Continuing on after the workshop

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  • Continuing on after the workshop

    Hello everyone,

    Last week I attended a screenwriting workshop. In one exercise we were put into groups of 3 and asked to come up with a concept for a tv series, create some characters and a rough plot line for a season. Afterwards each group presented their ideas and the others in attendance offered feedback, suggested alternatives, etc. It was an interesting and creative couple of hours bouncing ideas back and forth between everyone and I enjoyed the interaction.

    Having thought a bit more on it the past few days, I quite like the basic premise that my group came up with and want to explore the idea a bit further but I'm not sure whether that's okay or if I am obligated to inform the other two people in my group that I intend working on it? I'd rather not collaborate to write a script as we all live a fair distance apart plus I'd prefer to work at my own pace.

    Chances are it won't amount to much of anything as I'm a novice writer but want to make sure to do the right thing just in case.

    Thanks for your help
    "Writing is easy. All you do is sit staring at a blank sheet of paper until drops of blood form on your forehead"... Gene Fowler

  • #2
    Re: Continuing on after the workshop

    Were you given any parameters on what to come up with or was it 100% make up whatever?

    In general you can't copyright ideas. You can't even steal them like people say. What you can do is hear an idea and write YOUR version of it, like it seems 99% of writers I know do. Sometimes we call it homage.

    So I think you're fine.

    I'm assuming that you didn't beat out an entire pilot or world, but more like you said "what about a tv show about an aiplane crash..."

    6 years since last post... long time no see!

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    • #3
      Re: Continuing on after the workshop

      I feel your pain.

      This is malpractice on the part of a writing teacher!!!

      It's one thing to have participants pitch their own ideas with the understanding that the room can pitch ideas but those ideas are the sole property of the original writer. That's how writers' groups, and workshops operate. The members of the workshop are there to support their fellow writers and expect no ownership of the ideas they pitch to another writer based on that original writer's work. But to have a group of creatives DO creative work and leave ownership for that creative murky and/or undefined is a horrible idea specifically for situations like this.

      It would be like taking a class in mobile app design and the instructor having participants break into groups of three and come up with ideas for apps. At the end of the day who has the rights to those apps? The instructor for commissioning (?) the apps, the three participants who developed the app, or the one person who had the original idea? This is a legal IP nightmare as far as I can tell. Look at the Facebook lawsuit.

      If anything was written down then there are potential problems.
      Just my 2 cents, your mileage may vary.

      -Steve Trautmann
      3rd & Fairfax: The WGAW Podcast

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Continuing on after the workshop

        It was 100% create whatever we wanted.

        The initial base premise was one that I came up with, then the three of us all contributed by rearranging and expanding on the idea a bit, then we created some characters and a very simple plot line. We didn't beat out an entire pilot or episode. There were no scenes written. It was mostly just a lot of "what if's- that eventually resulted in a few paragraphs that we presented to the rest of the class.

        I'd like to revisit the initial premise and then create a world along a similar line to one of the ideas we discussed but with different characters and different plot points.

        Many thanks for your input and for the "welcome back-... it has been a long time - I haven't been well and it feels really good to be thinking about writing again
        "Writing is easy. All you do is sit staring at a blank sheet of paper until drops of blood form on your forehead"... Gene Fowler

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        • #5
          Re: Continuing on after the workshop

          Thanks Steve, the "creative murky- as you call it sums up the situation perfectly.

          The workshop was offered through a state run organisation, perhaps I should contact them for clarification?
          "Writing is easy. All you do is sit staring at a blank sheet of paper until drops of blood form on your forehead"... Gene Fowler

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Continuing on after the workshop

            I don’t see legal troubles. Only that guilty feeling. However that guilt has stopped me from writing ideas while on this board people are writing ideas inspired by reading others developed ideas. And you said it was your premise.

            If we both had same idea for tv show we would both write 95% different shows.

            I say write it. Get back in game.

            Only downside is the other 2 writers have that idea too to write maybe. And I guess the whole group because you shared it. To me it’s out there. And can’t stop 30 writers from hearing a concept and going with it. Even if they do it by accident or intentional.

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Continuing on after the workshop

              Originally posted by Bono View Post
              I don't see legal troubles.
              Hard to say for me because we're talking about Australia and copyright in the commonwealth is a bit different than here in the US.
              Just my 2 cents, your mileage may vary.

              -Steve Trautmann
              3rd & Fairfax: The WGAW Podcast

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Continuing on after the workshop

                I'm saying Freddie could post the idea in this thread and the 3 of us would write 3 entirely different shows. And I'm saying writers do this all the time and maybe don't even notice it. Do you know how many times I thought of an idea and realized I thought of it 10 years before or realize what I got that from someone else's idea... it's impossible almost not to do it.

                That's why I never get music and copyright when 100000 songs sound the same to me, but 2 random songs, the artist gets sued. I just don't get it.

                If every writer got sued for an idea being already done or "stolen" -- we'd all be sued.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Continuing on after the workshop

                  Originally posted by Bono View Post
                  I'm saying Freddie could post the idea in this thread and the 3 of us would write 3 entirely different shows. And I'm saying writers do this all the time and maybe don't even notice it. Do you know how many times I thought of an idea and realized I thought of it 10 years before or realize what I got that from someone else's idea... it's impossible almost not to do it.

