Caution - Slippery slope

Tuesday -- second day of the strike -- I received an email.

I found your Blog,
brilliant
when is your next film?

That was it. Guy I've never heard of or met, safe gmail address. It asks nothing beyond when my next film would be. He didn't post a comment to the blog. The signature below his name read: [redacted]. Googling his name came up with no results.

"Brilliant." The red flags are up. Something seems off here.

Now, Josh Friedman? Brilliant. John August? Brilliant. John Rogers? Brilliant. There's quite a list of screenwriting related blogs, many of which can be described as "brilliant."

But mine? Not brilliant. There is plenty of room for improvement.

He hasn't read the blog. Obviously. Except maybe skimming. Looks at the main page, saw the post that starts ...

I'm not guild yet, so what I bring to you here, the following link, does not benefit me immediately.
But one day, it will...

So a writers strike is full on. If I was scouting for non-WGA writers, where would I go? Lots and heaps of blogs by wannabe screen scribes, so I'd start there. Look for the ones that are not guild members yet.

Then, I'd chat 'em up. Flatter them, as questions. Build a relationship before ask for a pitch.

So, I clicked REPLY...

Hi,

Thanks for the kind word about the blog.

There is nothing to announce at this point. I suggest checking the blog periodically for updates.

When the written projects are ready, well, the strike has to be over before anything can be brought to market.

For those walking the lines, honk your horn when you're near. Give 'em a thumbs-up! Fair share!

Cheers,

Dave

There must be scouts looking, because there are already reports of scab writing going on. Scabs deliver their work from wherever they are, via email.

Am I being overcautious?

Nope.

And so should you be.

Someone may come trolling along, perhaps tossing out premature flattery, so watch out!

Please, don't scab.

And do not ask me to.