Q: What’s required to protect the rights to a screenplay written under a pseudonym? A: Good news. You don’t have to do anything special to protect the rights. As I always say, however, it’s a good idea to register your copyright, as doing so provides some heightened protection, and the right to pursue statutory damages,…
Q: Among a number of scripts and short stories I’ve written is a short sight gag that I doubt I could get anyone else interested in producing — basically it would be too short, and the only market I think would be youtube. Maybe eventually it could be included in an “anthology” of comedy skits…
Q: I am a Canadian who wrote a screenplay and registered it for US copyright. I have been writing query letters and submitting the screenplay to producers around the world—including to a few producers in another country who expressed interest in reading it. Since copyright registration of a few years ago, I have made revisions…
Q: I am currently researching a story that occurred in the 1700s in France. I have used a number of different sources to put together a time-line of the heroine’s life, from which I have plotted out the story. My question is, do I need to obtain any rights, given that the story occurred more…
Q: Writers are encouraged to share their work with friends and family prior to submitting to publishing or film industry professionals. At what point does a family member’s or friend’s contribution considered sufficient to be considered collaboration? In other words, if a family member suggests changes that results in a substantial re-write, is that sufficient…
Q: I’ve sent my script to an agency and have got response they wanna represent me. The CEO of agency advices to do grammar edit and to change the title of the script. I’ve registered my rights with original title in WGA and Copyright as well. The question is if I change the title or…
Q: A playwright/filmmaker in the United Kingdom optioned a portion of my self published novel to develop into a play and short film. This playwright/filmmaker renewed the option twice over several years, with a final payment due at the end of the third year and a royalty/byline promised after production. Both contracts were signed, witnessed…
Q: I am new to the screenplay business. I do not have an agent since I have not yet had anything produced and the agents that I have approached are not taking on new clients. I have written a screenplay that has been a contest winner. I have shopped around and have attracted some interest…
Q: Do I have to share my Author/Writer Credit with someone who collaborated on the script, even if he never wrote one word or typed one keystroke on the script? A: This comes down to the terms of your agreement with the collaborator, and to the definition of “collaborated”. Most dictionaries refer to collaboration as…
Q: I read an article in a small town newspaper and felt it would make a great movie. It was about a true story that occurred one weekend to some guys on a trip. It is the kind of story you might tell some friends at dinner. It is not a story the writer spent…