Exploiting Hollywood 1980

   Chapter 446 Casting Stuck

   "Honey, I want to confess to Jane. I love you, I've never felt this way, Susan."

   "No, don't do that. I don't want to ruin your family, Jerry. I'll be content as long as I can be with you all the time."

   "In this way, I will appoint you as the on-set coordinator for this 'Longwei Boy'. When I am not on the set, you must tell me everything that happens on the set."

   "I will, it's like a dream to me, I never thought it would be working for a man full of wisdom, or the film industry."

  Jerry Weintraub and secretary Susan Atkins returned to Los Angeles from their weekend getaway in Palm Springs. The two sweetly settled down the next work arrangement of "Longwei Kid" in the office.

   "Mr. Weintraub, Ronald Lee and his agent, will come to visit you in the morning. Their appointment time will arrive soon." In place of Susan's secretary, the former front desk lady. She knocked on the door and came in to announce.

   "If you arrive, invite them in."

After a while, Ronald and Nisita, who had just arrived at the office, were greeted by the secretary.

   "Hi Ronald," Weintraub was in good spirits after a relaxing weekend and hugged Ronald.

   "Honey, get some coffee." Weintraub turned around and asked the red-haired Susan Atkins to prepare the coffee, then kissed Susan on the mouth.

   Ronald noticed all this, and he chatted with Weintraub about the recent changes in the movie world. Susan brought a plate from the outside with three cups of coffee on it.

   "Ronald, Rick," Susan quickly brought coffee to the two guests, followed by sugar cubes and milk for them to make up.

  "Jerry", at the third cup, Susan added a cube of sugar to the cup, stirred it with a spoon, and handed it to Weintraub.

"I came today to ask Mr. Weintraub about the progress of the project. I have several young actor friends, and a friend who is an expert in karate and Chinese martial arts, wondering if there is a chance to be involved in the 'Dragon' Westbrook's project production."

   Ronald put forward his own request under the pretext that was negotiated, and by the way, to check on the progress of the other party.

"This kind of thing, in fact, you just need to call me." Weintraub is very satisfied with Ronald's respect for himself, "I just appointed Susan as the scene coordinator of the crew, these things, you go Contact her directly. The audition and your friend's job, she will arrange it directly."

   "Thank you, Mr. Weintraub. Thank you, Miss Atkins." Ronald turned to look at Susan, an ordinary-looking secretary.

   "So, how's the casting of the cast? When can filming start?" Ronald retracted his gaze and continued to listen for news.

   "We are a little stuck on the protagonist." Weintraub did not shy away from Ronald, the screenwriter, "Evelson has his own ideas about Master Miyagi, and in my opinion, this casting is absolutely not good."

   "Oh, who is it?" Ronald heard that Elvisson had already made a choice for Master Miyagi, and wanted to know who it was.

   "It's that Arnold," Weintraub put down his coffee, "How can a Japanese actor who gag in sitcoms play a karate master?"

   "Which Arnold?" Ronald didn't know why, looked at Nisita and shook his head when he saw him.

"It's the Japanese-American actor Pat Morita, who played the supporting role of Arnold on the sitcom 'Happy Days'." Susan Atkins knew Weintraub was talking about the character name and not the actor name, explained next to it.

   Seeing that Ronald still could not grasp his thoughts, Weintraub simply stood up, took a videotape and put it into the VCR.

   A short Japanese actor with a shaved chin and a moustache appeared on the TV. He spoke very articulately and introduced himself to the camera.

   "My name is Pat. Pat Morita. Played Arnold on the sitcom 'Happy Hour' before..."

   "What do you think? Is he suitable to play Master Miyagi?"

Ronald thought for a while, "The appearance is not a big problem, it fits the unremarkable description in the script. However, his lines are too American. Master Miyagi is a first-generation immigrant, there is no way this is possible. The fluent English level does not match the character's character, I don't know if he can play..."

   "That's right, that's the problem." Weintraub was very happy to hear that Ronald supported his idea.

"He's in a sitcom. Mr. Miyagi is humorous, but he's not a clown? I don't know why Evelson insists on using him. But as long as I'm still the producer of this movie, I'm definitely not going to Let him act."

  Weintraub's talk is on the rise, and he told Ronald a lot about the preparations of the crew. Evelson recruited his old partner, director of photography, and assistant director for the filming of "Rocky" to the crew.

   Several actors in the villain "Cobra" dojo who played against the protagonist Danny have also been confirmed, all of whom are the second generation of stars.

  The most famous of these is the son of the late tough guy actor Steve McQueen and his first wife, Chad McQueen.

