Editing Screenwriter (section)

==Salary==
Minimum salaries for union screenwriters in the US are set by the [[Writers Guild of America]]. The median compensation for a first draft from a first time screenwriter is $100,000, while the most experienced members have a median compensation of $450,000. The most experienced WGA members have reported up to $4,000,0000 compensation for a first draft. Multi-step deals, where the writer is signed on for more than the first draft (typically including a rewrite) can earn a screenwriter more, with experienced WGA members earning up to $5,000,000 for their work.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Screen Compensation Guide |url=https://www.wga.org/members/employment-resources/writers-deal-hub/screen-compensation-guide |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=www.wga.org |language=en}}</ref>

Non-union screenwriters can also work for a salary, but will typically earn less than a unionized screenwriter. Pay can vary dramatically for a non-unionized screenwriter.

===Definitions===
{{More citations needed section|date=November 2014|}}
*'''Against''': A word used to describe a script's unproduced price relative to its value if approved for production—for example, if a script is sold for $300,000, but the writer gains an extra $200,000 if it leads to production, the screenwriter's salary is described as "$300,000 against $500,000".{{citation needed|date=November 2014}}
* '''[[Option (filmmaking)|Option]]''': If a script is not purchased, it may be optioned. An option is money paid in exchange for the right (the "option") to produce—and therefore to purchase outright—a screenplay, treatment, or other work within a certain period.
* '''Feature assignment''': The writer writes the script on assignment under contract with a studio, production company, or individual.
* '''[[Pitch (filmmaking)|Pitch]]''': The writer holds a five- to twenty-minute presentation of the film to buyers in a short meeting.
* '''Rewriting''': The writer rewrites someone else's script for pay. The writer pitches their "take", much like they would an original pitch.
* '''[[Spec script]]''': Short for "speculative" or "on speculation" as in; "She wrote her script on spec". The writer writes the script (original or someone else's idea) without being paid, and, subsequently, tries to sell it.

===History===
* '''1900''': One of the U.S.'s first screenwriters, New York journalist [[Roy McCardell]], is hired to write ten scenarios (each about 90 seconds long) for $15 each ({{inflation|US|15|1900|fmt=eq}}).{{inflation-fn|US}}
* '''1949''': [[Ben Hecht]] is paid $10,000 a week (about ${{inflation|US|10000|1949|fmt=c|r=0}} in {{inflation-year|US}}).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0372942/bio|title=Ben Hecht|website=IMDb|access-date=20 December 2018}}</ref> Claims [[David O. Selznick]] paid him $3,500 a day (about ${{inflation|US|3500|1949|fmt=c|r=-2}} in {{inflation-year|US}}).
* '''1984''': [[Shane Black]] sells the screenplay to ''[[Lethal Weapon]]'' for $250,000.
* '''1990''': Kathy McWorter, who was promoted by her agent as a 21-year-old ''wunderkind'', though in fact she was 28 years old, sells her sex comedy ''The Cheese Stands Alone'' for $1&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite news |title=Screenwriters Adjust to Being Bit Players Again |date=9 December 2001 |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/09/movies/film-screenwriters-adjust-to-being-bit-players-again.html?pagewanted=2}}</ref> This was followed by nuclear-terrorist technothriller ''The Ultimatum'' by [[Laurence Dworet]] and Robert Roy Pool, and WWII action comedy ''Hell Bent... and Back!'' by [[Doug Richardson]] and [[Rick Jaffa]], both of which sold for a million dollars. None of these movies has been produced so far.
* '''1992''': [[Sherry Lansing]] is hired<ref>{{cite web |last=Lowry |first=Brian |title=Lansing in new Par pic post |url=http://variety.com/1992/film/news/lansing-in-new-par-pic-post-100695/ |website=Variety |access-date=7 June 2020 |date=5 November 1992}}</ref> to run [[Paramount Pictures|Paramount]] and spends $3.6&nbsp;million in less than a week, $2.5&nbsp;million for a two-page outline of ''[[Jade (1995 film)|Jade]]'' by [[Joe Eszterhas]],<ref>{{cite web |last=Marx |first=Andy |title='Jade' deal a $2.5 mil gem |url=http://variety.com/1992/film/news/jade-deal-a-2-5-mil-gem-100619/ |website=Variety |access-date=7 June 2020 |date=9 November 1992}}</ref> and $1.1&nbsp;million (about ${{Inflation|index=US|value=1,100,000|start_year=1992|end_year=2018|r=0|fmt=c|cursign=$}} in 2018) for the script ''[[Milk Money (film)|Milk Money]]'' by [[John Mattson]].<ref name="MiMo">{{cite web |last=Eller |first=Claudia |title=Par in 'Money' as DDLC riled |url=http://variety.com/1992/film/news/par-in-money-as-ddlc-riled-100574/ |website=Variety |access-date=7 June 2020 |date=13 November 1992}}</ref> Both deals are records, respectively, for outlines and romantic comedy specs.
* '''2005''': [[Terry Rossio]] and [[Bill Marsilii]] are paid $3&nbsp;million against $5&nbsp;million for the script of ''[[Déjà Vu (2006 film)|Déjà Vu]]''.<ref name="latimes">{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-may-16-et-writers16-story.html|title=A tale of Hollywood e-harmony|first=Chris|last=Lee|date=16 May 2005|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=20 December 2018}}</ref>

===Current records===
Some of the highest amounts paid to writers for spec screenplays:

'''$5 million:'''
* ''[[Déjà Vu (2006 film)|Déjà Vu]]'' by [[Terry Rossio]] and [[Bill Marsilii]]<ref name="latimes"/>

'''$2&nbsp;million:'''
* ''Arthur & Lancelot'' '''(unproduced)''' by [[David Dobkin (director)|David Dobkin]]<ref>{{cite web|last=Myers|first=Scott|title=Spec Script Sale: "Arthur & Lancelot"|url=http://gointothestory.blcklst.com/2011/06/spec-script-sale-king-arthur.html|publisher=Go into The Story|access-date=29 November 2012}}</ref>

'''$1&nbsp;million:'''
*''[[Milk Money (film)|Milk Money]]'' by [[John Mattson]] ($1.1&nbsp;million, outright purchase<ref name="MiMo"/>)
*''Epsilon'' '''(unproduced)''' by [[Rhett Reese]] and [[Paul Wernick]]<ref name=":0">{{cite web|last=Kit|first=Borys|title='Zombieland' Writers Sell Sci-Fi Project 'Epsilon' to Sony (Exclusive)|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/zombieland-rhett-reese-paul-wernick-sci-fi-movies-369701|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=12 September 2012 |access-date=29 November 2012}}</ref> ("Sources say the Sony deal closed in the $1 million range."<ref name=":0" />)
* ''[[The Imitation Game]]'' by [[Graham Moore (writer)|Graham Moore]], at "seven figures" to [[Warner Brothers]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2011/10/warner-bros-buys-spec-script-about-math-genius-biopic-because-leonardo-di-caprio-chasing-lead-role-181822/|title=Warner Bros Buys Spec Script About Math Genius Alan Turing For Leonardo DiCaprio|first=Nikki|last=Finke|date=12 October 2011|publisher=|access-date=20 December 2018}}</ref>