Scriptwriting?
Copywriting?
Directing?
Curriculum Design?
Design Services?
And the list goes on, and on..
When I completed my ACTA (Advanced Certificate in Training & Assessment) in 2013, we were taught and assessed in everything from teaching ethics to curriculum design to lesson facilitation to assessment design. Everything we need to do the job properly.
However, no one taught us how to price our services or what the components involved are. Is there a market rate for reference? When and how should we deviate from the market rate? etc
Lets Talk About Scriptwriting First.
Scriptwriting is often the first line item that gets ‘lowballed’ or underestimated in a production budget.
Producers may assume that because a script is “just words,” it should be inexpensive. In reality, the script is the foundation of the entire project — the blueprint that determines tone, pacing, character arcs, staging possibilities, and ultimately the emotional impact on the audience.
Understanding how scriptwriting fees are structured helps both writers and producers plan realistically and avoid surprises later in the process.
Is There A Market Range?
For a professional scriptwriter in Singapore, the range for a full-length script (between 60 and 90 min performance) sits around S$3,000 to S$15,000. A lot depends on the writer’s experience, project complexity, and the number of drafts required.
How To Put A Price For Scriptwriting Services
Scriptwriting is not a single task; it is a multi-stage creative and analytical process. Many things need to be done, even before the writer puts his pen on paper.
- Research and Development
For scripts based on real events, organizational history, or sensitive themes, writers may spend days or weeks:
- reading archival materials
- interviewing stakeholders
- fact-checking timelines
- shaping raw information into a coherent narrative
This research phase alone can represent 20–40% of the total labour.
- Drafting and Revisions
Most professional commissions involve 3–5 drafts, each requiring:
- structural refinement
- character development
- pacing adjustments
- feedback incorporation
Each draft is essentially a rewrite, not a light edit. Producers should budget for the number of drafts they expect — more drafts mean more time and higher cost.
- Meetings and Collaboration
Scriptwriting is rarely done in isolation. Writers often attend:
- creative meetings
- production discussions
- feedback sessions
- alignment calls with directors or producers
These hours add up and are factored into the fee.
- Intellectual Property (IP)
A key cost factor is whether the writer:
- retains IP (the most common arrangement), or
- transfers IP to the client (usually 20–40% more expensive)
Retaining IP means the client is licensing the script for a specific production. Buying out IP gives the client full ownership, which increases the fee significantly.
How Should I Charge for Scriptwriting Services For SYF?
A common question I get from both schools and writers. And my answer is – from $800 to $1500, without IP transfer. IP transfers will add another 20-40%.
Hope this helps you understand some of the processes that you dont get to see.