Custom Screenplays 

I Will Write Your Custom Screenplay

I will write a high-quality, professional, feature-length, nonunion screenplay - in any genre and for any budget range - based on your general concept, detailed story treatment, or outline. My fee includes a first draft, a second draft, and a final polish. Additional work beyond that final polish will require additional compensation. 

Genres

I'm most closely associated with Horror, Action, Crime Drama, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Thriller and Westerns, but screenplay structure and rules of conflict are the same for every genre. I’ve also written Comedy, Romance, Young Adult, even a Christmas screenplay for clients who have expressed enthusiasm for my work. 

Writing

I love what I do, and I know my writing is successful and when I don't want to stop working because  I want to see what happens next in whatever story I'm crafting. I love breathing life into characters, creating momentum, and solving problems. Every writing assignment for a client is a learning experience and a teaching experience.

Pricing

My pricing is aimed at independent producers, directors, and screenwriters, not at production companies with big bucks to spend. Agents and studio development executives currently prefer spec screenplays 100 pages long, so my general target for clients is 90 - 105 pages depending on the project. It takes me approximately  six-to-eight weeks to write the first draft of a complete original screenplay. Every project is different, but you should expect to pay me between a minimum of $5,000 and a maximum of $7,000 (for longer screenplays) over a two-month period. 

This is an extremely reasonable price range given the nature of the work, my experience, and my talent: Writers Guild of America minimum scale for a union screenplay is $51,200 under their low budget agreement, and a nonunion screenwriter typically earns between $4,000 and $25,000 for a featue-length screenplay.  I've been an independent filmmaker for 40 years and try to be flexible for fellow indies. 

Payments

I must be paid in advance for every word I write, no exceptions. Screenplays are generally structured in three acts, and that's how I structure my pricing: I require one-third payment upfront, upon executing an agreement; one-third after completing the first act (approximately 30 pages); and one-third after completing the second act, before I begin the thir act. You are essentially paying me in avance for each act.  

Second Draft, Polish, Research

The cost of a second draft and a final polish are built into my fee; I don't offer a discount if you decide my work doesn’t require a second draft or polish. 

Commitment 

When we sign a contract, you commit to hiring me to write an entire screenplay. I don't audition and I don't write piecemeal. You must allow me to complete a first draft before requesting changes, and you must pay me for that complete draft. 

Incorporating Feedback

I may share screenwriting credit with a client, but I never actually "co-write" with anyone: I write every word myself. As a professional, my goal is to please the client, and I take feedback very seriously and defer to the client in all matters. If we disagree on a point, I will explain once why I believe my way best serves your project, and then I'll move on; debating a client is not a productive use of my time.

Ownership/Credit

The work I do for clients is work-for-hire. You retain 100% ownership of the material I write for you, but I must receive screenplay credit, either as screenwriter or co-screenwriter. If you hire additional writers, you can assign them screen credit as well, but I must still receive screenplay credit, in the first position. If you don’t wish to give me screenwriting credit, then hire me as a ghostwriter at a 20% higher rate. 

Kill Fee

You are obligated to meet all payment deadlines; if you cancel a project after I’ve commenced work my “kill fee” is 50% of whatever balance of the contracted total remains. I won’t waste your time if you don’t waste mine.

Formatting

I write in Final Draft, the industry standard. I deliver each First Draft act as a growing pdf document. Once I've completed my contracted work, I will deliver a pdf, a .dfx file, and any additional formats you request. You can only edit a .fdx file if you (or a subsequent writer you hire) have Final Draft.

DISCLAIMER: I only offer my services as a writer, editor and analyst. I make no claims as to whether the screenplay you hire me to write will be produced, which is 100% your responsibility. I'll write a professional screenplay for your project, or provide guidance for you to do so yourself. I don't introduce clients to agents, producers, development executives, stars or investors. Without a screenplay you have no project, and with a screenplay your project is just beginning.

Final Draft

I only write and edit in Final Draft, the industry standard software program. If you provide me with a draft, it should be as a .fdx file generated by Final Draft. Many other programs export Final Draft files. If you’re unable to provide a .fdx file, I'll do my best to import what you send me into FD. This almost always results in some formatting issues. If I only have to do minor cleanup work before I start the work you hired me to do, I will not charge you, but if I have to spend hours reformatting, there will be a $100 charge, and if I have to manually retype the entire draft I will charge you $300.00.

Screen Treatment

I don't write detailed screenplay treatments. They require as much creativity and problem solving as writing an actual screenplay - setting the structure - without the fun or compensation of writing an actual script. Ray Bradbury wrote a highly detailed treatment for the science fiction classic It Came from Outer Space, the studio turned around and let someone else expand it into a screenplay, and Ray never wrote another treatment again. Lesson learned.

Photo: Vernon Wells, Jeff Grennell,  Debra Lamb in Tim O'Hearn's collage for Showdown in Yesteryear, which I wrote.