Exploiting Hollywood 1980

   Chapter 821 Celebration Party Sending Money

In the third week of    "Dancing Hot", two films were released in America.

  The seven major studios in the mainstream did not participate in this bleak schedule, and new films in the off-season are always so peculiar.

The    one is "Hamburg Heights", which was independently financed and produced like Ronald, and then found a distribution by Paramount.

  This movie is also set in the Vietnam War. Unlike Oliver Stone's "Field Platoon" and Kubrick's "Full Metal Bullet", it is a story from the standpoint of the US military. And unlike the first two movies, both of which were North Vietnamese offenses, the U.S. defense was different. The movie is about the U.S. military offensive.

The new recruits of the   101st Airborne Division arrived in Vietnam and attacked a high ground. It turned out that the warriors of different races and classes were united under the battle. After 11 attacks, Hill 937 was finally captured.

  The other is the British production and distribution of the spy film "Northern Lights". The film stars two longtime acquaintances of Ronald, British actor Michael Caine, and Pierce Brosnan.

   Brosnan, a spy for the Soviet Union, went to a U.S. military base in Britain and tried to detonate a nuclear bomb. The plan is sabotaged by a British spy played by Michael Caine.

   In all fairness, both films are well-made, with smooth stories and hot scenes. But it's a little out of place in America today.

  One is from the perspective of supporting the Vietnam War, and critics say that it not only shows the scenes of the war to the audience, but also tries to stipulate how the audience should think when they see these scenes. The other is as if Britain is the talker of NATO.

   These two films both scored more than 3 million at the weekend box office, far behind "Spicy Dance".

   Ronald looked at the box office rankings in The Hollywood Reporter and was of course very happy. The new film isn't enough of a threat, which is a good thing. The streak until Labor Day weekend is a foregone conclusion.

   "Pierce Brosnan, Michael Caine." Ronald began to write names on the cards. Although their films can't compete with themselves, the party still has to invite them.

   The box office performance of "Spicy Dance" can be said to exceed Ronald's most optimistic estimates. For such a super happy event, it is necessary to make the employees of the company feel happy as well, so as to maintain the unity of the colleagues.

After discussing    with his agent Nisita, Ronald decided to throw a big party as a celebration. This time, he wants to invite friends from the industry as much as possible. The employees have the opportunity to meet the real stars, which is also a disguised benefit.

   Gathered the various guest lists scattered on the bed, Ronald called Bud Jr., sent the card to CAA, Richard would hand over to the PR agency in charge of the party to make sure everyone who was supposed to be there came.

  …

   On the night of the party, Ronald arrived early at a rented mansion in the mid-levels of Beverly. It originally belonged to Samuel Goldwyn, one of the three founders of MGM. It is now inhabited by his son Samuel Goldwin Jr.

  It is very close to the Hollywood studio, which is convenient for guests. The former owner often walks to work at MGM.

   Once Katherine Hepburn, Gary Cooper was a frequent visitor here. Two great commanders have stayed here. Ronald was able to borrow this mansion to hold the event, and it was because of the presence of Michael Ovitz, the president of CAA, that the relationship was cleared up.

   "Ronald, it's nice to finally meet you." The owner, Samuel Goldwin Jr., came to greet him in person. His living area was on the other side, and today he lent the paradise where the party was originally held.

   "Nice to meet you, Mr. Goldwyn." Ronald stepped forward to shake his hand. Little Samuel inherited his father's business, but his business was mediocre and his reputation was not prominent. Only because of his father's relationship, this year became the producer of the Oscar Awards ceremony.

   "Call me Sam. You have a good chance of being nominated for an Oscar next year, and I've seen a lot of reviews saying good things about your new film."

   "Ah, that depends on the opinion of the nomination association." Ronald actually knew that it was unlikely that he would be nominated for best director because of "Dancing Hot". Not to mention the critics, Jews have a heart for themselves, even in the 1940s and 1950s when musical films were prosperous, this type of film was not loved by the academy.

   "Will you still produce next year's awards show?"

   "Yes, I look forward to seeing you in April next year." The owner, Samuel Jr., is also sixty years old. After talking to Ronald, he went to the lounge to smoke.

