Why Selling a Screenplay is like Selling a Car

[Krackells]

What if I don't sell the car. What if I loan it? ;-)

[ethasorice]

thanks to God that I have found your video.. it's very helpful!

[mrfunderful]

So, if they decide to go with somebody else to do the re-write, they have to pay you in full for the screenplay. Rather than half now, and then the other half when you turn in the revised draft, right?

[Moviebuff358]

Ok here is what I'm wonder.... If you sell the screenplay.. Do you still get credit for it?? Like in the ending credits will it say screenplay by: (your name) ??

[Dimes329]

Dude are you fuckin serious? Screen writers that have agents bad or good are well aware of this. People watching your video are ones that don't have agents and are looking for representation to sell their work. That’s the hard part, that’s the part that people are looking to learn about. Not ridiculous analogies about cars and changing script content with whoever buys it. That's not even selling the script, that’s negotiating before it. Your video is not helpful in anyway whatsoever.

[slimshadyfan4ever]

But isnt there a contract?

[cinemaker006]

I'm confused. You continue to say it's no longer your screenplay once you sell it. Well are you still considered the writer of that screenplay? Will you get the credit you deserve for writing that script?

[TallGrass45]

just paint the fucking car!!!

[LizaMac11]

I missed your presentation at a local bookstore on October 7th in Walpole ,MA. and was happy to find this helpful info on screenplays. What book of yours would be most helpful in this area? I am just starting the project. Would you suggest I purchase screenwriting sofware to format the screenplay? Always nice to see a former Stoughtonite achieve their goals. It might take a few years but I will never give up either. Thanks!

[greenwb]

I went to elementary school with Fred. Glad he has done so well... maybe we can flip some baseballcards again someday... TS

[KevinMurphy01]

Very informative, Fred. Thank you.

[miramar9999]

hollywood is corrupted !!

its all about money people you know !! and steeling ideas and screenplays

they dont pay but steel

[IndianOpinion]

Here's a thought (awesome video btw!). If a studio/agency has bought the screenplay from you, but they now want to change the screenplay WHICH was no longer in the initial agreement (what if I am selling them a screenplay saying that any changes that are to be made to it, has to go through me the writer), wont that be wrong? Since MY CREDIT appears on the credits, its my responsibility to kill the main lead because my judgement in this case will affect my future in the business.

[IceEntz]

great fred

[bowwoo]

Frederick, thanks for this video. I never knew that once it's bought, it's not your's to own anymore. I'm 16 years old and I'm writing a crime thriller and I think that it's like no other script or movie that I've ever seen(ex.Se7en)and I'm serious about becoming a writer. As of now my script is 161 pages and I am a sucker for long thriller movie's like The Dark Knight. I want to know if I made it too long and what the general page number is for a script dealing with the theme of Crime/thriller.

[IceEntz]

its way to long, 100 pages is ideal, anything beyond 110 is too long. condense it, move it faster.

[bowwoo]

but I'm using a free screenplay program called Celtx and I feel like the font is too big, but there's no way to change it and i looked everywhere. As of now my script is 134 pages long and it's as short as I can make it.

[cougarsmarque]

110 isn't too long for a thriller. Comedy, in most instances, yes, but not a dramatic piece. Bring your script in at 120 pages or fewer, and you'll be fine, especially since you're writing this on spec (once you're sold and have built a name, you can write longer scripts and people will read them, a la the Nolans and THE DARK KNIGHT).

[supersexy300]

I'm a new writer but if someone wants to buy my car and run it into a wall I will forgive them for the right price and have my name up on the big screen under "written by--". I'll find it in my heart to forgive him. Thanks for the advice.

[JandTandKs]

There's one huge difference between selling a script and selling a car (and one minor difference, too).

I put my car on Craigslist and within hours, had 20 people wanting it; I sold it the next day. I wrote a screeplay a year ago and to date, nobody but me has even looked at it.

Also, if you didn't build the car, you don't have nearly the feelings for it that you do the script you conceived and brought to life. Someone else created the car - you simply maintained it and showed it love.

[FrederickLevy]

very true...and I like your reasoning....but I'm just trying to give a reasonable analogy!! ;)

[JandTandKs]

Other than that, it's an excellent analogy. I wanted to say that, but I ran out of characters.

[74usery]

@FrederickLevy Your analogy is awesome, but instead it might've been easier to understand should you have said 'pitching a script' is like selling a car. But I agree with you 100%.

