Get Shorty by Elmore Leonard Page A

the way I prefer to go. You retain control. But with the actor I have in mind, I know I’m looking at a twenty-million-dollar picture, minimum, and that means going to one of the majors. Otherwise I wouldn’t go in a studio to take a leak.”
    â€œYou’re so sure it’s a winner,” Chili said, “what’s the problem?”
    â€œI told you, I need a half a million to get started,” Harry said. “See, the guy I want is the kind of star not only can act, he doesn’t mind looking bad on the screen. Tight pants and capped teeth won’t make it in this one. If I could get Gene Hackman, say, we’d be in preproduction as I speak. But Gene’s got something like five pictures lined up he’s committed to, I checked.”
    Chili thought of his all-time favorite. “What about Robert De Niro?”
    â€œBobby De Niro is possibly the finest actor working today, right up there with Brando. But I don’t quite see him for this one.”
    â€œTom Cruise?”
    â€œWonderful young actor, but that’s the problem, he’s too young for the part. I’ll have to show you my list, the ones I’ve considered are at least good enough and the right age. Bill Hurt, Dreyfuss, who happens to be hot at the moment, Pacino, Nicholson, Hoffman . . . Dustin I saw as a close second choice.”
    â€œYeah? Who’s your first?”
    â€œMichael Weir, superstar.”
    Chili said, “Yeah?” surprised. He said, “Yeah, Michael Weir,” nodding then, “he’s good, all right. The thing I like about him, he can do just about anything, play a regular person, a weirdo . . . He played the mob guy in The Cyclone that turned snitch?”
    â€œOne of his best parts,” Harry said.
    Chili was nodding again. “They shot that in Brooklyn. Yeah, Michael Weir, I like him.”
    â€œI’m glad to hear it,” Harry said.
    â€œHe’s a different type than your usual movie star. I think he’d be good,” Chili said, even though he didn’t know how to picture Michael Weir in this movie, whatever it was about. “Have you talked to him?”
    â€œI took a chance, sent the script to his house.” Harry sat back, brushing a hand over his frizzy hair. “I find out he not only read it, he flipped, absolutely loves the part.”
    â€œYou found out—he didn’t tell you himself?”
    â€œRemember my saying I need half a mil? I have to deposit that amount in Michael’s name, in a special escrow account before he’ll take a meeting with me. This is his fucking agent. You have to put up earnest money to show you’re serious, you’re not gonna waste his time.”
    â€œThat’s how it’s done, huh? Make sure you can handle it.”
    â€œIt’s how this prick does it, his agent. He says, ‘You know Michael’s price is seven million, pay or play.’ That means if he signs and for any reason you don’t go into production, you still have to pay him the seven mil. You make the picture, it’s released, and now he gets ten percent of the gross. Not the net, like everybody else, the fucking gross. Hey, but who cares? He loves the script.”
    â€œHow’d you find out?”
    â€œFrom the guy who’s cutting the picture Michael just finished, the film editor. We go way back. In fact, I gave him his start on Slime Creatures. He calls, says Michael was in the cutting room with the director, raving about a script he had with him, Mr. Lovejoy, how it’s the best part he’s read in years. The cutter, the friend of mine, doesn’t know it’s my property till he notices ZigZag Productions on the script. He calls me up: ‘You’re gonna do one with Michael Weir? I don’t believe it.’ I told him, ‘Well, you better, if you want to cut the picture.’ I don’t know yet who I want as my director. Jewison, maybe. Lumet,