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Quentin Tarantino on the Magic of Screenwriting: “I do believe screenplays are meant to be read. Maybe in my case to a fault”

Leah Sydney
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Quentin Tarantino on the Magic of Screenwriting: “I do believe screenplays are meant to be read. Maybe in my case to a fault”

Once Upon A Time …at Tuesday  night’s “Final Draft” Awards on the Paramount lot, Quentin Tarantino reigned supreme. He was presented with the Final Draft Hall of Fame Award, which was given to him by one of his biggest screenwriting inspirations, the legendary filmmaker Walter Hill. The two titans were in good company as they were surrounded by the literary elite, all there to honor Hollywood’s written word.

Final Draft is the industry’s gold standard screen writing software. Steven Canals, co-creator of “Pose” was given the New Voice Award for TV. Funny brothers Randy and Jason Sklar were the evening’s emcees, along with Final Draft President Scott McMenamin.

“Parasite” director Bong Joon Ho was there to give the New Voice award to “The Farewell’s” Lulu Wang. He told me that Tarantino’s film was “absolutely charismatic.” Quentin had this to say to the crowd: “I do believe screenplays are meant to be read. Maybe in my case to a fault. It’s all about the emotional experience that you have reading the script, and that you get caught up in it and you see the movie.”

Quentin went on to describe one of his first screenwriting attempts. “I tried to write my version of “Paradise Alley” about these three Italian brothers in the 30’s in New York and it was called “Brooklyn BR.” Like “Reservoir Dogs” ‘BR’ doesn’t stand for shit, it just sounded good! I think I got to page 35 on that one.” He then spoke to screenwriters specifically and told them what some studio executives he had just met with conveyed to him. “They told me something that I didn’t quite know. It’s kind of one of those golden secrets on the studio side of the gates that I think you writers should know…That writers now want to get into the writers room of a TV show. That’s the big thing to do. But these executives are looking for those spec scripts and people aren’t writing them. People are trying to get jobs. But before we got jobs we poured our hearts and souls into these cockamamie masterpieces.”

Tarantino expounded on his subject.  “I’m just telling you, if you were to go into your bedroom and lock the door and three months later come out with a screenplay, I’ve heard from big people they are waiting to read them. They want to read that diamond bullet script from that person they never heard of before that they can say is their own…I think that’s what they call an opportunity in the marketplace and I want to pass it on to ya’l!”

That was met with rapturous applause from the appreciative crowd. Showing support for Quentin were “Once Upon A Time” Producer David Heyman, actress /stunt performer and Quentin muse Zoe Bell, “Pulp Fiction” co-writer Roger Avary, Oscar nominated screenwriter Josh Olsen, Director Maria Gabriela Cardenas, actors John Savage, Jamal Trulove and Blanca Blanco, noted Producer David Permut and longtime Quentin pal , the talented filmmaker Adam Rifkin, whose film “The Last Movie Star” which boasted Burt Reynold’s final performance and that Quentin is a huge fan of, chatted about their mutual love of the late actor. Kudos to Madelyn Hammond and her team for putting together such a creative, lively atypical award event.

The Empire Strikes Back: Grammy Female Execs, Grammy Former CEO All Take on Ousted Deborah Dugan Before She Takes Her War to “GMA”

Roger Friedman
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The Empire Strikes Back: Grammy Female Execs, Grammy Former CEO All Take on Ousted Deborah Dugan Before She Takes Her War to “GMA”

This has really gotten out of hand. Deborah Dugan, ousted head of the Recording Academy, is appearing on “Good Morning America” Thursday morning in an effort to keep her war going against her almost former employer. Why? Does she really hate the Grammy Awards this much?

Today, the Empire Struck Back. The women of the Grammy executive committee issued their own declaration of solidarity against her and in favor of their organization. Also, and just as important, former CEO Neil Portnow out his denial regarding Dugan’s assertion that he, Portnow, allegedly raped a recording artist and that it was covered up.

