NOVEL NEXT Exploiting Hollywood 1980.
Chapter 81 Bargaining
Chapter 81 Bargaining
"Ronald, you surprised me." Lindsay looked at Ronald's evaluation of Woody Allen's script, "I didn't expect you to have this trick, I think this time the director can also switch position."
"You think so too? Then let's go and negotiate with them right away. The other party's lawyer said that we will leave the crew at 5 pm today."
Lindsay looked at the clock on the wall, 12:30. "Okay, we'll leave right away."
"David, this is my lawyer, Miss Lindsay Dole. Please call the director and lawyer Mitch Kanter, and we will settle this matter in the afternoon."
Ronald introduces Miss Lawyer to the producers and asks for a meeting.
David da Silva looked at him for a long time, "I hope nothing unexpected will happen this time."As he spoke, he ordered the assistant to invite the director and lawyer.
Wait until director Allen and attorney Mitch Kantor are seated.Ronald introduced Miss Lawyer to them again.
"Let's get down to business? What's your client's attitude?" Mitch looked Lindsay Dole up and down again with his gray eyes.
"My client would like to have a 5-minute private conversation with director Alan Parker." Lindsay made the first motion.
"What the hell are you doing?" the producer exasperated.
"It was just a private communication. I guarantee that he has only a positive impact on solving the problem today." Ronald said.
The producer and Mickey's lawyer whispered a few words and said to Ronald: "Okay, we'll give you five minutes, and I hope you don't play any more tricks."
"And you, Attorney Dole"
Ronald nodded to the lawyer lady, and she also left her seat and went out with the other party.
"Tell me, what do you want, Ronald. If you think $3000 is not enough, I can give you some more." Director Parker said.
"I re-wrote a version of the script for Doris's plot, which is the conclusion of my evaluation." Ronald handed over a copy of Woody Allen's note.
"what is this?"
Allen looked suspiciously.
"Woody Allen, director, commented on my Doris plot"
"You know Woody?" The director was a little surprised.
Ronald shrugged. "I'm not exactly a newcomer to Hollywood."
"Is this true? You really found a solution to Doris's problem?"
After reading the note, Alan was still a little skeptical.
"This is the evaluation given by Director Woody Allen after he read my script. He chose Julia to cast the role. If you don't believe me, you can call and ask."
Allen stood up and went out to make a phone call.
The producer and Lawyer Mickey outside were a little surprised to see Allen coming out to make a phone call soon, so they returned to the room and asked what Ronald had done.
"Alan is just going to confirm one thing. We just have to wait patiently."
After a while, Director Allen returned to the conference room.
"Ronald, I've talked to Julia and she has a good opinion of your script. Tell me, what do you want?"
"I just want what I deserve." Ronald wanted to continue answering, but was stopped by the lawyer lady.
"This is Lindsay Dole, the attorney representing Mr. Ronald Lee. I think we can now discuss the details of the contract."
Attorney Lindsay Dole, handing Mitch Kantor a draft contract.Lawyer Mitch opened it and flipped through it.
"Also, I have a photo here, which can make this movie solve a big hidden danger at the box office. If you are willing to sign with me, I can tell you right away, David."
Ronald took out another envelope and waved at the producer.
"What do you mean? What hidden dangers will the movie have?"
"I can't tell you now, you can choose not to believe it, David." He said and put the envelope away.
The producer and director exchanged glances.
"I have no objection to Ronald signing the script." The director nodded.
"He can co-author under the name 'Script.' 'Story' is attributed to the original author, Christopher Gore." I went and called him.The producer gets up and walks away.
After a while, the producer Da Silva returned to the conference room and nodded to Lawyer Mitch to indicate that it was done.
"So he was already prepared." Ronald thought to himself.
Mitch handed over a piece of paper, "My client, I agree to let your client sign the 'Hot Lunch' script in the following form:"
Ronald and the lawyer lady finally looked at it, and there were two lines of writing on it.
