Do Writers & Directors Really Spy On Discussion Boards To Get Ideas?

I doubt that very much. Why would creative professionals waste their time scouring the internet for ideas when 99% of what's out here is just garbage? But people want to believe their ideas are so great that someone would want to use them, so they'll just keep believing silly rumors.

Yeah, I would have to say that I disagree with that, too. I mean, if they REALLY were listening to the things that go on in discussion forums and/or websites and blogs to find stories, TV and Movies in general would be better. I think that there's a void in the media lately, in terms of entertainment. They aren't listening to what people want; they seem to be more inclined to make as much money as possible rather than get good stories. I guess it would be cool to think about; I would be more upset that they aren't giving us credit for it if that's the case. LoL. A little financial kickdown would be nice.

Thats an interesting thought BUT I have to admit that if a writer/director etc were to stumble upon my personal story etc and used it I wouldnt think it cool at all actually..In fact I'd be seriously ticked off..as I think anyone should....BUT however if they were to use forums etc for ideas on how to make certain things more realistic or whatever thats a different story..

I do not know but if I do, I hope we get credit. The trouble is that most of us do not put our first names here, unless you are the lucky type that nothing bad has happened to, did nothing bad to anyone else, or lived a pure life so tht you had no enemies whatsoever. It aint me. But it might be, so would it not be wonderful to see the credits in the movie say 'thanks to mylot and to that lady with the avatar of ---who ---inspired this story. If you are that lady, please write so we will know where to mail the check."

I do know some people in the media who read discussion boards to see what people are saying about them or about their shows. I also know that discussions topics can provide good stories and research for journalists. Interesting items on social sites are often picked up by broadcasters and news sites. Writers cartainly can find interesting ideas and topics to write about by reading discussions. MyLot is an open site. Any of our posts can appear in search engine results.

I think that's great! I really hate a lot of the stuff that TV and movies are coming out with, it's just so crappy, to say the least. They just aren't what they used to be, and the only good stuff is remakes of even better movies and books. We have only had TV and Movies for how long, under 100 years? How could we have already run out of ideas? Come on, I know they could do better nowadays! If they need our help, they should take it!

I work as a screenwriter. Never have I gotten an idea from browsing message boards, mainly because I don't browse messages boards. Any professional actually working doesn't have much time to waste looking at site like Mylot of forums to read fan chatter about what they want in movies, unless it is a forum they have already set up to actually cater to their projects and movies. Wait? What am I doing here? I dabble in and out making money freelance writing on the net, helps buy soda from time to time when getting an Indie project financed and going.

writers get their inspiration from everything in life, if they have time why not see what people are thinking about, it is not spying, on a public board anybody can view. I am a writer and I certainly get all my inspiration from everywhere that I can.

If anyone who read the discussions so that they can get the inspirations to be a writers and directors. Then many people could be the writers and directors. Being the writers and directors need more talents. Of course one day they feel like losing inspirations and need to get some sparking ideas. But probably after a sleep or having a good journey, they will have their inspirations again. They get the wonderful ideas anywhere by all means. I love China

For some reason I doubt that they would be on MyLot but I do believe that they come online and find inspiration. ESPECIALLY with these conspiracy theories that can be found on the internet. They're pretty interesting and at times convincing, even if some of them aren't true, and since they draw a lot on people's fears it's good material for a writer or an artist to work with.

Sure it is possible. People like that who take their work seriously would go to all places for research. That would be cool!!

I've heard a story about a news writer who based his article off of a online blog. He used random strangers on the net as reliable sources. It was inaccurate and offensive and I think it was in the New York Times. They later printed a retraction and apology.

i think they do. think of it, who are their ultimate supporters or clients. it is people like us so if they want to produce, write and perform something to us, it should be something that can be related to us. It should be sometime we are interested to watch, read etc or something we can related to. therefore, i would think they would come in here to see what exactly are we thinking of, craving for or wanting to see. Actually, i think there is a lot of creative ideas that we can learn from our daily life and these ideas can be used in their production for better quality writings, movies etc.

actually, this is true. writers and directors, even actors do have dummy accounts to discussion boards to get great ideas from us. besauce after all, they are doing movies to present to the larger audience. so our discussions really helps a lot to them.

I've never heard this rumour. I am a writer, and I tend to get my ideas from my own experiences, not by reading someone else's stuff, or by reading the discussions on the board. Those discussions can only take one so far, for me I have to get the ideas from my own life in order to know where they should go, to write them down.

I'll bet they do because I know for a fact that music promoters send people to check out local battle of bands and shows like that to pluck promising kids out of the local scenes. I used to help many of the local bands get shows around sw florida. A few times magazine writers and djs showed up do reports/reviews for promo companies.

Of course! I do. I've gotten some of my best story ideas from things people say on discussion boards. The concept for my first novel came from a discussion board.