WGA schedule of units/credits

Screenwriting books Buy Screenwriting Books SCHEDULE OF UNITS OF CREDIT for WGA SCREENWRITERS

Two Screenwriting Units
For each complete week of employment within the Guild's jurisdiction on a week-to-week basis.

Three Screenwriting Units
Story for a radio or television program less than 30 minutes shall be prorated in increments of 10 minutes or less.

Four Screenwriting Units
Story for a short subject theatrical motion picture of any length or for a radio or television program or breakdown for a non-primetime serial 30 minutes through 60 minutes.

Six Screenwriting Units
Teleplay or radio play less than 30 minutes shall be prorated in 5-minute increments; Television format for a new serial or series; “Created By” credit given pursuant to the separation of rights provisions of the WGA Theatrical and Television Basic Agreement in addition to other units accrued for the literary material on which the “Created By” credit is based.

Eight Screenwriting Units
Story for a radio or television program or breakdown for a non-primetime serial more than 60 minutes and less than 90 minutes; Screenplay for a short subject theatrical motion picture or for a radio play or teleplay 30 minutes through 60 minutes.

12 Screenwriting Units
Story for a radio or television program 90 minutes or longer or story for a feature-length theatrical motion picture; or breakdown for a non-primetime serial 90 minutes or longer. Radio play or teleplay more than 60 minutes and less than 90 minutes.

24 Screenwriting Units
Screenplay for a feature-length theatrical motion picture; radio play or teleplay 90 minutes or longer; Long-term story projection, which is defined for this purpose as a bible, for a specified term, on an existing, five times per week non-prime time serial; Bible for any television serial or primetime miniseries of at least four hours.

A Script Rewrite
One-half the number of units allotted to the applicable category of work.

A Script Polish
One-quarter the number of units allotted to the applicable category of work.

A Script Option
One-half the number of units allotted to the applicable category of work subject to a maximum entitlement of eight such units per project in any one year. An extension or renewal of the same option shall not be accorded additional units. If an option on previously unexploited literary material is exercised, the sale of this material is accorded the number of units applicable to the work minus the number of units accorded to the option of the same material.
( http://www.wga.org/subpage_whoweare.aspx?id=84, June 21st 2006)

Script Coverage: screenplay analysis

Screenplay coverage, script coverage, story analysis

A screenplay coverage report is a three to five page report on your script/movie, which is filed by film and production companies and literary agencies when your screenplay is submitted. Hollywood interns and assistants, or other wannabe screenwriters acting as independent contractors, are the ones doing the reading and script coverage, not agents and producers.

The script coverage report contains a 1 – 3 page story synopsis and a page or two of personal notes. Screenplays are rated with a system evaluating story, style, character, script format, dialogue, concept and marketability. Each script will gain a “pass” (rejection), “consider” or “recommend.” Because no one wants to look like an idiot in the film industry, it is rare that a script is recommended. It's gotta be better than great. It needs to be a sure fire blockbuster or have stars, directors or money attached.

It’s a system to condense material. The problem is that it could be anyone who is evaluating your creative material. If that reader doesn’t relate to, understand, or simply despises your subject matter in your screenplay, you are bound to get a negative review. But who said the world was fair? The film world is not fair at all.

But you can still use script coverage samples to market yourself and your screenplay to agents, producers or investors. There are screenwriting consultants who provide this coverage service and or analysis ranging from $300. You can use the coverage in your query letters when trying to sale a screenplay, for investment packages and to tack onto the top of your script when you submit it to ensure that agencies and production companies have an existing screenplay report to read.

Buy The Bare Bones Book of Screenwriting at amazon.com to get a crash course on the basics of the screenwriting trade, from story, format to business and selling.

The Spec Script: how to write a movie

THE SPEC SCRIPT: how to write and sell a screenplay

A spec script is the term given to a script written on the speculation that the movie screenplay will sell. To be blunt, the spec script game is like playing the lottery. There are millions of specs floating around offices and mailrooms. Even a proven writer, actor, director and producer will have a tough time raising money for their own spec scripts. Let that soak in, then think about all the no-namers and beginners trying to compete with them! This is just the reality of the business.

There are a lot of stories about script writers selling their spec scripts for 250 thousand to a few million dollars, but this is extremely rare. I stress, this is extremely rare. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t shoot for the stars, but you should focus more energy on the concept of building a career rather than selling your one-shot script so you can retire.

Look at your first few spec screenplays first as learning tools, second as marketing tools. These spec scripts are your calling cards. An agent will want to see 2 or 3 before even considering representing your screenplays or you as a work for hire screenwriter.

How to Register your Screenplay with the WGA: screenwriting Advise/Help/Copywriting

REGISTER WITH THE WRITER’S GUILD OF AMERICA (www.wga.org) Screenwriting Protection

Aside from copyrighting your screenplay with the Library of Congress, it’s a good idea to register your script with the WGA, a guild designed solely for the purpose of helping screenwriters and protecting screenplay intellectual property rights. You can utilize the script registration process on their website even if you are not a professional screenwriter's guild member.

If you are a screenwriter and live east of the Mississippi register your story, outline, treatment, screenplay/material with the WGA East. If you are a screenwriter and live west of the Mississippi register your material with the WGA West. If you live on the Mississippi river… I don’t know what to tell you. But I’m sure you’ve got a great story to tell, and Hollywood will love to read it one day... if your scriptwriting format and conventions of the screenplay are industry standard. (for formatting advise buy The Bare Bones Book of Screenwriting at Amazon and screenwriting software.)

