Optioning Your Screenplay to a Producer

Optioning Your Screenplay to a Producer Congratulations! Not only did you finish writing your 120-page cinematic opus, but you have a motion picture producer interested in bringing it to the silver screen. You’re ready to sell. Ready to see your name on the back of a director’s chair. Ready to chow down on craft service while Jake Gyllenhaal and Rachel McAdams deliver your prose†¦ But wait, not so fast. What’s this agreement the producer’s handed you? An option? He’s not buying it? What does this mean? Well, let’s break it down†¦ What is an option exactly? An option agreement is an industry-standard document that interested producers give writers when they’re not quite ready to buy the script, but don’t want anyone else to buy it either. Maybe they don’t have enough money yet, aren’t sure they can get it made or don’t know what the budget will be (and the budget often determines the writer’s fee). An option simply gives the producer the exclusive right to purchase the material at any time during the term of the agreement. Here’s a sample option for reference:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kpiuHbB6zUJhm1FDUq__4OrB6LeaJ25QnJvF2fM_Vrw/edit?usp=sharing What do I need to have in place before optioning my script? First, make sure the script has been registered with the Library of Congress’ Copyright Office. This is crucial for your protection and necessary for the producer to prove chain of title to the eventual studio or distributor that picks up the film. Information on copyright registration can be found here:  https://www.copyright.gov/registration/performing-arts/index.html. For added protection, you can also register it with the WGA. Lastly, if the story is based on a real-life person, make sure you’ve acquired their life rights. How long should the option term be? Options can last however long you and the producer deem appropriate. Just remember that no one else can buy the script while that producer holds the option, so it may depend on your level of trust or how badly you want to work with him. One or two years is a fairly standard initial term, and it’s not unusual to have a one-year extended term triggered How much money should I ask for? Again, there’s no right or wrong answer here. Options can be as low as one dollar or as high as $10,000. As long as there’s consideration – something of value going from you to the producer and vice versa – the option is valid. The size of the fee will likely be based on the stature of the producer and how big the expected purchase price will be, but for a typical indie, $500 to $1,000 is common for the initial term. You might also negotiate a percentage (say 5-10%) of the expected purchase price. However, remember that the initial option fee is usually applied against the purchase price; so, if the producer pays a $2,000 option fee and the final purchase price is $20,000, he only owes another $18,000 to buy the script outright. What other elements should be part of the option? You certainly want the producer to lay out terms for exercising the option, including the purchase price, your writer’s credit, the notification procedure and exactly what rights he’s acquiring (just the film rights or also sequels, television, and other ancillaries). The compensation details are perhaps the most crucial though and should reference bonuses, backend participation and, if appropriate, fees for sequels, spin-offs and remakes. If the final purchase price can’t be determined yet because the budget is still undecided, ask for a percentage of the budget with a floor (i.e., 2% of the budget with a minimum of $20,000). What are those short-form documents at the end? The short form option and short form assignment are standard addendum to any option. The short form option, which states the deal between the parties in the simplest terms, is recorded with the copyright office

Free Trade Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Free Trade - Essay Example Free trade also underscores the benefit of the foreign direct investment in Canada, particularly by the United States in their bilateral trade. To cite an example, Alex Rugman (1990) points to the greater stock of US foreign direct investment in Canada than Canadian foreign direct investment in the United States. (p. 78) The impact of this fact offsets the reservations of critics regarding the outward flow of Canadian wealth to other countries. It makes sense to think that because of the larger amount of capital invested, the US firms in Canada demand more labour than those needed by the Canadian firms operating in the US, or the jobs â€Å"lost† when Canadian capital is funneled abroad. Free trade also addresses the issue in regard to tariffs and the concept of â€Å"rules of origin.† It is inevitable to have discrimination in favor of supplies from one country, risking the diversion of lower-cost supplies from another. By reducing tariff levels in multilateral system, free trade can reduce discrimination as well as strengthen cost control. (Barton, Goldstein & Josling 2006, p. 176) The value of the Canadian dollar that accompanied the negotiation and implementation of free trade upset all projections of benefits to Canada†¦ In effect, an increase in the exchange rate of 15 percent is equivalent to imposing a tax on all exports of 15 percent and removing a 15 percent tariff on imports. (p. xvii) Finally, it is important to highlight that free trade agreements in general lead to internal reforms and that all countries that are engaged in them may benefit from it. There is the aspect about raising standards to bolster competitiveness, for example. To illustrate: Since Canadian customers now have better access than ever before to products and services made in the United States, they have become more demanding consumers as they assimilate the American consumer expectations. While

