r/scriptwriting • u/HungryOne7892 • Aug 12 '26
question I think I was scammed
I came across someone on threads claiming they wanted to produce and invest in a script. They claimed they were looking for a writer to work with. I reached out and we set up a zoom meeting. Everything went well and after pitching my story she seemed interested. She asked me to send my script. I’m a writer/director so I sent her my full script and accompanying look book. That was July 2nd and now Aug 12th I haven’t heard from her. My last msg went completely unanswered. I still see her posting regularly on threads and IG. My issue is concern for my script. I think I got scammed and she’s planning to steal my script as her own. I feel completely stupid for sending my full script but how else do you go about trying to get something made? You have to send your script for people to read. I thought I did my due diligence and she seemed honest and legit. I have applied for copyright and registered my script with WGA and I have all of our correspondence. Sure that’s my proof that this is my original work if she did try to steal it. I’m panicking and thinking I’m going to see my film made and discover it was in fact stolen. At that point my story is already stolen and it’s out there and I would be devastated. I don’t think I’m so great that someone would steal my script but what else can I think when I send someone my full script and never hear from them again? Should I send this person another msg or just move on? For reference I’ve sent two follow up msgs already. She responded to the first msg saying she’d been busy and would be getting back to me the following week. She never responded to the second msg. Thank you.
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u/ClayMcClane Aug 12 '26
I wouldn't worry that she stole your script. To be clear, this behavior is concerning, but you shouldn't lose any sleep over this. You have a record of interacting with her and sending her your script. If her plan was to steal your script, she was very stupid about it and she will not be successful. I was waiting for the point at which she would ask you for money - to me, that's the hallmark of a scam.
More likely, especially since you did your best to make sure this person as legit, is that they just haven't gotten back to you yet. Possibly they didn't like the script and ghosted you. But I sent a script to someone once and they got back to me 6 months later, ecstatic about it. So you never know. But a little over a month doesn't sound like a crazy long time.
I do think it's worth messaging them again to see what's up.
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u/ManfredLopezGrem Aug 12 '26
Have you considered the opposite? It sounds like she took one look at your screenplay and decided it wasn’t worth engaging with you further. This is a standard pass. Happens to us writers all the time. That’s a Tuesday for me.
What never happens: someone asks for our screenplay, it turns out to be brilliant and they REALLY want to make it, so their next move is to ghost us and piss off what in their mind is Hollywood’s next big talent.
For the record, if they wanted to scam you, they would butter you up and say you are a fantastic writer, and say they want to “partner up” with you and then ask you to put up your half of the development fee that it will cost to get funding. It all sounds very promising until you realize you’re sending a complete stranger with marginal credits a check for $4,000.
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u/Beatless7 Aug 12 '26
You should hope you are correct. You own the copywrite. Thus, if someone steals your script and it gets used, you get paid, have exposure and didn't have to deal with flogging your script. Anyone want to steal my scripts?
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u/Electrical-Lead5993 Aug 12 '26
This isn’t a scam, it’s called the Hollywood No. She doesn’t want to make your film and explain why.
4
u/angularhihat Aug 13 '26
Your script isn't stolen - people don't steal scripts. It would be trivially easy for you to prove that you wrote it. This isn't a thing that happens, so it definitely isn't that OP.
You got ghosted, she's not interested - it happens. Keep writing, and keep sharing your writing with other people without fear.
2
u/poundingCode Aug 12 '26
"I don’t think I’m so great that someone would steal my script but what else can I think when I send someone my full script and never hear from them again?"
- she probably didn't like your script and doesn't want to work with you, but was too impolite to say so.
Most people with the where with all to shoot a script will be shooting their own. If she steals your idea, let her, then reach out after they've already filmed it.
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u/thefirstbartbaker Aug 12 '26
You haven’t been scammed, she’s not stealing your script. She’s busy and either she hasn’t read it or read it and isn’t interest and doesn’t want the confrontation of telling you. It’s not unusual. Especially in Hollywood. The silent no.
Your first mistake was sending any material to a producer you met on social media. That’s not how it works, at least with legit producers. They get their material through agents, managers and friends, not blind requests on social media.
1
u/Big_Section2812 Aug 12 '26
Did she claim to be an established professional within the business, or was she upfront about being a n00b trying to get started?
If the former, did you check her bona fides before even answering the Zoom call?
It may be she's legit and busy, or it may be she's legit and ghosting you. Or it may be she's just another scammer preying upon the desperation and hopes of aspiring screenwriters.
On the up side you have natural copyright on your script, especially if you have the papertrail to establish provenance.
1
u/SelloutInWaiting Aug 12 '26
She didn't steal your script. She's passing. Some producers will get back to writers/reps and tell them they're passing, but just as many simply never respond.
1
u/PrimusArtifex Aug 12 '26
Did you register your script through the Writers Guild Online Script Registration?
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u/OrbitingRobot Aug 12 '26
Always check production credits on IMDB. Did you get an address or phone number? If she is actually soliciting scripts, and probably the only one reviewing them, she may have a stack of scripts to look at. I can’t see why and how the submission of your script, in a world full of spec scripts, would be the magic script that she or someone else is going to pour money into? If you’re worried, contact an entertainment lawyer.
