A prodco replied to my query with a phone number

[Plot Device]

I'm so used to an e-mail reply of: "Here, sign the release form and then send us the script and allow us 6-8 weeks to get back to you."

But as for THIS particular company ...

Their e-mail reply had NO release form and included a phone number and the request that I call them at my earliest possible convenience.


Huh???? :Huh::Wha::Huh::Wha::Huh::Wha::Huh::Wha::Huh::Wha: :Huh::Wha:

[RainbowDragon]

Maybe they liked your synopsis and want to talk about developing another project? If they're a legit company and they're not on the WGA strike list, why not call and see what they want to talk about?

[Plot Device]

Maybe they liked your synopsis and want to talk about developing another project? If they're a legit company and they're not on the WGA strike list, why not call and see what they want to talk about?


That's actually a pretty valid theory--phone calls leave no paper trails. So I checked the WGA STRUCK COMPANIES list just now:

http://www.wga.org/subpage_member.aspx?id=2537

and they ain't on it. So that eliminates THAT possibility.



Okay, NEXT possibility: you think maybe they want to give me a writing assignment??? But they've never seen my writing samples. (And my query wasn't exactly Shakespeare! :D )




My concern is that if they don't have me sign a release, then neither side of the table has any protection. So I'm kinda hesitent.

[Plot Device]

NEWS FLASH!!!

I haven't called this prodco yet because I'm waiting for my screenwriting mentor from Los Angeles to call me back with his thoughts on all this.

BUT ... I have been clicking around on the web site of this prodco. One of the pages is about their "workshop program." It's a series of classes (yes--they cost money!) to help aspiring screenwriters "improve their craft."

*sniff sniff*

Anyone else smell that???

:gone:

[nmstevens]

That's actually a pretty valid theory--phone calls leave no paper trails. So I checked the WGA STRUCK COMPANIES list just now:

http://www.wga.org/subpage_member.aspx?id=2537

and they ain't on it. So that eliminates THAT possibility.



Okay, NEXT possibility: you think maybe they want to give me a writing assignment??? But they've never seen my writing samples. (And my query wasn't exactly Shakespeare! :D )


My concern is that if they don't have me sign a release, then neither side of the table has any protection. So I'm kinda hesitent.

This is one of the great fantasies -- that a release form somehow protects you.

Protects you how? A prodco makes you sign a release form to release *them* from the possibility of being sued by *you.* All they agree to is to read your work. They don't concede anything. They don't offer you or script any particular protection.

And it's not like a contract in which both sides hold a copy. There is only one original and they hold it. Even if you make a copy -- thinking that that would have some legal weight as proof of submission -- it's just a copy, and if the original, which they hold, somehow vanishes -- of what legal use would the copy be?

The thing sounds a little bit odd to me. I've never heard of such a thing. But then again, I've never heard of any scam that involved having you call either.

I suppose you can use a reverse directory to find out just who you're calling, before you do, if you're worried about it.

Obviously, they already have your address, so it's not as if you're exposing yourself to them by giving them access to your phone number by calling them.

So you have two choices -- you can call them and if, in the course of the conversation anything comes up that involves you giving them money, or of them "managing you" and recommending you or your script to an editing or rewriting service to get it just right for submission -- say "no thanks" and hang up.

Any deal that involves their managing you or being an agent or any other deal that might involve you contributing any money of any kind or paying any fees to anybody -- the answer should be the same. No, thanks.

Listen to what they have to say. If the words Xanu, the Reverend Moon, or our Lord Satan come up, you might consider exercising a certain amount of caution. Other than that, proceed accordingly.

Or you can just forget about it.

As I've said, it's a bit odd.

NMS

[Plot Device]

Hey, NMS, I just sent you a rep point with the NAME of the company in the rep point and their URL. Can you do me a huge favor and get a look at their web site?

What do you think?

[LIVIN]

Here's what you do:

Record the entire conversation. Maybe even film it also.

When you eventually go to meet them, wear a wire. Also, bring along a hidden camera.

Record, tape, film the entire situation. Then, when you get abducted while trying to sell a script, you'll have a real life documentary of the entire event.

I'm thinking something along the lines of "Adaptation."

