I have a problem.
In the big scheme of life, it’s frankly not a very bad problem. As a matter of fact, it might even be considered a good problem.
But it is a problem.
I’ve been contacted by a production company who wants to read one of my scripts. I’m excited! Elated! Thrilled! Chomping at the bit to send it right over!
Or I was, until they sent a release form that needs to accompany the script. The very long, very confusing release form that appears to give them the right to independently develop a script almost identical to mine while they have mine in hand.
Gulp! I don’t like the sound of that!
But maybe I’m overreacting. Maybe the clause in question (actually, there are several scary clauses) are the norm in release forms.
So I did what every good librarian would do and researched release forms. Most of forms I found do have a clause to protect the companies from being sued if they receive multiple scripts about the same idea, but none had it worded in quite the same way.
Add that to the fact that the release I was being asked to sign was four times longer than most and written in legal-speak, well….
I found a lawyer to look it over and was told that the release was ‘fishy’. But I’m not quite ready to give up yet, especially after I realized that he’s not an entertainment lawyer. I need someone who really knows the ins and outs of script release forms.
So my problem is that I need to find an entertainment lawyer.
Not as easy as you might think.
But in the overall scheme of things, not really a bad problem to have.