Exploiting Hollywood 1980

  Chapter 706 Hollywood Fake Courtesy

   "Ned, would you give the green light to 'Moonlight Sultry'?"

   Taking advantage of the popularity of his two directorial works at the box office, Ronald decided to put some pressure on Paramount’s president, Ned Tanin. Along with his agent Nisita, Richard, he approached Tanin over the weekend to work overtime to resolve the issue.

"Of course, there is no question, no question, I have always supported you. It's just that there are a lot of old stubborn inside Paramount, they don't understand what kind of movies the new generation of audience likes to watch, before and after the shooting of 'Top Gun', not just Are there many objections?"

   "So, we can sign up?"

   "Of course, my contract is ready." Ned Tanin pressed the button on the phone and asked the secretary to bring in the contract. "

  Nisita and Ronald looked at each other, and it seemed like a good strategy. If we wait until Monday for the official announcement of the first-week box-office results of "There's a Wicked Man in the House", maybe Tanin will be able to find a new reason to delay.

"This is yours," Tanin handed the two contracts to Ronald and his agent respectively, "Look, have you chosen the heroine? If the heroine is among those listed. , we can start the project right away.”

   Ronald took it and turned to the place marked by the secretary in advance. It had the name of Cher, Ronald's favorite, and the names of Sally Field, Diane Keaton and others proposed by CAA.

   frowned slightly, Ronald asked, "So you want me to discuss the heroine first, and then green light this project?"

   "Of course, based on your box office appeal, these female stars will all be willing. Who would refuse an invitation from a blockbuster director like you, Ronald?" Tanin is wearing a high hat to him.

   "Cher and Diane Keaton refused, thought Ronald.

When CAA contacted the famous actor who played the young godfather's wife in The Godfather, Ronald thought that, with her famous role in Italian movies, Diane Keaton would tell the same story about Italians. Interested in scripts for family stories.

   But Diane Keaton quickly got his agent to turn down the offer. She said she'd love to work with Ronald, but she's already on schedule for a film called "Baby Fever" and a cameo role in ex-boyfriend Woody Allen's new project. Can't be arranged on schedule.

   At that time, Ronald felt very regretful and wanted to lobby Keaton through CAA or Coppola. After all, Ronald felt that she was the best candidate other than Cher. But after the agent came back from inquiries, he found that Diane Keaton's new film won't start shooting until November, and the schedule can actually be arranged.

   The reason for refusing to appear is very reasonable. In fact, it's a Hollywood star-style fake courtesy.

   After all, Ronald's agency is CAA, so it's easy to find her real schedule, so that you can reject roles you don't want to play without hurting face, and don't hurt the face of an unfamiliar popular director like Ronald.

   In contrast, Cher, whose main acting career is as a singer, is more straightforward to refuse. She asked her agent to explain the outline of the script, and then she suggested that she did not want to play a widow and old woman.

  Although Cher does have other movie projects to start in July, she can use the excuse that the schedule is not enough.

   Ronald recovered from his memory, and he still had to convince Tanin to give the distribution contract first, then go to Cher or talk to other candidates.

   "You know, Ned, it's a chicken-and-egg problem. As long as you promise to release the movie, it's not hard for us to find female stars willing to star."

"Relax, Ronald, I'll support you in whatever you want. But this movie has to have stars to support the scene. If you can convince a male star to play the role of Ronnie, I can pass it right away." Ning was in no hurry and poured a glass of wine for the box office director in person.

"Although I will support your decision even if you don't have a star, it will affect the amount of the budget after all. The limit of my decision at Paramount is $10 million. If you can make up the budget I'm also willing to give you the contract right away."

"You read the script too, Ned. And I'm the one directing. I want top-notch female stars, the best crew and equipment, and the movie has to be shot on a massive scale in New York, less than fifteen hundred I'm afraid Wan's investment won't work..."

   Ronald listens to the other party's meaning and can sign a contract first, but the maximum investment is 10 million. He started haggling, putting his own spin on the box office guarantee.

"Of course, there is no limit to my confidence in you, but I have to be responsible to the board of directors, and to deal with those old stubborn stubbornness at high-level meetings. As long as you can come up with a female star, I will be sure to issue a contract for you, and Fifteen million budget.

   Of course, if you are willing to take care of the rest of the financing yourself, I can also sign up right away. "

  Ned looked at Ronald's face, he didn't look very anxious, and he had a bottom line in his heart.

  Although Ronald is the most popular young director this year, he made two big-selling movies in one go. But if the other party can put out their real money to invest, their responsibility is much smaller.

   The subject matter of this movie is really adventurous, there are no stars, and there is no high concept attraction. How the box office depends on luck. And Ronald refused to sign a long-term contract with Paramount to bind the next three films, so that even if one failed, he could still make money by making other commercial films.

   Every director has his limitations.

   Like Spielberg, the last Hollywood found golden boy director. Since his debut, almost every movie has been a big seller, but he just can't make comedy movies.

Between "ET Alien" and "Encounters of the Third Kind", Spielberg also made a comedy film "1941", with a budget of 35 million, and only got 3,500 million domestic box office.

