I've been pitching a series with a producer (one with little experience in pitching TV, but that's a whole other topic) and getting expected passes from buyers. Part of that has to do with not going out with a package -- it's just me (no-name writer), the producer (who has done a few movies), and the idea. We do have an article as IP and a couple of potential consultants, but that's neither here nor there.
Now we're about to do our last pitch, which again will likely lead to a pass, and as far as I'm concerned, that's that. Here's where there could be an issue. Way back when, we had a general meeting after he read one of my features. I told him about this idea (in a very general sense) and that I'd been developing it as a feature, but not really getting anywhere with it. He sparks to the idea immediately and wants to talk about it more. Weeks go by, maybe even a couple of months. My manager keeps in contact and learns that he's optioned said article and wants to develop it as a pitch for a series. Great! We start meeting again, develop it over the course of a 2-3 months, and instead of packaging it up we go straight to buyers (a mistake in the eyes of my reps, of course--again, another topic).
But now for some reason, he thinks that he's the one who came up with the idea. Maybe he's confused, maybe he's being nefarious. Who knows. Anyway, I told him the other day that, no, I pitched it in a general meeting. He got a little flustered, then hemmed and hawed a bit before moving on.
Now, I put a ton of work into this, but I'm also aware the situation is a little tricky because we developed this together and he used company money to option IP.
And stupidly, I don't have any kind of contract with him. My reps didn't think it was worth going through the back and forth with lawyers, given both our levels and the lack of pay. Fine, I can live with that.
What I want to know, is this a work for hire situation because he has the IP, and therefore full control of the material, or is there a dual control thing going on here because I did the writing and brought him the idea (despite his confusion)?
Can he still go out and pitch it without me if I'm done with the project? (And I'm definitely done with it!) Can he bring on another writer and brush me aside?
I plan on talking this through with the reps once I'm done pitching, but wanted to get an idea of what to expect from the good folks here.
Thanks.
Now we're about to do our last pitch, which again will likely lead to a pass, and as far as I'm concerned, that's that. Here's where there could be an issue. Way back when, we had a general meeting after he read one of my features. I told him about this idea (in a very general sense) and that I'd been developing it as a feature, but not really getting anywhere with it. He sparks to the idea immediately and wants to talk about it more. Weeks go by, maybe even a couple of months. My manager keeps in contact and learns that he's optioned said article and wants to develop it as a pitch for a series. Great! We start meeting again, develop it over the course of a 2-3 months, and instead of packaging it up we go straight to buyers (a mistake in the eyes of my reps, of course--again, another topic).
But now for some reason, he thinks that he's the one who came up with the idea. Maybe he's confused, maybe he's being nefarious. Who knows. Anyway, I told him the other day that, no, I pitched it in a general meeting. He got a little flustered, then hemmed and hawed a bit before moving on.
Now, I put a ton of work into this, but I'm also aware the situation is a little tricky because we developed this together and he used company money to option IP.
And stupidly, I don't have any kind of contract with him. My reps didn't think it was worth going through the back and forth with lawyers, given both our levels and the lack of pay. Fine, I can live with that.
What I want to know, is this a work for hire situation because he has the IP, and therefore full control of the material, or is there a dual control thing going on here because I did the writing and brought him the idea (despite his confusion)?
Can he still go out and pitch it without me if I'm done with the project? (And I'm definitely done with it!) Can he bring on another writer and brush me aside?
I plan on talking this through with the reps once I'm done pitching, but wanted to get an idea of what to expect from the good folks here.
Thanks.
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