Independent Film Producing

Chapter 3

The Script: Option and Development

TIME TO DO THE PAPERWORK

Let’s get a few things straight right away. You may be thinking, “I don’t really need to read this part because I am optioning my friend’s script.” Or you are saying, “It’s my sister’s script, for heaven’s sake; I’m not going to ask her to sign an option, she’s family.” I don’t care whose script it is – you have to do the paperwork. It’s a business, right? Do the paperwork. Also, people can get really weird about their baby, “the screenplay.” I made that mistake early on with a very close friend of mine. She was the nicest, sweetest woman – very trustworthy. The minute we started to get solid interest in the script from some of the big production companies, the writer wanted ...