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Michael Merschel: Michael Merschel is The Dallas Morning News books editor. June 2009
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I like Ernest Hemingway's advice for writers who want to avoid being bilked by Hollywood: Drive to the border of California, throw your book over the fence. When they throw the money back over the fence, collect the money and drive home. The latest people apparently suffering the pitfalls Hollywood accounting: Heirs of J.R.R. Tolkien. As Rachel Abramowitz notes in The Los Angeles Times: The Lord of the Rings trilogy grossed $2.96 billion worldwide at the box office, $3 billion or so more in DVDs and such. His heirs have made squat. Ms. Abramowitz asks: "Maybe I'm naive, but I find it hard to believe that not a sliver of gold could be found in all of Middle-earth for not only the aged Tolkiens but also the charitable trust that gets 50% of their fortune and distributes money to such causes as Save the Children, the Darfur Appeal, the National Campaign for Homeless People and UNICEF."
This lawsuit does have the unique side effect of linking Tolkien with another author who created a fantasy universe, Deborah Gregory, who invented The Cheetah Girls, which did wonders for Disney's bottom line, not so much for hers. But perhaps you, dear reader, feel that business is just business, and that's how it should be? E-mail entry: |
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Hollywood’s ability to hide money is amazing. No movie has ever “turned a profit,” and it is especially terrible for writers.
I saw this sign – in Disney, of all places:
The Five Laws of Show Business
1. The Star is always right
2. The Audience is always right.
3. The Producer, Director, Lighting Crew, Set Decorator, Production Designer, Special Effects Coordinator, Sound engineer, Prop Master, Gaffer, Best Boy, Boom Operator, Stunt Doubles, Ticket Takers, Ushers, and the guy with the green broom who sweeps up are always right.
4. The Writer is always wrong.
5. There’s no such thing as net profits. (Don’t tell the writers!)
This is nothing new.
They will probably blame it all on movie piracy.