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Ars Technica: While a variety of free and low-priced scriptwriting apps are available across all major computing OSes and Web browsers, only one has launched with a built-in capability to send a finished script directly to a movie or television studio.
10 comments:
Sasha Schwartz
said...
While at first I thought that this was a cool idea, the article makes the whole ordeal seem kind of sketchy. I’ve always been skeptical of situations like this, where artists are encouraged to submit their work for free, without any kind of incentive or upfront payment or compensation. It’s bizarre to me that artists (including writers, musicians, etc), are expected to be grateful just for the opportunity for someone maybe to glance at what they’ve worked on; there’s no other profession in which people are expected to do the work without any promise of compensation. This situation kind of reminds me of those countless “arts contests”, where people are encouraged to submit a graphic design or a drawn logo in the hopes of it getting “chosen”; if art were considered to be at the same caliber as any other job, the process would go more like people applying for the position of being the designer for this company, maybe showing a portfolio of their work and a resume, and then actually making the product only if they will get paid. I suppose this is slightly different as a lot of script writers already have work that they just need people to see. However, this article makes it seem like amazon could very easily rip someone off of their idea, and is it really a smart move to “put your work out there” if there’s a chance your idea could be used without your consent or payment? I guess this app could be helpful for its functional purposes in formatting a script, but other than that, it doesn’t seem like a good idea if script writers want to maintain the integrity of their work.
I agree with Sasha- this seems a bit sketchy. I think the app can potentially add to some opportunities for artists as long as they are careful and understand the agreement they are making by using the app. I also wonder how this app will impact the sheer amount of scripts amazon receives. I can't imagine a studio of this size will be able to read all of the scripts sent into them. Will they use some sort of software to filter out script topics they are interested in pursuing? While this app is advertised as a way to make it easier to be recognized by big studios, it may actually be doing the opposite. It will be interesting to see how this app works out for both parties, and if other studios follow in Amazon's footsteps and create similar apps in the future. I think this app works best for a studio that is still building its image, such as Amazon, than it would be for a larger studio that is already very established.
At first this sounds cool, but then I was thinking of how small the odds would be that someone from Amazon would be able to read all the submissions and give feedback or produce the story because there would simply be too many submissions. And then it gets even sketchier because they have the “similar content” clause which in practice means they can take your story and as long as it is not exactly the same. Even if they produce something that is not the same as your script, but is similar, you’re always going to wonder if they took your idea or if they just thought of it themselves. And you could never fight it because they know how to cover their asses. Also, the whole submitting entire scripts in hope of being chosen is a disservice to yourself. You are devaluing your hard work in the small hope that someone might read it and like it so much that they will produce it without just taking the idea.
It is pretty cool that there is a platform where writers can submit their work directly to producers (in a sense). I I Wonder how this platform will filter the different writing samples and what will actually get through to human eyes. An ideal world each sample that is submitted by an aspiring writer would be read by one of the producing agents, over the platform as public as this one and the number of samples that will be sent in, I can’t believe that each script or screenplay will get its fair chance. This platform seems as though it is marketed to give everyone a chance to be a Hollywood writer, but in reality I cannot see this bringing too many random contributors to the Hollywood screen. It also seems as thought if you pitch an idea in this app you have no legal claim over it. If you have a really good idea it is probably better that you do not submit it over this app.
The "similar agreement" clause is a classic case of fine print, likely to be overlooked by someone looking to submit work to a platform such as this. Granted, there are numerous examples of this throughout modern business, and the arts and entertainment industries. But to a user who has fully read the terms of use agreement, I would think the appeal of utilizing the platform would be all but entirely nullified. This app, and the legal clauses it entails, seems almost predatory, allowing artistic and creative appropriation in all ways except actual, provable word-for-word copying. In addition - from what I understand of Amazon's pilot process - Amazon develops a wide array of pilots for its pilot season, potentially sourcing material from submissions to Storywriter. This kind of public sourcing renders the less popular pilots, and concepts and work behind them useless in future as they become subsumed into the Amazon universe.
This app seems like a good idea in theory. However, in reality it seems really shady and ineffective. The "similar content" clause basically gives Amazon the right to steal any idea that they come upon if they want to. All they have to do is change some lines around. It also seems really ineffective. Since the app allows literally anyone to submit a script, Amazon will be receiving thousands of scripts a day. Who is reading through all of these scripts and determining which ones are worthwhile? Is there some kind of automated system in place that sorts through the scripts and somehow determines the quality of each?
At first this struck me as an amazing idea. What could be better than building resources for new content directly from the viewer, or at least a larger pool of writers? By allowing users to submit their screenplay or television scripts directly to Amazon, the company can not only pull amazing ideas for media content for their streaming service from multiple sources, they could provide a way to bring new blood into the industry and give talented writers across the country a chance to see their work fully realized. What could be better? My only concern is the fine print of Amazon's "Similar Content" agreement clause, through which Amazon has the right to steal your premise for a show or movie as long as they change enough that it disassociated from your original proposal to avoid copyright infringement. Although I respect Amazon a lot and would love to trust they would have no ill-intent to steal people's work, as a writer I don't think I'd ever willingly summit my work via this app because the potential to get scammed by a huge company you'd likely lose to in court is just too great. Perhaps the direct submission capabilities of Amazon's screenwriting app are a great idea, however the potential risk is just too high to make the option realistic and effective.
