S5 would fall under this forumla, since it was produced for basic cable:
2 - 5 (paid in 1 payment) 43.2%
6 5.0%
7, 8, 9, 10 3.0% each
11, 12 2.0% each
13+ 1.0% each
As you can see, unless you write a
lot of television episodes, you're not going to get rich on residuals.
There is also another formula for residuals which can come into play when a show is sold into reruns on basic cable (which includes Sci-Fi on TNT.) These residual payments are based on the per-episode fee paid to the studio:
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In September 1999, the series is sold to basic cable for a license fee of $25,000 per episode. The Company receives the entire license fee on September 30, 1999. A residual of $500, 2% of the license fee, is due to Writer A within 60 days of the end of the quarter in which the Company receives payment. Since the quarter ends September 30, 1999, payment is due to Writer A on or before November 30, 1999.
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The example is based on a writer selling a single episode to a network prime-time series in 1998.
</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
I don't know what the percentages refer to, the original payment made for the script?
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I'm pretty sure that's not it. They either refer to the WGAw Minimum Basic Agreement
minimums for the type of show and the market, or else to something called the "residual base" which is calculated from the initial payment the writer receives, by a formula I've never understood. /forums/images/icons/smile.gif An example given at the WGA website shows a residual base of $18,182 for a television script originally sold for $27,444. The percentages above would then (presumably) apply to that $18,182.
Regards,
Joe
