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 :P

;D 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...

If you're writing for a reputable production company, you should try to get WGA minimums. Why shouldn't you? Are you presenting an inferior product compared to someone that's in the WGA? If that's so, why does the person that hired you even want an inferior product? That means they likely want to take advantage of you if they have the money to pay.

If you charge less then expected, they'll see your product as something cheap that they can get somewhere else. They won't value your time, talent and effort. Trust me, this is the perception. In graphic design, I see people charging 50$ for logos, other 1000$ to companies up to 50.000$ and more. If the designer is good, the quality gap between 1000 and 50K sometimes is very small, if there is a gap at all. But, the perception differs. You can't tell me that there aren't scripts on this board better than scripts that have sold for WGA minimums.

At the end of the day, a lot of the people that get paid more are those with the ability to sell themselves and oversell their ability. They craft a perception that their product is superior. Of course, managers and agents play a role in this, it's their job to sell their clients.

You should always try to get the most you can, and not sell yourself short. Now, this isn't always possible. So, sometimes you have to compromise and evaluate if the opportunity presented is worth the risk of investing your time and effort into something where they might go to waste.

But, always believe in yourself, in your ability and try to get what's best for you. Don't be modest. If you don't appreciate your talents and time, others won't too. It starts with you.

Quoted from Demento If you're writing for a reputable production company, you should try to get WGA minimums. Why shouldn't you? Are you presenting an inferior product compared to someone that's in the WGA? If that's so, why does the person that hired you even want an inferior product? That means they likely want to take advantage of you if they have the money to pay. If you charge less then expected, they'll see your product as something cheap that they can get somewhere else. They won't value your time, talent and effort. Trust me, this is the perception. In graphic design, I see people charging 50$ for logos, other 1000$ to companies up to 50.000$ and more. If the designer is good, the quality gap between 1000 and 50K sometimes is very small, if there is a gap at all. But, the perception differs. You can't tell me that there aren't scripts on this board better than scripts that have sold for WGA minimums. At the end of the day, a lot of the people that get paid more are those with the ability to sell themselves and oversell their ability. They craft a perception that their product is superior. Of course, managers and agents play a role in this, it's their job to sell their clients. You should always try to get the most you can, and not sell yourself short. Now, this isn't always possible. So, sometimes you have to compromise and evaluate if the opportunity presented is worth the risk of investing your time and effort into something where they might go to waste. But, always believe in yourself, in your ability and try to get what's best for you. Don't be modest. If you don't appreciate your talents and time, others won't too. It starts with you.

You got stones, I like it!

I always ask myself... how much is my time worth? How many hours is it going to take me to complete the project? Somebody else's idea is easier. They've done much of the thinking for you and it's possible to write their feature in around a week. Say for seven full six-hour days, I would want at least $1400 US. I've put in bids like that for jobs and still not got them... and that's with the employer asking me how much I'd do it for and clearly interested in me doing the job for them. That's my bare minimum. No way I would it for less. Clearly, though, there are writers out there that don't mind working for nothing... but that writer isn't me, that's what I tell myself every time somebody underbids me... their loss.

Tough one this. I’m of the opinion doing work at that kind of level could do your career more damage than good. People paying that kind of money may well fuck it up completely. But if that happens you can always take your name off the project.

However, rather than take small amounts of money, i’d rather spend what limited time I have writing and hustling for things I really want to do.

Where has that got me? Well it’s got me a lot of meetings and maybes. But some are GOOD maybes. And it’s got me one commission from a big production company. That was to write a pilot for my own concept. However - although the contract was for £20k - I only receive 5k and the rest IF they attach a network. But knowing the company’s slate I considered it well worth the risk. And so far they have at least got my work in front some big directors.

The instances I have taken 1k is optioning a spec i’d Already written and writing a treatment for my take on a true story. But again - both of these got industry eyeballs and one project has meant me developing something with a decent director.

So i’d Say do it if it means more opportunities might come your way.