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Post by mkelly on Apr 19, 2023 7:51:32 GMT -5
Screenwriter Sounds Off Ahead of Hearing to Dismiss His Suit
City News Service April 13, 2023 Thursday 11:06 AM PST
Copyright 2023 City News Service, Inc. All Rights Reserved No City News Service material may be republished without the express written permission of the City News Service, Inc.
LOS ANGELES (CNS) - A screenwriter hoping to defeat an effort by two production companies to dismiss his lawsuit over film credits for the still-unreleased James Caan-Pierce Brosnan crime drama "Fast Charlie" says in new court papers he was willing to rewrite the script based on concerns raised by actor Bryan Cranston, who was considered for a lead role. Plaintiff Lee Goldberg and his company, Adventures in Television, brought the lawsuit July 15 in Los Angeles Superior Court against Boomtown Media Partners LLC and Fast Charlie Nola LLC, alleging breach of contract and seeking declaratory relief.
"Fast Charlie" producer Dan Grodnick said in a sworn statement last year in support of the dismissal motion that when presented with the Goldberg script, a number of prominent actors declined to participate in the film, including Viggo Mortenson, Alicia Vikander, Chris Pine, Gerard Butler, Jason Statham, Jude Law, Keanu Reeves, Mark Wahlberg, Matthew McConaughey, Samuel L. Jackson, Sylvester Stallone, Kurt Russell, Rene Russo and Michael Douglas.
Cranston "saw potential in the lead character, Charlie Swift, but was not interested in the Goldberg script as written," Grodnick says. "Without the commitment of a major talent like Mr. Cranston to the film, the film simply could not be financed," according to Grodnick.
When a new and significantly different script was presented that included Cranston's input, Brosnan agreed to come aboard and eventually Caan also was recruited, Grodnick says. But in a sworn declaration submitted Wednesday, Goldberg said he spoke with Grodnick in January 2020 and told him that he would incorporate Cranston's notes into the script "for appropriate compensation." Goldberg further says he had an additional conversation that same month with Grodnick and director Phillip Noyce to further discuss Cranston's notes.
Grodnick later called Goldberg and said he and the others "did not want to make Cranston's requested changes and would look for another lead actor," according to Goldberg, who additionally says Grodnick stated in a later email that the defendants were bypassing Cranston in favor of Harrison Ford.
"After my discussions with Grodnick, defendants never reached out to me to do a rewrite nor offer me the opportunity to do any rewrite," Goldberg says. The plaintiff says he did not know a film was being made or that another writer was engaged until an article about the film was published in the media in 2022.
Goldberg has written for such television shows as "Psych," "Monk," "Diagnosis Murder," "Baywatch" and "Spenser: For Hire." According to his suit, he entered a written contract in March 2021 through his company with Boomtown Media to obtain the option to acquire the motion picture, television and ancillary rights to "Gun Monkeys," a screenplay authored by Goldberg based on the Victor Gischler novel of the same title. The contract states that all monies due Goldberg's company were to be paid to Goldberg if a film was made based on "Gun Monkeys" along with credits in the main titles, home video packaging and other areas, according to the suit.
Goldberg believes Boomtown assigned its rights to FCN, which in April 2022 began shooting "Fast Charlie," a movie based on "Gun Monkeys," but the plaintiff was not paid the agreed-upon purchase price or provided through his company the first opportunity to make any required revisions to the "Gun Monkeys" screenplay, the suit states. Goldberg maintains he is entitled to writing and co-producer credits as well as compensatory damages.
The production companies are seeking dismissal of Goldberg's suit via an anti-SLAAP motion. The state's anti-SLAPP -- Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation -- law is intended to prevent people from using courts, and potential threats of a lawsuit, to intimidate those who are exercising their First Amendment rights. In their court papers, the production companies attorneys state there is a "clear and direct connection between defendants' alleged use of the Goldberg script and topics of widespread public interest, including the book, the film, the film's screenwriter and Caan's passing."
Goldberg did not have the rights to make a derivative work of the book; rather the defendants had the rights to make a screenplay and motion picture based on the book, according to the defense's court papers. A hearing on the defendants' anti-SLAPP motion is scheduled April 22 before Judge Armen Tamzarian
"Fast Charlie" finished production in New Orleans, but has not yet been released. The film focuses on Brosnan's character, Charlie Swift, who toiled for mob figure Caan for two decades and seeks to avenge Caan's death, which is brought about by a rival boss.
Caan died last July 6 at age 82 and was known for playing in films as varied as "The Godfather" and "Thief" as well as "Brian's Song."
