Exploiting Hollywood 1980

   Chapter 248 Want to seize power?

   Ronald's red-eye flight arrived in Los Angeles. He was eating breakfast in the departure hall of Los Angeles Airport, waiting for his agent, Richard, to pick him up.

   When he just got off the plane, he was looking for someone on the radio in the waiting hall. Ronald heard his name and went to the public phone to answer the call from the secretary of CAA. He knew that Richard was delayed in answering the phone when he was about to leave.

   Ronald took his last sip of coffee, picked up the "Variety Weekend Edition" he bought at the newsstand, and turned to the weekly box office column.

   "First place Superman 2, 14 million This is the second film adaptation of Superman comics,

  The second-place Cannonball Speed, 11.7 million, was invested by Xiangjiang’s Golden Harvest Company,

  The Lost Ark of the Covenant is 8 million..."

   "The Lost Ark box office is very strong, the third week is only 4% lower than the first week, it seems to be entering the long run."

  Ronald put down the newspaper. In the new week's box office, "The Lost Ark of the Covenant" was only surpassed by two new films, ranking third. It seems that Hollywood will pursue the talented director who dropped out of college Spielberg again.

   At this moment Richard came over and greeted Ronald. The two walked out of the waiting hall and got into his Corolla car.

   "Spielberg's assistant Katherine called and said that Steven has signed a contract with Universal to make ET movies. He also wants to hear your opinion on the latest version of the script. Please come to his house to chat at night."

   "Why? I'm afraid I can't give any new opinions, and his spectacle films, all the secrets are in Steven's own mind, the script is actually less important than other feature films.

   Besides, I'm still busy with my own movies. Can you think of a way to help me get rid of it? Richard. "

"Mr. Spielberg invited you to his home and office this time, and it was Universal who built him a big house after the success of 'Jaws'. This is equivalent to a personal invitation, if you have some personal relationship with him, I'm afraid to you The future career will be very beneficial.”

"But I'm really busy, casting, scouting, interviewing for DPs and art directors. I'd love to be a guest, but evaluating scripts takes up a lot of my time, and the rest of my work is trivial , it will be troublesome.”

The   CAA was so keen on it that Spielberg was reluctant to sign them. If Steven had a personal friend at CAA, it would be good for him to put actors in his films in the future, or to seek opportunities to sign him again.

   Ronald himself is not very interested, he has already obtained the director's position, and the new social relations are of limited help to him temporarily. Right now, the most important thing for my directorial career is to make a high-grossing movie.

"He's Steven, after all, the owner of the highest-grossing American film. Having a personal relationship is important in the long run. At least don't turn him down right away, go meet him, and then try to push it off. The work of script evaluation.”

  Richard is more sincere to himself than other brokers, and he is quite considerate in his words. Ronald nodded, "Okay, I'll think about it."

"By the way, how do I ask Mr. Dean Candy, the director of photography that you invited, to reply?" Ronald was obsessed with Candy, the director of photography of his first film "High School of Rock", he put a few hundred thousand dollars The low-cost production of the film is well-shot, the picture quality is high and the style is uniform.

"Kandy is still filming the sequel to 'Moonlight, Panic'. After that, the film contract has continued. He said that he would like to work with you, but he has already agreed on other jobs. Universal has given you three recommended candidates, you will meet when you arrive. They do. Youth comedy doesn’t require much photography.”

   "But Dean Candy is my own," Ronald thought to himself. The crew is a messy place. Some people know the basics. When people who have worked together work together, the efficiency will be improved a lot.

"Let's go to Universal's program office first, and then I'm taking you to the hotel. Art Linson, one of the producers, will introduce you to the executive producer this morning. The accountant will also be there for your office, The cost of the preparatory stage of the crew will be reimbursed to her."

  The two soon came to Universal Studios, and Atlinson was waiting for him at the door, "Hi, Ronald, hello. Did you just get off the plane?"

The two embraced affectionately, and Lin Sen handed a key, "The office is yours during this time, and another producer, Mr. Azov, and I will come to visit often, and sometimes stroll over after lunch. , very close."

