Exploiting Hollywood 1980.

Chapter 1402 Ronald's secret is to control costs
"Ronald, your ability as a producer and director is a legend in Hollywood. Nick is very happy to be able to work with you again."

Nicolas Cage's agent, Italian-American Ed Limato, is still as independent as ever. He does not use packaging tactics and considers the long-term interests of his clients. He relied on his reputation to sign big stars such as Michelle Pfeiffer and Mel Gibson to establish himself in Hollywood.

Nicolas Cage is an Italian client he signed. Cage wanted to establish himself in Hollywood with his acting skills, but he had always had difficulty attracting important awards and the attention of critics in independent films.

After starring in Ronald's "Firebird", he became a substitute for big stars in some small and medium-cost commercial films. If Tom Cruise or Mel Gibson can't be found, then Nicolas Cage is also a safe choice.

However, Ed Limato is also good at negotiating treatment for his clients. The role of an agent in Hollywood is to isolate producers, directors and actors, so that there is a good buffer between them and they will not fall out because of bargaining over pay.

Ed Limato offered a good price for Nicolas Cage, two million dollars, which was lower than the five million dollars that the first-tier stars received, and was only a fraction of the more than ten million dollars that the most popular action movie actors received.

This is roughly the price of a second-tier actor. If the producer wants Tom Cruise, Bruce Willis, or Schwarzenegger, then they have to prepare tens of millions. If they want an ordinary first-tier star, then they have to prepare five million. If these two types of stars are not available, then they have to cut the budget and prepare one to three million to find a replacement.

"Do you know what is the secret that I can still guarantee that every movie I produce personally will not lose money?" Ronald didn't even want to pay 2 million. There are many characters in "Mortal Kombat". If there is a star who is paid 2 million, then we need to find a large number of stars of this price to play with him.

Adding the money set aside for special effects, the total production cost is at least 35 million.

Therefore, if this movie wants to keep the production cost below 20 million, all the actors must be newcomers or unpopular stars who command very low prices.

"Everyone in Hollywood wants to know this secret. Do you want to tell me?" Ed Limato put on a very interested look and leaned forward, as if he was really waiting for Ronald to give an answer worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

"It's actually very simple. Movies of this era either look for big stars, big productions, and make movies about things that teenagers or even children like to watch. Or they look for a cheap production team and make movies that are artistic or have a specific audience."

"So Nick needs to take a pay cut? A lot less, I guess?" Ed Limato said, as if he was about to make a phone call.

"What projects does he have now? If there is a suitable one, I don't mind him choosing another one. This role has a lot of scenes, and he won't be suitable if the price is lower..." Ronald waved his hand to stop him. Cage has finally climbed to his current position. If he lowered his salary for this movie, it would be difficult to ask for a higher price for the next project.

"A romantic drama with Bridget Fonda..."

"Okay, this is a very good choice. Pick up the phone and I'll congratulate him."

Ed Limato watched Ronald use his phone to talk to Nicolas Cage about his choice of romantic comedy, and he admired Ronald's generosity. He did not forcefully demand to take back the favor and let Cage play the role.

Neither side mentioned anything about "Mortal Kombat", so the friendship could remain intact.

"Are there any good clients you can recommend to me?" Ronald put down the phone and asked Limato.

"My colleague has some cheap male actors."

"I want someone who is handsome, has some basic knowledge of dancing or other subjects, or even sports."

Anyway, Ronald has no habit of bundling and no prejudice, so he can just recommend good people to him. As long as everyone's pay is low enough, there will be no financial risk.

Most Hollywood disasters happen this way: a great director, after his last movie was a big hit, has a grand idea, keeps increasing the budget, keeps replacing more expensive stars.

In the end, a huge amount of money was spent to make a good movie with a narrow audience, which won praise from some critics and audiences but failed miserably in the mass market.

Ronald has a clear distinction: mainstream commercial films for teenagers can be made with more money. Action movies adapted from games like Mortal Kombat have a narrow audience, and the director has not proven himself in Hollywood, so the budget should be kept as low as possible.

……

"Tom is not interested? OK, I get it. It's OK, I think he also needs to adjust the ratio of the types of films he takes. This kind of movie is really not suitable for him."

In another "Speed", at the beginning Ronald was urged by 20th Century Fox to ask Tom Cruise.

Although people don't have high expectations for this, it's always okay to ask Paula Wagner. Cruise's current film schedule is basically a commercial blockbuster or an artistic film that has the potential to win awards.

His current preference is a vampire movie based on a best-selling novel by Anne Rice, a dark gothic novelist. David Geffen paid a huge price, with a total investment of $70 million, which took up most of the actor budget, to cast him as the lead. This has a problem with the schedule.

In addition, the last two films directed by Ronald were both commercial-artistic in their balance, and Cruise is inclined to tip the scales towards artistry this time. In other words, he wants to get an Oscar nomination again.

Likewise, because Ronald was looking for Cruise's partner, de facto agent Wagner, the two did not discuss "Speed" directly, so the two sides were able to maintain a good friendship.

"Ronald, I actually persuaded him to choose your movie. But there are two problems here that I can't solve. The first is that Tom is really interested in this movie. He has wanted to play a vampire for a long time. And River Phoenix and Cher, two of his friends, will star in it.

Second of all, you know, your movie is called Die Hard on the Bus, Tom..."

"Don't say any more. I understand. So River Phoenix has also booked an important role?"

"I'm afraid so..."

"Understood, thank you, Paula."

Ronald understood what she didn't say. It's hard to make a Die Hard movie better than Bruce Willis. If Tom Cruise takes on the next Speed, he will definitely have to take a pay cut. If he can't compare to Bruce Willis, he won't be able to accept it in Hollywood, a society that values ​​rank.