[Plot Device]

Here's what you do:

Record the entire conversation. Maybe even film it also.

When you eventually go to meet them, wear a wire. Also, bring along a hidden camera.

Record, tape, film the entire situation. Then, when you get abducted while trying to sell a script, you'll have a real life documentary of the entire event.

I'm thinking something along the lines of "Adaptation."

:tongue



I'm thinking of calling the phone number for the heck of it. And I suspect I'll either get an answering machine, or else a live person who will try to sign me up for classes.

That's MY bet.

But for now I'm waiting for my mentor to call me back.

[preyer]

oh, lord have mercy, here we go with the satan bashing again.... how do you think most of us are going to be successful screenwriters if we keep dragging his name through the mud?! hard work, creativity, determination? jeez, that would take, like, months!

btw, i held a contest a few minutes ago, and guess what?! YOU ALL WON!!! YAY!!!! just send me your home address and i'll rush you a plaque (hey, i *do* own a trophy shop, you know) proving your awesomeness. (plaque prices start at $11.50. get yours today!)

[MrJayVee]

Scam. Or they're just trying to get you to spend money on their services. 99.97% guaranteed. But call them -- from a phone with a blocked number -- and see what they have to say. It can't hurt. Unless you let it. Good luck.

[nmstevens]

Hey, NMS, I just sent you a rep point with the NAME of the company in the rep point and their URL. Can you do me a huge favor and get a look at their web site?

What do you think?

Great. Um -- what's a rep point?

NMS

[Plot Device]

Great. Um -- what's a rep point?

NMS

A rep point is a "reputation point." :) I have given you easilly five rep points since I have been here at AW. (I currently have something like 320 rep points myself from the kind people here at AW.) If somebody LIKES the post you made just now, they can CLICK into the tiny little icon of the "scales of justice" found in the lower left colum of your post, and via those "scales of justice" they can give you a "point," and there's an additional field where they can write a customized comment. They can make the point "positive" or "negative" (I have given only one negatove rep point ever to anyoe here at AW, I believe).

The way to check and see how many rep points you have accumulated --and how to READ THE COMENTS in those rep points-- is to click into your "User CP" (that's "user control panel") and your rep points are listed from top to bottom, from the most recent down to the oldest.


I gave you a "rep pont" (a positive one) that included the URL of the prodco. :)

[nmstevens]

A rep point is a "reputation point." :) I have given you easilly five rep points since I have been here at AW. (I currently have something like 320 rep points myself from the kind people here at AW.) If somebody LIKES the post you made just now, they can CLICK into the tiny little icon of the "scales of justice" found in the lower left colum of your post, and via those "scales of justice" they can give you a "point," and there's an additional field where they can write a customized comment. They can make the point "positive" or "negative" (I have given only one negatove rep point ever to anyoe here at AW, I believe).

The way to check and see how many rep points you have accumulated --and how to READ THE COMENTS in those rep points-- is to click into your "User CP" (that's "user control panel") and your rep points are listed from top to bottom, from the most recent down to the oldest.


I gave you a "rep pont" (a positive one) that included the URL of the prodco. :)


Well, who knew? I got to look at some nice things that people had to say about me.

Anyway -- I looked at the website and checked out the company at IMBdPro -- and it looks like one of those really small marginal companies with a handful of credits that hangs on around the edges of the business. It also seems to have some sort of vague managerial aspect to it, repping a couple of guys in the movie music business.

There doesn't seem to be anything particularly sinister about them -- nor anything in particular to write home about them. They're probably just another little company on the edge with a couple movies under their belt, looking for stuff.

Why they want to talk to you rather than doing it some other way? I have no idea -- but it doesn't, on the surface, seem to be a marketing scam (which is not to say that, given that they're producers, that they might not, in some fashion, try to scam you).

At the very least, they seem to have real credits, albeit only a handful.

NMS

[Plot Device]

Well, who knew? I got to look at some nice things that people had to say about me.

Anyway -- I looked at the website and checked out the company at IMBdPro -- and it looks like one of those really small marginal companies with a handful of credits that hangs on around the edges of the business. It also seems to have some sort of vague managerial aspect to it, repping a couple of guys in the movie music business.