   But the dystocia of Master Miyagi left the two protagonists Danny and the main villain Ali's ex-boyfriend Johnny unsure. Because they need to audition with Master Miyagi to see if there is chemistry.

  To be honest, Ronald didn't know why Elvisson had a crush on Pat Morita. However, experience tells him that the director's observation is generally more reliable than that of the producer, not to mention Evelson, who has won the Oscar for best director. Maybe he saw something he didn't see, what about Morita's qualities?

   But this can’t be said directly to Weintraub, Ronald remembers what Evelson himself said, to convince the producers, they must package their own ideas as what they came up with. Although Evelson himself did not handle it very well.

  Ronald and Nisita got up and said goodbye after chatting for a while. Weintraub and Evelson had some conflicts in casting, but the relationship between the two was still harmonious, and there was no trouble to the point of being unable to cooperate.

   For a Jewish tycoon like Weintraub, Nisita thinks the best strategy is to make him think you're not playing tricks on him. Or simply play a bigger trick. After deceiving him, he still thinks what you said is reasonable, and it is the right choice to cooperate with you. So this time, Ronald didn't mention what he was replacing.

  The two returned to the CAA office with a bit of disappointment. This matter still needs to be discussed in the long run, depending on the stalemate on the casting, and there may be a turning point in the future.

   "Bell bell bell..."

   The phone rang, and Nisita grabbed the phone.

   "Huh? Um... well, he's in Los Angeles, can..."

   Nisita, who put down the phone, looked Ronald up and down, left and right, "When did you and Ned Tanin become good friends?"

   "Who? Ned Tanin?"

Ronald was also taken aback. He remembered this while filming "Fast-Paced Richmond High School", first embarrassing himself, then fighting to support himself for office politics, and finally remaining neutral when he voted. Former Global Vice President who resigned.

   "No? I haven't seen him for a long time."

   "Anyway, he invited you to visit his new office by phone, and said he wanted to chat with you about the new film and listen to your opinion."

   "What does he have to do with me?" Ronald asked inexplicably, "Is there any personnel change in Universal?"

   The next day, Ronald and Nisita came to Universal Studios by appointment.

After    Ned Tanin resigned from the position of Universal Vice President, he opened his own production company. His office is still inside the Universal Studios, a bungalow. It was those humble offices when Ronald shot "Fast Pace."

  Ned Tanin was very enthusiastic about Ronald and took him around.

   Ronald already knew the reason for Tanin's sudden enthusiasm for him. Yesterday Universal announced the new president of the film division, Frank Price, the former president of Columbia.

  Although he lost the fight with the Coca-Cola gang, he was kicked out of the Colombian movie. But Frank Price's level is well known in the industry. He's the only studio executive who has read the script himself and can offer actual opinions.

   Sidney Simberg, who secretly joined Spielberg and cast "ET Alien" from Colombia, has been promoted to CEO of the parent company MCA. He knows this old rival very well.

  Colombia's profit last year, just the 5% share of "ET Alien" that Price talked about, has exceeded all other film productions combined. So after Price left, he immediately dug him to Universal as the president in charge of the film business.

As soon as Price took office, Ned Tanin was about to make a good relationship. Because of his production company, the distribution contracts for the upcoming films are all in Universal's hands.

   At Price, Tanin heard Ronald Lee's name again. His new screenwriting work has been launched in Colombia again. Although he doesn't know who can make a blockbuster movie, Frank Price does.

  Tanen immediately called CAA and got to know Ronald first. Even if the two had no chance to cooperate for the time being, he was a young director favored by President Price, and there was no harm in approaching him to do some social activities.

   "This is the office of the first director I signed. Like you, he was also a screenwriter. He used to be a creative copywriter in an advertising agency.

I like his screenwriting talent, but he has never directed a movie independently. I dare not let him go directly to direct the movie he wants to direct, so let him practice with another exploitative film that has more commercial potential. Practice hands. "

  Tanin pushed the door open, "John, are you there?"

   "Come in" came a gentle voice from the office.

Ronald followed into the office and saw a chubby screenwriter wearing a pair of large black-rimmed glasses. In his office, "Wham's hit song" was playing. People (Young Guns).

   Seeing Tanin walking in, he quickly turned down the volume of the speaker.

   "John, let me introduce you, this is Ronald, and he is also a young genius. You must have seen the movies he directed..."

   "Hello, I'm Ronald, the writer and director." Ronald went up and shook hands with John. The man looked about ten years older than him, but in his demeanor, including playing loud pop music in the office, he was as young as himself.

  "Hello", John adjusted his glasses, "I'm John Hughes. The screenwriter of the movie, this is the first time I'm a director."

   (end of this chapter)