1. Purpose
These Terms of Service govern the engagement of professional narrative mentoring, screenplay development, and script analysis services provided by Erick Straver through the Studio ScreenWriting website, as well as the conditions applicable to the professional relationship established between the Owner and the Client.
Services are not contracted directly through the Website but through personal communication between the Owner and the Client, usually via email.
2. Description of Services
Services may include, but are not limited to:
- Narrative mentoring and screenplay development.
- Creative and technical guidance for film and television projects.
- Professional script analysis.
- Critical reading of narrative material.
- Written notes and rewrite recommendations.
- Private development sessions.
- Structural and dramaturgical consulting.
Services may be applied to:
- Ideas
- Premises
- Outlines
- Treatments
- Beat sheets
- Feature films
- Television pilots
- Series bibles
- Rewrite processes
- Other related narrative materials.
The specific scope of each service—including the number of sessions, duration, follow-up, deliverables, schedule, and methodology—will be defined in writing by both parties before work begins.
Any additional work not originally contemplated will require a new proposal or an explicit extension of the agreed service.
3. Engagement Process
The engagement process generally follows these stages:
- The Client contacts the Owner through the Website contact form or by email.
- The Owner responds with availability, a preliminary scope of services, and indicative fees.
- The Client provides basic information about the project and the current state of the material.
- Following the initial evaluation, both parties may agree upon:
- Scope of services
- Work schedule
- Session format
- Deliverables
- Fees
- Payment terms
- Once the terms have been accepted in writing and payment has been confirmed where applicable, the engagement shall be considered formalized.
- Studio ScreenWriting works with a limited number of projects simultaneously to ensure personalized attention and an appropriate level of dedication to each project.
The Owner reserves the right to decline projects or terminate working relationships when:
- There is insufficient professional commitment.
- The conditions are not suitable for the proper delivery of the service.
- Communication or the working dynamic is deemed inappropriate.
4. Fees, Payments, and Invoicing
Fees for each service will be clearly communicated to the Client before engagement.
Prices may be stated in Euros (€) and, where applicable, include taxes required under current legislation.
Payment may be made by:
- Bank transfer
- Online payment platforms
- Any other method agreed upon by both parties.
For certain mentoring programs or ongoing development processes, installment payments may be arranged by prior written agreement.
Once work involving reading, analysis, session preparation, or service delivery has begun, payments are non-refundable unless expressly agreed otherwise by both parties.
Analyses and deliverables apply exclusively to the version of the material originally submitted by the Client. New drafts, rereads, or additional revisions may require a separate evaluation and quotation unless previously included in an agreed mentoring or development process.
5. Cancellations, Changes, and Rescheduling
If the Client wishes to cancel or modify an agreed session or service, notice should be provided as far in advance as possible.
Specific cancellation, rescheduling, and associated fee policies may be defined individually with each Client.
The Owner reserves the right to reschedule sessions or modify timelines for justified reasons and will endeavor to offer reasonable alternative dates.
Delivery and review timelines are estimates and may vary depending on:
- The complexity of the material
- Current workload
- Project scope
- Other justified professional circumstances.
Urgent requests or projects with accelerated deadlines may be subject to availability and specific fee arrangements.
6. Intellectual Property and Confidentiality
All creative materials provided by the Client—including scripts, treatments, ideas, texts, documents, and projects—remain the exclusive property of the Client.
The Owner agrees to maintain the confidentiality of all materials received and not to use them for any purpose other than providing the contracted professional service.
Reports, notes, analyses, observations, documents, and materials prepared by the Owner are protected by intellectual property rights and are provided exclusively for the Client’s personal and professional use.
Their reproduction, distribution, commercialization, or transfer to third parties is prohibited without the Owner’s prior written authorization.
7. Nature of the Service and Limitation of Liability
The services provided are professional, consultative, and advisory in nature. The Owner offers analysis, dramaturgical guidance, mentoring, and creative support based on professional experience and narrative expertise.
Under no circumstances shall the services be interpreted as a guarantee of:
- Sale of the project
- Production
- Financing
- Representation
- Agreements with production companies or platforms
- Awards
- Festival selections
- Commercial success
- Any other outcome beyond the professional provision of the service itself.
The Owner shall not be liable for:
- Creative decisions made by the Client
- Industrial or commercial results of the project
- Delays caused by force majeure or circumstances beyond reasonable control.
8. Professional Communication
Professional communication between the Owner and the Client shall preferably be conducted by email and within reasonable working hours.
The service does not imply permanent availability, immediate responses, or unlimited support beyond the scope previously agreed upon.
9. Data Protection
Personal data provided during the engagement process will be processed in accordance with the Website Privacy Policy and applicable data protection legislation.
10. Governing Law and Jurisdiction
These Terms of Service shall be governed by the laws of Spain. For the resolution of any dispute or controversy arising from the professional relationship between the parties, the applicable jurisdiction shall be determined in accordance with Spanish law.