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work for hire - HELP!

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Juan Dolor:
A friend in the movie business has approached me about writing novelizations of film scripts.  He wants to know what I would charge.  I'm very flattered, but I have no idea what would be a fair price.

For the record, this friend has actually written and produced several movies.  None of them have made a ton of money, but they've had theatrical releases. He's a professional.  He's on IMDB.  He's also a nice guy and I would like to help him.

As for me, I have never finished a novel before, and have only published one short story, for which I was paid nothing.  (it was in a university literary magazine.)  So I would think I couldn't ask for much.  But on the other hand, I am on the academic job market this coming year and am working on getting published in my own field.  So my time is precious.  (I am also getting married.)

What do you think, random internet strangers?

Renoard:
Well that depends on your ability and the genre. A fair amount seems to me may be 3-5K advance and 1% on gross sales. Flat rate, might be 10-15 k initially and if it works out then increase the amount as you become a famous best seller.

Jason R. Peters:
Renoard's advice works if you actually expect the work to succeed, and if that's what you can get for an advance. I'd imagine most people in your friend's shoes would be amenable to the percentage of sales without the advance. (That's low-risk for him.)

If your friend is making another non-hit movie and you are not emotionally invested, I would recommend a ghost-writer approach. You get paid by the hour, and when you're done it matters not one iota whether the movie is a flop or a blockbuster.

For royalties, you stand to lose the most  if the movie is a flop. (Low risk for your friend, he doesn't spend up front.)

For an hourly wage, you stand to lose the most if the movie is a blockbuster. (High risk for your friend, he spends money up front.)

For an advance, see "hourly wage" above.

Before reading Renoard's response, I actually though you were talking just about Ghostwriter rates.

My Writers' Market 2010 (sorry I don't have newer) has a section called "How Much Should I Charge?" I don't see a section for ghostwriting screenplays, but for ghostwriting a novel it recommends the following price points:

Ghostwriting "as told to", High $100/hr, Low, $50/hr; high, $51k for a whole project, low $5.5k for a whole project.
Ghostwriting for no credit, High $100/hr, Low $30/hr; high $45k for a whole project, low $1,500 for a whole project.

Jason R. Peters:
Found the entry for "original screenplay". The low end is $56,500, average is $81,285, high end is $106,070 according to the 2010 Writer's Market.

dhalagirl:

--- Quote from: Jason R. Peters on June 25, 2011, 05:51:21 AM ---Renoard's advice works if you actually expect the work to succeed, and if that's what you can get for an advance. I'd imagine most people in your friend's shoes would be amenable to the percentage of sales without the advance. (That's low-risk for him.)

--- End quote ---

I actually disagree.  Asking for a percentage of the sales is a lot more risky.  You're gambling on the movie actually making money.  Accountants in the movie industry are very good at making even the biggest blockbusters look like total failures. 

Definitely go for the advance, that way you'll actually get paid for your work.

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