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Read ScreenCraft's What It’s Like to See Your Screenplay Produced by Hollywood!īefore we move on to how you can negotiate your own contracts, we have to look at the two markets you'll be doing so within. And I did so without a manager, agent, or entertainment lawyer. I haven’t seen numbers, but my hunch is that a substantial portion of new WGA members isn’t getting paid as screenwriters two years later."įor independent films, Direct-to-DVD/Blu-ray/Streaming movies, and other projects outside the realm of major studios and major production companies, contract negotiations are like the Wild West where almost anything goes.īefore we move on - and before you all cry foul about the concept of negotiating without representation - know that I've successfully negotiated deals and assignments that have garnered me notable money, one of which was produced with a name cast that found itself at the top of the iTunes charts somehow (it's not that great). Hollywood screenwriter John August ( Go, Charlie's Angels, Big Fish, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Corpse Bride) stated on his blog, "There’s no guarantee you’ll have a second writing job. In fact, it's certainly not the reality for a majority of WGA members either. While that is the highest of highs to strive for, it's certainly not the reality for most screenwriters.
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The top one-percenters are those writing the big movies on assignment, making continual six to seven figures per contract. Many are working for independent producers, smaller production companies, and smaller distributors.
#How to negotiate business contracts books professional#
Here's the interesting thing to consider: Many professional screenwriters out there - those making at least some money screenwriting - don't write directly for major studios and major production companies. The legalities involved on their end are serious business, especially since they are WGA (Writers Guild of America) signatory companies that have to abide by the latest agreements. Perspective and Contextįirst and foremost, you do need at least an entertainment lawyer - preferably along with an agent - to negotiate a contract with any major studio or major production company, with very few exceptions. If you fall within that particular context, you'll see that you surely can - and often need to - negotiate your own deal without representation.
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It's a myth that you always need an agent, manager, and entertainment lawyer to broker a screenwriting deal - but with that statement comes a necessary context to be applied. Can screenwriters negotiate their own screenwriting contracts?