Screenwriting Contests Discussion Forum 
Topic: Someone educate me please...
Author: Sang Kim
Posted: 11/10/00 12:24 AM
What can you guys tell me about negotiating options? Give me all the details and pitfalls to watch out for. I've read the stuff on wga.org so far and want to know if people can add/clarify it some more.
Sang
Hey, Sang,
Do you have an entertainment attorney? You should get one, in your position. At the very least, check out some books on legal issues such as Brooke Wharton's THE WRITER GOT SCREWED or SCREENWRITER'S LEGAL GUIDE. But I think an attorney would be best. Sounds like things are cooking, keep me posted.
Miriam
Author: Sang Kim
Posted: 11/10/00 10:33 AM
Thanks Miriam, I'll look into that. Do you know how much they typically charge for a one time thing? I believe it's more than an agent or manager.
Sang
Sang,
email me and I'll send you my phone number. One of my clients, and now a friend, is a very experienced Entertainment Attorney. Let's talk.
Randy
Sang,
Randy knows a really good guy. If an entertainment attorney brokers a deal for you, it will be much like how an agent takes a cut, but may depend on the details of the deal. Charging by the hour just for advice, however, may end up costing you more. In this day and age, when agents are so hard to get, and you usually need an attorney anyway, and producers are more accessible via the net and contests, etc., it seems that agents are less necessary.
Good luck.
Miriam
An ent. attorney typically gets 5% of the deal he negotiates. However, if you need him to peruse an agency/management contract, submit a script or dispense advice, their average charge is between $200-400 per hour. The good ones are almost always closer to the 400 mark.
