Advice on submitting sketches

If you have submitted a bundle of sketches to a prodco and they have expressed an interest in one or more of them, is it unethical to then submit that same bundle of sketches to another producer (assuming nothing has been signed and no fee has changed hands)? At what point is your work no longer yours to try to sell?

Any advice gratefully received,

Bo.

I think it's perfectly fine, until the show is being 'optioned' which means (I think) the prodco buys some temporary rights to it?

Until you've signed a contract, you can do what you want with them.

And then you take the best offer

Thanks folks,

Bo.

That said no one wants to come across as unprofessional, and unreliable.

I agree that you should show some courtesy (even if you find it's sometimes not reciprocated.) I was asked to write some sketches working on a brief for Roughcut towards the end of last year. Where that's going I know not where. However, when I submitted some of the same sketches to another production company I did let Roughcut know out of courtesy. I applied to the same rule with a sitcom which may be formally optioned soon. It's just good manners really.

Quote: Tim Walker @ April 14 2008, 3:31 PM BST

I agree that you should show some courtesy (even if you find it's sometimes not reciprocated.) I was asked to write some sketches working on a brief for Roughcut towards the end of last year. Where that's going I know not where. However, when I submitted some of the same sketches to another production company I did let Roughcut know out of courtesy. I applied to the same rule with a sitcom which may be formally optioned soon. It's just good manners really.

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That makes sense.

Thanks,

Bo.

If there's no interest then keep sending the work out. If there is interest then courtesy and the sake of your future reputation means you should put the material on hold with other companies until you know the final decision. After all, if you're going to umm and ah over whether to eventually go with that company why send the material to them in the first place?

Quote: SlagA @ April 17 2008, 9:20 AM BST

After all, if you're going to umm and ah over whether to eventually go with that company why send the material to them in the first place?

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Desperation.

Sorry did I say that out loud.

That single word is the experience of all writers.