Screenplay Option Agreements – A Vehicle for the Writer to be Director

Screenplay Option Agreements are an important aspect of the movie-production process.  Many writers in independent films often want to also be the director in order to further their artistic endeavor.  However, before that process is begun the film must be financed, developed, produced, and showed. This becomes the producer’s job and the agreement between both parties is embodied in the Screenplay Option Agreement. In this type of agreement the writer agrees to complete a screenplay for a certain consideration (cash or percentage points), and Producer agrees to have the exclusive and irrevocable option to purchase Full Motion Picture Rights. This agreement is also the vehicle which can be used to give the Writer a chance to be the Director of the motion picture.  Below is a SAMPLE Screenplay Option Agreement with a clause entered into the second paragraph for the purposes of achieving a writer/director option.

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