There doesn't seem to be anything particularly sinister about them -- nor anything in particular to write home about them. They're probably just another little company on the edge with a couple movies under their belt, looking for stuff.

Why they want to talk to you rather than doing it some other way? I have no idea -- but it doesn't, on the surface, seem to be a marketing scam (which is not to say that, given that they're producers, that they might not, in some fashion, try to scam you).

At the very least, they seem to have real credits, albeit only a handful.

NMS


Thanks, NMS! :) (And you deserve every last rep point you got! I'm sure!)


Meanwhile, I found these guys via a Craigslist ad.

The guy who sent me the e-mail today is the guy whose name appears SECOND on the web page that lists everyone's names at the company. He's an actor with some legitimate acting credits including several long-running TV shows. His e-mail to me today went like this:

SUBJECT: Craigslist Submission

Dear [Plot Device],

Thank you for your submission to [Company]. Please call the office at your convenience. Info listed below.

Sincerely,

[Actor from several Prime Time TV shows]

Sr. V.P. of Creative Affairs and New Works
[Company]
Street
Santa Monica
web
e-mail
phone
fax

Very bland and generic. They crank these out all day long I'll bet!!! And the subject heading of the e-e ail is NOT my original subject heading where I cited my query. The subject heading is all generic.

So they may not even have read my query, just harvested my e-mail address and my first name and plugged it into this canned e-mail.

Note also the lack of any reference to my script (or interest in my script). They just want me to call. So I fear they want to suck me into their "workshops" is all.

[icerose]

Well worst case senario they want you to enroll and you hang up.

[Plot Device]

Well worst case senario they want you to enroll and you hang up.


At this point, that exactly how I see it. :)

Meanwhile, my mentor got back to me last night and said the same thing you did, AND he added that I was the second student of his this week to call him to report they were given a phone number by this exact same prodco. ;)

[Ron Maiden]

if they were that interested, is there any reason why they didn't try calling you first? (or did they and you were out, perhaps?)

one thing about "call us" mails i don't trust is that it might be one of those scams that bounces you through to a high-rate line that bills you at £5 a minute or something.

[Plot Device]

if they were that interested, is there any reason why they didn't try calling you first? (or did they and you were out, perhaps?)

one thing about "call us" mails i don't trust is that it might be one of those scams that bounces you through to a high-rate line that bills you at £5 a minute or something.



My query had no phone number in it. :)

[nmstevens]

My query had no phone number in it. :)


This honestly doesn't even seem worth the price of a phone call. Pretty much if anyone was really interested, somewhere along the line the words, "We've read your query (name of script) and we're really interested in it" would have popped up somewhere.

Basically, if all you've sent them was a query, there isn't much to talk about beyond -- send the script or "no thanks."

And that's not really worth a phone call.

NMS

[Plot Device]

This honestly doesn't even seem worth the price of a phone call. Pretty much if anyone was really interested, somewhere along the line the words, "We've read your query (name of script) and we're really interested in it" would have popped up somewhere.

Basically, if all you've sent them was a query, there isn't much to talk about beyond -- send the script or "no thanks."

And that's not really worth a phone call.

NMS

I agree. :) But then I have free long distance, so it won't cost anything. But I am growing less and less patient with/forgiving of/indiffernt toward this whole thing, and I now see it all as nothing but an insulting bait-n-switch.

What (you may ask) was the bait???

They put an ad in Craigslist last week looking for scripts (and, of course, the Craiglslist ad keeps their company's name anonymous). So I answered. And THIS is the e-mail I got back. I am utterly convinced that they do NOT want my script, they merely want my tuition fees for their writing classes.

Here's what their web page says their classes have to offer:

Writers will be coached through the process of developing a script from initial concept to a completed first draft and receive and expansive and comprehensive re-write plan for the next draft.

Sounds to me like exactly the same process as what is done in a typical round of development with a studio. The only difference being instead of their paying me an option, I get to pay them for the priviledge of having them tell me what to do.

Writers learn how to effectively integrate their idea into a seamless story assimilating theme and plot expressed through a series of entertaining scenes. We will address all necessary elements required for a great screenplay and guide writers through a step-by-step process in order to build a viable project for the industry.

