ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

8 years, 3 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

It sounds like they're using the terms incorrectly - or at least with a strange interpretation in order to get other people to make their film for them.

An option, in the real world, is an instrument of exclusivity specifically an agreement that the option holder has the right to buy the rights of a property, and so be able to know for sure that they could develop the project without risk. I think calling a non-exclusive registration an option is disingenuous, and although it's "only" £7, it's £7.

8 years, 3 months ago - Mark Wiggins

In LA there are a whole load of people who just buy and sell Options and never make anything. Except money.

8 years, 3 months ago - Paul W Franklin

Hi Paddy,

Yeah, it's definitely a misleading term.
Having read the contract more closely, it does say:

"...the Company hereby grants a non-exclusive sub-licence to the Filmmaker to develop and produce the Script..."

which I guess I didn't notice at the time because you don't expect an 'option' to be a free-for-all. I thought I'd snapped that script up early and would be the only one producing it. If I'm going to put time and money into finding locations, actors etc then I want to be sure I'm the only one; and I think the actors, crew etc would also want to be sure!

P.

8 years, 3 months ago - Dan Selakovich

The entire point of an option is to keep you from shopping your script around town.

8 years, 3 months ago - Glyn Carter

In the first Create 50 project, 50 Kisses, it was always clear that a script could be filmed by any number of filmmakers, with the best result from each script being included in the final compilation. It even suggested selecting a less obviously standout script, because the competition might be less fierce.

The explainer video for Impact 50 includes the phrase "sometimes one script will be produced by several filmmaking teams".

True, the large-print summary notes use the word "option" without the rider "non-exclusive", and don't reiterate clearly that a script is likely to be interpreted by other filmmakers. Still, there's no charge, and plenty of the scripts can be done on a small budget. And if the film isn't selected for the final compilation, the filmmaker still has the rights to the film he or she made.

It might be a stretch to call the final compilation of 50 2-minute shorts a "feature film", mind. But to me, Create 50 is great initiative which has unlocked a huge amount of creativity.

8 years, 3 months ago - Paul W Franklin

I agree it's a good initiative. I've had short stories published through the books they've done. It's also a tad exploitative.

It's not explicitly clear anywhere that a film could be made multiple times (I didn't watch the explainer since I was familiar with the general format).
There IS a charge, albeit a smallish one of £7. You say we still have the rights to the film, but it's not really a film; it's a short segment of a larger beast that won't really stand up on its own.
The irony is that if I was sure nobody else would make the script i've optioned then I'll do a better job. Now I'm keeping one eye out to see if anyone else's making it, and wondering if I should bother...