Email Exchange with the Producer
I’m just going to reproduce the relevant emails I’ve managed to find in my Yahoo account as is. Some are redundant – reproduced more than once. Someday I’ll get around to organizing them better. I’m not in the mood right now. Sorry! (As is the case with emails, it’s best to read them from the bottom up, but in any case, you’ll get the drift.)
I’m adding explanatory comments in bold.
Date:Mon, 21 Feb 2005 03:52:33 -0800 (PST)
From:"Allan Weisbecker" <acwdownsouth@yahoo.com> View Contact
Details Add Mobile Alert
Subject:zero
To:"The Producer" <XXXX@XXXXXcom>
This refers to our talk on the phone (in the book) wherein I gave her the same criticism (of the new script, by another writer) that I gave for the director’s dumb ass outline.
To (The Producer),
i have some other notes that have occurred to me since
our talk. best would be that you do as you said: send
your notes on our call and i´ll add to them, as well
as the obvious places (and some not so obvious) where
you can cut stuff.
i strongly advise you to have [the Other Writer] read my draft.
there are a lot of little things ´to make use of.
(if you´re thinking i´m thinking of shared credit here
or somesuch ulterior motive, think again. i´d be glad
to put that in writing. i´d just prefer that if you do
make a movie of my book, it´s not a total
embarrassment.)
of course, the idea that you´d turn down an offer of
free help from me would fit perfectly into how this
has gone from the start.
my best draft is exactly 120 pages (goes right to the
bottom of page 120) and i think dated May 4. if you
don´t have that one i´ll send it.
on the other hand, [the Other Writer] might read my draft then put
a gun to his head… or to [the Director’s].
allan
> —–Original Message—–
> From: Allan Weisbecker
> [mailto:acwdownsouth@yahoo.com]
> Sent: Saturday, June 25, 2005 1:08 PM
> To: [To The Producer ] Home
> Subject: [SPAM] RE: [SPAM] RE: allan w resurfaces
>
> yeah, i have TB, which should make sean smile,
> seeing
> as how he wished me death.
>
> what kind of changes he want? stuff like turning
> points and an ending?
> Allan
>
— (To me from the Producer) Home <XXXX@XXXXX.com> wrote:
> Allan, you are being silly. Sean said you are a good
> writer, and forget all
> that Hollywood stuff. The changes are in the way
> your character is written.
> I’m really sorry to hear about the TB. Are you on
> antibiotics?
> Agi
>
__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
All your favorites on one personal page – Try My Yahoo!
http://my.yahoo.com
This one refers to my email exchange with Mr. Penn.
Date:Sat, 25 Jun 2005 15:33:44 -0700 (PDT)
From:"Allan Weisbecker" <acwdownsouth@yahoo.com> View Contact
Details Add Mobile Alert
Subject:RE: [SPAM] RE: [SPAM] RE: allan w resurfaces
To:" To The Producer" <XXXX@XXXXX.com>
To The Producer,
please. i’m not the one with the "hollywood stuff"
problem. penn was a contractual producer on a project
wherein i was the writer and he refused to read the
first 30 pages of my draft, which was all i asked of
him. (if this is incorrect, if i’m missing something,
please let me know.)
so he spends more time writing me an email explaining
why he’s not going to read my 30 pages and giving me
sage advice than he would have reading the fucking 30
pages. he got outraged when i pointed out this
obvious, silly truth.
or maybe by the "hollywood stuff" i should forget you
mean my screenplay going from brilliant to
unacceptable (to you) because some MBA or lawyer or
whatever he was doesn’t know squat about storytelling.
i guess your telling me that i of all people should
forget the hollywood stuff struck me the wrong way.
Allan
yes, i’m on antibiotics. i’ll be okay, the docs say.
thank you for your concern.
the bottom line problem [the Director] will have with this
project is that — as opposed to his two documentaries
– he’ll actually have to shoot film on this one.
> — [To The Producer] Home <XXXX@XXXXX.com> wrote:
>
> > Hey, heard from your website that you were having
> > health issues. Is
> > everything cool?
> >
> > We’re on a holding pattern since Sean went to
> cover
> > the elections in Tehran
> > and is now writing the article for the S.F.
> > Chronicle. He likes the script,
> > but wants some changes.
> >
> > I’ll let you know.
