I came across this article tonight and thought I'd share it with you. I've had some work for hire relationships that went south but nobody's rewritten my work yet. What about you? Share your good or bad experiences if you have one.
https://nyc.epeak.in/2017/09/23/screenwriters-get-used-to-being-rewritten/
I've been replaced/fired/rewritten a dozen times. Ego hurts but I got over it. The end game is finishing, from script to post-production. Try to do the best and learn as you go. It's not Film school. It's a job. Grind. There is a Time schedule. The script is the cheapest expense.
Maybe Life is different at WGA scale? Dunno. Work with DGA, SAG, PGA, IATSE crews will elevate a Writer's craft.
Over the years I've had lots of experiences - a few good ones, more bad ones than i'd a liked. It's called life. Like Dan M; I've been replaced/fired/rewritten lots of times. I've had well crafted stories and written scripts (I thought so) turned into garbage/die in production Hell. I've sold scripts that have been rewritten by others and made into respected films. I learned that once you sell it - it's theirs to do with as they see fit. My quarterly royalty checks won't even keep my fridge stocked with beer anymore.
If you want total creative control then screenwriter isn't the right job to have.
Happens all the time. Expect it.
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I see this as a huge slap in the face to a screenwriter -- especially if it is a spec script. Considering a script can take up a huge chunk of time and creative energy, it boggles my mind that someone can just pick it up and rewrite it as if I had never existed. But, that just gives me a good reason to work toward producing my own scripts I suppose.
I'm surprised there aren't more people advocating for the screenwriters. You might not be able to own ideas, but the time spent formulating that idea into a final product that is eventually sold should be factored into its price and should open up the right to negotiate for mandatory credit...if not as a writer, then as some low-level producer. I'm surprised standard contracts don't mandate some sort of credit.
There's definitely room for improvement here.
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Brandon, many, many people advocate for screenwriters. A writer has the right to negotiate for credit and even to negotiate that not a word is changed AND the fee paid. Almost all contracts include wording on screen credit. I'm not sure where you get the idea than standard contracts do not.
Well, that sounds much better than the way I interpreted it (as I've never had a script rewritten). But, it almost sounded like a script can be taken an re-written almost to the point that the original writer is irrelevant. If this is not the case, then I feel much better about the situation. Thanks for clearing things up for me D Marcus.
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A recent WGA credit determination story: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/thor-ragnarok-writer-denied...
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*Note to Dan's post above - the contract must align with union rules (if applicable) and law. If the contract doesn't, the rules and law override a non-conforming contract but I'll let a lawyer tell us what the proper legal terminology is for what I just typed.