What to do...

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  • What to do...

    Pardon the length here...

    Had a script that was just sitting there. Was the first script that my manager took out wide. Got me out there and in rooms. A big producer called in May and said he wanted to get it made. He has a first look deal.

    They are finishing up with life rights at the moment and we have an A (+?) list director who is ready to move forward. Next, they are going to take care of me with a paid option. Based on the fact that my current quote is: a non-guild assignment for half of WGA scale and a WGA option, I feel like I'm about to get boxed in here.

    I feel like the option exercise ceiling amount is going to be low here given that I don't have a quote. But the thing is, even when deducting insurance and finance costs it's going to be budgeted at 50M. But there's no way I'm getting 2.5%, obviously. HALF of that is a pipe dream, it would seem. Half a percent feels realistic.

    I also feel like the first look is working against me here. If the studio wants to do it, I'm in even less of a position of leverage. (Which is, I guess, inherent to only having one producer with one territory on a project)

    A good scenario to me feels like getting this thing to the open market without locking myself into a set price with a hard ceiling. This project will necessarily require a big name actor talent to get made at the required price point, and given the director and subject matter I'm more than moderately optimistic this would be picked up.

    But again, what is the producer's incentive to give me more in any scenario? It's coming out of his budget. (I could argue I've done quite a bit of work as it pertains to securing life rights - which I have...but I don't think that moves the needle)

    Am I looking at any of this incorrectly? Do I *decline* a paid option and say "hey take this out and see?- I feel like I'm missing a piece of the puzzle here.

    Yeah yeah talk to my lawyer.

    Thanks!

  • #2
    Re: What to do...

    Before you sign the deal you have the most leverage, but I'm not sure I understand the dynamics fully.

    They are finishing up with life rights at the moment and we have an A (+?) list director who is ready to move forward. Next, they are going to take care of me with a paid option. Based on the fact that my current quote is: a non-guild assignment for half of WGA scale and a WGA option, I feel like I'm about to get boxed in here.

    I also feel like the first look is working against me here. If the studio wants to do it, I'm in even less of a position of leverage. (Which is, I guess, inherent to only having one producer with one territory on a project)
    Who is "they" that are finishing up the life rights? It's obviously better if you own those rights and not the producer. If the producer will owns the rights they have a lot of leverage over you, because you won't be able to execute the sale of your spec to ANYONE else once they secure the life rights. They can go off and make their own version with another writer, right? Is that the situation?

    Paying you guild minimum (as the writer) shouldn't be a big deal for them. The studio will be a signatory, correct? So, they're used to paying those fees. If they own the rights, they could lowball you, then hire another writer to rewrite you. They will most likely do that anyway. But with the right floor/ceiling they will still have a lot of room to do that.

    How is your relationship with them? Can you look at their last few projects and determine how often they kept the original writer on board?

    You can ask for 2.5% of the bonded budget with a floor and ceiling payment less the option fee. Include the right to rewrite one step and polish the script at guild +10% for high budget. That way you'll get something and your quote goes up.

    If you owned the life rights, I'd say you could go higher than what's shown below. I might be misunderstanding the situation, so I'm not sure. Is your manager signing on as a producer and maybe he will own the life rights?

    Floor - $250,000
    Ceiling - $500,000

    This doesn't seem unreasonable, though it's low for the budget. What does your manager say? And yes, your lawyer will be a big help here.

    Just a few thoughts.
    "Arguing that you don't care about the right to privacy b/c you have nothing to hide is no different than saying you don't care about free speech because you have nothing to say." -- Edward Snowden

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: What to do...

      The life rights piece isn't a huge concern because I have a family member in my corner. I trust the producers to not screw me. The script is in a really good place for them and they aren't going to get a better script from scratch, especially at my initial price. So something untoward happening as far as that goes isn't a big concern.

      And yeah, they'll at least have to give me the minimum. And my manager is not involved with the rights and we generally don't talk money until it's on the table. I try to bug him with more writerly things.

