Exploiting Hollywood 1980.

Chapter 446
"Honey, I want to tell Jane what's going on between us. I love you, I've never felt that way, Susan."

"No, don't. I don't want to ruin your family, Jerry. I'm content to be with you all the time."

"In this way, for this 'Longwei Boy', I will appoint you as the on-site coordinator of the crew. When I am not on the crew, you must tell me everything that happened on the set."

"I will, it's like a dream to me, I never imagined, working for a man full of wisdom, or in the film industry."

Jerry Weintraub and secretary Susan Atkins returned to Los Angeles from their weekend getaway in Palm Springs.The two of them sweetly talked in the office and finalized the next work arrangement of "Kid Longwei".

"Mr. Weintraub, Ronald Lee and his agent, will call on you in the morning. Their appointment is coming up soon." Susan's secretary was replaced by the original front desk lady.She knocked on the door and came in to announce.

"When you arrive, invite them in."

After a while, Ronald and Nisita, who had just arrived at the office, were welcomed in by the secretary.

"Hi, Ronald," Weintraub, in good spirits after a relaxing weekend away, offered to hug Ronald.

"Honey, get some coffee." Weintraub turned to the red-haired Susan Atkins to prepare the coffee, and then kissed Susan on the mouth.

Ronald noticed all this, and he chatted with Weintraub about recent changes in the film industry.Susan brought three cups of coffee on a tray from the outside.

"Ronald, Rick," Susan quickly served coffee to the two guests, followed by sugar cubes and milk for them to mix themselves.

"Jerry," came the third glass, and Susan added a cube of sugar to the glass, stirred it with a spoon, and handed it to Weintraub.

"I came today to ask Mr. Weintraub about the progress of the project. I have several young actor friends, and another friend is an expert in karate and Huaguo martial arts. I would like to know if there is an opportunity to participate in the 'Dragon Williams' project."

Ronald used the excuse he had negotiated to make his own request, and inquired about the other party's progress by the way.

"In fact, you just need to call me for this kind of thing." Weintraub was very satisfied with Ronald's respect for himself, "I just appointed Susan as the on-site coordinator of the crew. Contact her directly for the first time. Auditions and jobs for your friends, she will arrange directly."

"Thank you, Mr. Weintraub. Thank you, Miss Akins." Ronald turned to look at Susan, an ordinary-looking secretary.

"So, how is the casting process going? When will the filming start?" Ronald looked away and continued to inquire about the news.

"We're a bit stuck in choosing the protagonist." Weintraub didn't shy away from Ronald, the screenwriter. "Evelson has his own ideas about Master Miyagi. In my opinion, this casting is definitely not good."

"Oh, who is it?" Ronald heard that Everson had already made a choice for Mr. Miyagi, and wanted to know who it was.

"It's that Arnold," Weintraub put down his coffee, "that Japanese-born actor who makes jokes in sitcoms, how can such a person play a karate master?"

"Which Arnold?" Ronald didn't know, so he looked at Nisita and shook his head when he saw him.

"It's the Japanese actor Pat Morita, who played the supporting role of Arnold in the sitcom 'Happy Days'." Susan Akins knew that Weintraub was referring to the character's name. Not the actor's name, explained next to it.

Seeing that Ronald still couldn't grasp his thoughts, Weintraub simply stood up, took a video tape and put it into the VCR.

A short Japanese actor with a shaved chin and a mustache appeared on the TV. He spoke very articulately and introduced himself to the camera.

"My name is Pat. Pat Morita. Previously played Arnold on the sitcom 'Happy Time'..."

"What do you think? Is he suitable to play Master Miyagi?"

Ronald thought for a while, "The appearance is not a big problem, and it fits the description in the script that the appearance is not amazing. But his lines are too American. Master Miyagi is a first-generation immigrant, it is impossible to have such a His fluent English level doesn't match the character's personality, I don't know if he can act..."

"That's right, that's the problem." Weintraub was delighted to hear that Ronald supported his idea.

"He's in a sitcom. Although Master Miyagi is humorous, he's not a clown? I don't know why Avelson insists on using him so much. But as long as I'm still the producer of this movie, I definitely won't Let him play it."

Weintraub started to talk, and talked to Ronald about a lot of preparations for the crew.Evelson recruited his old partner, director of photography, and assistant director for filming "Rocky" to the crew.

Several actors in the villain "Cobra" dojo who fought against the protagonist Danny have also been confirmed, and they are all the second generations of stars.

The most famous of these is Chad McQueen, the son of the late tough-guy actor Steve McQueen and his first wife.

