The negotiating table
At the negotiation table, when the exec. Producer negotiates with a writer, he is quick to let him/her know he can also do the job but for his busy schedules. But that is the more reason why he has to pay reasonably, because someone has the time to do what he doesn’t have time to do.
It’s like telling a bricklayer, I can also do this but for my tight schedule, I was once a bricklayer. The fact still remains that you don’t have the time. The person who has the time deserves to be paid well. As a matter of fact, the producer is paying for the screenwriter’s time, skill, experience and resources used.
The Writer/Producer
At the negotiating table, the writer is probably green and just passionate about his talent and wants a few screen credits to his name, so his negotiating power is usually low. The exec. Producer tells him/her he can also write and even write it better. The writer should remind the exec. Producer that his knowledge of screenwriting is probably stale and he will have to brush up his skills to match up your competence. Since as a writer, that’s probably all you do, you’re specialized and more adroit than our rich producer who probably didn’t study screenwriting nor did any self development. To displace him some more, you can throw up some screenwriting lingo which he can’t understand to show your expertise on the job. Insist that you’re worth your weight in gold.
Futuristic card
Another thing the exec. Producer will tell you is that, he is just starting or doesn’t have so much money, therefore you should do him the favor and write at a ridiculously low price for future-sake. The truth is that the future never comes and he might never increase the fee. The next thing you’ll see is that he is buying new properties and your clothes are faded and you’re pinching pennies. So tell Mr. Producer that you can’t repeat that lyrics to the market woman, she won’t reduce the price of tomatoes for you just because you’re doing someone a favor. However, if you’re so hungry, accept the offer but my very good lecturer once told me that even if you’re hungry, you can call their bluff and walk away. The day he needs someone who can deliver a quality job, he will send for you.
Screen credits
Another negotiable thing is the screen credit for your screenplay. Even though some writers don’t care if they get the screen credit or not, if you want it as a writer, you must insist that your name be written in the closing credits. Some producers put their names as screenwriter just to get an ego score for being versatile at your expense, insist on it at the negotiating table. Royalty is not a common phrase for screenwriters around here but if you want to ask for it, get a lawyer and state the terms of payment and the figures.
Know your onions
After all said, be sure you know your onions as a seasoned screenwriter. It is not enough to know how to deal with our snake-oil producer; you must be competent and can deliver what you promise. It is important to note that executive producers are not the enemies to watch out for and not all of them are out to rip off the screenwriter, they just have a better negotiating skill than you do, that’s all. Writers think all they need is know how to write but there is more to it. There is the legal part, the business side of it, the marketing side, and the sales/pitch side of it and there is the accounting side of it. Sounds like a whole lot, isn’t it? They will all come handy somewhere in the line of duty. Cheers.
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