Posting a script: wise move?

Do you guys think it's OK to post a section of a script for a film in pre-prod or should I wait untill it's shot...Looks like some lowlife ripped off Despin Entertainment already...

wouldnt post at all, even after production

no matey, this isnt the place unfortunatley.
(thats my advice anyway)

DON't post it, other people can and will steal it.
You can do it if you have copyrights, but that expensive, you could also put a password on that site, and give it only to people you can trust.

Greetz Erik Hamblok
Exarfilm http://exarfilm.tripod.com

it's a wise move if you want people to nick your idea. otherwise i'd say it was a big no no. It's really bad they nicked his idea- you should find out who it was.

What can I say guys. Shit Happens. Its no big deal Ive got a million more ideas and another six scripts that blow that thing out of the water. I took the risk of psting just so I could here your view of my writing.

Lets face it if your are so lacking in imagination that you need to steel other peoples entire scripts, you aint gonna get anywhere in life.

If they would have asked I would have given it to them. Just give me a credit and a copy of the film, thats all I ask. Jesus If anyone is having trouble I would love to help them write there movie. Im only learning myself and need all the experiance I can get.

To copyright a script in the US costs money. Its easier in the UK, just put a copy of your screenplay in an envelope, with the front page of that days newspaper, seal it and post it to yourself. Don't open it. It will be stamped by the post office with the date.

Keep it in a filing cabinet or something.

However if you are in the UK and you post your screenplay up, I don't think there is anything you can do to stop somebody elsewhere in the world from nicking it.

*sigh*

Too complicated....head hurting....too....much.....*pop*

.....

further note you cant copywrite work in development if you post a working draft, or part of a script when it is incomplete people can nick that quiute freely

also following despin notes about people nickign scripts ideas etc,

Well Terminator, James cameron found himself in court and lost , Guy Ritchie came close, and there have been tons more

further note you cant copywrite work in development if you post a working draft, or part of a script when it is incomplete people can nick that quiute freely

also following despin notes about people nickign scripts ideas etc,

Well Terminator, James cameron found himself in court and lost for nicking the terminator idea , Guy Ritchie came close after taking lock stock from another a script , and there have been tons more

Out of interest then...who do you ask to evaluate your scripts and ideas? My friends are kinda biased and like all my stuff, which is nice, but does'nt help me unduly...My lecturers are quite honest though which is nice...so who do you guys ask?

I get my mum to evaluate and critique all my stuff first.
She is the most critical person I know... and used to be a teacher.
She hated the first draft of my feature screenplay but loves the third draft.

Mitch

Posting a script to your self is not a safe way of copywriting your work. Its just a myth.

Think about it. If this was a real way of doing it. I could take a Empty envelope put a stamp on it leave it unsealed and post it to myself. The Empty envolope with get an official stamp and be returned to my house unsealed. Then all I have to do is go to any simply scripts download the matrix script put my name on it. date it and put it in the envelope seal it. Then SUE joel silver for millions.

If someone steals your script and you turn up to a laywer with an envalope as prove you wrote it they will laugth in your face.

You can copyright your script with the Writers Guild of America for about ?15 and with the US Library of Congress for a similar amount. Having the WGA registered stamp on your screenplay will put most sensible people off from copying your work.

I wouldn't post my script. I don't even like to share my ideas for new movies...

yeah post it! I want to read it

Norman

Well let's see that's 9 against and just Norm for...hmm all this asumes my script is worthy of being ripped off which is quite dubious...you wanna read it-why?

Well because Im a filthy rich and famous film director of course, and I want to see if its worth buying.

You dont think Norman is my real name do you?

Norm

Let's face it everyone, people give in to temptation, me personally have 20 or 30 scripts written and plan to write more, if anyone needs any ideas just come to me, I will help anyone, I have enough scripts written for my own sake, So like I was saying people will take any opportunity they can get to steal a script, they unfortunately aren't as talented as us and can't think of anything, I am currently shooting a movie, and I would gladly post the script for those idealess retards, Thanks for your time,
FOOLMASTER ENTERTAINMENT PRESIDENT

Dunno Norm. Norman is such a cool name. I'd really like to hear what you guys think (even the inevitable backlash from Joachimoverlylongname) but it looks like there's no safe way to do it (sigh). I have lots of ideas too, but I'm very protective of them.

