I went self-employed in May this year and although things have been tight on the money front work opportunities have started to come through the door, to the point where I get at least one email every second day enquiring about the availability of my short film scripts, or my help in some way.
While I was trying to establish myself as a self-employed writer, I was happy to let directors have my scripts for a writing credit and a DVD copy of the finished film, but work has been piling up to such an extent I felt I could no longer afford to do this. I have a pregnant wife, a dog and a three-year-old boy to support, as well as a bad Xbox habit....I can handle it....honest!
I had an email this morning from a director asking if I had any new short scripts, ones that weren't on my website. I didn't so I wrote back to the lady concerned and said I was happy to write one for her on spec, but that I would have to charge her for it. If there was a script on my site she was interested in then I might have been inclined to let her have it for nothing, but as writing a new one would involve some work from me, I decided that now was the time to start charging for my services. I fully expect never to hear from the director again, but it's a chance I have to take if I am to be a success as a freelance writer. I don't want to have to go back to full-time work...it would kill me....seriously!
So right now I'm wondering if I've done the right thing? Should I relent and start doing work again for free? But I know I can't really, it would be a backward step, one I am not prepared to take. Scary times.
Wish me luck.
8 comments:
Hi Dom,
I'm interested to hear why you say 'female' director. If it had been a male director would you have said 'male director' or just director?
Good luck with the freelancing - stressful on the pocket but you can't put a price on following your dreams.
Yes, if it had been a male director I would have written it the same. Did I sound like I was charging her just because she was female? I hope not, it wasn't my intention to be sexist, I was just adding additional information.
no doll it didn't sound like anything - just wondering why you said female director rather than director.
Changed it now anyway ;-)
ok lol. i didn't mean to make you paranoid! :)
You cannot keep writing for free, you must know your worth and stick to it. Failing that, a part time job perhaps to establish a modicum of security?
Very best of luck to you, either way it's a brave decision.
Hey dom,
Firstly i must say what your doing is absolutely the best thing to do. Its admirable that youve taken this step, though tough initially I am certain it will give great results, There is a shortage of great scripts and your right in charging for them. The world is full of people who want free lunches, dont get sucked back into that. Having said that I am genunely interested in "buying" a good script idea to make a short film. Would sure like to discuss this further and also a rough idea of what you would charge.
Cheers
Trishla
Hi Trish, if you go to the top right of my blog you'll see my website address, on there you'll find a page called WRITING on which you can look at samples. My email address is also the webpage for you to contact me directly.
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