   "Thank you, I hope you will come and see it often", which is also what it should mean. After determining the director's level like Coleman, there are very few expert producers who let it go.

   He looked around and saw no trace of anyone else. "Is the executive producer not here? When will he arrive? I want to talk to him about casting and planning arrangements earlier."

"It's morning, people in the film industry aren't used to getting up early, you should be able to see you soon... But I'm going to correct two of your mistakes, it's her, not him, she'll be an associate producer, I Basically every day, the crew will come, and there is no need to have a resident executive producer."

   Well, it seems that Art Linson has not given up his dream of directing. This time he made it clear that he wants to stay on the set, and to see how he shoots, and it also means to supervise.

   In this case, it is really not like those busy producers, who need an executive producer to watch the booth on the spot, and report any problems at any time. It is normal to arrange a named associate producer in this way.

  The associate producer of the crew is famous, but the actual power is not fixed. It can be the name of the producer's relatives and friends, and the last subtitle. It can also be acting as a producer, depending on the crew.

   Anyway, it won’t be the executive producer’s way of working into every detail of the shooting. For me, it is one less of the constraints of the crew.

The two waited in the office for a while, when a woman in sunglasses walked in, "Hi Art. Hi Ronald, we meet again." It was Amy Hecklin, who lost the director competition. .

  "Hi, Amy", Ronald greeted Hecklen, who lost the competition with him, "Is your new film confirmed? Art is also the producer?"

   Although Heklin did not get a "fast-paced" director, her personal relationship with Tom Mount is still known to the industry. A CAA agent, Rapke, signed her to help her sign a directorial deal with Universal.

   Richard told him about this. Back then, Rapke played tricks on Richard who wanted to climb out of the mail room, and the two had a grudge.

  Ronald heard from Richard that Heckling was digging for gold in Universal's script library.

"No, I didn't see a good script that could compare to 'Fast-Paced Richmond High', so Mr. Mount and I asked to be an Associate Producer for the 'Fast-Paced' crew, and I wanted to be this part of the movie.

   "Huh?" Ronald wondered in his heart, why didn't Heckling find a script to set up a project and join her own crew.

"I can help you in a lot of places, Ronald. For example, I am very familiar with rock music, and when I read the script, I add music to each episode, and I also draw up a playlist. irreplaceable..."

   "This woman is really bold. With the support of Tom Mount, she squeezed into the crew like this, trying to invade her own power?"

  Ronald hated in his heart, "Tom Mount is also a pig. Putting himself and Hecklen in the same crew, is he going to find his fault and replace him with Hecklen?"

"I just got off the plane and I have to go to the hotel. Let's talk about it tomorrow." Ronald didn't have a seizure on the surface, but he didn't go to pick up her playlist either. He turned around and greeted the producer Lin Sen. Chad is gone.

   "Go to CAA, I want to see Nisita." Ronald ordered Richard in the car.

  Richard didn't know that Heckling had this hand waiting for Ronald and started the car. He looked at Ronald's face, except that he was so serious that he didn't smile, so he couldn't tell if he was angry.

   "Nisita, can you let Heckling go?" Upon seeing Nisita, Ronald made his request straight to the point.

  Nisita still didn't know what was going on and looked at Richard. After listening to the brief introduction, he picked up the phone to negotiate with Rapke.

   "His secretary said he wasn't in the office."

   "I want to see Ovitz." Ronald said calmly.

   "Calm down, Ronald," Nisita stood up and took two steps, and said to Richard, "Can you give me and Ronald some space to talk?"

   Watching Richard exit the office, Nisita looked at Ronald and said:

   "I know you are very dissatisfied with me, but I don't know about Hecklen's affairs. I will definitely stand by your side and protect your interests, which is to protect my own interests."

   Then he squatted down slightly and approached Ronald who was sitting, "Something happened out of this office I won't admit that I said it.

  You have to know that Heklin is Jewish, and so is Universal's President Simberg. Although he chose you, he still appreciates Heklin, who is also Jewish, and is happy to see her succeed. "

   "And Ovitz too."

