What should I pay for short story rights?

Contributed by Glen Berry

I'm interested in getting rights to make a short film based on a short story. I have no distribution in mind, only that it would make a good short drama. The author is deceased and the story is published in several anthologies.

I'm interested in an approach that will cost the least, but I have no idea what the norm is for this kind of thing.

I once approached a publisher about another story. They would not set an amount and I didn't know what was the norm or the best way to structure the deal and I dropped it. This time I want it.

There is no normal asking price for the rights to use a short story. The reason why the publisher wouldn't set an amount was because they don't know what its worth and wanted you to make an offer.

Short films have never been money-makers so there isn't really much promise of monetary return for you or them. If they don't understand this, I'd make it quite clear. I would pitch them the idea of letting you use the story in return for some good PR for the author, story and/or publishing house. A short film like this is really a promotional piece that will benefit them, I wouldn't pay them a dime for the option rights.

Berry is the founder of the Northwest Film School and the creator of Film Underground, a popular and successful network of Moviemaking web sites that includes Cyber Film School.

A former member of the Whatcom Film Association Board of Directors, he also has twice served as the director of the Northwest Projections Film Festival. An award-winning filmmaker, Berry specializes in post production and is currently employed as an editor and post production supervisor on professional independent productions. Berry has written for “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Filmmaking,” “MovieMaker Magazine,” Cyberfilmschool.com and Filmfestivals.com. He also has served as an expert source for international newspaper and radio media outlets.

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