      But yeah, your numbers FEEL right to me...just that the ceiling was a bit high.

      In just thinking through this I just arrived at the conclusion that in such a scenario where you have one producer taking one package out...and it's a first look deal...you're kind of boxed in. But I'll stop crying because this isn't a terrible scenario to be in.

      As far as their last projects uhhh I'll take that answer offline.

      Thanks for your thoughts!

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: What to do...

        Originally posted by Satriales View Post
        Pardon the length here...

        Had a script that was just sitting there. Was the first script that my manager took out wide. Got me out there and in rooms. A big producer called in May and said he wanted to get it made. He has a first look deal.

        They are finishing up with life rights at the moment and we have an A (+?) list director who is ready to move forward. Next, they are going to take care of me with a paid option. Based on the fact that my current quote is: a non-guild assignment for half of WGA scale and a WGA option, I feel like I'm about to get boxed in here.

        I feel like the option exercise ceiling amount is going to be low here given that I don't have a quote. But the thing is, even when deducting insurance and finance costs it's going to be budgeted at 50M. But there's no way I'm getting 2.5%, obviously. HALF of that is a pipe dream, it would seem. Half a percent feels realistic.

        I also feel like the first look is working against me here. If the studio wants to do it, I'm in even less of a position of leverage. (Which is, I guess, inherent to only having one producer with one territory on a project)

        A good scenario to me feels like getting this thing to the open market without locking myself into a set price with a hard ceiling. This project will necessarily require a big name actor talent to get made at the required price point, and given the director and subject matter I'm more than moderately optimistic this would be picked up.

        But again, what is the producer's incentive to give me more in any scenario? It's coming out of his budget. (I could argue I've done quite a bit of work as it pertains to securing life rights - which I have...but I don't think that moves the needle)

        Am I looking at any of this incorrectly? Do I *decline* a paid option and say "hey take this out and see?- I feel like I'm missing a piece of the puzzle here.

        Yeah yeah talk to my lawyer.

        Thanks!
        1. Did the producer bring in the director? If so, there's really no way to pry yourself free of the producer-- first-look deal and all-- without also losing the director.

        2. I don't understand why you think you don't have leverage here. If the studio likes the material and wants to make a movie with an A(+)-list director and one of their on-lot producers, they HAVE to make a deal with you. They don't have a choice. Literally their only other option is to go to Spielberg (or whoever) and say "Sorry, Steven, your movie fell apart because we refused to pay the writer $100k more."

        So if you find yourself in that position, find a good agent and go at them hard. Get your payday. I have a friend whose first-ever sale was for $600k even though she had no quote because one of the studio's favorite directors wanted to make it (it will never get made, but still).

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: What to do...

          Originally posted by AnyOtherName View Post
          1. Did the producer bring in the director? If so, there's really no way to pry yourself free of the producer-- first-look deal and all-- without also losing the director.

          2. I don't understand why you think you don't have leverage here. If the studio likes the material and wants to make a movie with an A(+)-list director and one of their on-lot producers, they HAVE to make a deal with you. They don't have a choice. Literally their only other option is to go to Spielberg (or whoever) and say "Sorry, Steven, your movie fell apart because we refused to pay the writer $100k more."

          So if you find yourself in that position, find a good agent and go at them hard. Get your payday. I have a friend whose first-ever sale was for $600k even though she had no quote because one of the studio's favorite directors wanted to make it (it will never get made, but still).
          I have zero desire to lose the director or producer. My observation is that I have little leverage.

          If I'm signing an option agreement with a sale price baked in prior to taking it to the studio, what leverage do I have? Unless the studio is somehow involved in the option but I don't believe that is the case. I don't think I have leverage with the producer. They know this script was just sitting there for the taking. Again, it's possible I'm not seeing the whole picture.

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: What to do...

            Hey Satriales:
            It's worth considering what AnyOtherName is suggesting. I think they have a valid point. It doesn't really matter if there isn't anyone else right this minute that wants to do this project, what matters is that they do, right?

