Screenwriting : Fake NDA agreement – don’t fall victim to it by Husin Alkhatib

Thanks for sharing this so other writers won't fall for it, Husin Alkhatib!

Thankyou verymuch

Thanks for sharing.

Oh dear ! and here I am upset that I was getting screwed over by a folks trying to use me for free labor. Really thanks for warning us. This guy claiming to be a producer added me on Stage32. Guess what I told him. One of these days I want a Zoom meeting so I can attach a face to a profile. In this case have you tried talking to them over Zoom or Google Meet just to get a sense of their sincerity? That’s what I would’ve done. Either way sorry that happened to you.

Also I believe if they’re asking you for money it’s a scam. They’re supposed to pay you not the other way around.

Some production companies are connected to finance companies.There is a lot of money in the Middle East and could be legit as a major shareholder in the project. I can't zoom in on this document to read it so no idea if it looks legit or not.

The going standard advice for all deals like this is: If it looks too good to be true, it probably is. Always do your research and due dilligence

Loehr tried to put the same bite on me, assuming it was him. Beware any producer who asks for up front money.

Sad to see they're still around. Glad you didn't fall for it.

I was contacted by the same people. Con artists.

Con artist made it so hard to trust people.

Thank you all for engaging with the story. Well, I’m used to this type of scam — several parties have tried it with me before. The problem isn’t with someone who’s been through it and grown accustomed to it; the real problem is with a new writer who thinks it’s a great opportunity, only to find themselves caught in a whirlpool of deceit. That causes deep psychological harm and great sadness. The writer might lose confidence in themselves, and the community could lose a writer whose career ended before it even began.

Don't know him, at all, but once got a very courteous, friendly email from him in Stage 32. I do know that he produced an outstanding movie in China called "Quitting" (2001) which I saw when that country first started opening up their film industry. Unless you attend Cannes, it seems very, very difficult to work with Chinese production companies and having a brother who taught English in that country I have learned that culture is quite simply different from ours (at least, the United States).

Thanks a lot for sharing this warning!

Husin Alkhatib Thank you so much for this valuable warning; it’s something important to keep in mind.

Yeah they had a fake profile here on Stage32 and sent me something about requesting something to be sent to their company gmail account. I asked Stage32 if this person was legitimate and soon after the profile was gone.

Guess they found a new angle.

Thank you very much for the warning and sharing tips on how to check professional companis, Husin Alkhatib

I do art, and if they ask for money or your account number, it's a scam! They should be paying me, and I have it where they can send me money via PayPal or Venmo.

Having been a member here since early last year, 3 times have I told admin about some scammer who wanted my money. 2 of them had stolen the identity of a real person. So sure there are scammers.

It’s not a scam if they were to provide services that are worth the $2000.

There are two ways writers can go with their script.

1) Sell an option (or sell the script outright). In which case the money goes to you (and your agent).

2) Or you work to produce the film, or pay someone to help you produce. There are legit business people who charge for such production services, which include setting up investment documents and negotiating with talent.

I don’t know enough about this company to say if they’re scammers. But just because they’re selling services doesn’t make them so.

That said, if you’re not trying to produce, don’t let anyone charge you for something you don’t need.

I would like to meet people from Disney, who are legit and won't scam you.

I recently started on Stage32, and at the beginning I also received messages from so-called producers and financiers. They asked me to send my scripts by email or through external sites. I was immediately suspicious and kept my distance—it felt too good to be true. This is a real lesson for all of us. I find it very ugly and unfair that people try to take advantage of young creators who are just starting to dream and build.

Scammers don’t hesitate to impersonate real producers or financiers. I even received a fake request from “Clay Pecorin.” But since the Stage32 update, everything feels much more secure and reassuring. Thanks to the team who works hard to keep this community safe.

This road is filled with obstacles and thievery. Bewaesb

Very right Pat Savage and Minh

We should be very careful