Hi, so I need a little advice regarding what rights/what action would be sensible for someone in my position.
Over the course of this year I've written and directed several short films. I'm just at the stage where the shorts are being finished through post production and so far without the final versions being out in the wild yet I've had interest from three sources about developing projects further.
In two instances I've been approached by people from independant production companies about turning shorts into features, which sounds exciting, but I have slight concerns that I'd like advice about before I get into real discussions with these people.
As things stand all of the shorts are completely my own - I devised their concepts, wrote the scripts, sourced the funding, cast them, directed them and in some instances was also an actor in them.
I had always hoped that these shorts could be used as pitch films so I could develop them further into larger projects with bigger budgets and better resources, but I feel a little concerned that if I work with one of these independant production companies I'm going to end up giving away everything I've worked for so far.
Now I fully appreciate that I was able to have an unusual amount of creative control over the short films (one of the benefits of being an independant filmmaker) and that I will probably have to make some consessions when working with bigger/more experienced companies than my own.
My concern is that I don't want my concepts ripped off/butchered so it's not really my work any more. If I go ahead with any kind of working relationship with them how much should I be willing to give up in order to see the films made? I also have concerns about what the copyrights would be over my own original creations if I allowed others to write/direct etc.
I wrote and directed the shorts myself, but I'm not sure to what level they will want me involved. I've not written/directed a feature yet, but I don't want that fact to be the reason why I'm replaced from these roles on my own projects. Obviously I want to further my own career so if I were to step aside in either of these areas I feel like I'd be cheating myself out of the opportunity on my own projects.
I've not had full discussions to know what they're going to propose to me yet, but I'd like some advice to know what people think my expectations should be going in so I feel more prepared and know what is fair and reasonable.
Over the course of this year I've written and directed several short films. I'm just at the stage where the shorts are being finished through post production and so far without the final versions being out in the wild yet I've had interest from three sources about developing projects further.
In two instances I've been approached by people from independant production companies about turning shorts into features, which sounds exciting, but I have slight concerns that I'd like advice about before I get into real discussions with these people.
As things stand all of the shorts are completely my own - I devised their concepts, wrote the scripts, sourced the funding, cast them, directed them and in some instances was also an actor in them.
I had always hoped that these shorts could be used as pitch films so I could develop them further into larger projects with bigger budgets and better resources, but I feel a little concerned that if I work with one of these independant production companies I'm going to end up giving away everything I've worked for so far.
Now I fully appreciate that I was able to have an unusual amount of creative control over the short films (one of the benefits of being an independant filmmaker) and that I will probably have to make some consessions when working with bigger/more experienced companies than my own.
My concern is that I don't want my concepts ripped off/butchered so it's not really my work any more. If I go ahead with any kind of working relationship with them how much should I be willing to give up in order to see the films made? I also have concerns about what the copyrights would be over my own original creations if I allowed others to write/direct etc.
I wrote and directed the shorts myself, but I'm not sure to what level they will want me involved. I've not written/directed a feature yet, but I don't want that fact to be the reason why I'm replaced from these roles on my own projects. Obviously I want to further my own career so if I were to step aside in either of these areas I feel like I'd be cheating myself out of the opportunity on my own projects.
I've not had full discussions to know what they're going to propose to me yet, but I'd like some advice to know what people think my expectations should be going in so I feel more prepared and know what is fair and reasonable.