            And it's not about being greedy, it's about knowing your worth and having the confidence to say so. Did you check out Scriptfella's youtube about the 7 things you should always have in your contract?

            Here's the link... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQo4UUNJI-M&t=193s

            I remember when I got the first option agreement, they wanted to take it to A-list actors, directors, financiers and package the deal for a studio, so we worked on a shopping agreement so we could each negotiate our own deals directly with the studio, or third party.

            You could do that as well. I might still have the example if you're interested.

            Their job is to get the lowest price. Your job is to get the highest price. You will not start at the same point.

            The only thing I see as possibly troublesome is if they get the life rights and then the deal falls through. But then, you could solicit the spec and have any new parties buy the life rights from the producer, if they were inclined to sell.

            Maybe just reach out to your lawyer before touching base with your manager? That's what he's there for.

            Good luck,
            FA4
            "Arguing that you don't care about the right to privacy b/c you have nothing to hide is no different than saying you don't care about free speech because you have nothing to say." -- Edward Snowden

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: What to do...

              Originally posted by Satriales View Post
              I have zero desire to lose the director or producer. My observation is that I have little leverage.

              If I'm signing an option agreement with a sale price baked in prior to taking it to the studio, what leverage do I have? Unless the studio is somehow involved in the option but I don't believe that is the case. I don't think I have leverage with the producer. They know this script was just sitting there for the taking. Again, it's possible I'm not seeing the whole picture.
              NOOOOOOOOOO, don't let them option the script with a sale price baked in before taking it to the studio! I can't over-stress how terrible of an idea that would be! Have them take the script-director-producer package into the studio and let the studio pay. If the studio passes, you can take it around to other buyers and let them bid against each other.

              (The one exception: if they're offering serious option $$ and you desperately need the cash, I suppose there's a bird-in-the-hand argument to consider. But that's the only reason I can think of to agree to something like this. It benefits both you AND the producer to let the studio cough up the cash. If I'm missing something, send me a private message, because right now I'm getting heated on your behalf. )

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: What to do...

                Originally posted by AnyOtherName View Post
                NOOOOOOOOOO, don't let them option the script with a sale price baked in before taking it to the studio! I can't over-stress how terrible of an idea that would be! Have them take the script-director-producer package into the studio and let the studio pay. If the studio passes, you can take it around to other buyers and let them bid against each other.

                (The one exception: if they're offering serious option $$ and you desperately need the cash, I suppose there's a bird-in-the-hand argument to consider. But that's the only reason I can think of to agree to something like this. It benefits both you AND the producer to let the studio cough up the cash. If I'm missing something, send me a private message, because right now I'm getting heated on your behalf. )
                This is exactly my quandary. Not so much a quandary because, yes, I’m absolutely against signing an option with the price baked in unless they are giving me 10% of a very favorable number. So I guess that’s why I was feeling a bit boxed in. I have a good enough relationship with the producer where they wouldn’t/shouldn’t take offense that I reject their option offer and ask them to just take the package to the studio, correct?

                Thank you!
                Last edited by Satriales; 07-13-2020, 09:12 AM.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: What to do...

                  Originally posted by Satriales View Post
                  This is exactly my quandary. Not so much a quandary because, yes, I'm absolutely against signing an option with the price baked in unless they are giving me 10% of a very favorable number. So I guess that's why I was feeling a bit boxed in. I have a good enough relationship with the producer where they wouldn't/shouldn't take offense that I reject their option offer and ask them to just take the package to the studio, correct?

                  Thank you!
                  They shouldn't be offended at all! It's a completely reasonable request, and it prevents them from being out-of-pocket upfront. It's also, incidentally, good for the producer if the studio has to pay you lots of money upfront, because then the studio is more invested (literally) in the project.

                  What's your situation rep-wise? Are you negotiating all this yourself? Ideally, these should be convos your agent is having with the producer. I think you mentioned you had a lawyer-- do you feel like your lawyer is earning their keep?

