NOVEL NEXT Exploiting Hollywood 1980.
Chapter 76 Hollywood Rules of the Game
Chapter 76 Hollywood Rules of the Game
Alan Parker stared into Ronald's eyes for a few seconds and nodded.
"Okay, Ronald. I underestimated you. If you can ask this question, you are already a qualified Hollywood filmmaker, so let's use Hollywood's way to solve this matter."
"Go and call the producer, Mr. Da Silva," Parker asked his assistant to call the producer.
Moments later, da Silva came to the director.After sending the assistants out, he and the director whispered a few words, the two sat opposite Ronald, and then Da Silva said:
"Well Ronald, we had an agreement with the original screenwriter, Christopher Gore, that he would have exclusive credits on the film.
As for your contribution, we will consider compensating you with money, and sign a contract with you as a screenwriter doctor.The total price is $3000. "
"Can I join the screenwriters union with this writer's doctor's contract?" Ronald asked.
The producer and the director looked at each other, showing that it was true.
"I'm afraid it won't work, Ronald." Da Silva took out a cigarette, lit it, took a puff, and explained slowly.
"The Screenwriters Union needs you to be the lead writer of a movie script registered by the union before it can accept you. The screenwriter doctor revises the script without signature and without points, so he cannot join the union."
"You are still very young. With this screenwriting doctor's contract, whether it is Broadway in New York or Hollywood in Los Angeles, it is not difficult for you to find a job related to screenwriting.
In the next three years, as long as one of your scripts is made into a movie, it will be screened in theaters or broadcast on TV.Then you can join the Screenwriters Guild.From now on, the door of Hollywood will be completely opened to you. "
$3000, a doorstep to future opportunities.Ronald thought for a moment. If he hadn't already obtained the qualifications of the directors' union and the fixed income of a portrait photographer, he might have agreed.
But now, he wants more.
Ronald shook his head:
"No, it won't work. I need my signature on the script. My goal is to be a film director. Only being a screenwriter is the shortcut for someone like me to direct a film. I have asked, and now the major studios are not like 10 years ago. Before that, new directors were trained.
If you join the Screenwriters Guild as a screenwriter, you will have the opportunity to write a movie script. If the script is considered to be made into a movie, you will be famous. If you are lucky, it will only take two to three years to become a director.
I'm not like those kids who have an acting background at home and can easily enter the industry.It is not those children from rich families who can pay for their own movies. "
Da Silva leaned back, stroked his little hair, and showed an expression of "it's really troublesome".
"Ronald, you're a young man, don't be so stubborn. You can ask people you know in show business how hard it is for them to break into it.
This screenwriter doctor contract provides you with a very good opportunity. You can directly submit your resume and find a job related to screenwriting.
The opportunity may be next month, maybe half a year later, maybe a year later, two years later, who knows, as long as you are lucky once and the script is picked by the studio, you will have a chance to be accepted by the screenwriters union .
Then continue to write the script, and the studio will take a fancy to you and realize your dream of being a director. "
Ronald said:
"Six months later, next year, the year after, it's of course very good, but why not now? I want to join the screenwriters union right now. This is your promise. It's not me who made the mistake, and I shouldn't be punished."
"And you're changing the subject. We're not talking about when I can join the writers' union, but why you didn't keep your promise?"
"Promise?" da Silva laughed. "What promise? I don't recall signing any scriptwriting contracts with you."
Ronald looked at director Alan Parker, "Are you planning to deny it? Mr. Parker, you promised me yourself. As long as the plot I wrote is good enough and put into the script, you will let me sign the script "
"Think about it, young man, think about it." Alan Parker nodded his head with his hands, and nodded to Ronald with a smile, "Since you have chosen to handle this matter in the Hollywood way, then Play by the rules of the Hollywood game."
"Think about it, give us an answer these days," Allen knocked on the table, "Remember Ronald, I don't have to ask for your script, and Doris' plot is not just you I can figure it out. The same goes for the other three protagonists.”
The implication of these words is a bit vicious, and it is not difficult to find a screenwriter to change the plots he has written.
The angry Ronald said loudly:
"I have evidence. I wrote the scenes of the three protagonists. I can sue you for intellectual property infringement."
"You can give it a try, Ronald. We have MGM's lawyers, hehe, let's see which New York law firm will come to the west coast to challenge." Da Silva was a little disdainful.
Ronald was silent.
Blame myself for trusting the two of them and taking the verbal promise seriously.I thought Hollywood was full of people like Roger Corman who kept their promises.
The director and producer got up and walked out of the room.Before going out, producer Da Silva said:
"Think about it, Ronald. We haven't been too hard on you. You don't know what real villains are like in Hollywood. If you sign this contract in three days, the $3000 is still your."
