Bad advice from a pro?

I'm not understanding your need here. Do you need to put something on Kindle for your students to read? Do they all have kindles? Do they have access to the internet?

As a 'writing sample/format example' there are tons of produced screenplays - many of them academy award winners - that can be accessed on the net. Just point the students to these scripts. Problem solved.

What is the point for using YOUR script? What is the need that is served by using something you have written, that is unproduced?

The whole 'it'll get stolen' argument is already addressed in numerous threads. Bottom line - copyright it. You can do it online. It's only 35 dollars, and it lasts forever, whereas WGA registration is cheaper, and expires. (Of course, you get a WGA number as soon as you register it, and you have to WAIT for the copyright registration to clear.)

Do realize though that in order to enforce your copyright you would have to take them the court. As right as you may be that will cost money.

Why not use professional scripts where you can show them script form, then movie form. It's extremely useful to be able to see it on paper and how that paper form translates into screen.

D Jay said:

Help!

I am considering putting up a script in Kindle format as a teaching guide type thing for high-school students. The script has made the rounds but has received no interest. It's WGA registered.

I was looking for someone to put it into Kindle format and the person I got a quote from has advised me NOT to put it up on the internet on advice from a pro she knows because "he advises strongly against putting your script out there unless it's already been produced for the screen, as anyone can just steal it, slap their name on it, and get it made with no recompense to you."

I've already gotten over the whole "OMG - they are going to steal my idea!!!" thing. I've sent it out before and it hasn't been stolen yet. And this wouldn't even be going to people directly in the industry. When I asked if copyright and WGA registration wouldn't offer me some protection, I was told "it's very complicated and is better explained over the phone".

This isn't me, right? It sounds fishy? This pro had 2 TV credits from the 70s, and 3 TV movies (89, 90, 92 - and this last one looks sketchy).

Thanks for any input.

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The fact is, it's very unlikely that someone will simply steal your script, slap their name on it, and sell it. If your script is copyrighted, then they'll be breaking the law and you'll certainly be able to sue them for copyright violation and ream the hell out of them.

The point is this. If you have even a scintilla of concern that this might happen, then that scintilla of concern adds up to some belief that your script still has some potential to sell. If it doesn't, then who'd steal it? To whom would he sell it? Who would buy it and get somebody else to finance it and then make it for, presumably, millions of dollars?

That would be unlikely if your script is worthless.

Now, if your script is not worthless and still has some potential to sell, if not now, maybe next year, or five years from now, or ten years from now (I sold a script more than ten years after I wrote it -- and it was actually produced) -- then why in the world would you distribute it in a such a cavalier fashion?

As others have said, there are numerous screenplays for produced movies that are available for free download that would surely serve your purpose far better than putting your own material out into the world which, even if nobody stole it, would surely render it less desirable, if only by reason of it being so widely and publicly passed around.

NMS