Hi all,
I’m based in Australia; a US manager/producer requested my pilot material after I pitched to him – he loves my concept/premise but he asked me to rewrite my pilot screenplay based on a new suggestion before he shops the script to studios/networks.
Would I need to make him sign a copyright assignment letter to confirm the new script remains solely my IP? Would he need an option agreement before he takes the script out to studios?
Are there any other documents/contracts I should have before proceeding?
Thanks!
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You need to become a member of the Australian Writer Guild, as soon as it has your guild membership number on it people know it is copyrighted. You also need to determine what role he is playing in the process, if he is pitching it to studio's because he is your sales agent then you need a sales agreement with him giving him permission. If he is shopping it around to get funding then yes he needs to option the script and pay you a fee.
Thanks so much Leanne - exactly the info I needed!! I joined the AWG last week :-)
International copyright law: once you write it, it is copyrighted. Works in Registration anywhere provides only a rebuttable presumption that you own it. Even the United States, which was decades slow, removed registration requirements from its Copyright Act a long time ago...
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Is he optioning? If he's just looking to shop, ask him for a list of where he is taking it and make it clear he's not exclusive!
Thanks James - he said we can talk deals after I rewrite the pilot and we know how to push it out to the industry.
Nathan, Just my $.02, where is this guy based out of and what it his name? DM me on here or email me at rynoryder@hotmail.com I’d also be interested in looking at the script for your pilot and then reverse engineer from there how I could help you, if you’d like. I wish you the best!
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Thanks Ryan, he’s LA-based; I pitched him on Roadmap Writers – he signed 3 screenwriters from Roadmap and recently signed a book author client (I could DM the name if you want). My pilot script is adult animation/anime – not sure if you’d be interested/could reverse engineer that – but thanks for the offer :-)
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I’m not super well versed in Animation, however I’m still producing one right now.
Nathan, I’m not sure what happened, but I had a whole other section to that last post and just saw it didn’t go through!
Get a lawyer.
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Nelson, Hey, man! I see that you’re engaged on this platform and I’m only on here to connect with others in my industry and see if there is anything I could do to help them along in their goals. It says you’re based out of LA, as am I, and I wanted to see if you wanted to get together and chat? My office is based out of Santa Monica, but I live near Calabasas area. Not sure where you’re at, but I’d be happy to make the trip.
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Get a lawyer is always good, but I can tell you beyond a doubt managers do this w/ new clients all the time. Producers do it all the time, they have you do some clean up work before it goes out. Big time writers, folks w/ agents/managers, WGAw members have to do this ALL THE TIME!
The time to pump the brakes is if the requests start to get unreasonable. You find you're writing the equivalent of 2 or 3 free scripts worth of writing, then get clear on your deal. Right now you're just engaged in a handshake, shopping agreement. Happens every day....
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Nice of you Ryan McCoy
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Thank you, James. I checked out your profile real quick and would be interested in chatting with you and see what you’re up to and maybe see if something clicks.
Sure Ryan McCoy Send me a private message!