More of the same: I'm suposed to pay them to have them preside over the development of my script. (Maybe I should pay my current employer for the priviledge to come to work every day. And maybe my pharmacist should pay me for the priviledge of filling my prescriptions.)

All scripts will be eligible for further development with [Company] upon completion of a second draft.

Which means all scriptwriters must take and thus pay for X-number of classes that these con artists deem necessary before a "second draft" is indeed completed. And only THEN are they willing to MAYBE enter into an option with me.




At this point I am growing so annoyed with it all that I want to go ahead and call just to find out what they are charging so I can report back to you guys exactly how much they want to milk me for.

[preyer]

why are you hiding their identity, plot?

[Plot Device]

why are you hiding their identity, plot?


As a professional courtesy. Do they deserve the courtesy?? Probably not. But I will do so all the same.

[icerose]

If they do turn out merely wanted you to enroll in classes as you suspect, please file them in the bewares background check section of the board as all writers should have the right to search their name and find out exactly what they're about instead of wasting their time or worse their money.

[Plot Device]

If they do turn out merely wanted you to enroll in classes as you suspect, please file them in the bewares background check section of the board as all writers should have the right to search their name and find out exactly what they're about instead of wasting their time or worse their money.


Good point. So I guess perhaps it's my duty to call.

Okee Doke, Rose, you convinced me.

I'll be back in a bit. I gotta make a phone call ;)

[RainbowDragon]

If you call and find out it is in fact a bait-n-switch, you can report them to Craigslist and hopefully they'll be flagged. Then if you see them posting again you can report it again without having to bother to query and call again :)

[benbradley]

At this point, that exactly how I see it. :)

Meanwhile, my mentor got back to me last night and said the same thing you did, AND he added that I was the second student of his this week to call him to report they were given a phone number by this exact same prodco. ;)
That's another thing, GOOGLE the phone number! like this:
800 555 1212
and see what comes up. There are often sites that discuss unsolicited telemarketing or credit/collection companies calling from their "800" numbers.
Good point. So I guess perhaps it's my duty to call.

Okee Doke, Rose, you convinced me.

I'll be back in a bit. I gotta make a phone call ;)
Waiting with baited breath, whatever that means...

[Plot Device]

Well, I called.

I specifically wanted to see if I could reach the guy who sent me the e-mail asking me to call the office. The very young-sounding female who answered the phone did NOT say the name of the company when she answered, she just said: "Hello?" (kinda unprofesional, ya think?) And so I asked for the guy by name. She said he was in a meeting and asked to take a message. I said he asked me to call today. She suggested I call back in an hour. No message.

I didn't call back because I was busy at a friend's house an hour later.

I'll call tomorrow.

[LIVIN]

I'll call tomorrow.

Trying to build suspense?

[ImagineAZ]

Well, like others have already said here, they just want your money. If you do call them back, it might be funny if you call with tears of joy.

"Oh my god, I am SO excited!!!! Thank you so much for writing me. I've been trying to sell this script for so long, and you're the first production company that has liked it!!!! I swear - I was borderline suicidal, until YOU wrote!!! Oh, you are my angel!!! Thank you SO much!!!!"

all that before they have a chance to get a word in.

[ALLWritety]

Well, like others have already said here, they just want your money. If you do call them back, it might be funny if you call with tears of joy.

"Oh my god, I am SO excited!!!! Thank you so much for writing me. I've been trying to sell this script for so long, and you're the first production company that has liked it!!!! I swear - I was borderline suicidal, until YOU wrote!!! Oh, you are my angel!!! Thank you SO much!!!!"

all that before they have a chance to get a word in.

Man I would love to listen in on this phone conversation!!

Kevvers

[Plot Device]

I called today.

Got put through to the voice mail of the VP who sent me the please-call-us e-mail the other day.

I left him a message with my name and phone number, and I explained how I had queried him via e-mail, and how he then replied to my e-mail with a request that I call him, and I concluded by saying I now looked forward to his return phone call.




Whatever, right?

