
Terry Hicks
Forum Replies Created
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I, Theresa L Hicks, agree to the terms of this release form.
GROUP RELEASE FORM
As a member of this group, I agree to the following:1. That I will keep the processes, strategies, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class confidential, and that I will NOT share any of this program either privately, with a group, posting online, writing articles, through video or computer programming, or in any other way that would make those processes, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class available to anyone who is not a member of this class.
2. That each writer’s work here is copyrighted and that writer is the sole owner of that work. That includes this program which is copyrighted by Hal Croasmun. I acknowledge that submission of an idea to this group constitutes a claim of and the recognition of ownership of that idea.
I will keep the other writer’s ideas and writing confidential and will not share this information with anyone without the express written permission of the writer/owner. I will not market or even discuss this information with anyone outside this group.
3. I also understand that many stories and ideas are similar and/or have common themes and from time to time, two or more people can independently and simultaneously generate the same concept or movie idea.
4. If I have an idea that is the same as or very similar to another group member’s idea, I’ll immediately contact Hal and present proof that I had this idea prior to the beginning of the class. If Hal deems them to be the same idea or close enough to cause harm to either party, he’ll request both parties to present another concept for the class.
5. If you don’t present proof to Hal that you have the same idea as another person, you agree that all ideas presented to this group are the sole ownership of the person who presented them and you will not write or market another group member’s ideas.
6. Finally, I agree not to bring suit against anyone in this group for any reason, unless they use a substantial portion of my copyrighted work in a manner that is public and/or that prevents me from marketing my script by shopping it to production companies, agents, managers, actors, networks, studios or any other entertainment industry organizations or people.
This completes the Group Release Form for the class. -
Creative Mastery Lesson 2 Assignment
Terry Puts Essence to Work
What I learned is… When my scene’s essence is tied to the main character’s transformational arc then the scene’s purpose becomes more powerful.
My Current Re-Write Script: “Lost & Found”
Scene 1 Location: Act 1
Logline: Charlie and her dog Max open the day at her glass repair shop.
Essence I’ve discovered: Friends are only temporary respites from grief.
New Logline: Charlie catalogs the Park’s antique glass repair needs with Riley and Shelea help until they leave to play in a Lacrosse tournament sponsored by her glass repair Shop.Scene 2-5 choices: continue as a work in progress while I move on to Lesson 3.
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Creative Mastery Lesson 1 Assignment
Terry Finds The Essence
What I learned: Defining/clarifying the scene’s essence first, will provide more power and flexibility to brainstorm/create the scene’s expression, rather than the other way around.
Script I choose: The Man Who Invented Christmas
Scene 1 Location: Opening Scene (p1-3)
Logline: Dickens describes his Oliver Twist American Tour experiences in a letter to friend while getting dressed to go out on stage in front of another American audience.
Essence: Dickens basks in wild literary acclaim that extends far beyond his native land and maybe his comfort.Scene 2 Location: Act 1 (p11-15)
Logline: Thirteen months later with 3 flops and bad reviews Dickens now needs to produce a new bestseller’s first chapter by the end of the year to cover his latest publishers’ advance.Essence: Dickens has fallen from grace, in debt, out of ideas, experiencing massive writer’s block with no end in sight.
Scene 3 Location: Act 2 (p26-28)
Logline: When Dickens pitches his Christmas Story concept to his publishers and they fail to see his story vision as profitable nor the Christmas timeline doable, he rips up their advance and sets out to publish it himself.
Essence: Dickens’ pitch and walking out is a culmination of his recent experiences of humanity at their worst and his renewed passion to inspire and remind people of Christmas’s meaning.Scene 4 Location: Act 2 (p55-55A)
Logline: The Ghost of Christmas Past comes for Scrooge but it’s Dickens who takes the journey.
Essence: Scrooge can’t become anything more until Dickens does.Scene 5 Location: Act 3 (p91-95)
Logline: Dickens faces his childhood demons at the Blacking Factory where he was forced into child labor because of his Father’s debts.
Essence: It is only when Dickens has his transformation that is he able to write Scrooge’s transformation and create a memorable ending.My selection for most profound essence:
48 INT. STUDY – NIGHT 48
Dickens and Scrooge stare at a ghostly figure (looking a good
deal like Tara), dressed in white, wearing a wreath on her
head. She stands by the window where the muslin curtains
float eerily around her in the wind.
