Exploiting Hollywood 1980

  Chapter 1020 Bankruptcy is coming

   "It used to be the house reserved by two big-name Hollywood male stars. Coincidentally, they both canceled their reservations. Mr. Li is very lucky. It is not easy to get two connected sets of lots in District A."

   "Oh, yeah?" Ronald adjusted his sunglasses, disapproving.

   On this day, he has arrived at the foot of Beverly Hills in Los Angeles, planning to buy the Beverly Park land of the house. The house agent was the one I met last time, and he kept praising Ronald's vision and luck.

  If one person unsubscribes, it may be luck, but if two top stars unsubscribe, it cannot be explained by coincidence.

Area A happens to be the best area of ​​Beverly Park, in the center of all the houses, in addition to the large trees that surround the entire area to block the view of tourists, there are also bushes around Area A, covering the eyes of curious neighbors. look.

   Two large houses, one large and one small, the large one covers an area of ​​2,500 square feet and has four bedrooms and three bathrooms. The smaller one is also 1,800 square feet and has three bedrooms and one bathroom. If you are not satisfied, you can also modify it according to Ronald's opinion.

  The most eye-catching outdoor is the large swimming pool, which is 100 feet long and 50 feet wide. The California sun is a great place for a pool party.

The two large houses also have various other exercise facilities, including an outdoor basketball court, an indoor swimming pool, an outdoor tennis court, an indoor tennis court, a gym, a yoga room, a small library, and an audio-visual room .

"The audio-visual room attached to the big house is a bit small. I have some copies of old films. This place needs to be redesigned and decorated according to the standards of new-style movie theaters. The two garages next to the audio-visual room are also converted into a warehouse with constant temperature and humidity for me. Celluloid copy. Here is a grassy pond, build me a Chinese-style pavilion, and an arch bridge to connect the two houses on the pond...Let Lao Wang and the others come over."

  Ronald's time is precious, he just puts forward ideas for these things, and asks Richard to help him find someone to implement them. The celebrity who originally ordered the big house obviously likes luxury cars. There are six garages for sports cars alone, and Ronald easily converted two of them into places for business study.

  Rich people pay attention to efficiency when they do things. Ronald made a good decision and plan, left the matter to private lawyers and private accountants, got into the car and ran to CAA with Richard to see Nisita.

   "Aren't you interested in who is the original owner of these two houses?" Richard didn't care about his role as an assistant, and was a little secretly pleased. Some personal matters, the client asks you to do it, which shows that the trust between the two parties is still at a very healthy level.

   "I don't want him to find a reason to raise the price..." Ronald is not very interested in this kind of gossip, no matter which big star you are, you are not as rich as me anyway.

   "So who is it? Your CAA must have some news, right?" Ronald looked at Richard's expression of wanting to flatter and having no chance, so he asked by the way.

   "The big one is Stallone..."

   "Puchi, hahahaha...let me laugh for a while." Ronald couldn't help laughing out loud when he heard the name.

"Hey...the artist with the best financial management in Hollywood may be you...Ronald, I don't think I have heard that you have failed in investment." Richard adjusted his glasses, and this flatterer has been looking for opportunities for a long time It's time.

"Hey...that's all good luck..." Ronald was proud for a while, but when he thought of the Andy Warhol painting he bought from David Geffen, he regretted it for a while, investing in the undefeated golden body, It's broken here.

   "Ronald, you came just in time, do you want to go to the Aegean Sea for vacation?" Nisita enthusiastically opened the chair when she saw him in the CAA office.

"Why did I go there?" Ronald sat down and took the coffee made by the secretary, "I came to promote the release of Working Girl, how many of your clients can help to promote the platform? "Ronald's movie "Working Girl" has already booked a variety of female secretaries' platform shows, but the secretary alone is not enough. If it can be paired with some big-name stars, the publicity will have the best effect.

   "Because in our CAA client list, the three directors are all in Greece, if you can go and chat with them..."

