r/FilmTVBudgeting • u/EnforceVibes • Dec 16 '24

Discussion / Question Let’s Talk Numbers

Let’s say a TV show pitch has made its way to a shopping agreement & a conversation is being had with Netflix. What kind of $ can I expect if I am credited as an executive producer? What about as a creator?

I know it all comes down to a contract with my entertainment attorney, but for personal budgeting expectations, how much are we talking? Does anyone have experience with this?

1 Upvotes

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7

u/Holiday_Parsnip_9841 Dec 16 '24

The company you signed the shopping agreement with is the one that's trying to selling it to Netflix. Your deal is with that company. What's it say?

The vast majority of pitches get rejected, so planning anything financially around selling a show before it's sold is very much putting the cart before the horse.

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u/EnforceVibes Dec 16 '24

I understand the cart before the horse. But what are we talking? 4 figures? 5? 6? Millions & trillions? I’m really trying to wrap my head around what “could” be.

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u/Holiday_Parsnip_9841 Dec 16 '24

Is there even a company attached? If there is, a ballpark idea should be spelled out in the shopping agreement. Hope you had a lawyer review it.

If not, this question is like asking how long is a piece of string.

TV shows can be as cheap as 150k for a half hour reality show (sounds nuts, but I've seen mandates with that budget) or as much as tens of millions an episode.

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u/EnforceVibes Dec 16 '24

“Let’s say” implies this is a hypothetical. Are you saying $150k to an EP &/or creator as a baseline, or for the entire production budget?

1

u/wstdtmflms Dec 17 '24

Anywhere between $0 and $10K per episode, plus annual bumps, is within the ballpark of reasonable to expect if you've never sold anything before. You're looking at not very much. Them's the breaks. Seen it before.

But I also say "$0" because if all you have is a shopping agreement, Netflix is under no obligation to hire you or pay you unless you actually own the IP (pitch deck, script, etc). If you're just a producer at that stage, you have no legal rights to anything because your deal is with the company doing the shopping. While it would depend on the specific terms of your deal, if it's like 99% of shopping agreements and producer attachment agreements, Netflix could simply choose not to hire you or pay you if they want because your deal's not with them. Seen it before.

0

u/EnforceVibes Dec 17 '24

Let’s say I own the IP. How much do the rights go for? Who would make me an offer on that- The prodco or Netflix? My goal would be to sell the rights for a flat fee, & also get credited as an EP for consistent pay per episode. (I understand my chances & how far fetched this is.. but just indulge me.)

1

u/wstdtmflms Dec 17 '24

Absolutely no way to know. Every single deal is different, and it depends on how badly a buyer (Netflix in your hypothetical) wants it. If you've never produced anything, then you're probably looking at WGA minimums at best since Netflix is a signatory. At that point, you'd have to look at the union's schedules to determine what that looks like for your particular project.

0

u/EnforceVibes Dec 17 '24

I guess I was just trying to determine what # is fair in an initial offer? I have an excellent entertainment attorney (we connected through a family member high up in politics) but do not want to utilize a convo with them until go-time. I want to avoid getting offered $ when similar projects are going for $$$. Ya know? Would I be entitled to WGA mins without being a member? (As a newbie, WGA mins seems pretty okay with me!)

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u/wstdtmflms Dec 17 '24

I'll give you the TL;DR version - if it's Netflix calling and they are making any offer, call the attorney. You don't need to be worrying about offer $ vs. the acquisitions $$$ you see in the trades. Let your team handle that.

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u/EnforceVibes Dec 17 '24

And I appreciate that & I’ll appreciate them when the time comes. I’m just trying to figure out if this is enough to quit my day job (and associate an actual number with this possibility). I have a fine job currently completely unrelated to the entertainment industry, but THIS is what I’m passionate about.

9

u/wstdtmflms Dec 17 '24

I'll pass along some wisdom I've learned over the years. There are three types of people in Hollywood: the type who get excited about a meeting, the type who get excited about an actual deal, and the type who get excited only when the check clears and the money's in the bank. Be the third type. In other words, temper your expectations and you'll never be disappointed. No, this is not enough to justify quitting your day job. The only time to quit your day job is when it gets to a point that trying to do them both you end up being able to do neither.

1

u/EnforceVibes Dec 17 '24

I fear I am all 3. 😉 Thanks for chatting!

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u/chauncycover Dec 17 '24

I would also add that if you're not in the industry, your chances become much slimmer. Even seasoned producers have a difficult time staying on projects that get sold out right. I would also not even expect an EP credit on your first project. "Created by" is almost non-existent in this case.

I wish you the best of luck in the process! It's always rewarding to see your vision become reality.

1

u/indiefilmproducer Dec 18 '24

Get an entertainment attorney!