SCROOGE
Tell him who you are.
GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST
I am the Ghost of Christmas Past.
The Ghost gestures towards the window.
GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST (CONT’D)
Follow.
SCROOGE
It’s awfully late and I’m not quite
dressed.
GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST
Follow.
Scrooge draws back.
SCROOGE
Not bloody likely.
DICKENS
Why?
SCROOGE
Mucking around in the past? What’s
the point?
DICKENS
You might learn something.
SCROOGE
I already know everything I need to
know.
(to the Ghost)
Take him, why don’t you?
DICKENS
Me?
SCROOGE
If you’re so keen.
The ghost turns her gaze to Dickens.
DICKENS
It’s not about me.
SCROOGE
You’re the author aren’t you?
Dickens looks at the ghost, fearful. He doesn’t move. The
Ghost turns to look at the slightly ajar window, which now
SLAMS wide open.
Essence: Scrooge can’t become anything more until Dickens does.
Why I believe that is the essence: Because Scrooge does.
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Terry Hicks
“I agree to the terms of this release form.”
GROUP RELEASE FORM
As a member of this group, I agree to the following:
1. That I will keep the processes, strategies, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class confidential, and that I will NOT share any of this program either privately, with a group, posting online, writing articles, through video or computer programming, or in any other way that would make those processes, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class available to anyone who is not a member of this class.
2. That each writer’s work here is copyrighted and that writer is the sole owner of that work. That includes this program which is copyrighted by Hal Croasmun. I acknowledge that submission of an idea to this group constitutes a claim of and the recognition of ownership of that idea.
I will keep the other writer’s ideas and writing confidential and will not share this information with anyone without the express written permission of the writer/owner. I will not market or even discuss this information with anyone outside this group.
3. I also understand that many stories and ideas are similar and/or have common themes and from time to time, two or more people can independently and simultaneously generate the same concept or movie idea.
4. If I have an idea that is the same as or very similar to another group member’s idea, I’ll immediately contact Hal and present proof that I had this idea prior to the beginning of the class. If Hal deems them to be the same idea or close enough to cause harm to either party, he’ll request both parties to present another concept for the class.
5. If you don’t present proof to Hal that you have the same idea as another person, you agree that all ideas presented to this group are the sole ownership of the person who presented them and you will not write or market another group member’s ideas.
6. Finally, I agree not to bring suit against anyone in this group for any reason, unless they use a substantial portion of my copyrighted work in a manner that is public and/or that prevents me from marketing my script by shopping it to production companies, agents, managers, actors, networks, studios or any other entertainment industry organizations or people.
This completes the Group Release Form for the class.
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Hi all,
Terry here…. writing from the Middle Rio Grande landscape in New Mexico.
I have 5 feature length scripts in various stages and several shorts. Have worked below the line on various indie film sets as Props Master, Art Director, Set Dresser and other fun jobs. And was 1/3 of a team that wrote and produced a youtube comedic web series for 3 seasons.
My goal with this class is to elevate my skills and scripts in order to get my scripts produced.
Something perhaps unique… My background~career was in watershed ecology and restoration… and had great adventures throughout the Inter-mountain Western US. My love of the outdoors was greatly imprinted by adventures exploring the Himalayan foothills as a child.
Look forward to enjoying this class with everyone here.
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Terry’s Character Profiles
What I’ve learned doing this assignment is: A more efficient way of creating character profiles and the value of a character subtext logline
1.Logline: A superficial realtor must survive Heaven’s “wake up call” when he switches bodies with an older widow to whom family means everything.
2. Create a Character Profile for each of your top five characters.
Include two required items and at least two optional items.
REQUIRED:
Role
Core Character Traits
Character Subtext Logline
OPTIONAL:
Flaw
Want/Need
Mission/Agenda
Character Arc (if any)
World View
Life Metaphor/Identity
Secret
Something they don’t want to admit about themselves
What makes this character unique?