   "Who?" Ronald Qidao, it's normal for three star actors to be on the same location, why are three directors together? Still have to fight?

   “It’s Francis (Coppola), Marty (Scorsese), and Woody (Allen)…”

  As soon as Nisita explained the situation, Ronald understood. These three directors are often praised by film critics, but their box office performance is not stable. Often one hits the blockbuster while the other loses money.

After the screenwriters' strike ended, surprisingly, not all producers resumed filming immediately. Many people were fine during the strike. Once the strike ended, the real financial situation was leaked, and many medium-sized studios started again. A wave of bankruptcies.

  No one is willing to invest in the projects that the three directors want to shoot. And their own financial situation is also problematic, so they have no choice but to join forces and co-direct a movie in order to tide over the difficulties.

  This kind of platter-style movie (each person directs a story) was originally an investment channel for wealthy movie fans. Let them invest in their beloved directors and actors and "fulfill their dreams".

  But halfway through the filming of the film, two of the four joint-invested producers have already started bankruptcy and liquidation procedures. The end of the screenwriters' strike not only did not allow them to survive, but because a large number of commercial films were approved for shooting, the box office expectations of the film jointly produced by the three were not expected, and there was a risk of unfinished business.

  Nisita just wants Ronald to take a look. These are the people who supported him in the early years of his director career. If he is willing to invest...

   "Assortment movie... ah..." Ronald pinched his eyebrows. This kind of movie has always been a taboo for commercial movies. Every director has his own style, the more famous and praised by film critics, the more unique his style is, when three people work together, it is easy to be separated.

  The last time Hollywood made this kind of big director platter was the movie "The Twilight Zone" that killed Jennifer Jason Lee's father.

   "When I invest in a movie, I must get the approval of Daydream's partner. This kind of movie will not have a high return on investment." Ronald put down his hand and quickly but resolutely rejected it.

   "Well, I'm just a proposal", Nisita withdrew his thoughts, and Ronald was his most important client. It's just that Ronald has always been nostalgic, and he thought he would help.

   "However, I might be able to find someone to help." Ronald didn't pay for it himself, but that didn't mean no one was willing to invest in the joint work of three well-known Hollywood directors.

   "Who? I asked everyone in Hollywood..." Nisita felt surprised.

   "Who said it was Hollywood?" Ronald laughed. He called Michelle Cannold of Daydreaming and asked him to put him in touch with the Crédit Lyonnais executive he met in Cannes, who liked to invest in the film industry, to Oliver Stone and Michael Douglas The banker of the financing of the new film, the Dutchman Frans Aufmann.

  Anyway, his investment philosophy is to focus on the projects of big directors, and would rather have a lower return on investment. Now, introducing him to three big directors at once would be a joy.

  Credit Lyonnais quickly approved the injection of funds into the projects of the three major directors to save the crew who had no money in the middle. Frans Affmann is even more fond of it. The vulgar Hollywood doesn't know how to cherish their treasures. The projects of these great artists need the support of Bank of China...

"Ronald, thank you very much, not only because you helped introduce Mr. Frans Affman to inject capital into the crew. Moreover, we feel the respect for artists here." After receiving the check, Coppola said, He could finally pay the hotel bill and start serving all kinds of delicious European food. He learned that it was Ronald who made the connection, so he called to thank him.

   "You have received a lot of respect in Europe, which cannot be bought with money. I want to say thanks, but also your good artistic reputation, which makes Credit Lyonnais trust you."

   "Hahaha, the money is in place, we can finish filming next month, then the three of us will go to the premiere of your new film separately."

  The three directors are very happy, Ronald's words are not unreasonable, the reputation of an artist can be exchanged for money!

   "Thank you, dessert is ready..."

   Ronald put down the phone and handed it to the waiter. He was having dinner with Helen Slater in a Greek restaurant. The Mediterranean-style diet not only took care of Ronald, a carnivore, but also provided Helen with a lot of vegetable dishes paired with olive oil.

