[Greg St. pierre]

I’m also a new screenwriter, and I’m in a similar situation. The book I’m getting the option to was written in the 50’s. The author is deceased, however I’m dealing with his widow through an agent. The widow is quite keen to see a film get made on the subject of the biography, as well as her late husband’s work.

Anyway, it looks like this will be my deal: I pay $5,000 for a two year option with an extension for a further year at $4,000. The exercise fee of $125,000 up to a budget of six million dollars, thereafter 1.75% of the budget with a ceiling of $400,000, royalty payments in the event it becomes a Movie of the Week and spinoff payments if it is developed into a TV series. Prequels, sequels, remakes, DVD sales, etc. Both the widow (and her agent) and I should be getting some of all that if it ever makes it to the screen.