Using Your Talent To Hurt You
By: Scott Casey
By: Scott Casey
I recently met a gentleman at a fund raising BBQ. Different types of people from the entertainment industry were there. ADs looking for their next film to jump on, DPs, actors, even a director. Others included behind the scenes people who have special skill sets they bring to film-making . All were great and it was fun being able to talk about different projects. Not a well known screenplay writer, my first film is in post and my second screenplay has been optioned, I was just rolling with the conversations not speaking of my projects, including a novel I have been researching for 3 years. My first screenplay was shot as an Independent non SAG project. However the content and the story are coming together so well in post that I am quite optimistic that we may see some recognition from our fellow artists. Either way I love my director. He feels we have a great movie and he always tells me. Regardless of what we finally put out there, it will be an honor to accept the praise or take the hits... Either way we can both stand proud that we put our all into this. My second screenplay is a SAG movie in pre-production based solely on my writing and not any rep I have formed. This fact is an accomplishment for me in it self. Both my screenplays have been deemed worthy to tell in a movie format by two separate entities.
Back to the BBQ. The director was a loud fat robust man who chugged beer, laughed at his own jokes and at least two of his minions would laugh on cue.. He looked like King Henry the VIII in a Hawaiian shirt. At one point a very beautiful woman arrived with her husband. She was over dressed for a BBQ in The Valley wearing a black gown that accentuated her breasts. We were all sitting at a large table and this beautifully overdressed woman walked up to introduce herself. Everyone was cordial and then she approached the head of the table (where else would King Henry sit) and she extended her hand. King Henry the director of more forgettable flicks than you could imagine (He funds all of his projects, I forgot, the slob is rich) opens his mouth and bellows out as if he was on a 6th grade playground; "Nice Tits!" He then proceeded to almost lean toward this now horrified woman. She demanded an apology, he refused and as fast as this woman and her husband entered the backyard... they exited. The host of the BBQ a fellow minion along with the previous two assured "Director Fat Ass" that she overreacted!
At this point I should have left. But there were some genuine "Industry" people there and we were enjoying some meaningful conversations, truly interested in each other and what we had "going" at the present time, I decided I liked these people and wanted to stay. Besides the blubbering rant of a self indulged pig was not going to persuade my thought process. His minions were fighting each other for a smooch of his festering ass so after "the incident" normality settled in.
King Henry decided to leave and I could not help but look at a few of my new friends and show them my sarcastic "golf clap." One guy spit out his beer. Oh but be wary, for sometimes the storm becomes more dangerous during the calm. And when Director Pig Glutton left the calm was almost soothing. A group sigh was almost heard. He was that bad!
No more than 10 minutes later a tornado rolled in. The director's minion and host to the BBQ greeted this guy like he was a studio head. He thanked him for his generous donation of 8 thousand dollars to his project on kick starter. The man, average height and graying hair stood there with a mid to late 30s blonde. "Big Shot" as I will call him sat right where King Henry was blowing ass not more than moments ago! I should have seen this as a warning. A sign. Something! And I did. I thought good had come and replaced evil. In the coming weeks I learned the director was just one of Satan's seat warmers and evil was going to try and enter my life. Notice I said "TRY!" I shall explain.
When "Big Shot" sat down the conversation shifted. We were flying from one subject to another and we politely transitioned into letting "Big Shot" (who I will now refer to as BS) join our conversation. Of course he was brought up to speed on "The rude director" and subsequent events. BS then went on to talk about his 4th book and how his other 3 books were best sellers. Well this perked me up! After researching and writing a novel/book based on a true character and events and BS proclaiming his newest novel was based on his own experiences I was drawn in. The Devil found a window to my soul! My writing.
Everyone else had hit the pool, jacuzzi, or left. I sat with BS telling him how I had Folio Literary as my agents and we parted ways based on various factors. He applauded me telling me all of his books were self published and were best sellers. He said so many things that night to inspire me including the fact that he had an "in" where my book would be guaranteed a certian amount of purchases and that being a best seller was that easy. He gave me his web page and insisted that my wife and I join him and his "true love" for dinner. He called my phone from his and we both added each other to our contacts. He then said to call him on Monday to arrange a good night for us to get together. I explained my wife went to college on Tuesday & Thursday nights. We raised our wine glasses and toasted to a fantastic dinner and strategy session on finishing my book and launching it. I mean... WOW!!! So I emailed my manuscript to him the next day. I then called him as directed. He said; "Scott, listen, not good for this week, some family stuff has come up and I may need to fly to NY." He then told me to call him the following week. I did... Number no good! I face booked him a message saying in a polite way that his phone seemed to be on the fritz. He then gave me a different # explaining he lost that phone. I am no internet genius, but I do know if you lose a phone 99% of the time you keep the same number unless you purposely switched numbers. Why would one switch numbers? That however did not dawn on me because within minutes of the message he phoned from his new number. Oh well I thought, a guy like him must have a couple phones. We talked for a few minutes and he said he'd call me the following day. At this point I let my disappointing tone be heard and said. "Yeah sure, when ever you get around to it."
