Splitting cash winnings from film contests

P

preposterous

Member
Hey, with the proliferation of film contests with cash prizes, especially for commercials (tongal/poptent), festivals and other competitions, does anyone have any advice for how to fairly split any cash winnings with your crew/everyone involved in your project?

Should we agree on it beforehand? Try to calculate amount of hours (and other resources) each person contributed to find out % share of winnings?
 
Definitely do it before. Like a prenup, people can sort of be positive and cooperative in the beginning so you can be reasonable when figuring things out. When getting divorced reasonableness goes out the door.
 
Advantages and Disadvantages to agreeing (in writing of course) before rolling camera and sound:

  • Advantage: Everyone knows exactly what they can expect should the film ever make some money.
  • Disadvantage: You might end up giving away more than you wanted to get people on board, since you understand that most films don't make any/much money, and giving away a bigger percent of zero is still zero.


Advantages and Disadvantages to waiting until the film makes some money:

  • Advantage: People who love to argue endlessly about how much work they put in and what they deserve/are entitled to, will get to do what they love.
  • Disadvantage: People who love to argue endlessly about how much work they put in and what they deserve/are entitled to, will get to do what they love.
 
One reason I try to pay people, even if it's a nominal amount (say $50 a day), because they sign a contract to the effect that I (as the executive producer) own everything lock stock and barrel.
 
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