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Post by Barbara on Apr 20, 2023 0:00:18 GMT -5
I think Grodnick is abusing the principle behind anti-SLAAP motions, especially since his production company is not an innocent. We know this because SAG-AFTRA has an action against him for not paying some of the cast who live and work in NOLA, and no one is allowed to do voice pick-ups until this is settled. It sounds like this guy talks out of both sides of his mouth (not unusual in Hollywood) but he is getting caught.
Me thinks poor Pierce really stepped in it.
-- B
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Post by fkma6996 on Apr 23, 2023 1:33:36 GMT -5
Hope we can see Fast Charlie soon, im so looking foward to see Beosnan and the legendary Mr Caan in his final film.
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Post by SeriousJacko on Apr 25, 2023 6:18:27 GMT -5
Agreed. Hopefully this debacle gets resolved soon and all parties, in the end, are satisfied so we'll get to finally see the film.
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Post by Barbara on Apr 26, 2023 1:56:18 GMT -5
If anyone is going to ask Pierce about the Fast Charlie debacle, it will be Jimmy Kimmel. He likes pushing the envelope.
-- B
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Post by SeriousJacko on Jul 3, 2023 3:02:23 GMT -5
Brosnan recently posted a photo of him and Jimmy Caan from the set and wrote "November" in the caption. Does this mean the film is projected to come out sometime in November?
As for the legal disputes, apparently, it's still going to trial.
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Post by eaz35173 on Jul 3, 2023 14:09:57 GMT -5
Brosnan recently posted a photo of him and Jimmy Caan from the set and wrote "November" in the caption. Does this mean the film is projected to come out sometime in November? As for the legal disputes, apparently, it's still going to trial.
Fast Charlie … November…. Director, Philip Noyce, James Caan, Morena Baccarin and my self. DP Warwick Thornton.
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Post by Barbara on Jul 4, 2023 3:21:16 GMT -5
I have a feeling it will be November, and if they push through, it will be for an Oscar run for James Caan, and I hope he wins. Fast Charlie I can't see being Brosnan's Oscar. You have to do something pretty dramatic to yourself for that, so I think the more likely choice is either The Last Rifleman because of the prosthetics, OR Four Letters of Love and that will be a Best Supporting nod.
Of course my dream, which will not come true for many reasons is that he stars in a filmed version of King of Spies and THAT would nail his Oscar.
(sarcasm on) Which I would then steal and....relocate in the bodies of two people who have had EONs to realize their mistake and still haven't. (sarcasm off)
-- Xen
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Post by eaz35173 on Jul 22, 2023 22:11:34 GMT -5
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Post by Barbara on Aug 13, 2023 2:09:39 GMT -5
Courtesy of MKelly....
Production Companies, Screenwriter Settle Suit Involving Final James Caan Film
Export Citation
City News Service
August 9, 2023 Wednesday 7:18 AM PST
Copyright 2023 City News Service, Inc. All Rights Reserved
No City News Service material may be republished without the express written permission of the City News Service, Inc.
Length: 416 words
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LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Two production companies and a screenwriter have settled a lawsuit stemming from a dispute over film credits for the upcoming James Caan-Pierce Brosnan crime drama "Fast Charlie."
Plaintiff Lee Goldberg and his company, Adventures in Television, brought the lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court against Boomtown Media Partners LLC and Fast Charlie Nola LLC, alleging breach of contract and seeking declaratory relief. On Monday, Goldberg's attorneys filed court papers with Judge Armen Tamzarian stating the case was resolved, but no terms were divulged.
The companies had earlier filed a motion for dismissal under the state's anti-SLAPP -- Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation -- law, which is intended to prevent people from using courts, and potential threats of a lawsuit, to intimidate those who are exercising their First Amendment rights.
But Tamzarian, in clearing the case for trial, ruled June 22 that although the public may be interested in the movie or in the book on which it is based, that does not mean the film constitutes speech implicating a matter of public interest.
Goldberg, who has written for such television shows as "Psych," "Monk," "Diagnosis Murder," "Baywatch" and "Spenser: For Hire," entered a written contract in March 2021 through his company with Boomtown Media to obtain the option to acquire the motion picture, television and ancillary rights to "Gun Monkeys," a screenplay authored by Goldberg based on the Victor Gischler novel of the same title, the suit stated.
The contract stated that all monies due Goldberg's company were to be paid to Goldberg if a film was made based on "Gun Monkeys" along with credits in the main titles, home video packaging and other areas, according to the suit filed in July 2022.
