Uncompleted Works

Every once in a while I’ll skim Craigslist for production work. In addition to writing, and editing, I work various production roles and places like Craigslist, Mandy and Production Hub provide good, quick turn around for 2 day weekend shoots and the like.

But, this week I happened upon an interesting craigslist post for a “Ghostwriter for Screenplay.” A paid gig, but with some interesting caveats.

They were looking to pay $1000 for a completed script, much below the rate a screenwriter should charge for completing a full draft. Partly out of curiosity, I responded to the ad stating my rate. Little did I know it would turn into a cautionary example about how to protect yourself as a screenwriter.

And so the response came:

“Due to the overwhelming number of responses, we will be requiring all applicants to submit a draft writing sample to us in order to be considered.  You have the option of submitting one of your previous works (no more than 3 pages) or, as we would prefer, submitting a two-page screenplay based on details we will send you later tonight.

In the mean time, I will provide you with some brief background information about the Project.  The screenplay is for a dark comic thriller that takes place on a college campus.  The final product is intended to be approximately 110 pages long.

The story for the screenplay is in place in the form of a 30-page quasi script treatment; the job of the ghostwriting team will be to take that script treatment and transform it into an industry-recognized screenplay.

Each member of the team will be given their weekly writing assignments at a live meeting that takes place once per week at a location near the Financial District.  Team members will receive their weekly $100 payments at that meeting.  After receiving their assignments, team members will have approximately five (5) days to submit their assignment by email to the team supervisors.

The Project will take 10 weeks, and include 10 meetings.  Finally, each member of the team will be required to sign a ghostwriting agreement, which, among other things, will waive/release any rights to, or interest in, the screenplay (or any part thereof).

An email will be sent to you later tonight with details of the mandatory writing submission.”

I’m pretty sure they ignored my rate, or didn’t read my email at all. The parameters for the “Dark Comic Thriller” project are astounding. They want to piece-meal payment over 10 weeks, and they want to assemble “teams” to give “writing assignments” to write a 110 pg script? Can you spell red flags?!, seriously, because they could not. Waiving rights to the script isn’t too uncommon. If you are ghostwriting, generally you don’t get credit. But it all seemed very fishy. The follow-up email was just insane, and pushed me to write this very post.

Behold:

“The specifications for the required screenplay writing sample are below.

Note: in the body of your writing submission email, please print the following: “I hereby waive any claim to copyright protection over the attached writing.”

Assignment:  Please write a short (no longer than two-page) mini screenplay in an attached document, preferably MS Word.

Details of the Plot: The mini screenplay should tell the story of two college students meeting at a location.  One student attempts to get something from the other student.

Genre: dark comic thriller

Format: please use proper industry screenplay formatting. This website http://www.scriptfrenzy.org/howtoformatascreenplay provides a helpful primer.

Max Length: two pages in proper format

Deadline: this Friday, September 25, 2009 at midnight.  If you want to have your submission read before any member of the team is hired, you must submit your sample by midnight on Friday night.  You may still send in your submission after that; however, we cannot guarantee your submission will be read before the team is hired.

Note: please pay particular attention to the quality of the dialogue.”

Have you recovered? Where do we start?

• “I hereby waive any claim to copyright protection over the attached writing.” Did you catch that? Your writing sample belongs to them. That’s right, they are asking for “writing samples” as a free way to get scenes written for this “Dark Comic Thriller.” They have the gall to ask writers to give up full rights, without even being paid for their work. This is akin to asking a graphic designer to design a logo on spec, then not paying him, and taking his logo.
• No 110 page script needs a team of, say, ten people concurrently to assemble it. This is ridiculous. They claim have a 30 page treatment already, so presumably there is some outline done. Why would anyone need ten people, going in ten different directions, reporting to “team supervisors” after they get their “writing assignments?”
• When I invoice a client I do it in one to two ways 1) I invoice for full upfront payment for things like coverage, notes, and post-production services or 2) I invoice 40% upfront 60% after completion for development, polishes, re-writes. No one serious will piece-meal $100 a week over ten weeks, subject to approval by their “team supervisors.”
• A link on screenplay formatting as a “helpful primer” shows these people are targeting novice and aspiring screenwriters. Any serious screenwriter is already comfortable with the format of their trade.
• A “mini-screenplay?” A script in MS Word? How about some scenes in an industry standard file format like, say, Final Draft.
• To top it all off they’ve added an arbitrary deadline to add some sort of impression of urgency. It is just insulting.

Be weary of any job listing that promises the world. If something feels fishy, trust your gut. Whomever posted this ad, went to great lengths to obfuscate who they are and they designed a scenario to extract unpaid written work and rights from screenwriters. You’ll likely have no recourse if they stole your “writing sample.” You wouldn’t even know who they were. Remember, the most of the worthwhile work you find will be a mixture of in person networking, talent, and referrals. The people you’ve worked with before are the best bet to scare up additional work.

Screenwriters take note: You are valuable, and you needn’t allow so-called “producers” or other self proclaimed industry folk to take advantage of you. Your work is a commodity, a commodity that needs to be paid for. There are plenty times when you may write something that won’t bear your name, but you should be fully compensated for that work. If you write anything on spec, it should be your spec script, one that you are vested in. Keep all this in mind when looking for screenwriting work and good luck!