Story: Christopher Gore
Screenplay: Christopher Gore & Ronald Lee
Attorney Lindsay Dole took a look, crossed out the &, and re-penciled "and"
"In the manual of the screenwriters union, it is clearly stipulated that if two screenwriters are connected by &, they belong to the same team. If they are connected by and, they are independent revisions. Our party obviously belongs to the latter, which can better reflect his screenwriting ability. .”
Mitch Kanter retracted the paper, "We have no objection."
"It seems to be a deliberate trap?" Ronald and the lawyer exchanged glances.
"Your party has the right to sign the script, but does not have the right to win screenwriting awards, including Oscar nominations." Mitch Kanter then proposed the next clause.
"Since our party has one of the signatures of the 'script', it should have the corresponding power when the film is nominated for a screenwriting award."
"No, Ronald, the condition for Christopher to accept the contract modification is that if he wins the award, he will have the exclusive honor of accepting the award on stage." Producer Da Silva interjected.
"This is not in line with industry practices and trade union regulations." Ms. Lawyer protested.
Mitch Kanter watched the two sides quarreling, "Well, Ronald Lee has the right to author the script. If he is nominated for an award, he will be mentioned in the communiqué, but the crew does not provide him with an invitation to attend the award ceremony. If he wins, he will not be allowed to accept the award on stage, so that Christopher can still enjoy the honor alone."
"I want to make a call to confirm, in principle there is no problem." The producer went out to make another call.
"Your party, voluntarily give up any cash remuneration, and any subsequent derivatives..."
"Wait," Lindsay interrupted Mitch, "Our client received a $3000 offer contract."
"That's an offer from the screenwriter doctor, and your client has already given up."
"No, our party is based on the excellence of the finished work, and has additionally received the director's approval and signature. The quotation contract should still be considered valid."
Mickey and the producer exchanged glances, "We can agree on a price of $3000."
"No, according to industry regulations, the price of modifying the script should be equivalent to the purchase price of the script, or 10 times the script option."
"Your client is not a member of the Writers Guild."
"But this does not affect the results of his work. Authoritative directors and screenwriters in the industry have affirmed that his work is excellent."
The lawyer lady is haggling over Ronald's income with the opposing lawyer.
Ronald's mind had already turned to other places.He was happy to be able to sign the script, and then joined the screenwriters union by virtue of it.
Director Allen's eyes were piercing, waiting to see the updated script after the negotiation was over.
The producer walked in from the door and confirmed with Mickey that the original author Christopher agreed with the award-winning arrangement.He looked slightly distraught, and perhaps a little bit of a monetary loss.
"$40000 is impossible," Mickey's lawyer vetoed.
"You can make a counter-offer," Lindsay said.
Mickey and the producer whispered a few words, wrote a number on a piece of paper, and handed it to the lawyer.
"It's $5000." Lindsay opened the paper and gave Ronald a look, then whispered in his ear, "I suggest rejecting it."
Ronald nodded.
"In our opinion, what Woody Allen considers to be an excellent script should at least be worth this." Lindsay wrote down the number 25000, folded it and handed it over.
The two sides went back and forth several times, and finally stopped at 8000 US dollars.
Lindsay Dole showed Ronald the numbers and whispered in his ear again, "I think it's acceptable."
Ronald nodded yes.
Mitch goes out to prepare the official contract.
Moments later, producer David da Silva, and Ronald signed the contract on behalf of both parties.After reviewing it, Lindsay Dole said yes.
Ronald took out the script he wrote and handed it to the director.
"It turned out that the problem came from the admission interview, changing Doris from the music department to the performance department."
"The Rocky Horror Show? It was a natural transition so that Doris' drive to overcome her shyness made more sense."
"Woody was right, you did turn the character of Doris from mediocre to great."
Director Alan Parker read the script and took a deep look at Ronald.
"What about my share?" The producer stretched out his hand, indicating that Ronald could hand over the box office hidden danger.
"This is a picture I took at the midnight theater. Someone followed suit. Director Alan Parker made an adult movie, also called 'Hot Lunch'. The director's signature is AL Parker, which is easily reminiscent of You." Ronald handed over the poster photo taken by Antonia.
Director Parker picked up the photo and looked at it, then threw it back on the table angrily: "This is too much, I want to find out who did it..."
