Exploiting Hollywood 1980

"Richard, it's nice to see you again." Ronald met Richard Lovett, his agent who made a special trip to see him, in a hotel in Los Angeles. As soon as he got off the plane and checked into the Holiday Inn, agent Richard came to visit him. Ronald was very satisfied with this efficiency.

"This is my new business card. CAA has changed the style of business cards. Take a look." Richard handed over a brand new business card.

Ronald took it and saw on the front the name Richard Lovett, andtalentagent)."

"I remember your CAA's talent and literary agency came first, right?"

"Yes, Mr. Ovitz's new strategy of using screenwriters to lead the way, and then packaging and promoting directors and stars has been a great success. Now the name of CAA has been changed to include literary agents first."

"A great thing! No matter for me or for you." Ronald was very happy.

"Yes, we can go to Columbia Pictures today to sign the contract and get your check." Richard said with a smile.

Ronald liked his agent's attitude of being anxious about his clients' needs. There was no pressure on him when getting along with Richard. He understood the client's thoughts very well and was always the first to ask the questions he wanted to ask. Answer.

Unlike Ovitz's professional attitude that makes people uncomfortable, always serious, reserved, and slightly aggressive, Richard is more like a good friend.

"You also have offices in London and Rome?" Ronald found the name of the company in caa

"That was Mr. Ovitz's idea. In fact, we only have partners' offices in London and Rome, but we have an agent based in New York."

"Global layout, huh?" Ronald joked.

"Yes, a global perspective. Mr. Ovitz often said that a real star can only be recognized by a global audience. So our agents must also be based on the world." Richard Lovett said with a smile.

"We can go to Columbia Pictures in the afternoon to pick up the check. Do you want to take a day off, or go today."

"I follow your arrangements."

The two took a short rest and came to the office of Columbia Pictures in the afternoon. Ronald met the producer under President Frank Price, a die-hard who followed him to the film industry from television.

"Mr. Li, this is the contract for Columbia Pictures to purchase the 12-month option on your script 'My Brother's Keeper'. Please sign here." The producer pointed to the place where the signature was signed, "Sign this check." You can take it.”

Ronald glanced at it and saw that it was a cash check with a light blue background from the Bank of America. Below it was the signature of President Frank Price. It said that it was payable to Ronald Lee, and the amount was US$35,000.

Missing a zero?

Ronald and Richard Lovett looked at each other and found that the other person was also a little confused.

Take another look at the numbers in the check, thirtyfivethoanddolrsand00ts.

It was indeed thirty-five thousand, not the promised $350,000.

what happened?

The producer seemed unaware of all this, with a professional fake smile on his face, "If you have any doubts, you can call Mr. Ovitz for consultation."

"Thank you. Is that okay?" Ronald asked if he could take the script contract with him to study it. "I need to discuss it with my lawyer."

The producer raised his hand from the contract, indicating he could take it.

Ronald intuitively sensed a hint of danger from this sudden attack without informing him of the details of the signing. Just like the last famous battle for script signatures, there may be some conspiracy waiting for you.

Be careful before signing.

Ronald's first call was to attorney Lindsay Dole in New York. She was not in the office and left a message for Rebecca at the front desk asking the lawyer to call her back.

The second call was to Michael Ovitz.

"Mr. Ovitz, I got the script purchase contract from Columbia Pictures, and it seems to be different from what I thought...Richard doesn't know the reason for the change. ...Yes, purchasing the script became an option purchase, and The price is only one-tenth of the original price.”

"Ah, a twelve-month script first option, that's common practice in the industry. Richard was fresh out of the mailroom, and he had never been exposed to a script contract.

In fact, not many CAAs have ever been exposed to script contracts. Let's put it this way, the studio will not buy the rights to the script until the day before filming begins.

They all pay about 10% of the price to buy a preemptive option. Then pay the full amount the day before the shooting starts. "

"This is new information to me too, would you mind if I consulted with my attorney?"

"This was an oversight on my part, Ronald. I forgot that you are also a novice screenwriter. Your script and your serious attitude towards your work made me forget that this was your debut." Ovitz apologized repeatedly.

"Of course I don't object, in fact I suggest you do this. You can ask Richard to send you to the CAA office, and we can figure this out together."

With the contract in hand, Ronald returned to the hotel first and asked Richard to wait in the room. He went to the business center and faxed the contract to the law firm in New York, and connected with the lawyer.

"This is indeed a common practice in Hollywood, Ronald. Since I took on your client in the entertainment industry, many other people in the industry have also come to me for consultation. I have read many related contracts. The contract you faxed over is legally sound. But I can't answer you whether there are any specific business problems."

