Writers and writers-to-be please take note. You may think you are given a chance to enter into the industry, but you may be already festering a teething wound that makes this industry unsustainable. Know your rights. Know your skills: WARNING TO WRITERS (Designers, Photographers, Actors and Other Freelance Artistes also beware) Some producers are approaching numerous writers to develop concept papers for free. These producers say they will pay if your pitch is selected by the client. The unscrupulous producers may ask 5 different writers to develop concepts for the same brief, pitch 5 different concepts and increase their own odds of success, while bearing no risks. If none of the 5 gets chosen, they don’t pay. That’s like going to a restaurant and telling the waiter: I’ll order 5 dishes, and just pay for the one I like (if I like any). It’s like going to a clinic and telling the doctor: if your medicine does not cure me of all my ailments, I will not pay. Or going to a movie and saying: if I don’t enjoy it, I want a refund. Writers, please make sure you get paid for projects and concepts not initiated by you (the writer). You do not own the copyright for commissioned work (i.e. the producer approaches you and asks you to write based on his premise or characters). If you spend months developing a concept initiated by the producer and the producer pitches it to a network and the concept is not picked up, the unscrupulous producer can pitch it to another client/investor without paying you. At least with a spec script (your idea, your characters), you own the copyright. GOOD INDUSTRY PRACTICES At the Screenwriters Association (Singapore), we are pushing for good industry practices, which includes NOT writing for free. This stand is made to protect writers from being exploited. In mature tv and film industries like America, the Writers Guild forbids its members from writing for free. HOW ABOUT CHARITIES? Even if you are writing for a charity organisation, you should be paid (be it in the form of money or merchandise). You can then choose to donate the amount back to the charity. So why insist on payment? Because it puts a value on your contribution. HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF 1) Check on the reputation, credentials and credit history of the production house. 2) Make sure there is a written contract before you start work. TOWARDS GREATER PROFESSIONALISM On behalf of the Exco, I urge all writers to stand together, to protect our mutual long-term interests and livelihoods. If we are to raise the status of screenwriting as a viable and sustainable career, we must be paid for our concepts, knowledge, craft and time. Yours sincerely Ng Swee San Screenwriters Association (Singapore)
Posted on: Thu, 14 Aug 2014 15:22:55 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015