"What? Why didn't MGM lock in this title at the Las Vegas Western Film Expo in April?" Producer Da Silva was taken aback and asked Mickey's lawyer.
Mickey frowned, "Maybe there are some problems with the secretaries at the company headquarters. I will report this to the president when I go back."
"I'll call him too. But anyway, we have to think about changing the title. The film is already in theaters in New York, and the impact has been made." The producer began to scratch the few remaining hairs on his head.
"Let's think about this matter later. Let's finish today's work." Mitch said.
Soon, Ronald got a check for $8000 in an envelope.After confirming that they were correct, he stood up and shook hands with each other one by one.
"Alan, Hollywood's rules, don't you hurt your peace?"
"It's not hurtful." Director Alan Parker shook hands with him.
"David, I hope that changing the title will increase the box office."
"You're very nice, Ronald." Next came producer David Da Silva.
"Mitch, maybe you don't have to wait a year or two, you can do it now."
"You impress me again, Ronald. And you, Attorney Dole." Mitch Kantor shook their hands and said goodbye.
"Ronald, are you okay?" Gene, Antonia and Lucy saw Ronald walk out of the conference room and surrounded him.
"No, the result is very good. The director and producer agreed to my request, and they are all good people." Ronald was a little tired and sat on the long chair.
"Let me explain to you, Ronald is a little tired, let him rest for a while." Lindsay Dole pulled the three actors aside.
"...So Ronald is the screenwriter of the movie?" Gene asked.
"Yes, you can understand it that way." The lawyer replied.
"Oh, Man, I just said he's great, it's okay." Gene and Lucy danced rhythmically all the way back to the rehearsal room.
When the lawyer turned her head, Antonia was beside the long chair, looking at Ronald who was dozing off with his eyes closed.She took two steps forward and whispered to Antonia, "He looks handsome when he's asleep."
"Yes." Antonia stretched out her right hand and touched his eyelashes lightly.
"Hee..." Seeing that Ronald seemed to feel a little itchy and sniffled his nose, both Antonia and Lindsay Dole couldn't help laughing.
(End of this chapter)
"Ronald, you surprised me." Lindsay looked at Ronald's evaluation of Woody Allen's script, "I didn't expect you to have this trick, I think this time the director can also switch position."
"You think so too? Then let's go and negotiate with them right away. The other party's lawyer said that we will leave the crew at 5 pm today."
Lindsay looked at the clock on the wall, 12:30. "Okay, we'll leave right away."
"David, this is my lawyer, Miss Lindsay Dole. Please call the director and lawyer Mitch Kanter, and we will settle this matter in the afternoon."
Ronald introduces Miss Lawyer to the producers and asks for a meeting.
David da Silva looked at him for a long time, "I hope nothing unexpected will happen this time."As he spoke, he ordered the assistant to invite the director and lawyer.
Wait until director Allen and attorney Mitch Kantor are seated.Ronald introduced Miss Lawyer to them again.
"Let's get down to business? What's your client's attitude?" Mitch looked Lindsay Dole up and down again with his gray eyes.
"My client would like to have a 5-minute private conversation with director Alan Parker." Lindsay made the first motion.
"What the hell are you doing?" the producer exasperated.
"It was just a private communication. I guarantee that he has only a positive impact on solving the problem today." Ronald said.
The producer and Mickey's lawyer whispered a few words and said to Ronald: "Okay, we'll give you five minutes, and I hope you don't play any more tricks."
"And you, Attorney Dole"
Ronald nodded to the lawyer lady, and she also left her seat and went out with the other party.
"Tell me, what do you want, Ronald. If you think $3000 is not enough, I can give you some more." Director Parker said.
"I re-wrote a version of the script for Doris's plot, which is the conclusion of my evaluation." Ronald handed over a copy of Woody Allen's note.
"what is this?"
Allen looked suspiciously.
"Woody Allen, director, commented on my Doris plot"
"You know Woody?" The director was a little surprised.
Ronald shrugged. "I'm not exactly a newcomer to Hollywood."
"Is this true? You really found a solution to Doris's problem?"
