ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

10 years, 8 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

Exactly - without a reasonable threat, well, it's a bit of paper.

10 years, 8 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

There's reasons why you might want to not disclose anything of course, especially if you're making a big project. I'm just saying they're HARD to enforce. And to be a contract there needs to be a consideration (exchange) which cannot just be notional. Even then, if an actor tells his mum that he'll be working with , frankly what can you do? Take him to court? You have to show material losses for damages. This is why aside from being a bit of legalese intimidation, the enforcement is so hard as to be meaningless unless you have real money for a legal offensive, and then only if the situation can be remedied financially.

10 years, 8 months ago - Nicholas Vince

Hi Paddy and Alève, thanks for your thoughts. I found some samples on line, which I was able to use. As I understand it the practice of asking for NDAs to be signed comes from the big studios. I found this article as to why NDAs are used very useful. As I was working on the script with the actors to improve the dialogue, rather than casting, I needed to show them the complete script.
http://www.castittalent.com/blog/2013/03/nondisclosure-agreements-what-they-mean-and-how-they-impact-actors/

10 years, 8 months ago - Nicholas Vince

Hi Paddy, I completely agree with your views on being able to enforce an NDA. As I understand it, in Hollywood where their use is common practice, as scripts are watermarked, it's less the financial threat; it's the promise of 'you'll never work in this town again'.

10 years, 8 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

NDA's are also extremely hard to enforce, and rely heavily on goodwill and lack of understanding (and fear) of layers and courts. May be good to pick your scenes carefully if the script is that dynamite, or for audition purposes use a bit of Shakespeare that everyone can readily get.

10 years, 8 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

Other side of this is - will actors really steal a whole script? If so, why not protect it properly and register it with WGA or similar so you can prove your copy predates that of anyone else who claims it as their own?

10 years, 8 months ago - Alève Mine

That's interesting. I'm not sure I would sign anything as an actor to just read through or for a casting. Scripts should be protected before they go out to anybody, for sure, though. I know NDAs for tech, but that's a different issue. Do you think you can instead pick the scenes so as to not disclose the key to the story nor to any special style the script may have? Or modify a scene for that purpose? You'll still see what the actor does.