Exploiting Hollywood 1980.

Michael Keaton was also somewhat surprised by the enthusiastic response to his role as Batman.He is a person who focuses on acting and wants to be a star more than an actor.

Although he did not sign a generous profit-sharing contract like Jack Nicholson, he will also receive a significantly increased salary for the first Batman film and the sequel that is already in preparation.

As an actor famous for his comedies, Keaton actually wanted to perform a drama with serious themes. He expressed his wishes to his agent, preferably a Shakespeare play, or a script that reflected American realistic themes.

But what his agent recommended to him was another full-scale commercial film script, the kind of film that could only be seen in the 50s that glorified business leaders in a positive way.

After Michael Keaton read the script, he discovered that the reason why his agent recommended him was because of the invitation sent to him by the popular film director Ronald Lee.

After reading the script, Michael Keaton was a little hesitant.Invitations from great directors don't happen casually, and it's no exception like him who has just become famous.He does not reject this script, but he also has doubts about this kind of subject matter that has been abandoned since the hippies became popular in Hollywood in the 60s.

In contrast, he received another Disney-invested movie script called "A Good Cop", which tells the story of a policeman who wanted to adopt his three orphaned daughters because his partner was killed by a drug abuser.

However, because the house at home was not big enough, he was rejected by the Child Welfare Department.In desperation, the policeman robbed the drug dealer, used the stolen money to pay the down payment on the house, and donated the remaining money to a child welfare agency.

This kind of script is more "safe" and is a smooth work that conforms to the values ​​of Hollywood since the 70s.The contradiction between people and the system, the gap between reality and theory, and the concept that good people may not always do good things have become dogma.

"Other people's money" is relatively risky by comparison.Entrepreneurs who are social beneficiaries and bankers who have recently gained notoriety are both portrayed as positive characters in movies.In fact, this movie has no real heroes or villains.

Compared with "A Good Cop", a script that is complex in name but simple in core, Ronald's script is more modern. It seems that there is a distinction between good guys and bad guys, but it actually has a profound core.

Keaton has become famous now. What he wants to do most now is to pick out some of his favorite characters and play them to his heart's content, and then make more money in the Batman sequel.This role of a Jewish vampire banker risks not being recognized by the audience due to performance, coordination, directing, editing and other reasons. He doesn't really want to play it.

Although a good policeman challenges the bottom line of law and morality, the audience actually likes to see this kind of lone hero who avenges his partner and adopts his partner's daughters under oppression. In fact, there is no risk.

Having said that, an invitation from a famous Hollywood director cannot be easily rejected with just a phone call.Michael Keaton personally visited Ronald's home.

"I have a proposition for you, Mr. Garfield."

"Have you dumped Bart yet?"

Diane and Keaton simulated auditions at home and read a dialogue from the end of the movie.Kate Sullivan wants to introduce Japanese capital to switch the New England Cable Factory to produce a new product, automobile airbags.Garfield is more interested in dating Kate, the woman he has fallen in love with.

"If you sell the cable factory back to Jorgensen and the worker shareholders and convert it to producing air bags, you can get a price of $28 per share."

"28? I think it can go to 30 per share."

"30? Do you think so?"

"Yes, we'll discuss this over dinner. I'll see you in an hour."

"Hmph, tomorrow at noon, lunch, one o'clock. Strictly only discussing work..."

"Okay, okay... strictly only discuss work..."

This is a script about two people talking on the phone, but Michael Keaton's eyes are very meaningful, as if the opposite side is the heroine's face.

Ronald, who was filming the footage with a home video recorder, couldn't help but feel that Keaton was indeed suitable for playing a character who is obviously handsome but unsuccessful in love.The audience won't find it strange.

"My schedule is like this. A Good Cop will be filmed in the second half of the year between July and August. I like your script and character very much. If you can make arrangements with the time..."

"I will consider it and contact your agent if there is news..."

Ronald shook hands with Keaton and walked him out the door.This person is very much like an old-school Hollywood star, and he respects himself in everything he does.Although the schedule conflicts with his own movie, there is still room for it.