Then he called Eddie Cohen, an advertising agent in New York.

"Generally speaking, there is no problem with this kind of contract, but your story has been announced to the media, and several major studios have bid for your script. In this case, Columbia is more likely to buy the script at once.

But it is not impossible to buy options first. I can't say, Ronnie.

If you feel there is a problem, you have to think about whether there are any abnormal situations in the past two days. Who is on your side? Who is likely to sacrifice your interests? I don't believe in any so-called "coincidences."

Eddie was not familiar with the situation, but his words opened Ronald's mind.

He was just a small screenwriter and knew nothing about the ubiquitous traps in Hollywood. It's like a person sailing in the fog, knowing that there is a storm in the distance, but not knowing in which direction.

I lack the information I need to make a decision, and I also lack the time to think before making a decision. If I make the wrong decision, it may not only be as simple as a loss of money, but also a precious opportunity to participate in a big-budget movie.

The people I can rely on are those who are in the same boat with me. I must first figure out whose interests are consistent with my own and who will sacrifice themselves for greater interests.

My main agent Richard Lovett is undoubtedly in the same boat. In addition to me, he has no other clients. If my check is missing a zero, his will also be missing a zero.

But Ovitz is not necessarily the case. He has many stars under his agency. If the interests of someone in this project need to be given priority, it is not impossible to sacrifice myself.

So who is this person who needs to be given priority?

Ronald returned to the room and pulled Richard to analyze together.

"Ronald, this is my negligence in my work. I didn't expect Columbia to propose a preemptive purchase right contract."

Ronald waved his hand to stop Richard who wanted to criticize himself.

"I believe you, we have the same interests, there must be something wrong that we don't know about."

"Thank you for your trust, Ronald." Richard rubbed his hands and sat down. Ronald just left him alone in the room and didn't let him participate in the communication with the lawyer. It seems that he is also a little uncomfortable.

"What is Jane Fonda busy with recently?"

"She got a filming exemption and joined the crew of "Golden Pond." Richard's eyes flashed, and he obviously thought of the possibility of a conflict of interest.

"Are there any new developments in the My Brother's Keeper project recently? I mean, other developments besides the New York Times report."

"Progress?" Agent Richard fell into deep thought. "Ms. Fonda went to the New Hampshire location to shoot Golden Pond. Her producer partner Bruce Gilbert also went there after we finalized the director."

"Director?"

"Yes, it's James Bridges, who worked with Jane Fonda on The China Syndrome. His new film Urban Boy is not only a good box office hit, but also popular with critics.

Bridges is now a new hot spot in Hollywood. Every studio wants him to direct a new film. And he..."

"What's wrong with him?" Ronald saw a trace of anger on Richard's face, which was rare for him who always worked hard and was polite.

"Damn it, now LaPuke is pursuing him."

Agent Richard Lovett poured himself a glass of tap water and drank half of it in one breath. Then he sat down and talked to Ronald about where the problem might be.

Richard joined CAA not long after graduating from college. He worked in the mailroom, where the elimination rate was high, the salary was low, and the work intensity was high. Unless he was spotted by a formal agent, he would have to stay there for a year or two.

Jack Rapke was a formal agent who jumped from William Morris. He found Richard and hoped that he could read the script for him every weekend and write a plot summary, so that he could be relieved from the heavy work of reading scripts and spend more energy on clients.

Richard helped him read the script conscientiously and responsibly, and the quality of the summary he compiled was very high. Rapke asked him to read more and more every weekend. In return, once there was a vacancy, he would promote Richard to graduate from the mailroom first.

But Rapke broke his promise. He jumped in and promoted another celebrity relative who had connections in the industry, leaving Richard in the mailroom. The next Monday morning, Richard threw the script back to Rapke and asked him to read it himself.

"I told him at the time that you broke your promise and I no longer trust you, so our deal is canceled and you can read the script yourself in the future. I helped Rick Niceta, one of your agents, read the script for a few more months before I graduated from the mailroom."

"So LaPuke wanted to sign Director Bridges, but why did he mess with my contract?" Ronald vaguely thought of the key, but there was always a little fog, "If only the option is signed, Columbia will not be able to shoot."

Richard said word by word, "Director Bridges also started out as a screenwriter and used to write scripts for 'Hitchcock's Hour'."

Ronald turned his head sharply and stared at Richard, "They dare to do this?"

"I'm afraid so. Remember, Ronald, your name never appeared in the New York Times report."