The following day BS called ranting about how publishable my book was and wanted to know details about "rights" and said he had a perfect plan to get it out to the masses. "What are you doing this Saturday?" He asked. I told him I was free and he said we should meet at the USC boof fair because what he had planned he didn't want to talk about on the phone. "Really? Top Secret marketing shit." I thought. Oh well, let me hear this. After-all he has had 3 best sellers.
Saturday came and it was of the few hot days we have had in Southern California this year. I had texted him I was on my way, and he texted back, "cool." Parking was a bitch, but I have a screwed up hip and a handicap placard so I was lucky enough to find parking on the streets. However I was 2 blocks from the entrance. My hip can not take much more than a block. I had my cane and began my walk and two USC students working the event pulled up in a four seat golf cart. They drove me right into the center of the book fair. By now I had texted BS 3 times telling him I was there. I waited for his text and visited the booths. It was a great fair with a lot of information for writers and different displays for specific genres.
I tried phoning and his cell rang but no answer. He finally texted me an hour and a half after I had arrived. My hip was killing me and I was sitting at a booth when I read the text. "I think I may have a seizure and I'm going home, catch you later." What the fuck! BS had me drive 40 miles and said he had a seizure! Are you starting to see why "Big Shot" went to "BS" because now I knew this fucker was playing me.
I went to his site and it proclaimed his books were best sellers and because I (remember the title of my Blog) decided that was good enough for me, I let my own talent and aspirations hurt me. I then Googled BS and discovered this guy had 3 self published non selling crap books and his own self proclaimed true life account he was writing about was being called a fraud and his credibility was destroyed when I learned he was arrested in NY and California for bad checks and con jobs! In one newspaper account he used "family deaths" or personal injuries" as excuses not to follow through with promised actions, deeds, or deadlines.
I let him use my talent as a writer to hurt me. As I said, my novel/book has been 3 years in the making. I have sold 2 screenplays and will soon be recognized for my work. But, I almost let a con-artist get a little too close to my work. He tried to use my talent to hurt me.
I could name who BS is; you choose the acronym that fits, "Bullshit" or "Big Shot" and by naming him I am not in the mood to have a legal fight because he likes to sue those who discover him and call him out. I tell this tale as a cautionary note. I truly believe he knew I was a lot like characters I have written about. I would have shown him justice in a whole new light. BS better be worried we do not run into another BBQ together. Because unlike the fiction he writes... I will delve out some hard facts, conclusions and show him what a non fiction kick in the teeth feels like.
Oh! Remember the 8K he donated and was thanked for? He pulled it days after the BBQ.
Back to the BBQ. The director was a loud fat robust man who chugged beer, laughed at his own jokes and at least two of his minions would laugh on cue.. He looked like King Henry the VIII in a Hawaiian shirt. At one point a very beautiful woman arrived with her husband. She was over dressed for a BBQ in The Valley wearing a black gown that accentuated her breasts. We were all sitting at a large table and this beautifully overdressed woman walked up to introduce herself. Everyone was cordial and then she approached the head of the table (where else would King Henry sit) and she extended her hand. King Henry the director of more forgettable flicks than you could imagine (He funds all of his projects, I forgot, the slob is rich) opens his mouth and bellows out as if he was on a 6th grade playground; "Nice Tits!" He then proceeded to almost lean toward this now horrified woman. She demanded an apology, he refused and as fast as this woman and her husband entered the backyard... they exited. The host of the BBQ a fellow minion along with the previous two assured "Director Fat Ass" that she overreacted!
At this point I should have left. But there were some genuine "Industry" people there and we were enjoying some meaningful conversations, truly interested in each other and what we had "going" at the present time, I decided I liked these people and wanted to stay. Besides the blubbering rant of a self indulged pig was not going to persuade my thought process. His minions were fighting each other for a smooch of his festering ass so after "the incident" normality settled in.
King Henry decided to leave and I could not help but look at a few of my new friends and show them my sarcastic "golf clap." One guy spit out his beer. Oh but be wary, for sometimes the storm becomes more dangerous during the calm. And when Director Pig Glutton left the calm was almost soothing. A group sigh was almost heard. He was that bad!