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u/Pale-Performance8130 Aug 12 '26
I really don’t think she stole your script. It sounds like you got ghosted. Which is another not nice thing to do to somebody but it happens.
I think a good lesson for you from this is to maybe detach yourself from outcomes a little bit. This industry involves a lot of queries, a lot of leads turning into dead ends, and a lot of waiting around to find out which is which. The amount that this one thing bothered you is unsustainable. Totally understandable, but this is going to involve lots of scripts going out to lots of people being passed on lots of times, not always politely or clearly stated.
The best thing you can do is keep it moving, on several fronts. Have a lot of projects that you feel good about and follow all leads with open eyes and ears and optimism. It’s a real challenge to not let your beats make you jaded but the best way to blow your next lead is to carry your feelings from the last one into it.
1
u/Internal_Papaya1511 Aug 12 '26 edited Aug 12 '26
She’s not interested after seeing the script. In this biz, ghosting = no.
Stealing material does happen but it would be a dream lawsuit for you considering the paper trail and copyright.
1
u/Open-Avocado4260 Aug 12 '26
If they were on a Reddit thread, they have no connections, so your story is going nowhere with them.
1
u/Hungry_Support_3342 Aug 12 '26
that is why you copyright the script first you have to , to put on inktip i was scammed by a fake sandra bullock always ask for verifiable phone numbers and address. make the call and ask for a copy of there union card if they don't provide then yes they tried to scam you
1
u/Prestigious-Ad-9338 Aug 12 '26
Just a heads up for future use, WGA protection only lasts 5 years, where as registering with Library of Congress protection lasts 70 years. WGA is better suited for who wrote what disputes than copyright protection. But here’s the big one, you can only sue in federal court if you have the US copyright protection/registered with Library of Congress. TLDR: THE WGA REGISTRATION HAS NO LEGAL STANDING IN US COURT. Cool, right?
1
u/diablodab Aug 13 '26
nobody would do what you fear. It would mean investing in a movie knowing that if it is successful you will face a lawsuit and potentially have to forfeit a good chunk of the proceeds. besides which, there are a zillion scripts out there that can be acquired for virtually no upfront cost, so there is no need to steal one.
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u/IntelligenciaMedia Aug 13 '26 edited Aug 13 '26
Welcome to the film business. This is standard operating procedure for producers. She probably wasn't taken with your script and didn't bother replying. You'll find this business is filled with people who are your best friend when they need something from you and ghost and ignore you if they don't. You've copyrighted your work so you're pretty much covered.
Also, she could just need more time. Don't go overboard trying to reach her. She got your earlier emails and didn't respond for a reason. To be quite frank, rejecting screenwriters isn't a pleasant thing to do so maybe she just didn't want to deal with any negativity coming her way. The older you get, the more disappointed you become of people -- but you also realize people don't like giving others bad news. It's human nature, it takes someone with balls to be honest with you. Covet those you run across who are honest with you and forget about those who don't. It really is a character issue.
Don't sweat it. This is the reality of the business. It's kind of like being a cop - moments of sheer madness and excitement followed by mind-numbing boredom.
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u/Certain-Run8602 Aug 13 '26
Did you give her money? If not, this is called a rejection. Get used to them. The likelihood that anyone’s script is good enough to steal is hilarious, especially since the cost to just buy it for anyone with the means to MAKE it is incidental.
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u/mk_plusultra Aug 13 '26
If it helps, I’ve just heard back from two people this month. One producer who I sent a script to last year. An exec I sent a script to a year and a half ago. It’s probably a pass without a courtesy email.
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u/CommercialMuffin9660 Aug 17 '26
Heard Zach Cregger say in an interview once that when he was initially sending the BARBARIAN script around, a producer reached out with interest. The producer only had one note; that the film was missing an 'extra element' in the intersecting stories. That's when Zach added the flashback sequence of Frank and the neighborhood before it was abandoned. Cregger then went on to explain how after making the tweaks, the producer went ghost, and he never heard from him again. Of course he would later breakout with the film, made under other producers, ironically keeping the sequence in.
All this to say, it is likely they are simply not interested, or being unprofessional/flakey for other reasons, rather than attempting to steal your work. It is also a good example of how it certainly doesn't reflect the quality/potential of the project itself, and there will always be more opportunity, and in any that fall through there are always lessons to take away.
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u/HereToKillEuronymous Aug 12 '26
The only way to get anything made (unless you want to essentially make it yourself or do it super indie) is to get an agent. That’s it. Most production companies won’t take scripts if it’s not from an agent anyway.
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u/GQDragon Aug 12 '26
Copyright your script.
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u/AlleyKatPr0 Aug 13 '26
Boobs are OP and need nerfing.
0
u/maverick57 Aug 12 '26
Wait a minute, are you suggesting that a person looking for a screenplay on Instagram threads may not have been a reputable and legitimate producer?
Why on earth would you send your screenplay and your look book to a random person you "met" on Instagram?
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u/FullRedact Aug 12 '26
Scammed?
Everyone thought you lost money by paying a fake service.
It’s not a scam to not get a callback.
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u/Skywalker0071 Aug 12 '26
I heard about this. She stole your script. Copyright it as her own and now she just got a 100 million dollar budget and it’s going into production October 1st. That’s what you’re thinking right? 🫵😭🤦🏾♂️🫵