As I delve into the world of screenwriting - slaving away at scripts and medium roast coffee, doing research, finding like-minded writers and readers - I often find myself stuck at a road block that troubles me, and I want to ask 32 users for their professional and personal opinions. How do you - as a beginner or a veteran - take that plunge with someone new, with no knowledge whether someone wants to help your screenplay spread its wings to the world of the film biz... or snatch it, rewrite it, slap their name on and sell it as their own? Call it insecurity and beginners' naivety on my part, but I find it a genuine topic to bring into discussion. Anyone have success stories? Horror stories? Share your fears, concerns, advice on the subject.
Screenwriting : Pen pals and copy cats - who is who? by Bryan McClurg
Pen pals and copy cats - who is who?
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I think the fear of someone stealing your idea or your script is overblown. First of all, if you told ten people your million dollar idea and they all wrote a script based on it, they'd come up with ten completely different scripts--and most would be terrible. Ideas aren't diamonds, execution is what matters. Secondly, there are so many unproduced great scripts, I just don't believe someone who wants to make a film, and has the wherewithal to do so, can't find anything good and is lurking around trying to find someone naive to prey upon. And last, if I were looking to steal an idea/story/script, I wouldn't try to get it from someone who was just starting out. I'm sorry to say that people who are just starting out have a great deal of work to do before they produce anything theft-worthy. Fear not and keep writing.
For me it was an opposite issue. My friend was someone I knew and became friends with and about four years into our friendship - out of the blue he asked if I had ever written a screenplay. He gave me one to rewrite and when I gave him my work, he came up with a legal agreement, protecting us both. Now that we work together more and he knows me better, I've never had to sign one for him again!
What is the context of your question? Is it someone who wants to co-write with you? Option your screenplay? Read your screenplay? In all cases, do your due diligence and copyright your script.