I want my screenplay removed but no one at Amazon seems to respond

I made the error of uploading a screenplay "Battleground" after I believed I read the entire contract. That 18 month period option doesn't work for me.

All I want is for my screenplay Battleground to be removed. Simple.

I sent in an email and received Amazon help -- and the customer service rep wanted to know about my order??? I told them I wish to speak to someone within the amazon Studios system. They had no clue. Got the usual as expected run-around and hung up.

Why is it I feel my screenplay is being held hostage? I made an error. But if an artist doesn't want and decides they wish to pull their work it's their work.

I haven't comitted a crime here. I just want my project removed. Period. No fuss. No legal jargon. Just take it down.

Just who in God's name do I have to speak to to get it removed?

Richard Rivera

When you uploaded it, you entered into a contract.

After 45 days, if Amazon doesn't want it, you can take it down.

It's not 18 months anymore it's 45 day. And it's a contract you agreed to to by submitting your script so no hostage situation is in play. You made a mistake so just put on your big boy panties and wait out the 45 days.

After a while a "REMOVE THIS PROJECT" button comes up. I guess that means Amazon has no interest, and you can take it down yourself.

lol, big boy panties.

It is a sad fact of the business that rogue studios frequently steal people's screenplays, break them down into their component words, reassemble them as entirely new screenplays and sell them on to China...

'Battleground' may this very minute be going into production as 'Ground Battle!'

"I sent in an email and received Amazon help -- and the customer service rep wanted to know about my order??? I told them I wish to speak to someone within the amazon Studios system. They had no clue. Got the usual as expected run-around and hung up."

I'm going to go out on a limb and assume that you made a phone call to Amazon. Otherwise, you need to explain how you hung up on an email. ;-)

Amazon & Amazon Studios are 2 separate companies.

At the bottom of this page under FEEDBACK, you'll see "If you need help or have a question for us, contact us." Click either of the last 2 words to send AS a message.

@ Nicholas

If you protect yourself properly there would be a big payout.

Tarantino settled out of court over Reservoir Dogs
Cameron settled out of court over Terminator.
Shayamalan settled out of court over Sixth Sense.

But I must admit, like you said, if China stole your work, you’re probably screwed.

I think you should know, while your script is being held "hostage" here at AS, I'm personally planning to steal your font for my very own script... and I'm not anywhere near China.

Hell, I might even steal you're margin widths while I'm at it.

Indigo, you can steal my margins width anytime ...

Will you young guys stop making passes at Indigo, she'll never get any work done.

And I'm waiting for her to turn 62.

How do you know about the 18 month option if you just submitted your script a couple days ago?

"I'm going to go out on a limb and assume that you made a phone call to Amazon. Otherwise, you need to explain how you hung up on an email."

Perhaps if you use a dial-up modem, it's possible to hang up while e-mailing.

I am humbled.

Despite my error in judgment in posting my work on Amazon Studios, I also assumed removing my work out of choice was still my choice. Clearly I was wrong.

Instead of receiving help, I received sarcasm. Instead of receiving helpful tips, I watched as jokes were made at my expense. I am nothing more than stranger on the receiving end of this.

A stranger who made a mistake like any human being.

I’ve avoided forums and interacting on line because I’ve always seen abusers. People posting absurd comments as a response to simple questions from others. I assumed Amazon Studios would be different. Again, I misjudged the environment here.

And of course, there are those ilk who believe “You get what you deserve” and the “Don’t like it? Don’t post.”

Now that’s what I call fostering a creative environment.

When I was homeless some years back, I slept on a cold bench in the dead of winter. Alone. No family, nobody. However, I promised myself if I survived that night I’d remember to treat humans being with some degree of dignity and respect. Something we’re all entitled to. Even in a forum here. I have seen anger, cruelty, hatred and disrespect on those who don’t deserve it. I have also seen compassion, patience and understanding.

It’s about not just being human – but humane.

I wrote something. I’d like it removed. That’s all I wanted. There was no need for the responses to have taken the direction that they did. I sometimes wonder what drives another human being to make light of someone else’s error in making a mistake. What’s to be gained? How does it help? I have no answer.

I shudder to think that one exists.

@Richard Rivera

Most people will behave like this, because the industry is behaving like this. Most of the writers here (at Amazon studios) are either beginners or sore losers, that have been peddling their work for years. It's kind of easier to act that way and remind oneself constantly of how heartless the world really is.

I am sorry to hear your life story being so cruel. Please - note - human beings do not deserve respect. You can treat them with dignity and respect (as I chose to), but that has nothing to do with humans deserving it in general. It's your personal decision to do so.