Goldberg believes Boomtown assigned its rights to FCN, which in April began shooting "Fast Charlie," a movie based on "Gun Monkeys," but the plaintiff was not paid the agreed-upon purchase price or provided through his company the first opportunity to make any required revisions to the "Gun Monkeys" screenplay, the suit stated.
"Fast Charlie" finished production in New Orleans, but has not yet been released. The film focuses on Brosnan's character, Charlie Swift, who toiled for mob figure Caan for two decades and seeks to avenge Caan's death, which is brought about by a rival boss.
Caan died July 6, 2002, at age 82 and was known for playing in films as varied as "The Godfather" and "Thief" as well as "Brian's Song."
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Post by fkma6996 on Sept 17, 2023 7:53:56 GMT -5
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Post by mkelly on Sept 20, 2023 18:28:59 GMT -5
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Post by mkelly on Oct 2, 2023 15:49:26 GMT -5
Mill Valley Film Festival Pierce Brosnan is an aging mob fixer in Phillip Noyce’s “Fast Charlie.” Pierce Brosnan takes the lead in this world premiere from director Phillip Noyce as Charlie, an aging mob fixer. When an associate’s hit doesn’t quite go as planned, the bodies start falling in a Deep South gang war with Charlie in the thick of it. Fast, furious, and darkly funny, Noyce’s adaptation of Victor Gischler’s 2002 novel “Gun Monkeys” also stars the late James Caan in one of his last roles. Noyce is expected to attend. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7. Smith Rafael; 2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 9. Sequoia. $8-16.50.
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Post by Barbara on Oct 4, 2023 0:44:28 GMT -5
Verrrrrrry interesting. The director is expected to attend. Brosnan is not. Is that a nod to the ongoing actor's strike?
-- Xen
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Post by eaz35173 on Oct 7, 2023 20:53:56 GMT -5
Fast Charlie: James Caan’s final film starring Pierce Brosnan and Morena Baccarin lands a U.S. release
Fast Charlie, the final film starring James Caan, gets U.S. distribution after Vertical snaps up the rights to the action film adaptation. By Steve Seigh 1 day ago
Vertical is springing into action by snagging the U.S. distribution rights for Fast Charlie, the final film starring the late James Caan. Pierce Brosnan and Morena Baccarin lead the cast, with the film making its world premiere at the Mill Valley Film Festival on October 7. Fast Charlie takes inspiration from Victor Gischler’s 2001 novel Gun Monkeys.
Here’s a synopsis for Gischler’s novel via Amazon:
Charlie Swift is an old school kind of guy. Runs a tight ship. Respects his boss. Takes care of his mom and kid brother. And, he’s a stone cold killer. When a fancy new-wave hood, hungry for the primo Orlando territory Charlie enforces, offs most of Charlie’s boys in a bloody mob takeover, our man steps in to make things right. But when word gets out that his boss has gone missing and there’s a traitor among his crew of gun monkeys, Charlie knows payback ain’t gonna be easy. Shot up, boozed up, and beaten up, Charlie finds the toughest challenge he’s ever had to face isn’t snuffing out life, but preserving it.
In Fast Charlie, the fixer encounters a problem. The target he’s killed is missing their head, which makes getting paid for the job difficult. Charlie needs to prove the body of his target is legit to the person who ordered the hit, Beggar Mercado (The Wire’s Gbenga Akinnagbe). To do this, Charlie enlists the help of Marcie Kramer (Baccarin), the victim’s ex-wife and a woman with a backbone and a specific set of valuable skills. Pulling Marcie back into a past she intends to leave behind, the mission sends the duo on an unhinged journey as they fight to protect the legacy of Charlie’s best friend and mentor, Stan Mullen (Caan) while bringing down Beggar and his entire operation. (via Deadline)
Phillip Noyce (Salt) directs from a script by Richard Wenk (Equalizer franchise), with Toby Huss (Copshop) and Sharon Gless (Burn Notice) also leading the cast.
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Post by fkma6996 on Oct 8, 2023 0:31:01 GMT -5
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Post by Barbara on Oct 8, 2023 0:44:06 GMT -5
This is a very solid review, but for the fact that the reviewer is all but saying it will bomb at the theatres but make its money at home. Here's hoping the Academy respects it none the less.
-- Barbara
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Post by fkma6996 on Oct 9, 2023 10:18:14 GMT -5
Hopefully this film can be a cult hit like the Matador
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Post by Barbara on Oct 9, 2023 22:45:00 GMT -5
It seems to be heading in that direction. I just wish Pierce could promote it.
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Post by mkelly on Oct 10, 2023 15:33:28 GMT -5
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