How to start collaborative writing on a screenplay
Are you tired of writing by yourself and you have thought of collaborating with a friend or fellow screenwriter? Would you like to develop a project with other screenwriters or with a director?
You are thinking wisely. Collaborating in writing is an activity which brings always knowledge, experience, team work and even, personal development. Mainly because it allows you to learn from other film professionals and you cut down on time working on the writing and development of a new project . I believe you always can learn, for better or worse. Unfortunately, what we don’t tend to pay enough attention to is the possible consequences of collaborating in the development of a script together with a screenwriter and/or a director.
That is why, here are four pieces of advice when you are about to develop a collaboration in these cases.
- Sign a collaboration deal
As good and close friends as you might be. Leaving everything written down in a clear way will always make things easier, especially if the project ends becoming a reality. Copyright of all the participants in the collaboration will be protected.
Too many times good faith and fear of what the others will think of ourselves makes us keep quiet and not put things down in writing, in the name of some sort of friendship pact. The best way to work protected, with total trust between each collaborator, and to be sure we will be paid in case the project goes forward, is to put everything down in writing in a collaboration contract.
2. Mark the percentages
One thing you tend to sign in collaborating contract deals in the United States, is to define the different parcels in which each writer has participated in. For instance, if you’re the author of the initial idea for the story and another writer (or other writers) has only worked on the development of the script, your percentage will be greater, as you are the sole author of the creation of the story..
Generally, here in Spain, the most likely scenario is that percentages are distributed in the same proportion, depending on the number of writers involved, as these things sometimes are looked over; but I’ve always been of the opinion that you should compensate accordingly the person who has had the initial idea for the story and project. Plus, that that person gets a higher percentage back makes a lot of sense because of the next point.
3. Choose a leader
A project needs a leader. Someone who pushes and moves it forward, and has a global vision; be it where should the project develop towards, as well as where and when should it be shopped around. That’s why, you need to choose a leader for your project.
It could be the person who had the original idea or who best thrives in a sales position; to talk to producers, to pitch, network…The important thing is that, the person who’s the leader, knows to defend the project in front of the people he or she’s going to try to sell it to.
4. Get Consulting
Lastly, it’s always advisable to consult with a lawyer specialized in intellectual property, to get advice on all these matters. Mainly because there’s so many elements we don’t know about in this field, better to be safe than sorry.
Very easily we can loose rights (and money) via clauses we don’t know about. Like for instance, transformation rights, remake rights, box office percentages, credit titles, promoting the film…so, be safe and research well all possibilities and your rights as a screenwriter!
