Working with a Director/Co-Writer
I'm working with a director on adapting his original idea into a feature script. Originally I was brought on as a co-writer, but he hasn't written anything except for an outline. I finished the first draft (99 pages) despite several concerns I'd raised re: the plot, characters, etc. He's now seeing the issues and we've gone back to the drawing board.
I've taken on a much more hands on role with developing the story now, and he's yet to write a single script page. I'm expected to complete another full draft based upon this completely different outline (same concept, different everything else.) Maybe 10% of the script is salvageable. He's very insistent that this film is about HIS vision, which is totally fine by me. The problem is that my input has blurred the lines of whose vision this actually is.
I'm a visual writer by nature but I'm not a director. He wants me to write like a director with his very specific vision in mind. I don't see how that is possible. I also have been trying to tell him that scripts aren't meant to be directorial in the first place, but he's consistently said that he doesn't trust readers to see his vision without being obvious about it and scripts are just a "necessary evil" to him.
I told him I can do my best but it'd be easier if I just did my version of the script and he can adapt it into his voice on his pass. I don't want to quit because we compliment one another well when it comes to individual talents. We've already found some success together as well. I just feel like I'm being asked to meet unreasonable expectations while also being severely under-credited.
For those of you who have experienced something similar - how did it pan out? Any advice on how to move forward, or how to broach the subject of renegotiating credits?