Exploiting Hollywood 1980

  Chapter 976 The answer is still No

  As the closing ceremony approached, more Hollywood stars came. In addition to Robert Redford who was waiting for the awards, there were also big names who came to stand for various movies.

The Norris mentioned by GongLi also came, and Ronald asked her, the investor asked Yimou to imitate, it turned out to be "Delta Special Forces" filmed by Cannon, a clumsy Stallone "First Blood" film Class B imitation works.

  Now Ronald feels a little pity for Yimou, his ability is not limited to making movies that imitate B-movies. Then he asked GongLi to tell him that as long as Yimou is interested, he can come to Hollywood, and if he is afraid of language and cultural barriers, he can also try Xiangjiang.

  Gong Li is very happy, Yimou has such a Hollywood friend, so there will be many more opportunities. She has a cheerful personality, and said that this time Cannes also has a film from China participating in the main competition, and another film from Britain participating in the Directors' Fortnight, which also has a Chinese actress, but it is from the other side of the strait.

  Ronald just wanted to meet more Chinese filmmakers, so I asked her to come forward and invite the two of you to talk about it.

  The mainland director, Chen Kaige, has a big beard. This time he brought a story about being a rural teacher in the Southwest called "The King of Children".

  The Chinese actress, Sylvia ChangAi-chia, starred in the movie "Sweet and Sour", which is about Chinese immigrants, their hard work and helplessness in a foreign land in Britain, and the plight of culturally incompatible immigrants.

  Chinese are relatively marginalized in Cannes, and even film directors and stars have limited financial resources. Ronald's treats are placed in Cannes's only high-end restaurant that serves Chinese food, Bamboo Garden (LeJardindeBambou). This is a Vietnamese restaurant, but because there are fewer types of Vietnamese dishes, there are also a lot of Chinese food mixed in.

  Kaige is a director with a great desire to communicate. His film Kid King received average reviews in the show magazines, so the award this time may not be high. He really wanted to be recognized by Hollywood and mainstream European film festivals. After knowing that Red Sorghum won the Golden Bear, he insisted on sending Kid King to Cannes, because the quality of the Cannes Film Festival is higher than that of West Berlin.

  Sylvia Chang studied and lived in America. She speaks English very well. She is more relaxed and helps Kaige translate. She had been filming in Hong Kong before, and because she was a child in America, she was fluent in English, so she was spotted by British director Mike Newell and starred in this movie.

  Kaige talked eloquently and talked about a lot of film theories that Ronald didn't understand. Ronald smiled and said nothing, and later Kaige also found out, and said to SylviaChang with a smile, "The foreigner is laughing at us for being behind."

   "If you are interested, you might as well come to Hollywood and try it. Talking about it is useless. Make a film to see if the audience likes it." Ronald said in Chinese with a smile.

   "Eh...", Kaige looked at GongLi who was laughing, a little embarrassed. Who knew that this foreigner could speak Chinese so well that he made a joke of it. Fortunately, my girlfriend is going to America soon, and when I have a work, I will go to him, and let him see that the men in the capital can also make movies.

   It was Sylvia Chang who understood Ronald's subtext and asked Ronald if he was willing to invest in Chinese to make movies in Hollywood.

   "Of course, you can send me any story scripts related to America. I have a small company in Hollywood. When I come across a script with commercial potential, investment is not a problem."

  The three Chinese filmmakers received the business cards from Ronald and put them away carefully. Who knew that coming to Cannes could develop Hollywood connections.

  …

  Cannes Film Festival is more importantly a trading market for Daydream. A lot of small producers come with copies, trying to get a good price here.

   There are also some who can't even pay the rent for the screenings, so they have to sell the converted video tapes. They are likely to put all their savings into the shooting of the first movie in their lives, and then want to be spotted by a distributor who really understands movies, buy it, and go back to make the second movie after they get back the money.

  However, Ronald watched a lot of movies recommended by daydreaming colleagues and thought they had potential, but they were all lackluster. The value orientation here is completely different from Hollywood, and it does not meet the tastes of the American market.

  But after all, Western Europe is still a developed country. Movie tickets here are very expensive, and they can be screened by distributors in China. Those prices can already make some movies in less developed regions earn a fortune.

  Empty hands, destined to only sell but not buy this time. "The King of Fighters" sold more copies at Cannes than it took domestically, and distribution manager Michelle Cannold couldn't be happier, promising to sign star Jean-Claude Van Damme for a few more films.