[Daydreamer]

He DOES try to make it interesting, doesn't he. :)

[Plot Device]

If all they want to do is offer me classes, I am SOOOOOOOOOOOO going to post the name of this company out in the "Bewares and Background Checks" forums. AND the name of this executive whose voice mail I just reached.


Meanwhile, I am fully aware that a LOT of Hollywood executives LURK (and never ever post) on this particular sub-forum. So ..... if ANY of you lurkers are planning on calling around and asking/warning your friends/colleagues whom you suspect MIGHT be one and the same as the person on whose voice mail I just left a message -- BE MY FRIGGING GUEST!!!!

[preyer]

to any lurking execs, drop me an e-mail addy and i'll make all your dreams come true. in a story kind of way, that is. unless there's an easier route *wink wink* in which case you'd better stock up on some bud light there, slick.

[dpaterso]

to any lurking execs, drop me an e-mail addy and i'll make all your dreams come true. in a story kind of way, that is. unless there's an easier route *wink wink* in which case you'd better stock up on some bud light there, slick.
Maybe I should move these posts into Fantasy forum? :)

-Derek

[Joe270]

He DOES try to make it interesting, doesn't he.

Writer!?! Right?

Plot is honing his craft right here. Personally, I'm loving it. However, act five is on, baby.

Call, Plot! Rip 'em one.

[JJ Cooper]

I can't believe Plot has screenwriting mentor. I wish I had a thriller writing mentor. *I really added value here*

JJ

[Daydreamer]

Writer!?! Right?

Plot is honing his craft right here. Personally, I'm loving it. However, act five is on, baby.

Call, Plot! Rip 'em one.

I wasn't referring to her, but to the guy who's always unavailable.

Ps: I think Plot is a :e2file:, not a guy. (;)don't you just loooove Smileys.)

[Daydreamer]

Aaaaaaaaaaaaand? How did it turn out?

Keep us up to speed, Plot.

[Plot Device]

Aaaaaaaaaaaaand? How did it turn out?

Keep us up to speed, Plot.


Sorry. No call back yet. Ball's in their court. I figure if maybe they don't get back to me in a few more days I will e-mail Mr. Important and ask for either himself or one of his assistants to please send me a release form. :D

[Joe270]

Ps: I think Plot is a , not a guy.

Oh. She types in a masculine font, so there.

[Plot Device]

Oh. She types in a masculine font, so there.


I've always come across as quite the tomboy.

[Joe270]

I heard you make minus signs backwards, too.

Hmmm. Are you an evil genius, Plot?

[Plot Device]

I heard you make minus signs backwards, too.

Its the same principle as reversing a negative into a positive right?

http://www.uwpipeline.com/APCatInfo/music-note.JPG You've got to http://www.uwpipeline.com/APCatInfo/music-note.JPGhttp://www.skylemar.com/i/pic_musical_note.gif ac .... - .... cennnn http://www.skylemar.com/i/pic_musical_note.gifhttp://www.uwpipeline.com/APCatInfo/music-note.JPGtu - ate the pos - i - tive. http://www.uwpipeline.com/APCatInfo/music-note.JPG


Hmmm. Are you an evil genius, Plot?

Sometimes evil. Sometimes a genius. Rarely both at the same time (otherwise I'd probably be MUCH farther along in life by now).

[Plot Device]

UPDATE:

The guy called me back a few days ago. We chatted for about half an hour.

He started out by saying he wanted me to tell him about myself. I commented to him that a getting-to-know-you type of phone call seemed a little unorthodox to me. He said his company has decided they only want to do business with "normal" people who aren't "monsters," (evidently they optioned a screenplay a few years back from a woman who was an absolute harpy). He said: "When you option a screenplay, you are pertty much going to be spending the next three years with that writer." So, I guess he was sussing me out to make sure I didn't have a personality disorder. (This is a truism that I have heard from other development execs. One exec said last year in an interview: "Life's too short to spend two or three years of it sitting across the table from a total douchebag.")

After we chatted, he said he wasn't interested in the script I had queried him on because I had indicated during the phone call that it wan't "my baby." He instead expressed interest in two other scripts that I seemed far more excited about. So he verbally asked me to send him hardcopies of those two scripts. I said "Sure," and we concluded the call.




