EVEN IN CHILE, EVEN IN CHILE – AT 10:14 P.M. ET:  You really can't make this up.  It's not very important, but I think it's so typical of our time.

A spokesman for the miners rescued in Chile this week says that the group will give no details of its captivity 2,000 feet blow the surface of the Earth in order to protect the value of the book they expect to do.  I am no kidding.  Even in Chile the miners understand the value of literary rights.  In fact, it was revealed that one miner kept detailed notes – for the book and movie, no doubt – and sealed the notes shut before emerging from the mine, so no one could read them.

I recall a Wall Street Journal cartoon showing a criminal appearing before a judge, with the judge saying, "If you do not have a literary agent, the court will appoint one for you."  I'm afraid things have gotten even worse. 

I hope the miners hold out for a major film deal.  But remember, miners, get a percentage of the gross, not a percentage of the profits.  They can lie about the profits.  Also, shoot for script approval.  Rarely granted, but, hey, you're the Chilean miners. 

And remember, as we constantly have to remind newly minted Olympic medalists, your story has a shelf life of about three weeks.  Get yourselves a good lawyer and strike now.  In mid-November, Hollywood breaks for the holiday season, which ends next March.  Then, when someone brings up the Chile miners, some young "executive" will ask, "When did they start mining for chili?"

It happens.  I've been there.

October 16, 2010