granitegull922 said:I will attempt to be concise and direct; Since 2004, I have been selling my 3D models through an American website. The funds land in my foreign currency checking account which I use for these transactions. I heard that due to some recent tax legislation, money is supposed to go directly into a specialized foreign currency account,so I went ahead and set one up. It was meant to transfer automatically from my checking to that account, but that hasn't happened, and I am still receiving all my payments into my foreign currency account at JP Morgan Chase. I realize that tax laws vary significantly from state to state here in the US, so right now, it looks as though a "well-meaning relative" is sending me money. My annual income is roughly $22,000. My intention is to set up an LLC, essentially employing myself so I can properly pay my taxes and social security, and I am wondering what specific steps I need to take. I know there are hundreds of different takes on this topic, but I wanted to lay out my specific situation clearly so I don't have to sift through endless threads or receive "band-aid" answers to this question. I appreciate anyone willing to lend some guidance.
That’s just how our tax code works. It's nothing out of the ordinary—kind of like running a business in the States where the money hits your business account instead of a local checking account.
James White9 said:So, basically, I can set up an LLC, and if I'm just working remotely without any client interaction, I don't actually need physical space...
You don't need a storefront, sure, but you still need a registered business address for your headquarters, just like any other company (even if it's just converting a spare room in your house).
Not necessarily. You can have your headquarters out in the middle of nowhere while actually working out of a branch office in Santa Barbara. As for the branch itself, there are certain requirements regarding square footage and equipment, though I'm not entirely sure about the rules for ground-floor units. btw, if you don't plan on seeing clients face-to-face, you could just run everything online—in that case, you wouldn't even need a physical office.
Alexander James15 said:Sure, but you won't actually see a percentage cut because that just makes things way too messy for the client. A percentage of what, exactly? You’ve got the network broadcasting the show, which is one corporation; then there's the production studio owned by a completely different company; meanwhile, the actors and directors are on the payroll of a third entity; and don't even get me started on the equipment rentals and tech crews being handled by a fourth outfit... It doesn't happen every single time, but usually, you're looking at a tangled web of different players. There are multiple revenue streams involved, some kickbacks under the table, and a whole lot of moving parts.
A percentage of the profits, obviously. For instance, if an independent production company filmed this and paid me a small fee, I’d want a cut if they happened to sell it to NBC. Or if they sold it over in Mexico. Even if they sold the licensing rights for a local remake somewhere else, I should get a piece of that. If NBC decides to run reruns later on, I'd want my share there too...
That kind of mindset works if I were planning on making this my lifelong career. Right now, I’ve just got this one product that I really need to move. It’s not even about working for peanuts or nothing at all—it’s more that if the series actually takes off, I’d want a piece of the action via some percentage.
Alexander James15 said:I’d say just try writing a single script first and see how it feels. Don't go in expecting much—there are endless ideas out there, but way more actual scripts being written, and filming doesn't happen nearly as often as you'd think. Plus, it's pretty obvious you don't have any connections in that industry yet. I remember hearing about a series on a streaming platform where writers were making maybe $100 to $150 per episode, but then there was one on a major network like NBC where they were pulling in $1,000. Honestly, the pay fluctuates wildly depending on the network, the production studio, or just how big the project is overall... From what I've seen, the writer usually isn't even on set during production, and you don't get any kind of royalties when episodes get reruns.
😲😲😲 At those rates, you might be better off just collecting plastic bottles for recycling...🙂
Chris Mitchell11 said:1) Regarding the money... look, all I can tell you for sure is what I personally made, and honestly, I'd rather not post specific numbers publicly here. 2) As for reruns or syndication deals, I really wouldn't know. I didn't negotiate any of those terms myself, and frankly, I don't make a career out of this—it was more of a side gig for me. 3) In the script, before the action actually starts, you describe things like what the characters are wearing or how the room is laid out. (And just a heads-up, shooting outdoors is always way more expensive than a studio setup, and a scene with two actors is much cheaper than one with thirty, etc.) I didn't really write long character studies; I mostly just added little notes or cues alongside the dialogue when needed. 4) Most of the time—whenever my other work wasn't getting in the way—I did show up on set. Beyond the actual filming, there's also the process of meeting with actors to help them run lines. I'm not sure what the standard industry rule is, though; I suppose it all comes down to whatever you sign in your contract. In our case, we were a small crew and we were assigned a director, so I figured it was better if I was there to guide the actors on the intended vibe rather than leaving them to guess. 🙂
But honestly, I think that’s the real secret to making a series work. 😕
Here’s what I’m struggling with: say my protagonist needs to have the exact look of Ljubomir Kerekeš in the movie "how to start a war on my island." How do you actually write that down and convey that specific vibe to someone—like a director 😕—if they haven't seen the film? 🤷
Chris Mitchell11 said:I know my way around this stuff a little bit... I actually spent some time writing sketches for a show produced externally for NBC.
My guess? Having someone else handle the script just isn't really an option, at least not when you're working through production companies. So, you're looking at either writing it all yourself or hunting down someone who’s a bit more seasoned at the craft.
