I have absolutely zero memory of anyone optioning For Dummies, a short script I wrote from 2020, but apparently this filmmaker from Bosnia did and produced a short, because I found this trailer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66bJ88hWEPY

It has subtitles, and the concept is very clear, so I know it's mine even aside from the title (plus, I'm credited).

Apparently it was in an Eastern European film festival: https://zlatnaroza.bg/en/film/for-dummies/

Really odd. But the trailer looks well-made.

EDIT: I only found this out because I clicked on my own Imdb page, from the IMDB credit I have for the other short of mine that's currently being shot, and I found this short listed under my IMDB credits?

Oh my god....

They interviewed the director as part of the "film festival", and at approx. 1:55, they ask her about how she co-write the script (with me), and she awkwardly explains how she came across the script on a website which "gives away scripts for free".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48H00fQedF4

Not unheard of unfortunately.
Really bad form though. Ben, if it were me I'd be getting in touch, (if you can figure out how) and have some strong words with her. Did she give herself a writing credit?

Will check out the trailer. Trailer looks decent.
Only consolation: I hope it's good.

Edit: She tried to contact you more than once apparently. She looked very uncomfortable answering those questions.

Yes, I saw that she said she tried to contact me, but I searched her name and the script title in my emails and I just can't find it. It seems like the sort of lie you tell put on the spot. (However, I did get a notification that someone with her name downloaded the script on ScriptRevolution, and I emailed that person asking for a copy of the full short.)

I'm not upset - she's just a student, and I would have let her have it for free anyway. But she only gave me a "story by" credit in some places!

Story By because she changed/added to your script.

I love the fact that the filmmaker's attitude was if the writer doesn't communicate with you, you get to just do it anyway.

I'm glad you're not upset about it. I've had the same thing happen, slightly different circumstances (and the resulting film was not good). I am not as forgiving; had them take it down.

On the plus side the trailer does look decent!

Here is how to submit a copyright removal request: https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/2807622?hl=en#:~:text=Sign%20in%20to%20YouTube%20Studio,Click%20NEW%20REMOVAL%20REQUEST.

here is Sirma Stoyanova's linkedin profile.  I've reached out to her and asked her to contact Ben

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sirma-stoyanova-39a3231b1/?originalSubdomain=bg


-Don

Thanks for that Don, but unless she's like making money from it somehow, I'm not so fussed. I'd just like to see the full thing out of curiosity.

At least she credited me on IMDB (who knew I had an imdb page?)

I think to date I've had to ask for five shorts to be removed from YT after people used my scripts without my permission... one responded that she was a student and her tutor had told her it was okay as it was 'fair use' - which isn't how fair use works.

Hope you get it resolved to your satisfaction!

The trailer actually looks good, so I'd probably agree with Ben's decision to not take it down, and Don has got in touch with the filmmaker to connect with Ben - all good.

The principle of the thing is not good though, and goes with being disrespectful to the writer. Like you say, Ant - 'fair use' is not what this is, nuh-uh. I hope the filmmaker comes good on some compensation for Ben, whatever form that may take.

And thanks for the info, Don.

P.S. Ant... Five? That's a lot

Quoted Text and her tutor had told her it was okay as it was 'fair use' - which isn't how fair use works.

It's kind of a cheeky interpretation, but I suppose it's arguably fair use if the short is being produced solely for educational purposes (like for an assignment that's going to be shown to the teacher and class, only).

However, the majority of film students understandably want to share their senior projects online or with festivals and want to use them in a portfolio, which is when it stops being fair use indisputably.

Quoted from AlsoBen It's kind of a cheeky interpretation, but I suppose it's arguably fair use if the short is being produced solely for educational purposes (like for an assignment that's going to be shown to the teacher and class, only). However, the majority of film students understandably want to share their senior projects online or with festivals and want to use them in a portfolio, which is when it stops being fair use indisputably.

I don't think it's a fair use until indicated in the pdf file right after the title. We say "copyright" there. They can't take it just like that.
We give permissions to use them for free, they ask and thousands of us do allow, especially if it's students, and for free. But take it and then say there's a website where free scripts are... that's too much and it's not good for a website, any website that hosts those scripts unless the website says that it hosts them for free usage. Some of the picture websites do that. They have free pics for fair use. And maybe some script websites are like that too but if you don't recollect asking for your script to be on that website that's not fair.

I understand they credited you and so forth. But that's a different subject.

Libby - yep, 5 so far and none of them very good, maybe I'd have left up if they had of been... at least then the script is shown in a good light.

Ben - once it's on YT then it isn't just for class anymore, it's public and it could put other filmmakers off from making the script... but...

Kham - totally, had they have asked me I'd have probably said yeah, but at least would have been able to clarify usage rights, credits etc.

I guess I was most concerned that tutors seem to be advising film students that using scripts without explicit permission was okay, it's hard enough being a screenwriter without that sort of stuff devaluing our work.

But sounds like Ben is sorted, which is the main thing!

If anybody's curious, here it is...

https://vimeo.com/823706139
Password: For/Dummies/2022

I haven't read the original but that was fantastic. Very high quality all round. If I had to nit pick I'd say I think it looks like they put a bit of money into this and think it would have benefited from an original score. I didn't particularly like the music choices from Artlist. Very small nit.

This is definitely one to be proud of.

Congrats.

I enjoyed this a lot - the acting was very good. A few quibbles but I won't spoil things.

And, at least you got top-billing as writer, Ben.
Give 'em an inch, they'll take a mile.

Thanks LC and Warren!

Warren - there have basically been no changes to the script, except language and character names (and there's a joke changed for cultural reasons). Also, the short adds the final minute or two over the credits.