The other night, I was sharing some of my shorts with a guy I've been seeing. We had just finished watching Agnes and I thought I posted my own version. I was on Google, when a site came up for a casting call for Agnes, by Austin Bennett, that took place in TX in 2013.

I never authorized anyone besides one college professor to film Agnes.

I emailed this TX guy, Jerry Baskett, to no avail. I've emailed him every day, twice a day, for the last three days.

Today, I found his YouTube channel where he has posted this awful version of Agnes, which he calls "Agnes Matters" and he sets my sweet little old lady to be a cougar. It's so awful.

Here's the link. I've already reported it as a copyright violation on Yahoo, so hopefully it'll get taken down. I don't want my name associated with Jerry Baskett at all, even though my name isn't on the film.

Here's the dreck if anyone wants to watch it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJe1_joMRqA&index=41&list=UUVbWUUtXXxrY6uKgkfA9qKQ

I'm sorry to hear this Austin, but unfortunately it happens. It's happened to me too...many times. What I find very annoying is that teacher and professors tell their students to go to places like SS and just pick a script. Some people say that's legal if it's for teaching purposes. I don't know.

I didn't watch the Youtube film, btw. Don't want togive him any more "views".  :-/

It's 3 years old and only has 41 views.

I think we'll be okay.

I read this and I thought, I wonder if that's ever happened to me. So, I did a Google search with my name and the keyword 'written by' and lo and behold:



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtIlD8bqIa0

The thing is though, I can vaguely remember some back and forth between Rimsha and myself, however I have never signed an option agreement, which is what I usually expect. As far as I knew, we hadn't gotten tot he stage where I'd agreed to anything.

Oh well, it's only a short... and he's done a better job of it than I could have. Still not very good.. but, meh, eff it.

Googled my name to see if it happened to me.

Find out I made the semi finals of the Blue cat screenplay competition. Had no idea.

Got a bad habit of that. I've missed on decent money before now because I had no idea I won an award.

EH! That's not good.

I googled my name too to see if this happened - turns out I'm a famous Watergate whistleblower, the former corrupt mayor of Hoboken, NJ, and the director of YOU, ME AND DUPREE...

You've got quite a resume!

I work for Kimpton (true), I'm a sculptor, and I play for the Oklahoma Sooners as a wide receiver.

Austin,

I PM'd you Jerry's contact info.

Don

YouTube pulled the video due to my copyright complaint. That's when Mr. Baskett emailed me - not after I emailed him - but after Yahoo did.

He claims that I wrote him a smaller version, and that's the one he filmed. He didn't have the emails, though, to back up his claims. I know I never wrote anything called Agnes Matters.

I save everything - almost literally - and I have nothing from Jerry Basket. The only emails I have regarding Agnes are the ones between me and Lyle Garrett, who filmed my script almost in its entirety.

As a professional, SAVE EVERY BIT OF YOUR CORRESPONDENCE. Scan contracts. Save emails. Don't throw anything away because you might have to back up your claims. COVER YOUR ASS. I have emails from all the way back to 2006 just in case.

He did say that he was sorry for the miscommunication. He's reached out to the people involved to kill the project. I respect that.

Could there be an added level of security if only members could read unproduced scripts?

Quoted from ABennettWriter Could there be an added level of security if only members could read unproduced scripts?

Austin,

There are only 3,000 registered users of the discussion board. If only members could read the scripts it would seriously limit the number of eyes on the scripts.  The majority of people posting work to the site do so in the hopes of getting scripts optioned.  

Don

I would say pretty much all of my produced scripts, 30 or so, have been found here and it is the reason I post them here. Sure, sometimes they get "stolen" and that can be very upsetting, but even with that, SS is the best place to get producers to find your script. IMHO.

I'm with Don and Pia, I've had numerous shorts optioned/bought due to SS and STS and I think restricting access would impact future opportunities... Of course I totally get your frustration at having your short stolen like that - pretty poor form indeed!

Anthony

I don’t think any of my scripts have been violated in this way but it’s hard to tell coz my name is the same as a famous cyclist, so there’s lots of websites about him out there and not many about me hahah! I once got mixed up with him on Twitter. Someone asked me how my training was going for the Paris race, I replied, “Great, I’ve removed the stabilizers!”

Anyway, during my time on these boards I have been contacted by people asking permission to shoot my scripts. We’ve discussed things briefly and then I’ve never heard from them again. So in theory stuff could be out there or in the making I’ve no idea about.  BTW Why do people do that? Why do they ask to use one of your scripts and then go dark and not reply to emails? It’s really weird.

But I think the risks outweigh the benefits. I’d rather get as much exposure as I can rather than be hidden behind unnecessary security. If someone produces a script of mine without permission (and it’s rubbish, if it’s great I’d reconsider lol) then I’ll deal with it if and when it happens.

That’s my 1 cent. I’ve taken 50% off for the Black Friday sales.

Quoted from MarkRenshaw Anyway, during my time on these boards I have been contacted by people asking permission to shoot my scripts. We’ve discussed things briefly and then I’ve never heard from them again.  ... BTW Why do people do that? Why do they ask to use one of your scripts and then go dark and not reply to emails? It’s really weird.

I know. I always thought this was weird, especially when they appear desperate for you to sign a contract with them. Okay, so perhaps their budget/crew/ability went belly up but they can't be polite and just say: sorry, it's not going to happen. How about manners? Really weird indeed.  ::)

I know I've said this before, but it was such a revelation to me that I keep repeating it.

When we shot Them That's Dead. We had gone through months of prep. Crew and cast. Rehearsals and shot list and endless planning since this was going to be a difficult shoot at a beach and a fort, both at night. When we finally went to shoot, everyone, crew and cast had a paper copy of the script in their hands. Well thumbed too, by this time. Just for fun, I asked everyone to not look at the script and tell me who the writer was. NO ONE KNEW!!!!!!!! They'd worked on this for a long time and Robert Newcomer was printed right on the front page!!!!!! I was astounded and extremely disappointed. That's when I realized that no one gives a shit about the writer. Once they get permission to use the script, the writer immediately fades from their minds.  :(

Agree with Mark, it's hugely frustrating when people go dark on you... I've one short that I know was shot but never made it out of post-production, a couple I sold where the producer/director has gone incommunicado...

I recently sent emails to the people who'd dropped off the earth and used some tracking on them, my tone was polite and respectful (as always) just asking for an update really...

Each of the emails was opened, but none of them responded ;-(

I know people's circumstances change, things come up etc, but it's unprofessional not to respond... also difficult to know what to do with the script in such circumstances.

Maybe we've had a lucky escape if they can't even answer emails ;-)

Whatever the reason for these few people, I will persevere on the basis of the experience I have with majority I've sold/optioned to, the mostly great bunch!

Anthony

It's probably embarrassment more than anything else.

It's quite upsetting and quite a heavy sense of shame when things don't work out.