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About Don Vasicek
Expertise
I can take you from the inception of your idea to the market. This translates to if you have an idea for a movie or a book, I can guide you through the jungle of writing these tomes all the way to getting it to producers, agents, editors, and/or publishers.

Experience
Writer/Consultant for MGM's "Warriors of Virtue"
Writer/Associate Producer for American Film Corporations' "The Lost Heart", "Born To Kill"
Writer/Director/Producer for Olympus Films+'s "Faces" and "Oh, The Places You Can Go..."
Writer/Director/Producer for Olympus Films+'s "The Sand Creek Massacre" Screenwriter for Incline Productions, Inc.'s "The Crown"
Author of "The Write Focus" and "How To Write, Sell, And Get Your Screenplays Produced"

You are here: Experts > Arts/Humanities > Writing > Writing Plays/Screenwriting > A Super Idea?

Writing Plays/Screenwriting - A Super Idea?

Expert: Don Vasicek - 10/23/2009

Question
Mr Vasicek,

I’m a college student and am extremely keen to do a script for the Superman film franchise. I already have an outline mapped out, as well as some fully written scenes. Before I proceed any further, though, I wanted to know how a new writer can approach a studio(WB) with a spec script for an already existing franchise. I realize that the chances of it being produced or even looked at are very slim, but I’d still like to know how the process would work. From what I understand since WB/DC own the rights, should they like the script I would then be hired to write the screenplay for the project, rather than me selling the script to them. Is this correct?

My second question has slightly more to do with legal issues. I understand that you’re not a lawyer, but I hope you can help from your experience in the business. Some rights to Superman have been awarded to the Siegel family and they are expected to gain control over more of the material. Should there then be any legal trouble with a forthcoming movie, would it be the writer or the studio who would be liable? I am very passionate about this character and the story I have written, I just don’t want to land up in any trouble.

Answer
Abi,

In order to get any attention by a studio,
regardless of what you have, you're going
to have a WGA signatory agent to take it
to the studio for you. Any other approach
will be a waste of time because of
liability. The studio does not want to be
sued for being accused of stealing someone's
story idea.

I'm not a lawyer, so I'm unable to tell you
who would be liable for stealing the story
rights.

I hope this has been of help to you.

Best Regards,

Donald L. Vasicek
Olympus Films+, LLC
The Zen of Writing and Filmmaking
http://www.donvasicek.com
dvasicek@earthlink.net

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