Character1 Name: Michael Jeremy
Role: Realtor/Search & Rescue leader
Core Character Traits:
Private
Status Driven
Success Driven
Charismatic
Sensitive
Optional:
Secret: Terrified of Horses
Secret: Michael Jeremy Gonzales is his full name
What makes this character unique: He doesn’t take credit for all the philanthropy he does.
World View: If people knew who he was and where he came from, then he would lose respect and the power to help those he cares about.
Character Subtext Logline: Michael’s drive for status and success mitigates his fear of being gay and the Latino son of migrant farm workers.
Character2 Name: Georgia Woods
Role: Ranch Woman/Searching for Nephew
Core Character Traits:
Independent
Spiritual Connection to Nature
Pragmatic
Compassionate
Wise Mentor
Optional:
What makes this character unique: A woman skilled in all aspects of ranch life
World View: Devoted to family and community. If you have the means/resources to help someone, you help.
Something they don’t want to admit about themselves: It’s been a year since her beloved husband Charlie passed away and some days the loss feels like yesterday.
Character Subtext Logline: Georgia turns away from joining her beloved husband in the afterlife to help their nephew David survive his life crisis.
Character3 Name: Anna Romera
Role: Michael’s ex-wife/ESL Teacher
Core Character Traits:
Outgoing
Multilingual
Passionate
Family Devoted
Mentor
Optional:
Secret: Takes their son to visit Michael’s parents
What makes this character unique: Outdoors skills & Skilled Search & Rescue Tracker
World View: Family and community give meaning to life
Character Subtext Logline: Anna continues to buck Michael’s desire to send their young son to an elite boarding school.
Character4 Name: Jesse Woods
Role: Architect/Georgia’s adopted son
Core Character Traits:
Outgoing
Creative
Sensitive
Gay and Proud
Polished Demeanor
Optional:
Secret: His sense of direction is horrible.
What makes this character unique: He is as comfortable presenting before a board of investors as he is out on the ranch mucking stalls.
World View: Architecture can help people re-connect with nature and the landscape around them
Character Subtext Logline: Jesse wants to build a visionary 5 star farm to table restaurant in the middle of the Bosque to help city dwellers connect to the heart of their city.
Character5 Name: Carmen Nunez
Role: Michael’s Office Manager
Core Character Traits:
Out going
Compassionate & intuitive
Efficient & Organized
Loyal
Protective
Optional:
What makes this character unique: She sees past Michael’s facade
World View: Respect and meet people where they are at, even if you wish it was different.
Character Subtext Logline: Carmen knows its just a matter of time before Michael’s inner world and outer worlds collide, and is prepared to help him through as needed.
3. Improve at least one item on each character profile.
I didn’t have Character Subtext loglines for any of the characters. Developing those for each character helped clarify their role in the story.
Also want to note two major character changes made after brainstorming during previous drafts:
Georgia was originally a male character and while changing gender to female was a lot of work, it was well worth it. A richer and more emotionally engaging story was the result.
It wasn’t until Jesse
became an architect with a dream of his own that his character came alive, and
I was then able to find more ways for him and Michael to connect besides the
gay theme. And have Jesse’s subplot
intersect with one of Michael’s subplots. -
Terry’s Basic Structure Version 1
What I’ve learned doing this assignment is: My beats don’t neatly fit a 9-beat structure. And how to trim the back story to get to the inciting incident quicker.
1.Logline. A superficial realtor must survive Heaven’s “wake up call” when he switches bodies with an older widow to whom family means everything.
2.Main Conflict: Michael has a week to find a way back to his heart, reclaim his body and create new life possibilities beyond his current life-path’s scheduled heart attack.
1. Opening: Michael is confronted with repressed feelings by his out gay friend during their search & rescue mission, in conflict with his ex-wife and facing the loss of a big real estate contract that will cost him the coveted realtor of the year award. Meanwhile across the state recently widowed Georgia realizes something has happened to her nephew David and sets out to search for answers.
2. Inciting Incident: Michael’s and Georgia’s worlds collide in a car crash that sends them both to Heaven.
3. By page 10, you know what the movie is about: Not the main conflict. That becomes fully known after the inciting incident on p24.
4. First turning point at end of Act 1: Georgia’s gay son Jesse takes Michael, in Georgia’s comatose body, back to the ranch to die at home. Georgia, in Michael’s body is released from the hospital in Michael’s ex-wife’s care. Georgia renews her search for her missing nephew with Anna’s help.
