[Afamilyatwar-list] TV Drama costs

[john at johnfinch.com]

Re your query about costs of drama production my contract with Granada 
includes a clause prohibiting me from revealing information about the 
company while under contract to them. (I was never employed on staff but 
was always freelance<)  However, at this distance in time I don't think 
I am revealing any secrets with a few comparative items which applied to 
me (I cannot, of course, speak for others).  My first Coronation Street 
script in 1960 was £100 for the thirty minute script.  Roughly ten years 
later I was pAID £2000 for my first sc ript (one hour) for A FAMILY AT 
WAR. Just prior to this m y budget as producer of a one hour play was   
£3000 which covered 2 actors and studio costs,   This was exceptional: 
it was all I had left in the budget for the last of a series of six 
plays which included Granada's first all film play.   I was only an 
occasional producer.  Ideally you would need to speak to a regular 
producer,   I would say that cast, scenery and film were the major 
items.  The Writer's Guild have claimed that average earnings for a 
writer in television are currently in the region of £12,500 pa.

Sorry I can't be more helpful.  Costs vary widely, of course, but are 
considerably influenced by the script,