   Ronald was led to the main venue by the party company, which was a large hall that could hold large balls. The old wooden decoration, with the buffet table covered with snow-white tablecloth, gleamed in the light.

Those who arrived first were unimportant people, colleagues who were daydreaming about publishing, those dancers who played supporting roles in "Dancing Hot", Eleanor, the script writer, and Emile Ardori, the assistant director. No, set, props, makeup, etc. staff.

  As soon as Ronald arrived, it naturally became the focus, and everyone came up to say hello to Ronald. Some colleagues remembered Ronald's promise that he would pay a bonus if he did well at the box office, and now looking at Ronald is like looking at a checkbook.

   "Dear colleagues, let me say good news first. Before Labor Day, I will honor my promise and give out bonuses. When you sign and receive the paycheck, you must receive it. The numbers on it will make you satisfied."

   "Oh yeah!" Daydream's colleagues all shouted happily, and some were still applauding.

   "To Ronald!" After a few seconds, everyone raised their cups and toasted Ronald.

   "Dance to the spicy body!" Ronald took a sip of the wine in his glass. He still has a lot of people to meet tonight, so he can't drink too much.

   Colleagues can't know each other's salary and bonus. They can only get two weeks' salary on weekends, and only then can they know how much bonus Ronald gave.

   But Ronald was confident that everyone would be satisfied when they saw multiples of the average monthly salary on the check.

   "You all come with me."

   Next, Ronald ordered the dancers and entered the small room next to him with Eleanor and Emile.

   Ronald motioned to his agent Richard to close the door, and took a stack of envelopes from him.

   "This is yours, this is yours..." According to the name on the envelope, Ronald gave those choreographers, screenwriters, assistant directors and other people who participated in the creation of "Spicy Dance", one envelope per person.

   "Open it and take a look..." Ronald smiled and said to them when he saw that they were holding thin envelopes, looking eager to try.

   "Oh oh... this is too much..." A chubby female dancer opened the envelope and saw the numbers on the check, and couldn't help calling out. She immediately picked up the envelope and carefully looked at the name on it to make sure it was correct.

"Not much", Ronald laughed, "This is not the regular remaining dividends given to you by the Screen Actors Guild, but the dividends I paid specially. 'Dancing Hot' is an independent film, and we accidentally won success.

  I think this is all inseparable from your hard work. Hollywood has a convention that the main creator's salary is determined by his performance in the last film. I don't think this is good. Many of you, because you didn't get the pay you deserve for this movie, will go back and take on some projects that pay well but have little artistic value.

I don't want to see you wasting your talent like this, so I will give you an extra part of the movie income as a dividend, so that you can do some things you want to do, write some scripts you want to write, and shoot some The movie you want to make. "

   Ronald's gaze swept across the faces of screenwriter Eleanor and director assistant Emile in turn. As long as they are interested in working with them again, they can then submit their own scripts. Ronald is ready to give them a bigger stage, and more opportunities.

   "Thank you, thank you, thank you, Ronald." The chubby female dancer came up and hugged Ronald tightly.

   One of the biggest features of her and other group dancers is that they are not as standard as normal dancers. This time Ronald gave such a large check. In the future, if he and his partner have their own dance studio, they will have start-up funds.

"I think you must be very happy, choreographers Kenny Ortega and Miranda Garrison, tell me your dance studio is doing well now." Ronald patted the fat dancer lightly on the back , he knew that the other party must be excited.

"Oh yeah, yes. I also want to thank you, Ronald. Those pictures you took of us on the set are proof that we're hot dancers, and I'm zooming in on the picture with Patrick Schwytz There are only so many students outside the rented venue."

   "I'm happy for you..." Ronald patted her, then raised his glass and said to them, "This shows that we can make money in the Hollywood business!"

   "Great..." Everyone present was very happy, put the check securely, and filed out. Tonight was a perfect night for them.

  "Eleanor", Ronald said to the screenwriter, "This is just the first dividend, and we will have a lot of money to earn together in the future. You can come to me at any time if you have any script."

   "I don't know, Ronald, I don't know, maybe the money is enough for me." Eleanor's two thick eyebrows kept flying up and down, betraying the owner's excited heart.

