ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

11 years, 4 months ago - Ben Stevenson

I think that's fair, I realise differed payments are not for everyone, it really depends where one is in their career.

I think it also depends how the project is going to be funded, for example say a project is going to be crowd sourced then an agreement of differed payment may work for some writers if it's contingent on the funding completing. The amount that writer may charge for their time may also differ knowing that a lower funding target may increase that the projects chances of completing its funding goal.

However if a project is going to be funded from private equity or a studio then an upfront fee I think would be expected.

I would expect differed agreement contracts to be a balance between upfront cash vs larger profit share on the back end. This again is something that whomever entered that agreement would have to weigh up and find an agreement that they are comfortable with.

But in response to your own sentiments then yes clear signposts on job posting sites would alleviate your need to read jobs that you're not prepared to do right? Or at least give you the choice to engage or not.

11 years, 4 months ago - Marlom Tander

Perhaps you should suggest to the sites that they include a Deferred Pay option. After all, while we all assume that deferred pay means no pay, I'm happy to believe that the producers honestly think that deferred pay means pay.

Shooting People could do it too.

11 years, 4 months ago - Ben Stevenson

Ah yes beg your pardon, yes if the brief needs to be written in the first place then that's perhaps another matter.

11 years, 4 months ago - Kays Alatrakchi

I don't get it....why would a writer want to work "deferred" instead of just developing their own spec script if they so wish? Why would you want to work with someone else's ideas that they can control...for no money? Unless a major studio contacted you about developing an idea (and I don't think they can legally do that and ask you to work deferred), why would you want to do a bunch of free work for a producer who has no more of a chance to find financing than my grandma? The crowd-funding producer is even more of a head scratcher.

I think writers working on spec ideas that they fully control, own, and can shop around to legit production outfits makes sense and has been going on for many decades. However a writer contacted by a producer to write a script based on an idea that they don't own, or control; with a producer who has not raised developing funds to pay the writer...it all just seems so idiotic.

11 years, 4 months ago - Marlom Tander

Yes, I was writing in the context of a WRITER WANTED post. The implication being that it's to work to someone else's brief.

For my own spec scripts I'm happy to invest stupid amounts of time for no pay whatsoever :-)

11 years, 4 months ago - Marlom Tander

As a writer, the reason we hate deferred pay is that we are the people who have to spend the most time up front. Esp on Features. Cast might be risking 2 weeks of their time, but writers are risking much more.

It's also far too easy for a wannabe producer/director to say they want to pursue a project, send the writer off to do weeks of work, and then feel that "It's not quite what I wanted/can run with". Or for the producer to love it but never get to stage of making it.

I take the view that any serious producer who wants me to write to THEIR brief will always put some money on the table*. They have to like my work enough to pay something, even if it's mainly going to be deferred, subject to finance or whatever.

11 years, 4 months ago - Ben Stevenson

I agree with all of the comments above, I'm currently looking for a writer but when posting, listing a job as differed is difficult to do and I admit my postings may have been misinterpreted but I always make best to explain my intentions. I completely believe writers should be paid and paid properly; the agreement between producers and writers should be clear, fair and upfront but listing jobs is difficult to do at such a fledgling stage of a project (i.e. before an understanding of what script one is dealing with) – I find that listing leaves no room for negotiation and flexibility around deferred payments (something that writer and producer would agree on before working together). A clear option to have deferred payment option at listing would be a great start to facilitating theses sorts of working relationships. I have emailed SP about this in the past but no reply, we surely are not the only people who think this...

11 years, 4 months ago - Richard Anthony Dunford

Think Marlom has hit the nail on the head when saying if a producer wants you to write their brief/idea/concept it should always be paid. Even if it's just a percentage with another differed fee to follow.

11 years, 4 months ago - Timothy Chick

Couldn't agree more. It wastes people's time and for me would adversely affect my view of the people putting up the ad, who may be perfectly sincere about everything else. Afterall, you never get a second chance to make a first impression and lets face it the ads are first impressions. I'd rather work with people who are up-front about their situation. If I like the project then I'd try and work something out.

TJC