i wrote a script 3 years ago, soon after i brought in this lady to help with the re-write, and later on she brought in a third lady for more re-writes..and the script had changed alot in the process, not sure for better or worse....then, i had a company requesting to read the script, and i contacted the other 2 ladies for their signature on the release form...one never responded and the other said she wants to do more re-writes...the re-write thing had been going on for 2 years now and she still wants to do more..mind you, it's not like she's sitting there for hours working on the script, instead she's taking her very sweet time, and to me that's not acceptable...question is: can i just send the copy of which i personally wrote and ignore the other writers even though the NEW COPY is copy-righted under all 3 names?

I'd say rewrite, bin her bits, keep yours and change the title.

Mind you the only time I've met lawyers is when I've been a naughty boy. That's all behind me now. :B

I wouldn't do it I'm sorry to say.

If anything good came out of this, the script was filmed and a success, you'd be in a legal battle forever as I'm sure they would want their piece of the pie.   :-/

Maybe try to see if you can get them to sign off on the script. Giving you all rights...

If you copyrighted the original draft you could use that but if you only copyrighted it under three names you are pretty much screwed.

Wesley, unfortunately i did not copyright the original version, but it IS very different than the rewrite...I was actually thinking of what Rendevous suggested: Change the title and copyright it under the new one...Pia, i hear what you're saying, but in the meantime it's very unfair to me being the original writer and the one who came up with the concept to have the project sit on the shelf for 2 years and having to wait for 2 more years for another rewrite that i know will NEVER come!

I'm so confused

I understand. All I'm saying is, if this somehow turns into something profitable... everyone will try to get their piece of the pie. That was all.

Btw, the script is GREAT!!  ;)

The f'n joys of writing partners.

You can send the original version of the script, if you are the only writer.  The later versions are radioactive without everyone's signatures.


Phil

Quoted from cloroxmartini The f'n joys of writing partners.

I'm in the middle of the mother of all clusterf---- with a joint project.


Phil

oh yeah no more writing partners. It's just like marriage!!!...did i just say that???


anyways, Phil, thanks for the input and good luck with your own crisis...i'm just gonna wait for "me" who's in the middle of some political problems, to give me her own final thoughts, and i'm just gonna send it, and hell with t, and i hope they both suck on a rotten orange!!!!

Pia has a lot on her plate, right now.  Can't be sure when she'll be back.

Legally, you can submit the script that you wrote without the others' permission. Copyright it first.  How different is it from the latest version?  Would you know that they're the same script?




Phil

Quoted from Ayham oh yeah no more writing partners. It's just like marriage!!!...did i just say that???

I'm glad you did. There's probably more shagging between writers.

Oh. Did I just say that? Out loud as well?

I wrote a screenplay with someone long ago; well attempted to do so.  We got to page 8 and I just couldn't keep him on track.  The concept was mine. The characters were mine... The name of the screenplay was mine and the central theme was mine.  He had helped me with the certain aspects of the script in terms of content, though.  As in, he gave me one of the biggest chunks of why the screenplay worked.  

It was tricky getting it away from that aspect and to this day, nearly 7 years writing it, I still haven't completely figured it out.  The movie is epic... The idea is epic... The characters and dialogue are without equal... The only problem is, he does own a credit portion of the script still.  Even though the actual script to date, 16th draft and counting, is absolutely nothing, save for his one central idea, like the original draft we had worked on. All 8 pages of it.

If the movie would ever make it big, and trust me... audiences would go crazy for it, I often wonder if he'd come to collect on it????

Phil, the first 60 pages are "kind of" similar...the second part is when things differ completely, with an entirely different ending and entirely different events which leads up to the ending as well...

Quoted from Baltis. I wrote a screenplay with someone long ago; well attempted to do so.  We got to page 8 and I just couldn't keep him on track.  The concept was mine. The characters were mine... The name of the screenplay was mine and the central theme was mine.  He had helped me with the certain aspects of the script in terms of content, though.  As in, he gave me one of the biggest chunks of why the screenplay worked.   If the movie would ever make it big, and trust me... audiences would go crazy for it, I often wonder if he'd come to collect on it????

i'm really in the same exact position now, Baltis, except that one producer read the synopsis that i sent and loved the idea and wanted to read the script, but the 3rd writer, who is suffering from major financial trouble, and is not in any creative mind for a re-write, is insisting that she would write one...it took her TWO years, while she was ok financially, to complete a single rewrite...i know if i leave it up to her the project is dead in the water...this is really driving me crazy! it's so unfair!

You should consider submitting your version of it.


Phil

yeah...i'm just gonna clean it up a bit, change the title, copyright it and send it...and so it is! lets the chips fall where they may...

Ayham, it's all 'ifs' though. It may be massive. It may not. What's the worst that could happen? She sues for her 'share' of royalties. Delve into that Forrest Gump story writer claim saga thread.

'Publish and be damned' as a brave man once said.

You only should only worry when / if the big green light boys bite. I'd chance it, life will certainly get more exciting at least. To worry before to me is pre-emptive.

At this point I refer you to my ealier post regarding lawyers.

Either way, I wish you the best with it.

R

well...Rendevous, for a while i was being sincere and loyal to the co-writers, but when i felt that they were holding the script hostage, i decided to take action...part of the cofusion was "what the hell were they thinking??"

whether i'm able to sell the story or not, i just wanna take control over something i created but for a while lost, and will leave all the "ifs" for later

thanks everyone for your input