Legalities..

H

hermmermferm

Well-known member
Director "X" will be visiting my workplace soon. I've got a screenplay and treatment I just know he'll love. What are the legalities of me handing him my writing? Is he even allowed to take it considering it's not through an agent or lawyer?
 
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Thanks Rockman but I'm not worried about my legalities, I'm worried about Director "X" legalities. Not giving too much away, but "X" is pretty huge in the industry and I'd be worried that if "X" wanted to make anything in the future "X" risks having me sue if it all resembles what I've written (hence, "X's" possible reluctance to take the pages in the first place.) Could this be the case?

PS: Sorry about the whole "X" thing.
 
I would advise him not to touch it because of potential legal action takeng by the owner, you. Let's say he looks at the screenplay and thinks it's fine and it ends there. Later on if he happens to direct a story that has similarities to your screenplay you might believe he stole your ideas/work, so you file suit. Whether you win or loose is inmaterial, you have distracted him from being productive by having to deal with a lawsuit and he has lost time, one of the few precious things we have in life. My advice to him is to stay away and only accept properties through proper channels.

While what I say above makes sense because of the sue-happy society we live in today, it's actually a very sad commentary and not how I would like to see it. I'd rather say, show it to him and get feedback, maybe he'd want to produce it... but we live is this current hell we have managed to bring upon ourselves.

Advice to you: bring along a waiver in which you promise not to sue in case of... look into this first and make sure you understand.
 
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Thanks so much Joel, exactly what I was thinking. Seriously though, have "X" sign a waiver? I doubt "X'" will do that within the 5 minutes I'll have with him.. Or can I just sign something saying I promise never to sue and give away all my rights? I may be naive but I think Director "X" is a nice person and wouldn't outright steal my work. "X" is coming soon, might be in the next week or even tomorrow and I'm running out of time to get things straight before "X" shows up.

Any more advice? Thanks again!
 
Let "X" worry about his legalities. It's not your problem. If he's willing to read your script, let him. If he's not, it's perfectly understandable. Either way, he knows the risks. It's his decision.
 
There's a conduit by which scripts usually reach people. Sure, handed along by the wife/kid/babysitter/uncle/aunt/whatever does happen, but by and large just handing someone a script out of the blue is not going to fly.

At least in the circles where I work, handing a director a script during your 5 minutes of business with him - when that business isn't scheduled around your handing him a script - would be severely unprofessional.
 
Sad Max said:
There's a conduit by which scripts usually reach people. Sure, handed along by the wife/kid/babysitter/uncle/aunt/whatever does happen, but by and large just handing someone a script out of the blue is not going to fly.

At least in the circles where I work, handing a director a script during your 5 minutes of business with him - when that business isn't scheduled around your handing him a script - would be severely unprofessional.
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I agree...but it would be nice ;)
 
Why not ask to pitch it? Pitch it if he lets you, and if he likes it tell him you have a script. Offer to e-mail it as well in PDF format. Some people are reluctant to get hard copies at all. A script really is a big document. Unless he has a briefcase or something it will be inconvenient for him to take it.

Most importantly is the pitch, though. You will very likely be able to get him to listen to at least the beginning of your pitch. Do your research, know what he wants and be ready for any scenario.
 
YOU sign the waiver. A standard submission release form.

And, I have no agent and no manager - my career is having someone hand my script to someone else (without any waivers). Stuff gets passed around all the time. I have also just handed a script to someone.

Good luck!

- Bill
 
Thanks guys,

"Pitch it," seems like the best idea. It's one of those scripts that can be summed up in a sentence (or two) as well, so it'll probably be more convenient for "X" and myself. Thanks for all the advice, I'll let you know how (or if) it goes.

Best!
 
Is he a mate, a casual acquaintance, or just a stranger?

If he's a stranger, then no doubt he's very used to people shoving screenplays at him, and will have the knack of saying thanks, he'll pass it on, and then either not even read it, or add it to the pile. If you know him a bit, then he might glance at it, and maybe or maybe not do anything with it. Wave anything legal at him and the alarm bells will ring, and he'll back off. After all, if it's yours, and you have that sorted out, then if it gets picked up, you can only gain from it. So if he likes it, that's good. If he doesn't - you've lost nothing. If something horrible happens, you have evidence.

There's surely no need to get legal before the event, when you want a favour from somebody!
 
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