   "Take some rest, take your time, you have time to think."

   "I have a few ideas. I will go to daydream to chat with you at that time." Emil, who was an assistant to the case during the shooting, had his own plan to direct a movie, and made an appointment with Ronald to talk.

   Everyone got what they deserved, and everyone who went out was smiling. Ronald is also very happy, the money still has to be earned by everyone, and his company is first involved in the publishing business, and just needs to open up his good name.

   "Richard", and finally Ronald stopped the agent Richard Lovett who was about to go out.

"how?"

   Ronald took the last envelope from his pocket, which he had prepared himself, and handed it to Richard quietly.

   "I can't, the agent has rules, so he can only collect the share stipulated in the contract." Richard refused with a smile, and his share, after the box office settlement of "Spicy Dance" was completed, was definitely enough.

"This is the share you gave me as an assistant on the set." Ronald still handed it over. "I know you spend most of your time with me now, and you deserve it." Richard's The big check won't come until next year when he gets his directorial pay, and he's still driving a cheap Toyota car, so it should be improved.

   "Thank you, I don't know what to say..." Richard looked at the number on the check in the envelope, which was more than double his income last year.

   "Thank you. You deserve it." Ronald smiled and put his arm around Richard's shoulder. "Rick (Nisita) I also paid him for the movie he helped."

  …

   When we got to the outside hall, there were already many guests.

  Ronald is naturally the focus of any party now, and many people who know him and don't know him gather. Some approached him, while others nodded in agreement.

  Ronald happened to be chatting with Michael Caine, Pierce Brosnan, who had just worked on a Coke ad.

   "Pierce, I watched your new film, and you want me to say, shouldn't you and Michael change their roles? Seeing you play the agents of the Solville Union always makes people a little bit of a drama."

   "Do I look like an agent of the Alliance?" Michael Caine still pretended to protest with his East End accent.

   "Yeah? You're obviously more convincing."

"Hahaha…"

   "Where's Diane? Why didn't you see her?" Brosnan thought of Diane, who worked with him in a commercial.

   "Her new film is promoting and has flown to New York for the premiere."

   "Sorry... Seriously, do you think I'm suitable for acting as a British agent?"

"no doubt…"

  …

   "Hi Patrick..."

   After chatting with several groups of guests, Ronald saw the actor Patrick Schwytz of "Dancing Hot" and his wife walking into the party hall with his wife.

   "Ronald, hello" The two embraced separately.

   Jennifer Gray's neck isn't ready yet, and Cynthia Rhodes is on vacation in her hometown. Only Schwytz happened to be in Los Angeles and made the appointment for the celebration.

   "I heard you're making..." Patrick Schwytz made a gesture of twisting the paper with his fingers. Outside he had seen several happy crew members dancing. Only after inquiring with them did I find out that Ronald was paying dividends.

   "You have to come to my office tomorrow and sign another document. In addition to the movie, your interlude is also one of the original soundtracks, so you still have the record dividend."

"Congratulations to us..." Patrick Schwytz was very happy. This movie could not get him too much praise in the critics, but in addition to the hundreds of thousands of remuneration, there are still several times of this dividend to get, My wife's ranch can start to add some facilities. "

   "I'm really happy that we can add a stable to our ranch."

   "If I were you, don't be so fast. The overseas box office and video revenue are expected to be good, and you may be able to buy a new horse farm."

   "This..." Patrick Schwytz couldn't believe that Ronald would also give him dividends from overseas box office and videotape revenue.

All    looked at Ronald with questions, and faint excitement and desire.

   "This is our joint creation, and it should be shared." Ronald called a waiter, took two glasses of champagne, and drank it with Schwyz.

   "Hahaha..." The two laughed arrogantly and happily. At first glance, it was the kind of laughter of a successful person.

The people around    inquired about what was going on. After getting the answer, looking at Ronald, there was more envy and the idea of ​​cooperating with him.

   Ronald laughed even happier, this part of the dividends were all small money, and the big ones still fell into his pockets. As Ronald, who owns the production rights, he has the power to decide how to pay dividends.

  According to the legal requirements, Ronald doesn’t actually need to give these creators extra income, he pays them completely based on photos, and he will win if he goes to court.

