Listen: CAA Is Pitched Writer-Less Movie

This may or may not be something to lighten the mood today, but the Marzipan Taco podcast has a feature called LET'S CALL AN AGENT -- and this time they called the office of Tom Cruise's CAA team member Tori Metzger (why not Rick Nicita?) to pitch a writer-less silent biopic of Marcel Marceau with Cruise in white face. "It requires no writers, which is the best part."  "That's great," Metzger's assistant responds. Enjoy.

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14 Comments »

  1. What’s going on with all these recorded phone conversations, i.e. Dog the Bounty Hunter, etc

    Irrespective of offensive or humorous content, isn’t it illegal to secretly record a phone conversation, much less broadcast it?

    Comment by Lawful — November 5, 2007 @ 11:15 am

  2. Tory’s assistant handled himself well. His job is to be polite and keep these nuts away from Tory, which he did. So what’s so funny?

    Comment by Scott — November 5, 2007 @ 11:43 am

  3. The bit isn’t funny at all. And it’s at the expense of an assistant who’s just trying to do his job. Way to go, douche bags.

    Comment by russell — November 5, 2007 @ 12:04 pm

  4. I hate the death star as much as the next guy, but that assistant shouldn’t be the one getting slammed. He juggled that call the best he could. Lets be fair.

    Comment by Industry — November 5, 2007 @ 12:06 pm

  5. Proof as to why you need a PROFESSIONAL writer to write material.

    America would be subjected to this kind of unfunny material, if the strike lasts a long time this is what we will be subjected to.

    By the way Curb, although improv, is a scripted show.

    Comment by Agentatanotheragency — November 5, 2007 @ 12:37 pm

  6. that was utterly hysterical. and i work as an assistant!

    Comment by Nick — November 5, 2007 @ 12:38 pm

  7. Marzipan Taco is a scab and so is Tori Metzger if he/she accepts. Almost all projects begin with an idea and they are going to need a script in order to do this movie unless it is improv. All of Charlie Chaplin’s work was done with a script and we all should know that every show begins with a single idea.

    Comment by Jessy S. — November 5, 2007 @ 12:55 pm

  8. Agree with Agentatanotheragency - that was just bad BAD material. Gutter trash. And to comment that the writer is only responsible for dialogue - no dialogue no need for a writer. The script is the foundation for everything. Then again everything thinks that if they can string a sentence together they can write.

    Bad joke, not funny, bad taste.

    Comment by Andrew — November 5, 2007 @ 1:24 pm

  9. This brings up an interesting point: Most people probably don’t realize that professional TV and film writers do a lot more than simply write the dialogue in a script: They write scenes, which require description, sometimes in detail, of the environment; they have to string those scenes together into a (hopefully) coherent act; they have to tie those acts together into some kind of story-like whole; and they have to create and describe characters who inhabit these stories. Long story short, riters write a lot more than simply dialogue (and yes, I know the pitch was meant to be tongue-in-cheek).

    Comment by JB — November 5, 2007 @ 2:05 pm

  10. JB,

    That’s been my experience with people outside of the industry. When I tell them I write scripts, they basically ask if I write the dialogue. They aren’t even sure what a screenwriter does much less that there are stage directions to write as well. The WGA needs to actually educate the masses about what a screenwriter actually does which might make the public appreciate how much of a skill good screenwriting is. You know, as opposed to painting us all as overpaid hacks.

    Comment by Brad — November 5, 2007 @ 2:41 pm

  11. This isn’t funny. Not even entertaining. Assistant needs to learn how to declare, “she’s/he’s not available” and mean it.

    Comment by November — November 5, 2007 @ 3:00 pm

  12. Not remotely funny, and it is illegal to record a phone call ex parte in CA and NY.

    I can’t believe how many comments here are taking this seriously.

    Think one of the other agencies signs these not-funny internet pranksters?

    Comment by Studio Plant — November 6, 2007 @ 12:49 pm

  13. I think the writer’s demands should be totally and
    completely met because they deserve the money and
    recognition for the concepts they create.

    As for Dog’s conversation being recorded, that
    IS legal in Hawaii. However, it is not legal to
    then SELL those recordings in the manner his son
    sold them to the National Enquirer.

    It’s racist to accuse someone of being racist for using
    a word that people of that race use all the time themselves!(and no one raises a stink!) It’s time
    to exercise 1st amendment rights. It’s everyone
    can use it or no one can use it. What’s it going
    to be?

    Comment by Connie — November 6, 2007 @ 8:37 pm

  14. some of you people need to get a sense of humor already… geez!

    Comment by pez — December 18, 2007 @ 5:02 pm

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