Exploiting Hollywood 1980.

Chapter 379 Getting Ready to Shoot

"Ronald, this is a great opportunity, Shirley Lansing's favorite Ron Howard has turned her down for 'Mermaid', Herbert Ross, Michael Cimino, Ron Howard, she has already engaged Three directors were smashed. If you are not sure about the director, this project will be put into 'cold storage'.

And you're the reviser of the last version of the script, Tom Cruise would love to work with you too, it's an $800 million investment, big studio project, your 'Night of the Comet' might as well be delayed . "

Paula Wagner found Ronald and lobbied Ronald vigorously in the CAA office, first to fight for "Footloose".

"Paula, tell the truth, I want the director to be 'full of energy', how many people do I need to nod?"

"The main people we are going to interview are the following. First of all, Ms. Shirley Lansing, who is in charge of the project. Her experience is not difficult. Unless she has other famous directors, you are his first choice. .

Then there are the two producers who are in charge of realizing the project, Lewis J. Rahmir, Craig Zadan.We just need to convince them that you are capable of directing the film.

Then there's the president of IndieProd, Daniel Melnick, who was the Executive Producer on the film.He's not doing much anymore, so we're doing pretty well.

The penultimate is Mr. Katzenberg, the vice president of production at the publisher Paramount, whom you have dealt with, and who has always been generous to well-written projects.

The last hurdle is signed by President Eisner, and your impression with him is very good.As long as you get to this point, you won't have much problem getting the final green light. "

"That is to say, these five or six people, I have to go to interview again and sell myself? And everyone has different ideas about the project? Anyone who is dissatisfied with me, I will Revise it again, and then submit it again. You must pass five levels before you can finally get the guidance qualification?"

"Um, I thought you were a person who thought the glass was half full. We have to look at the problem from a positive perspective... This is not a project invested by Paramount alone. There are naturally several hurdles to go through with multiple investments. .And several of your competitors have been nominated for Oscars, and even won awards."

"My answer is no, Paula, I have no problem with you, and I really want to cooperate with Tom, but I have already started the preliminary preparations for "Night of the Comet". For a small project that has been secured, go for a large project with an unknown success rate."

"Well, you're right. I thought you'd want to work with Tom. He wants to work with big directors besides you now."

"I'll call him."

Ronald turned down another bid to direct "Strong".The project of this kind of big studio is managed by too many people, and everyone’s speech is not counted. Only when all of them are persuaded can it be finalized. It will go through a round of process to satisfy everyone’s hobbies. Half a year has passed.

Unless you are already an Oscar-nominated best director, or a genius who has repeatedly achieved box office miracles, everyone has to go through this "planning hell".

No wonder Minahan Golan of Cannonball always accused these Hollywood producers of talking and talking every day without actually making a movie. It's like he said less and did more.

Thomas Coleman, the president of the Atlantic Company, also has a similar personality to Minahan. When he sees a project, he signs it and starts filming.Perhaps a small company does not have a layered management team, and it is faster to make decisions.

He recruited two colleagues, Wayne Crawford, and Andrew Lane, to serve as producers on "Night of the Comet" with Ronald.The pair are also producers on The Atlantic's upcoming "Girls of the Valley."

They sat down with Ronald and went through the expenses in the shooting budget item by item, calculating the money bit by bit.

The Atlantic invested $50 in "Night of the Comet" and assumed distribution in America.Then there is 30 from Roger Coleman's new company Millennium, 20 from Cannon Films, which is in charge of overseas distribution, [-] from Ronald's friend Douglas Jr., and finally [-] from Ronald himself.

A total of 120 million production budget.

Then there are the expenses. The Atlantic has to pay himself a director’s salary of [-] US dollars first, and then various online expenses. For example, the salary of the actor Kevin Costner is calculated based on the entire movie, like him. Also paying are the two lead actresses, Catherine Mary Stuart and Kelly Maroney.Plus a supporting actress, Mary Voronov.

Plus director of photography Arthur Albert, art director John Muto, and special effects director Jim Cameron, who participated in the work earlier.

The rest is the offline cost paid every week or every day after the filming starts.For example, the cost of other supporting actors, lighting, photography, driver, makeup, hairstyle, etc., the cost of film, the cost of applying for street view permission from the city hall, and so on.

Then there's the stunt fees—lightning, explosions, drag racing, guns, body doubles, special effects models and makeup, and so on.

Then there are some teen-loving episodes that teen movies have to have, like "Fame" with Erin Cara's song "Fame" that will add a lot of teen word-of-mouth.

"Night of the Comet" is a small production, and all the episodes and soundtracks have to be purchased at their own expense.The purchase cost of this part of the soundtrack accounts for about 10% of the total budget.

In the end, there was still about $[-] left over as a maneuvering fund to prevent overspending during the shooting process.If it doesn't work, Ronald still has some money in reserve, which can be remedied. If this money is used up, he can finally ask Roger Coleman.

The two producers and Ronald moved around, and the budget was still a little tight. They discussed how to squeeze out a little money from there.

