MovieChat Forums > Big Time in Hollywood, FL (2015) Discussion > A TOTAL RIP OFF

A TOTAL RIP OFF

posted 9 years ago by SoylentGrape
13 replies | jump to latest

Yes, it is fairly original, but not by the people taking the credit. The problem is this show is an outright rip off of another artist's concept which was pitched to Comedy Central a couple years back. I know, because I saw the project it was stolen from.

It's shameful to see companies like this swoop in and steal another person's hard work, only to marginalize it to the point that they can get away with such theft. They've basically gone in and strategically used one of the main character teams of an entirely different show's premise.

Comedy Central and FOX commonly pass on projects, only to go on and steal aspects of other projects they've pass on. They usually wait a couple years to steal the content, in hopes that the creator has fallen off the map or won't notice, but believe me these people will be taken to court. Sadly about the best the artist can hope for is to have them pass them off out of court.

[–] luciferDOG 9 years ago

the pilot wasn't that original... the scene when they're forced to get jobs felt like a Step Brothers rip off, and the scene when Ben Stiller gets repeatedly shot reminded me of his opening scene in Tropic Thunder... haha

the ending did make me laugh though.

might watch episode 2 now that i think about it...

My dick is short and fat like Danny Devito

[–] SoylentGrape 9 years ago

Hah, ya the god send is that they have produced an awful show from the frame of my friends project. But its amazing how ballsy they are. There is even a point at which the show actually has set dressing which reads the name of my friends project. Thats a good thing for him tho, because it really makes it obvious to anyone who looks at both projects.

[–] doggie_rodriguez 9 years ago

People complain about things being stolen all the time, but honestly, it would be easier for large companies like Comedy Central to just pony up a few bucks and buy the rights to the series and not have to deal with going to court. Which is why I believe it wasn't stolen.

If you are going to throw around accusations, can you at least give us a link so we can watch the project and judge for ourselves?

[–] SoylentGrape 9 years ago

Here is the reality. You only have to look at the absolute crap being produced to see that the industry is in a tail spin. And so in order to minimize risk they stick to franchises and lifting other peoples work and producing it in house with their people who they pay pennies rather than bringing a new entity into the company. It happens all the time. That's why you hear people complain about it all the time. It always seems silly when its not your work. Due to the legal situation, obviously no one can go posting evidence. Thats for the court system. It's just disgusting because I saw it happen.

[–] doggie_rodriguez 9 years ago

You don't have to tell me about the reality. I work in the film and television industry. And as an insider, I will tell you it's easier to just fork over a few bucks to some nobodies now than to steal it (and risk a expensive drawn out lawsuit, not to mention risking their reputations).

I asked you before to show the link to whatever you thought was stolen. I'd rather just see/read it than take your word for it. You've declined for "legal reasons", which I am not buying. I see people on here complaining about things being stolen all the time (most of it is for projects that they never even finished writing). The fact is that there are only so many ideas out there, so there are bound to be some that are similar. That doesn't mean they are stolen.

Unless you are willing to post evidence and prove your claim, I suggest taking down this thread. Why make a claim that you are not willing to back?

[–] ddjms 9 years ago

You are so off base! Comedy Central had nothing to do with the content of this show. It was completely original! The pilot was pitched to Comedy Central along with a general arc of where the creators saw it going. After it was approved, the creators, along with a writing team, filled in the rest.

It's shameful to see people post such broad accusations when they haven't got a clue!

Trust me (or not), my sources are VERY ACCURATE.

[–] SoylentGrape 9 years ago

I don't have to wonder this. I was there. They stole the premise from another pitch that was shown quite some time earlier then what your talking about transpiring.. The claim is accurate. And no, what is sad is when companies like Central get so desperate for content that they hack apart some upstart creatives work to give to the comic of the week to use. I remember Central being massive backers of Carlos Menstealia Mencia. Another comedic thief. Studios do it all the time. They pass on a project just so they can go behind closed doors and rip the project apart lifting what they can. But they know what they are doing. It's why they make sure to pass it by their legal reps. They just assume that no one will go after them in court. Cheers.

[–] LuvEgreenie 9 years ago

Wow, lot of emotional writing because your original post said entirely different premise but hijacked a character team and in another post you say the show has the exact same premise. Which one is it?

Your sentence about Comedy Central stealing upstart artists ideas is kind of funny. ThE shows creators were a pair of struggling film school grads. Not too far fetched to create the premise they created. And they were picked up by Ben Stiller's production company before they hooked up with Comedy Central. So your enemy should probably be Red Hour instead of CC. Is this why there's no announcement for a 2nd season because of the dang lawsuit?

By the way, if there is a lawsuit, you will lose. I know of an indie filmmaker who stole the characters, premise, and era of a script but just changed the state, race of people, and names and won. Stuff will be hard to prove in court.

[–] doggie_rodriguez 9 years ago

Wow, lot of emotional writing because your original post said entirely different premise but hijacked a character team and in another post you say the show has the exact same premise.

I noticed that too.

The funny thing about "the truth" is that it never changes.

[–] LuvEgreenie 9 years ago

so the pitch was brothers with film-making dreams meet by chance a down-on-their-luck actor at a place (rehab, strip club, community service, public bathroom) and gets reeled into a scheme that will lead to a fake film production of their dreams?

I sure hope there was a pilot or script available for proof. Even with that, it's gonna be hard to prove.

[–] verycoolnin 9 years ago

Proof?

[–] doggie_rodriguez 9 years ago

Why do we need proof? Can't we just blindly take the internet stranger's word for it?

[–] middlenamewayne 8 years ago

And in the end, all that SoylentGrape ever produced was a lot of whine...

As far as originality, at least one Youtuber has cleverly made reference to the amazing similarity in "feel" between this show's star/main character and Alex Winter in his insane MTV series "The Idiot Box".

But it's definitely nothing to sue over...

"Fashion sense is an oxymoron." - KWL aka MNW