> > [To The Producer]
> >
> > —–Original Message—–
> > From: Allan Weisbecker
> > [mailto:acwdownsouth@yahoo.com]
> > Sent: Saturday, June 25, 2005 6:27 AM
> > To: XXXX@XXXXX.com
> > Subject: [SPAM] RE: allan w resurfaces
> >
> > [To The Producer],
> >
> > so what’s up? you ready to show folks my script
> yet?
> >
> > Allan
> >
> > — [To The Producer] <XXXX@XXXXX.com> wrote:
> >
> > > Hey Allan,
> > > I’ve had a pretty good track record so far, and
> > this
> > > will become a great
> > > film one way or another. You will be kept in the
> > > loop.
> > > [To The Producer]
> > >
> > > —–Original Message—–
> > > From: Allan Weisbecker
> > > [mailto:acwdownsouth@yahoo.com]
> > > Sent: Wednesday, March 30, 2005 5:11 AM
> > > To: XXXX@XXXXX.com
> > > Subject: RE: allan w resurfaces
> > >
> > > thanks. good luck and keep in mind my
> > > prediction/suggestion. it’s really your hope and
> > > mine
> > > too.
> > > allan
This one backs up a lot of my assertions regarding this fiasco.
> > > > —–Original Message—–
> > > > From: Allan Weisbecker
> > > > [mailto:acwdownsouth@yahoo.com]
> > > > Sent: Monday, March 28, 2005 6:01 AM
> > > > To: [To The Producer]
> > > > Subject: allan w resurfaces
> > > >
> > > > To [To The Producer]
> > > >
> > > > Sorry for the long delay in getting back to
> you.
> > I
> > > > have not had Net access for 3 weeks, and both
> my
> > > > laptop and desktop crashed. Third World shit.
> > > >
> > > > Anyway, been thinking and have decided not to
> > > > contribute any more suggestions as to the
> [Other Writer’s]
> > > > script
> > > > - except to say that my book is not a
> > "Biography"
> > > as
> > > > you put it in your notes of our phone
> > > conversation.
> > > > It’s a memoir. (If it were a biography it
> would
> > be
> > > > an
> > > > "autobiography," but it’s not a biography.)
> > > Anyway,
> > > > the credit, in the event that that becomes an
> > > issue,
> > > > should read, "Based on the book by Allan
> > > > Weisbecker."
> > > > That’s the way it always reads on the screen
> > when
> > > a
> > > > movie is based on a book. They never put
> "novel"
> > > or
> > > > some such. Always "book." Just so you know.
> > > >
> > > > Two reasons for no more suggestions. The first
> > is
> > > > that
> > > > I already made a bunch of them, most of which
> I
> > > (in
> > > > effect) repeated in our phone conversation.
> All
> > of
> > > > the
> > > > suggestions were made in my critique of
> [the Director’s]
> > > > outline way back in 2003. My combativeness and
> > > > sarcasm
> > > > should not have prevented you from seeing that
> > the
> > > > outline was useless.
> > > >
> > > > That the [Other Writer’s] script is based on that same
> > > > outline
> > > > is obvious from start to finish. The absolute
> > > > dumbest
> > > > stuff from the outline was there in the
> > > screenplay.
> > > > (The bandit/credit card scene is one that
> comes
> > to
> > > > mind, but there are plenty more, such as
> having
> > > the
> > > > biggest turning point in the story - the break
> > up
> > > of
> > > > the friends — related via DIALOG with someone
> > > > irrelevant to the relationship (and that there
> > was
> > > > no
> > > > CONFLICT involved in the break up)… christ,
> i
> > > > truly
> > > > could go on and on.)
> > > >
> > > > Since my suggestions were ignored before, they
> > > > certainly will be again, so why bother?
> > > >
> > > > The second reason for no more suggestions is
> > this:
> > > > The
> > > > way I see it going is that you’ll send out
> some
> > > > version of the [Other Writer’s] script and no one will
> > want
> > > > to
> > > > have anything to do with it, due to
> > insurmountable
> > > > story problems.
> > > >
> > > > Eventually it will occur to you (certainly not
> > to
> > > > [the Studio] and most certainly not to [the Director]) that
> you
> > > have
> > > > had a "brilliant" (your words) script all the
> > time
> > > -
> > > > mine. You’ll (one way or another) get it out
> to
> > > some
> > > > people.
