ASK & DISCUSS
INDEXHow much should a writer/director get paid for a first feature?
9 years, 3 months ago - Oliver Vilas
The director has a couple of short films as experience but nothing major and the proposed budget of the film would be between 800k and £1M.
I have read that standard writer/director fees are 12% of the budget but I guess that would be scaled down for someone who is essentially a no name director?
I know it will depend on the producers etc but if anyone could advise on what the lowest possible/acceptable amount might be that would be great!
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9 years, 3 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin
Look at it the other way - what's the least you/they need to live on? If someone is investing real money to make your dream, and you take out £120k in cash, you're shortchanging your own dream by £100k+. And no sane investor is going to get behind that. £100k spent below the line will go a lot further.
And anyway 12% is nuts. I mean maybe if you're optioning a bestseller, commission a fantastic screenplay, and are a star director with selling power, but for a first timer low budget, it's bonkers. Maybe made up with deferments, maybe as a percentage of producers profits, but as a cash fee I really think you'll scare people off, and rightly.
Indeed, being let loose with a million quid of somebody else's money is a big ask for a first time director. A million quid - a house in London, several flash cars, a modest yacht and still change for a bag of chips. It's a big deal.
Response from 9 years, 3 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin SHOW