Hey guys,
I've done a few short films for tech companies at expos, but currently working on a screenplay based on a true story. Most of the characters are based on real people and interviews with them. Are there any necessary steps I should take so that I will be protected from any of these people wanting to collect any restitution?
-Keith
I'm not sure you can expect people who you base your story
on to not want some kind of restitution. You might be able
to legally block them from getting any, but keep them from
not wanting any?
I don't know.
If some filmmaker made a movie based on you - based on
interviews you gave - and made a lot of money, wouldn't
you want a piece? Maybe not, but not all people feel that
way. I know I'd want something in return.
You don't give enough info to make an educated guess but
in general permission must be given by the subjects or the
surviving heirs before basing a story on them.
So you will need to contact an excellent lawyer that specializes
in this kind of thing to protect yourself from the people whose
true story you are using and might want some say or restitution.
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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)
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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)
The catch is also that some of this story is based on my recollections as well.
It's not that I don't want them to have anything in return. Just want to make sure I go about this the proper way along with protecting myself.
