Movie Scripts

[tommyboy81]

How does somebody copyright a script they want to give to a studio to see if they make a movie out of it? Because if a studio tells you they don't want it and they do it behind your back there's nothing you can do to prove you wrote it. I've always been wondering.

[Batman1980]

I believe you get it protected with the WGA, I could be wrong though since I'm not a writer myself.

[Sussudio]

Getting it registered with the WGA does not copyright it; it simply enters it into their database (this costs around $25 if you aren't a member). You can do the cheap unofficial way by mailing yourself a copy via Certified Mail and never opening it, or the official way by filling out the appropriate paperwork via the US Copyright office in DC and obtaining a copyright (costs around $50-$100) that lasts for a certain amount of time. Hope this helps

[tommyboy81]

I was just wondering blu psycho. Wonder how many people get there stuff stolen because all they do is send it in and say check this out. Because when you see movie scripts from a big writer its basically copyrighted. It'll say something on the front and sometimes the pages say something as well.

[Sussudio]

Originally Posted by tommyboy81

I was just wondering blu psycho. Wonder how many people get there stuff stolen because all they do is send it in and say check this out. Because when you see movie scripts from a big writer its basically copyrighted. It'll say something on the front and sometimes the pages say something as well.

correct. also, in the arts field, once you do something (i.e. compose music, shoot a movie, etc) you technically own it. getting the official copyright is just the way to actually prove it.

also, NO major (and usually minor) studio just accepts material from unknown screenwriters. there isn't an address for WB, Sony, etc to just send a script and see if it gets picked up. you have to know someone or hire an agent who will do a good job shopping your work around (and will make sure its copyrighted before doing so). if you do send it to a studio address, they'll just send it back or toss it, so rarely do unknown screenwriters who foolishly attempt this method (without doing proper research that is) have anything to worry about in regards to someone stealing their ideas

[tommyboy81]

Originally Posted by Sussudio

correct. also, in the arts field, once you do something (i.e. compose music, shoot a movie, etc) you technically own it. getting the official copyright is just the way to actually prove it.

also, NO major (and usually minor) studio just accepts material from unknown screenwriters. there isn't an address for WB, Sony, etc to just send a script and see if it gets picked up. you have to know someone or hire an agent who will do a good job shopping your work around. if you do send it to a studio address, they'll just send it back or toss it, so rarely do unknown screenwriters who recklessly attempt this method have anything to worry about in regards to someone stealing their ideas.

True. I've seen Entourage and Ari telling Turtle you want to be like these losers "pointing to the stack of scripts."

[jw]

Originally Posted by tommyboy81

I was just wondering blu psycho. Wonder how many people get there stuff stolen because all they do is send it in and say check this out. Because when you see movie scripts from a big writer its basically copyrighted. It'll say something on the front and sometimes the pages say something as well.

haha, you been watching too much Big Fat Liar

[Sussudio]

Originally Posted by tommyboy81

True. I've seen Entourage and Ari telling Turtle you want to be like these losers "pointing to the stack of scripts."

lol love that show

my favorite clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xTlIHQphQs

[tommyboy81]

hey long time no see.

[RiseDarthVader]

Yeah if you mail a script to them they aren't even going to open it and send it straight back. They don't want a movie made sometime in the future with similarities and some unknown script writer trying to sue them.

[toef]

I agree with suss. I think this is more paranoia than anything else, though I'm sure it may happen once in a while. Studios have their own ways of securing scripts, so even if you found an address to mail one to them, I highly doubt anyone would ever read it.

On top of that, you have to factor in the idea of a coincidence. Unless you had some really really strange and unique idea for a movie, with all sorts of specific plot twists and highly detailed scenes, which were clearly stolen, then you also have no way of proving they stole your idea. Maybe someone else had the same idea, and the studio got it from that person.

If you really look at movies, you can probably boil every movie down into one of just a few basic plots. I think there's a well known theory some guy came up with that any movie can fit into one of 36 stories.

In that way, it's similar to music. You can't claim a copyright on a I - IV - V chord progression (the idea) but only on a melody and lyrics (the interpretation of an idea). So in movies, you can't claim a copyright on "boy meets girl" "girl dumps boy" "boy meets new girl". That's just an idea. All you can copyright are the scene descriptions/dialogue, etc. And the chances of that idea being uniquely your's is probably zero.

Here's an interesting take on it:

http://www.wordplayer.com/columns/wp12.Been.Done.html

[Sussudio]

Originally Posted by RiseDarthVader

Yeah if you mail a script to them they aren't even going to open it and send it straight back. They don't want a movie made sometime in the future with similarities and some unknown script writer trying to sue them.

it's less about that and more about the fact that studios receive hundreds of scripts per day. they could care less about joe shmo's unknown script that he sends through the post office.

[OrlandoEastwood]

Originally Posted by Sussudio

Getting it registered with the WGA does not copyright it; it simply enters it into their database (this costs around $25 if you aren't a member). You can do the cheap unofficial way by mailing yourself a copy via Certified Mail and never opening it, or the official way by filling out the appropriate paperwork via the US Copyright office in DC and obtaining a copyright (costs around $50-$100) that lasts for a certain amount of time. Hope this helps

Yeap, ALWAYS and I mean ALWAYS copyright it first. Luckily, my uncle's a lawyer so he handles that stuff for me .

Best thing to do, try to make the movie yourself. Show that you have talent and then you'll get others interested.