I'm skyping tomorrow with a producer who read my script and wants to talk about it and share some suggestions on revising it. (Whatever else her intentions are towards me and the script I'll find out tomorrow.) I have no reason to distrust this person, who is quite established in the Hollywood industry, but if I take some of those suggestions offered is there any risk to me in regard to the script's copyright? I don't want anyone claiming co-authorship down the line ...
Screenwriting : Legal question about working with a producer by Eric Christopherson
Legal question about working with a producer
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Thanks for the input!
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Don't worry, be happy. You face no risk here. If the Producer wants you're script - he'll buy it (then it's his script). It's a whole lot cheaper for an established Producer to buy your script than it is for him to steal it - as an established Producer; he knows that!
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Thanks again for the input. The call went well. I liked the producer's notes, and we agreed I'd revise the script accordingly, then she'll take it to financiers. Later, we'll polish another script or two of mine together and she'll use them to help me obtain an agent. I'm already waiting to hear back from a financier regarding another script, so after three years in the game and five scripts completed, I'm starting to feel a little something called PROGRESS!
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Well done Eric!
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That's very exciting news! Congratulations -- very happy for you!
Wow, Eric, well done! Congrats, because that's a huge step forward. Good luck!
That is awesome news Eric! I would see how the conversation goes and see what her suggestions are. Though we want to err on the side of caution, would go in with an open mind and hopefully things will go far!!
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LOL! Unless she's twirling her mustache every time you talk to her I think you should be cool. Hear her out and go with your gut.
Eric:
Don't put the cart before the horse. First, establish an objective for the meeting. Did this producer call you to say I want to discuss this screenplay? If so, find out what it is the producer aims to do and if they want to move forward with an objective such as securing funding and distribution. Second, before incorporating any notes or changes establish whether or not you want to work with the producer and sign some kind of work for hire or option agreement. I've just finished a third draft for a work for hire option I signed and have another meeting after the holidays with a different producer for one of my spec screenplays. But I wouldn't do jack or shit until I hear what the interested party has in mind. Congrats on your upcoming meeting and best of luck. Please let me know if I can be of any assistance.
Thanks, Unc P, but the meeting already happened (see my previous comment above).
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How'd it go, Boomer?
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No problem. Unless they are paying you you are free to use their notes. Once they are paying you to do rewrites, those rewrites are theirs and if they don't renew the option that rewritten version is still theirs and you go back to the original version and try to find another producer. Things get into weird gray areas when the second producer gives you the same notes as the first... but cross that bridge when you come to it.