After reading the note, Alan was still a little skeptical.
"This is the evaluation given by Director Woody Allen after he read my script. He chose Julia to cast the role. If you don't believe me, you can call and ask."
Allen stood up and went out to make a phone call.
The producer and Lawyer Mickey outside were a little surprised to see Allen coming out to make a phone call soon, so they returned to the room and asked what Ronald had done.
"Alan is just going to confirm one thing. We just have to wait patiently."
After a while, Director Allen returned to the conference room.
"Ronald, I've talked to Julia and she has a good opinion of your script. Tell me, what do you want?"
"I just want what I deserve." Ronald wanted to continue answering, but was stopped by the lawyer lady.
"This is Lindsay Dole, the attorney representing Mr. Ronald Lee. I think we can now discuss the details of the contract."
Attorney Lindsay Dole, handing Mitch Kantor a draft contract.Lawyer Mitch opened it and flipped through it.
"Also, I have a photo here, which can make this movie solve a big hidden danger at the box office. If you are willing to sign with me, I can tell you right away, David."
Ronald took out another envelope and waved at the producer.
"What do you mean? What hidden dangers will the movie have?"
"I can't tell you now, you can choose not to believe it, David." He said and put the envelope away.
The producer and director exchanged glances.
"I have no objection to Ronald signing the script." The director nodded.
"He can co-author under the name 'Script.' 'Story' is attributed to the original author, Christopher Gore." I went and called him.The producer gets up and walks away.
After a while, the producer Da Silva returned to the conference room and nodded to Lawyer Mitch to indicate that it was done.
"So he was already prepared." Ronald thought to himself.
Mitch handed over a piece of paper, "My client, I agree to let your client sign the 'Hot Lunch' script in the following form:"
Ronald and the lawyer lady finally looked at it, and there were two lines of writing on it.
Story: Christopher Gore
Screenplay: Christopher Gore & Ronald Lee
Attorney Lindsay Dole took a look, crossed out the &, and re-penciled "and"
"In the manual of the screenwriters union, it is clearly stipulated that if two screenwriters are connected by &, they belong to the same team. If they are connected by and, they are independent revisions. Our party obviously belongs to the latter, which can better reflect his screenwriting ability. .”
Mitch Kanter retracted the paper, "We have no objection."
"It seems to be a deliberate trap?" Ronald and the lawyer exchanged glances.
"Your party has the right to sign the script, but does not have the right to win screenwriting awards, including Oscar nominations." Mitch Kanter then proposed the next clause.
"Since our party has one of the signatures of the 'script', it should have the corresponding power when the film is nominated for a screenwriting award."
"No, Ronald, the condition for Christopher to accept the contract modification is that if he wins the award, he will have the exclusive honor of accepting the award on stage." Producer Da Silva interjected.
"This is not in line with industry practices and trade union regulations." Ms. Lawyer protested.
Mitch Kanter watched the two sides quarreling, "Well, Ronald Lee has the right to author the script. If he is nominated for an award, he will be mentioned in the communiqué, but the crew does not provide him with an invitation to attend the award ceremony. If he wins, he will not be allowed to accept the award on stage, so that Christopher can still enjoy the honor alone."
"I want to make a call to confirm, in principle there is no problem." The producer went out to make another call.
"Your party, voluntarily give up any cash remuneration, and any subsequent derivatives..."
"Wait," Lindsay interrupted Mitch, "Our client received a $3000 offer contract."
"That's an offer from the screenwriter doctor, and your client has already given up."
"No, our party is based on the excellence of the finished work, and has additionally received the director's approval and signature. The quotation contract should still be considered valid."
Mickey and the producer exchanged glances, "We can agree on a price of $3000."
"No, according to industry regulations, the price of modifying the script should be equivalent to the purchase price of the script, or 10 times the script option."
"Your client is not a member of the Writers Guild."
"But this does not affect the results of his work. Authoritative directors and screenwriters in the industry have affirmed that his work is excellent."
The lawyer lady is haggling over Ronald's income with the opposing lawyer.
Ronald's mind had already turned to other places.He was happy to be able to sign the script, and then joined the screenwriters union by virtue of it.