You don't think i'm really a Generic Skinhead do you?

I AM a REBEL.
by the way does anyone want to buy a mrk2 raleigh chopper?

[This message has been edited by The Baines Hunt Rebel (edited July 20, 2001).]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, helvetica, sans serif">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Generic Skinhead:
Out of interest then...who do you ask to evaluate your scripts and ideas? My friends are kinda biased and like all my stuff, which is nice, but does'nt help me unduly...My lecturers are quite honest though which is nice...so who do you guys ask?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

That is the point! we are a community of filmmakers, and as such, should convey and exchange ideas to further each others knoweledge of the craft. The price of registering a script to protect the author is relativley inexpensive. In the U.S. one can copyright using the "poormans" copyright, as stated, simply mail yourself the manuscript, screenplay, etc. registered and you have a copy that is protected. One (the author) can actually benefit greatly if his or her script does get plagiarized. By simply filing suit......The sum a production company would settle out of court for, would in most instances be worth more than any script that could be produced by a lot of the people whose threads I have read on this forum. I am sure that that last statement will get me an earful, but just remember, we are all reading and/or writing to gain an insight each ones individual style and expertise........Keep it flowing!

Maybe i'll just post a small bit and if someones pathetic enough to rip off 1 scene then so be it, eh?

Good morning. I used to post here a while ago, but let me just re-introduce myself. My name is not the real slim shady and i wanna make a film soon.

I bought a camera year and a half ago (panasonic nv ds 33, anybody know if its good?) but I haven't even managed a short yet. Cause I am scared it might turn out shit which is really fucking stupid, but there you go.
I have the same problem with writing though, or more to the point, it is the root of my not being able to start filming problem. I don't wanna start filming unless I have a really good script, but whenever i start writing one, i stop after two pages cause it sounds like its been done before, and i don't want that.
So I can't write a script, and because I can't write a script i can't film and my camera is sitting in the corner getting dusty and old and my friends are starting to the take the piss out of me, cause I've been telling them about my "project" for like two years now. Believe me it's not laziness, there is nothing in the world I'd like more than to finally make my first little film (well maybe apart from becoming supreme ruler of the universe).
Has anybody had similar problems and if so, how did you overcome them?
Any help would be appreciated, because I am going mental.
The funny thing is, I write articles for newspapers and my bosses say that my writing is very good, but I just can't start from scratch and a blank page scares me to hell.


PLEASE HELP!!!!

Nottherealslim,
See the post elsewhere on nuclear weapons. Once you can hold the world hostage, the universe is a fairly simple step. However, supreme ruler of the universe has its drawbacks, I can tell you. Constant lobbying from Equal Rights for Quasars, and the electric bill... http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/cool.gif

Most things HAVE been done before, don't let that stop you! This guy I know did a timetravel story, so out of interest I wrote a list of time travelling characters, and there were loads.(OK, OK, I'm sad. I know this. Just don't tell the wife http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/biggrin.gif )

Last time I had writers block I wrote a story about someone with writers block and it did the trick!
If you work for a newspaper you should be great at making stuff up http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/wink.gif so write an article about a fictitious event, and then write the background to it.
Another thing to try is writing the whole thing in one go. If you're editing as you go you'll disappear up your own arse. http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/eek.gif
And don't think you need to do it in order, either. It took me ages to be able to start a story, I've got so much part-way-through stuff!
And don't worry if your film smells of poo. Think of it as hands-on training.

Good luck!

Paul

I got tons of scripts-wanna buy some?

Seriously, you know what I find good-reading stories and making an effort to change your surroundings once in a while...there must be loads of good newspaper stories you could use as a basis...Or what issues are you interested in? My first film was made up of some of the most abstract thoughts I had in 1st year at college...Jaffa Cakes, Ninjas, Ulysses, Demon Plastic Surgery Advice etc...

Failing all this listen to some GOOD music...I always find other peoples creative talent an inspiration...

Wow-I can't help you at all can I?