I wonder of how safe this is. I mean, it looks like a cool app, but I would be very careful if someone is going to steal my ideas from this app very easily and claim it for themselves or use it for not a good purposes. It’s like when you take picture on snapchat and actually all the pictures are kept somewhere that actually is not that secure and someone who has skills can just hack to it anytime. I don’t have faith in creating any work online. I would still put prefer pen and paper if I could but like, Microsoft word or Sibelius is fine. I am the most late adapter person ever too so I would wait to see the review of this app and see if there’s any complains or any copyright problems happening at all. I might end up being very useful who knows? And really, Amazon always launch some cool gadget which I love to keep up with.
A lot of us on this forum are having gripes with the "Similar content" clause, yet I can't see it except in acknowledgement of it being something of a dead issue. Major companies run the mediums by which we create, and therefore those companies reserve the right to control our expression and our ideas, and then perpetuate their own success. We have known this process for a long time. Anything associated with this type of submission will have a similar content clause, and sometimes it makes sense, because those companies would see a poorly written script and think 'great idea, terrible script' and then hire an experienced writer to re-do it. I'd hope that if the script itself was good enough, they would simply hire you (the money is no different, honestly probably cheaper). That comes to my next point though, which is that the fact that this 'similar content' clause is applied universally to any text sent through this app, and that people would send it this way because they 1) feel it's more professional, and 2) hope that Amazon will read it, is ridiculous. They won't read it anymore than if you send it to their door, and in reality, they're doing it this way because they are afraid of the rise of independent films being created because the technology is becoming more available. Artists (myself included), if you're upset about clauses like this, hit the pavement and figure out a way to make whatever it is you want to make. Amazon can't take your story if you don't put it in their lap.
These kinds of advances in our society are really awesome, screenwriting is totally something that could bring someone a lot of happiness. Maybe now it kind of looks like a fade, but I love any kind of technology that is giving people more opportunities to make art, I think that’s really lovely. Because some people did not grow up with the option to pursue art in their life, but now it is so easy to explore different artistic experiences. My mom spent a lot of her life taking care of others and she was never really given the time to slow down and see what she wanted. Recently she started taking an interest in screenwriting and I honestly have never see somebody try so hard at anything before. My mom did so much research about every aspect of screenwriting, how to start, where to go, how to send your work to others, she googled everything. Amazon’s app is going to give opportunity to people who need a little bit of artistic therapy in their lives.
10 comments:
While at first I thought that this was a cool idea, the article makes the whole ordeal seem kind of sketchy. I’ve always been skeptical of situations like this, where artists are encouraged to submit their work for free, without any kind of incentive or upfront payment or compensation. It’s bizarre to me that artists (including writers, musicians, etc), are expected to be grateful just for the opportunity for someone maybe to glance at what they’ve worked on; there’s no other profession in which people are expected to do the work without any promise of compensation. This situation kind of reminds me of those countless “arts contests”, where people are encouraged to submit a graphic design or a drawn logo in the hopes of it getting “chosen”; if art were considered to be at the same caliber as any other job, the process would go more like people applying for the position of being the designer for this company, maybe showing a portfolio of their work and a resume, and then actually making the product only if they will get paid. I suppose this is slightly different as a lot of script writers already have work that they just need people to see. However, this article makes it seem like amazon could very easily rip someone off of their idea, and is it really a smart move to “put your work out there” if there’s a chance your idea could be used without your consent or payment? I guess this app could be helpful for its functional purposes in formatting a script, but other than that, it doesn’t seem like a good idea if script writers want to maintain the integrity of their work.
I agree with Sasha- this seems a bit sketchy. I think the app can potentially add to some opportunities for artists as long as they are careful and understand the agreement they are making by using the app. I also wonder how this app will impact the sheer amount of scripts amazon receives. I can't imagine a studio of this size will be able to read all of the scripts sent into them. Will they use some sort of software to filter out script topics they are interested in pursuing? While this app is advertised as a way to make it easier to be recognized by big studios, it may actually be doing the opposite. It will be interesting to see how this app works out for both parties, and if other studios follow in Amazon's footsteps and create similar apps in the future. I think this app works best for a studio that is still building its image, such as Amazon, than it would be for a larger studio that is already very established.
At first this sounds cool, but then I was thinking of how small the odds would be that someone from Amazon would be able to read all the submissions and give feedback or produce the story because there would simply be too many submissions. And then it gets even sketchier because they have the “similar content” clause which in practice means they can take your story and as long as it is not exactly the same. Even if they produce something that is not the same as your script, but is similar, you’re always going to wonder if they took your idea or if they just thought of it themselves. And you could never fight it because they know how to cover their asses. Also, the whole submitting entire scripts in hope of being chosen is a disservice to yourself. You are devaluing your hard work in the small hope that someone might read it and like it so much that they will produce it without just taking the idea.
