on writing: a brief word on options

[lagilman]

Over in another forum, someone's asked for help. A production company wants to option one of his short stories for a film idea they're chasing (they're looking at a number of stories from a theme anthology, probably just covering their backsides). The thing is, what they're offering? A credit in the eventual film they might make. In exchange for tying the rights to his story up for a year.

I'm going to say here what I said to that writer: don't give your options away for free. Do not allow anyone to tie up rights to your work without compensating you. We're not talking a lot of money here -- a token payment is probably the best you can expect for a short story option. But that token payment might cover your grocery bill. Or your monthly utilities. Or, hey, if you fall into the right pot of honey, a mortgage payment.

Considering the odds of your story actually ever getting used are, well, wee, you need to get the money where you can. And make sure that you sort out the terms of the option, including renewal, in writing!

Okay, that's my rant. bgliterary? arcaedia? Want to weigh in on this, from your experiences?

Comments

[vincam.livejournal.com]

A credit in an eventual film is something they would have to cough up anyway if they make the film. And having a film made of one's work just isn't that wondrous a thing, especially if the filmmaker is so lame he can't (or doesn't know he needs to) pay for the option. This guy is counting on the writer to be all starry-eyed and impressed. I would be offended by that, and the price of the option would go up. The filmmaker should know better, and the fact that he doesn't sets off alarm bells all over.

[lagilman]

I suspect, based on the theme anthology thing, that they're not going to 'use' any of the stories but don't want anyone to be able to sue them for similarities. That set off my warning bells.