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 us solve this matter in a Hollywood way."
"Go and call the producer, Mr. Da Silva." Parker asked his assistant to call the producer.
After a while, da Silva came to the director. After sending the assistants out, he whispered a few words to the director. The two sat down opposite Ronald, and then da Silva said:
"That's right, Ronald, we have an agreement with the original screenwriter, Christopher Gore. He will have exclusive credit as the screenwriter of this movie.
As for your contribution, we will consider compensating you with money and signing a replacement contract with you as a screenwriter doctor. The total price is 3,000 US dollars."
"Can I join the Writers Guild with this screenwriter's doctor contract?" Ronald asked.
The producer and director looked at each other, showing that this was indeed the case.
"I'm afraid that won't work, Ronald." Da Silva took out a cigarette, lit it, took a puff, and slowly explained.
"The Screenwriters Guild needs you to write the script of a union-registered film before it can accept you. The screenwriter doctor can modify the script without signing his name, and there are no points, so he cannot join the union."
"You are still very young. With this contract as a screenwriter doctor, it will not be difficult for you to find a job related to screenwriting, 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, released in theaters or broadcast on television, then you can join the Screenwriters Guild. From now on, the door to Hollywood will be completely open to you.
"
3,000 US dollars was a stepping stone to future opportunities. Ronald thought for a moment. If he had not already been qualified by the Directors Guild and had a fixed income as a portrait photographer, he might have agreed.
But now, he wants more.
Ronald shook his head:
"No, this won't work. I need to sign the script. My goal is to be a film director. Only being a screenwriter is the shortcut for people like me to direct movies. I've heard that major studios are no longer what they were in 10 years.
Before, we trained new directors.
If you join the Screenwriters Guild and work as a screenwriter, you will have the opportunity to write movie scripts. If the script is picked up and made into a movie, you will become famous and become a director in the future. If you are lucky, it only takes two or three years.
I'm not like those kids whose families have an acting background, who can easily get into the industry. I'm not like those kids who come from rich families, who can make movies with their own money."
Da Silva leaned back, brushed his few remaining hair, and showed an expression that said, "I'm really in trouble."
"Ronald, you are a young man, don't be so stubborn. You can ask the people you know in the entertainment industry how difficult it is for them to get into 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 job related to screenwriting.
The opportunity may be next month, maybe half a year from now, maybe a year from now, two years from now, who knows, as long as you are lucky enough and your script is picked up by a studio, you will have a chance to be accepted by the Screenwriters Guild.
.
Then continue writing scripts, and a studio will take a fancy to you and realize your dream of being a director."
Ronald spoke:
"Six months from now, next year, the year after that, of course it's good, but why not now? I want to join the Writers Guild now. This is your promise. It's not me who made the mistake, and I shouldn't be punished."
"And you are changing the subject. We are not discussing when I can join the Writers Guild, but why you didn't keep your promise?"
"Promise?" Da Silva laughed, "What promise? I don't remember signing any screenwriting contract with you."
Ronald looked at director Alan Parker, "Are you planning to deny your credit? Mr. Parker, you promised me personally. As long as the plot I write 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, smiled and nodded to Ronald, "Since you chose to handle this matter in a Hollywood way, then
You have to abide by the rules of the Hollywood game."
"Think about it and give us an answer in the next few days." Allen knocked on the table. "Remember Ronald, I don't have to ask for your script. Doris' plot is not just yours."
You can imagine it. The same goes for a play involving the other three protagonists."
The implication of these words 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 protagonists. I can sue you for infringement of intellectual property rights."
"You can give it a try, Ronald. We have lawyers from MGM. Haha, 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.
It's strange that I trusted them both and took their verbal promises 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 leaving, producer Da Silva said:
"Think about it, Ronald. We're not being too harsh on you. You don't know what the real evil people in Hollywood are like. If you sign this contract within three days, the reward of $3,000 is still
your."
"Business is business, as long as you sign the contract, come and write a script for me. 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.
There was a sudden "pop" sound, and Ronald slapped his palm on the table.
No, you must not give up your right to sign easily. You cannot surrender without a fight just because of the other party's tricks.
