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Home: Video University Forums: Filmmakers & Screenwriters:
Script Writing Rates

X-Alex_Pearl
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Oct 30, 2002, 12:32 AM

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Script Writing Rates	Can't Post

Can anyone please give me a general idea of the going rate for script writing (per finished minute). We have a friend who we would like to use for this (he is a pro writer but is new to script writing) He is working on a masters in creative writing and is very good.
Any help would be appreciated
Alex Pearl
Ibex Productions

X-Pete_Fuller
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Oct 30, 2002, 9:44 AM

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Re: Script Writing Rates	Can't Post

Well I say give the guy a can of pork and beans and if he does a great job up it to 2 cans of large Spam cakes..Just because he has a Masters tiltle in golf dosen't make him a great writer..You guys should tell him to write the script first and if it's any good well pay you the going independant rate...A big mac, small fries, and free credits if the crap is ever made.

X-Alex_Pearl
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Oct 30, 2002, 10:59 AM

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Re: Script Writing Rates [In reply to]	Can't Post

What on earth are you talking about? Golf?

: Well I say give the guy a can of pork and beans and if he does a great job up it to 2 cans of large Spam cakes..Just because he has a Masters tiltle in golf dosen't make him a great writer..You guys should tell him to write the script first and if it's any good well pay you the going independant rate...A big mac, small fries, and free credits if the crap is ever made.

X-roger
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Oct 30, 2002, 12:18 PM

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Re: Script Writing Rates [In reply to]	Can't Post

my friend, who's never been paid for a script, just signed a development deal to co-write a script with someone for $30k.

: What on earth are you talking about? Golf?
:
: : Well I say give the guy a can of pork and beans and if he does a great job up it to 2 cans of large Spam cakes..Just because he has a Masters tiltle in golf dosen't make him a great writer..You guys should tell him to write the script first and if it's any good well pay you the going independant rate...A big mac, small fries, and free credits if the crap is ever made.

X-Jimmy
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Oct 30, 2002, 2:36 PM

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Re: Script Writing Rates [In reply to]	Can't Post

They don't pay by the minute. Go look up the Writers Guild of America website and see if they have anything about scale pay. I think the minimum for a script draft is just over $30K. The rate is lower for a "rewrite" or a "polish" step. They pay by steps rather than by the minute because there is so much rewriting going on.
Also, make sure that your friend likes being spit on and treated like crap, because that's what it's like to be a writer in Hollywood. If he wants dignity, he's going to have to be a real writer (i.e. a novelist), or learn to direct.