5. Mid-Point: Michael learns how to leap back to his body and sustain his presence, only to find he is in a jail cell. He reads a note Georgia left him after she was arrested while in Michael’s body for stealing her horse. Jesse and Anna get Michael released and team up to finish the search for David.
6. Second turning point at end of Act 2: Michael talks to Anna and finally owns his truth that he is gay.
7. Crisis: Michael, Jesse and Anna find David in a wilderness cave, badly wounded by poachers, and left for dead. When poachers realize David has been found they return to kill them all.
8. Climax: Michael makes the decision to risk his life by trading places with Georgia one last time before he has fully re-claimed his body, knowing he won’t survive if the fatal heart attack happens before they trade back.
9. Resolution: Georgia has the critical conversation with David which gives him renewed purpose to live. Michael’s fatal heart attack happens but Heaven rewards Michael with a new life path for his ultimate sacrifice.
3. Need to elevate the Opening. The main conflict shows up too late into the script.
4. Main Purpose of the Opening: Development and intros of my two lead characters & key supporting characters before inciting incident.
How to elevate: Need to streamline the character development and plot setup.
5.After elevating the Opening scene sequence.
Main Conflict: Michael has a week to find a way back to his heart, reclaim his body and create new life possibilities beyond his current life-path’s scheduled heart attack.
1. Opening: Main characters, backstory and conflict remain… but descriptions are undergoing significant streamlining, and scene order evaluated.
2. Inciting Incident: same as above
3. By page 10, you know what the movie is about: Work In Progress…
4. First turning point at end of Act 1: same as above
5. Mid-Point: same as above
6. Second turning point at end of Act 2: same as above
7. Crisis: same as above
8. Climax: same as above
9. Resolution: same as above
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Terry’s Logline and One Page!
What I’ve learned doing this assignment is how much work my one page still needs.
Title: Out of The Woods
Logline: A superficial realtor must survive Heaven’s “wake up call” when he switches bodies with an older widow to whom family means everything.
One Page:
Michael Jeremy (early 30s) denies who he truly is: a gay man and son of poor migrant farmers. Not able to continue living a lie, Michael has divorced his wife, ANNA, and left his son. Unable to live his truth either, he pushes himself to become Santa Fe’s most successful realtor and a wealthy permanent bachelor. Material success and Search and Rescue volunteer efforts are enough to grant access to the social elite.
His Guardian Angel’s continued efforts fail to inspire Michael’s better self. Instead, fear shuts Michael down more. He focuses on winning the national realtor-of-the-year award. He forgets his son’s birthday. Carmen, his secretary, confronts his business choices. Anna challenges his plans for their son. His Taos trip to close a major deal ends badly. Frustrated, angry, he races back to Santa Fe to salvage the loss.
Meanwhile across the state Georgia Woods (late 70s), a recent widow, tries to understand fragmented dream messages from her beloved late husband, Charlie, and the Ranch Matriarch Mountain Lion. When her nephew, David, doesn’t show at the family memorial gathering, Georgia knows something bad has happened. Georgia trailers her horse, Isis, and drives to the Pecos Wilderness to find him.
Michael’s and Georgia’s worlds collide in a head-on car crash, sending both to Heaven. In angry denial, Michael’s focused on one thing only: how to get back to his car. His Guardian Angel shows him the “Wake Up Call” section in his Life Contract. Michael argues he didn’t sign any contract.
Meanwhile, Georgia sacrifices her reunion with her beloved husband to volunteer for the other role in Michael’s “Wake Up Call.” She agrees to return to earth, in Michael’s body, knowing David’s best chance for survival is for her to find him.
Michael wakes in the hospital to find he’s trapped in Georgia’s comatose body. One week to find his way back to his true heart. One week to create a new life path to survive his upcoming heart attack. Reality hits. Michael uses a force of will to re-claim his body. But he can’t last a minute, much less the 24hrs needed to fully reclaim his body. Instead, he slams back into Georgia’s. Cries of outrage go unanswered by the Heavens and Earth.
