negative pickup

Getting nothing on the backend with a negative pickup is what unestablished or very small budget directors and producers negotiate to get their foot in the door--not people who are making a movie starring Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis, immediately on the heels of a movie that got two oscar nominations.

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What all those films have in common is a “negative pickup” structure modeled (in aggregate) on Blumhouse, which similarly empowers sub-brand-name directors with wide creative latitude and pumps out horror on a shoestring budget, selling finished cinematic product to studios for a fixed sum and splitting net profits.

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The negative pickup deal in film represents a unique agreement. In which independent producers and studios enter into contracts. Stating that at a certain date, the studio will pay a specified amount to the producer for the negatives of the film.

What is a Negative Pickup Deal in Film? Shannon 2025