I understand that a possessory credit goes to the producer or director due to DGA’s guidelines, but what about the screenwriter? Yes filmmaking is a collaborative process and the director is the person that adds his vision and brings it to life or however you may put it. The thing is, in a lot of cases, the concept of the film came from the screenwriter alone. Plus the concept is a vision itself.
I would understand if the director or the producer was the one that wrote the concept down on paper and later brought on a screenwriter to write the script but it just sounds odd that the only credit a writer would get besides “written by/ screenplay” by is “story by” and not “A film by…”. I did some research but couldn’t seem to find a film where a screenwriter got such credit. So my question is…
1. Was there EVER a screenwriter that was given a possessory credit?
2. Despite DGA's guidelines for the credit, is there even the slightest possibility for a screenwriter to negotiate a possessory credit for the film they wrote. (Kind of like how a director would negotiate it with the studio, pro comp., etc.)
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When you sell your script - the buyer owns it and is free to do whatever he wants. You no longer have any possessor rights although you can negotiate/maintain certain rights during the sale negotiations. Most buyers won't agree to such a split rights sale and why would you want to retain any such rights? Other than screw up the works?
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When I sell a script; as long as the check don't bounce - I couldn't care less what they do with it. I've sold scripts that have gone on to be rewritten by some studio friends & family and put on the big screen. Look me up on IMDB and you'll only find my Line Producer credits - no writer credits. If you want to be a screenwriter to feed your ego/vanity - you're on the wrong path my friend.
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2. Yes, there is that possibility.
Thanks for the replies