   The romantic comedy "Moonlight is Sultry" is also a genre that Ronald has never tried. Besides, it is the love of middle-aged people. How many moviegoers like to watch the love of middle-aged people?

   I don't want to be the executive producer of the only big-losing movie on the blockbuster director's resume.

   On the contrary, if Ronald took the money himself or found a star to act, he would have many excuses to explain his failure, such as the poor coordination between the star and the director.

  There are top-selling directors, there are stars, and the box office is not good at the end, isn’t it luck and God’s will? The most important thing is to make your own decisions and not leave any reason to be criticized.

  Like Universal's Frank Price, what's the use of reading the script so well? As long as he gets the green light for Lucas' "Howard the Duck" in black and white, that notoriety will stay with him forever -- the man behind George Lucas' only failed film.

   "Why don't we think about it for a while, is there any alternative? I know Sally Field well, I'll help you make an appointment to see if we can spark a spark?"

   "Okay then, I'll hold off for a while, you'll help me meet Ms. Field, and I'll discuss this project with a few other studios."

   Ronald was not very happy, his words were soft and hard.

   "Yes, you should find a few more studios, maybe there are colleagues who have the power to give you the budget you need." Tanin seemed to have no idea, and politely sent Ronald and his party away.

"It's a Hollywood-style fake," Nisita communicated with Ronald in the car, "Tanin probably saw the reviews and bad box office results of your project 'The Bad Guy', so he backed off. already."

   "Fake courtesies?" Ronald seemed to understand.

"For a film director like you, they won't say anything about rejection. But they will list all kinds of difficulties in objective conditions. If you can solve one, they will raise new difficulties." Chad smiled and explained to Ronald the Hollywood rhetoric, something their agent was most familiar with.

"Hey... let's go find Weintraub." Ronald felt that he was too unlucky when he thought of the "bad husband" who was named a producer. The poor box office also affected his new project financing. Now, you still have to pay attention to the selection of films in the future, and try to be cautious when you have not dreamed of it.

   "How's the new project? When can I invest?" Back home, Douglas Jr., a friend of the wrestling team, called and asked if Ronald Paramount's signing was complete.

   He wants to invest a lot of cash in Hollywood. If he can get a high return, then next year, the family trust will distribute more annuity to him, and he will inherit a larger share in the future.

   Ronald explained the other party's attitude, and then asked Douglas Jr. to wait for a while before he saw Weintraub of MGM.

Douglas Jr. is more serious, "If Paramount has this attitude, it is estimated that the other companies will not give you too many conditions. If you really want to shoot, then shoot, and I can find a way to solve the rest. "

   "Thank you, but it's not at this level yet. If necessary, I'll talk to you. I'll be sure to ask you for help with one or two million things."

   On Monday, the weekend movie box office has been released.

   Unsurprisingly, the 1110 theaters of "Family Has Evil Husband" only received a box office of 5.2 million. This relatively average movie can be regarded as quite satisfactory, but Ronald Lee's production, Jerry Zucker's trio of directors, is not enough to watch.

   It seems that not every director is George Lucas, and Spielberg, can control different types of movies, in addition to the director can also be a good producer.

"boom!"

   On the golf course, Ronald made his first attempt on the fairway, and a tee shot brute-forces the ball far.

   "As a beginner, you did a really good job." Weintraub adjusted his sunglasses, which was also a tee shot, poof... He didn't play as far as Ronald.

   "Look at me," Susan Atkins walked to the women's tee several yards ahead, bang...a tee shot high and floating.

"The box office of the second film of Longwei Boys dropped by nearly 25% in the second week. I am very satisfied, Ronald. The CinemaScore estimate is very accurate, the average sequel film, even with Harrison Ford's treasure hunt. Raiders, the second week also saw a nearly 30% box office drop."

   Weintraub held his lover Susan's waist, and the two kissed.

"I'm not like those professional executives, I'm a rich man myself, Ronald. Your new movie 'Moonlight is sultry', I'm going to let MGM release this project, and the Star Foundation will cooperate with the production funds, My private production company will provide the shortfall from the 15 million budget. The company will then accommodate all your requests."

   "Thank you, Mr. Weintraub." Ronald followed, walking towards the drop point.

   "Call me Jerry, Ronald. I will never forget your vision of choosing Morita Noriyuki to play Mr. Miyagi, I trust your judgment, this will be a good movie.

   But I also have a request. "

   "Please," thought Ronald, even if you asked your lover Susan to play a supporting role, I'd say yes.

   "MGM still needs a little time to integrate. I plan to suspend all production projects to check the project accounts of the past three years. So your new film will need to wait three months before it can start."

   "It's nothing, I have to use the production and distribution contracts you generously provided to persuade female stars to participate in the show. Do you have any suitable people to recommend?"

"I'm not going to recommend, I'm going to trust your vision. I believe that you have a better grasp of casting. I only provide money and schedule. As long as you are within budget and completed on time, I will not interfere at all. - I believe It's not a problem for you." Weintraub found his ball, put a Tee on the ground, and was ready to hit the ball.

   "It's such a blessing to have an executive producer like you. Hmm... good shot..." Ronald went up and flattered.

   "However, can Susan be named a co-producer?"

   "Uh...that's fine."

   (end of this chapter)