ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

11 years, 7 months ago - Dan Selakovich

Typically, it's 2.5% of the budget. But a spec script could be anything. WGA minimums for a film under $5 million is around $40,000.

11 years, 7 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

Union rates (for members) ask the writers guild of great Britain or if you're selling to studios then wga west rates.

Rights break down all kinds of ways for story, different drafts etc so no single answer.

Reality is you're going to struggle to sell anything at union rates unless your scripts are already making proper box office money. You don't get rich being a writer.

11 years, 7 months ago - Marlom Tander

Is your script worth anything?

Most scripts are worthless. Brilliant perhaps, but worthless in money terms. Because no one can make any money out of it.

You'll find out what your script is worth when someone decides they want to make it, or at least control it. And that might be what they can afford, not what they might like to pay.

I've just completed a full feature script for no money. It's a spec project for a producer, and if the name talent like it he might get it funded, and if he gets it funded I'll get paid something, but how much depends partly on his budget and partly on his box office.

Which is fine by me because I like writing and liked the story. I like him and think he has a decent chance of making it happen. So I invested my time.

But if he had come to me with a with a deadline that was too short, we'd have had a discussion roughly along the following lines:-

Me : Yes I can do it, but to have it done by that time means giving it priority, and that means NOT doing stuff I do get paid for, so you'll need to pay me in order for me to give it that priority.

Him : I don't have the money for that right now.

Me : Ok, come back when you do. Or tell me you don't need it next month, but that 3 months time is fine. Then I can fit it around my paid stuff.

It's not rocket science.