Excerpt: Christine Vachon's "A Killer Life"

Christine Vachon's newest imprint, "A Killer Life," is being teased on the Simon & Schuster site where open access to the book's introduction is offered.

Note Vachon's sartorial prep for L.A.:

My strategy is to stay a moving target. I've got a reputation for "edgy," "dark" material -- the kind of movie where you're maybe rooting for the bad guy. I'm also frequently accused of operating with a political agenda. A gay agenda. An aggressive-New Yorker agenda. When I go to L.A. for meetings, sometimes I feel like I have to put on my "uniform" -- black pants, black T-shirt, combat boots -- so that nobody gets confused and thinks I've come over to the bright side.

— posted by Sheigh

Comments

[Dante B.]

The only reputation that should stick to Ms. Vachon is of an opportunist, who uses non-union labor, and exploits her crew and collaborators with slave's wages and endless hours.

I worked on one of her films with a bunch of star-struck overly ambitious NY film school and fresh-out-of-the-closet types. She ran us into the ground and was most unfriendly and unappreciative. I think she averaged a noon call time (free lunch).

Didn't I read that the writer and director split something like a 30,000.00 fee for Betty Page?

P:rops to her for her choice of material and record, but it's not like she'll ever lose a dime by taking a risk.

[sheigh]

> Didn't I read that the writer and director split something like a 30,000.00 fee for Betty Page?

And Guin Turner worked for years on that screenplay. I believe I read that too.
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Ellen Kuras tells a great story about how she shut down production one day on "Eternal Sunshine" because the crew was being so ridiculously mistreated.

I'm sure the people who have worked on indie productions could fill volumes with complaints. I hope they write them all down and share the intelligence so people know how and when it's acceptable to set limits in production.
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(Squidges to bfhs)

[binky]

Christine Vachon has not made a non-union film in at least 7 years-- she has a deal with the union and she is not allowed to. I know this because I would LOVE to work on one of her movies and can't because I can't get into the IA.