Now here's a peculiar situation that has come op...

One of my short subjects (Potentials) has been picked up several times for production without any success and I've kind of given up on it. However, last night I received quite a surprising email.

Someone contacted me, saying that they had produced a significantly altered version of it and even gave me a YouTube link to the finished product. Now, I don't want to sound like a whiner, of course I am flattered that someone took the time to produce something I've originated, but I'm not too happy about them doing so without permission and making such radical changes without at least running them by me, even if I don't have any final say on them.

So, what should I do so that I don't appear like an asshole but that would make the inappropriateness of the situation known?

Hey Henrik,

Is the finished product really good?
Can it get you some attention in the marketplace?
Are you given proper credit?

If those answers are yes, then I'd smile and start networking.

If it's merely sucktastic... then yeah, I'd say a little chiding is in order.
But if they're looking at making money, get legal advice and add more chiding IMHO.

E.D.

Quoted from Electric Dreamer Is the finished product really good?

Well... it's passable.

Quoted from Electric Dreamer Can it get you some attention in the marketplace?

When hell freezes over.

Quoted from Electric Dreamer Are you given proper credit?

That I am.

My real concern is that this might blow the deal for future if someone wants to make an exclusive deal (which has happened to me a couple of times), since I can no longer provide it.

You should tell him exactly how you feel about it.   And you should add on that you reserve the right to have him pull it down from the internet if you broker an exclusive deal for the script.  

If he wants to be a filmmaker he needs to learn to request the use of a script.  

Unfortunately these things happen quite often. Luckily you were given credit - which is not always the case. Personally I think you should write him and thank him for his interest in your script, and let him know that while you're flattered you do not appreciate him not asking you for permission. No need to go ballistic. Yet.

Can we see it?

I did contact the director and fortunately we ended up having a very courteous discussion about it and we did settle the matter in good form. The person in question is a student, not even a film student apparently and simply did not know the proper way to handle the issue at the time.

You may indeed see it. I'll make a separate thread for the film itself.

Quoted from Pii I did contact the director and fortunately we ended up having a very courteous discussion about it and we did settle the matter in good form. The person in question is a student, not even a film student apparently and simply did not know the proper way to handle the issue at the time.

Sounds much more amicable than going with the "wronged" approach.
Communication is the enemy of ignorance!
Since you handled yourself like a professional...
Hopefully something else good for you will come out of this.

Regards,
E.D.