Financing a Dream

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.

Independent Filmmaking

I still remember the day I read the financing agreement. The contract was clearly one sided and favored Victor in every single way. He would get my money to pay for the production of the movie. He would also be paid about 25% of the total budget for his "services." I would be risking my life savings and would not get anything in return if the film failed or did not reach completion. I am not stupid and knew that the contract was not fair at all. Why wouldn't I take over the rights to the film if Victor breached the contract? I am the one financing it, right?  I remember jokingly telling him. "Wow, this is such a one-sided contract. You are not going to stab me in the back, are you?"  He quickly responded without looking at me, "of course not. I would never do that to you. I love you, baby."

After he responded to me, something felt really wrong. I felt a sharp pain in my stomach. I ignored it while I talked myself into this "generous act" I was doing for the man I loved....  and failed to hear my own inner truth.

Alfieri took advantage of my lack of experience in filmmaking. He led me to believe that I would virtually have no rights even though I was the sole financier of the film. The person with the money should have control and ownership, right? But that is not what Alfieri believes. He claimed to be entitled to my money, to all production decisions and to the rights over the film.

Almost three years after I signed that financing agreement with Alfieri and Bondolini Productions, I have acquired much more experience in independent filmmaking. I have learned that the toughest obstacle to overcome is the financing of the film. I have worked with production teams in raising funds and attracting investors.

These great teams with which I have worked, have been really appreciative and grateful for my contribution to the film. These films have great scripts and wonderful actors already attached to the projects. But why aren't some of these films in production already? Because the complete budget has not been raised.

This was not the case for Victor Alfieri. I gave him the greatest gift any independent filmmaker could ever wish for - I financed his dream!

How Did Alfieri Pay Me Back?

He took my money and did not thank me once. In fact, he acted as if he were doing me a favor by "allowing" me to invest in his great masterpiece. He eventually took what was left of my money and used it to hire and attorney to sue me.

The "traumatic" experience financing and producing "Looking for Clarissa" (formerly "Looking for Clara") turned my whole existence upside down. There were so many false statements about me made by Alfieri all over the internet. The assumptions people were making about me were harming my personal and professional life while tarnishing my reputation. I felt I had no other choice but to give my side of the story.  I became brave to speak my truth.

Just right before the Trevino-Alfieri story started, I used to be so afraid to speak up if it involved "telling on" somebody or  simply disagreeing with someone else's opinion. I wanted to be liked and accepted by everyone.

I have finally learned that my former people-pleasing attitude does not serve me any longer. It does not serve me, or anybody else, for that matter.  Who wants to hear lies or "sugar coated" truths? Some might say that they prefer to hear "white" lies instead of something hurtful. Is this actually true? If we search deep inside of us, we will find the answer... We are always looking for the truth. Being ready and able to face other people's and our own truth... That is a different story.

So do we bluntly state our likes and dislikes? There are always multiple ways to say the same thing without lying. There is nothing wrong with being polite and considerate towards others when communicating. In fact, that is the way I choose to live my life. But, there is a line that, when crossed, blurs our sense of self-respect and integrity.

How do we know we are crossing that line?  We ALWAYS know. It is that feeling in your gut - a sudden blow to the stomach, alerting you that you are stepping into a situation that goes against yourself, a situation that will throw you off balance. This experience certainly knocked me to the ground. Two years have passed... I have gotten up. I am standing strong in my truth, facing the present with honesty and looking forward to the future.

Disclaimer – As of October 15, 2018, all legal issues have been resolved. This resolution was reached during arbitration. There are no pending issues related to fraud or theft. The resolution was mutually agreeable. There will be no more posts written about this story.

Justice Will Prevail

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.

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Update - On April 15, 2014 I filed a new lawsuit.  Read Above the Law

What is Justice???

jus·tice     jəstis/

1. The maintenance or administration of what is just especially by the impartial adjustment of conflicting claims or the assignment of merited rewards or punishments.
2. The administration of the law; especially: the establishment or determination of rights according to the rules of law or equity.
3. The quality of being just, impartial, or fair.
4. The quality of conforming to law.
5. Conformity to truth, fact, or reason.