[74usery]

@JandTandKs I know where you can sell your script and real live producers will look at it. I had Mary Pat Bentel ask for my script for a friend of hers but she only produces comedy so i'm writing one for her. Hope she remembers me..haha

[micbouch]

Thank you for the information you provided this morning on the morning news show. It inspired me since I have put my music on hold for over twenty years and I decided to put up my videos. JJNOVE- Pulling on my heart (studio) video done in my basemnt check it out, needs alot of work but its my first time.

[StopThatSquirrel]

this is painfully true :(

[Godwill3]

hey when a movie wins best movie and you see the screenplay writers get up and get the award. Is that including the person who originally wrote the screenplay.or is that the one who changed it up for the producing

[johnmonk66]

it is whoever the producer decides he wants to give the credit to. remember one thing, if you sell a screenplay, it is sold, meaning you don't own it anymore.

[Godwill3]

how much do get paid for a screenplay?

[johnmonk66]

depends on cost of film. under a million? minimum is about 50,000. over a million? maybe 80,000.

also if you are known, or you get bidders into a bidding war for it, you could make a few million.

'panic room' sold for 5 million

[FromtheDarkstream]

Writers get the short end of the creative stick.

[SickThing9]

The difference is, a car is a car. My screenplay is the love of my life. It's like a baby that I've nurtured and grown. My heart wouldn't break if he drove my car into a wall. But, true, once sold, you have no say so. As sad as that is, I sure would like to sell my screenplay. I bet I could sell my car a lot faster.

[ACParker13]

i bet there's thousands of people that feel about their car the way you feel about your screenplay, and i bet at least half of them wouldn't even know what a screenplay is

[johnmonk66]

if you have only one screenplay, it wont work. you have to have at least 4 done before talking to anyone.

[Dimes329]

is that right?

[johnmonk66]

agents don't bother with one shot wonders, they want a client for life

[SickThing9]

I have quite a few.

[paprikq]

A great screenwriter together with his lawyer can manage to get good contract conditions. He can retain some rights,such as literary rights(his version of a screenplay maybe published as a book) So, comparing selling a screenplay with selling a car is not right. It would be far more usefull if you tell screenwriters, what to examine in contract right before signing it.

[Godwill3]

how much do they pay and lets say if you want the screen play to stay a certain rating. Can you sign a contract that says if they use your screenplay then they must keep the rating the way you intended it

[johnmonk66]

no

when you sell it, you no longer own it. if you want creative control, make the movie yourself

[IcyCoolX]

I heard the ratings come from a certain place (i canf remember the name sorry) depending on the graphic images but thats the actual movie itself NOT the screenplay.

[paprikq]

Why this guy does not speak about contract conditions and about retaining such right as literary rights(you can your publish screenplay as a book)? So, no man, selling a screenplay is not like selling a car. A great screenwriter together with his lawyer can manage to get good contract conditions. So,it is more usefull to teach screenwrites how to act before signing a contract.

[Godwill3]

u seem like u know a lot and im really interested. Lets say you did not want a particular actor or actress is there a contract for something like that

[ozzyv]

have you been through some bad experience pal?

[Dissagreed]

I thought it was good. Just a bit repeditive. So does any one know what exacly this guy has written.

[comicfl]

That is the worst analogy I have ever heard.

[easternmafia]

the best way is to get somehow $200 000 and make it by your self.

[56KFILM]

I've read your book about making shorts to start a film career. I notice once the filmmakers got reconized and won awards for their shorts. What is the next step? I've done research on Trevor Sands and it seems he is not working but just writing screenplays that are in long term development. If I did venture the short film circuit and got recognition would I have to have a career plan of action or would my agent make those decisions?

[FrederickLevy]

An agent does not make decisions. An agent provides opportunities. As a manager, I assist my clients in making the best decision possible, but I can only show them the pros and the cons of each opportunity and offer my best advice. At the end of the day--the decision is theirs to make.

[74usery]

@FrederickLevy In others words, pros don't like dealing with agents.

[jimmekus]

Good stuff! Now all I gotta do is learn how to write. ;-(

[valsartdiary]

thanks for the insight!

[maxipad1]

Great info, thanks! I wonder if Tarrentino and M.Knight have to go through rewrites from the top?

[americanurge]

Thank you! More of these please!