What is the One Time Series Sale Bonus from WGA?

Writers get paid different figures based on the type of script they’ve prepared, the agreement made between the writer and the client. And various other individual details pertinent to the situation. The Writer’s Guild of America (WGA) provides screenwriters with specific benefits for completing and selling a script. Especially when the script is purchased by a WGA signatory producer. These payments are represented as script payments, production fees, episodic fees. And occasionally a one time series sale bonus WGA members benefit from.

But what do all of these different allocations of payment and bonuses mean?

Types of Payments for Scripts

Screenwriters are paid for their work in a variety of different ways. The types of payments that are paid out for the scripts prepared by a screenwriter will depend largely on the type of production that the screenplay represents. As well as the individual details of the project. 

Common types of writer payments for scripts include:

• Pilot script fees.
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• Pilot production fees.
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• Episodic fees.
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• Series sale bonus.

The rate of payments also depended on the following:

• The length of the show.
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• Whether the film is for a feature film or television show.
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• Whether the film is a pilot, first series, or T.V. show.
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• Where the film will be broadcast via. 

Various Types

As you can see there are many different types of payment that can be provided to a screenwriter. Based largely on the type of screenplay that is produced with a one time series sale bonus from WGA. But what is the one time series sale bonus, exactly?

What is the One Time Series Sale Bonus?

As you can see, the one time series sale bonus represents an annual bonus payment that is paid out to, “New writers working on one of their first jobs. The medium for a first draft screenplay is $100K and the maximum award or bonus is $300K which also represents a one-step deal.”

Because the one time series sales bonus for WGA members is prepared for those who do not have screen credit. As well as for those who have worked in minimal roles in television or filmmaking in the past without credit, few deals are established for those with a previous one-step deal.

The Takeaway

So, what is the one time series sales bonus for WGA writers? It’s a one-time bonus that is provided to writers that are producing their first series as soon as the pilot is approved and a series is planned.

The one time series sales bonus from WGA represents a special, upfront bonus that is only provided in the event that a television episode pilot makes the cut and is scheduled to become a series.