Trending Lounge Discussions

I’m developing a horror/thriller screenplay set in a foggy small town in Oregon, where a quiet newcomer checks into a roadside motel and realizes the man next door may not be human. I’m trying to build momentum with this project and connect with the right people who love smart, atmospheric horror.

If you’re into screenwriting, horror, or dark suspense, I’d love to hear what makes a story stand out to you and what grabs your attention in a script.

New Casting Director Scam Is Fooling Actors — Here's How to Avoid It

https://youtu.be/sFHTCIfSjFg

Have you ever been targeted by an acting or modeling scam?

Drop a comment below and let me know!

I read and respond to every comment. ❤️

We have 2 producers for our biopic on Churchill's "favorite spy" countess Krystyna Skarbek. Looking for another, preferably in the US, UK and/or France

I've been contacted by two people recently that are supposedly in the industry, but one is for sure a scammer and then other one, I'm just waiting for him to ask me for money. My question is...how do you know this, IF they use all the right industry lingo, and don't ask for money until like the 3rd or 4th communication? I only sent my pitch deck and logline, and haven't sent my script--which probably doesn't matter anyway since they aren't really interested in that. How do you respond in that first email to vet them out?

The Halcyon Manor is a supernatural tale of a grand old hotel with artworks which have supernatural powers. I finished the script last month, and rather than just sit on it, I have been advised to make a short film myself. BUT, due to the special effects, location and actors/directors/producers etc. needed to make this happen, I’d need an experienced team with lots of equipment. It sounds as though I’ve hit a brick wall. Has anyone found it easy to produce a vertical drama? Please explain how it works? I’m in Lancashire, UK.

I signed a two-year shopping agreement (now expired) with Vincent Turner of Off Campus Productions. Being the on-camera Rights Holder, Vincent Turner acted as the producer(financier), director, editor and cinematographer. The movie, One Man's Deep Words, adapted from my book, One Man's Deep Words, is the project in view .Though I am based in Lagos, Nigeria, the agreement was signed in accordance with the laws of California (Victorville, JAMS)

The production process started December of 2024 but the agreement commenced April of 2024. Officially expired in April of 2026, I do not intend to extend the agreement.In the agreement, the production company, which is owned by Vincent Turner, would pitch, develop and shop it to buyers during the period. If it succeeded, it would be extended to three years. Even after the expiration date of the agreement and there was an ongoing discussion with a bonafide buyer, the company would be attached as an executive producer (I will be attached also).

However, I realized Vincent Turner has never made any distribution, film sales or licensing deal with any of his works. Instead, I have been, in good faith, unknown to me at the time, pitching to agencies and trying to get contacts to look into the possibility of exploiting the commercial value of the One Man's Deep Words movie. Sadly, he would not give cognizance or consent to my efforts. From one flaw to the other , he will keep pointing out. 

Vincent Turner did send instalments o the "first-phase"f footages of the movie, till he sent the final "first-phase" version with a running time of 107 minutes. However, he wanted something creatively better. That got me concerned. But for the sake of creative dynamics, I gave him permission to proceed. Till this day, I am yet to see any evidence of the new version of what he claims to be working on. He has since been texting me on the status. No evidence! 

I took it upon myself to urgently call his attention, asserting that if he doesn't come up with the final version by month-end (of June), I will take it (and work on it)that what he shared with me (actually) with his Google Drive folder will be seen as the final one. Vincent Turner deleted all of the old videos! In one of our conversations, he somehow blamed me for not downloading it. What wasn't known to him was that the final old footage (sample) was downloaded on my phone device and a sample of it is on YouTube!

I have a documented evidence of the conversation between Vincent Turner and myself, alongside the expired shopping agreement. What is disturbing is Off Campus Productions seems to be working on it, despite the expiration of the agreement.

Below are my contact information 

Name: Chimezie Benedict ihekuna 

Email: mrbenisreal@gmail.com 

Phone/WhatsApp: +2348062162220

Below is Vincent Turner's information 

Name: Vincent Turner 

Email:yv7to11@gmail.com

IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0877930/

I would like to have all that were used for the project reverted to me as soon as possible., a official cease and desist letter be issued, issues such as breach of good faith, unauthorized exploitation of my work, despite the expiration of the shopping agreement, delivery of materials used for the old deleted vide and the new one dine without seeing a y evidence of it 

Other assertions by Robert Sacchi, screenwriter to the movie, One Man's Deep Words movie 

These are his words;

"You threatened and made moves to steal his work. You need to tell Vincent all the people you have been communicating with on the move One Man's Deep Words. The movie is his property. It's up to him to decide what to do with the film. He needs to be the one doing all the dealing. Doing otherwise is a good way of getting a bad deal. That's business. If you don't like it, then offer to buy the movie rights from Vincent.

Granted you can do whatever you want with the book, but the movie belongs to Vincent."

"When the movie is complete then you and Vincent can work out agreements, shopping strategies and other business matters based on the final product"

A statement made by Robert Sacchi, July 7, 2026.

Sadly, throughout the two-year shopping agreement period, Vincent Turner couldn't establish a buyer contact. Nothing of such. Instead, I've been the one trying to work things out. The agreement stipulated otherwise. 

The old video installments he sent to me: He later called them "crap". Due to his inability to keep to time being asserted to complete this project, I told him if he can't get the final version of the movie by month-end, I will take it that the old version is the final, since I practically have no idea of what the new version is about (Though he claims the new version has a running time of 110 minutes while the old version, the final full sample, runs at 107 minutes). He deleted the old videos installments from his Google Drive. Ever since, I have no idea of what the new version is. He's just been talking about it.

