As for movies, many film screenwriters only earn fame but not money.

There are a large number of people known as "gunmen" lurking in the industry, most of whom are ungraduated students from film and television colleges who write scripts for some well-known screenwriters. The company usually offers these "gunmen" a price of 1ooo yuan per episode, but the works are not signed by their names. Although this price is already a lot for "newcomers", because it is a "black box operation", usually their rights and interests are not guaranteed, and it is not easy to get the manuscript fee.

Before "starting work", screenwriters will collect a deposit first, and the proportion of the deposit collected by different screenwriters in the total remuneration is also different: for big names and acquaintances, they can get a fifty percent deposit in the early stage; But most screenwriters can only get 30%, or even less 1o%.

The more detailed the time limit for the investor to pay the screenwriter's remuneration, the more initiative it has in each link, and the greater the possibility that the screenwriter will be "fired" at any time. Moreover, compared with the salary of hundreds of thousands of big stars, the return on the screenwriter's intellectual investment is a bit meager anyway. For immature scripts or screenwriters who are not "smart" enough, investors may withdraw or discard scripts at any time.

There is no screenwriters association in China, and there is no relevant law to regulate it, and the protection of intellectual property rights is also very weak, so there are cases of arrears and denials of remuneration, and the script is plagiarized. If you don't become famous, you just wait to be exploited.

Most screenwriters in the United States are affiliated with the Writers Guild.

And they are united.

Chen Tiandu previously needed to submit the abbreviated script of "Saving Private Ryan" into the script library for the record, and also paid the membership fee and registered as a member of the Screenwriters Association. His mobile phone is globally networked and powerful, and it is very easy to register a member without requiring American nationality.

In this way, it can also prevent the occurrence of some similar scripts and avoid the problem of copyright disputes. When signing a contract with a large company, there is also the backing of the association, which is very helpful for outsiders like Chen Tiandu.

The Writers Guild of America has a current contract that expires in O7.

According to this contract, the six major film companies will pay a minimum of $1.6 million for the original script, and the major TV networks will offer about $21,000 for the script for prime-time comedy and $31,000 for prime-time drama. Many screenwriters earn much more than that.

Movie scripts produced by major studios cost at least $1oo, while well-known screenwriters may earn $4oo per film. According to the League of American Film and Television Producers, the average Hollywood screenwriter earns $20,000 a year. That's high compared to the average annual income of Los Angeles residents, as well as most Americans.

Such good conditions are enough for domestic colleagues to commit suicide by hitting tofu.

However, things are all relative.

If you compare the income of American screenwriters with that of actors, directors and film and television company executives, screenwriters will be unbalanced, and then the psychology that a large salary increase is necessary, which is the direct cause of the screenwriters' strike that shocked the whole of North America a few years later.

Writers' Strike?

If this word spreads to China, many people may be blind and indifferent to their attitude, "If you strike, you will get out, so many people are waiting to eat this bowl of rice, and they are afraid that they will not find anyone." "The word strike is impossible for Chinese screenwriters to talk about at all, at most they slip away and then occupy the script.

But in the United States, that's how the Writers Guild hangs. For the sake of the overall good, as soon as the association gave the order, the screenwriters had to strike, and the entire entertainment industry was in danger of being paralyzed, and even the Oscars could be suspended.

After waking up from the hotel arranged for him by the producer the next day, he went straight to DreamWorks. He was accompanied by the supervisor arranged by the Screenwriters Guild and the contracted lawyer who was invited to support him.

After waiting for more than an hour, I was almost impatient. Spielberg didn't see it, but a middle-aged man suddenly appeared.

"Mr. Chen, my name is Robert Rodart, and I am also a screenwriter, can I ask you a few questions?"

"Nice to meet you, excuse me?"

"Forgive me for taking the plunge, you are a Chinese student, and your age looks like you are in your twenties, how can you write the story of the 6th battle of the American ** team in Normandy, and it is also a story with saving American GIs as the main line? Have you been to the U.S. before, and where did you learn about American customs? Have you been a Christian, and how many years have you been? As far as I know, Chinese people basically do not have this faith, and not many even know Jehovah. Your society loves your country very much, but you wrote a story about an American soldier who loves the United States very much? Is there an archetype for this story or is it purely apocryphal? It's all weird, and the strangest thing is that you're so young. Please answer me. ”

The atmosphere in the room suddenly froze a little, this was obviously a big bully, and Maiko, a staff member of the Screenwriters Association, hesitated, but still didn't speak.

