Shawn Bertram walked down the street, holding a business card out in front of his face. It was a café’s business card, and he was trying to get to its address. He had never been to the café before, or even in this part of the city. Perhaps that was the reason Ronald Dampier decided their meeting should be at this designated café. It would show Ronald knew more than Shawn. He was like that all the time.
Ronald was a big time movie maker. Besides having ties to Warner Brothers, he operated his own independent movie making business. Almost all of his movies were acclaimed hits, and every one of them gained him a large profit. His success, of course, was linked to the fact he had young up and coming actors and actresses, and a talented batch of writers. And Shawn happened to be one of Ronald’s newest writers.
Just five months ago, Shawn’s first script became a box office hit. Critics called him a ground breaking writer, and someone who would lead the filming industry to a new era. Though he felt critics were exaggerating, it felt nice to be appreciated. At least it would be easier to present himself to other movie companies should he ever drop business with Ronald.
After a few more minutes of looking at the card and the addresses of buildings before him, Shawn came upon the café. It was supposed to be both an outdoors and indoors café, but there were no one on any of the tables laid out in front of the entrance today. Everybody must have been inside with the air conditioning, as the temperature today was slightly warmer than usual.
Shawn was about to enter into the indoor eating area when we heard a familiar whistle behind him. Turning around, Shawn saw Ronald sitting by an outdoor eating table. He was waving for Shawn to come forward, and seemed eager to talk to him. Feeling somewhat embarrassed he missed seeing Ronald when coming in, Shawn went towards him.
“So tell me Shawn,” said Ronald, extending his hand, “How do you feel today?”
Taking hold of Ronald’s hand and shaking it, Shawn said, “Pretty good Ronald. Wouldn’t we be more comfortable inside the café instead of out here?”
“If you feel like shouting inside that crowded building, be my guest,” laughed Ronald. “Personally, I’d rather not be stuffed in there with everyone else. Besides, do we not need some privacy to talk?”
Shawn nodded his head yes. They had very important business to discuss.
“I believe you have something for me then,” said Ronald.
Taking that as his cue, Shawn reached into his travel bag and brought out the folder containing his latest script. Handing it to Ronald, he said, “The finished draft of my newest movie plot. I hope you enjoy it.”
“Only time will tell,” said Ronald, somewhat spoiling Shawn’s happy demeanor. “While I read this, I would like you to remain silent so I may concentrate. Feel free to look at the menu if you are hungry. Our waitress should be here shortly.”
Shawn didn’t really intend to eat at the café when the meeting was set up. He thought this would just be a quick meeting to see if Ronald would back the movie. Shawn even ate before coming here. Still, to complain to Ronald at this moment would be pointless. Having nothing better to do while he waited, Shawn reluctantly picked up his menu and began to browse through it.
A few minutes later, Shawn set down the menu, having picked what he would be eating should their waitress come by. He was now looking at what Ronald was wearing. His attire was extremely expensive, and if he had been cheaper, it looked like he could have gotten ten suits instead of the one he was now wearing. To Ronald, it was just another form of showing power.
After a few more minutes, Shawn began to silently tap his foot. It really shouldn’t have taken Ronald this long to finish reading his story, as Shawn gave tidbits of the plot to him while he was still making the finished copy. Still, Ronald was rereading parts of the plot Shawn had shown him in the past, probably to see if any changes had been made. Of course, nothing was changed, and that only irritated him more.
Shawn hoped Ronald loved the story, as it took him a few painful months to finish it. After the success of Shawn’s first film, he had gained the affection of one of its lead actresses. Their relationship was not a happy one, as they would bicker constantly about his next step to stardom. Ironically, their eventual break up is what inspired him to make his newest script. He worked through his loneliness and created what Ronald was now reading in his hands.
And now Ronald just needed to give the word, and Shawn’s newest masterpiece would become a reality. He was sure that Ronald would give him the heads up, due to the success of the last movie. Of course, the decision was still up in the air, as Ronald was still checking facts in his writing.