   But doing so is not in line with the law of creation, nor is it conducive to cooperating with other artists. On the contrary, it is more beneficial to your business to give 10% of the money you earn to everyone and spread the reputation you like to share.

   "Ronald," Tom Cruise arrives with his wife Mimi Rogers. In addition to "Spicy Dance" this time, Ronald also found stars he had worked with before. It was not only a party, but also to explore new cooperation opportunities.

   "Ah, Tom, Tom..." Ronald hugged him, Mimi Rogers still looked at Ronald and Cruise chatting with her mouth crooked.

   "A few words alone?" Tom Cruise asked Ronald.

   "Of course..." Ronald put down his glass and went with him to the small room next to him.

   "Honey, wait for me." Mimi Rogers also wanted to come in, but Cruise blocked the door.

   "Can you reconsider the Rain Man project? The original director, Barry Levinson, has pulled out again."

   "Because of Dustin Hoffman again?"

   Ronald heard Nisita talk about the farce of the Rainman crew two days ago. Dustin Hoffman kept changing the script, much to the annoyance of director Barry Levinson, who withdrew from the set because of other projects.

  Tom Cruise made a helpless shrug, indicating that Ronald was right.

   "I was the easiest to perform in the project you directed. So I thought, we can work together again."

  ‘Seriously, Tom, I ask you a question, and you give me your answer truthfully, and if your answer meets my requirements, I can consider it. "

   "What's the problem?" Seeing Ronald's attitude loosened, Tom Cruise immediately regained his energy and looked at Ronald intently.

   "Did you make this movie to win an Oscar?"

   "Um...I..."

   "Answer after thinking about it, I want to hear your real answer." Ronald stared at Tom Cruise without speaking.

"Yes, I want to be nominated for an Oscar, and I want to win an award." Tom Cruise remembered the favor of Ronald helping himself in the audition outside the audition room, and the memory of taking him to the dentist, and was moved. Below, he spoke his mind. "

   "Very good. It's a good thing to want to win an award, but you have to play that fool. If you play a fool, I can direct."

   "This..." Tom Cruise was stunned for a while, but he didn't expect Ronald's condition to be this. He thought it was a request for the final editing rights or remuneration. Before coming, he and Paula Wagner, who was pregnant and inconvenient to move around, discussed how to agree to Ronald's request.

   "I can't, Dustin is already guaranteed to sell the film project, I can't squeeze him out."

   "Bullshit! Now your security with the banker is much better than Hoffman's. As long as you ask to play a fool, he can't compete with you. You can let them choose one of the two."

  Bankable is a term for obtaining financing for a film project. No one can predict the box office of a movie. When a banking institution wants to invest in a project, it can only see which star is starring. They only know that movies with stars have a much greater chance of returning to their original budget. At least the theater chain is willing to give these movies their screenings during popular schedules.

  So stars are like mortgages for movie projects. With stars, banks are willing to lend, and cinema chains are willing to sign distribution agreements. With these, if you go back and pre-sell some copies abroad, you can raise money. The seven major studios are also willing to invest part of this project.

   So the ability to sell this bag is unique to stars. In terms of box office, Tom Cruise, who just became the box office champion for "Top Gun", is worth more in the bank than Hoffman, who became box office poison after winning the best actor.

  "I can't", Tom Cruise thought for a while, but still rejected Ronald's proposal. "The project was done by Mr. Ovitz himself. He was the actual producer of the film, and without him the film would not exist.

   He insisted on the role of Dustin Hoffman. I discussed it with Paula, and it is still the younger brother. This role may also be nominated for Best Supporting Actor. "

   "Brother, it's very difficult. In the script, the younger brother is a plot leader, and the test of his acting skills is greater than that of the mentally handicapped older brother. This is a good chance for you to win an award." Ronald wanted to try.

   "It's not mental retardation anymore, it's autism. Dustin changed the script." Tom Cruise smiled wryly. I discussed it with Paula and Nisita, but now this road doesn't work. I also need the support of CAA and the seven majors.

"Okay, then let's wait and see if there are other opportunities to cooperate." Ronald felt that a good opportunity was missed by Tom, but the reason he said was not to shirk. Ovitz is indeed the two at this stage. unchallenged.

