Piss off the woman who inspired “Mean Girls”. Tina Fey and Paramount cashed in on his work while he was left with zilch … and now, he says he’s doing something about it.
Author Rosalind Wiseman said to NY Post this weekend she and her lawyers are spinning off legal action to check the movie studio’s accounting books to see if they have money from ‘Mean Girls’ over the years that could be sent to her.
The reason … Wiseman says he feels like he’s lost a lot of potential money since the hit 2004 movie was released — especially in light of the Broadway musical that was made about it … which is pretty good for the year which is now in different markets.
According to RW, the agreement he signed with Paramount and TF at the time — which made him a one-time $400k, and in which he acknowledged relinquishing any rights to the work and/or derivatives — guaranteed the net profit points, meaning he can make more based on how well the flick does. However, he said Paramount repeatedly told him there was no pie left for him … and they hadn’t really collected much from it in a long time.
Wiseman thinks that’s BS — and his lawyer, Ryan Keech, said, “I think most people would be surprised at how poorly Rosalind Wiseman was treated. And rightly so.”
He added, “It’s a shame for a company with the resources of Paramount to go to the lengths it has to deny Ms. Wiseman what she deserves for creating what has become one of the most iconic. entertainment franchise for the past 25 years.” Rosalind and co. say they want to audit Paramount, and are considering next steps … although they didn’t specify exactly how they would get Paramount to comply.
As many people know … ‘Mean Girls’ is based on Wiseman’s 2002 parenting book, ‘Queen Bees and Wannabes,’ which Tina read and thought might make a good script.
Of course, he was absolutely right … the film became a cult classic, and serves as a staple of the 2000s. The thing is … Wiseman seems salty about how Tina Fey has re-used the material over the years, saying that TF has even accompanied her to appearances and workshops (regarding the smaller ‘Mean Girls’ plays ) without paying him an extra cent.
She says, “I am clearly recognized and recognized by Tina as the source material, the inspiration. I am recognized and yet I deserve nothing?”
Wiseman added, “Tina speaks so eloquently about women supporting other women, but it’s become more clear to me that, in my own personal experience, that’s not going to be the experience. You don’t just talk about supporting with girls, you really do.”