Exploiting Hollywood 1980.

Chapter 389

"Cyndi Lauper (Cyndi Lauper), a female singer born in [-], was the lead singer of the Blue Angels before. After the Blue Angels disbanded, Portrait Records just signed her and is planning to release her solo album this year. The first album 'She's So Different'.

After receiving your inquiry, I am very surprised.My client's song has not hit the radio charts, nor has it been officially released, why do you know? "

Elliott Hoffman, a half-bald lawyer in a handmade suit, talks to Ronald about the licensing of "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" at a coffee shop .

Wearing a pair of old-fashioned round glasses, with two mustaches on his lips, he gracefully took a sip from his coffee cup.

"I heard it from Michael Jackson's backup dancer, and I thought it would fit a scene in one of my movies, Mr. Hoffman. It's two young girls trying their best in a department store. Wearing all kinds of high-end women's clothes...doesn't it fit the song well?"

"That makes sense. MJ's company is Epic Records, and my client Cindy's company is Portrait Records, a subsidiary of Epic Records. I represent my client and come to talk to you about the authorization."

Lawyer Hoffman's beard is very similar to the protagonist "Polo" in the detective novel, and it is also the style with sharp corners on both sides. When drinking coffee, he must be very careful not to let the coffee get wet on his beard.

"Polo" Hoffman wrote a number on a piece of paper and pushed it across the table, "This is our offer."

Nisita, the agent sitting next to Ronald, helped pick up the note from the table, frowned, and handed it to Ronald.

Then he helped Ronald negotiate the price, "This figure is too high. Generally speaking, the total price of episodes and soundtracks will not exceed [-]% of the total filming budget. Your price, my client will certainly Can't take it. I think we'll just have to find other songs."

Hoffman stroked his beard and didn't speak. .

Ronald saw him sneaking a sideways glance at himself, knowing that the other party actually wanted to sell, he thought for a while and said, "Mr. Hoffman, this movie of mine is a small production, but I really want to use this song The song is used as an interlude.

I really can't afford this price, but I think the release of my movie will also play a role in promoting Cindy's new song in the future.I once wrote lyrics for the theme song and episode of "Fame", and I know very well that after the promotion of the movie, the sales promotion effect of the song is very strong. This is a win-win thing. "

"You're right, it's a win-win situation. But Cindy's new song will also have a marketing effect on the movie's release, so the promotion you said is actually two-way." Hoffman responded.

"I don't deny that you are right, so we should unite and cooperate with the time when the movie is released and the song hits the charts, so that both the single and the movie can benefit from it." Ronald continued to lobby the other party to reduce the price.

"You know, Mr. Young Director. In the past year, the most important exposure of many singles has been transferred from the radio to the TV, especially the 24-hour music TV like MTV.

And I did some research, and you directed the first sensational MV 'The Magical Stains' with a plot. "

Speaking of this, Hoffman stopped talking, and looked at Ronald with piercing eyes through the small round lenses.

"Mr. Hoffman, you might as well make your words clearer. Is there anything I can do for you?"

"In this way, if you can direct a music video for this new song by Cindy Lauper, this song can be licensed to the film for free, and then I will persuade Portrait Records to make the marketing of the single and the film work together. , played in large quantities in the same schedule, to achieve better results for both parties.”

"Please let me discuss it with my agent."

Ronald and Nisita avoided Hoffman and whispered to each other.

Nisita said, "My client can provide you with directing services in exchange for licensing the song. We need to see the budget of the shooting, the script, and then draw up a contract."

"It's not just directing, it's editing. It's finally a MTV video that can be played on MTV."

"Acceptable." Nisita and Ronald discussed a few more words and agreed to the request.Anyway, the shooting of the MV is relatively simple, so Ronald decided to change his mind and shoot a short video.

"Plus the choice of script and actors."

"You must be joking, Mr. Hoffman. I'd rather go straight to the record company and buy the license."

Ronald was angry, because he was sure that he wanted this song, and he was desperately trying to squeeze the wool.Movie episodes can be icing on the cake, but the quality itself is fundamental.Otherwise, why write a script, take a song and shoot a 10-minute MV and it will be a blockbuster?
Simply change the song, or try to find a new singer, buy the copyright of the cover song and sing it again, so as to draw a salary from the bottom of the pot.

Hoffman saw Ronald standing up and making a gesture to leave, so he quickly pressed Ronald's hand with one hand.

"Wait, Mr. Director."

"In this way, I will arrange for you to meet with Cindy. She is not easy, and I have no way to propose this method. I hope to give her some career help. This girl only needs one chance."