It is pretty cool that there is a platform where writers can submit their work directly to producers (in a sense). I I Wonder how this platform will filter the different writing samples and what will actually get through to human eyes. An ideal world each sample that is submitted by an aspiring writer would be read by one of the producing agents, over the platform as public as this one and the number of samples that will be sent in, I can’t believe that each script or screenplay will get its fair chance. This platform seems as though it is marketed to give everyone a chance to be a Hollywood writer, but in reality I cannot see this bringing too many random contributors to the Hollywood screen. It also seems as thought if you pitch an idea in this app you have no legal claim over it. If you have a really good idea it is probably better that you do not submit it over this app.
The "similar agreement" clause is a classic case of fine print, likely to be overlooked by someone looking to submit work to a platform such as this. Granted, there are numerous examples of this throughout modern business, and the arts and entertainment industries. But to a user who has fully read the terms of use agreement, I would think the appeal of utilizing the platform would be all but entirely nullified. This app, and the legal clauses it entails, seems almost predatory, allowing artistic and creative appropriation in all ways except actual, provable word-for-word copying. In addition - from what I understand of Amazon's pilot process - Amazon develops a wide array of pilots for its pilot season, potentially sourcing material from submissions to Storywriter. This kind of public sourcing renders the less popular pilots, and concepts and work behind them useless in future as they become subsumed into the Amazon universe.
This app seems like a good idea in theory. However, in reality it seems really shady and ineffective. The "similar content" clause basically gives Amazon the right to steal any idea that they come upon if they want to. All they have to do is change some lines around. It also seems really ineffective. Since the app allows literally anyone to submit a script, Amazon will be receiving thousands of scripts a day. Who is reading through all of these scripts and determining which ones are worthwhile? Is there some kind of automated system in place that sorts through the scripts and somehow determines the quality of each?
At first this struck me as an amazing idea. What could be better than building resources for new content directly from the viewer, or at least a larger pool of writers? By allowing users to submit their screenplay or television scripts directly to Amazon, the company can not only pull amazing ideas for media content for their streaming service from multiple sources, they could provide a way to bring new blood into the industry and give talented writers across the country a chance to see their work fully realized. What could be better? My only concern is the fine print of Amazon's "Similar Content" agreement clause, through which Amazon has the right to steal your premise for a show or movie as long as they change enough that it disassociated from your original proposal to avoid copyright infringement. Although I respect Amazon a lot and would love to trust they would have no ill-intent to steal people's work, as a writer I don't think I'd ever willingly summit my work via this app because the potential to get scammed by a huge company you'd likely lose to in court is just too great. Perhaps the direct submission capabilities of Amazon's screenwriting app are a great idea, however the potential risk is just too high to make the option realistic and effective.
I wonder of how safe this is. I mean, it looks like a cool app, but I would be very careful if someone is going to steal my ideas from this app very easily and claim it for themselves or use it for not a good purposes. It’s like when you take picture on snapchat and actually all the pictures are kept somewhere that actually is not that secure and someone who has skills can just hack to it anytime. I don’t have faith in creating any work online. I would still put prefer pen and paper if I could but like, Microsoft word or Sibelius is fine. I am the most late adapter person ever too so I would wait to see the review of this app and see if there’s any complains or any copyright problems happening at all. I might end up being very useful who knows? And really, Amazon always launch some cool gadget which I love to keep up with.
A lot of us on this forum are having gripes with the "Similar content" clause, yet I can't see it except in acknowledgement of it being something of a dead issue. Major companies run the mediums by which we create, and therefore those companies reserve the right to control our expression and our ideas, and then perpetuate their own success. We have known this process for a long time. Anything associated with this type of submission will have a similar content clause, and sometimes it makes sense, because those companies would see a poorly written script and think 'great idea, terrible script' and then hire an experienced writer to re-do it. I'd hope that if the script itself was good enough, they would simply hire you (the money is no different, honestly probably cheaper). That comes to my next point though, which is that the fact that this 'similar content' clause is applied universally to any text sent through this app, and that people would send it this way because they 1) feel it's more professional, and 2) hope that Amazon will read it, is ridiculous. They won't read it anymore than if you send it to their door, and in reality, they're doing it this way because they are afraid of the rise of independent films being created because the technology is becoming more available. Artists (myself included), if you're upset about clauses like this, hit the pavement and figure out a way to make whatever it is you want to make. Amazon can't take your story if you don't put it in their lap.
These kinds of advances in our society are really awesome, screenwriting is totally something that could bring someone a lot of happiness. Maybe now it kind of looks like a fade, but I love any kind of technology that is giving people more opportunities to make art, I think that’s really lovely. Because some people did not grow up with the option to pursue art in their life, but now it is so easy to explore different artistic experiences. My mom spent a lot of her life taking care of others and she was never really given the time to slow down and see what she wanted. Recently she started taking an interest in screenwriting and I honestly have never see somebody try so hard at anything before. My mom did so much research about every aspect of screenwriting, how to start, where to go, how to send your work to others, she googled everything. Amazon’s app is going to give opportunity to people who need a little bit of artistic therapy in their lives.
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