LOS ANGELES/EWORLDWIRE/April 17, 2007 --- This press release is issued as an open letter to the public in an attempt to elicit others who have experienced copyright infringement in the entertainment-screenwriting industry to join against this issue - it is not designed or intended to publicly humiliate anyone. All of the following parties mentioned in this release were immediately contacted upon discovery of this copyright infringement issue, and each had several months and countless opportunities to resolve the situation. This press release is based on the facts to reveal the truth and further expose an ongoing problem within the entertainment industry. In the beginning of October, 2006, one of Creative Artist Agencies (CAA) top level directors gave his CAA agent, David Styne, the okay to accept a screenplay submission from actor/writer Ken VerCammen. The submitted screenplay had already been copyrighted, WGA-registered and mailed to himself multiple times.
In February, 2007 CAA's coverage of the aforementioned screenplay was leaked to Ken VerCammen, stating the ideas were too 1980's cop show - "been there, done that." The coverage, in no way, shape or form reflected the original ideas created within the context of the screenplay.
The investigation began and unfolded as follows:
David Styne also represents Anthony Zuiker. Zuiker is not the client who green-lighted Vercammen's submission. CBS approached Zuiker about creating a pilot with LL Cool J. CBS ultimately gave it a pilot presentation order.
Writers' drafts of the pilot where written in 2007, about three months after David Styne received Ken VerCammen's screenplay.
The pilot, "The Man," is being completed and will be submitted to CBS. The similarities are endless and uncanny. The exact ideas that were shot down by CAA appear in this pilot. CAA, Zuiker's camp, LL's camp and CBS have been notified. Everyone has become evasive and acts like David Styne did from the time the script was submitted - don't respond to e-mails or return telephone calls.
President of CAA, Richard Lovett's office, was contacted without response.
As a literary agent, isn't it your job to locate new ideas? Or is it your job to steal new ideas? Bottom line, Ken VerCammen's script was used.
This is an ongoing problem in the entertainment industry. The term used is "chopped up" - don't pay for ideas; others will chop them up and use the ideas as their own.
The name of Lucy Cavallo, VP of drama at CBS, has been coupled with CBS continuously in this matter.
John Rupert of Alpha-One Investigations, Inc. is the lead Investigator.
CAA looks like a black hole for literary material. Those who get material in the door may very well later find it re-surfacing - "chopped up" with someone else's name on it.
Anyone that has had a copyright infringement problem with CAA or CBS is invited to contact alphaoneinv@cs.com.
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