No more than 10 minutes later a tornado rolled in. The director's minion and host to the BBQ greeted this guy like he was a studio head. He thanked him for his generous donation of 8 thousand dollars to his project on kick starter. The man, average height and graying hair stood there with a mid to late 30s blonde. "Big Shot" as I will call him sat right where King Henry was blowing ass not more than moments ago! I should have seen this as a warning. A sign. Something! And I did. I thought good had come and replaced evil. In the coming weeks I learned the director was just one of Satan's seat warmers and evil was going to try and enter my life. Notice I said "TRY!" I shall explain.
When "Big Shot" sat down the conversation shifted. We were flying from one subject to another and we politely transitioned into letting "Big Shot" (who I will now refer to as BS) join our conversation. Of course he was brought up to speed on "The rude director" and subsequent events. BS then went on to talk about his 4th book and how his other 3 books were best sellers. Well this perked me up! After researching and writing a novel/book based on a true character and events and BS proclaiming his newest novel was based on his own experiences I was drawn in. The Devil found a window to my soul! My writing.
Everyone else had hit the pool, jacuzzi, or left. I sat with BS telling him how I had Folio Literary as my agents and we parted ways based on various factors. He applauded me telling me all of his books were self published and were best sellers. He said so many things that night to inspire me including the fact that he had an "in" where my book would be guaranteed a certian amount of purchases and that being a best seller was that easy. He gave me his web page and insisted that my wife and I join him and his "true love" for dinner. He called my phone from his and we both added each other to our contacts. He then said to call him on Monday to arrange a good night for us to get together. I explained my wife went to college on Tuesday & Thursday nights. We raised our wine glasses and toasted to a fantastic dinner and strategy session on finishing my book and launching it. I mean... WOW!!! So I emailed my manuscript to him the next day. I then called him as directed. He said; "Scott, listen, not good for this week, some family stuff has come up and I may need to fly to NY." He then told me to call him the following week. I did... Number no good! I face booked him a message saying in a polite way that his phone seemed to be on the fritz. He then gave me a different # explaining he lost that phone. I am no internet genius, but I do know if you lose a phone 99% of the time you keep the same number unless you purposely switched numbers. Why would one switch numbers? That however did not dawn on me because within minutes of the message he phoned from his new number. Oh well I thought, a guy like him must have a couple phones. We talked for a few minutes and he said he'd call me the following day. At this point I let my disappointing tone be heard and said. "Yeah sure, when ever you get around to it."
The following day BS called ranting about how publishable my book was and wanted to know details about "rights" and said he had a perfect plan to get it out to the masses. "What are you doing this Saturday?" He asked. I told him I was free and he said we should meet at the USC boof fair because what he had planned he didn't want to talk about on the phone. "Really? Top Secret marketing shit." I thought. Oh well, let me hear this. After-all he has had 3 best sellers.
Saturday came and it was of the few hot days we have had in Southern California this year. I had texted him I was on my way, and he texted back, "cool." Parking was a bitch, but I have a screwed up hip and a handicap placard so I was lucky enough to find parking on the streets. However I was 2 blocks from the entrance. My hip can not take much more than a block. I had my cane and began my walk and two USC students working the event pulled up in a four seat golf cart. They drove me right into the center of the book fair. By now I had texted BS 3 times telling him I was there. I waited for his text and visited the booths. It was a great fair with a lot of information for writers and different displays for specific genres.
I tried phoning and his cell rang but no answer. He finally texted me an hour and a half after I had arrived. My hip was killing me and I was sitting at a booth when I read the text. "I think I may have a seizure and I'm going home, catch you later." What the fuck! BS had me drive 40 miles and said he had a seizure! Are you starting to see why "Big Shot" went to "BS" because now I knew this fucker was playing me.
I went to his site and it proclaimed his books were best sellers and because I (remember the title of my Blog) decided that was good enough for me, I let my own talent and aspirations hurt me. I then Googled BS and discovered this guy had 3 self published non selling crap books and his own self proclaimed true life account he was writing about was being called a fraud and his credibility was destroyed when I learned he was arrested in NY and California for bad checks and con jobs! In one newspaper account he used "family deaths" or personal injuries" as excuses not to follow through with promised actions, deeds, or deadlines.
I let him use my talent as a writer to hurt me. As I said, my novel/book has been 3 years in the making. I have sold 2 screenplays and will soon be recognized for my work. But, I almost let a con-artist get a little too close to my work. He tried to use my talent to hurt me.
I could name who BS is; you choose the acronym that fits, "Bullshit" or "Big Shot" and by naming him I am not in the mood to have a legal fight because he likes to sue those who discover him and call him out. I tell this tale as a cautionary note. I truly believe he knew I was a lot like characters I have written about. I would have shown him justice in a whole new light. BS better be worried we do not run into another BBQ together. Because unlike the fiction he writes... I will delve out some hard facts, conclusions and show him what a non fiction kick in the teeth feels like.
Oh! Remember the 8K he donated and was thanked for? He pulled it days after the BBQ.
Scotty
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