Exploiting Hollywood 1980

   Chapter 243 Patricia Birch wants to work with you

   The days of waiting were tense and boring. Ronald called back to the university, canceled all his summer electives, and concentrated on staying in Los Angeles, waiting for the verdict of his fate.

   Soon Nisita came to him again. For the past two days, he devoted himself to inquiring about the news in the world, but found nothing. Except for Tom Mount, no one seemed to have heard the news of what would happen in 2 weeks.

   But this day Nisita brought another good news.

"Remember Patricia Birch, the choreographer of the original Grease musical and film? Paramount and Sterwood decided she would be the director of Grease 2 and she thought of you first and wanted you to go Doing script revision work."

Hey?

   Ronald's mind recalled this little woman who was nearly 50 years old. At that time, when the name of "Grease 2" was still called "Son of Grease", in order to learn the script writing of musicals, I once visited her, and with the selfless help of the other party, I learned how to integrate singing and dancing with other plots. together.

"Okay, I'd like to see her." Although Ronald made up his mind that he must become a director this time and was not interested in screenwriting, Birch's love for helping him paid off and he took an hour or two to spend with her. It's okay to meet and talk about the script.

   "Hi Ronald. It's nice to see you again, let's work together, you're in charge of the script revision, and the lyrics to the song, I'll choreograph the dance and pick the music, and let's have a blast."

  Patricia Birch is very energetic, and she no longer has the suffocation when she was at home.

  The Zach brothers had the success of "unprecedented flying" and decided to take a break and shirk from directing Grease 2. Paramount found a lot of directors, and finally used the original choreographer Birch, who knew a lot about musicals.

   Speaking of which, she, like herself, is also a director for the first time.

   Patricia Birch's voice was still as loud as it was. She told Ronald that she had read all the versions of the script, and decided to abandon the version that had been altered during Hutton's time, and it was better to use the original version of Ronald's script.

After this script was rejected by Hutton at that time, Ronald signed a supplementary agreement not to allow Hutton's crew to use his own script. But since Birch likes it, he has no problem using it for her.

   "If Paramount buys the script back, then it will pay for all revisions of this script, including the two versions I revised. You can completely delete and revise on the basis of my script."

   "But you have signed a supplemental agreement, and later people can't use your plot and dialogue. If you can, I want you to sign to give up this power." Birch said.

   Ronald glanced at Nisita.

   "Paramount will pay for your script development," Nisita added.

   "I'm fine, you ask them to give the paper to Rick, and I'll sign it."

"Excellent," Birch was delighted, "Mr. Steerwood and I both liked both versions of your script, and he even planned to do Grease 2 first and then change your earlier version of 'Grease Sons', It is more later in time, telling the anti-war version of the 1960s, as a script reserve for Grease 3.

  Come on, Ronald, let's have a blast. "

   "I could sell the script to Paramount, but I have my own directing project..." Ronald explained.

"You really don't think about it? Paramount and Mr. Steerwood will put in a total budget of $12 million. And your project is only $3 million. I've been in a lot of movies, and a lack of budget means in many places A compromise has to be made.

  The costumes had to be second-hand goods that others had used, the sets had to be picked from other crews that had not been dismantled after filming, and there were various wages.

   The last time I communicated with you, I felt that you understand script writing very well. After reading your script, I found that you also have a good grasp of musical drama script.

  You come to help me polish the script, I will give you the treatment of assistant director, and then when Grease 3 or Grease 4, you can act as the director independently.

   That is a big production with a cost of more than 10 million. How is it, Ronald? "

  Ronald is very happy that Birch can give him this opportunity, but he is determined to be the director, "Thank you very much for your invitation, Patricia, but please understand the persistence of a young man."

   In addition, the script of Grease 2 has neither the hero and heroines from the upper part, nor the original musical to polish the script and accumulate word-of-mouth. It is difficult to say whether it will be successful at the box office. It's like "Fast-paced Richmond High School", which also released a commemorative video tape 15 years after its release.

   Ronald insisted on his choice and apologized to Birch.

   "Okay, Ronald. I know it's hard for you to turn down a directing opportunity like this. I wanted you to help me.

   Now that John Travolta, and Olivia Newton-John, are both refusing to star in the sequel, I have to start from scratch with the right actors.

   By the way, how about your ex-girlfriend? The name is Antonia, she dances really well in Grease 1, let her try the heroine Stephanie? I've seen her perform in the world, and she can act, and it's a good fit for the role. "

"She went to the New York City Ballet to realize her ballet dreams, and maybe she's on tour now." Ronald said with a smile, but Antonia came from a poor family in Little Italy, and her background was somewhat similar to Stephanie's. The script also arranged for her to work at a gas station.

