Exploiting Hollywood 1980.

Chapter 412 Karate Martial Arts

Jerry Weintraub (Jerry Weintraub) is a Jew, he was born in poverty, relying on daring to think and do, he called Elvis' agent day after day for more than a year, and finally persuaded Elvis to leave He came back from retirement, held a national tour, and earned his first pot of gold.

He later became the tour promoter of Frank Sinatra, the boss of the famous "Rat Pack" in Hollywood, and the tour promoter of Bob Dylan (Bob Dylan). In addition to the Carpenter Band, The Beach Boys, etc. do the organization and planning of large-scale concerts.

In addition, he is also the manager of the famous singer John Denver.But his most famous single management business is his wife Jane Morgan (Jane Morgan).

The famous songstress is 13 years his senior and the pair rolled in bed two hours after meeting Jerry Weintraub for the first time.Soon Jane Morgan divorced her husband and married Weintraub.

This is Jerry Weintraub, a shrewd, greedy, street smart, friendly Jewish businessman with many friends.

Ronald came to Jerry Weintraub's mansion in Beverly Hills.The huge living room has floor-to-ceiling windows on one side, allowing you to have a bird's-eye view of the mountains. The custom-made leather sofa is very large. Sitting on it is Jerry Weintraub, a tall man with a typical Jewish big nose and a shrewd face. look.

"Honey, I won't bother you to talk about business." Jane Morgan got up from the sofa and went to another room.

"Mr. Weintraub, I don't know what story you want me to write through Mr. Frank Price?"

"It seems that Frank didn't lie to me. You are indeed a talented and capable young man." Jerry Weintraub stood up and shook hands with him.Growing up in the Bronx, New York, he has an extraordinary intuition, no matter who he is, as long as he meets him, he can quickly tell whether it is a friend or an enemy. This intuition has allowed him to survive the ups and downs, Become a music tycoon.

"I was once credited with the film 'Nashville' directed by Altman, but I really stepped into the film industry and made a film, 'Diner' which was released last year. It had a budget of 500 million and finally got 400 [-] million box office results.

At the beginning, the distributors were not optimistic about the movie, and even fell asleep while watching it. I threatened them to buy the movie and distribute it themselves, so they started to pay attention to it, and finally made a lot of money.

This made me very interested in the film industry. I think many Hollywood producers have lost their judgment on audience tastes and trends, so I want to try it out. "

Ronald listened quietly, Weintraub is obviously a person with a very large ego, and any conversation must be led by him.Especially in the face of a young director like Ronald, in his opinion, he might as well understand the mysteries of movies.If it wasn't because I don't know how to write movie scripts, I need an expert to do it...

"Frank recommended you to me. I also checked your resume. You participated in the recent 'Lightning Dance'. I am very satisfied. Because the story I want to shoot is also an adaptation of a true story that was published in the newspaper."

"Help me." Jerry Weintraub handed the wine glass to Ronald, then got up and searched on the huge desk for a while, and took out a copy of a newspaper.

"I've been paying attention to the news, there's a great opportunity out there. This story caught my eye the day my wife and I went to see 'Lightning Dance.'" Weintraub handed the copy to Ronald.

Ronald took the look, and it was the story of a kid on his block who was constantly being beaten up by gangster bullies.After begging his mother, who is a single mother, he went to Karate training.

After a long-term training by a Japanese instructor, he has the ability to fight in actual combat.He eventually won the local karate competition.Because of the ability to defend himself, the gangster who beat him took the initiative to apologize, and no one dared to bully him anymore.

"My biggest feeling about learning karate is that once I learn how to protect myself, I don't need to use karate to hit others in my life. Martial arts are not for bullying others, but for self-defense." At the end of the interview, the child said, Said such a passage.

"Do you think it's possible to expand this little martial arts story into a movie script?" Jerry Weintraub stared into Ronald's eyes and asked something wrong.

"I'm afraid I'm still a little thin, and I need to add different elements, Mr. Weintraub", Ronald said, "The core of the story here is actually a weak boy who defeated the enemy and himself through martial arts training. It’s our favorite story in America.”

In the context of America, Karate is not only Japan's karate, but Chinese Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do can also be included in the category of Karate, as long as it does not use weapons, karate skills are considered.So in fact, the scope of this word can be expanded to all karate martial arts.

"However, this story alone is not easy to impress the audience and develop characters. I think since a young man must have a romance. Martial arts kill two birds with one stone here, helping him defeat bullies and win the favor of beauties. "

Ronald simply took out his pen and drew a schematic diagram on the back of the copy.