Portnow says, and I do believe him: “The allegations of rape are ludicrous, and untrue. The suggestion that there was is disseminating a lie. The baseless complaint about my conduct referenced in the EEOC filing was immediately brought to the attention of the Board of Director’s Executive Committee. An in-depth independent investigation by experienced and highly regarded lawyers was conducted and I was completely exonerated. There was no basis for the allegations and once again I deny them unequivocally.”

I am told a woman did make an accusation against Portnow, and that it came to nothing. What happened next may have been a game of Telephone or just idiotic gossip. It should have ended there. But in this #MeToo environment, spurious allegations can lead to reputations being ruined. Ditto for NARAS lawyer Joel Katz, whom Dugan claims tried to kiss her in a public restaurant, and offered her discounts at Neiman Marcus on dresses so she’d look good at NARAS  events. In her EEOC complaint, Dugan says Katz offered to show her his vacation home. Have things gotten out of control? Knowing Joel for 25 years, he invites everyone to his house in the Bahamas. That’s who he is. It”s just called being nice. It’s unlikely he would even be there. (I’ve never been there, don’t get excited.)

Here is the statement from the very fine female board members of NARAS. None of these women would make such a statement if they didn’t believe it. They know something wacky is going on, and Dugan is counting on everyone falling for it in this environment.

“As women, voting members, creative artists and entrepreneurs who serve on the Board of Trustees of the Recording Academy, we are deeply committed to this organization and its affiliates and the good work that is done beyond the GRAMMY Awards – advocating for artists’ rights, providing critical assistance for music people in times of need and educating, mentoring and inspiring the next generation of music makers.

Along with our male colleagues, we have made great strides in increasing our diversity throughout the organization, both in leadership at the national level, within our twelve chapters around the country, and in the nominations. Diversity has always been a priority – although admittedly, not always easy to accomplish. The partnership with the Diversity and Inclusion Task Force, led by Tina Tchen and established in May 2018, amplified those efforts, created a clear path to follow and opened the door to building even more bridges to the music community at large. We pledge to continue those efforts.

It is deeply disturbing to us – and quite frankly, heartbreaking – to witness the firestorm against our organization that has been unleashed. The Academy is keenly sensitive to any and all allegations of harassment or abuse, and we support the independent investigations that have been launched. Thank you for your patience as these continue.

We have collectively volunteered many years of service guiding and supporting this organization. We would not have taken precious time away from our families and careers if we felt that it was a “boys’ club.” We are leaders of this organization and fully committed to transformational change both within the Academy and within our industry at large.  

We stand ready to address all concerns, allegations and accusations with facts in hand. In the meantime we continue to pursue our mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture.”

signed–

Tammy Hurt, Vice-Chair
Christine Albert, Chair Emeritus
Leslie Ann Jones, Trustee, Executive Committee Member
Terry Jones, Trustee, Executive Committee Member

Review: The Only Audience for Hollywood Narrow “Shocker” “The Assistant” Might Be Harvey Weinstein’s Jury

Roger Friedman
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Review: The Only Audience for Hollywood Narrow “Shocker” “The Assistant” Might Be Harvey Weinstein’s Jury

I don’t know who Kitty Green is, but she’s made a little docudrama called “The Assistant” that is supposed to shock Hollywood and everyone else.

Alas, the only audience for “The Assistant” might be Harvey Weinstein’s jury, although I’m sure the judge would never allow it to be seen by them. Indeed, there may be a problem since “The Assistant” will be released in just 1o days, as the Weinstein trial takes off. How can the judge stop the jury from seeing the movie or hearing about it?

Green is an outside director/producer/writer. But someone with alleged inside knowledge of Weinstein’s office– down to its look– obviously advised her. It’s an uncanny recreation of how Weinstein’s office operated, at least according to Green and her cohorts. They’ve even cast actors to look like people who worked for Weinstein over the years. One of the producers is James Schamus, formerly head of Focus Features, and someone who had many meetings with Weinstein in his Tribeca office over the years. (I even saw him there once when I was leaving an interview.)

