From Edie: Learn how writers can spot fake producers, avoid free labor scams, and set professional boundaries to protect scripts, stories, and creative work.
Writers Beware: How to Spot Fake Producers and Protect Your Work From Free Labor Scams
by Zena Dell Lowe @ZenaDellLowe
If you’re a screenwriter or novelist, you’ve probably had someone express interest in your work. Maybe they claimed to be a producer or industry “insider” who could take your story to the next level. But sometimes, these conversations are less about collaboration and more about free labor.
I recently had an encounter that illustrates this perfectly. An independent producer reached out to me, saying he was looking for collaborators. He asked me to read and critique one of his development scripts—without pay—and then requested that I send him one of my own scripts, which happened to be an adaptation of a novel. Believing this might be the start of a legitimate professional relationship, I agreed. I gave him thoughtful notes, sent my script, and invested hours of unpaid effort.
A week later, he came back asking for even more. This time, he wanted to set up a meeting with the author of the novel and me, and he asked that I prepare a full character breakdown for the project—even though he hadn’t finished reading my script. He claimed he was interested in developing it into a TV series based on my pitch, but I had no contract in place; no assurance that this would lead to anywhere but wasted time. That’s when alarm bells went off.
