Hi guys,I am on the crossroad and I need guidance.I sent my script to a producer he reviewed it and said it has potential but it needs polishing and fine tuned to be ready for production.He said that his company can do that at a cost of $1200 and after that we can discuss the next step to production.Isn't that too much money? Is it fair?should I pay them to develop it or they should buy it from me and polish it themselves?
Producing : Production by Balikoowa Joshua
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Don't pay them any money to "develop" your script. If they want rewrites or to buy the rights to the script that's different, but you should never be paying a professional production company to edit your work.
Are you hiring them? ‘Cause... otherwise this makes no sense. If they are interested in producing your script then they would option or buy it from you and/or pay you to do rewrites. Or hire someone else to do rewrites.
I get you right guys.Do anyone know anyone that can help to represent me? I feel someone should come in between.
But again it looks like they are not going to buy it but to produce it so that I retain all my rights to the produced movie.Does that work really??
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No, not really. Unless... you are producing it yourself—you paying them to make this film and thus you retain rights. Look, whoever you are dealing with, they do not sound legit. Be very suspicious. Seems like a scam.
Please exercise caution when implementing any changes suggested by third parties without an agreement or deed of assignment (and ensure that any copyright in the changes revert back to you). The nature and scope of the changes, may in some instances, give rise to a claim by the third party (in this case the producer) to collaborative copyright in those elements of your script. This could have a significant impact on your ability to sell the script in the future (break in the chain of title). While paying for the service may amount to you "commissioning" the editor to perform the work, without clear documentation of your understanding of the arrangement, you run the risk of having to establish your position later on.
Thank you guys for your advise.Lastly, can i post on here the name of the production company and its producer for all of you to verify the legitimacy of his work?
Balikoowa, irrespective of the producer/production company's reputation, I would urge you to obtain a copy of the producer's terms and conditions for this exercise first, and seek advice on the same. If they are unable to provide you with any, take that as a cautionary sign. Writers frequently fail to view their intellectual property as an asset in the traditional sense. Please be mindful that your art is also your currency - you should take adequate steps towards protecting its integrity. Jess and Beth have made some very good points. Also, keep in mind that the industry is not short of producers telling you that a script has potential (but without their magic, it will go nowhere). Listen to the same intuition that made you question paying for their service in the first place, and which instead brought you here. Make sure you get anyone reading your script to sign an NDA, and source some additional opinions before hiring a third party editor. From my experience (without regard to your specific context), legitimate producers who see promise in a script do not ask for $1200 to redraft it into a masterpiece, they offer you the opportunity to collaborate with them.
Key word “potential”. I am guessing Producer is providing a service but there is no promise of making a movie. It’s not illegal. He’s offering his expertise for a fee. Whether you believe the sales pitch is your decision.
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Balikoowa, you may post the name if you wish but you need to do your own due dilligence. From what little you shared, I personally do not need any more information to know that you should be wary of this person and/or company. Screenwriters usually do not pay a producer to develop their script. It’s usually the other way around. So that’s very suspicious, a red flag. Seek advice from a lawyer. And do not sign anything! I suggest you walk away. Move on.
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Balikoowa you should definitely do your due diligence on producers and companies. But do it yourself and not publicly discussing things. How to do it descreatly, ask questions. Before posting any names on boards or any social networks about producers and production companies think twice and consider the following. A circle of working producers is small and a circle of screenwriters is big and very competitive. Everyone elbows each other to get that desirable spot under the sun. And new fresh meat comes into market every day and lots of them are very, very good writers. Producers talk too and exchange notes between themselves, agents, talent, distributors, financiers and etc who is good, hot and who is not and who is trouble. If you'll get a reputation of a guy with a big mouth, you might be a next one on that "black list". You'll miss that train. Like a director I recently met who 10 years ago as a young man in his thirties was directing 30 mill plus studio pictures and now can't get any directing job even in a low budget indie world and forced to work as a ULB production coordinator for a low non union pay. He is on a black list permanently. He had a big mouth once and was loud on social networks. Nobody likes to deal with a big mouth screenwriters even if they are right. That’s all I have to say.
Don - you've said it right, too. Hollywood is a very tight knit gossipy little group.
They pay you to rewrite, or they option it for pay and pay another to rewrite. You do not pay them.