“Excuse me sir, are you ready to order?” said a female voice.
Startled out of his nervous trance, Shawn saw a female waitress was standing on the side of the table. Picking up his menu again so he got the name of his predetermined meal right, Shawn said, “Yes, I’m ready to order. I would like—”
Before he could say anything more, Ronald interrupted and said, “Could you give us about five more minutes to speak before we order?”
“Sure thing,” said the waitress, not missing a beat. “I’ll be back.”
As the waitress went back to the customers inside the café, Shawn turned to Ronald with a smile, expecting him to be giving his decision, as he gave that appearance when he told the waitress to give them time alone. No such luck however, as Ronald still had his nose in the script. Oh well, thought Shawn. It looks like I’ll be waiting for awhile.
On the contrary, Shawn only had to wait one minute. Ronald set down Shawn’s copy of the script and leaned back in his chair, hand rubbing his chin. There seemed to be a hint of a smile on his face, which probably meant he was intrigued by what he read. Shawn sighed nervously, and said, “So Ronald, what do you think?”
With the small smile still on his face, Ronald said, “I just don’t think I can back this movie for you Shawn.”
Shawn gave a sigh, and realized what he feared just happened. Ronald wasn’t going to produce his movie. And Ronald’s smile only made the impact worse. Disregarding the smile, he was instead interested to know what was wrong with his pain staking script. Shawn asked, “What seems to be the problem?”
Rubbing his eyes, Ronald said, “I don’t think it’s very original Shawn.”
Not original? His story was original, as he didn’t plagiarize anybody else’s work in the process of making it. Ronald must have seen that Shawn was confused by his statement, as he continued to speak.
“You see, it’s a love story. Love stories have been told so many times people have become desensitized to their power. Everyone knows the protagonist will either find their true love or lose it and learn a lesson. In the case of your script, he gets his true love.”
“Wait a minute,” blurted Shawn. “You’re saying my script is unoriginal because it’s a love story?”
“That’s right,” said Ronald matter-of-factly. “Almost all love stories of been told to the masses, and I don’t think this one is different from any of them.”
Shawn didn’t feel that way at all however. He had never seen a story like his told before by anyone. So Ronald’s accusations were beginning to irk him.
“Aren’t you being a bit blunt by summarizing the movie plot by what type of movie it is?” asked Shawn. “All the characters in my story are original, as is every scene they are depicted in.”
“To you, they may seem original,” said Ronald with raised hands. “However, they are not. Almost every event in your plot has been done before. You just altered them a bit as to give the illusion of originality. Whenever two lovers first meet, there is always an attraction or awkward meeting. You choose for them to have an awkward one. How you did it doesn’t matter, as it’s just like any other movie. It’s the same with the rest of the plot. Instant love, aroused suspicion, angry confrontations, sad get-togethers...all part of your basic love story plot.”
The pieces of what Ronald was talking about were coming together in Shawn’s mind, and he was not happy with what he was hearing. In an angry tone Shawn said, “You are rejecting my movie plot because the formula of love has been seen before, and not because of the content?”
“Though I wouldn’t put it just like that, you seem to get the idea. I’m sorry to say it, but it wasn’t very original. I was actually hoping for something better, considering your last movie.”
Shawn half heartedly laughed and said, “Of course, if I made it like my last movie, you would just say how unoriginal it was, right?”
Ronald laughed himself, obviously not noticing how angry Shawn was.
“Well, yes, I suppose so. I’d be a fool not to, considering what I just said to you.”
Shawn’s mind snapped. His work, his great accomplishment, was being ridiculed because it happened to be a love story, and Ronald didn’t even notice that he was upset. He had never been this angry since he had argued with his former girlfriend.
“OK. What if I made a new plot, like a time traveling love story? A man falls in love with a woman from the past, and goes back in time with the knowledge of how she dies so he can save her. Or maybe just a time traveling tale, about someone from the future that comes to change the past?”
