Hello, everyone!
I uploaded a screenplay to SimplyScripts a year or so ago, and randomly got the following email this past month:

Hi Lewis,

I'm just writing to let you I read your 124-page screenplay, Escapist, and really enjoyed it. I found it online on SimplyScripts:

http://www.simplyscripts.com/scripts/Escapist-ByLewisHiigel.pdf

I really enjoyed the characters and plot. It'd be cool to see it filmed! Or even adapted to a novel. In any case, thought I'd let you know. I hope to read more from you in the future!


Best wishes,


Michelle Barrett

At first it seemed innocent enough, and I appreciated that somebody read and liked the script (even though it was an older, terrible draft).  However, I quickly noticed that the only thing the email actually said about the script was the page count.  Everything else was super generic.  So, erring on the side of caution, I decided not to reply in case it was spam or a phishing scam.

Three days later, Michelle wrote again:

I should be thanking you for writing it, Lewis. ! I'm not a writer. I'm a housewife but a voracious reader and fan of screenplays and novels. I love the escape from reality they offer. I do have some friends who are in the industry. They actually got me into reading more. I've read a lot of scripts where the dialogue isn’t anything like someone would actually speak. Among other things, I think you did a really good job with the dialogue. Characters are key. That much I know. It came off natural and with personality. That's awesome. I wish you continued success! I'll definitely check out any other works you're involved in. Have a wonderful week!

Best wishes,


Michelle Barrett

So far, so similar.  This seems even more shady, as she continues to talk about the script without actually talking about the script.  I'm curious, wondering what the deal is and what is trying to be gained through this communication.  Once again, I ignore it.

Finally, I received an email today:

Hi Lewis,

I was talking to my friend John about your work the other day and he really liked what I had to say. We went to school together. He’s a professional screenwriter and novelist who also helps market manuscripts. He said I could share you this big list of producers and financiers you can market your scripts to. They're always looking for new material. He just asks that you don't post it online or sell it: LINK OMITTED

Best wishes,

Michelle Barrett

All in all, my BS meter is off the freaking charts with these.  Out of curiosity, my wife followed the link to the file in question using a dummy dropbox account on her phone:  It was an excel spreadsheet filled with lists of studios, organized by what they accepted from whom (e.g., 'accepts query letters/scripts from unproduced, unrepresented writers').  It was a lot of information, and at no point was there any pitch for a service or fee.

What I'm really trying to find out is: has anybody else received communication like this?  If so, what did you do / do you know what the deal is with it?

I still have not responded to the email, and still do not intend to.  What are your guys' thoughts?

Many thanks and best regards,

- Lewis

Hey Lewis,

Received something similar but not too detail as yours. Actually exchanged a couple of emails with her just thanking her and offering to read something of hers(didn�t know what she wanted at the time). But it at the end it came down to John lol. I declined and wished her best on her endeavors. And communication has stopped since. She didn�t send link though lol.

I say ignore it.

Gabe

Thanks for the info!  It definitely helps.  I've already blocked the contact, so I don't expect to receive any further communication.

Yeah. I’ve gotten the EXACT same email by the same woman. Twice, but the first was months ago usin a different name basically, I think she’s just writing to sell this other guy’s services. Whatever they may be. I forgot exactly what it was. Just ignore.  

Steve

Scam

Michelle is probably John.


I notice that a lot of scammers like to use female names. Sometimes they may even come up with pretty-looking avatars. I suppose it's down to how stupid/desperate some men are when it comes to female attention.

Quite funny though. I’d be tempted to play along. Waste the time of the timewaster.

I’ve had some interesting chats with phishing scammers that way.

I got the same set a while ago. The writer mistakenly signed one email Jennifer Barrett instead of Michelle Barrett. It's the John guy trying to sucker people for sure.

I got the same exact letters verbatim, well except for my name and the title of the script.
It was from Michelle Barrett.

Got the same thing. Verbatim.


James.

I got a similar email back in September from someone calling herself Judy Barrett, at first just complimenting me on a script. I politely thanked her, then she wrote back suggesting I turn it into a novel. I told her I preferred the performing arts and pointed out the script had already been produced. She then referred me to a guy named John Halas at http://ScreenwritersForHire.Com and http://FictionGhostwriter.Com to help me turn it into a novel. I stopped responding to her at that point.

I don’t know if it’s a phishing scam or just a script consultant trying to drum up clients, but it’s definitely someone trying to take advantage of writers.

Yeah, I received the same, didn't reply until the third email I think. By then it was obvious she was hawking services for this John guy, or as someone said above, perhaps Michelle is John in a Philip K. Dick sort of way.  I thanked her/him/it and that was that, haven't followed up the links she/he/it sent.

I received the same, so clearly it's designed to promote John's services, which may or not be any good...

But, the free excel sheet of Producer contacts is worth having, save a lot of investigating on IMDB.