The names are changed, if there are names at all. We don’t really know anyone except the main character, Jane, who’s been an assistant in a  New York movie mogul’s executive office for five weeks. Jane is played by Julia Garner, who is exceptional. Garner plays Jane as a girl of great vulnerability who finds herself taken hostage by dire madness. It’s not funny. Truly, it’s almost a horror film.

Think of “The Devil Wears Prada” except it’s all real, and very, very scary. Jane is treated like a doormat in the office, overlooked, neglected. She’s a maid, a nanny, a gofer. Her duties include cleaning sex stains out of the executive couch and watching over the mogul’s three young rambunctious children. (This is particularly mean and uncalled for.) She returns lost jewelry to young women who’ve been hosted in the mogul’s office after hours.

The mogul is cheating on his wife, who — to give this a twist– has a French accent. We never see her or him, but we hear them. Whoever’s doing the voice of Weinstein has studied his cadences pretty closely. Into the office is dropped a 21 year old whom the mogul has “discovered” in Idaho, at the Allen retreat, and has brought to New York. He puts her up in the Mark Hotel for assignations. This is what makes Jane break, and she goes to Human Resources. There she meets part of the conspiracy– it’s almost like she’s a Stepford wife trying to escape– and is turned away.

Everyone at the movie company is on the mogul’s very bad, if not illegal behavior. But in the end, “The Assistant” goes nowhere. There’s no real plot, no character development, and no interest in the story developed beyond “look at this.” It’s more a scenario than a screenplay, a very long short film. I don’t know why Bleecker Street bought it, it’s not for theatrical consumption. I’m not even sure it’s for TV since when it winds down, the feeling is, “Okay, so?” or “And then what?”

But people in the film business, and those who worked for Weinstein, will be curious. And when the trial is over, so will all its participants.

Confirmed: Ousted Grammy Chief Deborah Dugan Demanded $22 Million to Leave Before She Was Put on Administrative Leave

Roger Friedman
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Confirmed: Ousted Grammy Chief Deborah Dugan Demanded $22 Million to Leave Before She Was Put on Administrative Leave

Ousted Grammy chief Deborah Dugan wanted $22 million to leave her post as head of the Recording Academy. She and her lawyer made the demand before she was placed on administrative leave. Melinda Newman reported this first in Billboard.com. I was stupid. I knew this over the weekend and was waiting to confirm it. So let’s say I had independently confirmed it as well.

Dugan and lawyer Bryan Freedman went to the Recording Academy trustees and made this demand after executive assistant Claudine Little had filed an HR complaint against Dugan and took her own leave. (I wrote about this earlier.) Freedman managed to secure $69 million from NBC for his client Meghan Kelly last year. So why not a Hail Mary pass and ask for a lifetime of salary from the Academy where Dugan had worked only since August?

Dugan’s salary is said to be just under $900,000, a good jump from her previous salary of around $550,000 from the (One)/Red Campaign, Bono’s charity. A three year contract would only be worth $2,700,000 more or less. But she and Freedman must have figured that bad press would make it hard for her to get another job.

An email went out to the Grammy trustees, I am told, with the demand. It was shot down.

Dugan is no longer eligible for Best New Artist at the Grammys this year. (I’m joking.) She will turn out to less than a one-hit wonder. Maybe just a novelty record, like the Singing Dogs. (Remember them?)

Just a note to Variety, which is trying to reduce the value of my reporting by saying I’m a “long time supporter of Neil Portnow.” Yeah, so what? He’s gone. He has just about nothing to do with what’s going on now. Indeed, he has NOTHING to do with Deborah Dugan, or whatever she did after she succeeded him. I was also a supporter of Harry Truman.

 

Grammy Lawsuit Update: (Exclusive) No Lawsuit This Week as Recording Academy Employee Waits for Investigations

Roger Friedman
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Grammy Lawsuit Update: (Exclusive) No Lawsuit This Week as Recording Academy Employee Waits for Investigations

Here’s an update in the saga going on at the Grammys and the Recording Academy:

Claudine Little, the executive assistant to ousted NARAS chief Deborah Dugan, will not be filing a lawsuit this week. I am told she’s waiting to see the results of investigations into her complaints against Dugan, the Academy’s own investigation into Dugan.

