Michael Norman Saleman: Screenplay Option Agreement

Copyright
- Chain of title satisfactory
- Application on file or to be filed
Option
- Amount for option (not purchase price)
- Length of time for first option period
- Exclusive or non-exclusive
- Territory
- Extensions
  - price
  - length of time
  - apply toward purchase price or not
Purchase Price
- amount
  - fixed vs. percentage of budget
  - contingent (back-end) compensation
Sequels
- conditions (sole credit on original movie?)
- price-usually 50% of original purchase price if sole writer of sequel
Remakes
- conditions (sole credit on original movie?)
- price-usually 1/3d of original purchase price if sole writer of remake
Television
- cable fee
- series
- Movie of the Week (m.o.w.)
Additional Writing Services
- rewrites
- polishes
- additional money or not
- expenses
- travel
Credit
- size of type
- single card or not
- story by if not sole written by
- which position if shared card with later writer (WGA)
Reversion
- how long after purchase if buyer fails to make film will writer get back the property
- turnaround payment or not
Reserved Rights
- novel
- stage
- radio
- audio book

Los Angeles
2029 Century Park East
Suite 1040
Los Angeles, CA
90067-2911
Phone: (310) 553-1600
Fax: (323) 878-0226
saleman@movielaw.net Austin
100 Congress Ave.
11th Floor
Austin, TX 78701-4099
Phone: (512) 263-5932
Fax: (512) 263-5929
saleman@movielaw.net Dallas
8235 Douglas Avenue
Suite 1111
Dallas, TX 75225
Tollfree: (888) 222-8959
Fax: (512) 263-5929
saleman@movielaw.net Nashville
Of Counsel, Paul T. Nowak, Jr
133 Holiday Court
Suite 208
Franklin (Nashville), Tennessee 37067
Tollfree: (888) 222-8959
Fax: (615) 790-1617