Scam that targets screenplay writers
Phil
named Martin Sanders and myself, starting on 10/28/09:
Mr. Phil Clarke,
Am forwarding this mail which was sent to me by Mr.Dilip Kungwani of
Shoot Rajasthan Film Production's request to begin negotiation with
you on how to buy your script GLADE MATCHES COMMERCIAL.
My name is Mr Martin Sanders,an independent script agent and as you
can see from the forwarded mail,my client needs the script by next
week wednesday.
To this end,I will be sending to you MOU documents via secured and
registered courrier which you are expected to read and consent to.I
will also need your banking details so as to advice payment as soon as
i receive the signed documents, and other required informations which
are attached to the documents that i will be sending to you.
Fees for the courrier services will be borne by you.As a result of
this,you are to forward the courrier service fee of $50 and my agent
sourcing fee of $250,all together $300 on or before Friday this
week.Please for safe and secure payment,use Moneygram or Western union
money transfer.
In addition,I would also like to know how much you are willing to part
with the script.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Martin Sanders,
46 jillote Ratder Avenue,
NE 79764,
Luxembourg.
Tel 352)-35276543210
--- On Wed, 28/10/09, Dilip Kungwani wrote:
From: Dilip Kungwani
Subject: Re:The Black Diamon Script.
To: martins...@yahoo.com
Date: Wednesday, 28 October, 2009, 12:15 PM
Dear Mr .Martin Sanders
After careful review of the scripts which you sent to us,We wish
to inform you that we are desirous to buy the script GLADE MATCHES
COMMERCIAL by Phil Clarke.
To this end,we would like you to contact the writer immediately
and begin the buying processes.We want you settle the deal before next
week Wednesday so that we can have the script for production.
Please inform him that all coresspondence,questions,enquiries and
matters relating to the buying of this script SHOULD be addressed to
you.We will not entertain any request or enquiry from him or his
representatives.
Sincerely,
Dilip Kungwani
CHHA-29, Jawahar Nagar,
Jaipur 302004 Rajasthan, INDIA
To which I wrote back:
Dear Mister Sanders,
What kind of deal do you think you can get for my script, Glade
Matches Commercial? I have received other offers for my script and
want to be sure that I am properly compensated for my work.
What kind of budget will Shoot Rajasthan Film be working with on
this? I would rather my script not be produced than have it produced
poorly, on a low budget.
Please advise.
His reply:
That is part of the information embedded in the MOU documents which
you are expected to provide more information to me.Shoot Rajasthan is
one India's big film production companies and they have done million
dollar film projects.And they have other scripts before them for
approval.
I suggest that you get the MOU first and see the deal that they are
offering and see if its worth it.I can also broker a better deal so
that you you will have ancilliary rights on all copies of the DVD
sold.That means you have to pay me an up front brokering fee of $1500.
In any case,I strongly sugest you go through the MOU then,I will work
it out with Shoot Rajasthan to pay you some percentage together with
the right to the ANCILLIARY.tHAT WILL BE A BETTER DEAL.
Its up to you to get it sealed as soon as posible before nextweek
wednesday.
Please I will be out of the country by tommorow,so if you are send the
payment of the MOU and my sourcing fees,plus the brokering fee,let me
know so that I can forward you with details of where I will be
traveling to.
My reply:
Mister Sanders,
'Glade' has received a great deal of recognition from various
screenplay competitions resulting in inquiry letters from various
production companies, including Boose Films, LLC. Unless you can
assure me a good and professional deal for my work, I will be left
with doubt and concern regarding any possible business dealing with
you.
I can only assume that you have read my script. For this reason, I ask
you what sort of deal you can arrange. Boose Films LLC has suggested
a production budget of 16 million US dollars. As per the guidelines
set by the Writer Guild of America, I would be compensated 3% of this,
or 48,000 US dollars. Do you think that you can negotiate an equal or
better deal? Please be specific.
His reply:
Mr Phil,
I have discussed with my clients and from our discussion,we have no
further need to delay this deal courtesy of my negotiating skills
which am sure,you should be very pleased with me.
Upon the completion and the receipt of the contract agreement which I
will be forwarding to you,I will pay you through a certified check the
sum of $59000 in exchange for the rights to the film/movie scripts
which are your original works.You will retain the screen writing
credits.
As a result of my clients urgent need to get the deal done before next
Wednesday,you are expected to pay the finders agreement fee of
$1500,and $300 sourcing/courrier service fee altogether $1800 before
the end of today.This is to enable me forward the contract documents
and get it before Monday or Tuesday next week.
As I earlier told you, I am now at our Country's Consular office in
Nigeria attached as the Consular PRO.
Please address payment to:
Mr.Charles .Ekwonye
Legal Oficer(Consular Office)
Luxembourg Embassy
#45 Carrigton Avenue Abuja
Nigeria.