--- Merriam-Webster Dictionary on Line

Last Thursday I went to the Los Angeles Superior Court to refile my lawsuit against Victor Alfieri and Bondolini Productions. I went to the window and asked the lady, "what forms do I need to fill out to refile a lawsuit I had dismissed without prejudice last year?" She told me that she did not know and gave me a three-ring binder with a long list of forms used in court.  I asked two more clerks. Nobody seemed to have an answer - not even a "general" answer. The last person I asked, suggested I talked to an attorney. "Good idea," I thought, "I will contact one of the attorneys who represented me in this case."

I contacted one of my attorneys and left him a voice message explaining that I would be refiling the lawsuit and would proceed "pro se."I simply asked him to guide me a little by telling me which forms I needed to refile this case. He sent me a text message - "there are multiple forms." "OK," I thought, "I know that... but which are those multiple forms?"

I went home and did some research on line. I found "justanswer.com" a website with attorneys who answer questions for a nominal fee. I asked this question (about the forms) and was told that $18 would be the smallest fee I would pay, considering that it was not complicated and I was not in a rush. Thirty minutes passed and I had gotten no answer from this site. An hour later, I received an email from this site requesting more money, claiming that the answer was complicated.

I continued searching on line and found Avvo - a great free service. They gave me concrete answers and good advice. This is one answer I received.

Assuming the claim isn't barred by the statute of limitations, you need a complaint, summons, civil case cover sheet, civil case addendum, and have to pay the filing fee, unless you have a fee waiver.

This service was completely free. I can't believe justanswer.com wanted $40 dlls to give me this information.  I went to the Los Angeles Superior Court website and actually found the same answer. Refiling a complaint that has been dismissed without prejudice is just like filing a new lawsuit and needs the same forms.

What has happened to the legal profession, specifically attorneys in civil cases? It seems that it is always about money. They bill for EVERYTHING!!! If they cannot get compensated monetarily for every single word they utter or type, they are not interested in helping you. Is that what they learn in law school? Are they taught to care about justice and fair respectful treatment of non-lawyers? Or is it all about making money? Don't they get paid enough already????

Fighting for Justice

Can a person fight for justice in the court system without legal counsel? Not really. I believe that the court system is designed in a way to make sure people are represented by an attorney. A simple request  for a "continuance" of a court hearing has to be done in such a way that only attorneys know. Judges get really irritated when a person opts to go to trial "pro se." But don't we have the right to do so if we cannot afford an attorney in a civil case? In theory we have the right. In reality, we don't stand a chance to "fight for justice" in the judicial system if we are not represented by an attorney.

Victor Alfieri got intimately involved with me and convinced me to trust him and to invest in his independent film. He then hid our relationship and started slandering me claiming I was obsessed with him and was sexually harassing him. When I disclosed our intimate relationship to his manager and the production attorney, Alfieri took the rest of my money, disconnected his phone and disappeared (went into hiding). Alfieri then sued me because, as he stated during his deposition, I called him a thief, I accused him of "stealing money that he never stole." Then he used that same money to hire attorney Roger Muse to sue me and slander me in the process.

Now Alfieri is doing whatever he wants with the movie. He is not respecting the agreement and does not care to listen to my feedback on the "amateur" film he made with MY money.  Is this fair???? Is it fair to just "move on" and do nothing about it???? I have moved on as to my personal relationship with him - that relationship died while filming in Italy. But what is wrong with wanting to recover what he took from me?

I did not refile the lawsuit against him. I will be consulting with an attorney in a couple of weeks. I know the statute of limitations will bar some of the causes of action. So that is why I need to act in a timely manner. I might file a brand new lawsuit that will include many of the other parties involved... or, I might just forget about the false sense of "fighting for justice" in the judicial system and let God take care of it.  Please read Above the Law for updated information.

It is certain that "what goes around, comes around."  I know that "justice will prevail" - not necessarily through the judicial system... but through the events that keep unfolding. There is always a BALANCE. It is up to us to find our own inner balance and peace... I continue working on maintaining that equilibrium.


Disclaimer – As of October 15, 2018, all legal issues have been resolved. This resolution was reached during arbitration. There are no pending issues related to fraud or theft. The resolution was mutually agreeable. There will be no more posts written about this story.