The Writer Got Screwed (but didn't have to) : Guide to the Legal and Business Practices of Writing for the Entertainment Indus

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Summary: GREAT Advice - More Relevant in '04 than Ever!! Excellent!
Review: 1 year & 3 complete reads. Those are my reading stats for Brooke Wharton's fantastic primer about writing for Hollywood. I initially read the book for an industry overview, and it was fantastic. Truly, there is ample useful information here that I have not seen in any other Hollywood How-To tome (I've read +20 of them). Subsequently, a book I wrote gained modest studio interest. I immediately returned to "The Writer Got Screwed" to understand my priorities and the dealmaking nuances. Again, it was an excellent resource and enabled me to ask the "right" questions. Finally, I used the book to draft an agreement with a screenwriting partner. It nailed our priorities/intentions, and withstood legal scrutiny. Bottom line: If you are writing for Hollywood, you have a helluva of a lot to worry about. Fretting about your deal shouldn't be one of them. Read the book. Then put it within easy-grab distance, because you'll be coming back to it! -- P.H. Mullen, author "Gold in the Water"



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Summary: A Comprehensive, Relevant Resource for All Writers
Review: Anyone interested in writing -- not just screenplays, but fiction, nonfiction, plays or anything else that could possibly be co-opted for Hollywood production should add this book to their personal reference library. Brooke Wharton sagely lays out all the legal and political ins and outs pertaining to writers and writing in Hollywood: copyright protection, WGA (writers guild union) issues, contracts, deal memos, work-for-hire, credits, credit arbitration, agents vs managers vs lawyers, making contacts, original work vs adaptations, ancillary rights, residuals, intellectual property ownership, etc. An experienced entertainment attorney with a high-profile client roster of her own (and former faculty member at the USC School of Cinema-Television), Wharton rightfully recognizes that information is power and she lays it out in thorough, easy-to-understand and often humorous terms for a writer's benefit. This is an incredibly useful resource that writers can refer to, time and time again. A must addition for any writer's library.

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Summary: MANDATORY READING, DESERVES 6 STARS
Review: As an entertainment professional I consider this book essential for both working and aspiring writers. Producers would also be well-served by reading it. In fact anyone and everyone interested in a career in film-making should read it. It's much more entertaining, informative, and down right funny than all the similar books on the market which are often dry and boring. In my opinion, the price of the book is a small price to pay for an education which will help protect you throughout your career.

Rating:
Summary: MANDATORY READING, DESERVES 6 STARS
Review: As an entertainment professional I consider this book essential for both working and aspiring writers. Producers would also be well-served by reading it. In fact anyone and everyone interested in a career in film-making should read it. It's much more entertaining, informative, and down right funny than all the similar books on the market which are often dry and boring. In my opinion, the price of the book is a small price to pay for an education which will help protect you throughout your career.

Rating:
Summary: MANDATORY READING, MERITS 6 STARS
Review: As an entertainment professional, I consider this book essential reading. Any aspiring or even working writer should pick this one up. In fact, anyone and everyone in the business of film-making would be well-served by reading this book. It's much more funny, informative, and relevant than the other similar books in the marketplace. The cost of the book is a small price to pay for an education that may help protect you for the rest of your career.

Rating:
Summary: MANDATORY READING, MERITS 6 STARS
Review: As an entertainment professional, I consider this book essential reading. Any aspiring or even working writer should pick this one up. In fact, anyone and everyone in the business of film-making would be well-served by reading this book. It's much more funny, informative, and relevant than the other similar books in the marketplace. The cost of the book is a small price to pay for an education that may help protect you for the rest of your career.

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Summary: A GREAT ROADMAP FOR ANY ENTERTAINMENT WRITER
Review: As far as the business aspects of writing go, Wharton has provided a comprehensive and accessible information base for creating and supporting a writing career. This comprehensive book levels the playing field by providing hard earned wisdom to the new or experienced writer. I find myself referring to the book constantly. It is indispensible.

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Summary: The Writer got Screwed
Review: Every writer trying to make it in Hollywood should read this book. I wish I had a copy of this book a year ago! Very funny, very easy to read, very informative!

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Summary: Excellent Resource
Review: For all of you aspiring screenwriters, this book is a must-have resource. Very important information, but let's be honest, discourse on law ususally makes one's eyes glaze over. However, Brooke is an incredible writer and keeps her book engaging and entertaining to hold the reader's interest for this vitally important subject.

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Summary: A WRITER'S BUSINESS PLAN BLUEPRINT FOR SUCCESS
Review: I had the pleasure of the meeting the author, entertainment attorney Brooke A. Wharton with agent Jonathan Westover of The Gage Group. As a former paralegal, I am often questioned by friends and there are few books available that tell me something I don't already know about writer's business concerns. This book is one of them. More than just a guide, this book is a valuable and essential resource tool for every writer. Though the book focuses on the film industry, universal topics such as how to protect your work, contracts, release forms, managers, agents and lawyers - to query letters and competitions are covered in plain English and the information can easily be applied to any form of writing. For example, "pitching" is an art form similar to proposals, while rights and options are a key element in all news-related and fiction writing involving real people. Also, many agents handle both book manucripts and screenplays. If you're like me, your bookshelves are cluttered with writing industry books. Trust me, this one is worth it. Having this book is like having a lawyer at your fingertips. With information on networking, competitions, legal organizations and cyberscribing, thi book can serve as a writer's business plan blueprint. It was the best investment I made in my writing career this year. I honestly don't know of any writer who could not benefit from the information in this book.