Here's my problem with all of this:

1) The response e-mail he sent me in reference to my initial query was NOT an actual "reply" e-mail in which he literally hit the "reply" button on MY e-mail --which would have allowed the subject heading of his reply to be the same as the subject heading of my query. Instead, his reply e-mail was a CANNED e-mail with a GENERIC subject heading, and the body of his e-mail made no mention of my script, and it very vaguely said "Hi, thanks for contacting us. Please call our offices at your earliest convenience. --Sincerely, Hollywood Exec." The whole problem with that kind of a resposne e-mail from them is that there was NO paper trail or electronic trail indicating/proving they ever got any kind of a query from me in the first place (just that I had "contacted" them), with actual story details in it, nor is there any evidence that they even know I am a writer with scripts in the trunk.

2) The phone call was entirely verbal. So I now have the additional problem of there being no paper or electronic trail to prove the actual content of the phone call, including his formal request that I send him my scripts.

3) He asked for hard copies via snail mail rather than e-copies via the internet. Once again, that leaves no trail. I have nothing to prove they solicited these scripts from me, nor can I prove that they ever received them. The ONLY thing I have is proof that I queried them on my horror script. But there's NO proof that they ever got that particular e-mail query (because they never replied to THAT e-mail), and NO proof that I ever told them about the existence of these other two non-horror scripts.

CONCLUSION: My ability to prove a very critical legal point known as "access" is rendered futile because of all this.

MY REMEDY: The second I got off the phone, I composed and then sent an e-mail in which I strung together the two prior e-mails (my query e-mail and his generic response) into one continuous thread, and then the body of this new e-mail was "Thanks for the telephone chat. Please hit 'reply' on this e-mail (keeping the body of it intact) and then confirm that you are NOT interested in the horror script called 'yadda yadda horror' but are instead interested in the two other scripts we discussed: 'My Fantasy' and 'My Short.' I eagerly await your reply to this e-mail, and I will promptly get those two scripts off to you in US snail mail only after you have confirmed your interest via this e-mail."

He got back to me exactly as I requested (by ihtting "reply" on that new e-mail) and confirmed that he and his company are indeed interested in reading "My Fantasy" and "My Short,"

So ... snail mail it is.





One last glass-is-half-empty comment from me .............. I have read that part of the psychology of a successful scam is to get the dupee "invested" in the scam. And my fear is that by getting me to send them hard copies via snail mail rather than e-copies over the internet, they are forcing me to reach down into my pocket and fork over money for printing costs as well as postage (whereas my sending them an e-copy would cost me nothing at all). So I am about to toss about ten or fifteen dollars onto the table (or possibly into the wind) on behalf of all this. And I will therefore officially be "invested." Admittedly, it's just a SMALL investment, but scams usually start small, and then you slowly get roped in.

I promise will remain strong though. ;)

I realize a few of you have voiced a desire for me to reveal the name of this company. But I will not do so until they confirm this suspected bait-n-switch I have mentioned in earier posts above i this thread. And at that point I will be, at Icerose's suggestion, taking all of this information to the "Bewares and Background Checks" board. Until then, they are still innocent until proven guilty.

[nmstevens]

UPDATE:

The guy called me back a few days ago. We chatted for about half an hour.

He started out by saying he wanted me to tell him about myself. I commented to him that a getting-to-know-you type of phone call seemed a little unorthodox to me. He said his company has decided they only want to do business with "normal" people who aren't "monsters," (evidently they optioned a screenplay a few years back from a woman who was an absolute harpy). He said: "When you option a screenplay, you are pertty much going to be spending the next three years with that writer." So, I guess he was sussing me out to make sure I didn't have a personality disorder. (This is a truism that I have heard from other development execs. One exec said last year in an interview: "Life's too short to spend two or three years of it sitting across the table from a total douchebag.")

After we chatted, he said he wasn't interested in the script I had queried him on because I had indicated during the phone call that it wan't "my baby." He instead expressed interest in two other scripts that I seemed far more excited about. So he verbally asked me to send him hardcopies of those two scripts. I said "Sure," and we concluded the call.