"Well, Mr. Hoffman, I hope we can all be honest. If you have any ideas, you can discuss them and stop making such excessive demands."

Hoffman waved his hand, indicating that he would not ask for extravagant prices anymore, and he told Ronald about the situation of Cindy Lauper.

It turns out that this female singer has been out for a long time, but she has been imitating other famous singers to sing, or hang out in the band.She has been rebellious since she was a child. Her mother is Italian. After her parents divorced, she couldn't stand the domestic violence of her stepfather, so she ran away from home before finishing high school.Has been supporting himself by singing in bars and clubs everywhere.

Hoffman became Cindy Lauper's lawyer after she left the band to go solo and sign to Portrait Records.After seeing it a few times, I was conquered by her unique and high-pitched voice, and decided that she would become a singer.Decided to invest in her and bet on her future.

The record company didn't pay too much attention to Cindy Lauper, and only gave a total shooting budget of [-] US dollars.For that amount of money, you can probably find some random director, have Cindy Lauper dance and lip-sync indoors, and call it a day.

In order to gain greater exposure for this single, Hoffman even used his own personal resources, found the producer of the comedy talk show "Saturday Night Live (SNL)" who was also his client, and rented it for free. The shooting and editing equipment is used for MV shooting.

Later, he heard that Ronald came to talk about copyright. After a little understanding, he knew that Ronald Lee was the director who created the trend of MVs with plots. Nader's service.

Only then did the two parties meet and negotiate.Hoffman wanted to do the same thing again, and fought for Ronald to direct the MV of this song for free.

It's just that Ronald agreed so readily, Lawyer Hoffman's occupational disease broke out, and he wanted to extract more value, which annoyed Ronald.

"How about this, I can provide director and editing services, and other actors, equipment, and staff are all handled by you. I also require you to be present during the filming, so that if there is a shortage of resources, you can handle them on the spot. This is my final bid."

Ronald felt that he could use his personal ability in exchange for authorization, so that he could squeeze out a little money and make the special effects part better. Although he was a bit at a disadvantage, for the final effect of the movie, he didn't care about these small things. billed.

"That's great, I'm going to call Cindy and tell her the good news."

"where is she?"

"She's in New York."

"Huh? Then I have to go to New York to shoot?"

"You promised, Ronald. Besides, Cindy Lauper wrote her creative idea for the music video, which happened in New York." Hoffman paid for the coffee and pulled some coins out of his wallet. Do tip.

"It's okay, I'll just go back to New York during my two-week vacation." Ronald turned to Nisita and said, "Please help me discuss the details with Mr. Hoffman, two days of shooting, plus editing, I take final responsibility for art."

A few days later, Ronald, who signed on to film the "Girls Just Want to Have Some Fun" MV, returned to his hometown of New York.

Hoffman had already returned to New York in advance, and he sent a luxury car to pick up Ronald at the airport to talk to Cindy Lauper about the shooting of the MV.

Arriving at Hoffman's office, Ronald finally met Cindy Lauper, the lead singer of the song.

Cindy Lauper is not tall, but she can definitely be recognized at a glance in the crowd.The flaming red and orange hair, like a rooster's tail feathers, grows in a mess, but it looks very lively.

And the clothes she was wearing were also very gorgeous and weird, which made Ronald feel that what she was wearing was not clothes, but an impressionist painting.

"Miss Lauper, this is Ronald."

"Just call me Cindy, Cindi, not Cindy"

Cindy Lauper herself is not as neurotic as she looks.She has been singing in bars since she was a child, so she can deal with all kinds of people easily.

In front of Ronald, she also put away the carefully crafted image of a weirdo, but revealed the essence of a singer. In fact, she is quite a smart person.

"I heard from Mr. Hoffman that you have some creative ideas for your MV?"

"Yes, Ronald. This song was actually written by a male singer in [-]. It's what men say to women. After I took over, I re-edited the lyrics and changed it from a girl's point of view. Girls They should absolutely be the same as men, and they should enjoy all the opportunities that men can enjoy."

"So, this is a kind of teasing and shouting from a girl about the less opportunities for women in society?" Ronald re-read the lyrics, and it is true that the creator's own ideas are more accurate.

"Yes, you see, they are also high school students. If a boy comes home late, the parents will not say anything, but if the girl comes home late, the parents will be very anxious, and even scold them and ground them..."

"Isn't this because New York is a dangerous place? The law and order is so poor, which responsible parent is not careful?" Ronald complained about the other party's strange angle in his heart.

"But for this song, the girl coming home late, or staying out all night, driving her parents crazy is indeed a good angle to cut into the story."

(End of this chapter)