>
=== message truncated ===
__________________________________
>
> —–Original Message—–
> From: Allan Weisbecker
> [mailto:acwdownsouth@yahoo.com]
> Sent: Saturday, June 25, 2005 6:27 AM
> To: XXXX@XXXXX.com
> Subject: [SPAM] RE: allan w resurfaces
>
> [To The Producer],
>
> so what’s up? you ready to show folks my script yet?
>
> Allan
>
— [From The Producer] <XXXX@XXXXX.com> wrote:
> Hey, heard from your website that you were having
> health issues. Is
> everything cool?
>
> We’re on a holding pattern since Sean went to cover
> the elections in Tehran
> and is now writing the article for the S.F.
> Chronicle. He likes the script,
> but wants some changes.
>
> I’ll let you know.
> Agi
Date:Sat, 25 Jun 2005 13:04:40 -0700 (PDT)
From:"Allan Weisbecker" <acwdownsouth@yahoo.com> View Contact
Details Add Mobile Alert
Subject:RE: [SPAM] RE: allan w resurfaces
To:"[ To The Producer] Home" XXXX@XXXXX.com
yeah, i have TB, which should make sean smile, seeing
as how he wished me death.
what kind of changes he want? stuff like turning
points and an ending?
Allan
> Allan,
> > > I’ll let you know what
> > > happens. Glad you like [new film]. I think
> it’s
> > a
> > > real piece of
> > > filmmaking compared to Step Into Liquid, which
> has
> > > it’s charm. If I get any
> > > good DVD’s I’ll send them your way.
> > > The Producer
The hilarious aspect of the “new movie” (a surfing documentary) is that, like the “Director’s” first one, this almost all archival footage too! He only directed the interviews. So now he’s “directed” two films (both good), without having directed anything but talking heads.
Relentless.
> > >
> > > —–Original Message—–
> > > From: Allan Weisbecker
> > > [mailto:acwdownsouth@yahoo.com]
> > > Sent: Monday, March 28, 2005 6:01 AM
> > > To: The Producer
> > > Subject: allan w resurfaces
> > >
> > > [To The Producer],
> > >
> > > Sorry for the long delay in getting back to you.
> I
> > > have not had Net access for 3 weeks, and both my
> > > laptop and desktop crashed. Third World shit.
> > >
> > > Anyway, been thinking and have decided not to
> > > contribute any more suggestions as to the Bacal
> > > script
> > > - except to say that my book is not a
> "Biography"
> > as
> > > you put it in your notes of our phone
> > conversation.
> > > It’s a memoir. (If it were a biography it would
> be
> > > an
> > > "autobiography," but it’s not a biography.)
> > Anyway,
> > > the credit, in the event that that becomes an
> > issue,
> > > should read, "Based on the book by Allan
> > > Weisbecker."
> > > That’s the way it always reads on the screen
> when
> > a
> > > movie is based on a book. They never put "novel"
> > or
> > > some such. Always "book." Just so you know.
> > >
> > > Two reasons for no more suggestions. The first
> is
> > > that
> > > I already made a bunch of them, most of which I
> > (in
> > > effect) repeated in our phone conversation. All
> of
> > > the
> > > suggestions were made in my critique of Stacy’s
> > > outline way back in 2003. My combativeness and
> > > sarcasm
> > > should not have prevented you from seeing that
> the
> > > outline was useless.
> > >
> > > That the [Other Writer’s] script is based on that same
> > > outline
> > > is obvious from start to finish. The absolute
> > > dumbest
> > > stuff from the outline was there in the
> > screenplay.
> > > (The bandit/credit card scene is one that comes
> to
> > > mind, but there are plenty more, such as having
> > the
> > > biggest turning point in the story - the break
> up
> > of
> > > the friends — related via DIALOG with someone
> > > irrelevant to the relationship (and that there
> was
> > > no
> > > CONFLICT involved in the break up)… christ, i
> > > truly
> > > could go on and on.)
> > >
> > > Since my suggestions were ignored before, they
> > > certainly will be again, so why bother?
> > >
> > > The second reason for no more suggestions is
> this:
> > > The
> > > way I see it going is that you’ll send out some
> > > version of the [Other Writer’s] script and no one will
> want
> > > to
> > > have anything to do with it, due to
> insurmountable
> > > story problems.
> > >
> > > Eventually it will occur to you (certainly not
> to
> > > [the Studio] and most certainly not to [the Studio]) that you
> > have
> > > had a "brilliant" (your words) script all the
> time
> > -
> > > mine. You’ll (one way or another) get it out to
> > some
> > > people.
