Craig Berger's Lounge Discussions

Craig Berger
Hi Everybody!

Hi Everybody!

Tomasz Mieczkowski

BK to LA transplants unite! :)

Patricia Santos Marcantonio
To Spec or not

Fellow screenwriters: what are your thoughts on writing for small productions that may want your script, but not pay up front. We've all seen solicitations for these. How you do balance the possibilty of your script being made into a film with not seeing any compensation right way or maybe never.

Shelley Stuart

If you do take on something like this, get it in writing that you own the script until you get paid, maybe after a suitable "blackout" period so they can set it up. If you're going to take on this ris...

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Kerry Douglas Dye

Shelley has it exactly right. You can't write for free on hire, giving away your time like that. Instead, you own what you write and OPTION it to them (for a generous time period, if you like). But if...

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Craig Berger

Make them pay for the option. Not just a dollar, at least a few hundred, if not more. Otherwise your script will collect dust for six months while the producer promotes the scripts hes REALLY invested in.

Jessica Ellis

If they actually value your contribution, they'll pay you for it. I had a terrible experience doing development for a project where I, the writer, was the only unpaid person in the room- for SEVEN MON...

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Patricia Santos Marcantonio

I think these are experiences a lot of screenwriters face, especially those just starting out. A guy still owes me a hundred bucks. live and learn

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