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Usenet Posted 20 years ago
Screenwriting

Development

I've got a question about your experiences with mini-series development, but before I move on to that perhaps it would be polite to write a few words about myself since I've been lurking for months and only posted several times...
I'm 27 and write for TV. Live and work in Croatia, Europe, so much of your experiences would serve as examples only, nothing that I can directly use, since the business done here is only now beginning to resemble the situation in which most of you work. So far I've gotten two jobs writing for TV series over here both sprouted from some spec work I had done which got me the assignements.Here's the question: How does development usually work? Yes, I am aware there is no specific answer to this but I'd really appreciate anything you might share. My current poroblem is that I am working with a director who is adapting a national bestseller into a mini-series for the national TV station, working through an indie producer who hired him for the job and he got me on board because of previous cooperation with me.

The producers have optioned the rights and they (say they) have no money for development. The TV station is looking at our proposal but they want to see a treatment before they even think about signing any kind of agreement. In the end the director and I will have to write the complete mini-series screenplays without knowing if the project will get our equivalent of a green light.
Obviously I am young and need the credits and the contacts and I am considering doing it all for free until the buyer decides. If they pick it up, I'll expect payment. But the question really is about the development aspect of the job: prodcos should pay for it, that much I know. What if they simply wont?
Appreciate anything you may have to say. Thanks!
  

Top answer

[nq:1]I've got a question about your experiences with mini-series development, but before I move on to that perhaps it would ... pay for it, that much I know. What if they simply wont?

  • [nq:1]I've got a question about your experiences with mini-series development, but before I move on to that perhaps it would ...
  • pay for it, that much I know.
  • What if they simply wont?
  • Appreciate anything you may have to say.
  • [/nq] Not knowing how things work in Croatia this may not apply, but I think this is a lousy deal for you, and a very good deal for the prodco.
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7 Answers
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[nq:1]I've got a question about your experiences with mini-series development, but before I move on to that perhaps it would ... pay for it, that much I know. What if they simply wont? Appreciate anything you may have to say. Thanks![/nq]
Not knowing how things work in Croatia this may not apply, but I think this is a lousy deal for you, and a very good deal for the prodco.

Basically
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@reader2.panix.com:
[nq:1]Obviously I am young and need the credits and the contacts and I am considering doing it all for free ... the development aspect of the job: prodcos should pay for it, that much I know. What if they simply wont?[/nq]
Get a contract stating that you own all rights to the script until they pay you in full. Paying you presumes that they've sold the series, so ask for
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[nq:1]4) YOU NEED A CONTRACT!! Are there any agents in Croatia? Is there a Writers Guild in Croatia? Do the ... handle this kind of thing? If yes to any of the above, consult them, and have them handle the negotiation.[/nq]
Thanks MC! Very useful stuff. No agents here. Nor a Guild. The broadcasters do have a pay scale which works for me. Since they don't own the material they are considering e
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[nq:1]Get a contract stating that you own all rights to the script until they pay you in full. Paying you ... can threaten to call the broadcaster and kill any deal they might have because they don't legally, own the script.[/nq]
This sounds reasonable and doable. If I could get a contract that says I own the script though the option on the book is theirs. You'd be suprised how under-legislate
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[nq:1]I've got a question about your experiences with mini-series development, but before I move on to that perhaps it would ... pay for it, that much I know. What if they simply wont? Appreciate anything you may have to say. Thanks![/nq]
If you want to know all the aspects of how development works in Hollywood get this book -
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[nq:1]I'll probably end up talking this over with a local lawyer that has experience with entertainment. Everyone likes the idea of doing the mini-series but they seem to lack the understanding how no one should write it for free.[/nq]
So they're no different from all other producers the world over, then...

No producer thinks he should ever have to pay for the script untit they've pai
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[nq:1]I'll probably end up talking this over with a local lawyer that has experience with entertainment. Everyone likes the idea of doing the mini-series but they seem to lack the understanding how no one should write it for free.[/nq]
Don't "probably" end up talking to a local lawyer with entertainment experience. You can't afford not to.
You need somebody who knows what's going on who's

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