Update as of 10-15-2018 -- The case has been dismissed by both parties. As we have agreed to move forward, the dismissed case will remain confidential.
Financing?
I suspected that Victor had used my money to pay Roger Muse to sue me. And that is what I say in the first email. However, I had no proof at this point. Victor avoided the issue every time I asked for the bank statements.
I asked him again to tell the truth about our relationship. A press release had been published on December 20th, clearing his name. I was asking him to do what I considered to be THE RIGHT THING.
Hi Victor,
You mentioned that the Editor gave you Cut 5. Is there a way I can see that? I am supposed to be forwarded the cuts. I would like to see the latest cut.
I have been working on a couple of film productions this past year. I have been with the executive producer's team raising funds to get these movies financed. Now that I have more experience I realize that getting the funds is the MOST difficult part of any independent film production.
I gave you the enormous gift of totally financing the movie you wrote because I believed in you, trusted you and loved you. I also saved your home from foreclosure here in California. Who has done anything like this for you in your life??? You in turn, lied to everyone (including your attorney) about our relationship, painted me as some psycho fan obsessed with you... and used the rest of MY investment to sue me. You understand that if you had not concealed and used my money to try to destroy me, there would be enough cash to finish the movie?
I also want to let you know that I will soon be publicly disclosing personal information and details about our intimate/sexual relationship. Even Roger said that I was free to do so. I will tell my whole story. It is unfortunate for you that my story contradicts yours. So, a suggestion to you is a public apology to me for lying and for accusing me of sexually harassing you when in reality you and I were lovers. You know that this would be the right thing to do. I cleared your name as to the fraud, knowing that you DID take MY money to sue me and get rid of me. It is your turn to make a public statement and tell the truth about our relationship.
I will respect the agreement we have to finish and distribute the movie. I do want to see this movie released and would love to get all of my investment back. And just for your consideration, I am making this offer again - Get a new investor. Pay me $200,000 to cover my investment and my attorneys fees and I will not be attached to this movie again. You can have that new investor as the Executive Producer. .. Or maybe you can sell your land or one of your 2 homes in Italy. Remember that you wanted me to buy that piece of land with all those olive trees??? So strange that you offered to sell it to me and later, during your deposition, denied ever owning any land or property in Italy.
Please keep me updated on post-production and let me know if you are willing to make a public statement about our relationship. I would actually like a public apology.
We are starting the year. It would be great to start with integrity... by telling the truth.
My best wishes for you for 2013. May this year bring you happiness and success!!!
Adriana
He did reply immediately. I will only include portions of his emails, as they are very long and mainly talk about "business."
I replied to his email.Good day Adriana
It is very unfortunate that Bondolini have encountered two lawsuits but with great efforts I am still working and finishing the film.
I want to finish and sell this film and you must know that negative press will diminish its quality.
So I professionally advise you not to talk (anymore) negative about this film, the director or its cast, If the cast has problems with the movie I am sure they will take actions on their own.
The status of my very last update is still standing.
-------
Best wishes
---
Bodolini Productions
Victor Alfieri
Victor,
I thought you said I could keep the copy I had. I have no problem returning it. I can pick up CUT 5 from your or your neighbor and drop off the DVD I currently have.
My business address is in Minnesota. It does NOT make sense to mail it there. So, as I said before I will be picking the DVD up personally. As I know that you don't want to see me face to face, please have your neighbor or your personal assistant/girlfriend hand it to me. I am not going to Muse's Office. I will not waste my time going to BH and paying for parking.
I appreciate your "professional" advise to me not to say anything negative about the film, the director (you) or the cast. What I would say would not be about the cast or the movie, it would be about our relationship and you, of course. It won't be necessarily negative. It will be simply the TRUTH. I remind you that in this country we all have freedom of speech. I have the right to speak up. Nobody can stop me.
Victor, we were lovers! We were planning on building a production company together! I gave you my life savings because I loved you and believed in your talent. I risked EVERYTHING for you!!!! If you believe what I felt for you was merely an obsession, you have clearly never been truly in love. I did love you... like nobody will ever love you again in this lifetime. And I also respect and love myself...That is why I have decided to speak up and tell my story. I want to live my life with integrity and impeccability. I am doing this for me, not to hurt you in any way. I always cared about you. You know that.
I still believe that a public apology would be the best option for you and the right thing to do. Think about it and let me know if you are willing to make a public statement before I disclose everything, ok?
As to the original receipts, blog and contracts, we had agreed that I would return them when I got the final movie (ready to be distributed). I will give you all the originals back when I recover my investment. For now, you have copies of everything and your accounting is complete.
Take care and enjoy the rest of the week.
Adriana Trevino
Victor replied.
Adriana-
Your idle threats are unnecessary and irrelevant; again I asked you (in my previous emails) to keep your emails professional and strictly business. You agreed.
In order to sell and finish the movie Bondolini needs the following:
*US$ 15,000.
Then he goes on to educate me about "deliverables" using information he googled... He does NOT address the questions I am asking.
January 4, 2013 - The following day I write this email to Victor, giving him another opportunity to tell the truth.
Victor,
I will provide all the documentation (originals) when I am provided with the final cut of the movie ready to be distributed. I will deliver them to you exactly at the same time I get the DVD. I have no problem with that. As to the DVD, I don't have to meet at your place, you can have one of your girlfriends or personal assistants deliver it to me at the Coffee Bean on Sunset Blvd.
I said I would invest my 17,500 (what you took without my authorization from the account) to finish the movie. Too bad you used that money to try to destroy me - you showed me proof that you took my own money to pay MUSE to file a complaint against me with FALSE allegations.
I want to see proof of the 45+ you claim you spent yourself. I have not seen that. Also, I know you altered some of the numbers for the Italian budget. I know how much actors were paid and you stated the wrong amounts. I was there and saw as many were paid and the amount they were paid. I made note of all that. I am not going to argue this point. I just want proof of the 45,000 you claim you spent.
As to my "idle" threats.... I have not threatened you. I am just letting you know what I am doing - which is my right. I am going to tell the truth. I do have more friends in the media than you know. And I am asking you again... are you willing to offer a public apology to me???? If your answer is no, ok... you won't tell the truth... then I will. I will not warn you again. I will simply disclose EVERYTHING, ok?
For now, let's separate the personal issues and try to get this movie distributed. I am still the person who financed the movie. I expect you to treat me with respect and consideration. That new investor - I do NOT agree that this person gets his/her money before me. I agree that we combine my investment and his/hers and be paid first position. His/her 20% should be paid AFTER the first position total is reimbursed. Per my contract, I know I have a say here. I have to authorize any changes in the budget. The original budget was $130,000. Anything over that had to go through me. So this is what I am agreeing on. I also want notarized copies (not by Josh's girlfriend) of his/her contract and the check (investment). In fact, I would like to be present if possible when this happens. You probably understand that I don't trust you and would like to witness all of this.
One more thing - I believe that your "strategy" to have this movie be like the "Blair Witch Project" is a terrible idea. First of all, the quality of the "picture" looks too good for anyone to believe it was filmed with a personal handheld camera. This movie already got publicity with the scandal YOU started. We should take advantage of that and market it that way... we should have ridden the media scandal. It is my opinion... and that of many other people I have talked to who have been in the movie production field way longer than you. I expect to see this movie on IMDb soon. Before then, I will NOT believe you have the intention to distribute this movie.
Let me know when I can get CUT 5 and when I can return the Director's Cut. I can meet with one of your "associates" at the Coffee Bean on Sunset as I said. I am not going to Muse's office.
Adriana Trevino