Exploiting Hollywood 1980.

Chapter 147 Vegan Extremists
"I'm sorry for the inconvenience caused by my job change, but I've dealt with all of this. Now we can talk about whether I can represent you."

Rick Nisita's voice on the phone has a magical, relaxing quality.The two discussed on the phone how Nisita would sign Ronald as a writer's agent.

Ronald insisted on retaining the contract of New York agent Eddie Cohen, and Eddie was still in charge of short-term director work such as commercials.At least in the near future, his work focus is still in New York, and he still needs to earn money and reputation in the industry by shooting commercials, and he doesn't want to end his cooperation with Eddie.

Even if he focuses on Hollywood in the future, he still needs someone to help him deal with things in his hometown of New York. In Ronald's vision, he hopes that Eddie Cohen will be his representative in New York.

Nisita is mainly focused on Hollywood, and was not very interested in representing Ronald in the advertising business.The reason why he wanted to sign a fledgling screenwriter was because CAA President Michael Ovitz required all agents of CAA to sign a screenwriter as a client.

Nisita has already made considerable achievements in William Morris. After being hired by CAA, he didn't want to share a screenwriting client with the original agent. He simply developed one by himself to deal with Ovitz's KPI.With potential clients like Al Pacino and Christopher Walken in his hands, he doesn't worry about business.

The two parties agreed on the phone that from now on Ronald's screenwriting contract will be handed over to Nisita's team.If Ronald has the opportunity to direct a movie independently in the future, it will also be handled by Nisita.

Team work is the invention of Michael Ovitz, the founder of CAA. For each client, there are several brokers at different levels to form a team to act as agents, and the agency fees drawn are also allocated by the team.

The five founding veterans of CAA who betrayed William Morris knew very well the power of fleeing with customers, so they designed the system well from the beginning to prevent other companies from poaching CAA's corner.

"That's it? Do you have any questions?" Nisita asked on the phone.

"Mr. Nisita, why did you choose me? Your colleagues at William Morris didn't want to sign me" Ronald asked.

"I'm always one step ahead of people who just asked director Alan Parker about you and I asked producer David da Silva."

"Thank you, Mr. Nisita."

"I'm in Los Angeles to talk to Mr. Michael Ovitz about the new film contract of two of my actors. I also need to assist him in dealing with CAA's top actor, Sean Connery's film. So this time I went to New York and Your interviews are with two colleagues of mine, Richard and Paula. They will be in New York on the morning of XX."

Ronald took out his notebook and looked it up: "I'll be busy with the casting of 'Endless Love' that day, I'm afraid I won't be able to pick them up at the airport."

"It's okay, Paula is a New York girl, believe a New York girl can handle everything."

……

The red-eye flight landed at JFK Airport in New York. A man and a woman looked like they were dressed as professionals. They walked out of the waiting hall and waited for a taxi.

"Should we go to the casting studio first to find that young Ronald?" Richard is a newcomer to CAA. He has worked in the mailroom (Mailroom) for 6 months. Because of his excellent work performance, he was promoted exceptionally for apprentices.This is the first time he has been sent out to meet clients.

"Let's go to Little Italy next to Broadway to eat authentic pizza, and then go to the casting studio to find him." Paula is a woman in her early 30s. Stage design.I am very familiar with New York, and it can be regarded as a revisit.

Richard was still a little tender and didn't figure out Nisita's intentions, but it was no wonder that this was the young man's first official business trip, and it was understandable to be excited.

"The pizza here is really good. I haven't eaten such a good pizza except in Chicago." Richard pushed his glasses, "Paola, why would Nisita sign a fledgling screenwriter? Does he have any qualities worth paying attention to? "

"Did you know that our CAA started from TV shows?" Paula drank a sip of Coke and ate the pizza she used to eat, feeling very happy.While Hollywood is the center of entertainment, New York is the center of the universe from the standpoint of other industries.

"Yes, I heard from the old man of the company. In 1975, the five founders survived the difficult period of starting a business by relying on daytime TV series."

"That's right, but our development has encountered a bottleneck. The big-name actors we signed all want to act in movies. And our connections in the film industry are weak." Ovitz promotes the culture of a big family within CAA, encouraging agents to cooperate with each other. Help and support the younger generation.Richard has entered the apprenticeship list. Anyway, he has to learn these things sooner or later, so it's better to tell him to make a good relationship.

"So Ovitz's approach is to first sign the screenwriter, use the screenwriter to impress the eight major studios, and then recommend our contracted directors, stars, etc. to enter the project."

"That's why he asked every agent to sign a screenwriter?"

"Yes, Richard, you are very sharp. CAA plus your apprentices, just over 40 agents, and we are a team system, a screenwriter will have 3-4 agents in charge, so in fact we only need to find a total of 10 agents. More than [-] screenwriters will do.”

"I see. Thank you for telling me this, Paula." Richard wisely stopped asking why Nisita signed Ronald, and lowered his head to eat the pizza. of."

Ronald is organizing an audition in the casting studio, and the actors who came this time are much stronger than the actors in the circle last time.

