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This
week's answer:
Money-making
Screenplay
It's possible that you can make a
lot of money with your first script, Algeron. The
first thing you want to do, though, -- after you write
it, of course -- is to sell it. That's the best
way to make a lot of money with any script. Also,
it will help if the script is well-written (and I don't
just mean "typed neatly" -- not that a neatly
typed screenplay is not preferred -- especially by
readers who read a lot of poorly-typed ones). If a
producer likes it enough to want to shoot your script
(with cameras; not taking aim at with a gun, or anything
like that. And they don't actually shoot your
script, per se, but, rather, actors who act out the
story in your script. I mean they shoot the actors
with cameras, not guns. Although... actors are
shot by guns in the movies. But not with real
guns. They use pretend guns. But the cameras
aren't pretend; they're real, and cost big bucks
to shoot a script) then he might give you a lot of money
for that privilege.
It depends on what you mean by
"a lot of money" since everything is relative
(especially relatives, themselves.) First-time
screenplay sellers (FTSS's) may not make as many dollars
as they will when they sell a few more. Producers
have a tendency to not want to make FTSS's rich all that
quickly, or at all. I advise, when you're looking
over an option or sales agreement, read the fine
print. Then read the fine print of the fine
print. It's not that you're going to have to give
away your first-born (I believe -- but you never
know. The issue of "first born giveaway"
I think is an issue of contention for the possible
upcoming writers' strike -- which is not to be confused
with the results of the Writers Bowling League.
And they're not all that interesting to watch, being
that the writers, after throwing their balls, are always
trying to negotiate with the one who is keeping score or
want take their turns over to get it just right.)
You can earn all way from thousands
to in the hundreds of thousands for your
screenplay. It depends on so many factors, but
these factors all depend on one thing:
money. So your money depends on money. I'll
try to explain. Usually the FTSS is offered a
percent of the budget, so if the budget is a big one,
the screenwriter's share rises proportionally to that
budget. And that budget can surely grow as bigger
(not corpulently speaking) actors get involved; and the
more box office draw (or "DVD draw" might be
more suitable these days) the actors have, the more they
will be paid, and, therefore, the more the movie's
budget for your script will need to grow.
Television usually pays less than feature.
Straight-to-DVD projects normally pay less than feature
and TV. It all depends on how the producer wants
to sell and show the finished project.
Don't despair if the first offer
for your script doesn't seem to cover the Beverly Hills
mansion you envision for yourself. Don't give up
hope if the number seems small. Think on the
bright side. It will probably buy you a year's
pass to sit in the "Hollywood bus" that drives
by that Beverly Hills mansion. And don't forget to
bring your laptop.
You can write your next screenplay
on the bus.
DcH
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