SimplyScripts Discussion Board
Blog Home - Produced Movie Script Library - TV Scripts - Unproduced Scripts - Contact - Site Map
ScriptSearch
Welcome, Guest.
It is March 28th, 2024, 8:28am
Please login or register.
Was Portal Recent Posts Home Help Calendar Search Register Login
Please do read the guidelines that govern behavior on the discussion board. It will make for a much more pleasant experience for everyone. A word about SimplyScripts and Censorship


Produced Script Database (Updated!)
One Week Challenge - Who Wrote What and Writers' Choice.


Scripts studios are posting for award consideration

Short Script of the Day | Featured Script of the Month | Featured Short Scripts Available for Production
Submit Your Script

How do I get my film's link and banner here?
All screenplays on the simplyscripts.com and simplyscripts.net domain are copyrighted to their respective authors. All rights reserved. This screenplaymay not be used or reproduced for any purpose including educational purposes without the expressed written permission of the author.
Forum Login
Username: Create a new Account
Password:     Forgot Password

SimplyScripts Screenwriting Discussion Board    General Boards    Questions or Comments  ›  Hi, I'm new.
Users Browsing Forum
No Members and 4 Guests

 Pages: 1, 2 : All
Recommend Print
  Author    Hi, I'm new.  (currently 2408 views)
Glenda
Posted: April 22nd, 2010, 9:02am Report to Moderator
New


Posts
6
Posts Per Day
0.00
Hi everyone, I've been lurking and learning from all of you for a while now. But, now I have a question..

For years I was sending my scripts to an agency in LA who was looking for writers.. I was of course looking for an agent. In Jan 2005 I submitted a finished script to the readers. I received the same response as all my previous scripts: "It's great. We love it! But it's just not what we're looking for right now."

In Sept 2007 a movie was released that followed the bones of that 2005 script. Of course, a few scenes were changed and they did some adding and ommitting to make it look like theirs, but I know in my gut that this is my project.  What sucks is the movie did quite well at the box office. That's the real crime.

My question is What do I do? Should I find a copyright lawyer? It's going to be hard to prove as I'm in GA and they filmed in NY. Or, should I just let it go?

I always knew that to get started as a serious writer I would have to give a script away, but I wanted it to be my choice and my terms.

Any advise is appreciated..

Glenda  
Logged Offline
Private Message
dogglebe
Posted: April 22nd, 2010, 9:14am Report to Moderator
Guest User



Get yourself a copyright lawyer, Glenda.  While it's easy for any of us to shout, "Sue the bastards!" both scripts will have to be read side by side to say how similar they actually are.  Having similar storylines isn't enough.

Good luck with that.


Phil
Logged
e-mail Reply: 1 - 15
Colkurtz8
Posted: April 22nd, 2010, 9:41am Report to Moderator
Old Timer



Location
--> Over There
Posts
1731
Posts Per Day
0.30
It seems you're yet another victim in a recent spate of similar claims.

While I completely sympathise with your anger and frustration, Glenda, I can't help wondering why it’s taken you this long to act on it given that the film was released in 2007?

What was the name of the film by the way?


Logged Offline
Private Message Reply: 2 - 15
Glenda
Posted: April 22nd, 2010, 10:18am Report to Moderator
New


Posts
6
Posts Per Day
0.00
Thanks Jeff... I've been looking around for a copyright lawyer for a while without much luck. It looks like I'll have to expand my search to another state.

colkurtz8, I'm not so much angry as I am disappointed in the agency and yes I've been pondering what to do since I went to the theatre to see the movie. It's easy to tell you guys that my work was "borrowed" by another writer, but filing a law suit and proving it in court is another thing. This legal stuff is greek to me and I don't have a boat load of money to put up.

In my mind I've been trying to figure out what they did, how they did it (in the front door and out the back?) and here's the big one, Did they think that no one (me) would notice?

the name of the film is The Brave One.

Logged Offline
Private Message Reply: 3 - 15
dogglebe
Posted: April 22nd, 2010, 10:30am Report to Moderator
Guest User



If you can't find a copyright lawyer, then ask any lawyer for a reference.


Phil
Logged
e-mail Reply: 4 - 15
Grandma Bear
Posted: April 22nd, 2010, 10:40am Report to Moderator
Administrator



Location
The Swamp...
Posts
7961
Posts Per Day
1.36
Didn't you copyright or at least register the script with the WGA before sending it out to agents?


Logged
Private Message Reply: 5 - 15
Glenda
Posted: April 22nd, 2010, 10:43am Report to Moderator
New


Posts
6
Posts Per Day
0.00
yes, I have the copyright.
Logged Offline
Private Message Reply: 6 - 15
bert
Posted: April 22nd, 2010, 10:44am Report to Moderator
Administrator


Buy the ticket, take the ride

Location
That's me in the corner
Posts
4232
Posts Per Day
0.61
The script is here on the boards:

http://www.simplyscripts.com/b.html

You should give it a look and compare to yours for similarities.

