Exploiting Hollywood 1980

   Chapter 389 Weird Female Singer

"Cyndi Lauper, a female singer born in 1953, was previously the lead singer of the Blue Angels. After the Blue Angels disbanded, Portrait Records just signed her, ready to release her first solo debut this year. An album 'She's So Different'.

  I was surprised after receiving your inquiry. My client's song hasn't hit the radio charts yet, and hasn't been officially released yet, why would you know? "

  A half-bald lawyer in a handmade suit, Elliott Hoffman, talks about Ronald at a café about the licensing of the song "GirlsJustWanttoHaveFun".

   He wore a pair of old-fashioned round glasses, with a moustache on his lips, and elegantly took a sip from the coffee cup.

"I heard this song at Michael Jackson's back dancer, and it seemed to fit a scene in my movie, Mr. Hoffman. It was two young girls, trying their best in a department store. Wearing all kinds of high-end women's clothing...doesn't it fit in with this song?"

   "That makes sense, MJ's company is Epic Records, and my client Cindy's company is Portrait Records, a subsidiary of Epic Records. On behalf of my client, I'm here to talk to you about this licensing."

  The beard of the lawyer Hoffman is very similar to the protagonist of the detective novel "Polo", and it is also the style with upturned sharp corners on both sides. When drinking coffee, be careful not to let the coffee stick to the wet beard.

   "Polo" Hoffman wrote a number on the paper and pushed it across the table, "This is our offer."

   The agent, Nisita, who was sitting next to Ronald, helped pick up the note from the table, frowned, and handed it to Ronald.

Then he helped Ronald bargain and said, "This figure is too high. Generally speaking, the total price of the interlude and soundtrack will not exceed 10% of the total shooting budget of the film. Your price, my client is sure Can't take it. I think we'll just have to find other songs."

   Hoffman stroked his beard and said nothing. .

Ronald saw him sneaking a sideways glance at himself, knowing that the other party was actually trying to sell it, he thought about it and said, "Mr. Hoffman, this movie of mine is a small production, but I really want to use this song. Songs for interludes.

   I really can't afford this price, but I think my movie will be released, and in the future, it can also play a marketing role in Cindy's new song. I have written lyrics for the theme song and episode of "Famous in the World", and I know very well that after the song is promoted by the movie, it will have a very strong role in promoting sales, which is a win-win situation. "

   "You are right, win-win. But Cindy's new song will in turn have a marketing effect on the release of the movie, so the promotion you say is actually a two-way street." Hoffman responded.

   "I don't deny that what you said is right, so we should join forces and cooperate with the release of the movie and the time when the song hits the charts, so that both the single and the movie can benefit from it." Ronald continued to lobby the other party to reduce the price.

   "You know, Mr. Young Director. In the past year, the most important exposure of many singles has been transferred from radio to television, especially the 24-hour music TV like MTV.

   And I did research, and the first MV that caused a sensation and had a plot, "The Magical Stain Band", was directed by you. "

   Having said this, Hoffman stopped talking, his two eyes looked at Ronald with piercing eyes through the small circular lenses.

   "Mr. Hoffman, you might as well make it clearer. Is there anything I can do for you?"

"So, if you could give Cindy Lauper this new song and direct a music video, the song could be licensed to the movie for free, and then I would convince Portrait Records to have the single and the movie's marketing work together. , play a lot in the same schedule to achieve better results for both sides.”

   "Please let me discuss with the broker."

  Ronald and Nisita avoided Hoffman and whispered.

  Nisita said, "My client can provide you with directing services in exchange for licensing the song. We need to see the budget for the shooting, the script, and then draw up the contract."

   "Not only the director, but also the editing. Finally, a music video video that can be played on MTV is made."

   "Acceptable." Nisita and Ronald discussed a few more words and agreed. Anyway, the shooting of the MV was relatively simple, Ronald just changed his mind and made a short short film.

   "Plus script and cast selection."

   "You must be joking, Mr. Hoffman. I'd rather go directly to someone at the record label to buy a license."

  Ronald was angry, because he knew that he wanted this song, and he was desperately picking up wool. A movie's interlude can be the icing on the cake, but the quality itself is fundamental. Otherwise, what script should I write, and a 90-minute MV for a song will be a hit?

   Just replace the song, or find a way to find a new singer, buy the cover copyright and sing it again, and get paid.

   Hoffman saw Ronald stand up and gestured to go, and hurriedly put one hand on Ronald's hand.

   "Wait, Mr. Director."

   "In this way, I will arrange for you to meet Cindy. She is not easy, and I have no way to propose this method. I hope to give her some career help. This girl only needs a chance."

