Screenwriting : Producers?? by Karen Kinsman

Hi Karen Kinsman - I had the same thing happen a few months back - but worse - I must have send maybe four scripts to this guy! Yikes!

Did you do your due diligence on their bona fides?

It's always exciting to get people contacting you for your work but as Drongo Bum mentions, always look into them to make sure they are legit before you send them anything. Ask questions, make sure they have a website and check to see if they have an IMDB page, etc.

Hi Karen Kinsman - a good tip someone shared was to treat those contacts like texts: if you didn't initiate contact, either investigate or ignore, but do not reply directly unless it's to ask 'How did you hear about my project? Who recommended me to you?'. There's a lot of stolen IDs out there, so just be smart and don't let anyone prey on your hopes and dreams ;-) Write on!

UGH, I've been there. A manager-producer contacted me about a script. The manager-producer was legit, but then it turned out someone was using the name of the manager-producer. I made PDFs of the email to have proof of the interaction and contacted the screenwriting platform about the incident.

I would expect Stage32 to first make sure they are legit, before listing the fakes to us writers!

why worry about sharing your work?

I've had the same thing happen. I think some men look at Stage 32 as a dating site. Grr.

I've had that happen as well. As long as you have your work protected by WGA or Copyright, I wouldn't worry about it.

They contacted you through the Stage 32 platform you mean, Karen Kinsman? If so that's unusual, any sort of direct inquiry or script request is something we would facilitate in order to avoid situations like the one you mentioned. And yes we do meet with and vet execs as they join our consultant ranks, and if there any people that turn out not to be a positive part of the community then yes we can suspend them. Not sure what the details were in this instance, but I am sorry that happened to you.

So have I.

Ran into something like this yesterday. Someone on Stage 32 posing as a writer/director/producer wanting to look at a couple of my scripts. This person sent me an email that was totally bogus. I didn't send scripts and removed her from my contacts. Recommend exercise caution....

Question for you, Nick Phillips. If a Stage32 member/producer has contacted me and I've sent over the requested script and that member/producer is still an active member, but after 5 months and three check-ins by me, I have not heard a reply from the member/producer, what should I do?

It just ticks me off that people use this wonderful website for stupidity and deceit. Everyone involved in creating, developing, and maintaining Stage 32 has worked and continue to work very hard to ensure that those that belong here can advance their careers. Shame on all and every scam artist. Get out!

Sorry to hear. I've had a few too many of those people asking to join my network and engage in conversation...only to see them suspended. To be honest, it made me take a step back from the site & my engagement with others for a bit. But there are a lot of good people on here too! Keep the faith, and do your research on them the best you can before sending anything. If anyone has advice please share!

If we all check people's sites to validate and report any that seem fake, we can sort the site out fast!

Both producers who contacted me have done a significant amount of films. I'm wondering if scammers are using actual producers names.

It’s frustrating to have producers disappear like that, especially after sharing your script. While it's unsettling, this can happen for various reasons—sometimes beyond your control, hopefully, you’ll find the right producers!

I learned my lesson early on. Now, I don’t share my ideas or scripts with anyone—not even friends—before registering them with the WGA and securing a copyright. When I send scripts to producers or managers, I always reference my WGA registration, so they know they can’t try any tricks.

Thank you, everyone. I've been a writer for 20 years and have done a lot of footwork on my own regarding communication with credible people in the film industry. My script HELL AT 30 BELOW is based on true events in my past, an adaptation from my ( 300 + pages) of my novel under the same title and is Registered WGA copyright. The suspended producers who contacted me about my script are Adam Falkoff and Kevin Weisberg. I assumed these producers were checked out by Stage32. Kevin emailed and said I would need $3,000 for starting the development, and I said, "Sorry.. NO!" Adam is the one I sent my script to, and he was suspended the next day. I value and respect Stage32, but wish THEY...would first check out these fakes before allowing them to post on Stage32, like when we submit our pitches or 30 minute phone calls with credible people in the film business.