Putting his fingers to his chin, Ronald said, “Well, depending on how you wrote your first pitch, you might have a story. Your second pitch, however, has been done so many times that those types of movies are just redundant.”
Shawn smiled at the trap he had just laid and said, “Well Ronald, if you knew your business, you would know the first pitch I gave you has already been done too. Remember A Happy Accident?”
Realization finally kicked in, and Ronald stammered, “Oh. That’s right. I forgot all about that movie. I suppose your pitch wasn’t original.”
“Exactly,” said Shawn, his voice filled with sarcasm. “What about a comedy? The main character is your average working Joe, and he happens to inherit a limitless fortune from one of his relatives. And the comedy will involve him using that fortune in odd ways, while those that desire it for themselves try to steal it from him.”
“That too has been done,” said Ronald, beginning to get a frown.
“Of course it has. Even if I made it so the protagonist was one of the people who wanted the inherited money, it still wouldn’t be original. In fact, I shouldn’t even bother with any types of comedies. Almost all comedies are the same now, all involving the same poop jokes and sexual humor. Well, how about a science fiction movie instead, set in a galaxy far, far away?”
Ronald moved nervously in his seat, finally noticing he had just angered Shawn. In a calming tone, Ronald said, “Shawn, if you could just slow down I could-”
Shawn interrupted him. He was mad as hell, and just kept on talking.
“But we can’t do a science fiction movie either, as the whole concept of a story set in a galaxy far, far away has been played out too much by Star Wars and Star Trek. Hey, what about an action movie Ronald? Everybody loves to see a good action movie with gun fights, car chases, and Kung Fu right?”
Ronald didn’t say anything this time. He was beginning to realize there was no stemming Shawn’s anger. He looked around the outside of the café, probably to see if the waitress was coming or if there were new customers waiting, so he could use them as an excuse to calm Shawn’s rant. But there was no one in sight. Ronald had made sure of that by sitting outside.
“But we can’t do an action movie,” continued Shawn, the tone of his voice low but strong as if he was yelling, “as all forms of gun fights, car chases, and Kung Fu have been done over and over again. The only difference between them is who the lead actor or actress is. Even if you altered the physics a bit, like giving someone super powers, that wouldn’t be original either. If the protagonist flew, had laser vision or super speed, people would just think about Superman or the Matrix movies. The movie would just be a rip-off.”
Silence emanated around the both of them when Shawn finished yelling. Ronald, after making sure Shawn was done talking, said, “Why are you saying all this to me?”
“Because Ronald,” said Shawn, his anger still not quelled, “What you are telling me is I shouldn’t bother making any more movies.”
“What?” Ronald said, obviously dumbfounded.
“Weren’t you just listening? You said to me you can’t make my movie because it wasn’t original. As every type of movie in existence has already told every conceivable story, I shouldn’t bother writing scripts anymore, as they won’t be original.”
Ronald gave a slight laugh, saying, “Shawn, that’s taking what I said a bit far. I just said your script was unoriginal.”
“And I’m saying to you nothing is original anymore! So why bother making movies?”
“Shawn, I think you are just upset I denied your script,” said Ronald, irritation in his voice. “That is no reason for you to complain to me. Just rewrite the script, and get back to me when you are finished again,” and he handed back Shawn’s copy.
Shawn grabbed his written draft and put it into his travel bag. Looking back at Ronald, he asked, “And what would you like me to rewrite Ronald?”
“I already told you what to rewrite,” said Ronald in a matter of fact tone.
“No, you didn’t. All you said to me was how unoriginal it was.”
“Then don’t make it unoriginal. Think of something new!” said Ronald, redness beginning to color his cheeks.
“It’s a love story Ronald. You yourself said love stories are all unoriginal, so I can’t make it any more original than it already is.”
“Then I guess you might as well throw that script out, as I’m not funding its production!” screamed Ronald.
They both sat in silence again. Ronald was breathing heavily while Shawn just looked at him with a calm determination.
“If you can’t give me a reason for not funding my script besides the ‘unoriginality’,” said Shawn, “I don’t think I should be coming to you for business anymore.”
