4 ms·

These are screenplays. Normally they would stay in a drawer forever and nobody would see them. That's what the writers expect. Now they have a new life, and may

by slim 4y ago

These are screenplays. Normally they would stay in a drawer forever and nobody would see them. That's what the writers expect. Now they have a new life, and maybe the writers have new opportunities too.

VanTheBrand 4y ago
The screenwriters union fought for and negotiated for the right to own the publishing for their screenplays. Many writers of notable films have been able to use these writes to publish their scripts in book form to supplement their personal income. Here’s before sunrise at Barnes and Noble for $18 https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/before-sunrise-and-before-sunset-richard-linklater/1111391185?ean=9781400096046 https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/before-sunrise-and-before-s... It’s also available for “free” at https://screenplays.io/script/before-sunrise https://screenplays.io/script/before-sunrise
- autoexec 4y ago
  Are you sure those are the same? The book contains two screenplays, an amazon review says it's an early draft but the download doesn't suggest that. Even if they were 100% identical I'd be willing to bet the kinds of fans that would treasure having the book would still want it on their shelf even if they had a digital copy available.
  - VanTheBrand 4y ago
    I’m sure I can find an example of one that’s exactly the same copy. Regardless the writer gets the exclusive right to publish all drafts as part of their union won separated rights. Also your point about treasured copies would apply equally to any book, movie, or music but I don’t think if someone posted their free top 40 mp3 download site on hacker news in 2022 it would have the same reaction. I get that you want this to be a “victimless crime” but… it’s not. Sorry that’s inconvenient for you.
Animats 4y ago
Those are screenplays for successful projects. Not some studio's slush pile. Those have value. (A web site for script slush piles would be fun, and would raise few objections. There are a huge number of rejected scripts around LA. It used to be a joke to ask random people on Melrose Avenue "How's your screenplay coming?" About one in five had a screenplay. There's a minor minimum-wage industry in Hollywood writing two-page summaries of screenplays. They're called "one-pagers", but are usually two pages. An actress/model/waitress friend used to do that to make extra money. She'd receive a stack of scripts written by unknowns, and boil them down to two pages each. Someone at a higher pay grade would read the one-pagers. At the slush pile level, that's how much attention a script gets. Many wannabe scriptwriters would be glad to upload their script.)

by slim 4y ago

VanTheBrand 4y ago

The screenwriters union fought for and negotiated for the right to own the publishing for their screenplays. Many writers of notable films have been able to use these writes to publish their scripts in book form to supplement their personal income. Here’s before sunrise at Barnes and Noble for $18 https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/before-sunrise-and-before-sunset-richard-linklater/1111391185?ean=9781400096046 https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/before-sunrise-and-before-s... It’s also available for “free” at https://screenplays.io/script/before-sunrise https://screenplays.io/script/before-sunrise

autoexec 4y ago
Are you sure those are the same? The book contains two screenplays, an amazon review says it's an early draft but the download doesn't suggest that. Even if they were 100% identical I'd be willing to bet the kinds of fans that would treasure having the book would still want it on their shelf even if they had a digital copy available.
- VanTheBrand 4y ago
  I’m sure I can find an example of one that’s exactly the same copy. Regardless the writer gets the exclusive right to publish all drafts as part of their union won separated rights. Also your point about treasured copies would apply equally to any book, movie, or music but I don’t think if someone posted their free top 40 mp3 download site on hacker news in 2022 it would have the same reaction. I get that you want this to be a “victimless crime” but… it’s not. Sorry that’s inconvenient for you.

Animats 4y ago

Those are screenplays for successful projects. Not some studio's slush pile. Those have value. (A web site for script slush piles would be fun, and would raise few objections. There are a huge number of rejected scripts around LA. It used to be a joke to ask random people on Melrose Avenue "How's your screenplay coming?" About one in five had a screenplay. There's a minor minimum-wage industry in Hollywood writing two-page summaries of screenplays. They're called "one-pagers", but are usually two pages. An actress/model/waitress friend used to do that to make extra money. She'd receive a stack of scripts written by unknowns, and boil them down to two pages each. Someone at a higher pay grade would read the one-pagers. At the slush pile level, that's how much attention a script gets. Many wannabe scriptwriters would be glad to upload their script.)