Little has hired, as I wrote yesterday, the law firm Glaser Weil in Hollywood, heavy hitters in the field of employee litigation. But Glaser herself is not handling the case. Kerry Garvis Wright is the partner who’s taken on Little’s side. She’s considered a top litigator with a lot of interest in the music business. Wright, however, is not talking for the time being.

Sources point out to me that Little worked for Michael Greene at the Academy before she was Neil Portnow’s assistant. She has a long history with the Academy and knows where all the bodies are buried. One source says, “Claudine could have been a great resource for Dugan. But instead, Deborah chose to make life difficult for her. She wanted her out and kept moving targets so that Claudine couldn’t succeed.”

What developed was a hostile work environment. Little took a leave of absence after filing a report with Human Resources. It wasn’t until after that Dugan sent her own letter about the Academy, which ultimately got her put on administrative leave.

The acting head of the Recording Academy, Harvey Mason Jr, sent a letter out today to the “Academy Family.” He wrote: “In November of 2019, the Executive Committee became aware of abusive work environment complaints alleged against Ms. Dugan and in December 2019, a letter was sent from an attorney representing a staff member that included additional detailed and serious allegations of a “toxic and intolerable” and “abusive and bullying” environment created by Ms. Dugan towards the staff. Given these concerning reports, the Executive Committee launched an immediate and independent investigation into the alleged misconduct of Ms. Dugan.

“After we received the employee complaints against Ms. Dugan, she then (for the first time) made allegations against the Academy. In response, we started a separate investigation into Ms. Dugan’s allegations. Ms. Dugan’s attorney then informed the Executive Committee that if Ms. Dugan was paid millions of dollars, she would “withdraw” her allegations and resign from her role as CEO. Following that communication from Ms. Dugan’s attorney, Ms. Dugan was placed on administrative leave as we complete both of these ongoing investigations.”

Mason is concerned about leaks depicting the Academy as the bad guy here. I think (that’s me, Roger) that Dugan was very clever in picking the same attorney — Bryan Freedman– who tried to make Meghan Kelly into a martyr at NBC after they fired her for endorsing black face (among other things). Freedman got the jump on the Academy with a press attack.

Meantime, it’s Grammy week, and none of this should affect that. The Grammys go on, particularly the Sunday afternoon stuff where all kinds of cool people are honored. And the show on CBS Sunday at 8pm will be the usual combination of stunning surprises and crazy new music that only the kids like.

More to come, so hold on. PS My thanks to my pals at Variety for giving this column a nice attribution today.

Madonna Cancels Another Show, This Time in Lisbon, With 45 Minutes Notice, Hopes to Return Tomorrow (“Fingers Crossed”)

Roger Friedman
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Madonna Cancels Another Show, This Time in Lisbon, With 45 Minutes Notice, Hopes to Return Tomorrow (“Fingers Crossed”)

Madonna is certainly suffering from her blown out knee. She cancelled another show, this time in Lisbon last night with 45 minutes notice. She wrote on Instagram: “Thank you again Lisbon! 🇵🇹 Sorry I had to cancel tonight but I must listen to my body and rest!! That white Port.🍸 got me through the rest of the show! See you on Tuesday fingers crossed”

Last night’s show was the 8th to get scrapped on the Madame X tour. She toasted the audience and her dancers at the previous show with some White Port, the most she’s had to drink, she says, so far on the tour. Madonna is worth at least $50 million. Maybe it’s time to rethink this tour and sit more, or cancel the rest of it until and if she’s recovered.

EXCLUSIVE: Recording Academy CEO Ouster May Result in Filing of Major Lawsuit As Exec Assistant Hires High Powered Hollywood Law Firm

Roger Friedman
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EXCLUSIVE: Recording Academy CEO Ouster May Result in Filing of Major Lawsuit As Exec Assistant Hires High Powered Hollywood Law Firm

EXCLUSIVE The saga of the ousted Recording Academy CEO continues to take sharp turns.

