I probably just need to call the WGA on Monday, but just in case there's a well-informed WGA writer on this board: What is the minimum option amount for an original screenplay?
I find the minimums document very confusing: https://www.wga.org/uploadedFiles/contracts/min2017.pdf
It says: "Company may option literary material from a "professional writer" for a period of up to 18 months upon payment of not less than 10% of minimum."
Is this 10% of option c on the list: Original Screenplay, Excluding Treatment or Sale/Purchase of Original Screenplay
Low: 50,039 High: 102,435
Or is it 10% of the minimum they are offering you for purchase of your screenplay, i.e. the floor figure in the contract?
If it's the amount in option C, is the low column for films with a budget under 5 million and high column for those above 5 million? So would the WGA minimum option amount for a film with a budget over 5 million be $10,243?
What's to stop a producer from saying the budget for the film is under 5 million, even if it ends up being a lot higher at the time they make the film?
I find the minimums document very confusing: https://www.wga.org/uploadedFiles/contracts/min2017.pdf
It says: "Company may option literary material from a "professional writer" for a period of up to 18 months upon payment of not less than 10% of minimum."
Is this 10% of option c on the list: Original Screenplay, Excluding Treatment or Sale/Purchase of Original Screenplay
Low: 50,039 High: 102,435
Or is it 10% of the minimum they are offering you for purchase of your screenplay, i.e. the floor figure in the contract?
If it's the amount in option C, is the low column for films with a budget under 5 million and high column for those above 5 million? So would the WGA minimum option amount for a film with a budget over 5 million be $10,243?
What's to stop a producer from saying the budget for the film is under 5 million, even if it ends up being a lot higher at the time they make the film?
Comment