Here's my problem with all of this:

1) The response e-mail he sent me in reference to my initial query was NOT an actual "reply" e-mail in which he literally hit the "reply" button on MY e-mail --which would have allowed the subject heading of his reply to be the same as the subject heading of my query. Instead, his reply e-mail was a CANNED e-mail with a GENERIC subject heading, and the body of his e-mail made no mention of my script, and it very vaguely said "Hi, thanks for contacting us. Please call our offices at your earliest convenience. --Sincerely, Hollywood Exec." The whole problem with that kind of a resposne e-mail from them is that there was NO paper trail or electronic trail indicating/proving they ever got any kind of a query from me in the first place (just that I had "contacted" them), with actual story details in it, nor is there any evidence that they even know I am a writer with scripts in the trunk.

2) The phone call was entirely verbal. So I now have the additional problem of there being no paper or electronic trail to prove the actual content of the phone call, including his formal request that I send him my scripts.

3) He asked for hard copies via snail mail rather than e-copies via the internet. Once again, that leaves no trail. I have nothing to prove they solicited these scripts from me, nor can I prove that they ever received them. The ONLY thing I have is proof that I queried them on my horror script. But there's NO proof that they ever got that particular e-mail query (becasue they never replied to THAT e-mail), and NO proof that I ever told them about the existence of these other two non-horror scripts.

CONCLUSION: My ability to prove a very critical legal point known as "access" is rendered futile because of all this.

MY REMEDY: The second I got off the phone, I composed and then sent an e-mail in which I strung together the two prior e-mails (my query e-mail and his generic response) into one continuous thread, and then the body of this new e-mail was "Thanks for the telephone chat. Please hit 'reply' on this e-mail (keeping the body of it intact) and then confirm that you are NOT interested in the horror script called 'yadda yadda horror' but are instead interested in the two other scripts we discussed: 'My Fantasy' and 'My Short.' I eagerly await your reply to this e-mail, and I will promptly get those two scripts off to you in US snail mail only after you have confirmed your interest via this e-mail."

He got back to me exactly as I requested (by ihtting "reply" on that new e-mail) and confirmed that he and his company are indeed interested in reading "My Fantasy" and "My Short,"

So ... snail mail it is.





One last glass-is-half-empty comment from me .............. I have read that part of the psychology of a successful scam is to get the dupee "invested" in the scam. And my fear is that by getting me to send them hard copies via snail mail rather than e-copies over the internet, they are forcing me to reach down into my pocket and fork over money for printing costs as well as postage (whereas my sending them an e-copy would cost me nothing at all). So I am about to toss about ten or fifteen dollars onto the table (or possibly into the wind) on behalf of all this. And I will therefore officially be "invested." Admittedly, it's just a SMALL investment, but scams usually start small, and then you slowly get roped in.

I promise will remain strong though. ;)

I realize a few of you have voiced a desire for me to reveal the name of this company. But I will not do so until they confirm this suspected bait-n-switch I have mentioned in earier posts above i this thread. And at that point I will be, at Icerose's suggestion, taking all of this information to the "Bewares and Background Checks" board. Until then, they are still innocent until proven guilty.

PD, you included the part of the conversation where they asked you about your scripts but left out the part of the conversation where *you* asked *them* about themselves -- who they were, what their company was about, what they'd done -- whether they were simply producers or were also managers, if they decide they like something of yours -- where do you go from there --

If you have questions up front, you should't be shy and simply allow them to move you down their road.

I hope you asked those questions.

NMS

[Plot Device]

PD, you included the part of the conversation where they asked you about your scripts but left out the part of the conversation where *you* asked *them* about themselves -- who they were, what their company was about, what they'd done -- whether they were simply producers or were also managers, if they decide they like something of yours -- where do you go from there --

If you have questions up front, you should't be shy and simply allow them to move you down their road.

I hope you asked those questions.

NMS

Honestly, I didn't ask at all about any of that. I let him blather on and on about their production values and past projects and their current slate. I mentioned that my one script needed to be shot on location in the desert, so it would drive the price up. And I further suggested that Roswell, New Mexico would be ideal not only because my script thematically mentions Roswell, but also because Roswell has an actual film industry in place at this time. He added: "Yeah New Mexico has GREAT tax incentives" to which I added: "Yes, I know." (See link: http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1407449&#post1407449 )

So I let him IMPLY that they are in the business of making movies. And he sounded pretty legitimate. And their web site (as you said in another post above) indicates real productions have happened at theri shingle.