"And in this karate dojo, there is also a need for a mentor to teach this young man, who is the role of a master. Coupled with some villains that need to be defeated, a stable story can be formed."

Ronald certainly didn't want to make R-rated exploitation films all his life, so he kept watching classic Hollywood movies, especially learning the works of screenwriter master Billy Wilder.He also figured out a little way for himself, so that he could speak convincingly in front of Jerry Weintraub.

"You know what? You just convinced me that I would like to hire you to help me write the script of this movie." Jerry Weintraub respects people with professional ability. Hand it over to someone more capable.Hearing what Ronald said, although I didn't quite understand it, it was clear that Ronald knew how to write scripts.

"Thank you for your trust, Mr. Weintraub." Ronald was very happy, and ate another 20 dollars.

"Call me Jerry, Ronald. Would you like some brandy too?" Jerry Weintraub was very happy after confirming the screenwriter candidate through an interview, and took out another cup and poured Ronald a cup.

"It's the first time I planned a movie from a story. Before, someone else came to me with the script. Do you need any help? You can mention it."

"I figured I'd need some upfront money and I could do some research. I wrestled in high school myself, and I know a little bit of Huaguo wrestling, which is an ancient craft as well.

In addition, karate once flourished in America in the 70s, but with the death of Bruce Lee, it gradually declined.I will find some friends who know karate and study the moves carefully.

You know that this kind of kung fu movie is actually the same as a musical, you have to design good-looking movements in advance to make the movie good.Some moves are useful, but they don't look good on camera.And some moves have no real effect, but they are very visual in front of the camera. "

"I listen to you. Let your agent come and talk to me about signing the contract."

The two clinked glasses.

"Do you know why I like this story? Because I admire Dongying people very much. Their management ability and hard-working spirit are very remarkable, just like the skill of karate, which is fast, direct and powerful." Jerry Weintraw Bu put down his wine glass and slapped him twice like Bruce Lee.

"Actually, karate did not originate in Japan, but a kind of karate martial art in Ryukyu. And this kind of martial art was passed down from Huaguo." Ronald had played several times in a karate gym in Los Angeles before, and chatted with the coach Learned a lot about the history and techniques of karate.

By the way, that coach is no longer in that gym. Try to find a way to talk to him, maybe you can learn more details.What's his name, I have to go back and look for a business card.

"Very good, this is the plot I want to see in a movie, historical, ancient, mysterious, and a hit." The more Jerry Weintraub talked, the happier he was.

"But now we still have to let this master be from Dongying. Now when American people talk about Dongying, they are amazing, admiring, and afraid. We have to use this emotion to set him as Dongying. This is plausible."

"Jerry, you may not know that Ryukyu is the ancient name of Okinawa (Okinawa). We just let the master be born there, which is also in line with the historical facts of karate."

"Very good," Jerry Weintraub gulped down the brandy.

Ronald, who returned home, began to rummage through the business cards he had accumulated over the years.Finally, in the corner of a shoe box, I found Darryl Vidal, the karate coach who had once sparred with me.

"Do me a favor, Richard, find this guy. He's a karate instructor. He used to have a gym in Venice Beach, Los Angeles, but he moved away a few years ago. Maybe he can learn about him from the Karate Association. information."

Ronald went to CAA and handed over the job of tracing to the agent Richard.

Nisita has already signed the contract and a check for [-] US dollars in advance.

Ronald took it after thanking him.

"Do you know who wrote the script of First Blood 2?" Nisita asked with a smile.

"Who?"

"Your friend Jim Cameron. Stallone heard about his robot screenplay fame and thought of him."

"Hahaha, just right, he is short of money, I'll give him a call."

……

Jim Cameron originally received the screenwriting business of the "Alien" sequel script, and his own "Terminator" needs to be constantly revised and improved, and he is too busy at home.Now the character from the third script is also here, and now he is even busier.

Now he puts the three scripts in different locations, and then sets the time. Each script is allocated four hours a day, and then he breaks down the writing and revision of the script. Every time the time comes, he changes the location to continue writing.

"Jim, I brought you something." Ronald handed Cameron a book he had written.

"What is this?" Gail helped to take it.

"When I wrote First Blood 2, I wrote some plots and ideas. You can use it if you see it."

"Oh, I don't know how to thank you, I was already very busy, and now I have another one."

"You don't take a break either."

"Hey, I have to support my family, and Sarah has agreed to divorce me, and I have to pay alimony." Jim whispered.

"Then you can use it to your advantage. Anyway, Stallone also fell out with me. Just don't let him know that it was my idea."

"then you?"

"Me? Don't worry, I've got another job."

(End of this chapter)