When adapting and updating a well known property in the public domain, it is a bit of a judgement call as to whether or not the original work needs a “based on” credit. If it feels dishonest not to note it, note it. If not, it’s up to you. For a case like West Side […]
Can you reference specific, proper-noun products/songs/locations/etc. in your screenplay?
By all means, yes. Being specific often helps your scene feel more grounded, or funnier. But keep in mind there’s a difference between mentioning the name of a real thing, which is generally fair game — REGGIE That dude’s a top hat and monocle away from being the tycoon in Monopoly. — and the thing […]
What is an option?
An option is an agreement that gives someone (usually a producer or a studio) the exclusive rights to buy something for a set amount of time and a pre-determined price. Options are common in the film and television industry, because they allow producers to control the rights to a piece of material without spending the […]