"What do you think?" Diane has begun to prepare for the role of Kate Sullivan, a lawyer.She put her hair up, bought a few office girl power suits, and began to imitate Ronald's lawyer Lindsay in her daily life.

Moreover, she increased her intensity in daily yoga recovery classes, rented some videotapes of film and television dramas about court battles, and began to learn how lawyers speak.

"There is a big schedule conflict, and the chemistry between him and you is a bit strange. I will call Tom Hanks right now."

Ronald feels Keaton's temperament is because Batman is portrayed as the kind of super-rich heir.There are many differences from a rich man like Garfield, who was born in poverty and worked hard on his own.

……

"With the offer of 300 million, isn't Ronald contacting us?" Terry Temer, the president of Warner Bros., came to the office on Monday morning and frowned when he saw the latest box office results. , pressed the button and asked the secretary.

"No, Mr. Temer, we have received no further inquiries from him or Minahan Golan."

"Minahan, this cunning fox. Huh..."

The news that made Temer furious was that the movie "Pretty Woman" in which Ronald participated was surpassed by "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" produced by Xiangjiang and distributed by New Line for a few weeks. one.

This is no small thing!
For ordinary movies, the natural weekly box office decline is around 20-25%.Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is open in 1 more theaters than Pretty Woman.Moreover, the average weekend box office of these green turtles in a single theater is US$[-], which is much higher than the US$[-] of Wall Street bankers and street girls.

But by the fourth weekend, the box office results of the two films were tied at US$[-].Coupled with the contribution of Disney, the distributor of Pretty Woman, which urgently added more than [-] theaters, it regained the top spot with a slight advantage after being overtaken for two weeks.

In particular, Temer saw that the box office of "Pretty Woman" dropped by less than 10% every week, which was very strong.In comparison, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are down 25% every week, and this week they are down 30%...

What is this indicating?It shows that comic book adaptation movies, as long as they are not those with top-notch famous characters, such as Superman and Batman, other character adaptation movies, after consuming comic book fans in the first few weeks, the box office decline is super fast.And what about the "other people's money" movie that Ronald bought through Minahan?It just fits the formula similar to "Beautiful Woman", with real business war and romantic love story...

It's just too cunning!

It turned out that he used "Forrest Gump" as a cover, and then quietly obtained the script of a real blockbuster genre film.

Alas, I, a Jew with a reputation as a shrewd person in Hollywood, didn’t expect to be tricked by a white man and an Israeli.

what on earth is it?A 30-year-old young man actually has such a vision?Does Ronald have any secret business classics to learn?More powerful than the Talmud?

Temer looked at the box office numbers and regretted it more and more.

New York Attorney General Rudy, who failed to run for mayor, has just pleaded guilty in federal court to six counts of securities and tax violations against junk bond king Michael Milken.

Not only was he fined US$[-] million, he was also ordered to pay US$[-] million in compensation to related securities market victims.In addition, female federal judge Kimba Wood was very dissatisfied with his behavior and accused him of deliberately taking advantage of legal loopholes.

She said Milken was only willing to commit crimes that were unlikely to be discovered, and that a man of his power in the financial world repeatedly conspired to violate securities and tax practices in order to gain more power and wealth.A lengthy prison term (more than ten years) will certainly be required.

This is the most influential (and ugliest) among a series of Mafia family members and Wall Street tycoons who were sued by Rudy and brought to court.

A large number of reports have been discussing Milken's imprisonment. Legal experts estimate that even if he is paroled in the future, he will definitely stay in prison for at least more than a year.This is extremely unusual for such a billionaire, and it also shows that America's legal system is fair and just.

Coincidentally, the main character in "Pretty Woman" is Edward Lewis.In fact, they are doing the same business as Milken.By issuing junk bonds in an overly lax bond market, and then raising funds to acquire America, a prestigious shipbuilding factory.Instead of running it, he directly sold it to investors from Japan.

