Hi, my brother knows a reader in Hawaii and took a screenplay I wrote over to him to try and sell. The reader liked it, saying it would be good as an underground/cult/independent film that could sell 5 to 10 grand!

Recently, it's been getting passed around more and a student filmmaker from Hawaii State (actually is that the name of their college over there?)--anyway a guy majoring in film wanted to take a look at it too after the Superbowl.

So how much might I expect to be offered from a college man? This guy has a full ride over there so he SHOULD have some cash on him, lol. Anyway I don't want to get ripped off (that might be too harsh a word), 'cause it's the only script I've ever written so it'd be great to get some feedback. Thanks

I wouldn't actually expect to get any money from a film major. We're poor as heck and filmmaking is expensive. He'll need money to finance the actual production too. I'd imagine he'll offer you some part of the profits, rather than cash up front. If he DOES offer cash up front make sure you're getting royalties too, and take whatever he can give you.

I don't mean to sound negative, but it's your first screenplay and he's only a film student. It's unlikely (but not impossible) that this will go anywhere. Best of luck though! Writing is a lucrative business. My screenwriting teacher says it takes nothing but skill. Unlike the rest of the industry, they don't care who you are, as long as the script it good and you play by the rules. In Hollywood you're typically offered about $100k for the first draft, and another $100k for each revision.

I'd estimate he'd offer no more then a few thousand if he really is just about to graduate as a film major, that said consider the time invested in writing the script and you may find it turns out pretty solid as an hourly pay :P

Also consider profit sharing, it would look great to have your script on even a direct-to-video or festival production, and even better to have some cash because of that as well

unless the script is amazing and many people want it, I would not pay a dime as a student. In fact, as a Director I'd expect the first time writer to be happy that his story gets made into a film. However, I would offer the writer a certain percentage in case the film gets picked up and distributed.

Also, the student you mentioned has a fulll ride...which means most likely that he doesnt have money to pay for college and I expect there is not much for the actual production either.

But good luck with it. Is it a feature?

About 90 minutes--of course I don't expect much--if nothing at all. As aforementioned, the reader said it could only be an underground thing--but a good underground thing nonetheless. he said 5 to 10 at the most--considering it was a first script, and by an unknown. Actually, just the mention of "a few thousand dollars" is really getting me excited about this thing. Considering I'm not used to owning money.

I'll definitely try to get in on the royalties. The best part about this though is that this kid isn't the only one to seriously like my script! My brother said that "people" (as in plural, which means yeehaa!) are liking the little thing of mine.

And when it comes to seeing it on screen, frankly I could care less--I wrote it, I finished it, I'm a writer, it's finished art to me, lol--actually I really wanted to make it myself, but I had no money or resources, even after I toned it down budget-wise.

Thanks for the feedback--I'll be happy to get whatever I can--if only a few thousand dollars (and I'm surprised at even that!--in fact I just realized him having a full ride really means he has NO MONEY at all, lol--thanks Hoeks). It'd be a fortune for me!

How much from a working filmmaker then? A first time script of course couldn't get 100k right?

quote:

I'm not used to owning money.

You don't own money, money owns you.

Well, that's the thing. According to Chris Kelly, my screenwriting teacher, who is THE smartest man alive, a first time script will sell for just as much as a script by an established writer, assuming all else (quality, buyer, good agent, good manager, big studio, etc) are equal. Don't know if it's true, but I sure like the sound of it.

The things you own end up owning you...

Err, sorry. Dawson made me write this. Throw tomatoes at the bastard.

quote:

Originally posted by EfrenH:
The things you own end up owning you...

It is only after you've lost everything, that you are free to do anything.

quote:

It is only after you've lost everything, that you are free to do anything.

In a perfect world, maybe...

E.

"Well, that's the thing. According to Chris Kelly, my screenwriting teacher, who is THE smartest man alive, a first time script will sell for just as much as a script by an established writer, assuming all else (quality, buyer, good agent, good manager, big studio, etc) are equal. Don't know if it's true, but I sure like the sound of it."

I don't think so. A first-time script will get the minimum according to WGA (?) rules. It's around $125k according to the Rodriguez book. Each subsequent purchased script gets the author higher on the pay ladder. Someone who's sold a dozen scripts is going to get more per script than a first-time sale.

Anyway, $125k for a first time development deal would still be good.

Thats a **** load of money. Hmm, I didnt know thats how much a script went for. I think I got into the right kind of career then . Must be hard as hell to sell a script though...

As to your script. I dont think a student would pay much. I know I couldnt afford it. And Hoeks is right, if the dude is on full ride, must means he doesnt have much money. Good luck though. If its your first script then it might be cool just to see it get made, you know?

Well, Good luck my friend!

-Efren Hernandez

I may have gotten it slightly wrong. Maybe he was was just saying that you will get that $125k no matter if you're established or not. I STILL like the sound of it though

Guys take a look at this link. It is the schedule of minimums from the Writers Guild. Depending the budget of the movie - that determines the price of the screenplay. So 125k is likely but also a little far fetched. And if the writer doesn't belong to the guild all bets are off. If I was a producer I would basically say to you the writer, take this(small) amount of money and be glad that someone wants to make your script into a film.
http://www.wga.org/subpage_writersresources.aspx?id=68&...Words&terms=minimums

This message has been edited. Last edited by: mikester191,

Great feedback, I'll let you know how things go a little after the superbowl. Hopefully he's not a stealers fan, cause I'm from Washington and we are GOING TO WIN--and I would hope he'd have no sudden grudge against my state when he reads a script wherein Seattle is destroyed by a nuclear strike!

"Oh yeah, pretty great, but here where you say '...and then everybody died and that was sad and the common people are the pawns of faceless politics...', yeah I was gonna change that to, 'TAKE THAT YOU UNTALENTED LUCKY BASTARDS!'"