Writer needed:$1,200 per page / $6 per word
May 6, 2009
We like to see a lot of space on the page so will only be requiring around 125-175 words per page and we’ll probably be getting someone else to re-write what you have done anyway… maybe 3-5 people actually.
$1,200 per page, $6 per word, now that’s not bad is it? Well that’s what a new writer gets on a studio movie. Now, I get sent a lot of scripts and I can assure you that every page isn’t worth $1,200. I’ve got sent a lot of spec scripts that have sold for around $600,000 – that’s a staggering $6,000 per page / $30 per word. When you start to look at it like that, you’d better make sure that you have something really special on each page, something which I won’t cut out in the edit room because it is redundant; each page needs to push the story or develop the characters. But it’s amazing how still I get sent projects that fall flat, it’s like the writers aren’t thinking.
For me, and I know this can be a matter of taste, I don’t just want to know the action: “Character x walks into the room” I want to know how, I want a little detail, I want something interesting that makes me believe I’m in the hands of an accomplished writer who is worth the money. For action line “Character x walks into the room” you have been paid/ or want to be paid $36 dollars or if it’s a good spec sale $180!!!! You can also flip it on the head and use this for characters. Let’s say there are 36 speaking characters in your master screenplay, which works out at $3,300 per character, each character better be well rounded, have their own unique voice and actually have a purpose. For $3,300 I should be able to read the script without any character headings and know instantly whose dialogue it is.
Now I know this is all very simple, and some might say crude, boiling each page and character down to what they are worth, but I’m amazed at the amount of scripts where writers have been lazy. So, all you writers out there, please, once you’ve finished your script just go through each character and ask yourself: “Should I be paid $3,300 for this character and his/her dialogue?” Go through each line of action and ask “is this line worth $72”!!! If they are not, come up with something that is… come up with a line that you are proud of… that you would like to be on the wall of the WGA corridors ranking you as one of the greatest writers of all time.
My rant is over… Back to reading scripts…
LOL. I haven’t quite seen that breakdown before and I like it!
As a screenwriter, I pride myself on never letting the word “is” appears in any action in my scripts but now I will literally be looking for that hundred dollar verb.
I really appreciate all the helpful information. I never realized that each character needs to have such detail about themselves. I’ll remember that when I write my next story and edit my current stories by putting more details about the characters. Check out my current stories and let me know what you think.. I have a lot more true stories that I am planning on adding to my website because I want to promote God and my funny past experiences while growing up. My goal is to wake this world up into believeing in God and exactly what he wants from his children. I look forward to working with you. Thanks for caring so much and sending this very important information. Have a great day.
Sincerely Your Buddy
Tim Butler
Well it seems to be some kind of a tresure hunt, one may not always be aquainted with all the norms until we arrive about the pinnacle of our frustration especially when we know that we are too close to something very valuable. Just for starters, a good movie does need an exceptionally good script, and that my dear friends is a very rare commodity nowadays. Hoping to hear soon, at some point though the saying never goes away, That which cannot be written over water gets written on the stone, nice to know someone is interested in a good script, as someone here is also very interested in sharing one.
Good Luck and hope to hear from you soon.
SL
I have a lot to say because I have had a wonderful life. My favorite show is It’s a wonderful Life because I can relate to it tremendously. My life growing up was great because I had a mother who had a great since of humor. She also didn’t let my dad get away with abusing us and ruining our self esteem. Go to my website and read my stories.
I think my script may fit your criteria:
ACROPUNK
Screenplay By Gabriel Land
Copyright 2009
“In a derelict, dystopian reality, where even dance is a form of lethal combat, a young drug addict seeks to break free from his habit, and discovers love with a mysterious gypsy girl from a land beyond.”
SYNOPSIS:
It is another time. A parallel reality. DYSTOPIA.
With the streets a wasteland, and no end to the sprawl of urban decay, all that the youths know is a 24 hour marathon schedule of extreme partying, music, and dancing, fueled by THE POWDER.
Fast acting, potent, The Powder is like a mixture of cocaine and amphetamines… on steroids.
In the CLUB ZONE, one club is known above all as the go to spot for the best drugs, music, and parties: THE POWDERKEG.
SLYKE, a young dancer, manages a meager existence, staying high and making prize money by contending in ACROCOMBAT. Half dance, half martial art, Acrocombat is a renowned spectacle that draws crowds who place bets on which contender will achieve victory.
With the aid of The Powder, the Acrocombat gladiators reach dizzying, and sometimes lethal, heights of superhuman athletic abilities. And those that score big are celebrities, with access to all the luxuries of a prize fighter.
OWNER is lord of The Powderkeg. He sits up in his office watching the club below and rains down heavy handed discipline on anyone who smuggles Powder in from outside his own drug factory. Obsessed with control over The Powderkeg economy, he wallows in his paranoia.
Slyke wants to find a truth beyond the next rush and the highs and lows of drug addiction. And perhaps he has found his ticket in AIA, a mysterious, dark and beautiful gypsy girl who shows up at The Powderkeg one night.
Meanwhile Slyke’s friend MAIZ is in trouble. Owner has discovered that someone has been undercutting him, selling foreign drugs untaxed in his club. Maiz is the number one suspect, and Slyke may be the only thing standing in between his best friend and the wrath of a vengeful dictator.