Top business management teams Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Top business management teams - Essay Example Wrong approach on these issues has seen different companies; organizations and firms topple while as correct measures have seen their excellence and succession. Recently, each and every firm has its human resource management department on the spotlight. Even though the situation is so, critics and analysts point out that it the high time line managers and human resource professionals rethought and redefined the exact meaning of human resource (Bowen and Ostroff, 2004). As a result, human resource managers are responding to scrutiny by applying new thinking and approach. They are trying to transform from the earlier concept of do-ables to focusing on more proactive measures, the deliverables. While the do-ables usually dwell on improving HR practices, upgrading HR professionals, and re-instituting or re- engineering of human resource departments. Activities involved here are emphasizing on taken actions, activities and an organizations happenings, occurrences and events. Deliverables deal mainly in outcomes, values and results that emerge from carrying out or under taking human resource upgrading or practice. Survey done on aspects towards managing performance and development of workers: shows a variety of differences depending on the nature of business. Some of the strategies applied included strategies, policies and employee recruitment, promotion, appraisals, pension payment and compensation: job design, complains handling and labor management. Managers must take competence of their workers into account very serious, technically/functionally that is individual achievements in finance, marketing and customer care, core basically in organization, crisis management, logistics and manufacturing. Social capabilities like leadership, setting directives, diversity, commitment, teamwork and credibility among other reasons. They should also consider organizational merits such as long distance work, time, speed and intellectual capital. Competencies result to correct total income and balance sheet reflection. Incase of errors or omissions, reports annual reports published would reflect a lie, even from a slight discrepancy. Competence also ensures that final products or services are of high standards thus increasing customer in flow and a growth in demand (Bowen and Ostroff, 2004). Managers should make change happen by being the change agent: In an environment that is unpredictable or even unforeseeable, they should emphasize on the ability to quickly change rather than investing on policies that might not work in such cases. They ought to prepare their workers for anything anytime. Change in the sense of perceptions and euphoria about the company is also worth consideration in efforts towards HR management. They should create an intellectual capital and play employee champions: the challenge lies in what they have and how to increase it. With keen interest on workers progress, managers can encourage and campaign for even better working conditions. By championing for their welfare in turn morale can be boosted among employees. Human resource managers need also to improve on their employee relations in order to create that friendly atmosphere. This involves understanding of their pros and cons, practicing empathy and creating a close relationship between them and the working team in their company. By showing that they really care, the workers will feel

Why have Turkey's leaders found it hard to accomodate the aspirations Essay

Why have Turkey's leaders found it hard to accomodate the aspirations of many of the Kurdish population. Has there been Significant development on this since 1970 - Essay Example e development of a reasonable solution.1 This essay tries to determine the reason Turkey’s leaders found it hard to accommodate the aspirations of many of the Kurdish population. This essay argues that the strong nationalist tendencies within Turkey are the primary reason for the failure to resolve the Kurdish issue. The analysis looks at the development in Turkish-Kurdish relations since the 1970s. Without successfully resolving the Kurdish issue Turkey will continuously fail in its attempt to become a full member of the European Union (EU). Turkey will be forced to change its oppressive ideological foundations, and may fail to realise its full economic capability. But specifically, the country will continue to be engaged in its undying commitment to secure the nation. The capacity of Turkey’s leaders to resolve the Kurdish conflict has been impeded by too much politicisation that viewed the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) as a persistent hazard to the country. The Kurdish conflict aggravates the progressing inflation in Turkey and is the primary root of human rights abuses, and the greatest threat to the Turkey-EU relationship. In spite of the forceful Turkish military attempt and several substantial achievements in dealing with the PKK rebellion, the struggle continues. Turkey’s leaders realised that the European political system had been evolving. Thus, they understood the need to reform the country’s political structure to align it with the emerging European political system. In short, they know that the successful conclusion of the customs union relied on Turkey’s success in the arena of human rights, parliamentary democracy, and the Kurdish question.2 Thus, Turkey carried out definite reforms to abolish several anti-democratic policies, which had been established by the military regime. Furthermore, several reforms were instigated so as to advance the country’s human rights condition and to find a solution to the Kurdish issue. More

