In the past, I have heard tales of woe of how some of my pals here at SS have had short scripts of theirs filmed without permission, and those that film it take some, if not all of the credit.  

This is an interesting situation with me. Seems some fella was strongly interested in Pumpkinseeds (OWC Oct 2010) and...well... here's what "Richard Thompson" had to say:

Quoted Text Hello, My name is Rich and I've recently started creating creepy pasta stories, well retelling and dramatizing other writers work. Unlike most readers I add sfx and voice overs to create a more complete story. I'd read over and reworked your original story "Pumpkin Seeds". I'm a huge Baba Yaga fan so this story caught my attention right away. I do both adult horror stories and stories geared towards adolescent/ young adult horror. The rewrite I made for this story is the latter. I'd like your permission to post on youtube ect. If the story where to go viral and or proceeds of some sort are made, I'd be happy to split said monies.   If you would like a copy of the rewrite or the audio, just let me know and I'll send them to you asap. Hope this finds you well. Looking forward to hearing from you.

My response:

Rich, there is a few things you should know.

One, it is not cool to revise/rewrite other person's work without their permission, much less film it.  The short script in question is an older draft, but it as well as my own revision - including a feature length spec - is copyrighted. And the feature length script is already geared to that potential audience. Voice overs aren't needed, and the short let alone the feature length version will have plenty of sfx if the project comes to pass. Also just adding more FX and VOs does not necessarily make a more "complete story". I hope this isn't your idea of a co-writing credit.

There were no contracts or agreements signed. You did not have permission to rewrite the script and film it. To "post on You Tube" suggests that the short is filmed, about to be, or is planned to be. If that is the plan. and it hasn't filmed yet, great. For now we will leave it like that.  We are off to a real bad start, and it doesn't look good.   "Audio" suggests a table read.  Again, without my knowledge. Maybe it was an oversight on your part and contacting me with a heads up is an afterthought.  It's not the way things are done. You should have contacted me about your interest in the short script beforehand. "

I don't know exactly where you are on the project. The spec is not currently  under option by anyone, or sold to anyone, so that alone isn't an issue. Be thankful that is the case.


I don't know exactly where you are on the project. I'm going to consult with some writer friends of mine (including an agent friend) to help me decide on how to proceed. The spec is not currently  under option by anyone, or sold to anyone, so that alone isn't an issue. Be thankful that is the case.


I'll get back to you later. If  (a big IF) you have filmed the short, hold off posting it on You Tube  for the time being.  That  also includes NO Vimeo NO Dailymotion NO social media OF ANY KIND until further notice.  I don't know how far along you are. But you did bring up  possible monetization on You Tube. I'm not giving you the okay to put it up at this time, but if monetization is the goal, then there MUST be a written contract in place for said use.  Even if we decide not to monetize, a contract agreement will still be required. It does not have to be anything fancy.


****

Man, I sound like a sour guy. Part of me hopes someone did take a crack at it. But the bottom line is that there was no agreement for him to do this. There's  a 50/50 chance he'll see this post too.

GOOD.

Because few of my peers would stand for this.
I consider myself lucky that I was given a heads up.
Half of my peeps don't get such courtesy.

I cringe at the thought of VO added to the script.
I suspect he might give himself a co writing credit.
:'(

II decided that he needs to send me a contract of some sort, especially if what he claims/implies is true. Has anyone had dealings with this person?


Thanks.
Darren

Hey Darren -

I think you responded absolutely spot on. Sure, it may seem like a sour answer but look at the position you were put in. The only other response is to roll over and say "Sure, take my intellectual property, put your spin on it, and take the credit." That's unacceptable.

Did this guy contact you through SS or via a personal email? The name seems familiar but it's fairly common. His message was an admission of guilt.

I don't know why filmmakers can't just think to ask permission ahead of time? Most of us (me included) would be happy to someone take interest and to produce one of our works (key word = works, as in 'it took us effort to write it').

Good luck - let us know how it turns out.
~John

Is it this guy?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5NL1ZoPeKg&t=1s

If so, you can contact Kevin and ask him. This guy has made several of his stories.

Quoted from JEStaats . Did this guy contact you through SS or via a personal email? The name seems familiar but it's fairly common. His message was an admission of guilt. ~John

The email indicated that he msged me though Simply Scripts.
If the short is already done (IF) then I'm asking for contracts esp, when he says "even split" off any money made off You Tube. Again, I'm one of the lucky few ---most of the time, my peers get blindsided.

One big question I never know : why is when other parties rewrite us wihout our permission that they write things in that we would never do? What's even more alarming is that he implies that I am not the first.

Oh shit...

Jeez, even at a common sense level... why would he think just taking your work and fucking about with it is acceptable!?

Quoted from Grandma Bear Is it this guy? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5NL1ZoPeKg&t=1s If so, you can contact Kevin and ask him. This guy has made several of his stories.

Since he gave me his actual name in the email I doubt it. Although "Voice over" "audio"  "SFX" might mean sound FX and not Special FX,  and "You Tube" post does seem more plausible in this situation, it's my understanding that the you tube personality you mention does not give out his real name. Also, if it was him, he would have said so.  Also, "Rich" said his dives into Creepy Pastas were 'recent'. Creepy McPasta (the You Tuber you mentioned) has been at it since 2011.

In any case, "Rich" should have asked beforehand.
side note: "Richard Thompson" could be an alias

It's nuts to think he imagined you would think this was great and endorse it, but from the wording in his email, it seems that is the case!

Interesting to see how this one goes, keep us informed.

Quoted from DarrenJamesSeeley Since he gave me his actual name in the email I doubt it. Although "Voice over" "audio"  "SFX" might mean sound FX and not Special FX,  and "You Tube" post does seem more plausible in this situation, it's my understanding that the you tube personality you mention does not give out his real name. Also, if it was him, he would have said so.  Also, "Rich" said his dives into Creepy Pastas were 'recent'. Creepy McPasta (the You Tuber you mentioned) has been at it since 2011. In any case, "Rich" should have asked beforehand. side note: "Richard Thompson" could be an alias

He absolutely need to ask for permission.

If you look at the McPasta guy's videos, you see that each one has hundreds of thousands of views and he has a lot of videos. I'm sure he makes a nice penny from all of them. Does he share with the writers? I don't think so.

Quoted Text Hello, My name is Rich and I've recently started creating creepy pasta stories, well retelling and dramatizing other writers work. Unlike most readers I add sfx and voice overs to create a more complete story. I'd read over and reworked your original story "Pumpkin Seeds". I'm a huge Baba Yaga fan so this story caught my attention right away. I do both adult horror stories and stories geared towards adolescent/ young adult horror. The rewrite I made for this story is the latter. I'd like your permission to post on youtube ect. If the story where to go viral and or proceeds of some sort are made, I'd be happy to split said monies.   If you would like a copy of the rewrite or the audio, just let me know and I'll send them to you asap. Hope this finds you well. Looking forward to hearing from you.

First - fuck no. The dude should be railed.

I think he is misusing the word -re-write and "re-worded".  I'm making assumptions, but what it sounds like what he is doing is an audio version of your script. Like if I took someone else's novel and created my own book on tape from it.

Why on any planet someone could think they could to this without permission from the owner of the IP is beyond me. He is either naive or criminal.  Let's hope for the former.