Exploiting Hollywood 1980

Alan Parker stared into Ronald's eyes for a few seconds and nodded.

"Okay, Ronald. I underestimated you. You can ask this question, you are already a qualified Hollywood filmmaker, let's solve this matter in the Hollywood way."

"Go and call the producer Mr. Da Silva over," Parker asked his assistant to call the producer.

A moment later, Da Silva came to the director. After sending the assistants away, he whispered a few words to the director, and the two sat down opposite Ronald, and then Da Silva said:

"It's like this, Ronald, we have an agreement with the original screenwriter Christopher Gore. He will have the exclusive screenwriter's signature for this movie.

As for your contribution, we will consider compensating you in the form of money and signing a screenwriter doctor's contract with you. The total price is $3,000."

"Can I join the Writers Guild with this screenwriter doctor's contract?" Ronald asked.

The producer and director looked at each other and showed an expression of "as expected".

"I'm afraid that won't work, Ronald." Da Silva took out a cigarette, lit it, took a puff, and slowly explained.

"The Writers Guild needs you to be the lead writer of a movie that has been registered with the Guild before they can accept you. Script doctors do not sign their names when they modify scripts, and they do not get points, so they cannot join the Guild."

"You are still very young. With this contract as a script doctor, it will not be difficult for you to find a screenwriting job, whether it is Broadway in New York or Hollywood in Los Angeles.

In the next three years, as long as one of your scripts is made into a movie and released in theaters or broadcast on TV. Then you can join the Writers Guild. The door to Hollywood will be completely open to you in the future."

$3,000, a stepping stone to future opportunities. Ronald thought for a moment. If he had not already had the qualifications of the Directors Guild and a fixed income as a portrait photographer, he might have agreed.

But now, he wants more.

Ronald shook his head:

"No, that won't work. I need to sign the script. My goal is to be a film director. Only being a screenwriter is a shortcut for people like me to direct movies. I have inquired that now the big studios are no longer like they were 10 years ago, training new directors.

Joining the Screenwriters Guild as a screenwriter will give you the opportunity to write movie scripts. If your script is chosen and made into a movie, you can become famous and become a director in the future. If you are lucky, it will only take two or three years.

I am not like those children with a performing arts background who can easily enter the industry. I am also not those children from rich families who can pay for their own movies."

Da Silva leaned back and stroked his remaining hair, revealing an expression of "it's really troublesome".

"Ronald, you are a young man, don't be so stubborn. You can ask those people you know in the entertainment industry how difficult it is for them to enter the industry.

This contract as a screenwriter doctor provides you with a very good opportunity. You can directly submit your resume and it will not be difficult to find a screenwriter-related job.

The opportunity may come next month, maybe half a year later, maybe a year later, or two years later. Who knows? As long as you are lucky once and the script is favored by the production studio, you will have the opportunity to be accepted by the Writers Guild.

Then continue to write scripts, and a production studio will take a fancy to you and realize your dream of being a director."

Ronald said:

"Half a year later, next year, the year after, this is of course good, but why not now? I want to join the Writers Guild now. This is your promise. I am not the one who made the mistake, and I should not be punished."

"And you are changing the subject. We are not discussing when I can join the Writers Guild, but why you didn't Have you kept your promise? "

"Promise?" Da Silva laughed, "What promise? I don't remember signing any contract with you to commission a screenwriter."

Ronald looked at director Alan Parker, "Are you going to deny it? Mr. Parker, you promised me in person. As long as the plot I wrote is good enough and is included in the script, you will let me sign the script."

"Think about it, young man, think about it." Alan Parker nodded his big head with his hand and smiled at Ronald, "Since you chose to deal with this matter in a Hollywood way, you must abide by the rules of the game in Hollywood."

"Think about it and give us an answer in the next few days," Alan knocked on the table, "Remember Ronald, I don't have to have your script. Doris's plot is not something you can think of alone. The same goes for the other three protagonists."

The hint of this is a bit vicious. It is not difficult to find a screenwriter to change the plots he has written.

Ronald, who was a little angry, said loudly:

"I have evidence. I wrote the scenes of the three main characters. I can sue you for intellectual property infringement."

"You can try, Ronald. We have lawyers from MGM. Let's see which New York law firm will challenge us on the West Coast." Da Silva was a little disdainful.

Ronald was silent.