   "It's too late, he is now making a blockbuster with a production budget of more than 20 million yuan." Ronald replied. Cannon gave the "Cyborg" film the treatment of the annual key production, daydreaming to find Jean-Claude Van Damme and Lundgren to make a film again, and the only chance is to wait until the film is released.

  Minahan’s “sci-fi” + “action” + “comics” approach should be a hit... right?

   On the second day, Cannes ushered in several big Hollywood figures. One is actor Michael Douglas. He came to solicit investment for the new film "TalkRadio" of the director Oliver Stone who made him the best actor.

After making several critically acclaimed films, Stone became more interested in social topics. This film is an adaptation of a stage play (to escape the writer's strike), that is, the host of a large-scale late-night radio show, because he is particularly daring to discuss controversial issues. Make bold speeches, and the ratings increase step by step. When he was about to go to the national syndicate radio broadcast, he was shot dead by an extreme fan.

This movie is critical of American society and has no commercial value. It is difficult to obtain financing in Hollywood, so Stone came to China, hoping to be liked by European investors. Michael Douglas came here to endorse him, increasing the attraction of the project force.

  Another big shot is George Lucas, who has been lurking for several years.

  Because of his divorce and the hit of "Howard Duck" at the box office, he basically stayed in his own Lucas manor, working with the magicians from Industrial Light and Magic, concentrating on researching movie special effects.

   In his view, Howard Duck failed at the box office because the special effects weren't good enough, so he invested a lot of money in computer-generated special effects methods. From last year to this year, he has been working **** "Willow" directed by Ron Howard, who he is close to, as his own producer.

  The shooting of this film was completed very early last year, but the special effects production seems to be very long, and it has only just been completed until now. Lucas made Cannes the premiere location for the film, which was then released in America shortly thereafter.

  As a Hollywood person who came one step earlier, Ronald held a welcome dinner in the evening. A group of big Hollywood directors and big stars are here at the top Palme d'Or restaurant in Cannes to cleanse them up.

   These people are not quite used to Ronald’s Chinese-style welcome, but they are very satisfied with Ronald’s arrangement after a tiring journey, eating the top food here, and being accompanied by beautiful stars.

   "Can the current technology of Industrial Light and Magic produce the effect in the comics?" Ronald took a chance and sincerely asked George Lucas for advice. His Industrial Light and Magic represents the most advanced magic ability in Hollywood. Whether he can produce the effect of flying into the sky and escaping from the ground in the comics depends on whether they can do it.

  If you can’t shoot it, then I’m afraid you can only shoot it in the old-school way, wearing tights and hanging wires.

"Why don't you come and see for yourself tomorrow? Hahaha" Lucas has now adopted a son and a daughter, and is happily living the happy life of a single father in Lucas Ranch. He looks much better than when he just divorced , it seems that he really likes children, except this time he came to the platform for half-apprentice Ron Howard, and he didn't leave home easily.

  Ronald was very interested in the advancement of special effects due to the development of science and technology, so he agreed on the spot. Everyone was full of wine and food, and began to go back to rest.

   "Ronald, is it convenient to talk in another place?" Michael Douglas grabbed Ronald's arm at the door.

"certainly…"

  Douglas, Oliver Stone, a Dutch banker, and Ronald moved to the quiet executive lounge in the hotel, where they chatted conveniently.

   Ronald asked Stone about the Tom Cruise movie about the Vietnam War. Stone said that he originally planned to shoot scenes in Vietnam, but the diplomatic relations between the two countries have not yet been normalized, so he can only go to the Philippines, where the "Field Platoon" was filmed.

  Having experience this time, I chose to go in autumn, which happened to coincide with Tom Cruise's schedule.

   Fortunately, Oliver Stone wrote his own scripts. This "Born on the Fourth of July" was written by him a long time ago, and he was going to make a movie after the field platoon was finished. So not affected by the strike.

  Stone also asked Ronald about the arrangement of the new project, and in exchange several big Hollywood figures complained in unison about the screenwriters union strike.

  Everyone really had no choice. Even Douglas didn't have a movie to shoot, so he had to go out and look for opportunities for international cooperation.

   Talking here, the banker became interested. He also approached Ronald and asked whether his new project could accept investment from the Lyon Credit Bank he represented. As long as it is directed by Ronald, or has a movie starring Tom Cruise or Michael Douglas, he is willing to invest.