Ronald eyes bugged out at Shawn, as if he had just said the most intolerable phrase in existence. His voice stammering, he said, “You can’t be serious Shawn. This early in our partnership and you want to call it quits just because I refuse to make one of your movies?”
“I am serious,” said Shawn, not breaking eye contact with Ronald. “And I’m not going to leave just because you are going to reject just one of my movies. It’s because you are going to reject them all. Every movie I give you from now on will follow some form of movie formula, and you will reject it because of that. I don’t want to do business with someone who throws away my work because of a guideline movies must follow. My script here is more than just another love story. It is original, and came from me and my own mind. If I’m going to think like you and believe it’s just a copy, than every other story in existence is also just a copy. Therefore, I and every other writer have no business writing, because there is nothing more to write about. As I don’t believe that, I am going to take my business elsewhere before your negative outlook affects my future writing.”
Ronald gave a little laugh and said, “You are an idiot if you think someone is going to allow a movie like that into movie theaters. No one will ever film such an unoriginal script.”
Shawn sighed angrily, tired of having Ronald smear his face in the mud. Picking up his travel bag, Shawn got up from his seat and left Ronald in the café, waving goodbye as he went.
When Shawn was out of sight, the female waitress finally came out of the inside of the café. Coming to the table where Ronald Dampier sat, she asked, “Are you ready to order?”
Two weeks after the incident with Ronald, Shawn found himself in a different café in a different city. The man sitting across from him now was Jeff Naatz. He was not as popular or rich as Ronald Dampier, but he was almost as successful with the movies he made.
The speed at which Shawn had come into the employ of Jeff still surprised him. After Shawn severed all tied with Ronald’s company, the word spread quickly that Ronald had lost one of his newest writing talents. After everyone found out it was Shawn, he was bombarded with letters and phone calls of big time movie makers. The only person who really got him interested was Jeff, because he was more of an independent movie man than the rest of the potential bosses. And he bought cheaper suits than Ronald.
At the moment, Jeff was reading the exact same script Shawn had shown Ronald. He paged through the script quickly, and it didn’t seem like he was reading it. But he must have, as Jeff had a large smile upon his face. Shawn couldn’t take his smile as a good sign though, as Ronald smiled when he refused to make his movie a reality. So, Shawn merely waited while Jeff looked like he enjoyed his writing.
Making it halfway through the script, Jeff finally put down Shawn’s copy. He was still smiling, but this time there was confusion on his face.
“Can I ask you something Shawn?” asked Jeff.
“Sure thing Jeff,” said Shawn, wondering if he was going to be turned down again.
“I’ve heard rumors of why you quit, and one of them was because Ronald wouldn’t accept your new script. Is the script I’m reading here the same script?”
Wanting to be totally honest with Jeff, Shawn nodded his head yes.
“Are you kidding me?” laughed Jeff, opening up the script again. “This is the story Ronald refused to bring to life?”
“Um...yeah,” said Shawn, taken aback by Jeff’s reaction. “That’s the script.”
Paging through the story again, Jeff asked, “What was his reason? No, wait, don’t answer that. I’m pretty sure I don’t want to know. It’s probably going to be over something silly.”
Shawn suddenly liked this change of attitude. With his nervousness gone, he said, “Ronald said my script was a love story, and too unoriginal to be made into a movie.”
Jeff froze and looked back at Shawn, saying, “No way. He would not say that.”
After Shawn happily nodded his head yes, Jeff laughed and began to read the script again. After he read a little bit more, Jeff said, “Well, that’s the silliest thing I have ever heard. I’ve never read a story like this before in my life. Either he doesn’t like love stories, or he had his head up his ass.”
Shawn merely smiled to himself. He had a feeling he was going to like working with Jeff.
Original content and site layout ©1983-2008 Jacob Nelson. Please do not copy, display, or duplicate anything without creator's permission. Material otherwise not owned by Jacob Nelson is owned by the Internets and their respective owners.