I’m told that Claudine Little, the beloved executive assistant to Deborah Dugan, is preparing to file a major lawsuit against the now ousted CEO.

Little, who has been at the Academy since before her former boss, Neil Portnow, ran the show, has hired high powered law firm Glaser Weil in Los Angeles to represent her.

The lawsuit would allege that Dugan caused an untenable situation in the executive offices that included verbal abuse and mistreatment. Little’s Recording Academy email says she’s out of the office through the end of 2019. But she hasn’t returned.

The announcement of Dugan being placed on administrative leave has turned the insular world of the music biz upside down. Dugan and lawyer Bryan Freedman have gone overtime insinuating that they have tremendous secrets to reveal about the Recording Academy.

But I’m told that Dugan has been planning an exit for weeks. A couple of incidents in the last two weeks are suspicious. One was a puff piece article about Dugan in the LA Times on January 15th, the day before was ousted. The article made it seem Dugan was on top of the world and approaching the forthcoming Grammys with great anticipation. Less than 24 hours later, she was out.

On January 10th, Dugan posted a photo of the executive staff on Instagram, all smiles and coffee. It read: Coffee and danishes to start the day with @RecordingAcademy team! 🎶 We’re ready for the #GRAMMYs (January 26)” (See below)

“She knew what she was doing,” says an insider.

In addition to the lawsuit from Little, there’s bound to be more accusations from the Recording Academy in the coming days, if not hours. Many of the Grammy trustees are women, and I’ve been told they back Little and the Academy in this fight. Dugan is said not to have made many friends during her short stint in the executive suite.

Many are agape at Dugan’s attorney announcing she required security after receiving “threats” since the news of her exit broke. (Really? What was the threat? To have to listen heavy metal or X rated rap all day?)

Indeed, what is this Instagram post from January 10th all about? Stay tuned…

 

Studios, Netflix, Everyone at SAG Awards Loses to Indie Mini Neon and Bong Joon Ho’s Cannes Winner “Parasite” (LOL)

Roger Friedman
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Studios, Netflix, Everyone at SAG Awards Loses to Indie Mini Neon and Bong Joon Ho’s Cannes Winner “Parasite” (LOL)

Well, ain’t that something?

All the studios and Netflix lost tonight. Mini indie Neon, smaller than a particle, won the SAG Best Cast Ensemble with the Korean movie, “Parasite.”

Yes, “Parasite,” a foreign language feature, is the first ever to win Best Picture at SAG or anywhere. And now it’s headed to the Oscars in competition with “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” “The Irishman,” and “1917.”

And you know what? It may well win. When the director and cast were introduced tonight, they received a STANDING OVATION. I reported it in real time. I said, maybe they’ll win. And they did.

Something about “Parasite” has captivated at least people in the business. In the general box office, “Parasite” has made a decent $28 million. But now on Friday Neon will most certainly pump up the number of theaters beyond the current 800 plus.

Could a foreign language film actually win the Academy Award for Best Picture? Harvey Weinstein wanted that so badly in 1999 for “Life is Beautiful.” Now Harvey’s on trial and his dreams are coming true. Unbelievable.

SAG Awards 2020 Winners: “Parasite” Wins! First Foreign Film Ever! Plus Actors Joaquin, Brad Pitt, Renee Zellweger, Laura Dern, “Mrs. Maisel,” “The Crown”

Roger Friedman
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SAG Awards 2020 Winners: “Parasite” Wins! First Foreign Film Ever! Plus Actors Joaquin, Brad Pitt, Renee Zellweger, Laura Dern, “Mrs. Maisel,” “The Crown”

UPDATE: “Parasite” won Best Cast Ensemble, the first foreign film ever to win the SAG Award. Little Neon Films distributed it. Now the Cannes Film Festival winner will go to the Oscars in lead against Golden Globe winners “1917” and “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.”

