Finally heard back from the Library of Congress - Copyright Office.
Turns out if you don't log into your count at least once every 60 days, you have to contact tech support to re-open your account.
At least they gave me an email address.
Now time to send a message... and wait.
When my account gets restored, I can finally copyright every screenplay I've written since 2013... and put my mind at ease.
I have many thoughts about this (most of which I will not relay here... as I would sound cynical, resentful and jealous), but... regardless... he's a horror author... he's Stephen King's kid... and he's coming to my town near Halloween.
I gotta go see him.
I saw Stephen King live once... in fall of 1995... he was promoting Insomnia (one of my LEAST FAVORITE of his books).
So, I figure I should see Joe Hill.
I mean, if you look at him... he's a carbon copy of his dad (both physically and creatively).
And in many years in the future when King is gone, Hill is gonna carry on his legacy.
So ... I'm going to be diplomatic, go see him, wear my red MONSTER SQUAD "Stephen King Rules" shirt and consider that he may win me over... and his new novel (King Sorrow... a copy of which the price of my ticket gets me) may be the one that makes me a fan.
We'll see.
Stranger things, as they say...
https://www.slcl.org/events/ticketed-event-joe-hill
So, it just occurred to me that I haven't copyrighted or registered my scripts in forever.
(Especially important when you're about to send your script off to a producer... I know I've done this before (during various Pitchfests, etc.), but this time, for many reasons, I just feel like I should).
I tried to log into the Library of Congress - Copyright Office (which, apparently, I haven't used since 2013) and my log-in no longer works.
However, they still have my username and email address on file.
However, instead of just sending me a password reset link (like, you know, a normal, function and competent business) they try getting me to answer a "challenge question" to which I have apparently forgotten the answer.
The question is: "what is your profession?"
I tried "Writer", "Teacher", "English Teacher" and "Professor".
Nothing work.
So I just sent the Copyright Office two emails.
One through their online form.
The other to the email address my last copyright certification came from.
So, in the meantime I will put together a collection (much cheaper that way... to copyright a collection entitled "The Collected Screenplays of Erik D. Harshman" that contains every screenplay I've written in the last 12 years, than to register than all individually... can't remember which professor told me to do this... but it's brilliant... I know, I know... it's also obvious... but still...) of every script I've written since 2013 and wait for my log-in issues to be resolved... then I will submit my latest collection to be copyrighted.
In the meantime I went on the WGAw and registered Personal Demons (I figure it's good to know at least one reputable agency will have it on record that I arrived at this story, these characters, this concept and plot first, in case there is any legal dispute later).
Now, I looked at all my other registration certificates from the WGAw and it looks like registration is only good for five years.
Looks like it's the same now, as my registration for Personal Demons is only good until 2030.
And some of my other scripts that I've registered with them (like my Stygian horror script One Night in Town) are no longer eligible to be renewed (I guess after a certain point after their registration expires, you're back to square one and just have to resubmit them all over again).
Well, here is my plan: I am going to only register the scripts I am actively pitching and submitting to film festivals.
Which means: Cubs, Flatdog, Personal Demons and Muscles & Wine.
Thankfully, they let you do it all online now and they send you a PDF of your certificate. No snail mail, no printed/physical copies.
It's wonderful!
Alright, off to submit my script to this VIP and to bundle together all my screenwriting since 2013 into a collection and twiddle my thumbs waiting for the Library of Congress to reset my password.
So... I had my pitch meeting Weds.
It was... interesting.
I'll withhold my full thoughts and comments and the full story until I hear the VIP's response (despite my cynicism in thinking he wouldn't follow up and request my script, as he said he would, he did indeed request my script through Stage 32).
Regardless, here goes nothing...
So, remember when I was all hyped up that I was nominated for the Carnage Award for Beast Feature Script at the Diabolic Horror FIlm Festival in Mexico?
They sent me that great, comprehensive list of interview questions.
Well, I figured I didn't win, because I hadn't received anything.
But I decided to check to see who did win.
It was a script called Catholic Schoolgirls VS Inbreeds
Here is its IMDB page
Just sayin'...
Well, I just created a profile for myself on Stage 32.
And they just sent me an email informing me that the producer / executive (Sammy Warshaw) is hearing pitches this week.
This is his bio from Stage 32: "Producer/Film Executive, Independent Producer (Worked with Sony, Columbia Pictures)"
And here is what he is looking for (according to Stage 32): "Sammy specializes in all genres of Feature Film scripts and is currently reading Horror and Thrillers."
I missed my opportunity last week and felt awful about it.
I think this is the universe's way of telling me that I need to do this.
And I desperately want to do this.
But, as I've unofficially decided to forego FadeIn's Hollywood Pitchfest this year, I'm not really in pitching mode. But I can get in pitching mode pretty quick. I mean, I've pitched this movie a thousand times.
Anyway, time to make some moves towards the future I want and deserve, instead of accepting my present situation (meaning a lack of representation).
Update: Just made my order. It was only $35 (not bad!). I was able to pay through PayPal (which is always nice) and I booked the time slot of 11:20am... and PDT is two hours behind CST, so my pitch actually isn't until 1:20pm! I will be spending tomorrow practicing in between reading and exercising.
Got an email in my Gmail today, informing me of a horror-0centric pitchfest taking place tomorrow.
There are a b8unch of VIPs I'd love to pitch to... there's just a few problems:
1.) Just finding out about this today, I have little-to-no time to prepare. Mind you, I pretty much have my pitch down to a science, but you can always refine it.
2.) It is $35 a pitch. Mind you, that is extremely reasonable, but I have a roadtrip (to a horror con... naturally) planned for this weekend that's going to be fairly expensive (lots of autographs and selfies to b pay for).
3.) I've never dealt with this company (Stage 32) before. I kind of need to figure this company out a bit before I hand over $100+ of my hard-earned money to them.
Normally, this would be a great opportunity and I would relish it.
However, as it is dropping on me in the middle of my summer break, I just don't think I can do it this year.
Next year I can plan and budget for it.
