I'm sorry to trouble you all, and I know people have much worse dilemmas and problems, but I just wondered what peoples' thoughts were about this, and what your advice was.
Last June (2008,) I sent a 'storyline' idea to the boss/producer of Coronation street, as I do dabble in a bit of writing now and again, (and amateur acting.) My idea which I sent to them LAST JUNE (2008,) was that Eileen has a long lost sister who she fell out with some 25 years ago, who is about 5 years younger than her.
She fell out with her because she had a fling with Jason's dad. Her sister came to Coronation Street after tracking Eileen down through an extended family member, to try and make amends with Eileen.
Elieen tells her sister to get lost, but she decides to stay for a while, and starts dating Lloyd and becomes good friends with Steve and people start to like her, which causes great upset for Eileen as she doesn't even want her in her life.
I also said jokingly that I could play the sister, as I have some amateur acting experience, and my daughter could play *her* daughter.*
Well, I got a polite letter back about 6 weeks later, thanking me for my suggestion, but they said they never use outside writers, as they have a regular team of writers. They also said that they hope myself and my daughter enjoy the street for many years to come.
I just took it as a 'rejection letter;' of which I have plenty.
Well, now Corrie have this storyline where Eileen has a long lost sister (Julie; ) although she never actually knew she existed, unlike the sister I suggested...) And it's bugging me, because I feel like they may have ripped off my idea. They mentioned how they hope my daughter and me enjoy Corrie for years to come, so they DEFINATELY read my letter. If they hadn't, they wouldn't have mentioned my daughter. So they DID read my letter .. ergo; they read my 'storyline idea.'
So do you think I have any kind of a case to kick up a fuss here? Or is the storyline not similar enough, given that it is different, and the only similarity is that Eileen has suddenly had a sister come into her life? It's a remarkable coincidence IMO, that I suggested this idea last June, and just a few months later, they write a sister in for Eileen.
Can I act on this? Or will they just say that 'we are always bringing in new relatives of the people in the show.' (Which I guess they are...) And also, they could say they had this idea WAY before I suggested it, and I wouldn't be able to prove that they didn't. But this is bugging me.... I am feeling like they ripped off my idea.
Any thoughts or advice or opinions would be greatly appreciated. If you think it's just a mild coincidence and I have no case, or cause to complain, feel free to say; I would appreciate the honesty. But also, do please say, if you think I may have cause to complain, and if so, where you think I should start.. ie; by talking to a solicitor or something.
I am not out for any rucks of money or anything, but if they HAVE taken and used my idea, (and my idea WAS that a long lost sister of Eileen's comes into Corrie,) then I want some recognition for it.
I still have my original letter with the suggestion for Eileen's long lost sister on my computer's 'hard-drive,' which has kept a record on the computer of the date it was drafted: June 2008. I also have their written response, dated early August 2008, where they rejected my idea.
Thanks folks. I hope someone can give me some help.
Last June (2008,) I sent a 'storyline' idea to the boss/producer of Coronation street, as I do dabble in a bit of writing now and again, (and amateur acting.) My idea which I sent to them LAST JUNE (2008,) was that Eileen has a long lost sister who she fell out with some 25 years ago, who is about 5 years younger than her.
She fell out with her because she had a fling with Jason's dad. Her sister came to Coronation Street after tracking Eileen down through an extended family member, to try and make amends with Eileen.
Elieen tells her sister to get lost, but she decides to stay for a while, and starts dating Lloyd and becomes good friends with Steve and people start to like her, which causes great upset for Eileen as she doesn't even want her in her life.
I also said jokingly that I could play the sister, as I have some amateur acting experience, and my daughter could play *her* daughter.*
Well, I got a polite letter back about 6 weeks later, thanking me for my suggestion, but they said they never use outside writers, as they have a regular team of writers. They also said that they hope myself and my daughter enjoy the street for many years to come.
I just took it as a 'rejection letter;' of which I have plenty.
Well, now Corrie have this storyline where Eileen has a long lost sister (Julie; ) although she never actually knew she existed, unlike the sister I suggested...) And it's bugging me, because I feel like they may have ripped off my idea. They mentioned how they hope my daughter and me enjoy Corrie for years to come, so they DEFINATELY read my letter. If they hadn't, they wouldn't have mentioned my daughter. So they DID read my letter .. ergo; they read my 'storyline idea.'
So do you think I have any kind of a case to kick up a fuss here? Or is the storyline not similar enough, given that it is different, and the only similarity is that Eileen has suddenly had a sister come into her life? It's a remarkable coincidence IMO, that I suggested this idea last June, and just a few months later, they write a sister in for Eileen.
Can I act on this? Or will they just say that 'we are always bringing in new relatives of the people in the show.' (Which I guess they are...) And also, they could say they had this idea WAY before I suggested it, and I wouldn't be able to prove that they didn't. But this is bugging me.... I am feeling like they ripped off my idea.
Any thoughts or advice or opinions would be greatly appreciated. If you think it's just a mild coincidence and I have no case, or cause to complain, feel free to say; I would appreciate the honesty. But also, do please say, if you think I may have cause to complain, and if so, where you think I should start.. ie; by talking to a solicitor or something.
I am not out for any rucks of money or anything, but if they HAVE taken and used my idea, (and my idea WAS that a long lost sister of Eileen's comes into Corrie,) then I want some recognition for it.
I still have my original letter with the suggestion for Eileen's long lost sister on my computer's 'hard-drive,' which has kept a record on the computer of the date it was drafted: June 2008. I also have their written response, dated early August 2008, where they rejected my idea.
Thanks folks. I hope someone can give me some help.
As many replies as possible from as may people as possible would be terrific, as it will help me decide what to do. Thanks again folks. 
