Sophia Angelique

In real life: Tessa Schlesinger.

I want to tell you a story.

Some years ago, I was approached by an acquaintance. He said he was working with a film crew and they had come to realize that the script was perfectly dreadful, and as he knew that I was a writer, could I fix it up, and I would be given credit for it.

I asked him who had written the script and he said three people had co-written it, each taking a different part. (I could only imagine that mess.) Naturally, I asked to see the script. I have to tell you it was not good and was badly in need of both editing and story adjustment.

Before I met with the producer, I met my acquaintance once again. They’ll credit you with script supervisor, he said. I was a bit bewildered. My understanding was that a script supervisor had nothing to do with supervising the script and so I said to him, “Isn’t that a continuity girl?” He said yes. In any event, I let it pass. They had agreed to a credit for my writing the screenplay, and I really couldn’t see why I would want a credit for script supervisor as well, especially when I didn’t do the job.

I finally met with the producer, and he asked me what was wrong with the script and why it didn’t work. I told him. “You’re hired,” he said, “that’s exactly what is wrong.

So I rewrote the script, adjusting a lot of it, bringing both drama and ethos to the story.

So roll forward to the day of the premier of the movie. Can you imagine my surprise when the opening lines proclaimed the director of the movie, Edreace Purmul, to be the writer? I was, as they say in the British Isles, gobsmacked. In any event, at the end of the movie, my name is in bold letters, “Writing Consultant – Tessa Schlesinger.” To all effects and purposes, I was actually the script doctor on that movie.

In any event, if you go to IMDB, there are some interesting politics at play. Under Writer, you have the following:

Writing Credits:
Naseir Kiyam (story). By the way I changed some of the story.
Edreace Purmul – write. Well, I don’t think so. The very fact that they had to get in a script doctor as they started filming says something about the quality of the writing.

At the bottom, it tells that I was the script supervisor. Like hell, I was. Script supervisors tell the film actors and film crew what props and costumes were used the last time they filmed so that there is continuity…

As for the film producer, Halim Gabori, he isn’t even mentioned.

And the moral of the story? It’s that the good storytellers don’t always win the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow

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I can also be found at:: ebook fiction and ebook non fiction

I also write for Wizzley.

I also design bags with my daughter (Lexx Lee) who is a costume artist. My Doodle Writer t-shirts and matching tote bags can be seen here.

I was first published in 1963 in a national junior newspaper. Since then I have written more places than I can count. To read more about the finer points of writing, read The Spice of Writing.

My most popular blog is Capitalism and YOU which challenges you to rethink what Capitalism has done for you and why it isn't working any more.

I also have a Google+ profile.

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I write on a large variety of topics. Here I’ve listed some:

American Political Issues:

Why manufacturing Generates wealth
America vs the Rest of the World
Democrats vs Republicans
Ten Reasons why Obama will win the 2012 elections

Art Forms

How to create a Flash Mob
Are Doodles Art
Doodle Art Gallery

Book Thread

You can heal your life using dream therapy
Best selling books in the 90s
Angelique - the Best Love Story Ever Told

Celebrities

Elizabeth Taylor - the Most Beautiful Woman in the World
Sophia Loren - Creative Commons Photos for You
Louise Brooks - Ultimate Pin Up Girl of the 20s and Silent Movies