The screenplay I am hoping to turn into a film has an actual real life basis. To give an example as to what the basis is and how I am involved would be that I throw a big party and two people at the party, who I know, have a very interesting situation occur between them while at the party.
Am I completely fine writing a screenplay that follows what occured pretty closely as long as I don't use their names or would I need to get their permission? I technically have one of their oral permissions saying that they would be fine with me making a movie with the idea, but the other one may be a little more difficult to get onboard with the idea if I approached her, so I am just hoping that since I am not using their names, I am fine already.
Thanks.
I'm not sure the legalities, but if you watch the Big Lebowski many of the scenes are based on true stories (the stolen car with the kids' homework in it, confronting the kid, the stolen rug). Some of the folks involved in the stories recognized the stories and felt they should have been paid. A few characters were clearly based on real people or obvious combos of real people. Nobody was sued. The Coen brothers might have been lucky.
RJSchwarz
San Diego, CA
RJSchwarz