> > >
> > > In this manner the movie, a good movie, just
> might
> > > get
> > > made. That’s my fantasy, anyway. So if my
> helping
> > > make
> > > the [Other Writer’s] script more presentable resulted in
> it
> > > actually getting made, I will have fucked myself
> > up
> > > through the back door, so to speak.
> > >
> > > By the way, did you give the [Other Writer’s] script to
> > your
> > > writer friend/sounding board? I’m trying to
> > imagine
> > > his reaction. [The guy who called me “the real thing” way back when]
> > >
> > > Thanks for sending [her new film]. It was
> terrific,
> > > better than [Other film]. Good work. [the joke here is that the other film was all archival footage too – the Director STILL had not directed anything!]
> > >
> > > Allan
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > __________________________________
> > > Do you Yahoo!?
> > > Yahoo! Small Business - Try our new resources
> > site!
> > > http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/resources/
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
Date:Tue, 1 Nov 2005 08:43:50 -0800 (PST)
From:"Allan Weisbecker" <acwdownsouth@yahoo.com> View Contact
Details Add Mobile Alert
Subject: zero
To: [the Procucer]: XXXX@XXXXX.com
i keep getting emails like this one. how are reactions
going to the [other writer’s] version?
allan
Note: forwarded message attached.
__________________________________
Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors’ Choice 2005
http://mail.yahoo.comForwarded Message [ Download File | Save to Yahoo! Briefcase ]
To:acwdownsouth@yahoo.com
Subject:Mail From Your Website
From:support@aweisbecker.com
Date:Mon, 31 Oct 2005 12:09:42 -0800
Text Attachment [ Scan and Save to Computer | Save to Yahoo! Briefcase ]
Hi Allan,
hey, whats up? im a surfer from virginia beach, virginia. i was givin
the screen play for your book. and i read the whole thing and i couldn’t
put it down. it was so amazing. i have not had the chance to read the
book but i have heard many good things about it from friends at school.
and i just wanted to let you know that you are an amazing author. the
things you tell about in your story and the things you say are true.i
mean i could relate my own life experiences to some of the experiences in
the story. after i read the screen play i started thinking about a lot
of things and i realized that surfing is a perfect example of
friendship and the way people stay in touch. well i just think your a very
inspirational writer.
—————————–
Mike XXXXXX
surfvaXXXX@zoomshare.com
I received about 50 emails like the above about my version of the Zero screenplay. I was more or less just trying to annoy her by sending one.
This is to the new studio guy – he replaced the old one (who had written the memo extolling the director’s outline as “soulful” and “possessing all the elements.”
Date:Mon, 22 Mar 2004 06:36:18 -0800 (PST)
From:"Allan Weisbecker" <acwdownsouth@yahoo.com> View Contact
Details Add Mobile Alert
Subject: Captain Zero
To: XXXXX@TheStudiosite.com
XXX XXXXX
XXXXX Pictures
Via Email
Dear Mr. XXXXXX,
I believe we only spoke once, briefly by phone, soon
after you came to [the Studio]. In Search of Captain Zero was
already well along on its bumpy road.
Aside from creative differences, there were other
problems as well, mainly between myself and [The Producer]
and [the Director]. (Actually, at first there were no
creative differences between myself and [The Producer] –
when she read my second draft she said this: “It’s
brilliant. You’re my little genius. You gave [the Studio]
exactly what you said you would.” As far as [the Director]
goes, based on his “notes“ he may never have read any
of my drafts.)
You may be aware that I’ve posted my preferred
screenplay draft (a version of the one [the Director] thought was
brilliant) on my website (aweisbecker.com), along with
a note to readers asking for help in reaching Sean
Penn with the draft. I can understand how this might
be an annoyance to [the Studio]. I’ll give you the short
explanation of why I did this, then get to my real
point.
When [the Producer] first contacted me about optioning my
book I was wary. I’d never heard of her or [the Director]. Over my 25 years making a living writing for
the screen and TV I learned the hard way to be careful
with whom I get involved creatively. My feeling was
that bringing my book to the screen would be very
difficult, it being nonfiction with an internal drive;
real life is never dramatically structured. So I was
wary. [the Producer]’s promise of Sean Penn’s involvement as a
producer was the reason that I finally agreed to the
option. ([his first film] told me little about [the Director]’s
ability as a director, since he only shot the
interviews; the rest was archival.)