"Business is business. As long as you sign it, come and write me the script. Don't hurt your temper, Ronald, this is the rule of the game in Hollywood." Allen added, and the two walked out of the room, leaving Ronald behind. A person is sitting on a chair.
With a sudden "snap", Ronald slapped his palm on the table.
No, never give up the right to sign your name easily.You can't surrender without a fight because of the opponent's tricks.
Ronald quickly ran back to the rehearsal room to find Antonia and Gene.
The two saw that his face was not right, and asked what was going on.
"I have a little dispute with Mr. Director and Producer and I need a final version of the script."
Antonia handed over her script without asking specific questions:
"You take my book, and Gene's book in your hand has phonetic marks on it, and I can share one with him."
"Thank you, I will remember your help today."
Ronald took the script, drove home in a hurry, and took stock of his cards.
The script for the final draft, various original manuscripts written by myself, several possible witnesses.
Gene and Lucy, and maybe Antonia, willing to testify for themselves, were those dialogues he came up with.
Ronald put down his pen slumped, that's all.
Maybe your brain needs some alcohol stimulation to focus.
He opened the Jack Daniel's bought at the grocery store downstairs and poured himself a small glass.Feeling very strong, Ronalda opened the drawer to look for it, took out a bottle of honey, mixed it with whiskey with a spoon, and the taste was much milder.
Honey was also given by Walter Mercy, an editor of Diorama Company. He is also a very experienced industry veteran. I don’t know if he will win an Oscar this year.
I still know a lot of senior people in the industry, why not ask their opinions?
Ronald put down his glass, picked up his address book, and started flipping through it.
"Gail? This is Ronald, is Mr. Coleman there??
"He's done a big deal and gone on vacation with Julie and the kids. Do you have anything to do with him?"
Ronald thought for a while. Gail came from a wealthy family, and his father was an investor. Maybe he could ask her for her opinion.
"That's right, Gail, I'm in an embarrassing dispute..." Ronald told Gail the whole thing on the phone.
"Hey, Ronald, you are too careless to start writing a script based on verbal promises. Not every boss is like Roger."
"If you are a member of the screenwriters union, you can apply to them for arbitration and let the union help you out. The result of the union's arbitration is mandatory. It's a pity that you joined the directors union."
"Can I go through the legal process?" Ronald remembered the angry words he said about the prosecution.
"There is little hope. The legal departments of the eight major studios are very strong. They cooperate with the top law firms in Los Angeles. Even if you hire the top law firms on the east coast, they are not familiar with the legal cases of the entertainment industry. Most of them still lose. Besides, the legal fees of top law firms..."
"I see, I still want to give it a try. Can you give me the phone numbers of some law firms that deal with intellectual property? I'll consult them first."
"Okay, I have a few phone numbers from east coast law firms specializing in the entertainment industry, just wait a moment."
"Pavia & Hackett..., Keith & Whiteman..., Kirkland & Peterson....Okay thanks. Should I call first?...Yeah, I'm not in yet through a law firm”
"In your case, you might be stopped by the secretary when you make a call. I think you should go to the front desk of the law firm and ask. Maybe there will be a lawyer who is interested in your case. But don't report too much hope. "
"And, when Roger comes back, I'll tell him about you."
At three o'clock in the afternoon, Ronald was stopped again at the front desk of the last Kirkland & Peterson law firm.Gail was right. The law firm was not at all interested in a young man like him who was not a member of the screenwriters union and wanted to fight against the eight major Hollywood studios.
"I just want to talk to a lawyer and I can pay for the consultation."
"Sorry we only accept clients by appointment, our lawyers are very busy."
The front desk blocked him from going in, wasting the lawyer's precious time.
"Kate, what's going on?" A middle-aged man wearing glasses came out of the elevator.
"Mr. Peterson, this gentleman walked into the law firm without an appointment. He must talk to a lawyer. There is a dispute over the script's signature. He is not a union member. It is an MGM film." The front desk quickly concluded.
"Hi, I'm Peterson, the named partner at the firm. How about I give you a free advice. Please don't pester my firm's front desk afterwards. How about it?"
Ronald motioned for him to continue.
"Forget it with $3000, just treat yourself as a loss and gain experience.
This amount of money is not even enough to hire a senior lawyer from our law firm.Even fresh graduates of law school can expect $250 an hour for consulting.
Attorney fees are paid regardless of whether the case is won or lost, and your chances of winning are slim.No, this case will not go to court at all, and the opposing lawyer is likely to let the judge dismiss the prosecution as insufficient evidence. "
"Are you satisfied with my free advice?" Peterson said.Even lawyers have to show kindness sometimes.
"My aunt said don't trust free advice from strangers. I'll get a lawyer for a fee."
I wish you all a happy National Day holiday.