   Even the specialty dessert baklava has a high-calorie version with honey, eggs, and whole milk, and a low-calorie version with only yogurt and crushed nuts.

   "So, are there really many stars in Hollywood who are in financial difficulties now? Even these three directors have no one to invest. It's really a sad thing."

"Uh... it's not so sad." Ronald didn't say a word. Helen likes to discuss these social and moral issues, but as far as Ronald knows, these three directors are not very popular with big studios. , only some mid-sized studios are willing to gamble on them.

"Hollywood can't only have genre films with a commercial frame, but also a lot of artistic exploration, otherwise the whole of Hollywood will become a stagnant pool." Helen took a bite of the dessert (actually it is a healthy version, and the yogurt is fermented and very little sugar), and then started chatting about her thoughts with her friends.

   "That makes sense," Ronald said following Helen's words. Indeed, Hollywood can't just repeat the proven commercial film model, but also has to make bold explorations and breakthroughs, so as to form a new genre film model, so that those practitioners who are not so talented can also produce profitable works.

  If Coppola made "The Godfather III", the producers would definitely line up to give him money. But if he hadn't broken all kinds of stereotypes and made the first "Godfather" film, then the current gangster films are still repeating the noir film pattern of the 1930s.

  It’s just that compared to letting these famous directors, it’s not cheap to make exploratory art films. Ronald prefers to invest in small-budget exploitation directors who have never had the opportunity to complete this mission of exploring new genres.

"Are you unhappy?" Helen noticed Ronald's distraction, "Did I say something wrong? I just had some thoughts when I was chatting with my friends, ah...I'm not saying that you are a director of commercial films who only repeat themselves …" Helen waved her hands anxiously, and thoughtlessly relayed her usual thoughts of chatting with Helen Hunt and some Broadway actors, as if she was blaming Ronald.

"Of course, honey, I know what you mean." Ronald shook her hand and said reassuringly, "I was just thinking, is there any way to help those talented people who are ignored by the big studios?" directors to make what they want to make."

   "Really?" Helen's eyes sparkled, and Ronald looked so charming when he talked about this sense of industry and social responsibility.

   "Of course, um... Also, before you go to Canada to continue filming, I also want to spend more time with you. We haven't seen each other for a long time."

"whee…"

  The voices of the two of them became smaller and smaller, they got closer and closer, and finally kissed together.

   "Please leave our table, Mr. Stallone." A man with a British accent loudly reprimanded him, interrupting the warm moment between Ronald and Helen.

   "Tsk... hey... can't you calm down a little?" Seeing the eyes of the diners around him focus on a few tables away from Ronald, Ronald, who was interrupted, was very unhappy.

"That seems to be Meg Tilly..." Helen recognized the person on the table over there. "I heard that she and her husband are getting a divorce. I don't know if this is... No, it's the rumor that she had an affair with her on the set. I think Kinneman's father is already in his seventies, so this man's age is wrong."

   "The accent is not right..." Ronald said in a low voice. The man was clearly one of the two couples who had an affair with him at the Palace of Versailles in Paris, Colin Firth.

   They, like Ronald, came to this Greek restaurant for a date. Just happened to meet the star of Hollywood, Sylvester Stallone.

  This male star with excess hormones, divorced his ex-wife, which caused him a lot of losses. But Stallone hasn't changed his habit of attacking beautiful actresses everywhere, but he doesn't know how to attract Hollywood actresses.

   When Meg Tilly was dating her boyfriend, he had the same courage as Rambo and asked Meg Tilly to go to his house to play on the spot.

   The provoked Colin Firth of course stood up and put Tilly behind him, separating her from Stallone. But the good higher education received in Britain made him not know how to deal with a fool like Stallone.

"Meg, why do you always hang out with these Losers, Kinneman too, he too, let me tell you the secret of success in Hollywood, stay with Winner, so that you too Can be a Winner."

