Steve Laramie
Veteran
Just wondering how screenwriters charge since their really isnt any financing until after the screen play is done.
how do you guys get paid?
- Thread starter Steve Laramie
- Start date
CallaghanFilms
Veteran
dollars, American
AdamBertocci
New member
Those of us who haven't been fortunate enough to have people with actual money picking up our scripts often go in on a share of any eventual profits.
There generally aren't any :smile:
There generally aren't any :smile:
Marc Villafan
Well-known member
Wire Transfer to offshore accounts obviously. Doesnt everyone?
Steve Laramie
Veteran
But what if its my story and their script? I dont want to basically give them my story to sell back to me. How would this be arranged if it was almost like a co writer thing. Forgive my ignorance here I strongly believe in paying people for services I know I am stepping into dvxuser screenwriter turf here and don't want to die.
craigbowman
Veteran
So this handful of magic beans they gave me isn't the standard remuneration as they said?
Steve Laramie
Veteran
I wrote a large synopses of what happens in the story almost scene by scene and I wrote the first 30 pages. I just want to get fresh eyes on the project so I am not to burnt out to direct it.
Randall_Oelerich
Veteran
Euros or gold coins, LOL. Yeah, a treasure chest full of gold coins like in Pirate movies, that would be acceptable to me.
JonathanLB
Carbonite Member
In sexual favors. It's not pretty but I'll take it.
haha, jk
haha, jk
Just don't make the mistake of eating the magic beans. You don't want to experience those consequences.
I've heard.
This is a semi-interesting article on the topic: http://artfulwriter.com/archives/2007/07/the_economics_o.html
wcmartell
Well-known member
Live chickens, just like a doctor in a 1940s movie.
1) On a project that begins with a spec script (existing script I have written), they ususally option the script for a period of time so they can take it to the money source they already have waiting. I do not option scripts to anyone who doesn't have a deal pretty much set up. This is a biz that is 98% BS talk and 2% people who actually make movies. Once they set up their deal, I get paid (as part of preproduction). Usually there is a script fee and a "production bonus".
2) On an assignment deal, I get paid to write the script. The producer, as an actual producer and not one of the 98%, has money and pays me. They have money from the last film they made. Usually I have an up front fee for writing the script and a bunch-o-money when the film gets made.
- Bill
PS: How a writer's mind works: I would much rather make a deal on one of my original scripts, than write someone else's idea. So I am willing to make a deal on one of my scripts that I would never want to make if I am scripting some producer's idea. Writing someone else's idea is *work*. And, usually the ideas suck. And, usually the producer has no idea how much they suck... and often they have no idea how uncommercial the idea is (which is weird, because you'd think that would be the one thing they'd know). So, often the assignment scenario is a form of torture. But having *my* script put on screen is the point of my existence. Having them put on screen without getting screwed up along the way is close to heaven. Hey, if you have some great ideas and ways to improve my story? Even better! If you have changes, be able to explain why - most producers can't do this... Work *with* the writer, and the writer will work with you.
1) On a project that begins with a spec script (existing script I have written), they ususally option the script for a period of time so they can take it to the money source they already have waiting. I do not option scripts to anyone who doesn't have a deal pretty much set up. This is a biz that is 98% BS talk and 2% people who actually make movies. Once they set up their deal, I get paid (as part of preproduction). Usually there is a script fee and a "production bonus".
2) On an assignment deal, I get paid to write the script. The producer, as an actual producer and not one of the 98%, has money and pays me. They have money from the last film they made. Usually I have an up front fee for writing the script and a bunch-o-money when the film gets made.
- Bill
PS: How a writer's mind works: I would much rather make a deal on one of my original scripts, than write someone else's idea. So I am willing to make a deal on one of my scripts that I would never want to make if I am scripting some producer's idea. Writing someone else's idea is *work*. And, usually the ideas suck. And, usually the producer has no idea how much they suck... and often they have no idea how uncommercial the idea is (which is weird, because you'd think that would be the one thing they'd know). So, often the assignment scenario is a form of torture. But having *my* script put on screen is the point of my existence. Having them put on screen without getting screwed up along the way is close to heaven. Hey, if you have some great ideas and ways to improve my story? Even better! If you have changes, be able to explain why - most producers can't do this... Work *with* the writer, and the writer will work with you.
mainstreetcm
Member
As Walt Disney once asked his brother Roy when money was tight...
"Why can't potatoes be like money? That way we could just pay the boys with potatoes..."
Honestly though, I think there are alot more struggling screen writers who earn pennies compared to the "big boys" that get paid thousands just to write a draft.
"Why can't potatoes be like money? That way we could just pay the boys with potatoes..."
Honestly though, I think there are alot more struggling screen writers who earn pennies compared to the "big boys" that get paid thousands just to write a draft.