Hi Everyone I hope this message finds you well? In terms of royalties what percentage does a writer get of the film?
Screenwriting : Royalties in film? by Marc Anthony Greenland
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If you are lucky enough to work at a WGA signatory, that is stipulated in the Union agreement. Not sure what it is, but it is healthy.
If you live in indie world, like I do. Try and assess the production. Do you have faith that they will make money. If you think so they negotiate. If it is a profit deal make sure you have items that are notes as exclusions, such as your partners billing for their time.
I tend to take a fee up front and a smaller backend. In that way I don’t have to figure out if I have been ripped off. For me at least these first few are stepping stone films. I have written great films but sold them cheap to producers I have faith in. They will produce quality that lets me ask for more later.
Now for a solid number I ask for 2% of the budget
as a fee, especially for writing for hire jobs.
You can ask for 5% but they're usually are based on the net profit. So get what you can upfront because normally that is all you'll ever see.
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"Monkey points" - residuals are based on net profits, and studio bookkeeping works to minimize those. Don't plan on getting anything and you will be pleasantly surprised every once in a while when you get a green envelope.
Plan on only getting the upfront money.
Here in the USA, union Writers have accountants auditing companies, Dvd sales, streamer services, tv
https://www.wga.org/members/finances/residuals/residuals-survival-guide
Mazin & August Scriptnotes’ podcast today talks about residuals.
https://johnaugust.com/2020/feature-residuals-in-2020
Indie world- whatever you can negotiate, get cash. Good luck tracking down book keeping records of fly-by-night companies.
In ye oldie days (pre 2000); residuals were not that uncommon but even then they were tapering off. Nowadays the accounting departments blow so much smoke over the books that it's evident that they lost money so your percentage based residuals are nil. Get the money up front.
Thank you Everyone for your responses. I have a better idea of what to expect.