The author of Mean Girls has hit out at Tina Fey and Paramount after they made millions on the back of the movie while she got $400,000.
Rosalind Wiseman penned the novel Queen Bees and Wannabees which was the inspiration for the incredibly popular movie Mean Girls.
As per the New York Post, Wiseman signed a deal in 2002 to sell her movie rights for $400,000 in perpetuity, and the movie and subsequent stage musical have made millions since.
The author claims she hasn't made a single cent since selling the rights to her creation, and has now reportedly reached out to Paramount via her lawyers.
In case you need reminding about Mean Girls - see the trailer below:Speaking to the Post, Wiseman has hit out at Tina Fey and the studio in what she describes as a "painful experience" that stopped her from receiving any further money.
Paramount allegedly told her that they have made no profits from the franchise, which the author disputes.
"We have reached out to Paramount to have things be more equitable, but Paramount is not interested in that," Wiseman claimed.
"For so long I was so quiet about it, so, so quiet, but I just feel like the hypocrisy is too much. I think it’s fair for me to be able to get compensated in some way for the work that has changed our culture and changed the zeitgeist," the author added.
When it comes to the claim that Mean Girls "changed our culture," there is certainly evidence to support it.
The 2004 movie starring Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Tina Fey, and Amanda Seyfried is still widely watched and quoted today.
Wiseman also hit out at Tina Fey personally, saying: "Over the years Tina’s spoken so eloquently about women supporting other women, but it’s gotten increasingly clear to me that, in my own personal experience, that’s not going to be the experience. You don’t just talk about supporting women, you actually do it."
When Wiseman signed the contract in 2004, she signed over in perpetuity all rights to original motion pictures and derivative works, including musicals and TV projects, which she has now described as a "terrible contract."
"Just because you can doesn’t make it right," Wiseman said. "Yes, I had a terrible contract, terrible, but the movie has made so much money, and they keep recycling my work over and over again, so to not even consider me?"
A 2018 musical of the movie was an instant hit, so much so that it is also being turned into a new motion picture.
When Fey reached out to Wiseman, the author was overjoyed at the opportunity to team up and gave the SNL star high praise for her ability to turn a book into a beloved movie.
"We created this thing, Tina took my words, she did an extraordinary job with it,” Wiseman added. “She brought it to life and the material has been used and recycled for the last 20 years."
She added: "I’m clearly recognized and acknowledged by Tina as the source material, the inspiration. I’m recognized and yet I deserve nothing?"
Despite Paramount allegedly telling Wiseman that the movie didn't make a profit, it grossed $130 million worldwide on a $17 million budget - which doesn't include marketing and PR costs.
Wiseman's original contract includes net profit points, meaning she would be entitled to further money if the movie did well at the box office - which is what makes Paramounts claims that it didn't make a profit more infuriating for the author.
