Exploiting Hollywood 1980

  Chapter 832 Satisfied the Japanese patron

   "Another bed?" Little Bud came to pick up Ronald in the morning, and he heard Ronald instructing himself to buy a new bed. "What kind of change this time?"

   "Yes, a bigger one," Ronald said, pointing to the old bed, "bigger, wider, longer, you know."

   "Eh..." Little Bard scratched his head, but he didn't understand.

  My boss is good in everything, the salary is not low, and I borrowed an apartment for myself and Lucy. It can be said that he is a very good boss.

  The only disadvantage is that I often like to buy new beds. Since I became his driver, I have bought several new beds. The general trend is to buy bigger and bigger, and Ronald seems to have a cleanliness habit. Every time he changes his girlfriend, he has to change a new bed.

   "If you want to change it, you can actually change the bed sheet, or change the mattress?" Little Bard said a few words, seeing that Ronald's expression was wrong.

   "I mean, if you don't want it, can you give it to me? Lucy and I are trying to get a new bed."

   "Take it, take it. Then get a new mattress and use it yourself." Ronald was ashamed to say that he changed the bed because he kept falling off. Counted a wad of cash to Bud, "Let them deliver the goods today, it must be bigger."

   "No problem, buy a big one." Little Bard happily measured the size of the bed. This is already a big bed in the hotel, and the quality is high. If you get a new mattress at home, Lucy will definitely like it. However, Ronald is now successful, and the bed is getting bigger and bigger. How many people will it take to fill it up?

   Ronald, who got a new bed at night, is very satisfied, and it will not be easy to fall off now. Ronald happily sat on the bigger bed several times, and now it's all right.

  After a few days of busy work, Ronald received representatives from Kadokawa from Dongying, and also connected with 20th Century Fox.

   It's the weekend again, and the screenplay of the novel "Nothing lasts forever" has been revised by Jeb Stewart. This time, he found a taxi by himself and brought the newly bound script to the office.

   Ronald and Joel Silver were very satisfied after reading it. Some plots of this novel published eight years ago have been out of date. Jeb has kept some of the most crucial elements of the novel well, such as the protagonist hiding in a skyscraper at first, undetected by the kidnappers. There is also a scene where the protagonist uses tape to tie the gun to his back to trick the robbers.

  However, some specific details have changed the trend of today's society. For example, the sheriff who responded downstairs and the driver who picked up the protagonist in a luxury car were all written as blacks.

  The relationship between the protagonist, the detective, and the secretary of the president of the company has also changed from the father and daughter of the novel to a husband and wife, and the arrangement of the two living in two places, considering divorce but still loving each other, etc. has been added, making the structure of the plot more fascinating.

   Of course, there is also what Ronald specifically proposed. The president of the multinational company, who was unfortunately killed by the bandits, was changed to a Japanese. It just fits the current situation that Japanese capital is making aggressive acquisitions in America.

   "Top job, Jeb, top notch." Joel Silver knew the script, knew that the pace of the script was good, and with the right director, it could produce a good action movie.

   "What do you think, Ronald?" He turned to Ronald.

   "As you said, it's a first-class job." Ronald said, looking at his screenwriter Jeb Stewart.

   For this kind of screenwriter full of desire and passion, Ronald knew that they must first affirm their work. Because most of these people have no money, they rely on enthusiasm to work day and night, trying to make a comeback and become one of Hollywood's gold medal screenwriters.

   Sure enough, a smile finally appeared on Jeb's face. Ronald, who was nominated for an Oscar for best screenplay with his first screenplay, is the idol of all Hollywood screenwriters who use pencils and broken typewriters to silently write and try to turn themselves around.

  The affirmation from him seems to be more reassuring than that from the producer Silver. The results of working hard for more than ten hours a day finally paid off at this moment.

"We will adopt this version of the script, you wait to receive the first payment." Silver said generously to Jeb, and then called in the secretary, and asked her to prepare the paperwork for payment and sign off. Cheque.

   "This...thank you...thank you", it seems that he didn't expect Silver to give the money directly instead of buying the options. The screenwriter Jeb was very excited about the sudden good news.