Karen Kinsman These are not "executives" who are brought on through our normal channels, I can tell you first and foremost. We vet any and all new execs thoroughly, through direct meetings, online research, talking with people who know them in the case of our referrals etc. I've never heard Kevin nor Adam's names once in my 8 months here, and I would be able to remember the name of every exec I've help bring on since I've been here. And we check in on long time execs as well to see what they're up to lately and make sure they're still active in the business. We do our best to monitor for these fake profiles and when we see them and/or they are reported they are taken down. And when we hear a complaint about an exec we speak to them directly to try and resolve any issues. Point is that we're on top of it as best as we can be, and we are always striving to improve. Sorry again that this happened to you, it's no fun and I totally understand. We're always here to try and help and to do our best to make sure things like this don't happen. And of course you have this great community to support you as well!

what was that person's name Fonde Taylor?

Just keep reaching out Francisco Castro. It's what we do here and what I do in my own career! A long time ago I had a job interview with someone, followed up for a while. They finally called me a year later to say they had gone with someone else, and I had gotten a job by then anyway. So they eventually do get back to you! A year is pretty funny though. That's like going on one date with someone, never talking to them again, and then calling them a year later to be like I don't think we should see each other any more.

HA!!! Thanks, Nick Phillips!!! Will do!!!

$3000?!?! WTF?!?! That is clearly a scam, Karen Kinsman!!! Sorry you went through that, but thank you for warning us all. Will definitely remember and stay clear of Adam Falloff and Kevin Weisberg.

I had a "producer" who requested $4,200 via email for development that contacted me on Stage32 first. I think there are people who are pretending to be the actual producers, but are just scammers.

Well, I do have some credits and have previosuly optioned 4 scripts and been hired to write an additional two. But, your points are all very valid.

DT Houston A couple weeks ago I had a "very well-known" producer-director reach out to me to say how much he enjoyed reading a bunch of shorts I had earlier posted to www.SimplyScripts.com just for fun. Turns out his wife lurks there and she told him to read them.

An up-and-coming Hollywood director reached out to discuss the possibility of me writing something for him, again because of that site.

Some excellent pro-am directors have also reached out for the same reason, along with a few enthusiastic amateurs looking to get started.

And one senior academic at a SoCal film school approached me about adding one of my scripts to the curriculum as a filmmaking teaching aid.

Professionals are out there and they're always looking for decent material, but aspiring screenwriters have to learn to tamp down their own excitement and do some due diligence, instead of just ecstatically cartwheeling around the room and booking a flight to Los Angeles while rehearsing their Oscar speech any time they're contacted by somebody claiming to be a producer.

The problem is that aspiring screenwriters don't do this. It's the same reason they're willing to blow their money on for-profit coverage services no one in the business cares about, and on screenwriting contests nobody in the business has ever heard of, and on writing 'consultants' who have achieved no more in the business than their wannabe screenwriter prey. They're also locking their work away from general view behind for-profit paywall websites because they've been told professionals will line up to read it for [reasons].

"Drongo Bum, are you as Aussie?"

No.

"Anyway, yeah, I'm not saying in any way that there aren't creative, hungry, crafty aspiring producers out there looking for good material. Even producers with some credits. For sure, they are out there."

The well-known producer-director who contacted me (via the WGA) is A list. Even the top tier people are open to good work from outside their circle.

"And there's a lot to be said for self-starter types, hustling, and finding material. I've worked with them before. Hell, I'm one of them, too! I've written a spec script based on a book that I didn't own, and then I went to the author and used that spec script to convince him he should give me an option to try and set the book/script up. He did. I never discount grit and hustle. It counts."

Maybe it depends on how you define "hustle".

"But if they're asking you to put up money, red flag and don't proceed."

No one in the business who can do anything for you will ask for money. Just not ever. (Not since Carrie Fisher's death, anyhow.)