Jesse (early 30s), one of Georgia’s adopted sons, gay and heart-centered in life, takes “Georgia” home to live out “her” last days on her beloved ranch. He becomes the key to Michael learning forgiveness, compassion and opening his heart to love beyond his fears.
Michael discovers his heart is the path to re-claim his body. But lifelong fears are not easily vanquished and slam him back into Georgia’s before he can cross the 24hr threshold. His failed attempts endanger not only Georgia’s fragile body, but also his heart and her search for David as they all run out of time.
Only when he embraces who he truly is, whole heartedly, is he able to fully reclaim his body in time to finish Georgia’s search. Michael chooses not to go alone. He enlists Anna, Jesse, and Isis to help. They find David hidden in a cave, shot and barely alive, protected by the Mountain Lion he once rescued. Together they circumvent the poachers’ return to kill them all and manage to get David home alive.
Michael realizes David’s survival is dependent on one last conversation with Georgia. Only by trading places with Georgia can he facilitate that. He knows the cost. His life when his scheduled heart attack happens. He does it anyway.
Michael’s heart attack happens. He dies before he can help them. Back in Heaven he ignores his own death and pleads David’s and Georgia’s case for one last conversation. Heaven finds Michael’s ultimate gift of love successfully creates his new life thread, one untouched by the heart attack. The ripple effect reunites David and Georgia before she returns to Heaven. And Michael returns to earth renewed and ready to start a new life with Jesse.
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Hi all,
Terry Hicks here…
I have 4 feature length scripts in various stages of re-writes. Also several shorts and was 1/3 of a team that wrote and produced a youtube comedic web series for 3 seasons. Currently making my way through ScreenwritingU’s “How to Write Acton Movies” for a new feature script.
What I hope to get from this class is how to elevate my existing scripts so they deliver a great reader/audience experience. One that inspires and entertains in the moment and beyond.
Something perhaps unique… My background~career was in watershed ecology and restoration with great adventures throughout the Inter-mountain Western US. My love of the outdoors was greatly imprinted by adventures exploring the Himalayan foothills as a child.
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Terry Hicks
I agree to the terms of this release form
Group Release Form
As a member of this group, I agree to the following:
1. That I will keep the processes, strategies, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class confidential, and that I will NOT share any of this program either privately, with a group, posting online, writing articles, through video or computer programming, or in any other way that would make those processes, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class available to anyone who is not a member of this class.
2. That each writer’s work here is copyrighted and that writer is the sole owner of that work. That includes this program which is copyrighted by Hal Croasmun. I acknowledge that submission of an idea to this group constitutes a claim of and the recognition of ownership of that idea.
I will keep the other writer’s ideas and writing confidential and will not share this information with anyone without the express written permission of the writer/owner. I will not market or even discuss this information with anyone outside this group.
3. I also understand that many stories and ideas are similar and/or have common themes and from time to time, two or more people can independently and simultaneously generate the same concept or movie idea.
4. If I have an idea that is the same as or very similar to another group member’s idea, I’ll immediately contact Hal and present proof that I had this idea prior to the beginning of the class. If Hal deems them to be the same idea or close enough to cause harm to either party, he’ll request both parties to present another concept for the class.
5. If you don’t present proof to Hal that you have the same idea as another person, you agree that all ideas presented to this group are the sole ownership of the person who presented them and you will not write or market another group member’s ideas.
6. Finally, I agree not to bring suit against anyone in this group for any reason, unless they use a substantial portion of my copyrighted work in a manner that is public and/or that prevents me from marketing my script by shopping it to production companies, agents, managers, actors, networks, studios or any other entertainment industry organizations or people.
This completes the Group Release Form for the class.
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Terry’s Heroine & Villain
“What I learned doing this assignment is more about my heroine and her secret.”
1. Fill in the blanks and see what shows up.
Concept: A scientist develops volcano technology to build new land mass and save her ancestral island community from being wiped out by the next storm systems.