Director Allen's eyes were piercing, waiting to see the updated script after the negotiation was over.
The producer walked in from the door and confirmed with Mickey that the original author Christopher agreed with the award-winning arrangement.He looked slightly distraught, and perhaps a little bit of a monetary loss.
"$40000 is impossible," Mickey's lawyer vetoed.
"You can make a counter-offer," Lindsay said.
Mickey and the producer whispered a few words, wrote a number on a piece of paper, and handed it to the lawyer.
"It's $5000." Lindsay opened the paper and gave Ronald a look, then whispered in his ear, "I suggest rejecting it."
Ronald nodded.
"In our opinion, what Woody Allen considers to be an excellent script should at least be worth this." Lindsay wrote down the number 25000, folded it and handed it over.
The two sides went back and forth several times, and finally stopped at 8000 US dollars.
Lindsay Dole showed Ronald the numbers and whispered in his ear again, "I think it's acceptable."
Ronald nodded yes.
Mitch goes out to prepare the official contract.
Moments later, producer David da Silva, and Ronald signed the contract on behalf of both parties.After reviewing it, Lindsay Dole said yes.
Ronald took out the script he wrote and handed it to the director.
"It turned out that the problem came from the admission interview, changing Doris from the music department to the performance department."
"The Rocky Horror Show? It was a natural transition so that Doris' drive to overcome her shyness made more sense."
"Woody was right, you did turn the character of Doris from mediocre to great."
Director Alan Parker read the script and took a deep look at Ronald.
"What about my share?" The producer stretched out his hand, indicating that Ronald could hand over the box office hidden danger.
"This is a picture I took at the midnight theater. Someone followed suit. Director Alan Parker made an adult movie, also called 'Hot Lunch'. The director's signature is AL Parker, which is easily reminiscent of You." Ronald handed over the poster photo taken by Antonia.
Director Parker picked up the photo and looked at it, then threw it back on the table angrily: "This is too much, I want to find out who did it..."
"What? Why didn't MGM lock in this title at the Las Vegas Western Film Expo in April?" Producer Da Silva was taken aback and asked Mickey's lawyer.
Mickey frowned, "Maybe there are some problems with the secretaries at the company headquarters. I will report this to the president when I go back."
"I'll call him too. But anyway, we have to think about changing the title. The film is already in theaters in New York, and the impact has been made." The producer began to scratch the few remaining hairs on his head.
"Let's think about this matter later. Let's finish today's work." Mitch said.
Soon, Ronald got a check for $8000 in an envelope.After confirming that they were correct, he stood up and shook hands with each other one by one.
"Alan, Hollywood's rules, don't you hurt your peace?"
"It's not hurtful." Director Alan Parker shook hands with him.
"David, I hope that changing the title will increase the box office."
"You're very nice, Ronald." Next came producer David Da Silva.
"Mitch, maybe you don't have to wait a year or two, you can do it now."
"You impress me again, Ronald. And you, Attorney Dole." Mitch Kantor shook their hands and said goodbye.
"Ronald, are you okay?" Gene, Antonia and Lucy saw Ronald walk out of the conference room and surrounded him.
"No, the result is very good. The director and producer agreed to my request, and they are all good people." Ronald was a little tired and sat on the long chair.
"Let me explain to you, Ronald is a little tired, let him rest for a while." Lindsay Dole pulled the three actors aside.
"...So Ronald is the screenwriter of the movie?" Gene asked.
"Yes, you can understand it that way." The lawyer replied.
"Oh, Man, I just said he's great, it's okay." Gene and Lucy danced rhythmically all the way back to the rehearsal room.
When the lawyer turned her head, Antonia was beside the long chair, looking at Ronald who was dozing off with his eyes closed.She took two steps forward and whispered to Antonia, "He looks handsome when he's asleep."
"Yes." Antonia stretched out her right hand and touched his eyelashes lightly.
"Hee..." Seeing that Ronald seemed to feel a little itchy and sniffled his nose, both Antonia and Lindsay Dole couldn't help laughing.
(End of this chapter)
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