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Hi All,

I have managed to get a script to a big company Executive, who is a friend of a friend...however the wife of the executive is worried that if she opens my script she'll be in trouble because then I might sue them if something similar is in the works...I'm sure there is a simple form where I agree not to sue them if something similar appears...I thought I had a contract like that on my hard drive but can't locate it. Does someone out there have one, or know what I'm talking about? I think an agency sent me one to fill in before they read Louisiana Blood having responded to a query letter. Help appreciated, Cheers, Mike

There's something called a "standard release" a prod co may ask you to sign. You can find info about them (and a copy) online.

Mike, I'll get you a copy of the standard release.

Heather

Thanks Guys and Gals,

Heather sorted me out...again :) Cheers,

Mike

Hm. Strikes me as odd they don't have their own. "What kind of company is it?" he asked, disingenuously.

Mike,

Why is the executive's wife reading your SP? Does she work with him? What kind of executive gives his homework to his wife?

Usually, but not always, you'll be asked to sign a standard release along with the SP. And read Ron's message again. These people sound weird at best.

Cat

It could also be possible that the company itself doesn't have releases because they don't accept any unsolicited material - period. Agent and manager submissions don't need releases. But the wife (not with the company) mentioned it to the guy and then he started getting worried about it so they thought about a release. Or I could be completely wrong.

Thanks everyone,

Heather sent me one.

Cheers,

All

Hi again,

Yes, it is probably a polite way of the exec telling his friend he's not going to read it, but in a slow way...it is the UK's biggest animation company and he is the Executive Producer, so I'd have thought he'd have all the relevent info he needs to ask for a release form or contact me...so even tho' I am friends with someone who knows him, that probably still isn't enough to get my winning script across the divide!

Ah well it's another almost!

Cheers,

Mike

I don't find this at all odd. Lots of scripts get to execs from a hairdresser or spouse. It's happened to me and worked out quite well.

It's not as if the company itself doesn't have a standard release, it's just that it's coming in through a spouse who usually doesn't deal with these things.

Yes, scripts get in through hairdressers, spouses, etc. Good for anyone who uses this route. But was that the case here? Mike's original post said the script went through an executive, not a spouse.

Either way, if aforementioned spouse was worried about litigation, then she's familiar with the process. Still sounds strange to me.

Cat

Hi All,

I missread the original email, here's the real chain of events. I have a camerawomen friend...her husband's cousin is Executive Producer at large animation company (Wallace and Gromit is your clue) he replied that he wasn't allowed to open the file (script) until he had checked with someone...I then sent a release form to the camerawomen to pass on to him in case he was worried about litigation.

She thought it prudent not to push it by sending it on, my feeling is that he must know the ropes being a producer as release form is pretty standard (If they have asked you) however doing it through the back door is really relying on luck, as it didn't arrive via an agent, and the company doesn't accept unsolicited material, period.

So there you have it, probably never hear anything again, and might be able to get my friend to nag one more time before sound of door closing quietly. So even if you have a friend who knows Speilberg, the chances are just as slight :) I'll update if anything happens.

Cheers,

Mike