You can mail in a hardcopy of your final draft screenplay or do the process online at the www.wga.org website. The cost is $20 for non-guild members and $10 for screenwriter guild members in good standing. Script registration is valid for a term of five years.

Re-writing Process for Screenwriters

Re-writing process for screenwriters: re-writing the screenplay

So you’ve spent months, maybe years on your feature screenplay and now it’s time to get it out into the big bad world. Earnest Hemmingway once said, "All first drafts are shit"

Follow these steps before you hack into your re-write:

• Take a few weeks off from the script. Don’t touch it,
don’t even look at it or think about it. Regain a fresh perspective. Let your fingers heal. Go back into the sunlight.

• Let 3 to 5 people (other than mom) read the script and then listen to their feedback. Do not get defensive. Take things with a grain of salt. But if 3 out of 3 readers say the same thing about your screenplay, you’d be a fool not to take note.

• When you start rewriting your script focus on specific elements during each pass through the script: on one pass focus only on your characters, on another pass focus only on story structure, on another pass focus only on dialogue, on another pass focus only on screenplay format and grammar, etc. This will hone your energies for specific problems.

• Cut, cut, and cut the fat. Typically, a first draft screenplay will run 120 to 150 pages and should be slimmed down to 90 to 120 pages by the second draft. William Goldman has said, “You must cut your darlings.” Get your knife and saw the fat before you serve the steak. A well trimmed screenplay coming in at 90 pages takes 30 minutes less to read than a 120 page screenplay - which means you've got a better shot at someone getting through the damn thing.

Format: Screenplay Conventions: Screenplay writing format rules, conventions, techniques

Screenplay writing format rules, conventions, techniques, books

Screenplays look a certain way. The sheer volume of professional Hollywood script submissions makes it so that if your feature or television screenplay looks strange or unprofessional, it's headed for the dumpster.

A scriptwriter has to adhere to conventions and form of standard script format. If you are wealthy and financing the film yourself, your screenplay can look any way you want. But remember, the film's cast and crew need a professionally written screenplay by, who they believe, is a pro writer, to work off - and for good reason: scheduling, budgeting, creating and organization aspects that make a film production run smoothly and constructively. It stats with the screenplay - the blueprint for storytelling.

The basic screenplay conventions:

Paper dimensions; margins: Use 8 1/2" x 11" white 3-hole punched paper. Page numbers on the screenplay appear in the upper right hand corner. Do not number the cover page of your script. The top and bottom margins are between 0.5" and 1". The left margin is between 1.2" and 1.6". The right margin is between 0.5" and 1". Don’t use special paper, just standard old white printing paper. Margins are already set up on writing software like Final Draft Screenwriting Software program.

Font and size: Courier, 12 pt. This is used for timing the screenplay purposes. One script page should equal one minute of screen time. Don’t use fancy fonts. Don’t use large or small text. Great screenplays look simple and professional.

Binding: Only use brass brads to bind a screenplay. The standard Hollywood film industry practice is to use two brads: one at the top, one at the bottom of the screenplay—even though there are three holes. The reason/myth is because an executive will usually remove the brads when reading a feature film script to flip pages easily. You can usually find brads for screenplays at office supply stores. If not you can order them online from an online screenwriting store or get them at a local copy shop. Or, ask a fellow screenwriter aiming for the contests, agents and producers like yourself. Just ensure any screenwriter partnerships or friendships, that their writing talent compliments your style, tone and strengths. There's a lot of hacks, or novice screenwriters who don't understand story, format or conventions of visual story telling in movies.

Screenplay cover page/title page: DO NOT get fancy here. No artwork. No special covers. No glossy paper. Nothing. It will stand out, yes, but it will also signal that your screenplay sucks. So unless you’re Terry Gillian or Pablo Picasso, don’t be artsy.

The movie title itself: The title to your screenplay should be center page in Bold, 12 to 14 font. Beneath the film's title should be the words “written by” followed by the screenwriter's name. If the story is by another screenwriter, that information should be included by writing “story by” and then the author’s name. The bottom left hand corner contains your name and contact information. The bottom right hand corner contains your WGA(Writer's Guild of America) registration number. That’s it. Keep it simple stupid(KISS). Scriptwriting formatting software will have title templates built in.

Script length: A typical professional screenplay runs 90 to 120 pages. Horror scripts and feature film comedy scripts can run short, while drama feature screenplays tend to run longer. Once you get over 130 pages, you’re in the danger zone. No executive reader, analyst, producer, actor or assistant likes a heavy script. Anywhere around 100 pages is a good length for a first time screenwriter writing their first feature length screenplay. We’ll talk about why in my book "The Bare Bones Book of Screenwriting" available at Amazon, Barnes and Nobles.com or special order it at your local bookstore in the film/cinema section.

In the meantime read more screenwriting books to learn more about script format, screenplay rules, tips, tricks, rules and strategies for correct format, polished clean feel, fast reading screenplay.

If you have bad screenwriting format skills, you need to do two things: first read screenwriting books on format, and two: buy scriptwriting software like Final Draft, which makes formatting simple and easy, at an affordable price. But education on how to write a movie should be obtained through classes, books, TV, seminars, reading screenplays, workshops and studying film scripts already produced, as well as shooting scripts.

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