   "I'll try to contact her." Birch wouldn't give up.

   "The difficulty of a musical is finding the right actors. Many people think that the dance of musicals comes first, but it is totally wrong. Being able to perform to the camera is the real standard for casting musicals.

   You did an excellent job of writing the character Stephanie, her character is contradictory. As the leader of the Pink Girl, she has status in the school social circle, but in reality she is just a poor child working at a gas station.

   She falls in love with the motorcycle rider wearing a helmet and riding a motorcycle to save her, and Michael who helps her with her Shakespeare homework, not knowing that they are actually the same person.

   This kind of entanglement and wandering emotions is difficult to act well, I need an actress who can look beautiful on camera even when she is embarrassed. "

   Pretty when embarrassed, Ronald thinks of Michelle Pfeiffer. When I wrote the script, I just broke up with her. When I wrote the role of Stephanie, did I subconsciously add some of Pfeiffer's appearance and personality into the role of Stephanie?

   "Do you have a suitable person in mind?" Birch keenly noticed a slight smile on the corner of Ronald's mouth, as if thinking of someone.

   "No, no, casting is not done at once, I can recommend casting studios in New York to you, they are very professional."

   "Comeon, don't lie to me Ronald, your expression just now is exactly the same as when you said Antonia, is she also your ex-girlfriend?"

  Birch took Ronald's hand, "The success of Grease 2 largely depends on the casting of the male and female protagonists. Are you willing to let your script fail? Tell me who she is..."

   Ronald was confused by Birch, so he had to take out his notebook, find the phone number of his agent Ed Limato, and copy it on a piece of paper and hand it to Patricia Birch.

   "Do you know Limato, William Morris's agent? He has a client named Michelle Pfeiffer who has acted in a commercial for Lux soap..."

"Her dancing is not as good as Antonia. It was because of this that she was rejected for the role of a well-known ballet student, but her acting skills are not... Forget it, see for yourself, I shouldn't talk too much." Ronald shook his head, It's really none of your business.

   "Besides, it's better not to tell Limato that he got the news from me, I don't want to have anything to do with his client anymore."

   "Hi, Ronald, it's me, Ed. Ed Limato." Unexpectedly, that night, Limato found the hotel room number where Ronald stayed and called.

   "Hi, Ed, long time no see", Ronald thought to himself, is Birch's mouth so lax?

   "I'm very grateful for your recommendation to Pfeiffer. In fact, she hasn't had any movie opportunities recently. Grease 2 has been the best audition opportunity she has participated in in the past six months."

   "You're probably mistaken, Ed. It's nothing to do with me." Ronald replied casually while sitting on the sofa drinking black tea.

   "Don't take me for a fool, Ronald. I've been in this business for over 20 years.

Grease 2 is restarted, Patricia Birch is the director, I submitted an audition application for Pfeiffer, and I called Pfeiffer a few times but there was no response. Today, Birch personally called Pfeiffer to audition, and also told the new version of the script Stephanie's role is similar to hers.

  I asked around, you wrote the new script..."

   "Well, I told Birch Pfeiffer. But whether she can be selected depends on her." These agents are really all-pervasive, and they can restore things to the same degree in a few moments.

   "Ronald. We're friends and Pfeiffer is like my child. I...I appreciate the care you take for her, but I...I can't..."

   "What the **** are you trying to say?" Ronald listened to him hesitantly.

   "Although you were once a couple, I wouldn't encourage her to do immoral things for casting. You know, she just married her boyfriend and is on her honeymoon."

   "Oh, that's good. Congrats to her." Ronald wondered if Pfeiffer was in such a hurry to get married so soon? It seemed that she really wanted to have someone by her side.

   "Wait a minute, what is immoral?" Ronald said to Limato, "Why is it immoral for me to recommend her to audition?"

   "You just said 'Can you choose to see her?', are you implying something...?" Limato asked cautiously on the other end of the phone.

  Limato is a rare old-fashioned agent. Although he will not prevent his actresses from exchanging something for roles, he will not actively seek such opportunities for clients. He treats every client as a family member and hopes that they will be satisfied in their career and life.

   "FxckYou, why do you think so?" Ronald laughed, he was not a producer or director with casting power.

  Oh... Maybe Limato misunderstood and thought he was still a screenwriter and had a good relationship with director Birch, which really had some influence on the casting.

   "Listen, I'm not on Grease 2, Birch just bought the rights to my script. She did invite me to join the crew, but I didn't, I have another film director opportunity to fight for.

