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It’s a constant fear among young writers: finally coming up with that million dollar idea, only to have it stolen by some mustache twirling producer, some back-stabbing friend, or even worse, some untalented hack of a writer. For this reason, scores of writers hide away their best ideas, terrified to share them with anyone for fear of losing them. So, let me reassure you.
No, they didn’t sneak into your laptop while you were away and spirit off your precious Final Draft files. In fact, most likely, they’ve never even met you, or talked about your idea with you or anyone you know. But if you’ve got an idea, there’s a good chance that there are at least 50 scripts with the same idea already circulating around Hollywood.
Who Invented Darwinism?You probably haven’t heard of him, but during the same 20 years that Darwin was scribbling away on his revolutionary (and as-yet unpublished) Origin of Species, a guy named Alfred Russell Wallace was coming to the exact same conclusion. Never imagining that he and the great Charles Darwin could be working on the exact same project, Wallace sent his short paper on the subject to Darwin, whom he’d never met, begging the famous scientist for some feedback before he sent it to the publisher!
Imagine Darwin’s horror at receiving Wallace’s paper—and you’ll understand why producers ask you to sign such insane legal contracts before they agree to read your work. There’s a good chance that somewhere out there, somebody else is already working on exactly the same project you are.
When Darwin rushed his Origin of Species to the presses after reading Wallace’s paper, Wallace could easily have imagined that Darwin had stolen his idea. But Wallace had the exact opposite reaction. He and Darwin became good friends, and ultimately, Wallace would claim that his greatest scientific achievement had been prompting Darwin to finally publish his groundbreaking manuscript.
Wallace understood that it wasn’t the idea of Origin of Species that changed the course of science forever. It was the execution of that idea in a way that captured the attention of everyone who read it. Similarly, it’s not the idea of your screenplay that’s going to make it sell. It’s the execution of that idea in a way that captures the essence of that idea, and translates it in a way that captures the audience’s attention.
Darwin and Wallace were not the first scientists to muse about evolution, nor was Shakespeare the completely original inventor of all his plays. Romeo and Juliet was stolen from the Roman myth of Pyramus and Thisbe. Hamlet is just an update of an older play called The Ur-Hamlet. The Big Lebowski steals unabashedly from The Big Sleep. And its main characters are not so loosely based on a couple of real life guys who were friends with the Coen Brothers. And remember that great truck chase scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark? It’s stolen from an old movie called Stagecoach.
Great writers steal liberally from everyone and everything around them: people, places, history, events, novels, plays, poems, songs, art, and yes, even other screenplays. They take these elements, draw upon them for inspiration, change, adapt, and repurpose them for their own writing, and in this way build upon the work of all the great writers who have gone before them. Though they may have been inspired by the same sources, Romeo and Juliet is not Pyramus and Thisbe. Hamlet is not The Ur-Hamlet. The Big Lebowski is nothing like The Big Sleep. And Raiders of the Lost Ark could never be confused for Stagecoach. That’s because no matter how similar the ideas they start with may be, it’s almost impossible for two writers to write the exact same script.
Translating an idea into screenplay form is intensely personal work, requiring thousands of intuitive creative decisions at every turn. And no two writers will ever make those decisions in the same way. Even if another writer were to steal, stumble upon, or be gifted by the screenwriting gods with the exact same “million-dollar idea” that you are currently working on, the chances of them writing a script that’s anything like the one you’ve created are extraordinarily slim.
So stop protecting your writing. If someone thinks they can write your movie better than you can, tell them to go for it! And then go out and steal some good inspiration for yourself.
Despite his 20 years of work on the subject, his fame and his reputation in the industry, Darwin was so afraid to go out and pitch his revolutionary idea that he almost got beaten to the punch. This is the same mistake that so many young writers make, clinging so tenaciously to their ideas that they never have a chance to share them with anyone. If you’re going to sell your idea, you’re going to have to pitch it. And if you want to figure out your script, you’re going to have to share your writing and see how other people respond. Take a class. Talk to your friends. Share your writing. Get the feedback you need.
My father used to tell me, you can’t catch a fish if your hook isn’t in the water. And the same thing is true for pitching. If you’ve got a great idea, then write the script, and start shouting about it to the world. Because that’s the only way you’re going to sell it.
There’s a big difference between “stealing” someone’s idea and repurposing it for your own writing, and literally stealing somebody else’s script. It’s rare that an experienced producer will actually steal a script from a writer. Anyone who’s ever produced a movie knows it’s much cheaper and easier to pay you for your screenplay than to defend a plagiarism lawsuit. Nevertheless, the bad kind of stealing does happen occasionally, so there are steps you should take to protect yourself.
(please note that I am not a lawyer and the following does not constitute legal advice).
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14 Comments
Greetings Mr Krueger,
Thanks for your honest insight. I have had two final drafts stolen and alterd and I’m dealing with that. They were registered with WGA-West and one was produced.
What i need is a good entertainment lawyer, any suggestions.
I look forward to your seminar on November 2, 2011.
I’m working on two novels that will convert to screenplays, one child animation and a YA. You’re right, I need to stop worrying and get them finished.
Toni
Greetings Mr Krueger,
Thanks for your honest insight. I have had two final drafts stolen and alterd and I’m dealing with that. They were registered with WGA-West and one was produced.
