Aurora Design StudiosNarrative Architecture • Books • Scripts • Worlds

← Back to Business

Confidentiality • Review Copies • Access Control

NDA & Controlled Review

Defines when confidential materials may be shared and what review boundaries should exist before full scripts, manuscripts, or project bibles are released.

Non-Confidential First

Initial contact should not require confidential disclosure.

NDA Threshold

Use NDA review only after credible professional interest exists.

Version Log

Record what was shared, to whom, on what date, and under what terms.

Disclosure levels

Confidentiality is applied according to actual risk. Query letters, public treatments, and sample pages normally do not require an NDA; detailed franchise bibles, unpublished production plans, commercial terms, or sensitive technical material may require stronger controls.

Level 1

Public overview

Website copy, loglines, approved images, public biographies, and non-confidential summaries.

Level 2

Requested creative review

Manuscript, screenplay, synopsis, treatment, selected bible sections, or sample art sent through a verified professional channel.

Level 3

Confidential development

Unreleased business terms, detailed canon, partner materials, production strategy, protected research, or sensitive cross-company information.

Controlled-review record

  • Verified recipient name, role, company, and contact channel
  • Reason for review and exact material requested
  • File identifier, title, revision, date, and watermark where appropriate
  • Confidentiality agreement or submission terms governing the exchange
  • Date sent, access method, response due date, and disposition
  • Return, deletion, expiration, or continuing-use obligation
Publishing reality: literary agents and publishers generally will not sign an NDA merely to read a standard query or manuscript. Aurora protects those submissions through copyright, authorship records, version control, reputable channels, and a clear submission ledger rather than demanding an impractical NDA at first contact.

Request controlled material

Identify the requested file, purpose, recipient, company, and governing terms.

Contact Aurora