Jeb's wife, Ann, was a high school classmate back then. She married him as soon as she graduated and became a full-time housewife. However, he, who was supposed to "bring the bread home", didn't bring back too much bread money, which made Ann have to work as a waitress. Earn tips to support your family.

   Now that I get 20% of the script remuneration for the first installment, not only will I not have to worry about income for at least half a year, but I can also slow down my mortgage.

"I really don't know what to say. Thank you for your generosity, Mr. Silver." Jeb signed the document and received his own check. The number on it made him very happy, and he went to the bank to deposit it into his account. Should I take my wife for steak at night, or the popular sushi?

"You should thank Ronald. If it weren't for the Dongying investment he found, we might not have started shooting so soon. Now as long as the money he promised is in place, we hurry up and finish the filming by the end of this year to catch up with next year's summer vacation. "Joel Silver smiled and said the reason why this project can be established quickly.

  Yesterday Ronald had already contacted the two investors of Dongying, especially the Kadokawa Bookstore, which is a powerful publishing industry and a big chaebol in the entertainment industry. The vertically integrated group company of Dongying has long coveted the market and resources of America.

  Steve Bannon, as a matchmaker, inspected Silver’s production company with Japanese personnel, and felt that his cooperation with Ronald’s Daydream was strong. Their new works "Lethal Weapon" and "Dirty Dancing" are expected to sweep the box office this year.

  As a test of the cooperation between Japan and the United States, it is very appropriate to be able to cooperate with the two most powerful producers in America today.

  Bannon and Ronald will also invest part of the funds into this project. On the one hand, they can reassure the investors in Japan and increase their confidence in the project. On the other hand, they can also participate in the later sharing.

   As for 20th Century Fox, they were really overjoyed to see Ronald's participation. The huge amount of Japanese investment he brought can bring the production of the film to a higher level. His participation, experience and vision alone can add a lot of insurance to the film.

  In short, all aspects of this cooperation are very satisfied with the partner, and we are still looking forward to more in-depth cooperation in the future.

  The new president of Twentieth Century Fox, Leonard Goldberg, personally asked about this project. He was poached from Paramount's TV station by the chairman, Australian Rupert.

  As a TV industry veteran who participated in the development of the hit series "Charlie's Angels" on ABC, he just started at Fox and is trying to get some big projects to accumulate some credit for himself.

"I've heard Weintraub tell you many times that you're an amazing director and producer. I've heard that you brought a lot of the original ideas to The Dragon Boys." Leonard Goldberg Without waiting for the script, Greg agreed to give the project the green light, but on the condition that Ronald serve as the project's producer. Whether directing or not, he oversees the creative and production process throughout. So today, everything about Silver is based on Ronald's opinion.

   "Of course, thank you, Ronald, your affirmation is a great honor to me." Thanks to Dongying Capital. Jeb Stewart decided decisively and had sushi for dinner.

"Whoa...wait a minute, Jeb. You don't think this is ready to shoot." Ronald said to the screenwriter Jeb with a smile, "The big picture of the script is very good, but there are some dialogues, details, actions, etc. Wait, you need a professional to modify it."

   "Ah, that's it..." Jeb Stewart regained consciousness from the impulse brought about by the script being bought just now.

  Ronald knows that now he can't give the screenwriter too much affirmation, but instead has to find some faults. In the process of film production, up to now, the task of signing the screenwriter has been roughly completed, and then he will gradually fade out of the production process, and at most participate in casting, chatting with actors and stars about the plot.

   "Ronald, will you change some yourself?" Of course Joel Silver knows that Ronald himself is a great screenwriter, and he hopes that Ronald can contribute some content.

   "Ah... There are indeed a few places that need to be polished and fine-tuned."

  Ronald opened the script again, facing Jeb and Joel, he said a few things that he felt inadequate.

According to the plot in his dream, Ronald proposed that the protagonist should start flying from New York to Los Angeles. He listened to the advice of his neighbor on the flight, took off his shoes during the rest, and fought with the gangsters barefoot. Add trouble to the protagonist for the action scenes that follow.

   Then add some details that put gold on the faces of Dongying people. For example, the president of a multinational company, Yoshinobu Takagi, not only has to be kind and righteous, but also steps forward from the safe house to face the gangsters to protect the safety of employees. so that he was finally killed.

