I was HIRED to write a treatment in November 2015 by Laura/Kira Willoughby of Willoughby Entertainment, and since it was well received, I was HIRED by her on December 2,2015 to write the screenplay. With a first draft to be completed by February 2016. Which it was. She requested the first 25 pages to ‘entice’ a well respected actor/director (and apparent friend) to come on board.
Before I wanted to do that, I wanted to get paid for my treatment which by all accounts she was in breech of her own agreement. I was told, ‘it’s coming, ‘it’s in the mail’, it got sent back for lack of postage,’ ‘I’ll send another “money order (who does that?) out to you,’ etc.
She promised to send it over the following week as that was when she was getting paid. Now mind you, she told me she had investors and with this actor on board, and I had spoken to him about the project, it all seemed legit.
I sent the first 25 pages to the actor. Then the whole script soon after. He loved it, offered some revisions(which is normal), we were moving forward.
I later sent the script to Laura (I wasn’t paid for the treatment until March-she even shorted me to this day). The more the actor and I talked, the angrier and more unprofessional Laura became. In January 2016, Laura and I were talking about possible investors (although she kept saying she investors ready to jump in), I was reaching out to some people I know, She offered me 10k more than I had asked with substantial payment for my writing services upfront. I agreed.
I continued writing. Laura and I kept up the revisions. But the more I asked her about my contract, the more evasive she became. The author was becoming increasing frustrated with Laura’s behavior. I tried to reassure her things take time.
But one thing became increasingly apparent, Laura was lying. Promising things she couldn’t deliver on. The actor/director was never really signed on. I had a meeting in LA with her, when she brought her teenage daughter and the author into a contract meeting over lunch-unprofessional. She handed me a contract (after she said mine was being sent over three days prior) only to look like a sixth grade essay assignment focusing more on not going to the press if things turned sour between us and paying my way to the premier (so not a contract!!!).
When I returned home from LA, Laura told me our budget dropped therefore she can only pay me 1/5th our agreed price (that’s not how this works) and furthermore the budget did not change in fact – she was very much under budget in her head- any producer knows this. Especially with an actress (big name, who was friends with the actor/director)- things are not adding up.
Come later to find out she had tried to raise money on https://www.indiegogo.com/…/tears-ltd-the…/x/10415936
with no script, no director, nothing. I only found this out later AFTER it was brought to my attention a number of other people have had similar problems with her. Taking money from people, promising to deliver on projects and then not following through or returning their investment. Please see: www.willoughbypictures.com
As it stands, she has not paid for goods received. I have a slew of e-mails of her and ALL parties praising the writing, ‘happy to have me on board’, ‘I’ve been a godsend,’ etc. I have all kinds of documentation backing me up.
I feel very unfortunate to have crossed paths with this person. I honestly don’t even know how this actor/director does business with her, or maybe everyone is in on this too. Still having a hard time wrapping my head around this.
Right now my lawyer is handling this. And Laura is doing some fancy back peddling. Kind of hard to do when there’s evidence presented to you – can’t deny that. The script will be followed up to make sure it will not be used in anyway shape or form without payment first. This world is a small place. Treating people fairly for their work and paying appropriately for their services is the least anyone can do.
I would seriously do some fact checking on this person. And talk to the people she has done business with, not her ‘pals’, the people she ripped off, that’ll give you some insight as to who you are really doing business with.
Jane