  Ronald glanced at Nisita with a hint of questioning in his eyes.

   "I'm Italian."

Ronald thought, Tom Mount is probably taking advantage of Simberg's ethnic psychology. Now that Spielberg has brought ET to the world, if he is really replaced by Hecklen due to lack of ability, I am afraid he will not. will say anything.

   "I still want to see Ovitz, I have to show my attitude." Ronald thought for a moment and said to Nisita.

  Nisita put his hands on his shoulders. "Are you ready? Hollywood is a Colosseum."

"certainly."

   "Welcome." Nisita turned around and dialed Ovitz's secretary's office, "Yes..., yes... He's angry, I can't stop him."

   gave Ronald a wink, and the two went to Ovitz's office together.

   "Didn't you say CAA's culture is like a big family? Why did Rapke betray me, your client?"

Ovitz didn't seem to have expected the level of Ronald's anger. He handed the crying baby in the cradle next to the desk to the secretary, "Take her to another room, don't scare her, and change her a disposable diaper. "

   "It's my youngest daughter. My wife complained that I didn't take care of her enough, so I had to bring her to the office."

   "I'm sorry, she's beautiful." Seeing that the baby was frightened, Ronald put down his angry expression.

"It's too much, but Ronald, it's just a small matter for the president of the MCA, to trouble Mr. Simberg's words for this... On the one hand he is not available, on the other hand he will not Intervene again for this hour."

   "Lapkemin knows that I'm also a CAA customer, so why support Hecklen regardless of the conflict of interest?"

   "To be fair, Ronald, Hecklin is a great customer, and Rapke didn't know this was going to happen when he signed her."

   "Hecklin must be trying to squeeze me out of the crew. If I use a counterattack to squeeze Hekelin away, whose side are you on?"

   "Of course I support you, and I will tell Rapke to pay attention to conflicts of interest between clients in the future. I promise."

   "Tell him to eat shit." Ronald angrily left Ovitz's office.

   "Conflict of interest, no conflict, where is the interest?" Ovitz sneered and instructed the secretary, "After changing the diaper, take my baby in."

   Entered Nisita's office, Ronald no longer looked angry, but found Nisita's wine cabinet, opened a bottle of the most expensive whisky, poured a glass for himself and Nisita, and Richard.

   "You impress me, Ronald." Nisita praised.

"I don't think it's possible to let Heckling go in a short period of time. It's a long-term battle. I need you to do a few things for me." Ronald took a sip of dry whisky without ice and said Sita said.

"Please say."

   "First, I have to know about any new developments in Hecklen. I know you have this ability."

"Can."

   "Second, contact Cameron Crowe and ask him to talk. I would like to invite him to join the crew as a screenwriter and original author. I need more allies."

"no problem."

   Ronald turned to Richard, "Reply to Mr. Spielberg's assistant, I'll be there at night."

   In the afternoon, Ronald urgently called Gale, the new producer of the New World Company. Ask her how to play the power struggle of the crew.

   "Power does not come from being appointed. In addition to appointing the superior and giving him an appointment letter, the person with authority must convince everyone in the team so that they will obey your orders."

  Gail has also worked in several production crews, and has seen directors who are always responding, and directors who are collectively despised by their subordinates.

   "How can this authority be obtained?"

   "This can only be achieved through a little bit of struggle. If they follow your instructions, the daily dailies will be wonderful, and they will gradually obey you.

   As you said, Hecklin took the initiative to undertake the soundtrack work, which is to show her ability to her superiors through things.

   She won't compete with you in everything, but casting, soundtrack, and the ability to show her ability in front of the producer, she will definitely be in the limelight.

   Like Kanjing, breaking down the script, this kind of practical work without being in the limelight, she will not necessarily come, because she can't impress her superiors.

  Like Jim, the stunt model he did in Jamaica was very good, the producer fired the original director and let him take over, this is the advantage of knowing how to show in front of the superiors. "

   "Thank you, Gail, I think I know what to do."

   (end of this chapter)