What i need is a good entertainment lawyer, any suggestions.
I look forward to your seminar on November 2, 2011.
I’m working on two novels that will convert to screenplays, one child animation and a YA. You’re right, I need to stop worrying and get them finished.
Toni
Although you are 100% correct in your advice about submitting your work and to not let fear shackle you, the fact is, that what happens in the corridors of Hollywood is not so much direct stealing of a script, but rather lifting ideas and scenes from scripts after they’re pitched. This has happened to me many times (and I’m talking about direct meetings, not mailed in scripts), and my scripts were left powerless with their hero scenes showing up in produced films. Then, my scripts were seen as copying their films. As for using your right of copyright…how many people can afford to go head-to-head with a producer or film studio in a legal battle? This concept is great in theory, but doesn’t work in real life. While it’s true that everything in art is based on something which came before, “stealing” from screenwriters the way it’s practiced in Hollywood, should never be condoned. And yes, it happens frequently.
Hi Stuart,
I’m sorry you had such an unfortunate experience with the producers you were dealing with. I’m glad that after all that, you’re still able to continue to submit your work without allowing fear to shackle you. Clearly, that isn’t easy. I’ve always felt in my career that it’s best to focus on the things you CAN protect yourself from, and let the things you can’t protect yourself from go, no matter how unpleasant they may be. So as bad as the risk might be of running into unethical producers like the ones you have encountered, an even worse risk is to let your movie go unproduced for fear of pitching it. Nobody ever sold a script without sharing it with somebody. So as bad as your experiences may have been, keep at it, keep taking those risks and keep pitching. For all the bad producers out there, there also many good ones. I hope your future experiences are much better than the ones you’ve had so far.
Jake
Although you are 100% correct in your advice about submitting your work and to not let fear shackle you, the fact is, that what happens in the corridors of Hollywood is not so much direct stealing of a script, but rather lifting ideas and scenes from scripts after they’re pitched. This has happened to me many times (and I’m talking about direct meetings, not mailed in scripts), and my scripts were left powerless with their hero scenes showing up in produced films. Then, my scripts were seen as copying their films. As for using your right of copyright…how many people can afford to go head-to-head with a producer or film studio in a legal battle? This concept is great in theory, but doesn’t work in real life. While it’s true that everything in art is based on something which came before, “stealing” from screenwriters the way it’s practiced in Hollywood, should never be condoned. And yes, it happens frequently.
Hi Stuart,
I’m sorry you had such an unfortunate experience with the producers you were dealing with. I’m glad that after all that, you’re still able to continue to submit your work without allowing fear to shackle you. Clearly, that isn’t easy. I’ve always felt in my career that it’s best to focus on the things you CAN protect yourself from, and let the things you can’t protect yourself from go, no matter how unpleasant they may be. So as bad as the risk might be of running into unethical producers like the ones you have encountered, an even worse risk is to let your movie go unproduced for fear of pitching it. Nobody ever sold a script without sharing it with somebody. So as bad as your experiences may have been, keep at it, keep taking those risks and keep pitching. For all the bad producers out there, there also many good ones. I hope your future experiences are much better than the ones you’ve had so far.
Jake
Why keep giving your script to them if they can just rewrite it,they really don’t need you or new writers, when they can just lift your Idea, if somebone have the same Idea as you, then they don’t need new writers, if they change a few words it become their’s, it’s not a fine line, if they script is going the same way yours is, and end the same way, it’s yours, if they are known for stealing, I believe you can win, so don’t give up, check their background.
I totally agree. You need to trust that you can always write more. Come up with a new idea. Plus – NO ONE is going to hire a paranoid writer.
I totally agree. You need to trust that you can always write more. Come up with a new idea. Plus – NO ONE is going to hire a paranoid writer.
Great Article!
Great Article!
It’s cheaper to buy a script than to steal it. Only Amateurs are paranoid.
I actually have had many things stolen from writing boards. I posted a movie script on a writing board where you look for producer and director. Someone took it and made much of it into a movie that was a bit hit. I could probably sue since my post is still there at the board and dated. After that I swore to never post anything of mine online outside of my Facebook that way if it is stolen, I have a friend’s list to go to, to see. I have now set my Facebook to only allow certain people to see my news feeds.
I even had a hit song stolen from me. I pitched it to a girl who knew producers in California. My song then came out months later and was produced by a group in california. The group later got caught stealing people songs and was sued. They ended up losing fame over it. I knew they were broke and couldn’t pay me at that points since they were put out of business so I didn’t even bother to sue
I do not believe Hollywood is thinking of same thing as everyone else. That is like saying everyone has the same minds and their minds are the minds of GOD’S.
Much is stolen. My experience is proof. I even know 3 others people who had work stolen and the work ended up being big hits
Although the Shakespearean author used many classical themes, taken from his reading of Plutarch, in the French translated by Amyot, in the early 1590’s, popularized by Montainge’s Essays, the sensation of the day, which enormously influenced him as even a casual reading of Hamlet will demonstrate, there is a mountain of evidence, including his earliest extant effort, Love’s Labors Lost, that he wrote Romeo and Juliet from personal experience without any help at all from his forbears.