ASK & DISCUSS
INDEXContract for short story option
10 years, 5 months ago - Louise Marie Cooke
Hi there
My friend has asked me to option his short story for a feature film adaptation in the works, we want something legal and official so that no one else can use the story and then claim they have the rights.
Does anyone have a contract template I could use?
Thanks!
Louise
Only members can post or respond to topics. LOGIN
Not a member of SP? JOIN or FIND OUT MORE
10 years, 5 months ago - Richard Anthony Dunford
Getting a lawyer is all well and good if your not short on cash but beware it won't be cheap. I hired a lawyer to look over an option contract I was offered for a feature script a few years ago and it cost around £800. It was quite an in-depth long contract to be fair but it's still a lot of money.
From what you've written (and apologies if I've misread this) but it sounds more like you want to copyright the material. Somewhere like the scriptvault.com is good for this.
Also what are the chances of someone pinching the material; ie: is it already publicly available for people to read for free already?
If I am off base though and you need a template I guess I could forward you one of the options I'd been offered before and you could change the headings etc
Response from 10 years, 5 months ago - Richard Anthony Dunford SHOW
10 years, 5 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin
Louise, if you're not in a position to pay a lawyer, don't try using a deal written in lawyertalk.
Instead, and assuming there's not a lot of money involved in the whole project (so you're unlikely to go to court no matter what anyway), write a plain English agreement. Talk the terms over with the writer, agree what's fair, think about what happens when things go not as planned (film not finished, etc), write that down, both sign and keep a copy.
Response from 10 years, 5 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin SHOW
10 years, 5 months ago - Marlom Tander
Def you want a lawyer but you can do quite a lot yourself first.
The key thing is to thrash out the terms of the contract, and who gets paid for what all the way through to slices of revenue from any feature. Some will be hard numbers, some might simply reference some industry formulea, some might simply be "a matter of negotiation at that time".
Plus what are the break clauses. Obvious ones are "not being paid", but another might be "if the negotiated fee is significantly below the expectation implied by the formulae and overall budget". And from your side "late delivery".
Plus what happens if the writer needs to be sacked for any reason, esp ones that are nothing to do with the writers ability, such as "new money has a pet writer".
If you think about all these things, in discussion with the writer, and put them in plain english, your lawyer will legal them up, and for less money than he'd charge to lead you through it all himself from scratch.
Response from 10 years, 5 months ago - Marlom Tander SHOW
10 years, 5 months ago - Lee 'Wozy' Warren
Personally I would steer clear of templates. The thing you are trying to do is protect yourself legally. Which his the wise thing to do. However, every project and deal is unique and a one size fits all wont protect you in the detail. Do it properly and have a lawyer draw up one specifically to your project. It'll be worth it in the log run. promise :P
Response from 10 years, 5 months ago - Lee 'Wozy' Warren SHOW
10 years, 5 months ago - Louise Marie Cooke
thanks for your responses. I'm not in the position to pay legal fees at this stage, the idea behind the contract is just to cover myself and the writer from others using the story.
Richard if you could forward me one of the options you have that would be amazing.
Response from 10 years, 5 months ago - Louise Marie Cooke SHOW