 Here are the conversations (via email) between two of us 

His response comes weeks after the shopping agreement expired. This is part 1 of his responses.. I'm of the opinion he advised Vincent Turner to delete all old videos from his Google Drive in the wake of me, telling him if I don't get the final version of the movie, I will work with the old version and take it as being the final.

 "I wrote a scene for him yesterday. About a week ago I told you I sent him another scene at his request. That's ample evidence he is working on the film. You have no right to the film version. You can't do with it as you please. Considering what you did and was threatening to do with videos he sent, removing them was a prudent move. You are not helping to get the film completed.  

You have other projects you are working on. Work on them. "

The shopping agreement ends on April 2026. No new agreement (to be).signed. 

"You threatened and made moves to steal his work. You need to tell Vincent all the people you have been communicating with on the move One Man's Deep Words. The movie is his property. It's up to him to decide what to do with the film. He needs to be the one doing all the dealing. Doing otherwise is a good way of getting a bad deal. That's business. If you don't like it, then offer to buy the movie rights from Vincent.  

Granted you can do whatever you want with the book, but the movie belongs to Vincent. 

Robert Sacchi"

He failed to realize the shopping agreement expired. As a consequence, Vincent Turner, by law, having failed to.meet up with the clauses in the shopping agreement within the two-year term, would have to seize and desist from working further on the final version of the movie. 

Robert Sacchi failed to understand I have the old video (full-length) with me.

He mentioned "...his work", but fails to realize that that work contains my likeness, image and ideas (even other inputs from me), based on my book. Without my permission, no shopping agreement, let alone making a movie.

He later responds:

"Then wait until the movie is ready.  

Robert Sacchi"

This response comes as a result of me telling him about the shopping agreement expiration and letting him know I can't threaten to steal "his work". But he's not aware I have the downloaded full old video with me and 40-minute sample video on YouTube.

Vincent Turner is still infringing on the intellectual property of the movie, despite understanding the shopping agreement has legally expired.

The response came as a response to my "ohh" reaction to his previous.statments.

"Shopping an early version of the film is suspicious. Vincent took understandable action to protect his property. Just let Vincent complete his him without pressure."   

I told him there's no "agreement" in place.

Still awaiting his response...

Vincent Turner and Robert Sacchi should be aware I'm not signing any agreement and that April of this year marked the legal expiration of the shopping agreement. They should understand the implications of still working on a project whose legality is no longer effective.

From the conversation, I agree with Vincent Turner that Robert Sacchi advised him to delete all old videos in the wake I assured him, if, by month-end of last month, I don't get the final version of the movie, I will take it that the old video (full length) is the final and will work on that. They failed to understand I have the full old video and uploaded on YouTube the sampled version (40-minute sample): My rights to publicity.

That guy is something else.

He sees he can't get me directly because the legality is against him. He uses the main character, Randal Massaro comments ,as some decoy to get me hooked! He messaged me on WhatsApp, some hours ago: My opinion, though.

"[7/4, 11:58 PM] Vincent Turner: Randal watched half of the movie

[7/4, 11:59 PM] Vincent Turner: Says it’s better than mine and Roberts other movie"

Usually, I would get to reply. However, I'm not doing that. Just gathering evidence....

What's funny is that Randal, whom he claimed watched half of the movie and made such comment, hasn't communicated with me his thoughts about the movie.

Randal sees the movie, half of it, at least. But I, whose book was adapted into it, despite the legal expiration of the shopping agreement, I haven't seen any evidence of it. That says a lot about the production and management. The trust issue of a thing...

I told Robert that the project can't be his property because I wasn't paid to have it acquired and it was a shopping agreement whose validity is no more. If Vincent thinks he can acquire, which is less likely, he has to pay me for the film rights, arrange a different official contract. However, that won't be possible.

The following are YouTube links to the old footages

Trailer link:https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eY0W2o2J_tE&pp=ygUUb25lIG1hbidzIGRlZXAgd29yZHM%3D

Preview link: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=u2J8p_xGSnU&pp=ygUUb25lIG1hbidzIGRlZXAgd29...

Sample video link:https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=l5MBULjNUrY&t=274s&pp=2AGSApACAcoFFG9uZSBtYW4ncyBkZWVwIHdvcmRz

I was trying to see how "fast" Vincent Turner could work on completing the movie, not realizing the agreement had expired. It was when he chose to delete the videos (which I downloaded on my phone device and saved on YouTube channels. He sent the trailer during the term of the agreement.

I have contacted a couple of pro Bono entertainment lawyers within California but I haven't secured one yet. Off Campus Productions is exploiting my likeness, despite the expiration date of the shopping agreement and my firm lack of interest to continue with the project. I need help to fight this case now!

Your response will be appreciated.

Yours Faithfully,

Chimezie Benedict Ihekuna 

--

u

How do I get my movie out in front of producers?

For this week’s challenge, I wanted to share an animated short that inspires me every time I revisit it: Snow Bear by Aaron Blaise. It is a breathtaking reminder of how animation can hold emotional weight with such absolute purity.

What makes it so effective is its profound simplicity; there is zero dialogue. Instead, the narrative relies entirely on visual storytelling, nuanced character expression, and rich atmosphere to do the heavy lifting. The real magic is how deeply it lands with so few elements.

Animation grants us the unique freedom to build a world that feels simultaneously vast and deeply intimate, and Snow Bear is a masterclass in that balance. The environment actively participates in the character's emotional arc, and the pacing gives every frame room to breathe. It’s a stunning example of visual execution.

Here’s the short if you want to watch it; it’s only a few minutes long, but it stays with you:

https://youtu.be/xOXolSQcEb4?si=ExAvC2KrEgAtPJNr