   "You speak English very well." Ronald took the banker's business card.

   "Frans Affmann", above a typical Low Countries surname.

"My first job was at the Bank of Rotterdam. At that time, the First Bank of Chicago had 20% of our shares. I learned the operation of international finance in Chicago. Now the Bank of Rotterdam is acquired by Lyon Credit, and I am mainly responsible for investment in the entertainment industry. "

   Frans Affmann introduces himself enthusiastically. CLSA has developed rapidly in international business since the early 1980s. In China, in the Netherlands, and in Portugal, they have absorbed a large amount of deposits and good loan projects.

   Their investment tastes, especially like Hollywood, once invested in the second movie of Superman and the second-class blockbuster movie Rambo. Frans Affmann's investment philosophy is to focus on big stars and big directors. He would rather have a lower return on investment than grab the second or third round of investment in such low-risk big productions (such dividends The round will be later).

   "Are you only interested in movies with big stars?" Ronald asked, looking at Afman.

"This is our investment principle, but if it is a project invested by you and Director Stone, no matter what type of movie it is, I am interested in betting." Frans Afman smiled, after all, the two , is a well-known director who has rarely failed in Hollywood in recent years. As long as they watch good movies, there is usually no problem.

   "Hahaha, have a drink for us." Stone and Douglas, hearing Frans Affmann say this, knew that their small production script "TalkRadio" had secured funding.

   Unlike most Wall Street capital, Lyon Credit Bank does not blindly maximize the rate of return. They are also willing to repay the director for an opportunity to win more credits in big projects, and invest in their low-cost productions that are destined to lose money but also want to be shot.

   After all, he is an outsider from America. If he wants to get into a big production, he has to pay a lot of tickets.

  Ronald is also eager for someone to invest, solve about 20% of the budget, and get a low-level share. This kind of investment is actually not easy to find on Wall Street after continuous interest rate hikes and superimposed stock market crashes.

   During the film festival, Cannes is the place with the highest density of beautiful women in China and even in Europe. Several big names in Hollywood, there is no shortage of beauties who came to strike up a conversation. Frans Affmann even had a hot fight with an American beauty, and they were already posted together.

"Ronald", Michael Douglas, like Ronald, would not be tempted by these vulgar fans. He saw the other two men chatting passionately with the beauties, and whispered in Ronald's ear, "My father Let me bring you a sentence."

   "What?" Ronald suddenly turned his head. His father is Kirk Douglas, so what's the point of looking for him?

   "He learned from Michael Ovitz that you were in Cannes, and he was a little afraid of the long-distance travel, so he said something to me and asked me to tell you personally."

   "Beforehand, I don't understand what he's doing at all. I'm just in charge of talking." Michael Douglas was actually not too close to Kirk because of his mother and father's divorce. He, a new generation of Jews, also doesn't understand the ideas of those conservative old men, just because of his Jewish identity, he doesn't complain in public.

   Ronald made a gesture, indicating that he could speak.

"He asked me to ask you if you feel the satisfaction of family life. Young people can enjoy the company of beautiful women to their heart's content, but when they reach their age, they have to combine with mature women. If he wants, he is willing to call the bride in person in your hands."

  Ronald's brow furrowed, mature woman, aged, bonded...that's ample hint. But they are too idle, they have to take care of their own marriage? Is America still a society of religious freedom?

These Jews have too much influence in the media and financial industries, and they always want to control this industry that is much more powerful than revenue and profit. Isn't this just opportunistic, trying to lie on the giant of America? Do you **** blood?

   "The same thing, in fact, my father often said that when I was close to thirty years old, he would not stop until I married Diandra at the age of thirty-three. Hahaha"

  Michael Douglas thought that his father was simply a matchmaker, introducing Ronald to some old friend's daughter or something. He didn't think that a successful young man like Ronald, who was less than thirty years old, could tie himself to marriage at this time.

   "So your reply is?" Douglas laughed and patted Ronald on the shoulder.

   "The answer is still No." Ronald said with a smile.

"That's right, my friend, when I was your age before I was married, I was always chasing and being chased by beautiful women...", Douglas was glad that Ronald was not as boring as his rigid and conservative father, " Actually, even after marriage...hahaha"

"So you will tell Kirk my answer, right?" Ronald also took a sip of wine in satisfaction, and it's good to stop these people's thoughts. Anyway, there are not many beautiful Jewish female stars in Hollywood, so it's okay. loss.

  (end of this chapter)