An Open Forum question from meg:
What are the rules for the name a screenwriter must use when submitting a script? Can I use a pen name?
Absolutely. In fact, when K-9 went in for the weekend read at 20th Century Fox, the writers on the script’s titled page were listed as “Andrew Charles & Scott Myers.” Reason: My partner Steve Siegel was an intern at Fox at the time and he didn’t want that to influence readers. Why “Andrew Charles”? He was co-owner of two restaurants in Ventura: “Charlies-by-the-Sea” and “Andy’s”.
By the way, using a pen name is standard operating procedure for studio execs, producers, and even actors who write and submit a script and for the same reason — not wanting either to negatively or positively influence potential buyers.
There are lots of cases where writers have used pseudonyms. For instance, Geoffrey Fletcher used the pen name “Damien Paul” when he first wrote Precious.
John Hughes wrote some projects using the pseudonym Edmond Dantes.
And then there is “Alan Smithee”, a pseudonym movie directors used for years when they decided they didn’t want their actual name associated with a film, primarily because of issues over the movie’s final cut. Screenwriter Joe Eszterhas wrote a script called “An Alan Smithee Movie: Burn Hollywood Burn” that resulted in a huge bomb of a movie, which ironically was directed by Arthur Hiller who – because of creative control issues with Joe Eszterhas – opted to have his directing credit read, you guessed it… “Alan Smithee.”
But I have a question: Why would you want to submit a script using a pen name? Conjecture on my part:
* Your significant other has, for some demented reason, promised to split up with you if you just happen to sell a million-dollar spec script.
* You are D.B. Cooper and you don’t want the FBI to find you.
* Your actual name is “Jesse James” and you think a certain other Jesse James’… ahem… ‘issues’ wouldn’t put your script in the best of lights in Hwood just now.
Perhaps in those cases. But unless you plan on using the pseudonym as your professional name — like Diablo Cody does [her birth name is "Brook Busey-Hunt"] — I don’t see any obvious positives for using a pen name when you submit a script.
That said, yes, you can.
I don't know if it's a good idea, but I will enter contests under multiple names, just to keep the playing field level. If they don't like my name, how about 'Cupcake Wallace'? 'Archie Pelago'? 'Chan Du Chandu'? [from 'Guys And Dolls'].
There is one studio where I know I'd need to use a pen-name, but that's another story.
Do you know why Geoffrey Fletcher chose to use a pen name at first?
Thanks, Scott.
The story behind my question is that I hate my given name. I intend on changing it–when I've worked up the courage to tell those I was named after. So I'd thought I'd try it out as a pen name and see how I felt about using a new name.
Of course, now as I think about it, I probably will have changed it by the time I'm actually submitting a script somewhere. I've only been writing for 2 years and I don't live in L.A. yet.