Local Authors > Writing Group

work for hire - HELP!

<< < (2/3) > >>

Jason R. Peters:

--- Quote from: dhalagirl on June 25, 2011, 06:08:59 AM ---
--- 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.

--- End quote ---

I meant that royalties are low-risk for the producer, high-risk for the (potentially unpaid) writer who sank a lot of time and effort into an unprofitable venture.

Asking for an advance moves the risk onto the Producer.

Juan Dolor:
Thanks, everyone.  That's a lot to think about.

And for me the most valuable part of this may not be the money, but having my name on a published novel.   So that's something to think about, too.

Peter Ahlstrom:
I agree with what other people are saying. I think Renoard's high-side estimates are very close to what you can ask at your experience level. If you go the royalty option, that would be the percent of cover price for actual copies sold. Not the gross per Hollywood accounting. Well, assuming paperback publication, you should ask for at least 5% as your starting bargaining position. But since it's an adaptation 1% might be fair as an end result.

Silk:
Having your name on a published novel might depend more on whether the project is successful sales-wise than whether you've simply done the work. How your friend plans on publishing these novels (is he planning on going through a trade publisher? self publishing through a printing press? etc) might also make a significant difference in that regard.

Don't have much to contribute to the actual number-dropping going on, other than to say that I feel your pain--I've just started a bit of freelance work/been approached about freelance work in a few different areas in the last year, and I struggle with this question a lot. I would caution you against the "I'm not a professional, so I should work for cheap" ideology though (and yes, saying so makes me a hypocrite). Definitely be reasonable considering your own experience and all the rest of it, but your time IS valuable, and if you're confident enough in your ability to accept the work, you should be fairly compensated for your effort. :)

Juan Dolor:
Good points, all.  This has been very helpful for me. 

I told my friend I was interested in exploring the project, and that we should talk about payment.  Haven't heard back from him yet.  When I do, I'll post here.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page

[*] Previous page