Evan Daugherty was eating sandwiches and sleeping on a mattress on a floor for several years after he got to Hollywood. You know Hollywood, the place where writers and actors come to make it big and make millions. Evan went on to sell his screenplay Snow White and the Huntsman for 3.2 million bongo bucks. That's some serious scratch, kitty kats. And, Evan who wrote the sequel, is crafting another fairy tale story offshoot with Snow White and the Seven short guys. He also wrote a film called The Killing Season with Robert De Niro and some Scientologist name Travolta. So you see spec writers, living the dream can be a reality.
What say you? Do you have he next million dollar spec script ready to be unleashed on Tinseltown.
Uncle Phil, I remember reading a professional screenwriter saying selling a screenplay is "ridiculously easy". Guess if you're as good as Shakespeare, then is "ridiculously easy".:)))Lol... PS: Could a first spec script really sell for 1 million$?(just curious...). PS#2: Was this Evan Daugherty's first script? If so, would've it sold(especially for this much) if it hadn't been about a pretty known fairytale(re-interpreted)?
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Victor: SWATH was Evan's first major sale. And, the list of million dollar plus spec sales for first time screenwriters from 2012 through 2017 would no doubt be a short one.
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Give them what they want, do it very well, and keep writing. Sounds easy enough -lol.
Of course! However, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Hope so. Gotta polish it up a bit.
Thank you for this post! Please, people, post more such success stories, as they are inspiring!:) Almost 99% of screenwriting things you read online are really depressing:(
I have 4 ready to go.
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Snow White & The Huntsman underwent some major revisions in prep. The original script was almost entirely about the huntsman. It would be interesting to hear the journey of that story transformation from Evans perspective. How and why those changes came about.
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some guy from nowhere USA (Florida) got an option deal for his spec, "MEAT". Script was the most liked horror spec from 2017 Blood List. (i think Blood List is a contest or part of Stage 32 in past. Not sure. ).
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MaxXxy:
I'd be wiling to be the Meat guy didn't get a million dollars or more.
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Tracking Board Hit List. Some newbies and 7-figure deals.
http://www.tracking-board.com/presenting-the-2017-hit-list-the-best-spec...
Dan: Thanks for posting. Can you get the info on what Meat was optioned for? And congrats to Logan Martin for making the number 8 spot on the Tracking Board Hit Lit.
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Uncle Phil, i dunno. Folks generally don't talk about actual amount versus publicized deals.
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Didn´t he (Evan Daugherty) win Script Pipeline with the Snow White script? There was also a bidding war for the script by three different parties. That agent he had sure did a good job, I must say, ´cause the initial offer as far as I know wasn´t anywhere near 3.2 million. Nevertheless, nicely done. :)
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Marjelein:
It depends on who wants to option your script. A "Big Six" studio can pay you a lot more than an indie filmmaker. I've attached a link to WGA payment estimates for films and television. Mind you, these are for WGA members. But it's a good reference point for what they say you should receive. http://freepdfhosting.com/b49b1288f9.pdf
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Here is a breakdown of fees for a Hollywood feature Screenwriter:
Agent 10%
Manager 15%
Lawyer/accountant 5%
Publicist 3%
WGA dues 1.8%
Script sales come in payment installments and you only get the full amount when the script is in production.
Uncle Sam wants his cut: 30%
Negotiation for a spec will very but normally they will offer to buy an option for a small amount of money and the rest when they start filming within in a certain time. Obviously, you can accept or reject or counter. However, keep in mind they have the upper hand because you might not ever receive another offer and they can always find another screenplay and might even have an alternative in mind.
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Dan M. You could be confusing people. If a screenwriter is being represented by a WGA Agent the Agency will collect the money and take their 10% off and send the balance to the screenwriter. The screenwriter only pays taxes on the amount they receive minus any out of pocket expenses they can write-off. If you are represented by an WG Agent you wouldn’t have to pay a lawyer or a manager and most screenwriter wouldn’t have a publicity unless they wanted one for some reason. If the screenwriter isn’t a member of the WGA they would not have to pay any WGA dues. Not everyone is an American citizen so not everyone would have to pay Uncle Sam. Plus not everyone falls in the 30% tax bracket either. Most people do their own taxes of have an account already there would be no additional cost for an accountant.
Dan M - are you saying that a screenwriter needs an Agent and a Manager? I thought they were one and the same.
Linda - you don't need representation to make movies & TV shows. But if you wanna run with the big dogs in American cinema & TV, top Talent have a gang of Reps on payroll.
Here is John August's article about Justin Marks. it's 5 years old, before The Jungle Book success. Marks has an Agent and a manager.
https://www.stage32.com/lounge/screenwriting/Do-writers-need-a-Lit-Manag...
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Linda. There are some differences between an agent and a manager. Agents are regulated and are more interested in selling and finding jobs. They are much more difficult to get but can get your scripts read by most people in the industry.
Managers are not regulated and are only as good as their connections in the business. Managers will often take time to help a newer screenwriters with developing their careers and are easier to get. So most screenwriters start out with a manager.
You don't need both but if you have some success and decide to become a WGA Member you can't just have a manager rep you. You would either have to fire your manager and get a WGA Signatory Agent. You could keep your manager and get a WGA Agent but for me that would be an additional expense I wouldn't want so I just have a WGA Signatory Agent.
Thanks for the insight Dan M & Dan G. Most appreciated.
I just saw the movie and Evan deserved every last cent of that price for his screenplay!:)