Wrote scripts for a few commercials but none of them were selected to be produced (the scripts my CD wrote were picked instead). Can I still put the produced videos in my book?

Jr CW if it matters.

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Let me put it this way. Let’s say you come up with an idea. Your CD loves it. The client loves it. You’re so excited. You write a few scripts for it. Some interns also wrote some scripts for it. The CD reviews the work and yours all move forward but the interns’ don’t. So far so good. You go on the shoot. You go to the edit. You get great finished work.

The next week you happen to be looking online and find all your work in the interns’ books. Their rationale? They threw some scripts at your idea so they were part of the process.

How do you feel?

likesmart

OP, it’s not about fairness or hurt feelings. The point of a portfolio is to represent YOUR ability. You are misrepresenting your ability by showing work that doesn’t show YOUR ideas. If you simply want to show “I also worked on this,” that’s what your resume is for.

likesmart

Look - we’ve all been there and it’s great that you’re asking where to draw the line rather than making assumptions.

But especially since you’re a Jr and still establishing yourself - you should put work in that is unmistakably yours.

Fine if it’s gets tweaked and polished by others - that’s going to happen.

It’s not just about whether you upset others who might see it - it’s about showing the world what YOU can do.

Those chances will come. Hang tight and do the work and ask questions here when you need to.

We got your back.

likeuplifting

This perspective makes a lot of sense. Thanks for sharing the advice!

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LOL...no.

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*produced

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If you came up with the idea for the style/outline, possibly. Most likely no, you can't put work you didn't contribute to directly. Maybe if it's your tagline, but even then you'd have to make it clear that the scripts aren't yours. I've written taglines for brands that informed the rest of the campaign but I can only show the work that treats the tagline like a headline, just like whoever wrote "Just Do It" can't put every Nike spot into their book until the end of time.

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This is really helpful. Thank you so much!

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There was a guy at my agency who used this argument to put everyone’s winning work in his book. “I worked on the project!” No one will ever hire him again.

likefunny
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likefunny

I actually had this in mind which is why I asked 😂

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No

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Makes sense

In a nutshell—

Portfolio: This is my work.
Resume: This is what I helped work on.

Know the difference.

likesmarthelpful

If you didn’t write the script and you didn’t lead the shoot and you weren’t a part of the edit then it’s not your work.

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NO

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There are plenty of good answers here. I just want to add that there might be an underlying problem there, where the CD always tries to sell his own ideas. If he’s competing with his own team, he doesn’t know what the job of a real CD is.

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Is it your work? Yes. Not your work? No. The industry is full of counterfeits who popped a head in the room where other people were getting shit produced and considered the pop-in being a “part of the team.” Not fair, not accurate, not cool.

likesmart

Was it your concept?

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Then that’s all you can put in your book: the one radio you actually wrote.

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Damn. I’m sorry, but that’s crazy.

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It’s pretty simple. If you feel like you contributed enough to call it yours then yes.

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It sounds like this isn’t so simple for some people, which is...concerning.

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Thanks for the help everyone!

How involved were you with the production? If heavily, you may have a clearer case.

i don’t know. i’ve rewritten VO on freelancer scripts and then produced their entire spot, but i still feel icky about claiming it.

OP, it sounds like you’re desperate for work to put into your book. You didn’t get it this time, sorry. Use this as motivation to beat out your CD next time.

You can put your scripts in your book, because that’s indicative of your talent. I ask up front about these things...are you the originating creative or a contributing creative. Being part of a team is of immense value...shows your depth of experience. You should indicate it so, but don’t put that work in your book as yours.

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