However, Master Miyagi's dystocia made the two protagonists Danny and the main villain Ali's ex-boyfriend Johnny uncertain.Because they need to audition with Master Miyagi to determine whether there is a chemical reaction.

To be honest, Ronald didn't know why Evelson took a fancy to Pat Morita.However, experience tells him that the observation of directors is generally more reliable than that of producers, not to mention Evelson, who won the Oscar for Best Director.Maybe he saw something that he didn't see, the quality of Morita?

But this cannot be said directly to Weintraub. Ronald still remembers what Avelson himself said. To convince the producers, they must package their own ideas as their own.Although Evelson himself didn't handle it very well.

Ronald and Nisita got up to leave after chatting for a while. Weintraub and Evelson had some conflicts in casting, but the relationship between the two was quite harmonious, and the troubles did not reach the point where they could not cooperate.

For a Jewish tycoon like Weintraub, Nisita believes that the best strategy is to make him feel that you are not playing tricks to deceive him.Or simply play a bigger trick, and after deceiving him, he still thinks what you said makes sense, and cooperating with you is the right choice.So this time, Ronald didn't mention what he replaced.

The two returned to the CAA office with a little disappointment. This matter still needs to be discussed in the long run. Depending on the stalemate in casting, there may be a turning point in the future.

"Ring ring ring ring..."

The phone rang, and Nisita picked it up.

"Huh? Um...well, he's in Los Angeles, can..."

Nisita, who put down the phone, looked Ronald up, down, left, and right, "Since when did you and Ned Tanin become good friends?"

"Who? Ned Tannin?"

Ronald was also taken aback. He remembered that when he was filming "Fast-paced Richmond High School", he first made things difficult for himself, and then he fought to support himself because of office politics, and finally remained neutral when he voted. The former Global Vice President who resigned.

"No? I haven't seen him for a long time."

"Anyway, he called to invite you to visit his new office, and said he wanted to chat with you about the new film and listen to your opinions."

"What does he want from me?" Ronald was puzzled, "Is there any personnel change at Universal?"

The next day, Ronald and Nisita came to Universal Studios by appointment.

After Ned Tanin resigned from the position of Universal Vice President, he started his own production company. His office is still inside Universal Studios, a bungalow.It was those humble offices when Ronald filmed "Fast Pace".

Ned Tanin was very enthusiastic about Ronald and showed him around.

Ronald already knew the reason for Tanin's sudden enthusiasm for him.Universal announced yesterday that the new president in charge of the film department is the former president of Columbia, Frank Price.

Although he failed in the battle with the Coca-Cola Gang, he was kicked out of Columbia Films.But the level of Frank Price is well known in the industry.He was the only studio executive who read the script himself and could offer actual comments.

Sidney Sinberg, who secretly conspired with Spielberg and voted "ET Aliens" from Columbia, has been promoted to the CEO of the parent company MCA. He knows this old opponent very well.

Columbia's profit last year, just the 5.00% share of "ET Aliens" that Price negotiated, has exceeded the sum of all other films produced.So after Price left, he was immediately recruited to Universal as the president in charge of the film business.

As soon as Price took office, Ned Tannin was on the mend.Because of his production company, the distribution contracts for the upcoming films are all in the hands of Universal.

At Price, Tanin heard the name of Ronald Lee again.His new screenwriting work has been approved again in Columbia.Although I don't know who can make a blockbuster movie, Frank Price knows.

Tanin immediately got a call from CAA and got to know Ronald first. Even if the two of them had no chance to cooperate for the time being, he was a young director that President Price was optimistic about. It wouldn't hurt to approach him for some social activities.

"This is the office of the first director I signed, he, like you, was also a screenwriter, and he used to work as a creative copywriter in an advertising company.

I like his screenwriting talent, but he has never directed a movie independently. I dare not let him direct the movie he wants to direct, so I let him practice with another exploitation film that has more commercial potential. practice hands. "

Tanin pushed the door, "John, are you there?"

"Please come in" came a gentle voice from the office.

Ronald followed into the office and saw a fat screenwriter wearing a pair of large black-rimmed glasses. In his office, "Wham!'s hit song" was playing. People (Young Guns).

Seeing Tanin walking in, he quickly turned down the volume of the stereo.

"John, let me introduce you, this is Ronald, he is also a young genius. You must have seen the movie directed by him..."

"Hello, I'm Ronald, screenwriter and director." Ronald went up and shook hands with John.This person looks about ten years older than himself, but his demeanor, including playing pop music loudly in the office, is as young as himself.

"Hello," John straightened his glasses, "I'm John Hughes. I'm a film screenwriter, and this is my first time as a director."

(End of this chapter)