   Also, he needs to have a human face, well liked by his employees.

   Ronald took a pen and added two words to the script, "watch". It means that at the climax of the final action on the roof, the protagonist let go of the gold Rolex watch in his wife's hand, which was given to him by President Takagi, his right-hand assistant—the protagonist's wife.

   Then he wrote "luxury car", and President Takagi specially sent a luxury car to the airport to pick up her powerful subordinate Holly's husband to the company for a reunion. Dongying people value family and make employees feel like they are in a big family in the company. It is completely different from the vice president of America, who is separated by the male protagonist's husband and wife and wants to make love to Holly. He is a good leader.

   "In short, the characters of the Dongying people must be very positive and tall, with Dongying culture, and talk like American business elites." Ronald set the tone for the revision of the Dongying people in the script.

   "Relax", after Ronald wrote some annotations, he found that the screenwriter Jeb was a little nervous, and after thinking about it, he understood the other party's thoughts.

   There can only be a maximum of three names in the screenwriter column of a movie. If Ronald wants to **** a name, he has no way to resist.

   "The signature is still yours. I won't add my name to the script. Afterwards, I will only fine-tune the details. In short, good work!"

   "Understood, in short, let the Dongying man Takagi occupy all the virtues, and then shoot him down." Jeb understood Ronald's intention. Hearing that he would monopolize the signature of the script, so that he could enter the screenwriters union, he happily picked up a pen to write down Ronald's opinion with his heart.

   "It's really lucky for a rookie to be appreciated and protected by the master." Jeb thought while writing.

Ronald saw what he said, and nodded with a smile. That's it. He made the supporting role taller, without affecting the main plot. His death can also highlight the brutality of the gangsters. In front of the capital of Dongpu, he can explain the past no matter what. up.

   "Also, I have two more questions." Ronald patted Jeb on the shoulder, "Why did you name the main character John Ford?"

"Because I am a loyal fan of western movies, I think this movie is a reproduction of a western movie. The hero is not a perfect hero, but like the tough guys in the old western movies, he is flawed Heroes. Through bad experiences, they learn how to be a better version of themselves, not someone else."

   Jeb Stewart admires Ronald very much now, and hastily revealed all his considerations for setting this role.

  "Good idea, but John Ford is not good. This name will cause commercial disputes. How about changing it to another one, such as John McClane?"

"McLean? I think it's very good." Jeb Stewart was very surprised when he heard Ronald's suggestion. He is of Scottish origin. The difficulty is indifferent, very similar to the way the Scots handle things.

   "Sure enough, he is a master screenwriter. A name can fit the character and the plot, making people unforgettable." Jeb sighed in his heart. Some people really seem to be famous when they meet, and they can know their level as soon as they reach out.

"There is another question, what does the protagonist say Yippee-Ki-Yay, Motherfxcker, mean?" Ronald saw that the protagonist said this sentence more than once when he encountered difficulties and had to fight hard in the script. talk.

   "That's a quote from Roy Rogers, the big Western star, and he always said that Yippee-Ki-Yay, boy."

   "Okay, then keep it", Ronald understood the mind of this die-hard fan of western films, and this catchphrase is also very easy to say, and has no effect on the film. Also agreed.

  After dealing with the movie, Ronald didn't accept Joel Silver's invitation to a party at his mansion with lots of bikini girls. Instead, he went straight home.

  I don't want to mess with those brainless blonde Bimbo girls in this kind of thing.

Without communication, Ronald always felt like spending money to buy it, and Richard and Nisita also warned many times not to be used by others. Now that he is famous, many girls will secretly leave evidence and ask for benefits .

Speaking of which, after gaining some power and fame in the industry, Ronald actually narrowed the scope of choosing a female partner. He is most suitable for those female stars who are well-matched in the circle, so that neither party wants to keep secrets. Leaking, on the contrary, is the safest.

   "Ronald, have you heard? Shirley Lansing has a new idea?"

   Thinking of the girlfriend in the circle, Kelly McGillis called.

   "What's the matter?" Ronald answered the phone a little puzzled.

   "She auditioned Jodie (Foster), but thought she was too fat and wanted Molly Ringwald to play the victim."

