STAR TREK: a series treatment starring APRIL and COLT

[SeerSGB]

nah. i think it's good advice. in fact, i think i have far less leverage in a traditional approach.

You've created a legal minefield that CBS simply won't touch. If someone here gives you advice that you incorporate into your "series", they can sue both you and CBS for creator credits and cash.

You doomed yourself the moment you clicked 'Submit New Thread'.

i disagree, and feel that every approach of mine can be managed/mitigated.

If you really think that, then you're wrong.

If you're serious about being a professional screenwriter (forget Trek). Then were I you: I'd get my ass into a film business class, a writing class, and find an entertainment lawyer who will advice you on what you're dong wrong or audit a class on entertainment law.

He's right, you've nearly fucked yourself and you don't even see or want to admit it.

 

[Belz...]

i have never pitched a script, but i have yet to try. but i've been a lobbyist, and i can study an path and find my way to my goals...and it's been a 'new years goal' of mine to get back to fiction writing, and elaborate upon ideas i've had in the hopper over the past 15-20 years.

I don't think the question is really about your ability but simply your outline.

i've got no shame in my reactions, either.

Here's another bit of advice, then: those reactions, in a professional environment, could cost you your victory.

 

[Maurice]

As someone who deals with entertainment lawyers all the time, I have to say it's NOT a good idea to put work like this out in the public for a number of reasons. Lawyers and lawsuits are expensive, so most media companies won't touch anything where the ownership/authorship is even slightly questionable. It's simply not worth the risk. At best they'd go, "well, that kind of show might work, let's call [known successful producer in the genre] in to see if he has interest coming up with a show in that vein with our I.P." A writer in such a position has no recourse because a genre or type of show isn't something protected under Copyright, especially if it's something as vague as "a sitcom version of Lost In Space".

 

[BillJ]

Thanks for the insight, Maurice.

I'm just curious what the point of this thread was?

 

[SeerSGB]

A bit of advice I got ages back: Never compare your project to another project. The minute you say "Well my book(show) is like <other popular book/show>", you've already biased them to think you're ripping off someone else. You should be able to sell your work its merits, not by comparing it to other works.

Plus, how do you know they've seen Farscape or Lost In Space. How you know they've even seen Star Trek for that matter.

 

[zekkie]

You doomed yourself the moment you clicked 'Submit New Thread'.

i disagree, and feel that every approach of mine can be managed/mitigated.[/QUOTE]

CBS legal might say otherwise.[/QUOTE]

yes, true, and when/if i have to, i (my attorney) will detail for them the entirety of my online self promotion efforts. there's a number of methods with which to protect myself and CBS. WGA registration was a step.

if it doesn't get bought, it simply doesn't get bought.
life goes on; i tried.

my story involves the use of Chris Pine et al, in time/age sensitive roles. if it doesn't stick, it goes away, or it finds another medium/format and licensing attempt.

 

[BillJ]

Pocket Books (the current book license holder) simply won't touch anything that's been discussed in an online environment.

 

[zekkie]

i have never pitched a script, but i have yet to try. but i've been a lobbyist, and i can study an path and find my way to my goals...and it's been a 'new years goal' of mine to get back to fiction writing, and elaborate upon ideas i've had in the hopper over the past 15-20 years.

I don't think the question is really about your ability but simply your outline.

i've got no shame in my reactions, either.

Here's another bit of advice, then: those reactions, in a professional environment, could cost you your victory.

i'd take that chance.
like i said, i stand by my reactions, and find no fault in them considering the dialogue i was responding to.

 

[Belz...]

nah. i think it's good advice. in fact, i think i have far less leverage in a traditional approach.

Exactly what leverage do you think you have ? Star Trek is CBS' property.

 

[zekkie]

A bit of advice I got ages back: Never compare your project to another project. The minute you say "Well my book(show) is like <other popular book/show>", you've already biased them to think you're ripping off someone else. You should be able to sell your work its merits, not by comparing it to other works.

Plus, how do you know they've seen Farscape or Lost In Space. How you know they've even seen Star Trek for that matter.

Lost in Space?

 

[zekkie]

nah. i think it's good advice. in fact, i think i have far less leverage in a traditional approach.

Exactly what leverage do you think you have ? Star Trek is CBS' property.

i have the leverage of produceable material, and industry ins. it's not hard to do... but like i said, it's more than 99% provide.

CBS owning Star Trek is nothing new to me.

i'm presenting a ton of spec work (for free), which seen by the right eyes, may ring as an opportunity.

 

[SeerSGB]

You doomed yourself the moment you clicked 'Submit New Thread'.

i disagree, and feel that every approach of mine can be managed/mitigated.