"If you don't use UltraCam cameras, the rent can be half the price." A producer made a suggestion.

"You kill me, I'd rather go to a pawn shop and pawn my pants, and I don't need that broken machine." Ronald still remembered the nightmarish effect of this super card film machine, and he firmly refused.

"If you don't have a soundtrack and interludes, use the public version of the music, which can save a little money. It's done in low-budget movies anyway." Another producer suggested.

"It's not very good. Once listening to the familiar music, the audience will know that it is crude music. If you have the ability, you should hire someone to compose the music. And there must be a popular episode, which is conducive to word of mouth."

Ronald remembered that the song "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" that he heard in his dream was very nice, but he had never heard this song on the radio. Inquire about your friends.

"Then let's start shooting like this. We trust your cost control ability. You are a graduate of Roger Coleman University. The last step of 'fast pace' has also been completed with quality and quantity."

"It's because I don't trust myself very much. After all, this film is my first time as a producer. There are many places where I have no bottom."

"I have a suggestion, I hope you don't get angry." Producer Wayne Crawford saw Ronald a little embarrassed, and remembered what President Thomas Coleman said to try to save the filming budget and ensure the release of "Valley Girl" Commitment of funds.

"Please tell me. It's all for filming."

"Can you pay your director's remuneration later? In this way, the overall budget of 120 million can be used for production, and we can convert your remuneration into a share of the profits after the movie is released. Your 20 investment, and The director's salary of 20.00 can be counted as [-]% of the profit."

"Yes, we actually hope that the director can handle the compensation issue in this way. So we can share the risk." Another producer Andrew Lane said so.In this way, the director's remuneration depends on the production quality of the film.It is very beneficial for the Atlantic to improve the quality of the film and prevent the director from being bad.

"Split?" Ronald couldn't help but think of a big legend in the film industry, "the profit share that can never be obtained."

"I'm going to talk to my lawyer about it."

After discussing with his personal lawyer Lindsay, Ronald made some changes to the terms of sharing, signed an agreement with Atlantic, and then got the preliminary preparation and filming funds.

If the filming of "Night of the Comet" is completed and released smoothly, Ronald's $20 director's remuneration will be paid first. After the break-even point is broken at the box office, his 500 investment will be automatically repaid. Finally, when the film's box office breaks through 20.00 More than [-], the profits of the movie will be distributed according to the ratio of [-]% to five.

"In this way, first of all, I can guarantee the return of my investment, and if there are any surprises, I can share some money." A few days later, Ronald introduced the arrangement to Cameron who came with the special effects model.

"Oh, you are also a producer who can get a profit share." Cameron put several zombie head models on the table, with disgusting wounds on the gray faces.

"It's not bad, it's the same color as the bad guy." Art director John Mutter has always wanted to make the main color of "Night of the Comet" a comic-like feeling. The good guy is a bright color, and the bad guy is a dark color. The subconscious knows their alignment as soon as they see it.

"These are the bad guys from the scientific research base. They were still human at the beginning, and they gradually rotted after being treated with the blood of healthy children." Cameron pointed to another batch of special effects models on the table.

"We can add some material to the wound." The special effects makeup artist also came to participate in the discussion.

In the preparatory office in the rented large warehouse, Ronald was very satisfied to see the progress of various preparatory work progressing smoothly.When preparing for the film, I think more about difficulties, just to save time and money for filming.It will cost money to find out that you can't finish the shot when you are shooting.

"The three protagonists are all dressed up, come and take a look, director." The costume department called him again.

Ronald saw Kelly Maroney, who played his sister Samantha, show off left and right in a cheerleading outfit.She played the cheerleading team in "Fast Pace", which can be described as familiar.

"Is it the blue one, or the red one?"

"The blue one, the blue one is more vivid, and the red one is a little darker. You make a set with the blue one, and Kelly has many scenes to wear this suit." Ronald ordered, wearing only one set for many shoots God, I'm afraid it will stink in the end.

Ronald then chose the costumes of Kevin Costner and Catherine Mary Stuart.

"Director, can you see this motorcycle stunt?" The stunt team Ronald is still looking for an old partner, who once defeated the award-winning stuntwoman Debbie Evans of the male stunt team.

"Okay, I don't need too difficult stunts, just show that the heroine Regina is a girl who loves machines."

"Ronald, let's take a look at this sketch of motion control photography." Jim Cameron came to Ronald again to discuss the shooting method for the special effects of the return of the comet at the beginning.

"Director, you're going to audition for several main supporting roles in the afternoon, including the heroine's stepmother, father, and the son brought by the stepmother. There's also the owner of the movie theater where the heroine works part-time."

"That stingy boss, leave it to Roger Coleman for a cameo, I've made a deal with him."

"Okay, let me mark it. There are also a few gangsters who fought in the shopping mall, and a few children who were captured by the base and used as antidote..."

Everything is proceeding in an orderly manner, just waiting for everything to be ready to start shooting.

(End of this chapter)