(And on other matters .... NMS, when was the last time you handed out an actual compliment on this web site? There's not ONE part of you that wants to say: "Smart move, Plot."?? ;) )

::ETA::

He said he wanted my short script because they do shorts a lot and are always looking for new ones. So again, we have very overt IMPLICATION here all throughout the conversation.

[LIVIN]

3) He asked for hard copies via snail mail rather than e-copies via the internet. Once again, that leaves no trail. I have nothing to prove they solicited these scripts from me, nor can I prove that they ever received them. The ONLY thing I have is proof that I queried them on my horror script. But there's NO proof that they ever got that particular e-mail query (becasue they never replied to THAT e-mail), and NO proof that I ever told them about the existence of these other two non-horror scripts.


You could send them registered mail (or whatever) where they sign upon recieving it.

[Plot Device]

You could send them registered mail (or whatever) where they sign upon recieving it.

But there's no proof of what was IN the envelope. So it's as flimsy as the poor-man's copyright.

[nmstevens]

Honestly, I didn't ask at all about any of that. I let him blather on and on about their production values and past projects and their current slate. I mentioned that my one script needed to be shot on location in the desert, so it would drive the price up. And I further suggested that Roswell, New Mexico would be ideal not only because my script thematically mentions Roswell, but also because Roswell has an actual film industry in place at this time. He added: "Yeah New Mexico has GREAT tax incentives" to which I added: "Yes, I know." (See link: http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1407449&#post1407449 )

So I let him IMPLY that they are in the business of making movies. And he sounded pretty legitimate. And their web site (as you said in another post above) indicates real productions have happened at theri shingle.

(And on other matters .... NMS, when was the last time you handed out an actual compliment on this web site? There's not ONE part of you that wants to say: "Smart move, Plot."?? ;) )

::ETA::

He said he wanted my short script because they do shorts a lot and are always looking for new ones. So again, we have very overt IMPLICATION here all throughout the conversation.


Plot -- I just think you're dandy -- and it is definitely a smart move for you to lay a paper trail before sending anything to anybody.

Now -- if they actually offer you a deal of some kind, just remember one simply thing.

In our business, back end money isn't real. Deferred money isn't real. Points aren't real.

What they offer you up front is all that you will ever see.

If that's a thousand dollars, a thousand dollars is all that you'll ever see.

If it's nothing, then nothing is all that you'll ever see.

Just keep saying that to yourself -- back end money isn't real.

NMS

[Plot Device]

Plot -- I just think you're dandy -- and it is definitely a smart move for you to lay a paper trail before sending anything to anybody.

Now -- if they actually offer you a deal of some kind, just remember one simply thing.

In our business, back end money isn't real. Deferred money isn't real. Points aren't real.

What they offer you up front is all that you will ever see.

If that's a thousand dollars, a thousand dollars is all that you'll ever see.

If it's nothing, then nothing is all that you'll ever see.

Just keep saying that to yourself -- back end money isn't real.

NMS

Now THAT is something I most DEFINITELY already knew. :) "Monkey points," was what I believe Eddie Murphy dubbed them. :D

So yeah-- back end points are fool's gold.

[RainbowDragon]

You can look them up on bbb.org also, and/or Google to see if anyone else has posted of a bad experience with them. If they're independent, the unfortunate facts are that it's generally a gamble (for them as well as for you - even if they option your script, can they get others into it enough to make it happen? If so, can they get any kind of distribution?).

But the chances of them running off with your script and making millions are essentially nil. Register them with the WGA before sending if you haven't already. A scam would probably involve asking you to fund it yourself or otherwise dig into your own pocket. Did they mention funding in the call at all, as in where they have access to it or where they might apply for it?

As a writer, postage is your responsbility (at least it's deducted from your profits at tax-time). But that's all. Funding is the producer's headache.

And if you get offered an option, you might want to see if you can get an agent to negotiate the contract for you. If all you get out of your first spec option is an agent, it could still be worthwhile.