"Molly Ringwald, doesn't she seem to be fatter?" Ronald said directly, the muse of John Hughes, the young female star who once led the trend of dyeing red hair for American girls, was acting After watching Godard's super bad movie "King Lear", she quickly gained weight, and in the newly released "Pick Up Expert", which she collaborated with Robert Downey Jr., her waist became even thicker.

   "Shall I talk to Ronald?" Jodie Foster took the phone, "Ms. Lansing doesn't like me, and I don't like her either."

   It turned out that after auditioning for "Robbery of Pear Blossoms", Jodie Foster has not received the second round of interview notices. Still in the papers, she and Kelly saw gossip that Molly Ringwald was expected to star.

  The two female stars both felt Shirley Lansing's malice.

"There is nothing I can do to help." Ronald heard the pleading call from the two beauties, thinking that he had no say in this project, and it was impossible to direct the film. Jodie Foster's Forgotten The journey to stardom seems inevitable.

  Jodie Foster hinted that he could accompany Ronald in exchange, but it was fruitless, so he had no choice but to prepare to accept the fact that his acting career was closed.

   Fortunately, she is a top student, and there are other routes she can take. "It seems that I have to prepare for the GRE exam. Several professors of literature and psychology majors in Ivy League universities may accept me."

   "Hmph...I'm sorry." McGillis also held Judy's hand, female stars just don't have enough bargaining power in such matters.

  …

   "Ronald, this is Shirley, do you want to be the director of this movie?"

   Early on Sunday morning, Ronald was waiting for the box office results of the new week of "Dirty Dancing", when he received a call.

  When Ronald heard that it was not a box office success, and that this strange woman called herself by her first name, as if the whole world should know her, he blurted out: "Shirley Who?"

   “Shirley Lansing…L…A…N…S…”

   "I know how to spell your name, but I don't know what you are calling me for." Ronald stopped the other party's inexplicable and angry words.

   "Do you want to direct 'The Robbery of Pear Blossoms'?" Shirley Lansing didn't talk nonsense, and said her question straight to the point.

   "I don't want to, why... Who said I want to..."

   "Then you don't get involved in casting..."

   "Who **** meddled..." Ronald cursed.

   "You didn't? I was going to ask Molly Ringwald for the lead actress, but you're pushing for Jodie Foster."

   "I don't recommend it, I just think she can audition."

   "She is not suitable to play the female victim, she is too fat."

   "No, isn't Molly Ringwald fatter?"

   "You still want to intervene."

"I do not want…"

   "Whatever, Foster is not suitable to play the female victim at all. The role is a low-level restaurant waitress who is superstitious about astrology and has no college education, and Foster is a high-achieving Yale student."

   "No, what happened to astrology? The first lady Nancy also believed it."

   "You don't understand, this is a women's film, which speaks for the majority of women... In short, neither you nor Ned Tanin can interfere with my project!"

   "It's inexplicable, who you want to find is none of my business."

   Ronald hung up the phone.

He felt more and more that when women are producers, sometimes they are strong for the sake of being strong. I just introduced Foster to McGillis to audition. If you don’t want to, you don’t want to. You don't know what it's like for me to interfere.

   But what was he talking about Ned Tannin?

   "Hey, Ned, what's up with Shirley Lansing?"

   Ronald made a phone call to Ned Tanin to find out the situation.

   "Hahaha... She wants to use this project to fight me. I heard that you recommended Jodie Foster as a child star. Maybe, maybe, I borrowed your name to veto her idea..."

  Like Lansing, Tanin, who is also Jewish, laughed shamelessly on the phone.

   "Fuck, you owe me one, what the **** are you doing with Lansing?"

   "I owe you once." Ned Tanin also laughed, "What else is going on, she wants to replace me as the head of Paramount."

   "What else? This woman is too ambitious. What are your plans? Stop using my name."

   "Actually, I don't dislike ambitious producers, but this matter is a bit complicated. Come and talk with me? Maybe I can make your female companion Foster fulfill her wish."

   "No, Judy is not my girlfriend either."

   "Come on, I have good wine here, and something you are interested in, next year's Oscar nomination for best director, do you want it?"

   "Keep talking..."

  (end of this chapter)