   "Who is the director now?" Ronald and Cruise asked casually as they walked out.

   "I haven't found a suitable candidate yet, I will take another commercial production." Tom Cruise said later.

   "By the way, that movie still lacks a heroine, do you want Diane to try it?"

   "Huh?" Ronald turned to look at him.

   "You know, I invited her when I was crazy about taking good boys. She is yours now, I think you might as well give it a try, it's an opportunity."

   Ronald understood that Cruise was trying to give him a favor, so he nodded, "I'll tell Diane. What's your movie called?"

   "cocktail".

   "Let Paula give me the script, no, give it to Diane."

  Ronald felt that he should not let himself affect Diane's judgment. She is an actor who has ideas about what role she takes.

   However, who would refuse to play with the popular Tom Cruise?

"Mimi", Ronald opened the door and saw Mimi Rogers waiting outside the door. She is very socially gifted, she stands in a position to talk to others, and she can take care of the door here. She doesn't look like Staring at her husband and other women.

   "Ronald."

   Or man, Mimi Rogers thought, better take up Cruise's social time and put his stamp on it.

   "Ronald", another acquaintance came to say hello, "Tom, Mimi..."

   is the heroine of "Top Gun" Kelly McGillis.

  "Kelly", Ronald stepped forward to hug her, still as touching as before.

   Several people chatted about the past events of Top Gun shooting. McGillis spoke about the scene in Cruise's thrill ride. Ronald surprised himself by joking about McGillis closing the Ferrari door.

   "Miss McGillis..."

   Several people were chatting and laughing when a woman came to interrupt them and was about to speak to Kelly McGillis.

   "Ms. Lansing, I already said, I don't want to play that role."

   "No, I still think this role is perfect for you."

   Ronald looked up and saw that it was Shirley Lansing, the former 20th Century Fox president who was saddened by himself.

Shirley Lansing has been working as a producer on her own for years since she was fired by the oil tycoon who discriminated against female executives, working her way through her own small production company and actually doing the same business as Ronald .

  "Ms. Lansing", Ronald reached out to stop her, "I think Kelly has made the idea very clear, if you don't mind..."

   "Ronald", Shirley Lansing looked straight at him and found that it was Ronald.

   "Shirley", Ronald is not to be outdone, this gesture of calling each other's names is a common Hollywood way of expressing "I remember you" provocation and response.

   "Oh, she's been pestering me for a long time." Kelly McGillis finally breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Shirley Lansing leave.

   "You're in demand right now," Ronald said to McGillis with a smile.

   "Really? Do you think I'm popular too?" McGillis quietly took Ronald's hand with his hand and stroked his palm a few times.

  …

"Oh…"

   McGillis let out a long breath on the big bed at the Hilton Hotel. The two had discovered that they were still very passionate about each other's bodies at the party, so after the party, they both went to the best hotel in Beverly Hills.

  The two people who are familiar with the road are full of passion, the young body keeps asking for it, and finally collapsed on the bed exhausted.

   "Why is that Lansing pestering you?" Ronald stroked McGillis's back slowly.

   "She said I was the perfect candidate for the role, with a possible chance of an Oscar nomination." McGillis happily accepted Ronald's caress.

   "However, her project actually requires me as collateral for Bankable."

   "I'm not surprised at all." Ronald leaned over and kissed McGillis' arm.

   "Actually, that script is pretty good. It's based on Cheryl Araujo's assault case."

"Oh? Then why don't you want to act?" Ronald knew this woman, she was the victim of a burglary case, but in court, she was attacked by the suspect's defense lawyer for being a personal disorder. The woman who was flirting with a stranger in a bar before the crime happened.

   This case was very controversial in the media at the time, and was finally convicted.

   is a good subject for women's films.

   "Hmm..." McGillis received this Ronald's caress and felt a lot more at ease.

   She rolled over and looked at Ronald, looking into his eyes, "If I say it, can you keep it a secret?"

  Ronald saw her questioning seriously, put away his smile, and nodded solemnly, "I promise you."

   "Actually, I only talked about this with my case prosecutor and a psychiatrist. I am also a victim of a burglary case..."

   (end of this chapter)