Dirty Dealing: Grosso v. Miramax-Waging War with Harvey Weinstein, and the Screenplay that Changed Hollywood

A writer accused Miramax of stealing his screenplay and turning it into the cult classic Rounders. He filed a lawsuit, and it resulted in a ten-year landmark legal battle against Hollywood's most notorious studio. The book is a mix of comic legal thriller and nail-biting poker memoir, exploring one man's fight for credit and the question of whether ideas can be truly original.

Format: Hardback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 29 September 2022
Publisher: Permuted Press

A captivating account unfolds, detailing the pivotal lawsuit a writer initiated against Miramax, accusing the studio of unlawfully appropriating his screenplay and transforming it into the iconic cult classic, "Rounders."

Upon discovering the striking similarities between the promotional website for the new poker movie "Rounders" and a screenplay he had authored a few years prior, the young screenwriter was astounded. His surprise grew even more profound when he witnessed the Miramax-produced film in theaters, where he noticed numerous overlapping elements—the protagonist's involvement in Texas Hold'em to support his college education while deceiving his girlfriend, the devastating loss of everything he held dear in a single hand of high-stakes Hold'em, a character named "Worm," and numerous other similarities that formed the foundation of his lawsuit against Miramax.

Leaving the theater that day, the writer felt a profound sense of injustice—not only had Miramax stolen his script, but they had also taken away his life, which had encompassed years of dedicated professional poker playing that had informed the screenplay he had hoped would pave the way for a successful writing career in Hollywood. Undeterred by the seemingly insurmountable odds, he decided to take on Miramax and the Hollywood system with the assistance of an ingenious lawyer.

Jeffrey Grosso's task was clear: he had to establish the plausible circumstances that led to Miramax's unauthorized use of his screenplay and persuade a judicial system that often favored studios over writers that he was the victim of intellectual property theft. This marked the beginning of a ten-year legal battle against Hollywood's most notorious studio.

"Dirty Dealing: Grosso v. Miramax—Waging War Against Harvey Weinstein, and the Screenplay that Changed Hollywood" is an engaging and entertaining exploration of one man's relentless pursuit of credit and recognition. It seamlessly blends elements of comic legal thriller and nail-biting poker memoir, providing a captivating glimpse into the writer's fight to secure the credit he believes he rightfully deserves.

Throughout the narrative, readers are invited to engage in a thought-provoking debate as they weigh the evidence and consider whether the writer has a valid case or if the similarities between the two works are merely coincidental. The story unfolds in a compelling and engaging manner, leaving the reader eagerly anticipating the outcome of the legal battle and the ultimate resolution of the writer's quest for justice.

Weight: 420g
Dimension: 147 x 220 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781637582978