Exploiting Hollywood 1980

"So you think Rapke is up to something? He wants Mr. Ovitz to give up on me and choose Bridges as director? But my script has been filed, how could they steal it?" Ronald listened to Richard. Asked after Germany's analysis.

"I'm afraid they have some tricks that we don't know about. I've heard some rumors within the company that Lapke doesn't follow the rules very much, and there are a lot of old Hollywood conspiracies. Your name has not been used by any media in the current publicity plan. It was reported, which gave them a little room for intrigue.

We have to be prepared, and most importantly, Mr. Ovitz's attitude is now unclear. "

Ronald nodded, he had to be prepared.

"I need your help, Lindsay. Can you fly to Los Angeles? This matter may be more difficult than the last script signing dispute." After Ronald and Richard discussed it, they first called their lawyer.

After listening to Ronald and Richard's speculation on the phone, Lindsay Dole said, "I've thought about it. What you need for this matter is not just a lawyer who is proficient in law, but what you need is a lawyer who is proficient in the Hollywood industry." Lawyer for studio operations.

Some things are difficult for outsiders in Hollywood to figure out. I can fly to Los Angeles right away if you need it, but I suggest you hire a senior Hollywood lawyer to consult first. "

"Do you have a suitable candidate? Besides, I can't afford high legal fees, and I may not be able to get the remuneration for my script."

"This matter is not court business. For senior lawyers who are familiar with the details of the film business, it may be something that can be explained clearly in a few sentences. Let me ask you, it should not be more than half of the option contract remuneration you received. .”

"This is a lot of money for me, but I'm willing to take a gamble." Ronald made up his mind.

“What I’m looking for is an opportunity to participate in a major studio project, either by selling a script for a sky-high price and being hyped in the news to gain some fame, or by actually being involved in film shooting so that I can gain experience.

Now my name is not in the news, and Columbia may not want me to participate in film preparations. If I can’t get either, thirty-five thousand dollars doesn’t mean much to me. "

"Okay, do you remember Mickey Kanter, the lawyer who represented MGM in the negotiations during the famous signature dispute? He invited me to practice at his law firm in Los Angeles, but I didn't agree. He had He is the permanent lawyer of MGM. I can make a call first. He also appreciates you very much and will give you a friendly price."

Ronald still remembered the lawyer with a pair of ear-catching ears and a pair of uncomfortable gray eyes. "Is it him? Then I have no objection.

"If this look is facing an opponent, it is still very pleasant. Moreover, he is proficient in the film business and has the ability to persuade others.

"Ronald. When I first met you, I had a hunch that I would meet you again in Hollywood. I just didn't expect this day to come so quickly. Colombia, $350,000, huh?"

"Hello, Lawyer Kanter. Nice to see you again, but I may not be able to get the $350,000 yet." A few hours later, Ronald and Richard walked into "Manat, Philp" Phillips, Phillips \u0026 Canter. Kanter has been promoted to a named partner of the law firm, which makes them more confident.

"Please sit down, I've heard what happened from Miss Dole." Mickey Kanter, wearing a dark suit, sat behind an old-fashioned solid wood desk, reached out and took out two glasses, got two glasses of whiskey, and pushed them down In front of two young people.

"Ms. Dole signed an agency agreement with me on your behalf. Now I am your attorney. What we say between us is protected by the attorney-client confidentiality agreement." Then he turned over a clock and pushed Luo down. In front of Nader, press the switch.

Kanter got another glass of whiskey for himself, then looked at Richard, but said to Ronald, "With this agreement, I have to keep everything you tell me secret, do you understand?"

Ronald also glanced at Richard, "Richard is my agent, I trust him."

"Very good." Kanter took a sip of whiskey, "Then let me tell you straight, reputation or substance, you can only choose one."

"I don't understand, Mr. Kanter."

"Call me Mickey." Kanter took the script option contract from Richard's hand and put it on the table. Then he opened it to the terms, pointed at it and said to Ronald, "You must have already seen this kind of option contract." Understand, what is guaranteed is that within 12 months, Columbia has the right of first refusal on your script.”

"In other words, during the 12-month period, even if other production companies like your script, Columbia has the right to purchase it first. After 12 months, the script is back in your own hands, and you can also cooperate with other production companies. The film company will contact you.”

Ronald nodded in understanding.

"Columbia is a member of the Writers Guild of America, so they must abide by the Writers Guild's contractual provisions. The option must be at least 10% of the total purchase price, and the option period must not exceed 18 months.

Production companies that are not members of the Writers Guild do not have to comply with the regulations. For new screenwriters like you, their asking price is much lower. With only an upfront payment of 1-2%, you can purchase options for more than 36 months on the script. Columbia Corporation registered a large number of handbag companies to circumvent the regulations of the Writers Guild. "

Mickey Kanter took another sip of whiskey, suddenly leaned forward, and said to Ronald face to face:

"So tell me, Ronald, you're not the son of a big star or a veteran with a string of hits under your belt, why are they going to be so by the book and give you the best deal? Give you John Milley Urs, the price of a script that only Oliver Stone could get?"

Ronald frowned. He was really so dazzled by the good news that he turned a blind eye to the obviously unreasonable contract terms.

Why give such a high price to a fledgling screenwriter? I am afraid that I am not the screenwriting genius that others say. The real market value of "My Brother's Keeper" is difficult to say.

"This is because of the writer-first strategy promoted by CAA. We hope that Ronald's script will attract influential star actors and star directors. Then it will be sold to the studio as a packaged project..."

Seeing that Ronald was silent, Richard Lovett spoke briefly about what happened before and after signing the script.

"I don't comment on Ovitz's strategy, but what I want to say is that this is just the result of the matter. What is the real reason? In this game, Colombia is the one who pays, and they will not comment on CAA's business strategy. Interested? What do they want? Ronald."