For fast and secure payment,send through Western Union Money transfer
or Monegram.Forward all transfer details including tracking codes etc
through my email.
Martin Sanders,
46 jillote Ratder Avenue,
NE 79764,
Luxembourg
I would like to point out, at this time, that the Glade Matches
Commercial is a two page long SNL script, and posted on
Simplyscripts.com. Several other SSers received e-mails from Martin
Sanders.
I also contacted Shoot Rajasthan directly, regarding this deal. They
have never heard of Martin Sanders. Just thought I'd point these two
things out.
Back to the e-mails. I replied to Martin Sanders with the following:
Dear Mister Sanders,
While I am very impressed with your negotiating skills, I am still not
completely satisfied with these arrangements. True, you have managed
a better deal with Shoot Rajasthan, it does not take into account the
numerous deductions. Between courier fees, your securation fee as
well as the brokering, I feel that both offers are very similar in the
end.
Boose Films has advised me that director Dwight Schrute has shown
interest in 'Glade.' You may recall him as the director who won all
those awards three years ago for the movie 'Banana Chan.' I am a big
fan of Schrute's work and am very confident that he can bring my
message across in my work. To bring out the vision of my work.
Who does Shoot Rajaskan have in line to direct 'Glade?' I am very
familiar with Bollywood films and do not want some novice director
destroying my image because he cannot film in such a large scale. A
good director will certainly help in working with Shoot Rajaskan.
Should I agree to sign with you, is there some other way to send the
needed money to you. Due to past legal problems and conditions of my
parole, I am unable to conduct any business with Western Union.
Respectfully yours,
His reply was:
Mr Phil,
I only hope that you still want to part with the script because I
wouldn't want a situation where Shoot Rajasthan will loose interest as
a result of some reasons which they may not see as tangible enough to
delay the buying of the script.I must commend you for your desire to
see your work perfectly delivered and I assure you that with Shoot
Rajasthan,your aspirations are as good as being achieved.However,time
is ticking as they would not accept any flimsy reason if they are not
convinced that you have signed or about to sign it before Wednesday.In
as much as they hold your script in high esteem,it also does not stop
them from looking else where should you continue to delay the deal.
As am writing this this mail,I have just recieved an information that
Shoot Rajasthan has secured the services of Mr Rajaat Kapoor to direct
the movie.I hope you know him,he is the 2008/2009 Bollywood best movie
director and was nominated for Oscar Award.In addition,Shoot Rajasthan
has financial ties with AIG,ABN AMRO,Americanexpress Banks LTD,CITI
Bank.To produce a movie script of yours will not be anything
different.
As for sending the needed money.There's no way I would ask you to send
the money to my account hence am not in Luxembourg right now.Besides,I
will need it immediately to begin the process as soon as posible and I
had expected you to have done that before now.Furthermore,as a result
of our Embassy(The Consular office) policy on receiving funds from
anywhere,funds can only be sent and received on behalf of any
Luxembourg Staff through Mr.Charles Ekwonye,the Consular Legal
Officer.
I strongly suggest that you send the money through MONEGRAM for quick
and easy transfer so that I can receive it immediately and forward the
contract documents to you.Shoot Rajasthan will be happy to hear that
you are with the documents even before now.I have done the best I can
and I appreciate your recommendation on that.
So if you are having problem with Western Union,use MONEGRAM.Its
easier and faster.Please ensure that you forward all the payment
details to me via email so that Iwill track its receipt.
The ball is now in your court and I want to inform Shoot Rajasthan now
that the deal is on the way.
Best regards.
Martin
My reply:
Martin,
I am a little familiar with Rajaat Kapoor's work; he's more of an
actor than a director, despite any award he's won. Also, from what I
hear, he likes to change the script to meet his vision; I do not feel
comfortable with this. I spent nearly three years on this script. I
do not like the idea of someone jumping on board and changing things
up. I can't imagine what he would do to the bathroom scene at the end
of the script. And, to be honest, 'Glade' is very different from his
other work.
I advised Boose Films LLC of our correspondences, including your
offer. They have countered it with an offer of $62,500 US dollars, as
well as 1.5% of the net.
Please don't think that I have lost interest in your offer. I am very
interested in expanding my writing to include foreign cinema. Until
recently, I had a deal with Afghani Production, LLC, for my romance
comedy, 'Dirty Sanchez.' The deal fell through when the producer lost
his life in a coffee shop bombing. However, Boose Films has offered
me, in my opinion, a better deal.
Also, as I mentioned earlier, I am legally unable to use any of
Western Union's services. This includes Moneygrams. Is there any
other way that I can send you the money, should I go with you and
Shoot Rajasthan.
I understand that Shoot Rajasthan wants to seal up this deal in a few
days, but I do have to consider all options. And my legal problems
with Western Union only complicates things.
