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A college friend and I have each written screenplays on our own (never sold) but have always wanted to write something together. I came up with a high concept premise that he loved and we started to make plans to collaborate. I wrote a treatment and an outline... and then life happened. Although we're both married with children it's not possible for me to collaborate at this time, but my friend's life isn't as complex and he asked it he could write it on his own. I wouldn't mind giving him the screenplay credit with me taking the story credit but we have no idea how to split the percentage if the script is bought or optioned. 50-50? 60-40? 70-30? Any thoughts on what is fair?
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Re: Collaboration Question
FWIW, the WGA splits it 25% for story, 75% for screenplay.
Residuals for theatrical and television motion pictures, including episodic programs, are allocated as follows: "Written by" -- 100%; "Screenplay/Teleplay by"--(if a "Story by" or "Screen/Television Story by" credit is accorded)--75%; Story by" or "Screen/Television Story by"--25%. In general, if no form of "Story by" credit is accorded, 100% goes to the writer(s) receiving "Screenplay/Teleplay by" credit. The residual for minor credits such as "Adaptation by" is 10%. In that instance, the residual is allocated as follows: "Adaptation by"--10%; "Screenplay/Teleplay by"--65%; "Story by"--25%. -
Re: Collaboration Question
A friend and I are in a similar situation, and we've agreed he gets %25 for coming up with the original concept.Comment
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Re: Collaboration Question
Make sure you get an agreement down in writing too. Especially with an uneven split and division of the work... you really need a written agreement to make sure it's 100% clear to you both how the collaboration will work, and how any profits will be divided.Comment
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