The lady who inspired “Mean Girls” is mad Tina Fey and Paramount cashed in on her work while leaving her with zilch … and now she says she’s doing something about it.
Author Rosalind Wiseman told NEW Mail this weekend, where she and her lawyers are circling court cases to examine the movie studio’s accounting books to see if there’s any money they’ve made from ‘Mean Girls’ over the years that could be sent to her.
The reason … Wiseman says she feels like she’s been screwed out of a lot of potential money since the hit 2004 movie was released — especially in light of the Broadway musical that’s been made about it … which has done quite well for years now in various markets.
According to RW, the deal she signed with Paramount and TF at the time—which gave her a one-time fee of $400,000 and, she acknowledges, waived rights to the work and/or derivatives—guaranteed net profit points, meaning she could make more based on how well the flick did. However, she claims that Paramount has told her over and over that there’s no pie left for her … and that they haven’t actually collected much from it in the long run.
Wiseman thinks it’s BS — and her attorney, Ryan Keechsays, “I suspect most people would be shocked at how shabbily Rosalind Wiseman has been treated. And rightly so.”
He adds: “It is nothing short of shameful for a company with Paramount’s resources to go as far as it has to deny Ms. Wiseman what she is entitled to, for creating what has become one of the most iconic entertainment franchise over the past 25 years.” Rosalind and co. says they want to audit Paramount, and are considering further next steps … though they won’t specify exactly how they’ll get Paramount to comply.
As many 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, she was absolutely right… the film became a cult classic and serves as a staple of the 2000s. The thing is … Wiseman sounds salty about how Tina Fey has recycled the material over the years, claiming that TF’s even coaxed her into appearances and workshops (regarding minor ‘Mean Girls’ acting) without paying her an extra cents.
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 adds, “Tina has spoken so eloquently about women supporting other women, but it’s become increasingly clear to me that in my own personal experience, that’s not being the experience. You don’t just talk about supporting women, you do indeed it is.”
