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Burying The Truth produced... (currently 5598 views)
screenrider
Posted: July 22nd, 2010, 9:52pm
Guest User
Here's the proper and professional way to get a script on SS. Robert Coppa of Red Bandit Productions posted the thread below a couple weeks ago seeking scripts. And not to brag, but he chose a script I submitted to him entitled, "Trustworthy".
Upon selecting it he asked that I sign an Exclusivity Agreement. I consulted with Michael Cornetto to see if it was legit because I've never dealt with something like this before. Turns out it's a real deal. And wah-lah...everybody's happy.
I personally agree with the message as it currently stands. One can drone on all one likes about the legalities of intellectual property theft, much like movie studios drone on about illegal piracy. What it is at least equally important for these aspiring filmmakers to understand as the fact that intellectual property theft makes you a criminal is that it makes you a straight-up, flat-out douche. There's a whole personal level to taking a script without permission that the laws don't really address, and that's that if you're the kind of person who will steal a script, you're a huge douche, and your career will go poorly for you because nobody likes a douche.
If they're going to get called on being douches, it should be now.
But:
Congrats, Zack! What could be cooler for a writer? Not just one interpretation, but a bunch. That's about the most helpful thing that could ever happen for a scriptwriter. Awesome!
I'm not going to watch them because film students suck, but I hope they were valuable to you.
edit - if Jon or anyone has any suggestions on how to better temper the message, please let me know.
Michael, he asked. I just gave my opinion. I think this site is a huge step above any other script writing forum. I don't think "douchebag" is a way to attract new, maybe timid, producers or writers.
Furthermore, it doesn't even seem like Zack wanted anybody to take on this battle for him. He's happy. It should be his job to go off if anyone.
Michael, he asked. I just gave my opinion. I think this site is a huge step above any other script writing forum. I don't think "douchebag" is a way to attract new, maybe timid, producers or writers.
Furthermore, it doesn't even seem like Zack wanted anybody to take on this battle for him. He's happy. It should be his job to go off if anyone.
James
Ah! But you forget that Don is a screenwriter - just like all of us - and as such he has his own strong feelings about these sorts of things. On top of that, this is his site, as far as he is concerned someone stole something from his site. I can understand him saying it was a douche move (he didn't call them a douchebag as far as I can see).
Michael, he asked. I just gave my opinion. I think this site is a huge step above any other script writing forum. I don't think "douchebag" is a way to attract new, maybe timid, producers or writers.
Furthermore, it doesn't even seem like Zack wanted anybody to take on this battle for him. He's happy. It should be his job to go off if anyone.
James
Jame,
You have a good point. Zack didn't ask me to take this on and as I state in the submission section, protection of your work is your responsibility. I should have asked Zack first. Normaly, I don't do this, but it does/did bother me when it was a class devoted to film making did this. I firmly believe that the instructor should include getting permission to use a script should be taught in class.
Quoted from mcornetto
Ah! But you forget that Don is a screenwriter - just like all of us - and as such he has his own strong feelings about these sorts of things. On top of that, this is his site, as far as he is concerned someone stole something from his site. I can understand him saying it was a douche move (he didn't call them a douchebag as far as I can see).
Michael
Michael,
Yes, I called the behavior douche, not the persons involved.
What if you were to provide a "generic Script Acquisition contract" on the main page that prospective Producers could download in PDF and send to the writer, then have the writer sign and send back -- thus giving a clear message of the proper way to acquire a script from your site?
Here's an altered SAC that I signed with Red Bandit Productions.
Script Acquisition Contract Exclusive Rights Agreement
I, WRITER’S NAME, on DATE, agree to PRODUCER’S NAME (hereinafter referred to as "SO&SO FILMS") owning exclusive rights to my script known as, SCRIPT NAME, for the purpose for producing as a short film. WRITER further certifies that he has not entered into any other such agreement with any other party that will infringe upon the rights hereto granted to "SO&SO FILMS” by the terms of this agreement.
WRITER also acknowledges as fact that, until setting his pen to this agreement, that he controls the full rights to SCRIPT NAME and does not share control or obligation with any other party. WRITER will be issued an opening title credit and whatever else agreed upon, blah-blah.
WRITER agrees that “SO&SO FILMS” has the right to adapt the title, dialogue and scene settings based on regional ethos and resource limitations.
It is understood that with the signatures below, "SO&SO FILMS" has acquired the exclusive right to direct, film, edit, produce, and promote the film known as “SCRIPT NAME without any restriction whatsoever as long as "SO&SO FILMS" fulfills the contractual obligations agreed hereto.
It is further agreed by both “SO&SO FILMS” and WRITER that this agreement will expire if “SO&SO FILMS” does not begin production within ( ) months of signing this contract.
_______________________________ [WRITER]
_________________________________ [DATE]
_________________________ [FULLNAME]
_________________________ [DATE]
It kinda came out funky but you get the point. Take something like this and make the necessary adjustments.
To quote Cristopher Plummer (Mike Wallace) from The Insider: "I'm with Don on this one."
I thought Don expressed himself quite eloquently. I don't really consider using the term "douche" as either hostile or offensive when you consider the context of the message. Personally I would've gone for much harsher language - which is why it's probably a good idea that Don wrote that entry and not me.
I like Mike's SAC example though I'm personally not crazy about the "exclusive rights" paragraph.
Down in the hole / Jesus tries to crack a smile / Beneath another shovel load
Michael, I wasn't trying to 'censor' anyone. Don't be a douche.
And Don - appreciate your response. I see the post has changed now, and I think it reads a whole lot better. Obviously we - and I - appreciate all the work you put in, and please don't think I'm looking over your shoulder or anything like that. This recent spate of script thefts (which, after all, is what it is) needs a response, and as the site continues to grow it's probably only going to become more of a problem.
Although ultimately, Zack seems pretty chuffed by all this! Which just goes to show that you can always find a silver lining.
I'm not going to watch them because film students suck, but I hope they were valuable to you.
Whoops! That does sound unreasonable.
I'm an (ex-) film student who lives with a bunch of (ex-) film students so I am generally (ex-self-) deprecating about them -- I've seen more student films than I ever needed to see in my life. I do think that film students are often taught to focus on the wrong things about filmmaking, and given the often very dangerous impression that they are more qualified for their jobs than they actually are. That's bad. I also think they are usually given a strong base knowledge about film. That's good. The Frogurt is also cursed...that's bad.
I'm a fairly new visitor to these boards. I've had a screenplay posted, but by no means is it my first and I've been writing screenplays since 2001.
But I think after the movie "Kick-Ass" the hostile nature and wording (i.e. douche move) is fair, and might actually wake that class' instructor up (I hope). But I do understand the fear of drawing prospective readers, buyers, etc away.
I did watch all the different versions and tried to follow the script and was at a loss with the GVSU I&S class that not only did they use the script without permission, none of them stayed true to the script. Of course you may not be word for word or action for action when filming for a number of reasons, but you should do your best to stay as close as possible.
Now time for me to add a screenplay or two of mine to the short film section.
Zack how do you find all these films? Do you just google the title and find it or what?
I just spent about an hour on google, youtube and vimeo trying to find anyone who had filmed my shorts without my permission. So far, I haven't found anything, but I'm wondering if I'm just not doing the right thing. This really is something that can happen to anyone.