Today is double the monthly ticket, asking readers for tickets.thanks
(End of this chapter)
Alan Parker stared into Ronald's eyes for a few seconds and nodded.
"Okay, Ronald. I underestimated you. If you can ask this question, you are already a qualified Hollywood filmmaker, so let's use Hollywood's way to solve this matter."
"Go and call the producer, Mr. Da Silva," Parker asked his assistant to call the producer.
Moments later, da Silva came to the director.After sending the assistants out, he and the director whispered a few words, the two sat opposite Ronald, and then Da Silva said:
"Well Ronald, we had an agreement with the original screenwriter, Christopher Gore, that he would have exclusive credits on the film.
As for your contribution, we will consider compensating you with money, and sign a contract with you as a screenwriter doctor.The total price is $3000. "
"Can I join the screenwriters union with this writer's doctor's contract?" Ronald asked.
The producer and the director looked at each other, showing that it was true.
"I'm afraid it won't work, Ronald." Da Silva took out a cigarette, lit it, took a puff, and explained slowly.
"The Screenwriters Union needs you to be the lead writer of a movie script registered by the union before it can accept you. The screenwriter doctor revises the script without signature and without points, so he cannot join the union."
"You are still very young. With this screenwriting doctor's contract, whether it is Broadway in New York or Hollywood in Los Angeles, it is not difficult for you to find a job related to screenwriting.
In the next three years, as long as one of your scripts is made into a movie, it will be screened in theaters or broadcast on TV.Then you can join the Screenwriters Guild.From now on, the door of Hollywood will be completely opened to you. "
$3000, a doorstep to future opportunities.Ronald thought for a moment. If he hadn't already obtained the qualifications of the directors' union and the fixed income of a portrait photographer, he might have agreed.
But now, he wants more.
Ronald shook his head:
"No, it won't work. I need my signature on the script. My goal is to be a film director. Only being a screenwriter is the shortcut for someone like me to direct a film. I have asked, and now the major studios are not like 10 years ago. Before that, new directors were trained.
If you join the Screenwriters Guild as a screenwriter, you will have the opportunity to write a movie script. If the script is considered to be made into a movie, you will be famous. If you are lucky, it will only take two to three years to become a director.
I'm not like those kids who have an acting background at home and can easily enter the industry.It is not those children from rich families who can pay for their own movies. "
Da Silva leaned back, stroked his little hair, and showed an expression of "it's really troublesome".
"Ronald, you're a young man, don't be so stubborn. You can ask people you know in show business how hard it is for them to break into it.
This screenwriter doctor contract provides you with a very good opportunity. You can directly submit your resume and find a job related to screenwriting.
The opportunity may be next month, maybe half a year later, maybe a year later, two years later, who knows, as long as you are lucky once and the script is picked by the studio, you will have a chance to be accepted by the screenwriters union .
Then continue to write the script, and the studio will take a fancy to you and realize your dream of being a director. "
Ronald said:
"Six months later, next year, the year after, it's of course very good, but why not now? I want to join the screenwriters union right now. This is your promise. It's not me who made the mistake, and I shouldn't be punished."
"And you're changing the subject. We're not talking about when I can join the writers' union, but why you didn't keep your promise?"
"Promise?" da Silva laughed. "What promise? I don't recall signing any scriptwriting contracts with you."
Ronald looked at director Alan Parker, "Are you planning to deny it? Mr. Parker, you promised me yourself. As long as the plot I wrote is good enough and put into the script, you will let me sign the script "
"Think about it, young man, think about it." Alan Parker nodded his head with his hands, and nodded to Ronald with a smile, "Since you have chosen to handle this matter in the Hollywood way, then Play by the rules of the Hollywood game."
"Think about it, give us an answer these days," Allen knocked on the table, "Remember Ronald, I don't have to ask for your script, and Doris' plot is not just you I can figure it out. The same goes for the other three protagonists.”
The implication of these words is a bit vicious, and it is not difficult to find a screenwriter to change the plots he has written.
The angry Ronald said loudly:
"I have evidence. I wrote the scenes of the three protagonists. I can sue you for intellectual property infringement."
"You can give it a try, Ronald. We have MGM's lawyers, hehe, let's see which New York law firm will come to the west coast to challenge." Da Silva was a little disdainful.
Ronald was silent.
Blame myself for trusting the two of them and taking the verbal promise seriously.I thought Hollywood was full of people like Roger Corman who kept their promises.
The director and producer got up and walked out of the room.Before going out, producer Da Silva said:
"Think about it, Ronald. We haven't been too hard on you. You don't know what real villains are like in Hollywood. If you sign this contract in three days, the $3000 is still your."
