 is a pretty sweet spot for me, I'd be hard pressed to do it for anything less than that I'd say.

Thanks for all the advice SSers.

And thanks, Libby, I was waiting for you to elaborate that’s why I hadn’t said anything, but it seems like that was it

If memory serves it was $2,500 all up and agreed upon for the first draft, but it wasn't an entirely satisfying experience cause there were too many cooks (Producers) in the kitchen, meaning they were never satisfied. They couldn't decide which story they really wanted to tell, kept changing central ideas, plotpoints,, disagreeing with one another etc. That's fine and dandy had they wanted to keep paying for ongoing drafts past the original agreement... but they didn't.

I think the WGA minimum for a micro-budget movie (under 200K) is like 12.500$, for a low budget movie (under 2 mil) is something like 66K. I think. I haven't checked it recently. This is for original work. Again, I think.

Usually, some standard is between 2% to 5% of the film's budget.

I don't think you should write a feature script for 2.500. But if you're strapped for cash and must, or if you want to, the choice is yours.

There's an article on Stage 32 with a bunch of people giving their views on it.

A lot of them saying something like 2-3% of the budget, which seems to be what people here are saying too.

Of course, that's just random people weighing in as far as I know...

Danny Manus (script consultant) jumps in towards the end. I think he's responding to specific comments so might need to read them all for context but here's what he says:

You're not going to get WGA mins, but I think depending on your expertise and experience, I know a large number of non-WGA writers who charge somewhere between $10,000-$25000 for these types of writing jobs. But you do need a very clear contract with back end agreements, participation, what percentage you own, what you'll get paid if it sells and if that amount is less what the producer/person pays you, etc.

But there's lots of opinions on there. People saying only take WGA minimum. Others saying you'll never get anywhere near WGA minimum.

I guess it just comes down to finding an amount you're comfortable with...