It was his fault that he believed them and took their verbal promise seriously. He thought that 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 leaving, producer Da Silva said:

"Think about it, Ronald. We are not too harsh on you. You don't know what the real sinister people in Hollywood are like. If you sign this contract within three days, the $3,000 reward will still be yours."

"Business is business. As long as you sign it, you can write a script for me. Don't hurt the relationship, Ronald, this is the rule of the game in Hollywood." Allen added, and the two walked out of the room, leaving Ronald alone sitting on the chair.

Suddenly, with a "pop", Ronald slapped his palm on the table.

No, you must never give up your right to sign easily. You can't surrender without a fight because of the other party's tricks.

Ronald ran back to the rehearsal room and found Antonia and Gene.

The two saw that his face was not right, and asked what was going on.

"I have some small disputes with the director and producer, and I need a final version of the script."

Antonia handed over her script without asking what it was specifically about:

"Take my copy. Gene's copy in your hand has his phonetic symbols on it. I can share one with him."

"Thank you, I will remember your help today."

Ronald took the script, drove home hurriedly, and counted the cards in his hand.

The final draft of the script, various original manuscripts written by himself, and several possible witnesses.

Gene and Lucy, and perhaps Antonia, were willing to testify for him. It was the dialogues he came up with.

Ronald put down his pen dejectedly, that was all.

Maybe his brain needs some alcohol stimulation to concentrate.

He opened the Jack Daniels bought from the grocery store downstairs and poured himself a small cup. It felt very strong. Ronald opened the drawer and looked for it. He took out a bottle of honey and scooped a little with a spoon to mix it in the whiskey. The taste was much milder.

The honey was given by Walter Merzi, the editor of the Zoetrope Company. He was also a very experienced senior in the industry. I wonder 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 the cup, picked up his address book, and started flipping through it.

"Gail? This is Ronald. Is Mr. Coleman here?"

"He has negotiated a big deal and is on vacation with Julie and the kids. Do you have anything to do with him?"

Ronald thought for a moment. Gail comes from a wealthy family and her father is an investor. Maybe he can ask her for advice.

"It's like this, Gail. I'm in a very embarrassing dispute." Ronald told Gail everything on the phone.

"Alas, Ronald, you are too careless. You started writing scripts based on verbal promises. Not every boss is like Roger."

"If you are a member of the Writers Guild, you can apply for arbitration with them and let the union help you. The result of the union arbitration is mandatory. Unfortunately, you joined the Directors Guild."

"Can I take legal action?" Ronald remembered the angry words he said about suing.

"It's not much 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 as familiar with legal cases in the entertainment industry as they are, and you will probably still lose. Besides, the attorney fees of top law firms"

"I see. I still want to try. Can you give me the phone numbers of some law firms that handle intellectual property? I'll consult them first."

"Okay, I have the phone numbers of several law firms on the East Coast that specialize in the entertainment industry. Wait a minute."

"Pavia Hackett, Keith Whiteman, Cochran Peterson. Okay, thank you. Should I call for consultation first? Yes, I haven't been to a law firm yet."

"In your case, you may be stopped by the secretary when you call. I think you should go to the front desk of the law firm to ask. Maybe there will be a lawyer interested in your case. But don't get too much hope."

"Also, 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 law firm, Cochran Peterson. Gail was right. The law firm was not interested in young people like him who were not members of the Writers Guild and wanted to fight the eight major Hollywood studios.

"I just want to talk to a lawyer. I can pay the consultation fee. ”

“Sorry, we only accept clients with appointments. Our lawyers are very busy.”

The front desk stopped him from going in and wasting the lawyers’ 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. Script signature dispute, not a union member, MGM film.” The front desk quickly summarized.

“Hello, I am Peterson, the naming partner of the law firm. How about this, I will give you a free suggestion. Please don’t bother me at the front desk of my law firm in the future. How about it?”

Ronald gestured for him to continue.

“Take $3,000 and consider it a loss and gain experience.

This amount of money is not enough to hire a senior lawyer in our law firm. Even a newcomer who just graduated from law school will charge $250 per hour for consultation.

Lawyer fees must be paid regardless of whether the case wins or loses, and your chances of winning are slim. No, this case will never go to court, and the opposing lawyer will probably ask the judge to dismiss the case due to insufficient evidence.”

"Are you satisfied with my free advice?" Peterson said. Even lawyers need to be kind sometimes.

"My aunt said not to trust free advice from strangers. I will consult a paid lawyer."