Bud Fleisher

(From "Swimming With Sharks." Written and Directed by George Huang, based on his experiences while working under Barry Sonnenberg at Colombia Pictures. The film opens with the following introduction):

("In Hollywood one of the fastest ways to the top is to work for someone who's already there. The system dictates that one must first be a slave before you can become a success. This can be a very demanding process. Only a few people have the drive to endure the thousands of indignities and hardships that make up the system. Now this drive is usually motivated by greed...sometimes ambition...sometimes even love. There are stories of love inspiring success over the most insurmountable of odds. This is not one of them.")

Well Chris has put up a Q & A site for me to answer your questions. I liked the page heading, "No Bullshit Allowed" etc. Although it (bullshit) is not necessary "forbidden" I genuinely hope to avoid throwing "it" and give you my most honest answer... again, based on my experience. But Im not infallible -- just almost! :-). Also, and be warned, I intend to label something as "bullshit" if I spot (or perceive) it as such.

I would like to relate a recent encounter I had with truth versus hype, hope (or whatever it is about showbiz that just blinds so many of us to reality). Here, briefly, is what happened.

I received a phone call from a man in St. Petersburg. He got my phone number from another writer with whom I had co-authored a film entitled "Forgotten Heroes." He told me we had a "mutual friend" and he wanted to ask me some questions. I said, "shoot" and he started in.

His opening comment essentially consisted of his being a 55-year old businessman in the food business. From what I could gather he owned a small business that specialized in "hoagies." ("heros" or "subs" to others, depending on what part of the country you live in).

As he related the story I began to recall that this writer with whom I had collaborated had, upon several occasions, called me about this "project" for which he had gotten the sum of $5,000 to write the screenplay. I expressed to this writer that getting the money under such unlikely conditions was a miracle--to take the money and flee. After the (and I am not kidding) 3 request for a rewrite I told him to forget these guys and "run for cover." He was caught in that old trap of doing free rewrites for just about every potential investor who had an "idea". The poor slob... A long time ago I learned to get tough about this sort of thing and not to pick up a pencil without being paid. (And thats a hint to you newbies out there: you want to find out if "they" are really serious? Ask for money--"money talks, bullshit walks." Why do I say this? Am I being too hard? I dont think so, because if somebody asks you to do some work for them they should be willing to pay--quite simple.

Back to this man from St. Petersburg. He began to ask me a series of questions about getting a project produced. From the outset I could tell his ideas were replete with all of the old "myths" that still permeate this subject.

His first concept was that he could do a film on video and sell it to the video markets. I explained to him that I knew of a few rare circumstances where this worked, but this was in the early to mid "80s" when a lot of distributors were heart-up for product. However it seemed that for many years now there has been a glut of films available for distributors and to my knowledge were shot on 35mm, etc. In other words the chances were very slim for any success with his notion.

He proceeded to the next fairytale--the one about shooting a 3-minute trailer on 35 and getting some distributor to fund his film because (presumably) they were "stunned" by the concept of his project. He was doing (gasp! guess what?) a low budget horror film. BUT he had an "original hook" that he felt sure was unique--even hopefully irresistible. Thats another "one" Ive heard over and over before.

I was difficult for me to continue telling him the truth, but I told him that I know of nobody without a track record who could or has ever succeeded with that approach either.

There were a series of other questions--all of them along the same vein--all of them the same misconceptions and notions (or hype) I heard so often while living in Los Angeles and New York. I gave him the most honest and sincere answers I could.

So what does he do? In an obvious need to defend his original conceptions he took out some book he was reading--one written by a director in Hollywood. He proceeded to quote from the book, things like "theres nothing you cant do if you want," and "dont let anyone talk you out of your attempts" etc. etc.

Now I wasnt trying to talk him out of anything! He was asking me for my opinion and I gave it to him! He just didnt like the answers he got!

After nearly a full hour of discussion it ended up that he was going to go ahead and do what he originally planned to do when he first called me. Not an unexpected ending, I might add, because in showbiz quite often (most often) truth or reality is not only unpopular, but generally unheeded.

Im a prime example myself. At the age of 42 I went out to Los Angeles tackled the business full time despite all evidence contradicting that course. BUT (and remember this, newbies: I admit the following:

1) I had a working wife with a good job who supported my efforts completely, without question.

2) She was a VERY UNUSUAL person and VERY understanding of the situation.

3) She actually found a sense of excitement in being a part of my attempts.

4) (here Im bragging) I am (was) a VERY persistent person, much more so than most of you (although I am sure you "all" think you are that way too -- Are you? did you ever send out over 2,000 faxes in one year to production companies all over the world to get an assignment? I have, and then some other things...and...

5) (more bragging) I have a genuine talent for the business. (most "out there" simply do not and have clouded realities due to the romantic notions surrounding showbiz).

Thing is, I know the truth and will (unfortunately) be right most (not all, but most) of the time.

Remember the old, but very true adage! "There are exceptions to the rule, but the exception PROVES THE RULE."

("Swimming With Sharks" concludes with the following dialogue as the main character is giving genuine advice to a wannabee in show business):

("Let me tell you something, Jack. Everyone is gonna want to give you the same advice. Tell you that you have to pay your dues...ask you for a favor. They all want you to play by the rules--their rules. Well save that candy-striped shit for the Wall Street Wimps, because this town is a jungle. This is your inner city. These are the mean streets, and the only interests that you need to protect are yours. And the only needs that you have to serve are yours.")