In order to recruit Cruise to star in the film, David Geffen offered him an irresistible $10 million salary, plus a box office share contract. This allowed Tom Cruise to enter the superstar club, where he could negotiate his own share of the profits and receive a salary of more than $10 million - the standard for superstars set by Jack Nicholson in Hollywood a few years ago.

However, Ronald was still a little dissatisfied with this choice. Tom Cruise didn't need any artistic affirmation or a Gothic vampire movie. With his handsome face, wouldn't it be good for him to act in a romantic drama like Nicolas Cage and Tom Hanks?

Who wouldn't go crazy if female audiences saw him fall in love with beautiful women on the screen? Or maybe the knot of not having an Oscar nomination is holding him back. This time, "The Firm" hopes to help him fulfill this wish, and he will wholeheartedly weave dreams for female audiences around the world in the future.

Shaking his head, Ronald still called Jan de Bont and asked him to come over.

"Cruise's agent has officially refused and is going to act in a Gothic vampire movie. Besides, River Phoenix is ​​also going to act in that movie. Your dream is shattered..."

"Oh, Shxt, what the hell is this vampire gothic style? Who directed it?" Jan de Bont was very hurt that the two leading actors who ranked first in his mind ignored him.

"It's Neil Jordan, the director of The Crying Game. They gained confidence from Francis Ford Coppola's Bram Stoker's Dracula and felt that this type of movie would be the next direction... Besides, David Geffen is spending a lot of money. He is the fourth former record company owner to enter Hollywood. They don't know anything, but they have money."

"What? Can he direct this kind of subject? Just because Coppola can do it doesn't mean he can do it..."

Unexpectedly, Jan de Bont is a fan of Coppola. In his opinion, Coppola has a special magic that can make this kind of stylized film produce special effects. Others don't have this ability, and it would be weird if they want to shoot it this way.

As a director of photography, he is very familiar with camera scheduling and color style, and knows that Bram Stoker's Dracula is not a style that most people can handle.

"By the way, what do you think of the actor in Bram Stoker's Dracula?"

"Gary Oldman? Isn't he a bit old?" Ronald remembered the man who played the vampire Count Dracula.

"Huh? What, I'm talking about the young Keanu Rivers..."

"Oh..." Ronald remembered the young actor, but he had no impression of him in his mind. It was obvious that there was nothing special about his acting skills that made him, a director, remember him.

"Why choose him?"

"Don't you think he looks a bit like River Phoenix?"

"How are they similar?" Ronald felt that River Phoenix was a much better actor than him.

"They don't look like Americans, here, here..." Jan de Bont pointed to his chin, "They all have a European chin..."

"You mean, they don't look like Stallone and Schwarzenegger?" Ronald mused.

"That's what I want to say, Ronald, you really have a talent for translating inspiration into visual language. Stallone, Schwarzenegger... Men will feel threatened when they see them, and women will feel that they are too strong and a little scared when they see them. This is no longer the Cold War era of the 1980s."

Ronald feels similar to Jan de Bont. Tom Cruise's success has proven that today's female audiences prefer this type of "action star" with a pointed chin. They like men who are a little softer and a little fragile.

Their muscles are also great, you can see their abdominal muscles, but they are not the kind of muscles that make people feel like cyborgs like Stallone. In short, I imagine it must feel good to touch.

Capable of protecting themselves, but not so strong that they scare themselves. Very secure, but a little fragile and needing their own comfort. The best couples in the eyes of American women nowadays have actually changed to a different type. Whether they can beat other male creatures like King Kong is no longer so important. Who can bully women now?

"Very good, ask his agent, just don't make it too expensive. Also, does he agree to cut his hair short?" Luo An noticed that Keanu Reeves always appeared with long hair in the movies.

"What about the female stars? Can I get Winona Ryder?" Jan de Bont was thinking about the heroine in Bram Stoker's Dracula again. He seemed to have some chemistry with Keanu Rivers.

"Don't even think about it. You might have had a chance two years ago."

Ronald smiled and waved his hand.

Winola Ryder is now on a sprint to become one of the top three female stars in Hollywood. She is currently filming "The Age of Innocence" with Michelle Pfeiffer and Daniel Day-Lewis, and there is also "Little Women" waiting for her, which every top female star in America must film. Not to mention the schedule, the salary is already beyond the range of "Speed". A total budget of 30 million is not enough to invite such a female star to act.

"What should I do?"

"First decide on the male lead. If Keanu Reeves is okay, then find hundreds of actresses to pair with him..."

……

“Holy Shxt!”

When Keanu Reeves came back from Britain to audition for the lead role in "Speed," it shocked everyone, including director Jan de Bont, and also scared his agent half to death.

Because he was playing a detective and related to the script, Keanu Reeves took the risk and cut off his long hair, making a shaved head that was only one millimeter long, without getting any role guarantees.

This hairstyle is usually only worn by the good guys in the Marine Corps. The Navy usually cuts more of the temples to match the sailor hat. This kind of buzz cut is very demanding on the actor's appearance. Only those who are really handsome can pull off this hairstyle, which shows a kind of innocent handsomeness.

"Oh, that's really nice..."

When Ronald saw Keanu Reeves' audition photo with a buzz cut and a white round-neck T-shirt, he felt it was very suitable for the movie's script.

But he had just returned from filming Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing" in Britain, and he didn't have the compact feeling of an American handsome guy.

"We also need to strengthen his muscle training, find him a fitness coach, and train him to be like an American policeman, not a British sissy." Jan de Bont himself is European, but he is very sure of the image of the protagonist needed for this movie.

"Okay, that's great. Go find Richard and start auditioning for the female lead. This Anne must be a good match for Reeves..."

(End of this chapter)