I was recently received an unsolicited contact on FB by someone who's profile said they were Cally Williams.

Here's the conversation

Cally
Hi Tony, are you in need of any writing services? Among other things, I adapt novels into screenplays if that's something of interest to you? I do this without taking a writing credit.

My Services:

They go up to Feature-length Screenplay.
I write a feature film for you based on your script premise/ideas. Includes adapting a novel into a screenplay.

From rewriting/improving what you have. To my writing the entire script. I also offer Teleplays and short films.

I don't take a writing credit for my work, even if I write the whole thing just based on your premise.

I've helped scripts be produced by the likes of Universal/Netflix, as well as help get to festivals, such as Sundance and Cannes.

I have written scenes for shows such as Orphan Black (BBC America/Netflix) and Jessica Jones (Marvel/Netflix)

My main services rates are - screenplay £4000 and teleplay £2500 per episode. (uncredited)

I push all projects I work on toward my few contacts at Netflix. On top of my fee, I'd take a 10% cut of a deal with them.

ME
Thanks but not for me


There was a break of a few days before this follow up.

Cally
I can put forward your own work (untouched) for half the rate.

ME
Sorry Cally, difficult for me to believe this is anything other than a scam as your FB profile seems to have zero friends or contacts, nothing in your About section, no employment details, though you might be a Sunderland fan... and no listing that I can see on IMDB either.

Cally
I’ve been on Facebook for eight years. Internationalscreenwritingservices.com

ME
Maybe you should add that to your FB page, may add some credibility.

Cally
I’m a ghostwriter but I can email you ten pages of Jessica Jones that I wrote that I’m allowed to send, and can attach a current job contract which is for £8000 as well. When th  we time is right let me know. I don’t care about credibility or any level of fame. I don’t need to be acknowledged for being good at something.

ME
Sorry, but £2000 for you to send my screenplay to some unnamed contact at NETFLIX is a scam, and 10% on top of that if they are interested... it's preying on the writers desperate to break in. I'm not that desperate.
And saying you've done this and that with no credits is easy, I could say I've written on any number of TV shows but chose to be uncredited.
Tell me which Jessica Jones producer you wrote the episode for and I will email them directly to check.

Cally
I’ve made over 100k per year from writing for over a decade. I get it. You have the typical broke, jealous, writer mentality. Maybe that’s why you are nowhere and I’m a pro. Kid yourself all you want with the scam nonsense, but I have had some of the same clients for seven years. Bitterness gets you nowhere. Blocked. Good luck though.

ME
That's a no to the Producer's contact then? 100k a year but you hit up random writer's on FB hiding behind what looks like a fake profile?
I will be sure to make my other writer friends aware of your services... just in case any are interested.


No answer to the last message - I guess I'm blocked now.

I guess Cally could be all they say, and have contacts that would make spending 2k on it worthwhile... what do you think? ;-)

Wow! Well that was entertaining. Thanks for sharing.  :D

Times are tough during Covid. I just hope people are not this gullible.

That was informative and entertaining! Thanks for the info. It blows my mind someone would try such a blatant scam, but there are a lot of folks desperate to break in and I hate it that there are people out there who take advantage of their hopes and dreams.

That was funny, bless him trying to take the high ground.

You were more polite than I would have been

The Cally Williams profile has now disappeared from FB ;-)

Quoted from AnthonyCawood The Cally Williams profile has now disappeared from FB ;-)

It'll just re-appear as Carl Williams.

It will John, hopefully no one falls for it, whatever name they use next!

Quoted from JEStaats It'll just re-appear as Carl Williams.

;D Nearly splurged my brekkie.
You gotta know Carl Williams reputation in Oz.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Williams_(criminal)

He sounds like a charmer Libby ;-)

I bet it's really  Shia Labeouf.

Funny stuff!

Anthony,

This gets better.  I have an email from Client of Calvin Williams which I will forward to you. My response thus far has been, "I will review and investigate."

- Don

Thanks Don,

I guess it is conceivable that I was contacted by someone impersonating Cally Williams, and that is why they could provide no details of their claims... so I was spot on that it was a scam.

If there is a different Cally Williams who didn't have that conversation with me and wants to set the record straight about their legitimate credits and services then this thread is the ideal place.

Anthony

FB which is FoneBook (with Pictures) is the first step into that dungeon - since when do Pros use FB

This Cally person summed me up to a t with that “broke, jealous writer mentality.” Just sayin.