Due to mysterious ways, The Crusading Chemist is on its way to The Library of Congress rather than the Writers Guild. That is, to Washington, D.C. rather than Los Angeles, California.  My literary friends, please read closely just in case you ever plan to publish/produce some of your work.

On Tuesday Dad brought home the 10 bound copies of the screenplay from the Minuteman Press. All is well with that, though there are a few minor typos I overlooked that are infuriating to me (it's not like I didn't proof-read it!). But those slip-of-the-pen things are common enough to not distract people too badly (I should hope).  After all, there is alot of editing in the movie making process.

On Friday Mom took an unbound copy and a bound copy to the Post Office. The unbound copy was on its way to the WGA, while the bound copy was on its way to myself (an old legal check - mail it to yourself and never open it so you will have legal, date/time stamped proof that you are the author).  Just in case you are wondering, this WGA plan was not some wild idea of mine.  According to what we had read, registering a screenplay with the Writers Guild is a legitimate step forward to finding a producer.  Supposedly it is also advisable for playwrights and book authors to register their works as well.  {However...}

As Mom was mailing the script, a man behind her over heard her explain to the bewildered woman at the desk that the package contained a screenplay.  He then questioned Mom about it as well and advised her to not send it to the Writers Guild unless the screenplay was government-copyrighted first, describing it as a "cut-throat industry".  He said he had worked as a director and screenwriter and explained that the Writers Guild is able to lift manuscripts that haven't first been registered with the Government Copyright Office. He further stated that you can't register a script with the Writers Guild unless you are a member and that you can't become a member unless you know someone in the industry (strange...their website said nothing about this!).

Mom was quite taken aback - what are the chances of running into someone like that in a rural town Post Office just as you happen to be mailing something to the Writers Guild?  The woman at the desk said they were getting ready to close, so Mom decided to take the scripts back home. She didn't get a chance to ask the guy what his name was, so that is all the information we will get from him most likely.

Later that day we researched the Government Copyright Office registration system. It is a much more in depth process, but it doesn't ask for your social security number like the WGA does. It is also a bit more expensive, costing $45 as opposed to $20, but it seems like the safer way to go now. 

For a dramatic work you have to fill out the PA (Performing Arts) form.

 They had the handy PDF form fill out system, so the only part I had to use a pen for was my signature.

Now it will be sent to the Library Of Congress - which incidentally happens to be one of the locations in a scene in the script itself.

I trust that the LORD was keeping me from making big mistake - it will be interesting to see what happens next!

~Amanda~