Chen Tiandu shook his black charcoal-like eyebrows and smiled from beginning to end.

Robert Rodart? I said how is this name a little familiar, isn't this the original creator of the script of "Saving Private Ryan", could it be that Li Kui met Li Ghost? The speculation was immediately denied.

He turned his head to look at the young lawyer, "Lawyer Downey, do I have to answer all kinds of questions from the studio?" ”

"Look at your mood sir, because the script has not been signed until now, and you are the sole owner of the script. After signing the contract, the producer can ask the screenwriter to make changes to the script. Donnie smiled.

Robert suddenly said angrily: "What do you mean by this, don't you dare to answer my question?" Or is it that the script was not written by you at all. ”

Chen Tiandu also restrained his smile, shook his finger and said, "This gentleman, you have the right to ask, and I have the right to choose whether to answer or not." If you suspect that my script is plagiarism, then you can resort to legal means, as long as you can find a script similar to mine from the Screenwriters Guild and sue me, then, you win. ”

"As far as I know, Mr. Spielberg's plans for a new film were announced to the media in advance before I arrived in the United States. I'm confused as to how they can make a movie if I don't sign a buyout agreement online that doesn't have legal benefits. ”

Robert was stunned for a moment, wanting to be angry and worried, and suddenly his face turned red, and he looked constipated. The two people who followed the scene also looked at Chen Tiandu in surprise, but they didn't expect Chen Tiandu, a Chinese, to be treated so toughly when he first arrived.

Chen Tiandu's words were not finished, "I'm curious, with what mentality and what identity are you so arrogant to question me." I'm sorry if I'm asking this on behalf of DreamWorks, because I don't want to sell you the script I've worked so hard to write. The deal will be broken down, and I will refund the cost of the hotel stay. If you're questioning me personally, then I don't want to talk to you. Let me guess what name you'll end up choosing? The former or the latter. ”

"You ......" Robert was there, as if he had been greatly wronged and angry.

Chen Tiandu's face also turned cold, "I've waited for so long and no one has come over, it seems that the big guys in DreamWorks are very busy today." Mr. Maiko, maybe the jet lag hasn't been reversed, I need to go back and rest for a few days, I'm sorry for you to run for nothing today, let's come back at another time later? ”

Maiko is a staff member sent by the Screenwriters Guild, and theoretically he should be on Chen Tiandu's side. But that's just the theory.

Maike frowned and said, "Mr. Chen, your behavior is very bad, after all, we agreed to sign the contract today, and we must be punctual." Punctuality is a must-have quality for a gentleman, isn't it. DreamWorks is a big company, and it can be a hassle to change the time, and you have an agreement before. ”

"Ho~~"

Chen Tiandu suddenly laughed, "Lawyer Downey, can I ask the association to change a staff member?" ”

Donnie looked at him with some surprise and smiled, "Yes, sir." I am your lawyer, and you can come to me if you need to protect your reputation. As long as you have money, even if the defendant is the Writers Guild and DreamWorks, I can win the lawsuit. ”

"You're a good lawyer, and we'll work together again." Chen Tiandu shook hands with him with a smile, put on his coat and walked straight out, "Money is power, right is order, order is beauty." I love this place! ”

Panicked shouts suddenly came from behind him.

Chen Tiandu really left, and he went to the bank to handle some personal affairs.

As soon as he came, he was dismounted, but the American's way is too rough and he hasn't learned it yet, so he doesn't eat it.

"It seems that the road ahead is not easy, and there are still many places to use money." A total of 168,000 US dollars, this is almost all his belongings.

This time he came to the United States, he applied for a work visa, and the longest stay was only one year, but he still had a lot to do. It would be much more convenient if you could get half a green card. Many people have a misunderstanding of the green card, and getting a green card does not mean that you are an American, but just a permanent residence card. In recent years, there has been an immigration boom in China, and the rich and powerful have gone abroad, and a green card is still very valuable.

"Hey, let's take one step at a time. If you go back like this, I'm afraid that I will be ridiculed to death by Kong Yiji. ”

He wasn't wandering around Los Angeles, he wasn't that in the mood. Writing and drawing in a hotel room, time flies.

It was just night, and Toby Hawkins' phone called.

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