Deborah Winger is not amazing, but her wonderful eyes are very understanding, as if she can talk to people with her eyes.Polaroid took a snapshot of her, and her eyes are also very bright. No wonder the director of "Midnight Cowboy" must ensure her performance. This kind of eyes is very attractive when paired with close-ups on the big screen.

"Princess Leia" Carrie Fisher came to New York to participate in the audition together while participating in a TV interview on CBS6's "The Empire Strikes Back".

She didn't have the princess hairstyle that everyone expected, but had long hair with shawls. She lacked the decisiveness of a princess, but added a bit of gentle femininity.A few assistants were gossiping about Fisher being very unrestrained on the Star Wars set, sleeping all the actors.Every time you turn your eyes, there is a glamorous light, and it has something in common with the character of the protagonist Jed in the movie.

Looking at the strength of these candidates, Ronald felt that the Michelle Pfeiffer he recommended was not enough.In particular, she still looked a little timid, holding the big bottle of vegetable juice handed to her by two husband and wife managers, drinking in small sips, frowning from time to time.

"This vegetable juice is very good for you to maintain your energy, keep your skin clear, and resist addiction to cigarettes, alcohol and drugs. You have to drink it every day." The manager who looks like a wife is comforting Michelle Pfeiffer.

"Don't be afraid, I observed that none of your competitors are vegetarians, you are very promising." The husband also began to criticize other actresses.

When Ronald heard this, he almost couldn't hold back his laughter, "Michelle, it's you next, you come with me alone, first wait at the door of the audition room." The manager who looked like a wife put a large bottle of vegetable juice into her hand As soon as it was delivered, Michelle Pfeiffer took it, with a heavy look, hands down, and slowly followed Ronald into it.

Walking through the long aisle to the front of the audition room, Michelle Pfeiffer looked even less confident, walking more and more slowly with her vegetable juice in her arms, her face curled into a ball, looking very painful.

"What's wrong with you? Michelle, cheer up, your performance in the last audition was very good, play naturally, you are the top six in the Miss California beauty pageant, be more confident."

It’s okay not to say it, after saying this, Michelle Pfeiffer seemed to be about to cry.

"I... all my... money was spent on buying these all-green vegetables and fruits. If I didn't choose this time,... no one on the TV station would give me a new role... I'll just..." Michelle Er didn't have much strength to speak, and looked in the direction of the lounge intermittently.

Ronald followed Michelle Pfeiffer's eyes. It was a Burger King fast food he had bought before, and he hadn't had time to eat it yet.

"Take a bite. I haven't moved yet. I see that you are very hungry. Taking a bite can restore your energy."

Michelle Pfeiffer looked at Ronald and heard the words to let him eat. For a while, there was no room for other things in her mind except the beef burger.After a few steps, he jumped over, opened the wrapping paper, and started to eat.

Ronald poured her a glass of warm water and passed it over, "Don't worry, eat slowly, why do you want to look like you haven't eaten all day?"

Michelle fell into the water and swallowed the last piece of beef, "My two agents will not let me eat meat, saying that it will help me quit smoking and drinking. You know, I used to talk to the pageant girls. ..." said with a little embarrassment.

The voice of the director Zeffirelli in the "next" audition room recalled that the review of the previous audition ended and Michelle was called in.

"Let your hair down and be more natural." Ronald helped her put down her tied-up hair and led her into the audition room.

"Hi, Michelle," said director Zeffirelli, executive producer Peter Guber, and casting director Julia Taylor above to greet her.

"Good morning. My name is Michelle Pfeiffer."

"Ronald will take a snapshot of you first, and then we will start auditioning."

Ronald picked up the Polaroid camera and pointed at Michelle Pfeiffer's sexy face, which was slightly like a cat's face, very juvenile, and the 22-year-old Michelle looked very convincing as a 16-year-old.

"Here..." Ronald pointed to the corner of his mouth, and made a mouth shape to Michelle Pfeiffer, silently reminding her that the hamburger just now was eaten too quickly.

Michelle Pfeiffer understood, a flush flushed her cheeks, and then she stuck out her tongue, licked the corners of her mouth, and wiped away the food crumb.

"Meow", the men in the audition room couldn't help dubbing her in their hearts. This action is too sexy.

……

"Very good, we will inform your agent of the audition results." Michelle Pfeiffer, who finished the audition, thanked everyone, and then Ronald walked out with her.

"I think they like you very much, even the director Zeffirelli is swallowing." Ronald quietly told Michelle that she had a good chance.

"This is Miss Brooke Shields," Ronald called again, "Hi, Brooke. Hello, Terry."

"Hey, who asked you to give Michelle a beef burger." Michelle Pfeiffer's male manager rushed up and pushed Ronald, wanting to reason with him.

"First of all, you are her managers, not guardians. Michelle is free to eat whatever she wants. Secondly, this matter has nothing to do with me, so don't do anything to me."

"You evil person, you actually tricked her into eating beef, so that she will have the strength to audition when she is full." The man came up and punched Ronald.

With a dodge, Ronald grabbed his arm and pinned him to the ground, "Do you want to call the police? Michelle?"

(End of this chapter)