Quotes
So the main actress’s lawyer calls and says, “Listen, we totally want to do this movie, we are discussing it with her agents (who for some “F”ing reason haven’t read the script even though our actress has) and we have her manager on board.
“She totally wants to do the film.” -Mentions our Director who gave her the script and is actually her friend.
“Cool!. And her lawyer’s on board, and her manager’s on board, and she really wants to do this movie, BUT…”
There’s another movie out there she’s been offered, with a big-time actor. Turns out she hates the script.
So we have one script she loves, with a role she loves and a director she totally wants to work with where she would be the star and she’s even ready to give us a Letter of Intent. And on the other hand, a script she hates, with a director she doesn’t know but yes, a bigger name and slightly more money.
It’s this simple: Her agent, DID NOT EVEN READ OUR SCRIPT. Like, not even in her radar.
Agents, you impress me.
You see there’s an added element to this, our coproducer on this is an old school Hollywood ex-studio producer with some BIG credits under him. All this is awesome, but he couldn’t even get a quote for our actress. So now her lawyer calls (and trust me, the lawyer’s a friend) and says: “All good, but what are you guys going to offer for me to issue the LOI?”
Yes, main, old school producer, what ARE you going to offer? Have you checked her quote? His answer: “Whatever, be vague, tell him we’ll give her her quote.”
Wait, that’s how you made a couple HUGE films for the studio in your days? With that attitude? Man, my Independent Film Producer blood is not boiling but evaporating by now.
“You’re agreeing to her quote without even knowing what it is?”
“We can start with her quote and go from there.”
“WHAT?! Her quote is where you END at!!”
Wow, and then you wonder why some movies end up costing what they cost. Studio mentalities are hard to shake I guess. I’m just along for the ride on this one. I just want to start it, shoot it, like it and get paid.
Next!
