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This
week's answer:
Non-Sufficient
Producer Funds
Judith, thank you for bringing up
the subject about producers breaking agreements and not
paying according to said agreements. In answer to
your question, I must admit that I have been in
situations when business associates have broken their
word and not sent promised money. It's especially
frustrating when you've taken care of your "side of
the fence," have done the rewrite, polish, or
tweaking -- or written a completely new script -- and
the day arrives which has been promised to be your
"pass GO and collect two hundred (or two hundred
thousand) dollars" day and the banker is nowhere to
be seen. That can be very disheartening and a
difficult day, indeed. I have a few helpful hints
that might help you (since I used the word
"helpful").
HELPFUL HINTS FOR
WHEN YOU DON'T GET PAID FOR YOUR SCREENWRITING AS
PROMISED
1. Try not to be
shocked. It's that shock that hits you in the gut when
the moola doesn't appear as expected. Be prepared for
that possible alternative, not only financially (which can
help so you don't have to sell your car or motor scooter to
eat), but also -- and maybe even more importantly --
emotionally. Try to be as detached as possible.
Attempt to look at the situation as though it were somebody
else who wasn't being paid for their work. (Actually,
you might find yourself wishing it were somebody
else. But that's not what I mean.)
2. Try not to "catastrophize."
Being a screenwriter, you just might have a flair and a
propensity for DRAMA. Keep the drama between the
margins and not in your life. Just because somebody
isn't paying you on the day he or she agreed to pay you
doesn't mean that he or she won't pay you LATER. You
could even look forward to being paid later.
(Well, let's not get carried away.)
3. Remember that
there are always viable recourses.
a. You can look up
the producer on IMDB and "TP" his or her front
yard.
b. You can urge the
producer to be radically generous and "pay it
forward".
To you.
DcH
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