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: What to do...

                    Originally posted by AnyOtherName View Post
                    They shouldn't be offended at all! It's a completely reasonable request, and it prevents them from being out-of-pocket upfront. It's also, incidentally, good for the producer if the studio has to pay you lots of money upfront, because then the studio is more invested (literally) in the project.

                    What's your situation rep-wise? Are you negotiating all this yourself? Ideally, these should be convos your agent is having with the producer. I think you mentioned you had a lawyer-- do you feel like your lawyer is earning their keep?
                    Manager and a lawyer. I haven't involved my lawyer yet because the offer won't come until the rights are secured. (Director wants rights secured before moving forward)

                    I have agents at a couple places that are basically like "call when there's money involved- and this brings up the issue of whether or not I want to essentially buy myself an agent with this deal. Are they worth an additional 10% of value above a lawyer? Normally, I'd say it would be worth it just to get an agent. But I'm going to have to fire this person immediately. (One place is WGA franchised, however)

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: What to do...

                      Originally posted by Satriales View Post
                      Manager and a lawyer. I haven't involved my lawyer yet because the offer won't come until the rights are secured. (Director wants rights secured before moving forward)

                      I have agents at a couple places that are basically like "call when there's money involved- and this brings up the issue of whether or not I want to essentially buy myself an agent with this deal. Are they worth an additional 10% of value above a lawyer? Normally, I'd say it would be worth it just to get an agent. But I'm going to have to fire this person immediately. (One place is WGA franchised, however)
                      Oh man, I hear you. This is knotty. The only thing I can say for sure is that dealing w/this kind of thing is actually part of your lawyer's job, so it's completely reasonable to hit them up for advice. They'll probably want to talk to the other side to get a sense of the game plan, and you can all go from there.

                      The agent question is tricky. If you have a good contact at Verve, that seems like an obvious avenue to explore. Outside of that, I think it really depends on the agent/agency (that's true at Verve too, but there's arguably smaller variation there).

                      As to whether agents are worth 10% above the lawyer/manager... if you ever figure that out, let me know. Who's contributing what to negotiations is usually completely opaque to writers (by design, I think), so if someone's not pulling their weight, we have no idea. So we keep paying 25% for what, 20 years ago, we'd have paid 10% for (or so I hear). It's a rotten system.

                      How did I descend into whining so quickly?

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: What to do...

                        From what I understand, generally, is that agents can help when you want to get a job. Your lawyer will, most likely, be fine on his own to negotiate the deal. I would trust my lawyer a 100% and feel fine about doing it without an agent.

                        So, here's a couple things to consider...

                        a) Is it necessary for you to give up the 10% up on THIS deal if you select an agent that you would then turn around and fire? It's not worth it to me.

                        b) If you feel the time is right to have an agent, consider selecting from a company that has signed the new WGA agreement.

                        c) Wait until after the deal is signed and use it as leverage that you are a legit writer, because you have a deal in the works that is packaged, backed by a studio with life rights all locked in. You might be instantly "attractive" at that point.

                        Don't give your hard earned money away until you really have to, jmo. It seems to me, and I don't know the ins and outs, that you're doing fine with your team right now and your lawyer will be able to negotiate a good deal.

                        It sounds like "they" will be making the first move once the life rights are acquired, so you have time to work it out. Also, if your worse fears are realized (which might not happen, since you have good relationships in place) then you push your lawyer to negotiate your way out of that box.

                        Remember, nothing is final UNTIL you sign. It can all work out even if they don't start where you hope. Just be very clear with your team what your concerns are and what you do NOT want to happen. They work for you.

                        Good luck, I'm excited for you.
                        FA4

                        Oh, and great advice, AnyOtherName, it's helpful to us all.
                        "Arguing that you don't care about the right to privacy b/c you have nothing to hide is no different than saying you don't care about free speech because you have nothing to say." -- Edward Snowden

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