Screenwriter Support: Writers Room Idea Theft

What do you do when another writer takes credit for your pitch during a story break?

Today’s screenwriter support ticket comes from the vault, during a pre-strike writers room where my friend was the Writer’s Assistant. They had just been assigned to their first script (teamed with another writer on the show), and were struggling with the complicated politics that come into play when ideas are being thrown around while breaking story.

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Let’s get into it…

The Question

Today was the first time getting to really pitch in the room as we break the episode I am writing on. The showrunners had diagnosed a problem from yesterday’s break and I took the night and morning to come up with a solution. I scripted it, and got it ready. Lost sleep over it. I practiced it and then when the room started, the showrunners weren’t there, so I pitched it to writers. The senior writer liked it but the other two didn’t. It was fine, I didn’t fight it. But in the back of my head, I was having a hard time moving on… until I finally shook it off, forced smile, and continued helping. No one noticed, but I’m just being honest with myself and my internal struggle. 

3 hours later when the showrunners arrived, the showrunners didn’t like what we went with and the showrunner pitched WHAT I PITCHED. Then one of the writers took credit for thinking of that earlier, even though they didn’t and had shut it down when I pitched it.

I was in shock. And it kept happening, where writers were taking credit for the pitches I had pitched when the showrunner wasn’t there. This is a rant, but I didn’t know who to express it to that would get it. I never showed it at all, just growing pains. It was a lesson on ego death and realizing that, at the end of the day, whatever makes the show better is what matters. Not who came up with the solution. 

How do you shake off the feeling of when a pitch doesn’t land?

My Thoughts

I've definitely been there - in both of those situations - where you bust your ass and feel like you found the solution only to have it trampled, and yes, I've also had people take credit for my ideas as well. It fucking sucks and is so hard to let it roll off of you, especially when you're trying to show them what you've got.

I also know that I've been the person who accidentally pitches something that someone had already pitched WITHOUT REALIZING IT. And then realized it later and felt like shit.

In that situation I try to apologize and give them credit as soon as I realize my mistake, but a lot of people don't think twice or actually just think it was their idea to begin with.

I think it's a symptom of the hivemind mentality in a room break. We're all in there bouncing ideas around and building off of other pitches. Once something works, our brain doesn't say "That was the culmination of two days work from seven people" but instead says "you turned off the pain, good job! Next!" and we suddenly get a boost of dopamine that makes it feel like a personal accomplishment.

I really think there is a psychological trick our minds play. BUT that doesn't mean it's right.

Unfortunately, you're in a tough spot. If you call someone out in the room, you look petty and maybe nobody else will back you up because they weren't paying attention. If you get snarky and say "yes that what *I* was saying before...", same issue.

If you have a good relationship with the person who did this, an option is to go talk to them outside of the room hours. You can express to them what happened and let them know that it was especially hard because you’re the Writer’s Assistant and every moment feels like you need to be proving what you’ve got right now. If they are a decent person they will understand and be more aware going forward.

If you don’t have a good relationship with them, or they’re not a particularly kind person, there's a risk that they'll get defensive and retaliate in some way (like bad mouthing you to the room). Again - that is WRONG, but you never know what someone's fight or flight reaction to a perceived attack might be.

If you don't feel comfortable talking to them about it, my advice is to hold tight to the perspective you already have - at the end of the day, your job is to make a great show, and you will get credit for your contribution by having your name on the script. Your overall contribution will be looked upon favorably by the showrunner if you're an active, excited, engaged part of the process in breaking the story. And if after all of that you get sent to script on a story you had no part in breaking, then you'll still be looked upon favorably if you do your best to execute the story you're assigned and give them the best possible version of the script they asked for.

Is my advice really "suck it up"? No way! I believe it's the responsibility of the other writers to protect you and give you credit, especially in front of the showrunners, but if they aren't doing that then you will just have to be the person to set the example.

I think you may just need to be better than they are in order to show them the way without creating a confrontation. I think it's best done by giving credit to people for things you like and that help you come up with your pitches. Things like "I want to amplify (Person)'s idea about XYZ now that (showrunner) is in the room" or "I really liked when (Person) pitched the idea about XYZ, and it made me think about ABC" or when you pitch something the other writers like and realize it's similar or the same (or by pitching it out, has backed into) something pitched earlier "I just realized that I accidentally pitched (Person)'s idea from earlier. Sorry about that, my brain is broken. But I really liked their idea and it got the wheels turning for me." 

Did I come up with that myself? Nope! Someone else sat me down and helped me see how important this was after one of our writers rooms had accepted a mentality of pitching without giving credit to others along the way. That person was Taylor Orci when we were in the room writing Kipo. They were an advocate for every single person’s contribution, especially our Writer’s Assistant/Script Coordinator, and the way they operated informed me of the right way to do things. Thanks Taylor - you deserve the credit on this one.

It can feel awkward at first to be so purposeful in giving and sharing credit, but I swear it becomes second nature and creates an expectation in the room for others to pay attention when things are being repitched in order to be respectful of the voices who don't carry as much weight as others in the room. Then when you're a staff writer and higher, you can be the person who says "That was actually pitched by (Script Coordinator) earlier" when another writer steals the SC's idea, so you can make sure it doesn't happen to others.

With all that said (god, I'm long-winded), what you're feeling is very natural and I'm sorry that happened to you. Push through it by setting your own standard and hopefully others will meet you on your level.

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