Part 2 -- "but you owe me, please?"

Okay, this is Part 2 of how Jim keeps trying to get the money due him from a screenplay that was finished. It moves on... Mary (not real name as others are also not real names) is the WGC person, like WGA, they look after writers so we don't get screwed. They are nice people. You'll see "Mary" often.

Fake names but real events.

September 14, 2010 – 7:41am PST

Hi Jim,

Here is Jack’s response to my email.  Hope that takes care of everything….but we should check in on IMDB in the near future again just in case.  The WGC can petition to have changes as well, but it’s always easier if it comes from the production company….

Best,

Mary WGC

From: Jack@gmail.com [mailto:@gmail.com]
Sent: September 14, 2010 10:37 AM
To: Mary
Subject: Re: Town movie

Wire is going today, and no one is getting contributing writing credit. My AD-co-producer consolidated a couple locations and adjusted day and nights-- which isn't writing-- put that on IMDB. The actors did some line changes on day to make more organic to them, but there is only one writer on this and I will correct IMDB. Jim is the sole writer. It is hard to control people sometimes. My apologies. I will have Emmy advise you when Jim's been paid. Today. Thanks.

Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry

Dear Jack, Ellen & Susan,

I am writing to find out whether you have sent the wire payment for Jim Makichuk.  I have not received it in our trust account.   Please confirm if this has been sent and, if possible, send tracking information so we can keep an eye out for it.

For your reference, our wire info is attached, though you must have it since the option payment was received without issue.

Thank you.

Bob (my lawyer)

Ventura Blvd.

Woodland Hills, CA  91364

September 14/2010 Time unknown.

Hi Bob

Susan is waiting forth invoice to come back from EP. The wire is in
process. The money should be in his account today. Mary will write you
and explain exactly where we are. I'm sorry for the delay. We are
working hard to get it o Jim as fast as possible.

Best

Ellen

On Thu, Sep 16, 2010 at 11:03 AM, Jim <badland@dslextreme.com> wrote:

Hi Ellen

Thanks for following up. Just found out your budgets, man, that must be hard as hell to produce a movie for under $1 million, and a Christmas movie too! I know what low budgets are like but it's a reality now for TV movies, I heard Hallmark pays about $400k or so, afraid those days of bigger budget TV movies are gone for all of us.

Again, thanks for your help on this issue.

Jim

-- Original Message -----

From: Jane

To: Jim ; mar

Sent: Tuesday, September 14, 2010 12:15 PM

Subject: Fwd: Fwd: "Town" - Writer - Jim Makichuk Wire Instructions

Hi Jim, 

Mary, our production accountant needs your lawyers email address. Please advise. 

Best,Jane

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: mary robbiea@yahoo.ca>
Date: Tue, Sep 14, 2010 at 11:48 AM
Subject: Re: Fwd: "Town" - Writer - Jim Makichuk Wire Instructions
To: Jane@gmail.com>

I still need the lawyers email address if Rob wants me to copy him

me 

Many thanks 

Susan

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: mary robbie@
Date: Tue, Sep 14, 2010 at 11:48 AM
Subject: Re: Fwd: "Town" - Writer - Jim Makichuk Wire Instructions
To: Jane @gmail.com>

I still need the lawyers email address if Rob wants me to copy him

me 

Many thanks 

Susan

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Liz
To: "Robbie@yahoo"
Sent: Thu, September 16, 2010 2:14:30 PM
Subject: Town that Xmas Forgot - WGC (Jim Makichuk)

Hi Mary,

Can you please have Jim complete the attached residency form and return to my attention as soon as possible?We must confirm his residency, as well as where the work was performed, before payment can be processed.

Thanks,

From: Jane@gmail.com>
To: mary @yahoo.ca>
Sent: Tue, September 16, 2010 Subject: Fwd: "Town" - Writer - Jim Makichuk Wire Instructions

Jim could you please complete and return the attached form.

The payroll company requires it as you can see.

If you need to fax our # is 905-545-4209
|Payroll Supervisor

EP Canada Film Services Inc.

Email: Website: www.epcanada.com
 

 

From: Jim
To: mary
Sent: Thu, September 16, 2010 5:27:43 PM
Subject: Re: Town that Xmas Forgot - WGC (Jim Makichuk)

Mary

I have the form, as you may know, this payment was due at least 2 weeks ago or more and due to some office mess-up to which WGC and my attorney responded.

I will sign this but hope it is the end of a long line of emails that promised a rush job, which it is not.

One question is that The screenplay was a spec script, written years ago and I'm not sure what to put in #3, do I choose A or B. I wrote the script in the US but it was used and performed in Canada.

Please email or call me as I would like to expedite the payment which now is contradictory to WGC rules for payment due date.

Jim Makichuk

(818)995-4742

You are right this is becoming a quite a boggle for what should be a simple thing.

I am sorry for that, but excuses or reasons why don't win ball games.

   

From what I read on the form I would think it would be B. Your services were performed in the US.

I will double check with EP first thing when they open in the morning and let you know as quickly as I can.

Hopefuly we can get this resolved and send you $$ off tomorrow.
 

Susan

September 17, 2010 7:02am PST

The WGC can apply a 2% per month interest charge, but I am hoping that this payment does not become overdue for that long.  If you’ve signed and sent back the form and if they don’t pay you today I can issue a Notice of Default on Monday letting them know that they currently haven’t secured the rights to your material and if they don’t rectify it within 5 days all the rights revert back to you.

Best,

Mary

September 17, 2010 – 10:30am PST

Phone call from Emma who was as frustrated as me and said they are making 3 movies back to back and barely able to figure out what’s going on. She said EP accts said that since I lived in USA, even after receiving the document I faxed, they couldn’t pay me.

Jane said she would go to a mysterious “Wayne” who could bypass all this b.s. and at least send $25k of the $34k to me Friday.

September 17 2010  12:53pm PST

Jim,

Bob sent the wire that we spoke about. The bank may have processed it after the daily cut off time so the $$ should hit your agents trust account Monday latest.   

 I have attached a copy of the wire.

As soon as EP Canada lets me know what the employee portion of the fringes are I'll send the rest.

In theory, they should let me know today. We both know where theory has gotten us so far.

I'll keep in touch

'll talk Monday

Take care 

Jane

September 17, 2010 1:13pm PST

Jim

Right.  I will let you know once it hits the account.

Bob (my lawyer)

Woodland Hills, CA  91364

                                        Final page comes Wednesday.