I recently used IMDb Pro to check out the bio of a producer who had been working with a friend for several years trying to bring an idea to the screen. This producer, along with a director and a finance guy, met with my friend and another individual for two years trying to turn an idea into a viable show. I checked out the multiple media articles attached to the bio and discovered that this producer had sued a major studio for stealing his idea sometime before and that the lawsuit had been going for several years. And then it hit me why the producer - who has an extensive filmography - wouldn't get a project off the ground. You can't just sue a major studio and expect no repercussions!
Sad but true.
So being able to conduct a background check on industry professionals can not only shed light on their credibility and industry credentials but can also help a screenwriter avoid becoming tied to a project that will never see the line of day.
Writers - Do Your Due Vigilance!
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Harry Weinstein worked 40 years on top and produced for the best talent, and nobody complained while they were working.
Lots of famous ppl sued corporation-studios and keep on working. Sly Stallone, Tarantino, Frank Darabont. David Simon sued his own agency.
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Gilberto, sadly, some producers can be shady. That's the norm Hollyweird has accepted and so many buy into. Fame and Fortune, at what cost?
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Sorry but the complete reverse is true. If you're going to hook your wagon to anybody, let it be the kind of producer with the guts to stand up for themselves (and their productions). Too many people licking the boots of the studios and thinking they'll one day be respected for being so servile.
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Very interesting post! I think the best way for any writer to avoid the pitfalls of development hell is simply to be sitting on a diverse catalogue. If one script is curtailed by an executive always be prepared to send out the next one.
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Nine out of ten screenplays die off in development hell, so people should have an exit strategy no matter who they are dealing with.