Why do you expect people to be respectful back? Don't think respect and dignity are a part of market economy, where you give some and receive some. That's exactly the thinking that got us into a mess we are in now... Give respect, but expect nothing in return. Better even - treat with dignity and respect, but shield yourself against a severe retaliation.

Humans are loathsome creatures at best. We need to constantly work on ourselves to become worthy of being called humans. Most people don't. You must accept that you can't expect anything good from humans, yet learn to receive what is offered.

Richard, the 18 month period you're referring to under their current contract terms is an "extension" period on the 45-day option. If they choose to extend the option period for 18 months, they will pay you $10,000. Under the terms, they can do so twice, for a total of 36 months and $20,000.

$10,000 for an 18-month option is not such a bad deal for an aspiring screenwriter. And validation that they think enough of your script to pay you to maintain the rights to it for that long.

If I were you, I wouldn't ask to have it removed. In all likelihood they will pass on it and you'll have it back in 45 days.

Bruce & Tony:

Thanks so much for you words and advice. It's appreciated. You're probably right Bruce, with regards to the 45 days period.

I just find it odd that one's work could be held at all. Even when one request and admits in making an error in submitting it. Why would Amazon want to hold onto someone's screenplay when they don't want any part of Amazon Studios?

That's like someone not wanting to be married and forced into a marriage. It makes no sense .

Amazon should allow work to be deleted at any time. This way, if the work is still there within 45 days, obviously the writer WANTS to be part of the Amazon Studios experience and everyone is happy.

I don't get it. It makes little sense.

It doesn't sound as though you were ever told "no", Richard. You just never received a "yes".

So, hold off on the misanthropic declarations until then, at least...

@ Richard - AS takes the time to read at least part of each script and decide whether or not to option it. If people could pull scripts at any time before the 45 days are up, they'd be wasting AS's time and resources.

That's why they ask you to read and agree to the terms before posting.

BTW, I read the first few pages of your script and it looks pretty decent. Great dramatic question with the dog tags. Unless you have something else pressing to do with it, why not leave it up for 45 days?

Silly posts call for silly answers or nothing at all.

The ones of us who submitted our work at the beginning are the ones who gave a free 18-month option, which forbade us to send those projects to certain contests, among other consequences. But we took the challenge with all its risks. Except those that complained and were able to pull out their work many months before the option was done with absolutely no consequences.

But in the end we didn't have to wait 18 months, because a couple of months ago the rules changed. Now it's only 45 days and you can submit privately. So there are no consequences at all -- unless you get a $10,000 check. 45 days pass very quickly. And then a red button appears on the project page to take it down.

Perhaps it would be good to read carefully the instructions next time. 45 days will pass very quickly and you'll be able to take down your page into oblivion.

@ Richard - This is why they put stuff in front of you before you post that tells you exactly what you are giving up by posting. I'm sorry you didn't read it, but what would you expect someone to do once you sign a contract? I'm sure a lot of people who've signed contracts before reading wish they could say, 'my bad, I screwed up' and get out of it. Enjoy the 45 days and relax.

Richard, your original post was in no way respectful so it did not deserve to be respected. You took a sarcastic accusatory stance with false information trying to break a contract by sheepishly saying you made a mistake. AS has to pay it's readers. Your "mistake" costs them money. So you are asking for a hand-out by yanking your script early and that is selfish no matter how you look at it. You then called a random phone number and harassed a call center person who has nothing to do with Amazon Studios, and then by your own admission hung up on that poor person who was just doing their job (so your little "It’s about not just being human – but humane" apparently doesn't extend to lowly minimum wage workers at a call centers. Way to pick and choose who's a human-being, Super-Star.)

You hurled an insult at AS accusing them of holding your work "hostage" when you know that you signed over your rights for them to have a $0.00 option on it for 45 days. Then you had buyers remorse, which is fine, but when you made the choice to publicly try and shame this production company rather than asking a simple question like "hey guys, how does one get ones work taken off the site?" you not only showed your low integrity but also your ignorance of how this industry works. Yes Virginia, there are other producers and agents that come to this message board (or at least they did in the past) and they see that you can't uphold a very short simple contract but more over they see your piss poor attitude and that makes them not want to work with you. So you got served by people here on the site that have been to the table before in an attempt to curb your rotten attitude, which in the long run will help you. You're correct response should have been, "thank-you sir may I have another". Learn your little lesson and move on.

Oh and as for your "sob story" of being homeless.... I have a rare privilege that most of the other people on these board don't have of saying BOO-F-ING-HOO, because I've been homeless too. And I would never ever in a million year stoop so low as to use it as an excuse to act as poorly as you have.

Grow up. If you want to work in this industry you will, in fact, have to put on your big boy panties... but I suspect in your case you might need to go out and buy some first.

Way to FIRE Indigo… God I love redheads.

Oops… did I say that out loud?