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As screenwriters, we all care about the craft of screenwriting and share a love of storytelling. While some people might chalk screenwriting up to a job full of daydreaming and imagining, we know it takes serious work and dedication. Like with any other job, screenwriters deserve fair compensation for their work! So today, let's talk numbers! Specifically, let's get into how much a writer can expect to be paid for selling one of their scripts.
How much do Amazon and Netflix pay for scripts? Keep reading to find out!
It's important to remember that the price paid for a script could differ significantly depending on all sorts of things, including a writer's expertise, the type of project, and the production's budget. Another thing to consider is that many script sales are multi-step deals, meaning the writer will get a check at each stage of writing and rewriting.
Over 90% of Amazon and Netflix's past screenplay deals were multi-step. The Writer's Guild of America (WGA) has set minimums protecting writers by guaranteeing the lowest amount a writer can receive on single-step or multi-step deals. Check out the WGA's Schedule Of Minimums For more information on minimums.
When selling a script to a major streaming service like Amazon or Netflix, here are some general facts to give you an idea of what you can expect.
How much does Amazon pay for a script?
The WGA reports that the median pay for a screenplay deal with Amazon in the past was $300,000, and the highest salary was reported as $5,000,000.
Rewrite deals are the second most common screenwriting for traditional studios and streaming platforms. Regarding rewrites, Amazon paid a median salary of $105,000, with the highest pay totaling $300,000.
Like other streaming platforms, Amazon has become known for investing a lot of money into high-profile projects. Amazon paid $250,000,000 for the rights to produce content based on J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings novels. They then reportedly spent over $700,000,000 making the first season of Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power!
As you can see, the price Amazon pays can differ significantly. The script's genre, the type of project, and the writer's experience level can all play into how much Amazon is willing to pay.
How much will Netflix pay for a script?
The WGA reports that the median total pay for a screenplay deal with Netflix was $375,000, and the highest salary was reported as $4,000,000.
As for rewrite deals, Netflix paid a median of $150,000, and the highest pay totaled $1,600,000.
When the WGA looked at both Amazon and Netflix's script deals, they found that Netflix generally pays more. Again, the pay depends on the genre, the writer's experience level, and the type of project.
Both Amazon and Netflix pay more for experience
When looking at both Amazon and Netflix, the WGA reported that writers with previous credits made more money.
The median guaranteed salary for writers with no prior screen credits was $250,000, with the highest reported salary being $1 million. Writers with one or more screen credits received a median salary of $400,000 and a maximum reported salary of $2,250,000. Writers with two or more screen credits received a median salary of $450,000 and a maximum reported salary of $5,000,000.
Regarding rewrite deals, the WGA found that Amazon and Netflix paid writers with no prior credits a median of $95,000, with the highest pay being $350,000. Writers with prior experience made a median of $250,000, with the highest pay being $1,600,000.
Does Amazon Studios accept unsolicited scripts?
Since the closing of the open submission program, Amazon does not accept unsolicited scripts.
Amazon Studios used to have a portal that allowed writers to submit unsolicited scripts, but unfortunately, it was shut down in 2018.
To get your script to Amazon Studios, you will have to team up with a literary agent, entertainment attorney, manager, or producer who has a relationship with Amazon.
Does Netflix accept unsolicited scripts?
Like Amazon Studios, Netflix also does not accept unsolicited scripts. A literary agent, entertainment attorney, manager, or producer with a relationship with Netflix must submit a script on a writer's behalf.
Netflix and Amazon generally pay fairly for scripts and per WGA standards. Remember that specific circumstances can sway those numbers, but the WGA ensures a figure through their Schedule of Minimums that writers are guaranteed to get paid. Learning about the financial side of the industry is incredibly important for writers, so I hope today's blog sheds some light on script salaries!
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