If you are at a party and meet, say, Tony Gilroy and you hit it off and he says, "Okay, okay, all right, I'll read your script, but it's gonna cost you a steak dinner for me and my wife!", that's a good deal, even if the meal is expensive. But that's the only time you will have to pay and the only circumstances in which you ought to.

Everything about screenwriting now feels like a scam. For-profit websites. For-profit coverage 'services'. For-profit script 'consultants'. For-profit screenwriting 'contests'. And of course the ten thousand "Hollywood pro guru mentor advisor insiders" on social media who have never produced anything, sold anything, optioned anything, or, in many case, never written anything other than social media posts.

Maybe 3-4 years ago I would say paying producers money was a scam but now in 2024 and 2025, paying producers might not be wrong because nobody has money for development. Big & small companies are crying broke. Flip the leverage of power. You know how companies do baker's dozen meetings with writers, do the same with producers. You got the power because you are paying. Maybe do tier payments; make them perform daily/weekly/monthly checklist.

DT Houston I appreciate the kind words! We aim to be as anticipatory as possible with scenarios such as these, and any situations that end up being a negative experience for the members overall. We'll continue to advance the most effective safeguards we can, especially in the before stages as opposed to afterwards. The afterwards can be like a game of wack-a-mole sometimes! This is a really good discussion overall, not just as it pertains to this community and the platform, but it's an interesting discussion of some of the processes and machinations, both legit and shady, within the industry at large, as well as the ups and downs that writers and producers are facing these days. I hope people are gleaning what they can from it. It's generated alot of thought and reaction for me personally, almost to the point where I don't know if it's better as a blog or a reeeeeeallllly long comment post. : )

Hi all.... I read that WGA registration has no teeth and US Copyright is the only method that offers legal action.

It's always exciting to hear from someone interested in your work, but you have to lure them to the surface to see their true intentions. First, do a search on their name to see if they have a legitimate film history then ask them questions that will force them to show they have some knowledge about the business. Any producer should be able to have a cast. crew, and budget in mind just from hearing your Logline and short synopsis. If they don't, they aren't who they say they are.

Hi Rebecca, I think establishing proof or concept for your project is probably more important than any WGA registration in the short run. Back in 2019, my stage play had a one month extended run in a London theatre and as a result of that, the reviews, programmes, posters (5+ years on) and video clips - as well as the actors who acted in it - are now part of that historical record which includes adapting it for screen. My advice is write it and get it out there in some form - even if it's a radio story as these can establish your work if it comes down to the proof of who wrote it first.

WGA reg is pretty much garbage on its own. A LoC copyright claim has a statutory payout that's guaranteed if you win. This should be standard knowledge by now.

Yeah, I've been away for a while from here and now I must say I really see a huge uptake on scammers and so on.

US Copyright fee is about as equal to WGA Registration, but US Copyright lasts longer and holds more legal sway. I always hate it when fellowships require a WGA Registration # instead of asking a writer has EITHER a WGA Registration or Copyright.

Thank you all for your helpful comments. My novel is copyrighted with LOC and my screenplay adaptation is registered with WGA. I think the novel is proof that I own the screenplay. : )

Even if somebody “steals” your idea. More than likely they don’t have the money to make it. And more than likely don’t want to put in the effort to execute it (getting it packaged, paying for rewrites, finding a director for an idea they stole).

And hell if they do have money. Why not just pay you for the idea lol. But things don’t make sense in this industry at all.

I'm sorry that happened to you. Did you go through the process of paying for a producer to read it? That's what I do. I generally just pay $35.00 and do research that they are legit. I also vacillate between producers and agents. I've been asked to see my screenplay once and sent it and then they passed on it. Probably because they couldn't afford to make it. They said I had amazing characters. Hopefully, I won't see those amazing characters on screen. Unfortunately, it's legal to steal ideas. I had this very thing happen to me when The Deep Blue Sea got made and I didn't get any credit or any money. Nevertheless, the alternative is to make our scripts on our own. I'm writing a low budget right now to do just that. In the end, they will get what they deserve. I do believe in Karma.