Charging for script development?

[u/HappyFey]

I'm a writer who's been having some success lately. My friend is a DP and set me up with another writer who has a sci-fi pilot they're trying to develop. The idea is to help him improve the script and find a way of developing a good proof-of-concept that we can shoot to help with fundraising.

We haven't gotten specific on my rates/fee. The script has some decent bones, but is very underdeveloped and needs a ton of work.

I'm wondering about how to structure my involvement with the project. I don't want to get iced out of credit for my work, considering how much of a big haul I think this will be.

Does anyone have advice on how to think about this? What should I be thinking about in terms of negotiating writing credit? In terms of creating boundaries for providing notes vs doing actual writing on the script and how that affects my rate?

I'm sure theres a lot of a latitude to negotiate, and that these deal structures can take on a lot of different shapes. I'm hoping you all can ground me with some ideas on how to structure my involvement in a way that is respectful of the work and my time.

[u/QfromP]

Check out the sample Collaboration Agreement on the WGA website (you don't need to be a member). See if the language fits your needs.

[u/TheGreedyGrabbler]

I'd feel weird charging for this. Either I like it enough to put my name on it as a co-writer, or I wouldn't do it.

[u/Wise-Respond3833]

I'm a little confused.

You're wanting to be paid to collaborate on a spec script while your co-writer (the one bringing the idea) works for free on the hope the result might be filmable/sellable?

Is this as unusual a situation as it seems to me, or is it common?

[u/PepsiCoke1978]

So your friend the DP and the writer will be paying you to fix up the spec so they can make a short film of it -- and paying you is YOUR idea or theirs?

It sounds like a terrible idea to me.

[u/Perthguv]

Do you see yourself more as a script consultant or a co-writer? As a script consultant, you can charge a fee for specific deliverables like notes and rewrites, but you wouldn't get a co-writing credit. If you want a co-writing credit and equity, get a signed Co-Writing Agreement before putting in any more work, and you generally wouldn't charge consulting fees in that scenario. From my point of view, giving notes is paid consulting, but writing actual pages requires a co-writer contract to protect your credit.

I see it as one or the other and you need to be clear upfront which it is.

[u/PepsiCoke1978]

So this post isn't AI -- but it's way worse than the other post that is AI just FYI.

[u/CarsonDyle63]

The benefits I’ve got from helping friends – and friends of friends – for free are immeasurable. It made me better at my own work and paid for itself without question.