Will,
Just off the phone with Disney… Think you had a call earlier?
Actually, they are thrilled with the news about the fight on set, shutting down production and the fact Andrew has been drug into a sexual and drug scandal! Pack it in. We have no job here.
Spent a few hours with their PR person. The suggestion is we put Andrew and Minna in a relationship for the next few months.
Disney thought is we make it look like Francis became unhinged because of jealousy, the fight looks less on Andrew baiting him, more on Francis. They’ll help with that narrative in the press. We reckon it won’t be too difficult to turn it on to Lyon. He has a history of being difficult and it hasn’t harmed his reputation.
Only problem is he is erratic, so we’re not sure we communicate with his people. If we don’t, however, seeing the Lyon family vs Disney might be a spectacle of the ages. What’s your take? Either way - we cannot do this in a way Andrew or Minna find out.
The next suggestion is we put Minna in rehab with Andrew’s public support. It will eliminate the suspicion he has been using with her and shows him as a positive role model in this debacle. Disney is adamant we find a way to keep his name clean.
We give it a few months after rehab, a few think pieces on how well she is doing and have them amicably split in time for both to enjoy the latter half of their summer. If the narrative fits, we can look at a reunion around Okja for a while. Fab press for the film.
Disney’s been great about this, really. They’re already pulling the strings for a Vanity Fair profile on “Cinderella” after Min’s out of rehab. I have an outline for that, if you want, but it’s mostly a redemption arc and tying her mental health into why she abused and how working on Cinderella made her realise she needed to become better.
This whole thing isn’t her fault, but on behalf of Minna I want to apologise. She’s mortified her private life is all over the news and that Andrew’s been drug into it. Let’s get a conference call together this week to discuss, agree next steps and then bring Andrew and Minna into it. I don’t care if she disagrees - if we decide to do this, she’ll wear a goddamn diamond ring if we tell her.
Stephanie Ritz
William Morris Endeavor
9601 Wilshire Blvd
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
(310) 285-9000
Krista –
Minna Marks’s people reached out. Suggested exaggerating Minna and Andrew's relationship to smooth things over. Help her through her rehab story, position Andrew as the saint in this story.
They’re waiting on our answer. I’ll text Andrew for this thoughts. Think it might be worth the conversation?
Best,
Will Henderson
William Morris Endeavor
9601 Wilshire Blvd
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
(310) 285-9000
Did you hit your god damn head? No, we are not doing this. You want to throw Andrew into a story that involves drugs and sex with approx. 90% of Hollywood and the Lyons?
We need to DISTANCE Andrew, not pull him closer.
Not to mention, there’s no way you’ll convince Andrew to do this. Not only does he get zero benefit out of a relationship with Minna Controversy Marks, he’s stubbornly self-righteous. What we do is stress Andrew’s lack of wrongdoing in this situation. He was a professional; he was at work. He was unfairly attacked on set and caught in character, he reacted but he is very sorry for how he reacted. Violence is not the answer, etc.
Don’t even bother him with this.
Krista Chamberlain
Eileen Koch & Co Public Relations
1830 Pelham Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90025
(310) 441-1000
Message received.
Will Henderson
William Morris Endeavor
9601 Wilshire Blvd
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
(310) 285-9000
Sorry, Stephanie. No go. His publicist shut it down. Thought it was a great idea. Look, between you and me, I imagine they'll still be seen together, so if you want to suggest anything...
Well, I won't tell a soul. What's for the agency is good for them, right?
Will Henderson
William Morris Endeavor
9601 Wilshire Blvd
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
(310) 285-9000
Andrew Bates
- Condemns the illegal and abhorrent action of the hackers responsible for the leak of Minna Marks’s personal accounts. Every person, famous or not, is entitled to their digital and physical privacy.
- Does not participate in and condemns the use of drugs.
- Condemns violence and is greatly apologetic for his reaction on set. At the time of the incident, he was caught off guard and when he was attacked without reason, Bates reacted quickly on gut reaction, as any victim would. Regrets answering violence with violence.
- Is a professional. Believes in strong work ethic and sincerely apologizes to the cast, crew, to Director Bong for his part in the altercation. His primary goal continues to be to create a brilliant, well-thought film with an inspiring director and crew. Thanks Director Bong and crew for their patience and understanding through this incident.
- Cannot comment on behalf of Minna Marks or Francis Lyon.
- ONLY MENTION IF ASKED: yes, Bates was arrested in 2012 for possession. It was a mistake he made as a young man and regrets deeply. Because it was his first offense, the judge agreed to remove the charge from his record. Bates completed community service and attended drug counseling that year. He has learned his lesson and has been clean ever since.