SHORT SYNOPSIS:
AUTEUR is a satirical comedy/character study that follows an ambitious video pirate from delusions of grandeur to a well-deserved fall from grace.
ERIC PELHAM, our protagonist/anti-hero, thinks hes a real filmmaker as he callously films major motion pictures, then pirates them into VHS and DVD copies to be sold on the black market internationally. Although he claims to be engaged in this nefarious activity in order to raise money that will produce his own screenplay, Eric quickly learns that the rest of the world, particularly the world of Hollywood, is not as foolish as he thinks, and he isnt nearly as clever as he would like to believe.
LONG SYNOPSIS:
ERIC PELHAM is a 21st century video pirate: he videotapes all the latest movie releases before they hit theaters, then burns DVD copies, selling them to his distributors all over the world. In a word: Erics the best, and much in demand. When two shady businessmen, MITCH and TONY, hire Eric through LENNY, his business manager, they offer him more money than hes ever dreamed of to work exclusively for them. But Eric is torn: does he continue to pirate the corrupt wares of Hollywood and make a comfortable living, or does he take his spoils and make his own film, Through the Looking Glass, which is his dream? Lenny wants to do the film Cassavetes style, with $50K and a skeleton crew. Eric insists that they need at least $2 million if the film is going to be done right. The partners find themselves at an impasse.
At home, Erics girlfriend ADRIENNE is a frustrated actress. While Eric loves Adrienne deeply, he finds that the relationship is growing stale, because the desire to make his own film is consuming him ever more on a daily basis. Eric knows he must get his script to the great JACK BURTON, the worlds greatest actor/filmmaker. Frustrated with Lennys inability to get Jack his script, Eric takes matters in his own hands and, through an old film school buddy, finagles a meeting with Jack and convinces the great man to read Through the Looking Glass (helped by the added incentive of a small gift).
Meanwhile, Lenny is devastated that Eric would approach Jack Burton without him. Eric informs Lenny that their partnership is now over, that he no longer needs Lenny. Lenny leaves, crushed. Adrienne, having heard the whole, cruel conversation, bitterly storms out as well, accusing Eric of selling his soul to achieve his dream. After finding that his pirate DVD network has dried up without Lenny in his corner, Eric grows increasingly desperate. He never hears
back from Jack Burton, and he is still short the money he needs to get Through the Looking Glass produced.
One day, Mitch and Tony call, offering Eric the $2 million he needs for one final job: videotape a top secret screening of a new film thats being held at a major studioa film thats worth big bucks to their clients overseas. Eric, using some high-tech spyware, tapes the movie, but is floored by what he sees: Through the Looking Glass, written, directed by and starring Jack Burton! As if that werent enough, Adrienne plays the female lead! Eric stumbles out of the screening, handing the pirated movie to Mitch and Tony, who promptly handcuff Eric and produce FBI badges! Eric is arrested for video piracy. As Mitch and Tony drag him from the lobby of the studio theater, Eric sees Jack Burton, walking off with Adrienne, and Lenny trailing behind them.
