Below the line

[dohope]

Thanks for your help, Don.

Don W.

[ScriptNurse]

Traditionally, a season is 13 episodes, but that's seldom the case any more. I would specifically ask how many episodes have been ordered.

[dohope]

I just about decided to back off with this one. However, I think that what has been asked for will help me with the learning process so I plan to follow through on their requests as much as possible for my own personal benefit. They also want me to include a character arc and plot arc (to me this means some sort of a summary) as well. Which raises a question. A normal season consists of how many scripts? 

I'm beginning to think that I'm a simple soul and all this is way too much to handle.

[ScriptNurse]

I think I would want to know why they think a production budget by the writer that wrote the story has any credibility. How many of these have they done before? Can you research them? How many projects before yours have they done?

[dohope]

Thanks Don,

I couldn't agree with you more... Beginning to wonder if this is a company I can work with. Too bad for they seem to like what I have to offer.

Don W.

[ScriptNurse]

A "below the line" budget is a production budget. Writers don't do them. Production managers do. It is not the responsibility of the writer to do the production company's work for them ... (1) you don't know how they do business, (2) you don't know how they like to shoot their projects, and (3) the accuracy of the budget for a project written by the screenwriter would be of dubious value. In other words, the chances that you would be waaaay off the mark are incredibly high.

Now, if you're doing a co-production deal, then it might be very different.

So ... what to do?

Got a film school near you? See if a senior year film student can help you. Make a deal ... when you get paid, he gets paid. Maybe he could get class credit for doing it? Talk to the film department at the closest college that has one. A professor just might happen to know someone who could help you out.

[dohope]

Hi Don,
Congratulations on the progress of your screenplay! What a great ensemble you're putting together.

Here's my present dilemma: I'm in communication with a production media company that requires the following:
A Screenplay - Fine
A Synopsis - Of Course
A Log Line - Can Do
A below the line budget breakdown - Say What?! 
How in the world can I afford to hire a professional to do that? Are there people out there that are willing to write one at a minimal rate? If so, I would sure like to know one that I can work with. What do you advise?

Thanks,

Don Woodcock