The lady who inspired ‘Mean Girls’ is pissed Tina Fey and Paramount took advantage of her work while she’s left with nothing…and now she says she’s doing something about it.
Author Rosalind Wiseman say it New York Post this weekend that she and her attorneys are circling a lawsuit to review the movie studio’s accounting books to determine if there’s any money they’ve made from “Mean Girls” over the years. years that could be sent to him.
The reason… Wiseman says she feels like she’s been drained of a lot of potential money since the hit 2004 film was released – especially in light of the Broadway musical that was made of it… which has worked pretty well for years now in different markets.
According to RW, the deal she signed with Paramount and TF at the time – which earned her $400,000, and which she acknowledges waived any rights to the work and/or derivatives – guaranteed net profit points, which means she could make more depending on the quality of the movie. However, she claims that Paramount has repeatedly told her that she has nothing left of the cake for her…and that they haven’t really gotten much of it back in the long run.
Wiseman thinks it’s BS – and his lawyer, Ryan Keech, says, “I suspect most people would be shocked at how badly Rosalind Wiseman has been treated. Well so.”
He adds: “It is simply disgraceful for a company with the resources of Paramount to go to such lengths to deny Ms Wiseman what she is entitled to for creating what has become one of the most iconic. entertainment franchises of the past 25 years.” Rosalind and co. say they want to audit Paramount and are considering other next steps…although they don’t specify exactly how they will 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 could make a good screenplay.
Of course, she was absolutely right… the movie has become a cult classic, and serves as a staple of the 2000s. The thing is… Wiseman seems salty about how Tina Fey has repurposed material over the years , alleging that TF even dragged her into appearances and workshops (regarding the small parts of “Mean Girls”) without paying her an extra dime.
She says: “I am clearly recognized and recognized by Tina as the source, the inspiration. I am recognized and yet I do not deserve anything?”
Wiseman adds, “Tina spoke so eloquently about women supporting other women, but it became increasingly clear to me that in my personal experience, that’s not going to be the experience. You don’t just talk about supporting women, you actually do it.”