   Pfeiffer's audition for Stephanie was just a casual remark, and I don't want to worry about it anymore. Your audition results have nothing to do with me. "

   "Director's job, which one is it?" Limato ignored the others, only heard this key piece of information, and immediately asked on the phone.

   Ronald did not speak.

"Ronald, we are friends, right? Although Pfeiffer didn't go down with you, I didn't exert any bad influence on her." Limato heard that Ronald had the opportunity to direct so soon, and he felt in his heart. It is also very anxious to seek opportunities for customers.

"You are a genius, Ronald. I admit that I didn't discover your genius before, and this was probably the biggest mistake of my career. But the success of a movie is not just about one genius, it requires different geniuses to work together, no ?"

   Now the movie market is sluggish, and many of Limato's clients are not working. There's been a lot of discussion about whether movies will fail, and some clients are considering switching to TV. There are also people in the industry who want to bring back 3D movies from the 1950s to save the tired box office.

   "I can only say that it is a small production, I am afraid it is not suitable for your client."

   "Small production, which company is it from? Warner Bros.? Fox? Paramount? Universal?"

   "Uh, stop guessing."

   "Universal, right? Universal? I heard they are preparing a youth movie based on a novel."

   "I don't want to discuss this anymore."

   "Okay, let's not discuss this." Limato agreed to change the subject.

   "To tell you a funny thing, today a beautiful young woman walked into the WMA office herself, trying to find an agent to represent her business.

   This woman named Amy Hecklen actually claimed that whoever signed a contract with her would get the first commission for free. She said that she will definitely get her first director contract, as long as she signs a contract within 2 weeks, she can pick up a client.

   Do you think this is a very interesting thing, if she said she got an actor contract, I think someone will try her luck, but a 27-year-old beauty said she was a director...

Hahaha. "

   "Ed, you're not very good at telling jokes." Ronald is not interested in listening to the gossip about the brokerage industry.

"That's it, don't let Pfeiffer audition under my guise. She wants to live a life of company and stay in Los Angeles to be her actor, and I respect her choice and go on like this, don't disturb each other's lives. "

"This is Hollywood. Everyone knows everyone. You will meet sooner or later. I will talk to you again. I was optimistic about your screenwriting ability back then, and you will definitely become a good director." Limato said and hung up. on the phone.

   Ronald also hung up the receiver, turned around and poured a glass of whiskey to taste slowly. Things are unpredictable, Limato is right, Hollywood is a small circle. I didn't expect that I would soon reach the status of being able to decide the fate of actors like Pfeiffer.

   Will you continue to be kind to others in the future? Or use the power at hand to do something?

  Ronald sat down and sipped his dry whiskey slowly without ice.

   Wrong! Ronald jumped up from the sofa, startled. Why does Limato specifically emphasize the time of 2 weeks?

   The story Limato told him was tipping him off!

  2 weeks to find an agent to sign a contract, beautiful woman, everything is right. She was the secret candidate for Tom Mount. It was inconvenient for him to decide the candidate himself, so he let the time to decide the director dragged on for 2 weeks.

   This woman named Amy Heckerling doesn't even have an agent, but she is sure that she can get the director qualification. There must be a strong background no doubt.

  Limato is paying his favor for recommending Pfeiffer to audition. However, it was inconvenient for him to tell himself the private thoughts of Universal President directly, so he hinted at himself by telling jokes.

   The information that he left with the **** Tom Mount may also be... no, it will definitely be leaked to Hekelin, and after 2 weeks, she will be discarded like a lemon that has been squeezed dry.

  Ronald immediately called his agent, Nisita, to tell him the news.

   "Shxt, how dare this **** Mount do this to our CAA. Did he think he was really a tycoon when he was interviewed by Time magazine? This **** who climbed up by licking XX.

  Looks like we're going to use the trump card early, Ronald.

  I will immediately ask Mr. Ovitz to contact Paramount and get you an internal test ticket for the new film 'The Lost Ark of the Covenant' produced by Lucas and directed by Steven Spielberg. Then we will...

   We're going to get rid of the history with Tom Mount all at once. "

   "Okay, I'll trust you again, Rick. This thing is so disgusting, this time your CAA will let me get what I want, right?"

Nisita, who hung up the phone, said to Paula Wagner, who was in his arms, "If you let him down again this time, Ronald will definitely fire me. And my long-term efforts to win Spielberg may also Total failure.

  Help me get my clothes, Paula, I'll go see Mr. Ovitz right away. "

   (end of this chapter)