Tag Archives: screenplay

Writers Beware!

It is imperative that writers take appropriate steps to protect their creative writing. We all  know about the cold cruel world out there,  but this weariness needs to extend to cyberspace. Writers protect your work. If you upload it to the internet, make sure you upload it to reputable sites.

It has recently come to my attention that a fellow screenwriter had a “short script” stolen. This is what happened: the screenwriter uploaded the script to several sites. An unscrupulous person read the script “online”, downloaded it, and offered it ”for production” as his creation. He found someone to make his screenplay into a movie but, when the project was advertised online, the caper and theft was uncovered.

One of the places this screenplay was uploaded was at MoviePoet.com. Now this isn’t where the theft took place but, by being part of the MoviePoet.com community, this “theft” was thwarted. A fellow MPer saw the advertised project and brought it to everyone’s attention.

The writer contacted the director and was furnished a copy of the script. There was no doubt the script was stolen and the writer was able to prove he had written it. This short script will still be filmed BUT THE REAL WRITER will get all credit. I have read this script. It is excellent and I am glad it was resolved to the writer’s satisfaction.

I’m told investigation has resulted in discovering at least eight other scripts that were “stolen” by this no-good thief. The name of the thief is Oz Rudd but no one knows for sure if this is his real name. Apparently he is from Serbia but we can’t be sure about that either.

This time someone tried to steal a short screenplay. But it could have been a short story or a feature length script or a novel.  In any case, WRITERS, TAKE STEPS TO PROTECT YOURSELF.   Make sure you have dated records of your work. Some of the things you can do include: (1)  registering it with the WGA, (2) copyrighting it with the federal government, (3) posting it on a (reputable) website.

Do something to protect yourself. Never forget that it’s a cold cruel world out there…

“Library Books at Police Headquarters”

Update to this post on 2/16/12

Stefan Simonovic is aka Oz Rudd

If you would like further information about this, please check  with SimplyScripts.com, Stake Productions (http://www.facebook.com/pianotheshort), MoviePoet.com, and Stage32.com.

WINDFALL’S Sequel…

My goal this year continues to be to write two novels!

The first novel is titled FINDING VERITY.   Its progress is solid and the current word count is 26,299 words.

The second novel I planned to write I’ve referred to as CURRENT NOVEL because I don’t have a title for it yet. But its progress has not gone well. Therefore, I’ve put Current Novel on the back burner.

But, my goal remains unchanged… I WILL write two novels in 2012.

My second novel will be WINDFALL’s sequel. (Windfall is currently available in Kindle or paperback formats on Amazon.)

I do know the sequel’s title but I can’t share it yet. Before I write the novel, I’m writing the screenplay, and I’ve entered the screenplay’s logline in MoviePoet’s logline contest. In this contest, the story’s title and logline are judged and, since entries must remain anonymous, I can’t reveal the title.

Wish me luck!

“W” is for Writing 

I Write What I Want to Write!

The other day someone asked me what kind of stories I see myself writing in the future. For me, that’s not an easy question because, honestly, I don’t know.

I can’t see myself only writing in one genre. Yes, there are authors who only write novels that involve detectives and serial killers. And some writer’s pen only romance or historical sagas. But, I can’t see myself limiting myself.

My first novel WINDFALL was a dramatic thriller. However, next year when I write its sequel, I’m not going to limit myself to writing another dramatic thriller. It might end up being a dramatic thriller but it might be something entirely different. Right now I don’t know. I’m giving myself options.

This year I’m writing two novels. One is a coming of age story. The other is a paranormal romance.

I suppose if I was younger I might want to focus on one genre and become famous for that. Like Stephen King did with horror, or John Grisham did with novels about lawyers.

But I’m 60. At this point in my life I’m not going to limit myself.

I’m a writer, sometimes novels and sometimes screenplays, and I’m going to write what I want to write.

Writing Devices for the Blind in 1913 (Library for the Blind)