· Hero Morally Right: Heroine wants to save the islanders & their community
· Villain Morally Wrong: Villain values personal monetary gain over people
Hero
· Unique Skill Set: A skilled ecological volcano scientist
· Motivation: wants to ensure the next storm system doesn’t wipe out the island community
· Secret or Wound: is an orphan
Villain
· Unbeatable: has all the funds and resources to ensure their success
· Plan/Goal: steal the scientist’s technology for personal gain, even if it means killing her
· What they lose if Heroine survives: global mineral domination
Impossible Mission
· Puts Hero in Action: Upcoming storm systems threaten the islander community existence
· Demands They Go Beyond Their Best: Villain’s betrayal and heroine left behind forces her to use all her ecological skills to survive and stop the Villain
· Destroy the Villain: Villain destroyed by…. I don’t how yet….
2. Once you have filled in a quick answer to each, go back and extrapolate (If _____, then how might _____?) to elevate any answers you can.
Went back to my “Destroy the Villain: …. I don’t know how yet”… above
3. Tell us your improved answers.
If/when she survives, she then has a chance to stop the villain by dismantling her technology in time…. How might she do that? She figures out a way remotely? Old school field science? One that puts the villain’s life in danger when they try to deploy the technology?
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Terry’s Conventions!
What I learned: Initially took this class to simply elevate my writing in general, but what
I am learning is exceeding my expectations of the Action Movie genre and
opening a whole new world of fun and possibilities!Concept: A scientist finds a way to use volcanic flows to build land mass in time to keep island communities from being wiped out by rising ocean levels.
Conventions:
Highly Skilled Heroine: A Volcano Scientist who wants to save her ancestral island community.
Demand For Action: Sea level rises from climate changes
and upcoming storms threaten to wipe out entire island communities.Mission: Use controlled volcanic eruptions and flows to
quickly build land mass.Antagonist: Global Mines Guild wants the volcanic
technology to force the islanders to abandon their lands and to create new
mineral sources.Escalating Action: The Heroine must defeat the Guild’s trickery,
betrayal, and leaving her to die in the volcano’s path in order to protect her
technology and islanders. -
Hi all,
Terry here…. writing from the Middle Rio Grande landscape in New Mexico.
I have 4 feature length scripts in various stages of re-writes. And several shorts. Have worked below the line on various indie film sets as Props Master, Art Director, Set Dresser and other fun jobs. And was 1/3 of a team that wrote and produced a youtube comedic web series for 3 seasons.
Action Movies are totally out of my typical go-to genre. I am intrigued by the possibilities of this genre and also hope to enliven my other screenplays with tools and techniques I learn from this class and from other writers on this journey.
Something perhaps unique… My background~career was in watershed ecology and restoration… and had great adventures throughout the Inter-mountain Western US. My love of the outdoors was greatly imprinted by adventures exploring the Himalayan foothills as a child.
-
Terry Hicks
I Terry Hicks agree to the terms of this release form.
GROUP RELEASE FORM
As a member of this group, I agree to the following:
1. That I will keep the processes, strategies, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class confidential, and that I will NOT share any of this program either privately, with a group, posting online, writing articles, through video or computer programming, or in any other way that would make those processes, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class available to anyone who is not a member of this class.
2. That each writer’s work here is copyrighted and that writer is the sole owner of that work. That includes this program which is copyrighted by Hal Croasmun. I acknowledge that submission of an idea to this group constitutes a claim of and the recognition of ownership of that idea.
I will keep the other writer’s ideas and writing confidential and will not share this information with anyone without the express written permission of the writer/owner. I will not market or even discuss this information with anyone outside this group.
3. I also understand that many stories and ideas are similar and/or have common themes and from time to time, two or more people can independently and simultaneously generate the same concept or movie idea.
4. If I have an idea that is the same as or very similar to another group member’s idea, I’ll immediately contact Hal and present proof that I had this idea prior to the beginning of the class. If Hal deems them to be the same idea or close enough to cause harm to either party, he’ll request both parties to present another concept for the class.
5. If you don’t present proof to Hal that you have the same idea as another person, you agree that all ideas presented to this group are the sole ownership of the person who presented them and you will not write or market another group member’s ideas.
6. Finally, I agree not to bring suit against anyone in this group for any reason, unless they use a substantial portion of my copyrighted work in a manner that is public and/or that prevents me from marketing my script by shopping it to production companies, agents, managers, actors, networks, studios or any other entertainment industry organizations or people.
This completes the Group Release Form for the class.
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Thanks for your thoughts Joan!