“Sean gets involved early in the script stage,” were
[the Director]’s exact words. I construed this as a promise that
Penn would read my drafts and have input. Of course it
is just that. A promise that Penn would see my work.
It never happened. Or if it did happen I was never
informed, which is just as bad.
You may think me naïve — people make and then break
promises all the time — but I get angry when I’m in
effect lied to, especially about something as vital as
this. Hence the posting of the screenplay on my site.
I was ready for abuse from my site subscribers, since
the screen adaptation strays so far from the book in
terms of turning points. Actually, there are no
turning points as such in the book. (I remember you
yourself pointed this out in our phone conversation.)
I was shocked and very pleased to get virtually all
raves. Out of over 50 “reviews”, all but one loved the
reinvented story — which, by the way, kept to the
spirit of the book as I intended it.
I’d be happy to send you the responses I got — they
are literate and well-thought out; more than a few are
from other writers and folks in the movie business. In
fact, one (I’m pasting it below) inspired me to go
back and do another pass at the script.
Which brings me to my point. I’m attaching my newest
version of Zero the screenplay. My hope is that
you’ll give it another look. Maybe also do what I do:
Ask someone you trust who has not been involved in the
project to read the draft and see what he/she says. I
don’t know about you, but I often lose perspective
after being immersed in a project for a long time.
I consider the attached Zero draft to be one of my
best screenwriting efforts. Maybe the best. The story
moves me, and it moves virtually everyone else who has
read it.
Again, please give it another shot. If you need a
release to read it, I’d be glad to sign it – [the Producer]
refused a read for this reason. She didn’t suggest a
release. (You can consider this email as a release. I
owed you a polish anyway.)
Yours truly,
Allan
==================================================
Here’s a copy of the e-mail I referred to above:
==================================================
Hi Allan,
Just finished your script. I loved it. It wasn’t
cheesy, in fact it was quite gritty as it should be.
At many times chaotic. If you want a critique, I
would change minor things. Little bits of dialogue
here and there, certain words. Nothing major. Just
nitpicking. I sure hope it gets made. I’d pay to see
it. Hell, I’d pay for me AND my group of friends.
The major part… is what happened to me while I was
reading it. A little backstory: I’m the kind of guy
who has seen my friends commit suicide; has seen my
neighbors dad (who was like a father to me) on a slab
at the hospital, his face blue with heart attack
death; has been dumped by someone he loves… but I
don’t cry.
When I was ending your script (last 20 pages), I was
listening to ‘One Thing’ by Finger Eleven and ‘I Am
The Highway’ by Audioslave. Those two songs, hit
perfectly as a soundtrack. As soon as Alex made his
heart beat after being attacked by the mammoth wave,
something welled in my throat. Something I hadn’t
felt for years.
I bawled for a good twenty minutes after reading END.
I just cried. Except it wasn’t one of those, my heart
is breaking cries, it was more…. I dunno…. joyous,
perhaps? The kind that comes after you read a
book, or see a movie, or hear certain lyrics in a song
and everything impacts you on a deeper level you
didn’t know existed… or had hidden. The kind where
everything in the murky, colorless depths swirls to
the surface and rolls over you like a colossal wave.
And then the moment where you cry is right at the end
when you realize… you’re alive.
It’s thankful.
I don’t know if you intended this or not, but I kept
looking at the contrast of the purity of the wave and
the helter-skelter of being on land. Then somewhere
along the way I realized that the wave IS chaotic, or
disguises itself to be. But it’s that one section,
that one moment inside of it where the masks are off,
and all the bullshit that you’ve fronted your whole
life is trashed and it’s just you and the wave. Like
two friends who have finally become real with each
other. It’s a perfect moment that does last forever!
I guess even in the water, the same works on land.
Those moments…
Once again, thanks for your contribution to the
surfing community… and my life. Hah! I’m sure this
is just one of the many similar letters you receive,
however I wanted you to know. Hope to see ‘In Search
of Captain Zero’ on a marquee soon.
If I meet Sean Penn soon, I’ll be sure to keep a copy
of your script handy!
Robert.
Right. I was attempting to annoy him too, since I knew that no one was going to pay attention to me in any case, or to “civilians” who liked my screenplay.
Check it out via the right side nav bar. See what you think.
=======================================