Ronald quickly ran back to the rehearsal room and found Antonia and Jean.
The two of them saw that he had a strange look on his face and asked what was going on.
"I have some minor disputes with the director and producer. I need a final version of the script."
Antonia handed over her script without asking anything specific:
"Take this copy of mine. Gene's copy in your hand has his phonetic notations on it. I can share one copy with him."
"Thank you, I will remember your help today."
Ronald picked up the script, drove home in a hurry, and took stock of his cards.
The final draft of the script, various original manuscripts written by myself, and several possible witnesses.
Jean and Lucy, and perhaps Antonia, were willing to testify for themselves that it was he who came up with those conversations.
Ronald put down his pen dejectedly, and that was all.
Maybe your brain needs some alcohol stimulation to concentrate.
He opened the Jack Daniel's from the grocery store downstairs and poured himself a small glass. It felt very strong. Ronald opened the drawer and looked for it. He took out a bottle of honey, scooped a little of it with a spoon and mixed it with the whiskey.
The taste is much milder.
The honey was given by Walter Mersey, the editor of Peep Show Company. He is also a very experienced industry veteran. I don’t know if he will win an Oscar this year.
I still know many senior people in the industry, why not ask their opinions?
Ronald put down his cup, picked up his address book, and started flipping through it.
"Gale? I'm Ronald, is Mr. Coleman here??
"He has negotiated a big deal and went on vacation with Julie and the children. Do you have anything to do with him?"
Ronald thought for a moment. Gale came from a wealthy family and his father was an investor. Maybe he could ask her opinion.
"That's it, Gale, I got into a very embarrassing dispute..." Ronald told Gale exactly what happened on the phone.
"Oh, Ronald, you are too careless. You start writing the script based on only verbal promises. Not every boss is like Roger."
"If you are a member of the Screenwriters Guild, you can apply for arbitration with them and let the union help you come forward. The result of union arbitration is mandatory. It's a pity that you belong to the Directors Guild."
"Can I go through legal proceedings?" Ronald remembered his angry words about suing.
"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 legal cases in the entertainment industry, so you will probably lose.
Besides, the legal fees from top law firms..."
"I know, I still want to give it a try. Can you give me the phone numbers of some law firms that deal with intellectual property rights? I'll consult first."
"Okay, I have the phone numbers of several East Coast law firms that specialize in the entertainment industry. Please wait a moment."
“Pawea & Hackett…, Case & Whiteman…, Cochran & Peterson….Okay, thank you. Should I call first for consultation?…Yes, I haven’t entered yet.
Through a law firm”
"In your situation, you will probably be stopped at the secretary's office when you call. I think you should go to the front desk of the law firm and ask. Maybe there will be a lawyer interested in your case. But don't get your hopes too high.
"
"Also, when Roger comes back, I will tell him about you."
At three o'clock in the afternoon, Ronald was stopped again at the front desk of the last law firm, Corcoran & Peterson. What Gale said was absolutely correct. The law firm did not want to deal with someone like him who was not a member of the Writers Guild and wanted to work with the eight major Hollywood figures.
The young people fighting in the studio were not interested at all.
"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 entering and wasted the lawyer's precious time.
"Kate, what's going on?" A middle-aged man wearing glasses walked out of the elevator.
"Mr. Peterson, this gentleman walked into the law firm without making an appointment. He must talk to a lawyer about the script signature dispute. He is not a union member and is an MGM film." The front desk quickly summarized.
"Hello, I'm Peterson, the named partner of the law firm. How about this, I'll give you a free suggestion. Please don't pester me at the front desk of my law firm in the future. How about that?"
Ronald motioned for him to continue.
"Just take the $3,000 and think of it as a loss and gain in experience.
This amount of money is not even enough to hire a senior lawyer from our law firm. Even for a newcomer who has just graduated from law school, the hourly consulting fee is US$250.
Lawyer fees have to 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 other party's lawyer will most likely ask the judge to dismiss the lawsuit due to insufficient evidence."
"Are you satisfied with my free advice?" Peterson said. Even lawyers have to be kind sometimes.
"My aunt said don't trust free advice from strangers. I would consult with a fee-based attorney."