Would you end a friendship for fortune?

[Stackys]

Say you wrote something. Whilst doing so a friend wanted to get involved so wrote a scene for your story. You both loved it. You submitted the whole story. You are then told that your story will be published with film rights if you get rid of the one scene your mate wrote. Basically you will become rich, your mate won’t and the friendship will be over.

WWYD

(Theoretical of course)

I kind of think the friend was jumping on the bandwagon. You had the idea, wrote the screenplay and sourced the producer. It's a bit like someone writing one verse for Ed Sheeran's first song that was then cut by the record company. Would they be entitled to the royalties for that song given that they didn't actually write any of it? I'd say deffo no.

Blimey, I'm a bit surprised at all these comments about how little friends are worth

In this scenario the friendship is being throw away for a LOT not a little.

I think a lot of people would give up a friend for a fortune.

Yes, everyone has to work out their own list to balance against the individual friendship.

I don't have any friends I like that much. Maybe if I did, I'd think about it more but as it is, I'd cut it in a heartbeat.

House, education, holidays, alpaca, financial security, boat, children's financial security....

I have all those things without the money from the imaginary publishing deal, just through my regular employment. Even the alpaca. Luckily, my best friend owns an alpaca farm.

I'd cut the scene, take the money, and offer my friend a percentage.

If friend was part of the creative process you could still pay and credit them even if the scene was cut. Not 50:50 obv but if you are going to make a fortune then why wouldn't you share a bit.

If you told the friend that they said the story would be sold with film rights if they cut their scene.......and your friend didn't tell you to cut it and enjoy your rewards then they would be a shit friend!

I wouldn’t let a friend write a scene for me in case I needed to cut it!

Cut the scene —is they can’t ask for a share of profits—

Cut the scene, and go your own way. I wouldn't let anyone into my own writings and talented endeavours.. in never ends well.

Just say the editor didn't think it gelled with the rest so they cut it, then, since it's more valuable than money, take said friend as plus one to any networking opportunities that might come off the back of your success. Its the insult to their work/bitterness that they don't get the same shot that is the thing to avoid, and this would help.

Why would your friend say the friendship was over?! That's so childish.
It's not about 'taking the money', it's about you working hard and being successful.
Your friend should be pleased for you, whilst a bit gutted for themselves.

Cut the scene. All my friends would understand, if they didn’t they were not worth having. I would understand if it was the other way around and be happy regardless for them.

I'd take the money, a friendship isn't going to give you financial security.

Having said that, the friendship would probably be over before I got rich, as I would have refused to allow them to get involved.

I'd prob give them something if i made that much money...why not?! If i won the lotttery I wouldn't dump my friends, i'd give them a bit before i bugger off to costa rica!

I’d cut the scene but still offer my friend some financial recompense for their original contribution to the whole, while making clear that it hadn’t been my decision.

I don’t think that would end the friendship. It would take a hugely petty and self-absorbed person to expect you to turn down an offer like that for the sake of preserving the ego of another adult.

House, education, holidays, alpaca, financial security, boat, children's financial security....

Alpaca?

Cut the scene, give friend a percentage based on their small contribution.

A true friend wouldn’t force you to miss out due to their ego.

Cut it and treat friend. If friend is true it will be ok. If not then you’ve lost nothing as they weren’t a true friend.

Agree with @FiligreePot, if your friend loved you they wouldn't let their ego get in the way of such a big opportunity.

I would discuss with friend (as in - this is what's been offered to me, and this is what I'm going to do) and then give them a small percentage or treat them to something special (after you've been paid though, an upfront promise could set a high expectation that you might not be able to meet?).

Although, if the scene the friend wrote in any way guided the direction of the following scenes, or general story then maybe an agreed payment of ~5% of your profits might be reasonable?

If your friend falls out with you for going ahead with it then that's on them I think?

This is nonsense.

Unless you’re one of about 5 authors in the country, you aren’t getting a fortune.
And it would be unheard of for the deletion of one scene to be the deal breaker re: publication.
And what does “published with film rights” even mean? Published and optioned for film development before publication (becoming increasingly common), but you wouldn’t tend to have film rights agreed before you had a book deal in place...

Sorry there’s too much wrong with this scenario technically, can’t get past it to the emotional meat of the “dilemma”

@WorkinWomansBlues

This is nonsense.

Unless you’re one of about 5 authors in the country, you aren’t getting a fortune.
And it would be unheard of for the deletion of one scene to be the deal breaker re: publication.
And what does “published with film rights” even mean? Published and optioned for film development before publication (becoming increasingly common), but you wouldn’t tend to have film rights agreed before you had a book deal in place...

Sorry there’s too much wrong with this scenario technically, can’t get past it to the emotional meat of the “dilemma”

Yup. Also films change loads of scenes!

@WorkinWomansBlues

It's just a hypothetical situation. No need to worry about the ins and outs. It's a simple "what would you do" scenario.