But unlike Milken, shameless is the opposite.Edward Lewis was a loving man. He saw his own weaknesses clearly from the street girl Vivian and reconciled with his irresponsible father.

Later, they changed their tune. Instead of dismantling and selling the shipyard that had built many warships for the navy since World War II, they invested more money.He wants to give blood to the shipyard and continue his glorious business of building warships.

Both positive and negative, the plot and characters of the movie are also talked about by more people outside the entertainment industry.Coupled with the shipbuilding plan inherited by the current commander-in-chief, in other words, Edward Lewis was lucky enough to escape from this trap because of his love for Vivian before the stock market crash when money shrank, and instead took advantage of the opportunity to expand the navy's warships. The powerful shipbuilding plan, and even made a lot of money with the shipyard...

Coupled with the legendary love story of a banker and a streetwalker, as well as the passionate performances of Richard Gere and Julia Roberts, who have great chemistry, the word-of-mouth reputation has driven more men and women to enter the cinema. Watch this romantic comedy plus business war movie.

"What the hell, how could this guy predict the social hot spots during the movie's release?" Temer put down the Wall Street Journal and the Hollywood Reporter. Some people really have to accept their luck.

……

"How could you predict that Milken would be convicted during the release? Originally, I read many newspapers saying that he would most likely be acquitted."

Tom Hanks, who also saw this magical effect boosting the box office of "Pretty Woman," was also surprised.When he was invited to discuss "other people's money," he couldn't help but ask Ronald this question.

"If I told you that it was a complete coincidence, would you believe it?" Ronald smiled and handed him a can of Coca-Cola.

"I believe it, I definitely believe it, I just think it's a bit weird..." Tom Hanks smiled and took a sip from the can.If this were not a coincidence, it would be an effect that can only be achieved with an amazing ability to predict society, law, and the film market.

"I do feel that, especially after my Working Girl was well received, it seems that today's movie audiences are tired of the more childish business war plots of the past and want to see something authentic.

As you know, the number of white-collar workers living in big cities has greatly increased. They are originally the backbone of society and experts in a certain business field. They get married late and like to watch romantic comedies.

But when it comes to Milken, it's purely a coincidence. "

Ronald explained slowly.He was most satisfied with the auditions of Tom Hanks and Diane.Hanks is actually very handsome, but he also has some things that ordinary people can empathize with.

Ordinary viewers will have an overestimation of their own looks. If you are a handsome guy like Tom Cruise, you can only imagine that you can transform or be reincarnated in the next life to look like that.As for Hanks' appearance, most men would think, well, that's pretty much what I look like.

This "Other People's Money" just needs an actor who can make the audience go from disgust, to understanding, to sympathy, to recognition.

Hanks and Diane had a solid foundation in playing lovers in "Grown Up", and the audience recognized it at the time. From many aspects, Ronald was very satisfied with Hanks' acting ability.I still underestimated his acting skills before.

Especially the scene where Michael Keaton and Diane auditioned. Keaton only saw the love in his eyes as he was talking to his lover on the phone, while Tom Hanks almost started flirting with the phone receiver.

"Rita is very supportive of me playing this role, but I have to stay with her the week she gives birth... I think you can understand."

Hanks' new wife, Rita Wilson, is a Greek Orthodox woman and this is their first child.Ronald smiled and looked at Diane next to him. Of course he understood this request.

"Of course, I think I can ask my agent to call your agent."

"By the way, are your CAA agents really that capable?" Tom Hanks suddenly asked Ronald when shaking hands with him.

After losing to "Rain Man" at the Oscars, he had always wanted to find an agent with stronger awards public relations capabilities.

"It depends on who you are. Not all agents in CAA are loyal to their clients... I can introduce my agent to you, and you can talk to them all and make your own judgment..."

"Okay!" Tom Hanks felt that Ronald's words were very mature and prudent. No wonder he had accomplished such a big career at such a young age.

"Bye, Diane!" Tom Hanks made the iconic expression from the last movie "Grown Up" and left.