Hiring a writer is not just a creative decision — it is a rights, ownership, and delivery decision. More indie films run into distribution problems because of bad writing agreements than almost any other paperwork mistake.
This Writer Agreement (Indie Standard) is built for real productions — not theory, not film school exercises, and not one-size-fits-all templates. It is designed to cover every common writing engagement on an independent project, including original screenplays, adaptations, treatment-to-screenplay services, rewrites, polishes, and script revisions.
Unlike generic “screenplay contracts,” this agreement is structured to work whether your writer is union or non-union, paid upfront, deferred, or participating in backend compensation. It includes proper work-for-hire language, fallback copyright assignments, and clear credit treatment — the exact provisions distributors, financiers, and E&O insurers expect to see during chain-of-title review.
This is the agreement indie producers use when they want their project to be taken seriously.
What Filmmakers Get Wrong About Writer Agreements
After reviewing hundreds of independent productions, these issues come up again and again:
1. Assuming a script purchase alone transfers rights
Payment without a signed work-for-hire agreement does not give you ownership of the screenplay.
2. Ignoring rewrite and polish ownership
If revisions aren’t clearly covered, later drafts can belong to the writer — not the production.
3. Mixing union and non-union writers without proper language
This creates WGA exposure and delivery issues if the contract isn’t structured correctly.
4. Leaving payment terms vague or conditional
Unclear payment schedules and deferred compensation clauses are a common source of disputes.
5. Forgetting loan-out companies
If a writer works through a loan-out, the agreement must bind both the individual and the company.
6. Using outdated contracts that don’t address AI
In 2026, agreements that ignore AI usage create real legal risk.
Why This Agreement Solves Those Problems
This is not a stock actor release or fill-in-the-blank form.
This Writer Agreement is designed to adapt to your project and includes:
- Clear work-for-hire ownership with copyright assignment backup
- Coverage for original scripts, adaptations, rewrites, and polishes
- Multiple payment structures (flat fee, installments, weekly, deferred, backend)
- Optional gross or net profit participation with audit rights
- WGA-compliant language when applicable
- Proper loan-out company provisions with guarantees
- Credit treatment aligned with industry standards
- Confidentiality, warranties, and indemnities required for distribution
- Forward-looking AI provisions that protect both writer and producer
This agreement is built to survive success — whether your micro-budget film stays small or breaks out.
FAQ
A writer agreement defines ownership, compensation, credit, and delivery obligations for screenplay and script services. Without it, the writer may retain copyright in the work.
Yes. Distributors, sales agents, and insurers require written proof that the production owns the screenplay.
Yes. The agreement includes language that defers to the WGA Minimum Basic Agreement where applicable.
Yes. The agreement explicitly covers rewrites, revisions, and polish services so ownership stays with the production.
Yes. It includes provisions governing AI-generated material, authorship, and training restrictions consistent with current industry standards.
