Fee for indie adaptation of a book

At that level you should get yourself some legal representation.

As for 2.5% of the total budget - payable in thirds: one third upon
signing the contract, one third upon delivery of the first draft with
an agreement to do two additional drafts. Set a fee of one half of
your middle third for each additional draft or polish. And the final
third on the first day of principle photography.

Then ask for the same percentage as the director is getting.

domwriter said:

Hello everyone,

I'm a screenwriter, and I've been asked to adapt someone's mystery novel for an indie film with a total budget of $500,000. This person will be the executive producer and is offering to pay me my fee plus a percentage of the profits.

I am wondering if anyone can give me any direction as far as an appropriate fee to propose. I have no previous credits or script sales.

Thanks, Dom

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Congratulations. Just because you don't have credit, don't discount yourself. You must have some talent to be invited to adapt the story.

First, I'm assuming the producer is also the author of the mystery. If not, the first thing that needs to be done is to secure permission to make the adaptation. And if commercially published, make sure the author didn't transfer that copyright to the publisher.

Second, be clear if they want this is as a work for hire. If you are hired by the production company, you don't have copyright of your script, they do. This isn't a bad thing but it means you have no further control over the script you produce.

Third, you can ask for lots of things but be clear in your mind what you'll accept. As Directorik suggested, payment can be divided in thirds. And working with major studios, they adhere closely to this. The WGA guidelines (http://www.wga.org/uploadedFiles/writers_resources/contracts/min2014.pdf) are often out of the Indie range. Even in the indie market, for an established writer, $10K is not unreasonable, though for many new writers $5K is acceptable since that is often the option price. In working with independent producers, obviously you also need to be flexible with respect to budget and other needs. Getting credit and a percentage of the profits can figure into that. If it were your story and your screenplay you could expect more. Since it's someone else's, you can only be paid for the adaptation. The 2.5% comes out to $12,500. But anything in that range would not be unreasonable. For that budget, I wouldn't go under $5K. It can be offer and counteroffer. Unless you have an agent or are a member of the WGA, it comes down to negotiating on your own behalf. But in the end, it comes down to what offer you are willing to accept to write the script.

Fourth, be clear what you will commit to write: draft, final and one revision. If additional revisions are required, the compensation should be documented. Be careful to spell that out as it can be a major headache.

Congratulations and good luck.

Man, I can't tell you how important it is to get some cash up front -- as in before you even start to work on the thing. This may be quite likely the ONLY money you get for your efforts.

Good luck.

GuerrillaAngel said:

Man, I can't tell you how important it is to get some cash up front -- as in before you even start to work on the thing. This may be quite likely the ONLY money you get for your efforts.

Good luck.

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This ^

Make sure any deal you strike of this nature doesn't potentially have you holding the short stick - even though they will often try to coax you into agreeing to their terms.

Get money up front, and continue to get it in intervals as the project goes on. So that way, you won't be screwed if they ask you to rewrite something a thousand times over with an agreement to pay the remainder at the end - Then they know they have you on the line until they decide it's perfect. I made this mistake when I first began web designing - A client supposed to last about two weeks ended up taking four months because he couldn't decide what he wanted. I barely broke even by the end of it, time wise.

bleh wrong thread..