I'm a new screenwriter with no representation. HELP! I have my first feature script in play in many of the contests at the moment (and placing!). I've been approached by an author of a small children's book to adapt it into a screenplay for her to pitch to a top producer in three weeks. The adaption is easy. But how do I go about the rights and payment? What do I ask for? Clueless newbie here, no idea what/how much to negotiate. Thanks!
Screenwriting : What Do I Charge for Adapting a Novel into a Script? by Julie Basil Pierce
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Depends on if you're being hired as a ghostwriter (meaning the author retains all writing credit) or if you are getting a piece of the property pie and of course just how interested this top producer is... I hope you're not expected to have the finished product in 3 weeks. Feel free to message me and I can give you some likely scenarios.
I am having my script formatted for a pilot. I would like to get you involved with my writing with compassion. Thank you.
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Julie, you prob should talk to an entertainment lawyer first. It sounds like a work for hire which means the author may then own your script and can do whatever she wants with it so you have to have a contract that gets you paid, gets you credit, and preferably gives you some ownership. but its really something you need a lawyer for. Darrell, I'm not sure what your post meant? can you elaborate?
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Start with the union mins. http://www.wga.org/subpage_writersresources.aspx?id=68 If they don't want to pay that, find out what percentage of that they are willing to go. The union min at least gives you a starting point for negotiations.
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Union mins are for union writers, not first timers. If they wanted to pay that, they would hire a union writer with experience.
Thanks for all the input!
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No arguments here Danny, but you have to start somewhere. Knowing what the union min is is a good thing, as is knowing how much less you are getting.
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I am getting a pilot script formatted, I would like to expand that script into a feature film. for details and assistance to move forward. Please see www.worldsblackhole.com. This title came from the fact that there is a really big whole in this world we live in that no one wishes to acknowledge exist. You will understand better why I said this when you visit the website, and why I named my movie Worlds Black Hole. Danny Manus, asks what is my point? The point is creating a feature film at low budget, with a high revenue.
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Julie, maybe you should just write a treatment (after working out your contract) for her to pitch so you don't spend so much time developing something for her that may or may not pan out, and especially for something you prob won't hold the rights to.
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Darrel, if you wish to contact someone about a project its best to contact them directly rather than in the middle of a discussion that has nothing to do with your project. Another good idea is to post it as a job if you want to reach multiple people. It's considered bad form to hijack a forum discussion for your own agenda.
Thank You Trey for the input. You are correct, and thanks for the direction. I am new on this site and I am learning as I go. I need to find the job tab and go from there.
I found the job posting tab under share. Thanks for the help.
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Okay well if you're adapting her novel, then you definitely want to make sure you get a sole "screenplay by" credit after "based on the novel by". As far as money, it comes down to how much do you want to do this, what your financial situation is, what you think her financial situation is, what the size of the project is, etc... If this producer is Jerry Bruckheimer or someone and your friend's a NY Times bestselling novelist than the WGA minimum would be too low of a starting point, even if you're a new screenwriter and not in the union.
But if she's only PITCHING it to a producer, that's a looong way from greenlit, so writing a whole screenplay seems a bit cart before the horse.
What you could do is this: Write a film treatment 4 pages long of the novel, and charge her say $500 for that - about $50/hour say. Then when she goes to pitch it, she has that to show the producer, as well as your writing sample, and a quote from you on what you'll deliver the script for. That will give you time to figure out how much you will quote the producer - not too high but also not too low. Really the size of the production will determine what you can ask for.
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The screenplay in question is for a short and based on her 25pg children's book. Fast and easy. You've all given me great advice, thank you!