New Concept Studios | Lounge Room

February 4, 2009

Well, sooner or later, you figure something like this happens. And ironically, this isn’t the first time something like this has occurred. Apparently, Kevin James latest film, Paul Blart: Mall Cop is making some waves, not only with the box offices, but with a local NH writer, in which he had submitted on several occasions a script he had written about a Mall Cop, with the exact same premises, and won several awards and recognitions.

http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20090204-NEWS-90204051

I’ve written several screenplays over the years and have always been paranoid about something like this. The only thing I had “stolen” from me was a movie title. Then again, I let it go since the 2 stories were completely different, along with the genres itself. And really, I hardly doubt that it was “stolen” - rather just a coincidence.

Interestingly, the article stated that the production company did do a side by side comparison of the 2 scripts - and found that they were nearly identical. Other than the fact that certain scenes were switched, but overall, the article lead to believe that the scripts were scene for scene identical. (Including a robot fight scene in the Rainforest Cafe). Sound like a coincidence? Or parallel “creative” realizations? Hard for me to say since I’m probably not in a hurry to go watch the film nor interested enough to further investigate on my own time.

Still, I can’t help but to wonder how much does Hollywood reject a script and only to rewrite someone else’s creativity and claim it as their own? How do you really stop someone or some company that big? I’m not making accusations, but rather, just looking for the best to way to protect one’s own hard work.

I guess the only way to really stop something like that is to register your scripts/works with places like: the Writer’s Guild of America, the United States Copyright Office , and sending a final copy to yourself via Registered Mail. Even then, it doesn’t guarantee someone from stealing your idea. Think of it along the ideas of having a locked door. It’s just there to keep honest people “honest”. Taking due diligence on registering your own work does help establish when the work was created and thus giving you (hopefully) the ammunition to win in a legal court battle.

The bottom line, is how does an unknown writer with a great script get a shot in Hollywood to see his script made into a film? I guess it’s just comes down to luck and who you really know. On the other hand, produce it yourself and hope for the best…

Filed under: Film and Television — Nick @ 9:17 pm

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