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My name is Scott Kessler and I used to a pretty regular fixture on this board. Some of you know me, some of you don't. In any case, that's not important. About a year ago I started playing an online Hollywood simulation/writing game called That Movie Game.
As of yesterday, it was brought to my attention (along with everyone else in the game) that a relatively new player calling himself "MICHAEL NICKS" has been passing off a number of scripts stolen from this site as his own.
The stolen scripts are:
The Arizona Monstrosity by Damian Sanders (retitled as "Arizona") Airframe by Maurice S. Devaraj (retitled as "Airport '06: Airframe") The Amazing Spider-man by Guy M. Derritt Minds of Corruption by Michael Schwimmer
TMG's co-admin, Corey Fryia, just happened to be reading this site when he noticed The Arizona Monstrosity and the similarities. "Michael Nicks" has since been banned from our site. I have no idea what name he uses here (or if he just trolls looking to steal other people's work without being a member) but if he shows up using that name (or something like it) WATCH OUT! He may use another name, but I know for a fact that's 17 years old and lives in Oklahoma, so that may help to identify him.
Just thought I'd give you all a head's up.
Later! FSK
FS (Scott) Kessler "Get excited Motherf**ker!" - Rocco in The Boondock Saints
It looks like he chose stuff by people who aren't regulars. I don't recognize any of those authors as regulars on the board. Just trying to get away with something, so he's not going to chose something by Phil or Bert or me or anyone else who would be more immediately recognizable or widely read.
"What? I'm sorry. What was this? Helio? Can someone explain...?
Phil"
Hey Phil, how could you say I’m a fella hard to understand? I’m not offended, but I'm surprised.
Where did see hamburgers and neurotic bull-eye exposing their feelings honestly around there, huh? Just in my stories. I’m an easy reading fella, Phil, a democratic one. Most of boys or girls from the high school can understand my stories. I say the same about the nursery children. All of them love my stories about camels, crazy fugitives, suspicious old ladies, bible men and playful dogs as well. So, I’m sane screenwriter sailing on this sea of nuts around there, Phil. I'm a Saint Exupery of my time. I'm a Cervantes...I'm God in vacation in South America!!!!
Remember that guy, LiveWire4QWK? The guy with the 'war-in-the-supermarket' contest? He still visits these boards regularly, though just to lurk. He was on just yesterday, in fact.
I joined The Movie Game a while ago. I haven't played it yet, but I joined it. It does look like a fun and useful online community. There's a similar game called Hollywood The Game which I tried to play a while ago. But when all of the virtual TV networks were trying to get their grimy paws on my show, I learned that a rule of that game -- so that everyone can be on an equal playing feild -- is that half-hour virtual shows can only be seven minutes in length on Hollywood The Game. It'd be ludicrus to have to show people my "baby" in that butchered manner. Yes, it's extra exposure, but I don't want to compromise art for exposure. Writing is art, and anyone who doesn't view writing as art has the right to have and maintain their wrong opinion. The Movie Game doesn't have that ludicrus "seven minute rule." So based on my not too thourough examinations of Hollywood The Game and The Movie Game, I'd pick The Movie Game as the one to try if you want to try that sort of thing. But a good way to avoid having people steal work is to support only the best sites. Don't support a new site unless its goals are totally compatible with your own. Keep the variety of online communities on a specific topic down to a self-policable level. It's safer to post your unproduced script to simplyscripts than to any other site because simplyscripts is a more established community where people will vouch for you. I love you guys :*
Yes, Alan, writing is art. But entertainment is business. Talk about two entities that regularly don't see eye to eye but must co-exist in order for one to support the other.
It's safer to post your unproduced script to simplyscripts than to any other site because simplyscripts is a more established community where people will vouch for you.
Wouldn't you just love to see somebody lift a script off here and produce it -- without giving proper credit?
Can you imagine all the indignant loudmouths around here -- all lining up one after the other -- to testify on behalf of the rightful author?
What if it was stolen by Eli Roth -- no, wait -- by Uwe Boll?
Now there is an idea for a "SimplyScript" that has yet to be written....
Hey Scott, I was wondering what happened to you. Thanks for giving us the heads-up on this guy.
I remember not too long ago someone took one of the scripts from this site. He changed the title, and changed around a couple of simple words here and there, but left the story, and the actual action in the scenes the same, then this kid had the guts to post it as his own work... Oh, gawd...
Well, that person got busted real quick, and I do mean real quick. I wonder if it was the same kid?
Cindy
Award winning screenwriter Available screenplays TINA DARLING - 114 page Comedy ONLY OSCAR KNOWS - 99 page Horror A SONG IN MY HEART - 94 page Drama HALLOWEEN GAMES - 105 page Drama
Michael Nicks posted his stolen stuff under the name (you guessed it) "Michael Nicks".
Although I've emailed him and Instant Messaged him since, he never responded, so I gave up.
He hasn't (to anyone's knowledge) returned. Corey Fryia (TMG Admin) has banned his ISP and IP so he won't be returning anytime soon to TMG. As for here...
There's no telling. He obviously thought no one would notice.
Thanks!
FS (Scott) Kessler "Get excited Motherf**ker!" - Rocco in The Boondock Saints