I look forward to hearing from you and your advice.
His reply (only one day later):
Mr Phil,
I have talked with Shoot Rajasthan and they are almost loosing
interest.I have further pushed them to agreeing to pay $68,000 and
1.5% net.But with the condition that the documents be signed or is
with you by tommorow.I have contacted DHL Express to work it out.I
also promised them that every thing will be done before Friday,though
they feel not sure about it.
I have recommeded Danny Boyle,you know him the director of Slum Dog
Millionaire and he will now be directing the movie.As for changing a
part of your script,you have my wod for that that none of that will
happen.
Am afraid this probably will be the last you will hear from me should
there be any other excuse because I want to mentain my intergrity with
Shoot Rajasthan.
I understand that you may be on parole with Western union but you can
ask a collegue or your spouse to do that on your behalf.
Shoot Rajasthan has instructed me to make sure all is begun today
before ever they will contract Danny Boyle andthat they cannot go
beyond the $68,000 and 1.5% net, you can see that you are holding the
progress of this deal.
If you are unable to forward the fees today,I will consider the deal
terminated.
Martin.
My reply:
Martin,
I am very surprised that Danny Boyle is available for work, so soon
after the accident he suffered in his home only three weeks ago.
Still, if he is healthy enough for work, then I am happy. I guess you
don't need thumbs to direct a movie. If you were able to guarantee
Boyle for 'Glade,' then I want to sign up with you and Shoot
Rathasthan.
This still does not resolve my problem with the payment. My condition
for parole restricts me from conducting any money transfers with
Western Union, both directly and indirectly. Having my wife, or a
friend send the money in my behalf is still a violation of my parole
and I cannot risk going back to prison, even for this script. The
Federal Bureau of Investigation is closely monitoring all money
transfers leaving the United States because of all the scam artists
overseas, scamming all the gullible Americans out of their money. It
is too risky for me.
Is there some other way that I can get you the money? I could wire
the money to you from my bank, if that is possible. Or, to avoid the
courier fee, you could e-mail or fax the paperwork to me. Or I could
send the money to you through Pay-Pal. Is it even possible that you
or Shoot Rajasthan could simply deduct the money from my salary as
writer? I think this would be the best solution and would eliminate
the chance of su,m bag con artists getting involved.
I look forward to hearing from you.
After several days without a response, and fearing I would lose him, I
wrote:
Martin,
I have not heard from you in a few days and fear for the worst. I am
doing the best I can to work with you regarding 'Glade' and Shoot
Rajasthan. If there is anything that I can do to facilitate this
deal, please let me know.
To which he replied:
Shoot Rajasthan is almost disappointed and I am finding it difficult
to convince them.They have committed a whole lot in organizing
auditions and contacting world class production crew just to make you
happy selling the script to them
I am afraid I won't talk more on this deal except I see a committment
on your part then,I can put my neck on it.I have my intergrity and
trust to mentain with Shoot Rajasthan and they may likely change their
mind by next Monday.
The only thing that can make the difference as it stands now is for
you to have in your custody the hardcopy contract documments which you
are not serious to get.
The $1800 must be paid through western union or moneygram so that I
can access it almost immediately.Furthermore I cannot go against the
consular rules so I suggest that you make the payment now,through
western union or moneygram and,in the name of the person I sent to
you.If you make the payment now,I assure you that tuesday morning,you
will have the documments on your door post.I can't imagine a situation
where one is barred from sending money through western union or
moneygram.If you can wire payment from your bank or from Paypal,then I
see no reason why you should be coming up with these kind of flimsy
excuses,even when you know that we have been into this for years.
If you are finding it difficult to pay this,how am I sure that you
will pay me the balance of my brokers fee when you are paid?
I will tell Shoot Rajasthan that you will respond fully before Monday
after now, so lets hope you make the payment now.That's the only thing
that can convince me that you are indeed committed to this deal.
Please don't forget to email me the payment details and your full
postal address.
Martin.
My reply:
Martin,
You will receive the money today. A friend will send a Moneygram to
you in about three hours.
Thank you for your patience.
This morning, using my wife's name, I wrote:
Dear Mister Sanders,
Yesterday, my husband Phil was arrested by FBI agents for trying to
send you a Western Union Moneygram. Conducting any business with
Western Union is a violation of his parole; he was convicted in 2004
of armed robbery at a Western Union branch.
As he was wiring $1800 to you, I turn to you for advice. I don't want
to lose my husband; he's facing nine years in jail for simply trying
to sell his script.
Any advice you can give me would be greatly appreciated.
Respectfully yours,
At this point the jig was up. Martin Sanders wrote to the Moderator
of Simplyscripts, threatening to sue him and myself for slander and
other shit.
The moral of this story is: beware of assholes.
Phil