CBS legal might say otherwise.

yes, true, and when/if i have to, i (my attorney) will detail for them the entirety of my online self promotion efforts. there's a number of methods with which to protect myself and CBS. WGA registration was a step.

if it doesn't get bought, it simply doesn't get bought.
life goes on; i tried.

my story involves the use of Chris Pine et al, in time/age sensitive roles. if it doesn't stick, it goes away, or it finds another medium/format and licensing attempt.

You need an entertainment law and film writing class badly.

And never think "If I need a lawyer" in this business. Just assume from the get go you'll need one. Talk to a few that specialize in entertainment law and copyright. Fine one you like and is in your price range and put his number in your phone in case you have to call him up and hire him.

You can't write spec banking on a set specific actors. Pine may not want to go back to TV, he might not want to be Kirk after the next movie. You never bank your story on the casting.

nah. i think it's good advice. in fact, i think i have far less leverage in a traditional approach.

Exactly what leverage do you think you have ? Star Trek is CBS' property.

i have the leverage of produceable material, and industry ins. it's not hard to do... but like i said, it's more than 99% provide.

CBS owning Star Trek is nothing new to me.

i'm presenting a ton of spec work (for free), which seen by the right eyes, may ring as an opportunity.

You and about every other asshole wannabe knocking of their door. You've got the cliche and nothng special.

 

[Maurice]

The entertainment lawyer I work with started at Troma and more recently cleared a lot of IP for use in Wreck-It Ralph, so I suspect he's got some cred in this field.

 

[Professor Zoom]

A bit of advice I got ages back: Never compare your project to another project. The minute you say "Well my book(show) is like <other popular book/show>", you've already biased them to think you're ripping off someone else. You should be able to sell your work its merits, not by comparing it to other works.

Plus, how do you know they've seen Farscape or Lost In Space. How you know they've even seen Star Trek for that matter.

Lost in Space?

The show...? You DO know there was a show called Lost in Space, right? Or am I misinterpreting your question?

 

[BillJ]

You can't write spec banking on a set specific actors. Pine may not want to go back to TV, he might not want to be Kirk after the next movie. You never bank your story on the casting.

How dare you question zekkie! He's got it all figured out!

 

[mos6507]

Never compare your project to another project.

I don't get that. So many films are pitched as "it's x meets y!" short-hand. I mean, there's a reason films are so damn derivative. Don't think Into Darkness wasn't compared to Dark Knight Rises at some point behind closed doors, for instance, right down to the instructions given to the guy who did the movie-poster. Anything that's successful becomes used as a keyword in pitch-meetings and there's rampant copying. They just make sure they file off the serial numbers enough to not get sued.

 

[zekkie]

CBS legal might say otherwise.

yes, true, and when/if i have to, i (my attorney) will detail for them the entirety of my online self promotion efforts. there's a number of methods with which to protect myself and CBS. WGA registration was a step.

if it doesn't get bought, it simply doesn't get bought.
life goes on; i tried.

my story involves the use of Chris Pine et al, in time/age sensitive roles. if it doesn't stick, it goes away, or it finds another medium/format and licensing attempt.

You need an entertainment law and film writing class badly.

You can't write spec banking on a set specific actors. Pine may not want to go back to TV, he might not want to be Kirk after the next movie. You never bank your story on the casting.

i'm not "banking on Pine" .. i'd like to be able to reuse him.
i'd very much like to get my 1&2, and i believe that's achievable

(got the entertainment lawyer, for when i officially need her)
(film writing/composition classes ✓)

underestimation is fuel

 

[BillJ]

(got the entertainment lawyer, for when i officially need her)

You know that the cashier at the local Family Video doesn't count?

 

[zekkie]

You can't write spec banking on a set specific actors. Pine may not want to go back to TV, he might not want to be Kirk after the next movie. You never bank your story on the casting.

How dare you question zekkie! He's got it all figured out!

*yawn*

 

[zekkie]

A bit of advice I got ages back: Never compare your project to another project. The minute you say "Well my book(show) is like <other popular book/show>", you've already biased them to think you're ripping off someone else. You should be able to sell your work its merits, not by comparing it to other works.

Plus, how do you know they've seen Farscape or Lost In Space. How you know they've even seen Star Trek for that matter.

Lost in Space?

The show...? You DO know there was a show called Lost in Space, right? Or am I misinterpreting your question?

i never brought up Lost in Space. somehow, somebody got that hot idea as a comparison. not mine.

obvious it's a tv show. not obvious why that comparison was made. (it's nowhere in the treatment)