The four actors who won tonight will take the Oscars in three weeks: Joaquin Phoenix, Renee Zellweger, Laura Dern, and Brad Pitt. The only movie not nominated here, “1917,” will take on SAG’s winner for cast ensemble, “Parasite.”

The SAG Awards got off to a great start tonight with Eugene Levy and his son, Dan Levy, from “Schitt’s Creek” kicking it off with a hilarious sketch. Bodes well for the evening. Winner of Best Ensemble for film is a good indicator of the Oscar.

Sort of funny when you realize that if even if Al Pacino and Robert De Niro get nothing for “The Irishman,” they also appeared in other hit films. De Niro is  in “Joker” and Pacino is in “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.” All good!

Upset: Jennifer Aniston won! She beat a formidable group of actors: Olivia Colman, Helena Bonham Carter, Elisabeth Moss. Wow.

Female Actor, Movies, Supporting Role: Laura Dern, for “Marriage Story”

8:32pm: The “Parasite” cast gets a standing ovation from the audience. This is amazing. Maybe they’ve won Best Ensemble.

Male Actor, Movies, Supporting Role: Brad Pitt, for “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” Quote: “Quentin Tarantino has separated more women from their shoes than the TSA”

Lead Actor: Joaquin Phoenix, “Joker”

Lead Actress: Renee Zellweger, “Judy”

 

Outstanding Male Actor, Comedy Series: Tony Shalhoub, for “Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”

Female Actor in a Comedy Series: Phoebe Waller Bridge, for “Fleabag”

Comedy, Ensemble: “Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (and I must say, thank goodness) Congrats to Amy Sherman Palladino and Dan Palladino

Female Actor in TV Movie or Ltd. Series: Michelle Williams, for “Fosse/Verdon”

Female Actor in a Drama Series: Jennifer Aniston! for “The Morning Show” (good for her!)

Male Actor, Drama Series: Peter Dinklage, “Game of Thrones”

Drama, Ensemble: “The Crown”

Male Actor, TV Movie or Limited Series: Sam Rockwell, “Fosse/Verdon”

 

Prince Harry Says “We’re Not Walking Away” Speaks About “Megxit” For First Time And His and Meghan Markle’s Decision to Abdicate Royal Roles:

Roger Friedman
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Prince Harry Says “We’re Not Walking Away” Speaks About “Megxit” For First Time And His and Meghan Markle’s Decision to Abdicate Royal Roles:

Remarks from The Duke of Sussex, the former Prince Harry, at tonight’s dinner for supporters of Sentebale in London. Text and video follow:

“Before I begin, I must say that I can only imagine what you may have heard, or perhaps read, over the past few weeks. So, I want you to hear the truth from me — as much as I can share, not as a prince or a duke, but as Harry, the same person that many of you have watched grow up over the past 35 years, but now with a clearer perspective.”

“The U.K. is my home and a place that I love. That will never change. I have grown up feeling supported by so many of you, and I watched as you welcomed Meghan with open arms, as you saw the love and happiness that I had hoped for all my life. Finally, the second son of Diana got hitched, hooray!” he said. “I also know that you’ve come to know me well enough over all these years to trust that the woman I chose as my wife upholds the same values as I do, and she does. And she’s the same woman I fell in love with.”

“The decision that I have made for my wife and I to step back is not one I made lightly. It was so many months of talks after so many years of challenges. And I know I haven’t always gotten it right, but as far as this goes, there really was no other option. What I want to make clear is, we’re not walking away, and we certainly aren’t walking away from you.”

“Our hope was to continue serving the queen, the Commonwealth and my military associations, but without public funding,” former Prince Harry said. “Unfortunately, that wasn’t possible. I’ve accepted this knowing it doesn’t change who I am or how committed I am, but I hope it helps you understand what it had come to, that I would step my family back from all I have ever known to take a step forward into what I hope can be a more peaceful life,” he said.

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

at tonight’s dinner for supporters of Sentebale in London Video © SussexRoyal

A post shared by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (@sussexroyal) on

 

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