   "Well, Mr. Hoffman, I hope we can all be frank. If you have any ideas, you can talk about it and stop making such excessive demands."

   Hoffman waved his hand, indicating that he would not ask for another price, and he told Ronald about Cindy Lauper.

   It turns out that this female singer has been out for a long time, but she has been imitating other famous singers to sing, or hanging out in the band. She has been rebellious since she was a child. Her mother is Italian. After her parents divorced, she couldn't stand the domestic violence of her stepfather. She ran away from home before finishing high school. Been singing in bars and clubs everywhere to support myself.

   Hoffman became her lawyer after Cindy Lauper quit the band to go solo and signed with Portrait Records. After seeing her a few times, she was conquered by her unique and high-pitched voice, and believed that she would become a singer. Decided to invest in her and bet on her future.

  The record company didn't take Cindy Lauper too seriously, and only gave a total budget of 35,000 US dollars. With that kind of money, you can probably just find a random director, let Cindy Lauper dance and lip-sync indoors, and then call it a day.

In order to gain greater exposure for this single, Hoffman even used his own personal resources to find the producer of the comedy talk show "Saturday Night Live (SNL who was also his client, and rented it for free. Shooting and editing equipment, used for MV shooting.

Later, he heard Ronald come to talk about copyright. After a little understanding, he knew that Ronald Lee was the director who created the trend of MV with a plot. He immediately decided to talk about it in person, hoping to exchange copyright authorization for Ronald. Nader's services.

   Only then did the two sides meet and negotiate. Hoffman wanted to repeat the same trick, to get Ronald to direct the music video for the song for free.

   Just seeing Ronald agreed so readily, lawyer Hoffman's occupational disease attacked, and he wanted to extract more value, which annoyed Ronald.

"Well, I can provide directing and editing services. You can handle other actors, equipment, and staff. I also require you to be present during the shooting. If there is a shortage of resources, you can handle it on the spot. This is my final bid."

Ronald felt that he could use his personal abilities in exchange for authorization, so that he could squeeze out a little money and make the special effects part better. Although he suffered a bit, but for the final effect of the movie, he didn't care about these small things. account.

   "That's great, I'll call Cindy and tell her the good news."

"where is she?"

   "She's in New York."

   "Huh? Then I have to go to New York to shoot?"

"You said yes, Ronald. And Cindy Lauper wrote her idea for the video, a story that happened in New York." Hoffman paid for the coffee and pulled some coins out of his wallet. Do a tip.

"It's okay, I'll go back to New York for my two-week vacation." Ronald turned to Nisita and said, "Please help me and Mr. Hoffman discuss the details, two days of shooting, plus editing, I have the ultimate responsibility for art."

   A few days later, Ronald, who signed on to shoot the MV for "Girls Just Want Some Fun", returned to his hometown of New York.

   Hoffman had already returned to New York in advance. He sent a luxury car to the airport to pick up Ronald to talk to Cindy Lauper about the shooting of the MV.

   Arrived at Hoffman's office, where Ronald finally met the song's lead singer, Cindy Lauper.

  Cindy Lauper is not tall, but she is definitely recognizable in a crowd. The fiery red and orange hair, like the tail feathers of a rooster, grows haphazardly, and instead looks vibrant.

   And the clothes she wears are also very gorgeous and weird, making Ronald feel that she is not wearing clothes, but an impressionist painting.

   "Miss Lauper, I'm Ronald."

   "Just call me Cindy, Cindi, not Cindy"

  Cindy Lauper herself is not as neurotic as her appearance. She has been singing in bars since she was a child, so she can handle all kinds of people with ease.

   In front of Ronald, she also put away the well-built weird image, but revealed the essence of the singer, in fact, she is a pretty smart person.

   "I heard Mr. Hoffman say, do you have a certain creative idea for your MV?"

"Yes, Ronald. This song was actually written by a male singer in 1979, and it's what a man said to a woman. After I took over, I reworked the lyrics to say it from a girl's point of view, girl They should definitely have the same opportunities as men, and they should have all the opportunities that men have."

   "So, this is a joke and shout of a girl who has less opportunities for women in society?" Ronald re-read the lyrics again, and it is true that the creator's own ideas are more accurate.

   "Yes, you look at the same high school students. When boys come home late, parents usually don't say anything, but when girls come home late, their parents will be very anxious, and even scold them and ground them..."

   "This is because New York is a dangerous place, right? With such poor security, which responsible parent would be more careful?" Ronald complained about the other party's peculiar angle.

   "But for this song, the girl coming home late, or staying home all night, driving her parents crazy is really a good angle to cut into the story."

   (end of this chapter)