Trump and Vance Pulled an Old Hollywood Trick on Zelensky (Guest Column)

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As a seasoned gamer immersed in the world of strategy and diplomacy, I’ve come to coin a term that perfectly encapsulates an intrusive presence in a delicate situation – The Uninvited Guest. Much like my gaming experiences, I’ve encountered this character in various meetings over three decades as a screenwriter. The Uninvited Guest is the person who shows up ostensibly as a friend, yet holds no real creative power or personal investment in the project at hand. They could be anyone from a fresh-faced intern to an executive from another department, even someone from marketing or a seasoned producer offering temporary assistance. Their presence can often disrupt the natural flow of ideas and decisions, potentially leading to unforeseen consequences, much like the events that unfolded in the Oval Office on Feb. 28.

The role of The Strayer in the Meeting is to sabotage the plan. The Stayer in the Meeting is the individual who, after all parties involved, including the writer, producer, director, and executive, have agreed on the storyline, questions the feasibility, such as “How will this work in China?” or “This seems similar to movie Y” or “But isn’t this film primarily about love?”

One day, I was presenting a revival project to a renowned producer, a true titan in the industry. His 22-year-old daughter was present as well. She interrupted my presentation to express her concern, saying “Well, we don’t want any disagreements in the movie.

The Individual in the Gathering is typically present at the request of the person with the highest authority, often the executive. Regardless of whether this Person comprehends it or not, they function as a representative of the production company. It’s instinctive for the company to decline suggestions, as no one has ever faced consequences for refusing, and Hollywood executives are particularly apprehensive about losing their positions, fearing they might do so if they agree.

Rather than openly rejecting creative ideas due to uncertainty and fear of disapproval, executives often invite someone else, such as a protege, colleague from another department, or even a random person from the hallway, to attend meetings. This way, if they decide to decline an idea, they can do so without upsetting the creators by offering alternative perspectives. Instead of saying “no,” they might comment on the China market relevance, point out similarities with previous projects, or suggest adding a romantic element to the action-oriented pitch.

Initially, there was harmony in the room about the exciting project. However, all of a sudden, what seemed like a collaboration or negotiation turned into a heated argument. The atmosphere shifted dramatically, with the creative minds and the financiers now at odds. In essence, this meeting morphed into a power struggle, where the financiers held the upper hand due to their financial control, while the creatives relied on their artistic skills.

Despite their efforts to preserve the project, the creatives would strive for compromises and seek common ground with the financiers. Unfortunately, it appeared that the decision had already been made behind closed doors.

In simpler terms, Zelensky played the role of the creative visionary, Trump acted as a nervous studio executive concerned about keeping his position, and Vance was a seemingly powerless ally who introduced a point that escalated the discussion into an argument that Zelensky couldn’t easily counter. It’s for you to decide who is analogous to the studio head in this scenario.

Todd Alcott is a screenwriter based in Los Angeles.

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2025-03-04 02:24