Problem in corrections Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Problem in corrections - Research Paper Example tainee are technically organized to determine essential needs on health, social, and other relevant aspects of development by which the person may learn to outgrow crime-prone attributes. In my opinion, diversion if properly administered would attain to the principal goal of leading the involved parties at fault towards psychological renewal or even emotional reorientation for their own sake and the society that is directly impacted by their reformed attitude. Such desired end as characterized by a gradual change of heart in the process truly signifies relief for the system of justice given the number of other major cases or concerns in need of serious attention. An investment to monitor prisoners upon temporary or permanent release, I suppose, would further ensure quality of transformation to normal behavior and sound well-being apart from any criminal tendencies. When this objective is consistently met, the judicial system would no doubt come to the intended relief of prison units from overcrowding. Loewenstein, James. â€Å"Overcrowding Remains a Problem at County Jail.† thedailyreview. Retrieved from http://thedailyreview.com/news/overcrowding-remains-a-problem-at-county-jail-1.1299342 on April 24,

Economic downturn hits Oz Clothing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Economic downturn hits Oz Clothing - Essay Example In the near future, there are also indications that the government will provide further empowerment to labor unions such as the CWU in light of its newly instituted Industrial Relations policy. Economic – The global economy is experiencing a critical downturn, resulting in the cancellation of orders by large retailers who are in turn affected by poor consumer demand. The high cost structure of the firm, particularly its labor, is rendering the firm uncompetitive against rival firms operating in regimes that allow them a lower cost structure. The Australian garments industry may not be able to secure additional bailout funds from the government as it has already released a large amount of funding for this purpose, and is itself deep in public debt which it may not wish to increase further. Social – The Australian Council of Trade Unions plans to mount a campaign to â€Å"buy local† which may be joined in by other non-governmental organizations and special interest groups. The ultimate objective is evidently to create a broad-based, society-wide demand for local products in order for demand to support more profitable business operations for Australian firms. To jump start the process, however, the initial objective is to secure the commitment of federal, state and local governments to give preference to products that have been made in Australia. Technological – The industry’s production method is low-skilled and labor intensive, for which reason it is prone to easy replication in countries that have a large labor base that are able to command a lower labor cost. Such a country is China, which has successfully mass... The paper tells that the business of Oz clothing has entered a period of economic uncertainty, requiring the need for a strategic change in order to survive. The Australian firm manufactures clothing items among which are underwear lines it describes as commodity type, indicating the lack of distinguishing characteristics or brand name from other mass produced, basic clothes wear. Oz Clothing will be undertaking a bold, risky, yet in the long run necessary, strategic change that promises to create short-term uncertainties for the company, but greater stability and growth in the distant future. A shift of market focus may prove beneficial; it is suggested that the firm design products for the senior consumers (50 years old and above), which is the fastest growing and most wealthy segment of society. The change will involve dramatic alterations in the firm’s products, for which its old manufacturing processes may no longer be applicable. A change in the skills set needed will th erefore have to be acquired by the employees, for which training and mentoring will need to be done. Secondly, the firm will need to create a bond of trust between itself and its employees, and conduct business in a transparent way with its employees, in case there will be a need to engage them to agree to a pay reduction or shorter work week for the duration of the crisis. Furthermore, in order to avoid demotivation or labor union disputes, it will be necessary to frankly approach the matter of possible layoffs and work stoppages if such will be warranted by the firm’s financial situation.

Problem in corrections Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Problem in corrections - Research Paper Example tainee are technically organized to determine essential needs on health, social, and other relevant aspects of development by which the person may learn to outgrow crime-prone attributes. In my opinion, diversion if properly administered would attain to the principal goal of leading the involved parties at fault towards psychological renewal or even emotional reorientation for their own sake and the society that is directly impacted by their reformed attitude. Such desired end as characterized by a gradual change of heart in the process truly signifies relief for the system of justice given the number of other major cases or concerns in need of serious attention. An investment to monitor prisoners upon temporary or permanent release, I suppose, would further ensure quality of transformation to normal behavior and sound well-being apart from any criminal tendencies. When this objective is consistently met, the judicial system would no doubt come to the intended relief of prison units from overcrowding. Loewenstein, James. â€Å"Overcrowding Remains a Problem at County Jail.† thedailyreview. Retrieved from http://thedailyreview.com/news/overcrowding-remains-a-problem-at-county-jail-1.1299342 on April 24,