"Business is business. As long as you sign it, come and write me the script. Don't hurt your temper, Ronald, this is the rule of the game in Hollywood." Allen added, and the two walked out of the room, leaving Ronald behind. A person is sitting on a chair.
With a sudden "snap", Ronald slapped his palm on the table.
No, never give up the right to sign your name easily.You can't surrender without a fight because of the opponent's tricks.
Ronald quickly ran back to the rehearsal room to find Antonia and Gene.
The two saw that his face was not right, and asked what was going on.
"I have a little dispute with Mr. Director and Producer and I need a final version of the script."
Antonia handed over her script without asking specific questions:
"You take my book, and Gene's book in your hand has phonetic marks on it, and I can share one with him."
"Thank you, I will remember your help today."
Ronald took the script, drove home in a hurry, and took stock of his cards.
The script for the final draft, various original manuscripts written by myself, several possible witnesses.
Gene and Lucy, and maybe Antonia, willing to testify for themselves, were those dialogues he came up with.
Ronald put down his pen slumped, that's all.
Maybe your brain needs some alcohol stimulation to focus.
He opened the Jack Daniel's bought at the grocery store downstairs and poured himself a small glass.Feeling very strong, Ronalda opened the drawer to look for it, took out a bottle of honey, mixed it with whiskey with a spoon, and the taste was much milder.
Honey was also given by Walter Mercy, an editor of Diorama Company. He is also a very experienced industry veteran. I don’t know if he will win an Oscar this year.
I still know a lot of senior people in the industry, why not ask their opinions?
Ronald put down his glass, picked up his address book, and started flipping through it.
"Gail? This is Ronald, is Mr. Coleman there??
"He's done a big deal and gone on vacation with Julie and the kids. Do you have anything to do with him?"
Ronald thought for a while. Gail came from a wealthy family, and his father was an investor. Maybe he could ask her for her opinion.
"That's right, Gail, I'm in an embarrassing dispute..." Ronald told Gail the whole thing on the phone.
"Hey, Ronald, you are too careless to start writing a script based on verbal promises. Not every boss is like Roger."
"If you are a member of the screenwriters union, you can apply to them for arbitration and let the union help you out. The result of the union's arbitration is mandatory. It's a pity that you joined the directors union."
"Can I go through the legal process?" Ronald remembered the angry words he said about the prosecution.
"There is little hope. The legal departments of the eight major studios are very strong. They cooperate with the top law firms in Los Angeles. Even if you hire the top law firms on the east coast, they are not familiar with the legal cases of the entertainment industry. Most of them still lose. Besides, the legal fees of top law firms..."
"I see, I still want to give it a try. Can you give me the phone numbers of some law firms that deal with intellectual property? I'll consult them first."
"Okay, I have a few phone numbers from east coast law firms specializing in the entertainment industry, just wait a moment."
"Pavia & Hackett..., Keith & Whiteman..., Kirkland & Peterson....Okay thanks. Should I call first?...Yeah, I'm not in yet through a law firm”
"In your case, you might be stopped by the secretary when you make a call. I think you should go to the front desk of the law firm and ask. Maybe there will be a lawyer who is interested in your case. But don't report too much hope. "
"And, when Roger comes back, I'll tell him about you."
At three o'clock in the afternoon, Ronald was stopped again at the front desk of the last Kirkland & Peterson law firm.Gail was right. The law firm was not at all interested in a young man like him who was not a member of the screenwriters union and wanted to fight against the eight major Hollywood studios.
"I just want to talk to a lawyer and I can pay for the consultation."
"Sorry we only accept clients by appointment, our lawyers are very busy."
The front desk blocked him from going in, wasting the lawyer's precious time.
"Kate, what's going on?" A middle-aged man wearing glasses came out of the elevator.
"Mr. Peterson, this gentleman walked into the law firm without an appointment. He must talk to a lawyer. There is a dispute over the script's signature. He is not a union member. It is an MGM film." The front desk quickly concluded.
"Hi, I'm Peterson, the named partner at the firm. How about I give you a free advice. Please don't pester my firm's front desk afterwards. How about it?"
Ronald motioned for him to continue.
"Forget it with $3000, just treat yourself as a loss and gain experience.
This amount of money is not even enough to hire a senior lawyer from our law firm.Even fresh graduates of law school can expect $250 an hour for consulting.
Attorney fees are paid regardless of whether the case is won or lost, and your chances of winning are slim.No, this case will not go to court at all, and the opposing lawyer is likely to let the judge dismiss the prosecution as insufficient evidence. "
"Are you satisfied with my free advice?" Peterson said.Even lawyers have to show kindness sometimes.
"My aunt said don't trust free advice from strangers. I'll get a lawyer for a fee."
I wish you all a happy National Day holiday.
Today is double the monthly ticket, asking readers for tickets.thanks
(End of this chapter)
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