So I'd suggest playing along to that point

Just got one:

Hi Henry,

I'm just writing to let you I read your 6-page screenplay, The Shortest Distance, and really enjoyed it. I found it online on SimplyScripts:

http://www.simplyscripts.com/scripts/TheShortestDistance.pdf

I really liked the characters and plot. It'd be cool to see it filmed! Or expanded to a TV show or movie. In any case, thought I'd let you know. I hope to read more from you in the future!

Best wishes,


Michelle Jennifer Barrett

Woke up to the exact same email this morning regarding Truth or Dare. Sent it to the trash.

Yep, me too.

Least she's 'not the porn star' though... Made a point to let me know that. Has now added her middle name to differentiate.

Appears she does not follow these forums...

C'mon, at least be honest about what you're spruiking.  

P.S. I also just received the follow up email, prob cause I didn't respond to the first.

Quoted from LC Least she's 'not the porn star' though...

- Ha, I'm (sort of) ashamed to admit this was the first thing I thought of when I received her first email.  

I sent John/Michelle a link to this very thread two weeks ago to show him that he’s been exposed on the site and that hopefully he would piss off, but apparently he’s persistent in stupidity.


Did some research on this guy and found a bad review of one of his several script service companies where he chimes in to defend himself. Him and the original poster started correcting each other’s grammar in the replies. Quite the childish crap I would only expect myself to engage in. Funny stuff.

James

I haven’t received this email.

I FEEL LEFT OUT!  

Don’t worry Frank. It’s a great club to be in!

Copy/paste Michelle doesn't give up easy. Not sure what she's aiming for though.


I should be thanking you for writing it, Pia! I'm not a writer. I'm also not the porn star who shares my name. That's just a very unfortunate coincidence and why I use my middle name.

I do have a voracious appetite for screenplays and novels though. I love the escape from reality they offer. My friends in the industry got me interested in reading scripts. Although I’m not on social media, between my research and their suggestions, I always have something to read.

I've read a lot of scripts where the dialogue isn’t anything like someone would actually speak. Among other things, I think you did a really good job with the dialogue. Characters are key. That much I know. It came off natural and with personality. That's awesome. I wish you continued success! I'll definitely check out any other works you're involved in. Have a wonderful week!

Best wishes,


Michelle Jennifer Barrett

Howzit, folks.

Just want to chime in with my own experience with the illustrious John/Michelle...

Same emails, same chain, same information... I started to think it was fishy after the second reply, but what I'm actually wondering is: is the list of companies legit? Seems like a useful compilation to have handy, even if it came from a self-serving source?

Phil

I too have received emails from the lady who isn't a porn star.

Quoted from Grandma Bear Copy/paste Michelle doesn't give up easy. Not sure what she's aiming for though. I should be thanking you for writing it, Pia! I'm not a writer. I'm also not the porn star who shares my name. That's just a very unfortunate coincidence and why I use my middle name. I do have a voracious appetite for screenplays and novels though. I love the escape from reality they offer. My friends in the industry got me interested in reading scripts. Although I’m not on social media, between my research and their suggestions, I always have something to read. I've read a lot of scripts where the dialogue isn’t anything like someone would actually speak. Among other things, I think you did a really good job with the dialogue. Characters are key. That much I know. It came off natural and with personality. That's awesome. I wish you continued success! I'll definitely check out any other works you're involved in. Have a wonderful week! Best wishes, Michelle Jennifer Barrett

Working on a new script:

Title:  Porn To Run

Logline: In order to protect her unsullied reputation, a famous porn star poses as a struggling screenwriter in order to ensnare a con artist who's using the Star's good name as part of a scam preying on the hopes and dreams of struggling writers.

Based on a True Story.

Quoted from FrankM I haven’t received this email. I FEEL LEFT OUT!

Me too. WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME?? AM I NOT WORTH SCAMMING??

Got this exact same e-mail.

Quoted Text Hi Andrew, I'm just writing to let you I read your 12-page screenplay, Smile, and really enjoyed it. I found it online on SimplyScripts: http://www.simplyscripts.com/scripts/Smile-Lightfood.pdf I really liked the characters and plot. It'd be cool to see it filmed! Or expanded to a movie or TV show or even adapted into a novel. In any case, thought I'd let you know. I hope to read more from you in the future! Best wishes, Michelle Jennifer Barrett

Same. Told me she's not the porn star (Never heard of her) and sent me a list of  names that I'm not supposed to share online. I've saved it my own dropbox.

All fun and games until we all happened to give this John person a bad review on his screenplay and this is the beginning of the end for all of us..

Put another notch on the bedpost for me.

Michelle has struck again!

-Jordan

...or is this REALLY Jordan?

DUN Dun dun!!!

Quoted from Jean-Pierre Chapoteau Same. Told me she's not the porn star...

I pretended I had missed that detail.  Told her I was a big fan of her work, too.

Asked her to send me some photos.

i got that same email as well

Total SCAM.

she also sent me a link to a dropbox that was supposedly a Hollywood directory of filmmakers looking to make scripts from amateurs or some nonsense ...
did anyone actually download that link and see what's in it?

I found her shady and decided not to touch it.

I got the same set of emails for one of my scripts. I was suspicious as she said she actually liked it. Knew something was up at that point.