The family of respected movie producer and agent to the stars, Craig T. Rumar has reacted to a recent publication on WBN surrounding Sylvester Stallone.
Quoting an interview Stallone did with Variety Magazine last year, WBN documented how the Hollywood star was upset at being forced to sign away any rights to the ‘Rocky’ franchise.
Touting a script around studios about a failed boxer-turned leg-breaker, Stallone was looking for someone to show faith in his beloved project.
Stallone wanted to be the face of the film due to writing it himself, leading to many companies turning down several pitches by his then-agent Craig Rumar and his business partner Larry Kubik.
Taking exception to Stallone’s complaints about the deal he was eventually given by Chartoff-Winkler productions, which Rumar and Kubik negotiated and was standard for the time period, the family of the former have now spoken out.
Outlining to WBN that they initially contacted Variety without success, son Chris wanted their side of the story put forward.
In response to those royalties, of which Stallone stated he would have liked at least 1% to leave to his own siblings, Chris wants the record to show his father Craig secured the best available outcome.
To get the original Rocky made in 1975, Rumar, who passed away in 2017, had to work hard for what they eventually could get over the line.
As it turned out, Sylvester Stallone was paid a flat fee for his parts as actor and director in the first three movies. Eventually able to broker better terms for Rocky IV, V, and VI.
Furthermore, Rumar certainly did all he could to see a completely unknown artist fulfill his dream of landing the lead role in a $1 million dollar movie.
“My father, alongside Mr. Kubik, ran a successful talent agency called Film Artists Management Enterprises (FAME) through the 1970s and into the early 1980s in Hollywood,” Chris explained exclusively to World Boxing News. “Mr. Stallone was but one of the many clients they represented.
“It was only after his passing that Mr. Stallone began his ‘tour’ of complaining about how he got screwed on the Rocky franchise.
“Out of respect to my father and his memory, I have made it my personal mission to respond to every article and interview that Mr. Stallone does when he dithers on about his alleged lack of royalties for the Rocky franchise.
“In both the Variety interview and your article, Mr. Stallone fails to mention the work and efforts of my father and Mr. Kubik to get the movie Rocky produced.
“There are some key facts missing from what has been covered on this issue as at the time, Mr. Stallone was a washed-up actor in his late 20’s when FAME agreed on a deal to represent him around 1974.
“Mr. Stallone’s resume included soft porn and bit parts in a few movies. But Mr. Stallone wrote the script for Rocky and presented it to my father and Mr. Kubik in 1975.
“They both agreed the script was good and could be made into a movie. The problem was getting the movie produced as Mr. Stallone demanded that he star in the film. Mr. Stallone’s demands caused the script to be rejected repeatedly by many studios as Mr. Stallone was considered an average actor at best.
“Finally, after many tries, my father got a meeting with Chartoff-Winkler, to see if there was any interest.”