                  That's why I never get music and copyright when 100000 songs sound the same to me, but 2 random songs, the artist gets sued. I just don't get it.

                  If every writer got sued for an idea being already done or "stolen" -- we'd all be sued.
                  Completely agree with you... in theory.

                  However, in this situation there are two other people that can, however dubiously, claim partial ownership and they have a whole room full of people that can potentially back their claim. And nothing can toss cold water on a deal faster or more completely than a question of ownership or chain of title.

                  As ever, I'm not a lawyer, nor do I or have I ever played one on TV. I suggest contacting a lawyer/barrister if you choose to continue working on this project.

                  HTH,
                  Just my 2 cents, your mileage may vary.

                  -Steve Trautmann
                  3rd & Fairfax: The WGAW Podcast

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Continuing on after the workshop

                    Originally posted by KitchonaSteve View Post
                    Completely agree with you... in theory.

                    However, in this situation there are two other people that can, however dubiously, claim partial ownership and they have a whole room full of people that can potentially back their claim. And nothing can toss cold water on a deal faster or more completely than a question of ownership or chain of title.

                    As ever, I'm not a lawyer, nor do I or have I ever played one on TV. I suggest contacting a lawyer/barrister if you choose to continue working on this project.

                    HTH,
                    Yeah, I have to agree with you. It's in a fixed written form, now, with three authors for each concept/idea. It wasn't just an idea, based on what Freddie said, they came up with a specific TV series concept, created characters and a rough plotline for the season. That sounds kind of like a concept outline. It's not the same as saying I have this great idea where all these worlds chase and iron throne. And someone takes off with it. Hard to say. It sounds like only a few paragraphs. But what if all three of them go out and write it? Who has the rights? IDK, it's a tough call.

                    What the instructor should have done is had everyone create their own idea, have the threesome workshop them all and then the group pick one person's concept to present.

                    FA4
                    "Arguing that you don't care about the right to privacy b/c you have nothing to hide is no different than saying you don't care about free speech because you have nothing to say." -- Edward Snowden

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: Continuing on after the workshop

                      I'm just trying to be practical. I assume this will be a writing sample and won't be a hit TV show. If it is a hit TV show, then they have money to pay off the others. I'm saying, ideas are a dime a dozen. He said he came up with the concept and I believe him. And even if I he thought of a new original idea right now, it may be exactly like the idea I'm writing.

                      I see people post ideas on here and we're all writing similar things and that's just random ideas...

                      Freddie seems excited. And sounds like he's been away for a bit for some reason, so I should prefer to encourage the journey and not worry about the business.

                      If anything it's more a guitly conscience thing than a legal question to me.

                      Maybe Freddie can PM us the idea and if I think of like 3 TV shows just like it, can he write it? Ha.

                      For instance, people post on here and I know because poeple have said it -- now I'm going to go write an idea inspired by that idea. I wrote a summer camp movie, my own writing partner notes to me on it was to write his own summer camp movie becuase he got excited by that world. Tottally different movies.

                      I've been in pitch meetings and I pitch ideas -- producers pitch ideas -- so now say 100s of writers have heard the producers idea. Now I wouldn't write that idea from producer -- but there have been times when I have an idea in my head and I can't remember if it was my idea or from like a meeting six years ago. Do I let it die just becuase it may be someone else's. Or did I say it in the room?

                      I'm just trying to lay out that I feel strongly ideas are just that. Execution, vocie, talent, actually finishing something is the whole ballgame. If it was just as easy as finding the perfect idea -- then I'd be much happier.

                      Anyway -- just my two cents.

                      If Freddie just writes the script and never mentions this again -- who is going to even know besides him? That's all I'm saying. And it's up to him and other writers to determine am I stealing hte work of 2 others or am I taking a throwaway 15 mimute activity and making into a viable property.

                      Personally I wouldn't be in that situation. I'm not sure what the conference or whatever was all about.

                      But there are script contests where they lay out scenarios and writers write their version of it -- and I think my bdduy sold one of those scripts.

                      If someone goes to the logline section and writes the script to the logline I put up htere --- well that's what happens sometimes. I wouldn't be thrilled if it was a good friend on here, but I wouldn't be surpised either...

                      Anyway -- if you have any contact with the other memebers of the group -- I'd personally reach out to them and see how they feel. But if this is some random meet up, then I don't know...

                      Do you have another idea -- I'd of course go with that first.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: Continuing on after the workshop

                        Thanks everyone for your comments and advice. I figured this might be considered to be somewhat complicated.

                        A few more details for those who are interested. The workshop was offered through a writers' organisation. It was presented by a visiting instructor. The advertised skill level was aimed at intermediate, emerging and practicing writers. A dozen people attended - everyone had some experience in screenwriting and most had a project they were currently working on, in varying stages of completion. To my knowledge no-one had met before, prior to attending the workshop.

                        Anyway, as luck would have it I gave my email to one of the others in my group and he has sent me a message about the workshop. So I have written back to him with regards to continuing work on the concept. Hopefully we'll get it sorted out. If it looks like there's going to be a problem I'll just abandon the thing as I don't need the hassle. IMO it's an interesting concept with potential but it's not the only idea around, I've got something else I've been working on.

                        Will update when there's anything more to tell. Thx again.
                        "Writing is easy. All you do is sit staring at a blank sheet of paper until drops of blood form on your forehead"... Gene Fowler

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