Adapting the screenplay 'The Third Eye'
In the Early eighties, while attending University Of Southern California Sophia Stewart wrote an original epic science fiction book and screenplay called The Third Eye Matrix. That body of work was later plagiarised and produced for the screen as the Matrix and Terminator Movies Series and Trilogy. Going on to win four Oscars, many other awards and billions of dollars worldwide, however, the true author and creator was hidden from the masses until ABC News broke the story on October 17, 2003.
The Third Eye served as the major framework, characters and concepts of The Matrix and Terminator film franchises. How? When a copyright protected screenplay published by Sophia was without her consent plagiarised by the Wachowskis, Gale Anne Hurd and James Cameron et al, the screenplay split to create two narratives The Matrix and The Terminator.
As an epic spanning three timeframes (past, present, and future) the Third Eye blends metaphysics and spiritual concepts with technological innovation. John Connor in the Terminator, is Neo from the Matrix.
Sophia took those involved in the plagiarism to Federal Court. It was the second case in the Utah Federal Courts on September 25, 2014, Stewart was awarded $3.5 Billion in Liens and almost a half million dollars in attorney fees against the California defendants and her former lawyers (Case 2:07-cv-00552-DB-EJF- FBI-DOJ.) These rulings by Federal Judges Evelyn J. Fuse, Dee Benson and the validations of the FBI and DOJ established Stewart as the Creator and Owner of the Matrix and Terminator Movie Franchises.
The Claim that James Cameron stole the idea for the Terminator from Harlan Ellison and not Sophia Stewart.
It's very common for Hollywood to plagiarise unknown writers from around the world, authors, and even other filmmakers. They can take aspects of many other creators work or steal the entire intellectual property; characters, plots and environment.
In this case, evidence from James Cameron himself, that he plagiarised the teleplay's from Ellison Outer Limits episodes, without permission in making the first Terminator when Cameron during an interview got cocky and bragged to Starlog Magazine and it got back to Ellison. Ellison's attorney's found out and contacted Cameron. In the end, $400,000 (approximately) in an out-of-court settlement with Orion Pictures for the film The Terminator, which Ellison claimed plagiarised his Outer Limits episodes "Soldier" and "The Man with the Glass Hand. "Ellison was also required to sign a gag order and negotiated for his name to be added to the ending credits of the film.
Prior to the demand that the magazine STARLOG remove the following quote from the interview, of which they were forced to comply. James Cameron was quoted as saying;
"If I really think about the influences that helped shape the story, the entire feeling can be traced back to some '50's science-fiction films and OUTER LIMITS episodes. The thing that THE OUTER LIMITS had, that always impressed me visually, was its use of the deep focus film noir look of '40s films and the German Expressionist movies of the '30s."
Years later it was reported when Cameron was asked again about Harlan Ellison;
"Cameron later recalled, "It was a nuisance suit that could easily have been fought. I expected Hemdale and Orion to fight for my rights, but they abandoned me. The insurance company told me if I didn't agree to the settlement, they would come after me personally for the damages if they lost the suit. Having no money at the time, I had no choice but to agree to the settlement. Of course there was a gag order as well, so I couldn't tell this story but now I frankly don't care. It's the truth. Harlan Ellison is a parasite who can kiss my ass"
James Cameron and his co-conspirator Gale Anne Hurd, who he ended up marrying, because you legally cannot testify against your spouse...they also plagiarised The Third Eye as the foundation for the Terminator, yet in comparison the plagiarism of Stewart's work was not regarded with the same accountability or acknowledgement.
Why is Race and Gender a Factor?
Harlan Ellison, a well known white male writer was paid and credited for the plagiarism of his work, however Sophia Stewart a black woman, was not.
Sophia was young unknown black female screenwriter that the defendants believed they were entitled to take her story without including, acknowledging or compensating her as a screenwriter. Instead the industry dismissed her legitimacy and until this day, her voice.
Harlan Ellison in several interviews was questioned about Sophia Stewart and each time he acknowledged her case, her fight, yet he admitted he was not comfortable speaking about her case or claims due to his gag order.