   "Oh, my God...", hearing this earthy confession, Ronald was almost digging the ground with his toes in embarrassment.

"Look at me, then look at him." Stallone stepped forward and pressed Colin Firth on the chair, and then made a pose showing his muscles, and continued to attack earthy, "I'm a Winner, I'm Hollywood Park, there is a big house in the hottest area right now, where is your little boyfriend..."

   "Eh...", Ronald has nothing to do with this kind of stupid person. The bigger house he bought was reserved by Stallone. With Cannon running out of money to make movies for him, coupled with a costly divorce, he couldn't afford to pay the rest of the house. If he didn't even return the deposit, he was in danger of bankruptcy.

  In order not to go bankrupt, Stallone had to change to a house in the smallest and worst district D that was close to the road. Mortgage loans first, with the future income of his two series of movies as collateral, there are still banks willing to lend.

  That place is easily surrounded by Hollywood tourists, gossip reporters, movie fans, etc...

  However, speaking of it, Stallone may wish for people to watch, so that it can more or less prove that he is still alive.

   "Hey, this is too impolite..." Helen couldn't stand it anymore, stood up and protested to Stallone. It is too embarrassing for Hollywood to bully Colin Firth, a British actor, in such a domineering and low-level way.

   "Which little baby is this..." Stallone turned his anger into joy. This actress is more beautiful than Meg Tilly.

   "Ahem...", Ronald stood up and walked out from a dark corner. Originally, they reserved a seat in the back because they wanted to have more privacy.

  Ronald is tall and tall. Although he is not as muscular as Stallone, he has a well-proportioned body after practicing wrestling all the year round. In addition, he is half a head taller than Stallone and condescending, so he is not too inferior.

   "Ah...", Stallone saw clearly that it was Ronald, and his arrogance was poured with cold water. Just now he was bragging, and now he is facing the man who bought a mansion that he couldn't afford...

"I, the house, you, hey..." Rao is a fool like Stallone, and it is rare for him to feel ashamed because he is not gentle enough and has become a Luthor, and he no longer pesters Meg Tilly, saying nothing Fat, turned and left.

   "Thank you, Ronald...Director Li..." Colin couldn't help but thank you.

"It's okay, we're not all like that in Hollywood. I've always had a crush on British actors, and Alan Rickman and I are happy to work together." Ronald ignored Tilly, who was sitting next to him with a pale face, and pulled Holding Helen's hand, the two also left.

   "Meg, this Ronald is such a nice guy..."

   "..." Tilly didn't know what to say, and all kinds of emotions came over her. She suddenly lowered her head, covered her face with her hands and began to cry.

"Meg, we don't want to live in Hollywood anymore. We should live in another place. Life outside of Hollywood is more normal, unlike here where everyone is paid for fame and fortune..." Colin Firth thought that Stallone's rude humiliation just now made Tilly very sad. sad.

   "However, Kinneman used the reason of visiting the children. He said that I would only be able to live in Hollywood, New York, and Cannes in British Columbia. Only then did he agree to divorce and let me obtain custody of the children."

   Meg Tilly knew that such conditions were vicious. Living in Hollywood or Manhattan, New York, the savings of the two are not enough, and Canada is too far away from the showbiz, the careers of both actors may be wasted.

  The best thing for the two of them is to live in a small town in California near Los Angeles. It is quiet, low-cost, and they can come to audition and socialize at any time...

   "British Columbia..." Colin Firth also hesitated. He came to Hollywood to get ahead.

   "Woooo..." Meg Tilly couldn't help but feel even more sad when she saw the two were at a loss because of the money. She lowered her head and cried loudly. If back then...the big house in Hollywood Park, I should be living now!

"Honey, let's go to Canada, to British Columbia. For you, I can be a high school drama teacher. It's no big deal..." Firth, who thought it was Tilly who was sad because he didn't want to go to Canada with her, hurriedly made an oath .

   "Ah... woo...", Tilly cried even more sadly now.

  (end of this chapter)