After that, you're looking at negotiating with a production house and filming a pilot episode—assuming they think your pitch actually holds water—just so you have something to shop around to the major networks. I'm honestly not 100% sure who picks up the tab for the pilot production costs; I assume it's all part of the fine print in the contract, but who knows?
As for the money, it's all up for negotiation. In my experience, the payouts are decent enough, but don't expect to win the lottery overnight.
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Look, I can't exactly distill the entire art of screenwriting into three quick sentences. It’s not rocket science, though. You can always find a pro to walk you through it, and once you see a few actual scripts, the required format will start to click for you.
If there's one thing I've learned from being in the trenches, it's that when employees lose their spark and production houses start cutting corners to save a buck, the humor in the writing is usually the first thing to suffer.😢
Thanks for the quick reply. Roughly how much are we talking about here? And if a series gets picked up for syndication or sold overseas, do I get a cut? How much detail goes into a character profile? For instance, I know exactly how a character should act, but I have no idea how to actually put that down on paper. 🤷 Does the writer usually show up on set during filming?
I've been sitting on this idea for a comedy series based on true events for quite a while now. Here’s what I’m wondering about:
1. Do I just walk into a studio like Netflix or HBO, pitch the concept, and let them handle the actual scriptwriting based on my premise? 2. Or if they actually bite, am I expected to write the whole thing myself? (How does that process even work? 🤷) 3. Should I just write the pilot first and then try to shop it around? 4. And honestly, what kind of money are we talking about here?
wearyangler76 said:Looking for some insight on leasing... I’m planning on picking up a sailboat, so if anyone here is an expert on this—or even just has some advice to toss my way (how to actually secure a lease, what the terms look like, etc.)—I'd love to hear it. Is it actually worth it? If you’ve been through something similar, please feel free to reach out...
It’s worth it if you just want the easiest path to getting your sailboat. If you’re looking at this as a full-time business venture, then probably not. Having everything handled under one roof—from the payment processing to the charter management—makes life much simpler.
wiredlynx28 said:My suggestion is Diners Club The Diners Club card is a staple, offering all the classic benefits you'd expect. As a Diners Club member, you can use your card at over nine million locations worldwide while enjoying the specific perks Diners Club provides. One of the best features is definitely the free rewards program, which really sets Diners Club apart from other card issuers. Everyone in the Diners Club rewards program earns points by consistently using their card and paying off their monthly statements, which can then be redeemed for various gifts of your choice. The sign-up fee for Diners Club is $40, and the annual fee is $75. American Express is also a strong option, but the interest rates and fees tend to be higher. For American Express, the sign-up fee is $42 and the annual fee is $83. Diners Club is generally easier to get approved for.
😂😂😂 Sure, you can use it at 9 million spots, but there are plenty of others where it won't work—like at Walmart, for example.🙂 American Express doesn't get accepted in a lot of places either. If you aren't interested in reward programs or co-branded cards, you're better off just sticking with a Visa or Mastercard.
Jeffrey Sanchez7 said:For years now, I’ve been sitting in this position where I listen to a million different business ideas—checking out plenty of solid ones, but only actually pulling the trigger on a handful. The reason is pretty straightforward: most of those suggestions are honestly just garbage from almost any perspective.
I’ve actually been sitting on a few fresh concepts that I’m looking to sell. These aren't just random thoughts; they've been vetted, or at least they come with a rock-solid market strategy designed to eliminate the guesswork. Is there anyone here who would actually be interested in buying intellectual property like this? If so, what specific metrics or factors would you use to determine a fair price?
On another note, would you be open to paying a monthly subscription for a dedicated blog—written in plain English—that provides regular deep dives into these types of opportunities? If that sounds appealing, how much would you realistically pay, and what’s your preferred way to handle the transaction? Would you go with a credit card, PayPal, or something else?
Look, I know every venture carries its own set of risks, but just like a formal business plan, I would make sure all the potential pitfalls and downsides are laid out clearly upfront.
Also, zero dollars. If these ideas are truly vetted and foolproof, why aren't you just running with them yourself?
The math just doesn't work out economically. If you're only looking at the cost of the battery versus its lifespan, the unit itself ends up costing more than the actual energy it’ll ever store. It’s really just a necessary evil for places without grid access, like a remote cabin in the Catskills.
People are trying all sorts of workarounds, but none of them are actually legal. Like I said before, you can't just turn a commercial storefront into a residence. And even if you own the company, you can't just run business trips on your personal car unless you're officially on the payroll.
Living in a commercial office space is actually illegal. Technically, your company should be renting a house from you. There’s been talk about the IRS cracking down on setups like that. Besides, why would a company with zero employees need a 2,000-square-foot property? And then there's the car situation—who's driving it, and how do you justify gas expenses if nobody actually works there? Just a heads up, even under normal circumstances, you can only write off about 70% of vehicle costs anyway. You also have to deal with depreciation; a house is spread over 20 years, while a car is only 5.
59.11 Motion picture, video, and television program production 59.12 Post-production activities for motion pictures, videos, and television programs 59.13 Motion picture, video, and television program distribution