How much money does a script writer earn?

Answer 1

Well between $1,200,00 and $4,000,000 for the ones that sell alot.

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Another answer:
It depends on where the scriptwriter works.

When working on a script for hire, the union rate is wildly variable. The Writer's Guild of America (WGA), with a chapter in the East and a chapter in the West offers, guidelines for writer's payments.

However, what a scriptwriter earns depends on may variables. The payments are different, depending on whether it's a film or a television production.

• If it's a film, is it a low-budget film? An independent film? A studio film?
• If it's a television production, is it a TV film? A series?
• ...and so forth.
• As well, is the work original or is this a re-write?
• A writer can be paid a percentage of the film's budget.

A different scale exists if the script is for 'new media'.

A working writer living close to areas where television and film products are made -- Los Angeles area and New York area -- can make a decent, middle-class living as a working writer. This writer is able to demonstrate a wide range and a rich mix of writing abilities, including an ability to plot, write dialog, develop characters all the while keeping a rein on production costs.

Another kind of scriptwriter writes scripts on 'spec', meaning that the writer completes a script and all its revisions, then 'shops' the script around for a production company to purchase.

A first script may earn $1,000 - $10,000, especially if the writer has not been offered membership in the WGA. Subsequent scripts can earn more.

Wildly successful writers, whose past scripts have earned multiple millions for production companies, can earn in the millions per script. Examples are Joe Eszterhas, who in 1993 earned $3,000,000 for the script, Basic Instinct -- the highest amount paid for a script at the time.


In other English-speaking countries, such as Canada, Australia and England, different unions and different guidelines apply.


In non-English-speaking countries, yet another series of guidelines will be followed.

Answer 2

The sale of a screenplay can be anywhere from $1 to well into the millions of dollars. It depends on the writer, the buyer, the quality of the work, and the purpose of the sale. If you are talking about a standard price for a screenplay, that would depend on the screenwriter belonging to a union or organization such as the WGA (Writers Guild of America) that guarantees a certain amount for a certain type of screenplay.

Hope this helps.

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Answer 3

It depends.

Much depends on the track record of the writer. Experienced, established (film) writers who write great script after great script -- Brian Helgeland, or Akiva Goldsman, for example (see links, below) -- can make hundreds of thousands per script.

First-time screenwriters are likely to make less, and depending on who buys the script, can earn within an estimated range of US$10,000 (or less) to $100,000 (or more) for the first script.

Working writers can earn a regular income working on a television series, for example, in which case, the writer earns the union scale. The Writer's Guild minimum list is available by following the link, below.

Answer 4

Since Bollywood's industries appear to be represented by unions, one could assume -- incorrectly -- that writers for its films would be treated fairly by being paid a fair wage for their work.

According to this article from 2010, that may not be the case. Read more, below.

Answer 5

A script writer can earn beteween $2,000 to $5,000 a week. Popular screen writers can command up to $100,000 to $600,000 per script.

Answer 6

Depending on where the script writer is hired, there are union minimums involved. However, earnings for any writer can best be described as uneven and unpredictable.