"They want Jane Fonda." Ronald finally figured out the point of the whole thing. What Columbia wanted was not a script, but Jane Fonda. What Ovitz was interested in was not his own script, but Jane Fonda's interest in the script.

As long as Jane Fonda signs a contract with Columbia Pictures to make a movie together. It doesn't matter who wrote the script, or even... whether there is a script or not.

The director that Colombia is interested in, James Bridges, is a screenwriter himself. The two films he wrote and directed, "Chinese Syndrome" and "Urban Cowherd", both won box office and critical reviews. In Colombia's eyes, he is naturally better than As a novice screenwriter, I am much more reliable.

If he and director Bridges were competing for control of the script, which side would Jane Fonda, a key person, stand on? Ronald thought for a long time and couldn't think of any reason for Jane to prefer him.

Bridges is now a popular director in Hollywood, and he also worked happily with Jane Fonda. With the movie "China Syndrome", he helped her escape the second Oscar curse and her career continued to become popular.

"But how can Bridges and his agent Rapke take away my signature? I have filed a record."

"This is not a problem. The Writers Association's filing requires you to prove that your interests have been harmed before you can file a lawsuit. But if the movie is not released, you will have no harm. The movie has been released, and you can only get a small amount of money. I helped promote the movie for free.”

"Why? Wasn't the script I wrote used by them?"

"Bridges is a screenwriter himself. I'm afraid he will significantly change the plot direction of your script. At most, you can only strive for one original story, which is the signature of 'Story:', and the Screenwriters Guild can only obtain a corresponding proportion for you. As far as I know, you don’t get much in this situation. After deducting attorney fees, you might as well walk away with $35,000.”

"But I also made a record at the Capitol Hill Library in Washington. If the record there is infringed, the defense clause will automatically be activated. I don't need to prove that my interests have been harmed."

"Your lawyer is very good and reminds you to go to the Capitol Hill Library to file. But this doesn't help you much. Do you know why?"

Ronald shook his head.

"Richard, you should know. The plagiarism incident of the 1946 Oscar for Best Animated Film."

"Mr. Kanter, what do you mean, they will write a script themselves and then go to Capitol Hill to register it?" Richard frowned.

"Yes, the plot of Warner's animated film 'Bugs Bunny's Rhapsody' that year was almost exactly the same as that of MGM's 'Cats Concerto.' In the end, no one could confirm who copied whom, and the Oscars could only keep things vague. This kind of Things still happen from time to time.”

"Moreover, you can only prepare a story outline when filing, and subsequent modifications will automatically be protected. Some screenwriters file dozens or hundreds of story outlines, and then try to settle out of court."

"Then what should I do, Mickey? What's the matter with the reputation and substance you said can only be one?" Ronald saw Mickey Kanter talking confidently and knew that he must have a solution.

"Of course, what we mentioned above is only the worst-case scenario. In fact, the director does not need to write another script at all. They will act according to the contract and they can achieve the purpose of squeezing you out."

"Look at this contract." Kanter took out another script option trading contract, turned to a page in the attachment, and pointed it to him. "Your contract is missing this important clause."

Ronald followed his finger and looked at it, which was an additional clause called "Preferred Right to Reject Script Modifications."

"With this clause, if the studio buys your script option and wants to modify the plot direction in the middle, it must come to you first. If you refuse, they can find someone else to modify it. This can effectively prevent They mess with your script.

Of course, the bad thing is that they always want to modify it and may bother you again and again. Therefore, the fee for modification is usually agreed upon under this clause. "

Ronald picked up his contract and looked carefully, and found that there was indeed no such clause.

"The industry jokingly calls it a good faith clause. If they like your script, they will generally give you this right. If they just like your story idea, but are not satisfied with the way your script is written and plan to have someone else rewrite it, then I tend not to give you this power.

But if you insist and they really want your story, they will give it to you. "

"So they can take advantage of the lack of this clause to lead the revision of the script, and I can only take the money and leave, watching them randomly modify my script?" Ronald suddenly realized.

"Yes, if they are more ruthless, they can give up your script after the option expires and resell the script they have modified beyond recognition to Colombia. In this way, you can only get 10% of the option fee. .”

"You were careful not to sign the questionable contract on the spot. That gave us two options.

First, insist on asking for the first choice right to refuse script revisions, so that you can deeply participate in the preparation of the film and get some substantial benefits. However, Colombia may take the opportunity to renegotiate the contract and will not give you such a high price again.

Second, insist that Columbia buy the script in full. If Ovitz helps you put pressure on you, and there is already news in the media that you sold the script for a sky-high price, it can be done. In that case, you can You have to take the money and walk away, leaving Bridges with the script to rewrite. "

After getting a satisfactory answer, Ronald and Richard stood up and left, "I'll send the check to you, Mickey."

"I'm sorry, Ronald. I didn't see their plan, and my judgment afterwards was wrong. It seems that Lapke and his clients didn't have the idea of ​​directly grabbing the signature of the script. They directly took advantage of the contract. Loopholes.”

"No, I can't blame you entirely. I also made mistakes." Ronald said. "What I wonder about is whether my other two agents know about this matter and whether Mr. Ovitz knows about it." This contract was given to me by the new producer. Do they have anything to do with Rapke?"

"We have to test whether this is what Columbia president Frank Price meant, or whether Lapke took advantage of a loophole and wanted to make it a fait accompli."

Richard also thought of this, "I will go to Mr. Rick Niceta and Paula first. Then tomorrow the three of us will go with you to talk to Mr. Ovitz. He has always said that CAA's company culture is A big family. A big family can’t fight like this.”

Please remember the first domain name of this book: . :