I guarantee you that is what any judge is going to do.


Hey, it's my tiny, little IMDb!

Revision History (1 edits)
bert  -  April 22nd, 2010, 10:58am
Logged
Private Message Reply: 7 - 15
Grandma Bear
Posted: April 22nd, 2010, 10:47am Report to Moderator
Administrator



Location
The Swamp...
Posts
7961
Posts Per Day
1.36

Quoted from Glenda
yes, I have the copyright.


Then there shouldn't be a problem on your part as long as the date is earlier than when you sent it to the agent.


Logged
Private Message Reply: 8 - 15
Glenda
Posted: April 22nd, 2010, 12:00pm Report to Moderator
New


Posts
6
Posts Per Day
0.00
Bert, yes, I'm familiar with the script... I've read it countless times. Seen the movie more than that.
Logged Offline
Private Message Reply: 9 - 15
dresseme
Posted: April 22nd, 2010, 1:18pm Report to Moderator
Guest User



Above just comparing the scripts, you need to prove that it was reasonable feasible that it would have ended up in front of the agent.

I looked up the writers of "The Brave One" and the agent representing them is Matt Leipzig of Original Artists and their Manager is Susana Zepeda of Principal Entertainment.

Did you send it to either of them and do you have a record of it?
Logged
e-mail Reply: 10 - 15
Glenda
Posted: April 22nd, 2010, 1:38pm Report to Moderator
New


Posts
6
Posts Per Day
0.00
Hi,

No I sent my script to an independent agency in LA that I had worked with for years. They have proof of receipt and I have my records as well.
Logged Offline
Private Message Reply: 11 - 15
dresseme
Posted: April 22nd, 2010, 1:41pm Report to Moderator
Guest User




Quoted from Glenda

No I sent my script to an independent agency in LA that I had worked with for years. They have proof of receipt and I have my records as well.


Like I said, I could be wrong, but I think you need to be able to show how it could have gotten into their possession.  For example, in the Dodgeball case posted on this site awhile back, the guy was able to prove that it was reasonable that his script, which was submitted to the agency that the writer of Dodgeball worked at, would have been easily able to get into his hands, as he was a reader at that agency.

How would you argue that it made its way to either Original Artists or Principal Entertainment?
Logged
e-mail Reply: 12 - 15
Glenda
Posted: April 22nd, 2010, 2:26pm Report to Moderator
New


Posts
6
Posts Per Day
0.00
I agree and that's the million dollar question. In my gut I know this is my work, but common sense tells me it would be difficult to impossible to prove, being I wasn't there and I don't know who touches/reads my work once it arrives.  
Logged Offline
Private Message Reply: 13 - 15
dogglebe
Posted: April 22nd, 2010, 3:05pm Report to Moderator
Guest User



Before you see a lawyer, Glenda, get a hard copy of each script and go over them side-by side and line-by-line.  Highlight what is close to your work in one color and highlight what is copied word for word in a second color. It'll save you time and money with the lawyer.


Phil
Logged
e-mail Reply: 14 - 15
JCShadow
Posted: April 23rd, 2010, 10:27am Report to Moderator
New



Posts
94
Posts Per Day
0.02

Quoted from Glenda
Hi,

No I sent my script to an independent agency in LA that I had worked with for years. They have proof of receipt and I have my records as well.


I would say that right there might be your biggest problem. If there is no way to connect that agency with the movie you will have a hard time proving anything.

Also it is not uncommon for similar ideas and themes to pop up in movies. That same year there were several similar revenge themed flicks. Another one was "Death Sentence", swapping genders for the lead role.

I have countless times had to dig into my story drawer and throw away stuff because I just watched it happen before my eyes on the big screen. A couple times I have even had a real, "What the F***!" moment, but sometimes it happens. If you thought of something, chances are high that someone else has too.

However, if you are seeing a page by page depiction of your script that is another story altogether. If there are just a few similarties it might just be a case of someone beating you to the celluloid.

Maybe you should post your script here for others to check out and give you some feedback on.

John


The Door (Horror/Thriller) - 116 Pages

Currently Working On:
The Devil's Brigade
Logged Offline
Private Message Reply: 15 - 15
 Pages: 1, 2 : All
Recommend Print

Locked Board Board Index    Questions or Comments  [ previous | next ] Switch to:
Was Portal Recent Posts Home Help Calendar Search Register Login

Forum Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post polls
You may not post attachments
HTML is on
Blah Code is on
Smilies are on


Powered by E-Blah Platinum 9.71B © 2001-2006