FEATURE: Well now, this is curious

Well this is an unnecessary thread.
Take it up with the people behind the movie and see what they have to say, before you go publicly implying they've copied your work.
In 99% percent of the very few cases of direct plagiarism the perpetrator is clever enough (Which is far from any abnormal levels of clever) to at least change the title, so chances are you're simply bad mouthing someone who never intended to copy / steal or even create something similar to anything you've written.
 
Where did I bad mouth or imply anything? I merely said this is curious, and what are the chances. Right up there with having two red, 1962 volkswagons hit each other in an intersection, one of which was mine.

Nice car!


I suppose if I were to explain how and where I found the FB page, it would shift things into a better and even more curious context. Sleaze Circus comes to mind, and 'copy' is hardly the issue.

My intention was to be positive about it.



Links removed so not to offend.


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Update:

I discovered a third link yesterday. Turns out they did change the name, and to a profoundly stupid one at that. Right up there with 'Bank Robber Gets Caught at the End'. I can only imagine it is a working title, and likely picked to hide the production.

So I'll rephrase my question: What are the chances the same feature screenplay gets stolen twice? Is this a bragging rights thing? I guess in the end, both of the red volkswagons were mine. Too funny.



Welcome to the world of the unwashed.

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I have posted this in USER FILMS because early on I was involved in not only the writing, but casting as well (I was hoping to bring in a great actress from Germany as well as tap some good NY talent), looking for a production crew (even tapped some of the filmmakers here on DVX, including a Mod), securing extra equipment, chatting with musicians and so on. I was in contact with the original Director before and during promo footage and stills, and conversations about the screenplay. This Director suddenly quit, and I was never given a reason (though I have my theories - I suppose he saw the writing on the wall long before I did), and eventaully a one-stop production company was contacted, and once funding was secured, it would be a go. They would want to cast it themselves, however. Dang. But, that disappointment aside, I was excited to see this moving forward.

Well, once funding did come in, my name was erased from the script, and a trained attack lawyer cut loose to make sure it was all legit. This is one of those moments in your life you seriously question your will power not to jump off the nearest tall building. It wasn't the theft, it was the betrayal. We did butt heads a few times during the writing process (3 years, 4,000 hours), but the relationship was good. They knew I was desprate for the cash. I didn't - and still don't - own a pair of damn socks, they knew I was dumpster-diving to eat, and my health needed some fixin'. They just gave me the finger and pretty much said 'what are you going to do about it?'. You see, having chatted with a few folks in this kind of situation, the fight is engineered to be so expensive and drawn out, that you need to make some heavy decisions about the quality of your life (not that dumpster-diving is much to brag about). Walk away, or risk everything with little chance of recovering even if you win. Yeah, it's that s*%tty.

The original production is now 'buried in a hole so deep, it will never see the light of day'. And for what reason? To save face? Everybody's commitment to the film, the sacrifices and hopes are all in the garbage, and the perps could care less. It matters nothing. They have gone on to make it again, or so it appears. And it begs the question: what happened to the original investor's money?

From what little I have been able to find, I have every confidence the 'remake' will be a direct-to-dustbin release. There is some satisfaction in that. Then again, they may surprise the s*%t out of me. Seeing as how they are making this film - any film - for all the wrong reasons, however ....


What a waste. Maybe I should post the script.


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I did say 'stolen twice'. The first production is a slam-dunk. They just stole it. The second I can't be sure, as I have not seen footage or anything else that would indicate my material is being used. New writers are listed. But I think we all know a screenplay can be mined sufficiently enough for story and plot points to render the original entirely unmarketable. Still theft? With the malicious intentions they have thus far shown, it's an easy yes.

That and one of the perps is also listed as a writer. This screenplay had very favorable comments and high marks, and offers to buy it outright. They are not going to ditch it altogether and write from scratch. Not a chance. The perp (originally story and script consultant) is certain every word was their idea anyways, and I was merely a vehicle to put words to paper. Sure. And elephants can fly.

And what of the new writers? From what I can find - and I could be wrong - they have no prior screenplay experience. But one thing I have learned over the years as a screenwriter, is that there will never be a shortage of those willing to chupar some credits. I have written a number of shorts (and a feature or two) where an editor or 'friend' will make changes or suggestions in exchange for writer credits. You send a first draft out only to get it back with a line or two changed, and writer added. It really diminishes - by 50% - your efforts and professional commitment to the project, even if it's your original material picked up by a producer. The so-called 'writer' gets a free credit, and you are stripped of half of your work. Hell, I've even had two writers added.

My point? Will these new writers take what's mine and call it their own? Probably, and in part I don't blame them, because I am certian the perp has misrepresented the material as his/her own. They made a FB page with the same name, and the perp NOT listed, then abandoned it two months later and started another with a new project name, with the perp listed as one of the writers.

Yeah, sure, this is all on the up-and-up.



Enough already. I'll wait to see the remake.

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Woah, now that's what you should have posted in the first post to begin with. Now I get what you're on about.
 
Yes, I should have, but as I uncovered more dirt I felt inspired to elaborate.


So what am I gonna do if my worst fears come true? Nothing at all other than maybe confirm it here. Seriously, I just can't afford anymore long, disinfecting showers. It's that slimey, and this has been going on for some time now. It didn't start yesterday.

In the end, it may even be a blessing in disguise that my name is NOT attached to it, stolen or not.


Anyways, we move on, right?

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Okay, so now I get why people sue for mental anguish. My 'get over it' view of humankind is finished. And to think this was, at least in its essence, a faith-based story. Not religious, mind you, but developed/inspired from a prominent character oft dismissed. You can cut the irony with a chain saw.


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Spartacus said:
If this all isn´t real, it`s at least brilliant guerilla marketing.
Click to expand...

If only I were that clever :)


The closer and closer I get to having a feature under my belt, the more and more I love short film. Not that smaller stakes don't bring out the riff-raff, but mix big stakes with folks that really aren't very good at anything, and you understand why the planet truly sucks.


Jackie Evancho just made her debut in film.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkDFm4qMOfs

Now, keep in mind that this girl is brimming not only with talent, but with grace and honor as well. And her first film has a wonderful cast to support her. All the pieces belong together.

Compare that to this fiasco mascarading as a debut, with teeth gnashing, sef-adoration flaring and a mighty pen at the ready, and you get why the planet sucks more often than not. There was an opportunity to do the wrong thing, and they embraced it with tails wagging.


There was also an opportunity to do the right thing.


Over and out.


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