Exploiting Hollywood 1980.

Chapter 523 Sell Breakdancing to the Eastern Camp
The overseas sales of "Breakdance" are very good, and Minahan happily treats Ronald to a big meal.

Remembering Natasha Kinski's plea, Ronald asked Minahan what he thought of "Maria's Lovers."

"I didn't have a strong preference for the release of this movie. If the price is right, I'll buy it. If the asking price is too high, I won't. But your movie made us a lot of money, and my priorities have changed."

Minahan picked up a white napkin and wiped his mouth, "If Cannon can gain a foothold in Hollywood, low-cost exploitation films alone will have no future. So I hope to sign some famous directors and let them make films for Cannon.

In the golden age of Hollywood, directors and stars signed long-term contracts with studios.The studio is their home, and they only make films for the studio.If we can have such one or two famous directors who sign long-term contracts, stars will be attracted to come to small and medium-sized companies like Cannon to make films. "

Ronald understood what Minahan meant. To a certain extent, his strategy was a bit like CAA's. They both signed scriptwriters and directors to attract stars to join them.With stars, there is an opportunity to expand the company's scale.Otherwise, if you keep shooting 200 million low-cost productions, you will never have a chance to be among the top seven.

"So, I'm not buying 'Maria's Lovers' because of Natasha Kinski, but because of the director, Konchalowski, who is going to bring us an Oscar nomination."

"It seems that Kinski is not yet a qualified star in his eyes. Although he can win at the European Film Festival, no audience in Hollywood is willing to go to the cinema just to see her." Ronald thought.

"Do you think her new film has a chance to win the Palme d'Or?" Ronald knew that "Paris, Texas" was a favorite of this year's awards.If it can win an award, the commercial value of "Maria's Lovers", also starring Kinski, may be higher.

Ronald tried his best to learn from Minahan, and he still had a lot to learn in terms of film business operations.

"Maybe." Minahan was in a good mood. "The chairman of the jury this year is a British citizen. The judges include Stanley Donen, a senior American director, and Vadim You, a famous photographer from the Souvier League. Su Fu.

So I think the grand prize will not go to John Huston, who is still filming in America in his 70s. Although "Texas, Paris" was filmed in America, the director and filming company are both from West Germany.Those in the Eastern camp were less likely to backlash when choosing them among several hit films. "

But European film awards have little to do with American box office. "

Ronald agrees with this point. Most American people have a kind of son of heaven complex, and everything is the best in America.

"Let your friend Kinski come. I'll give her a better deal. We just need more directors who are willing to sign long-term contracts with us." After finishing speaking, Minahan looked straight at Ronald.

"I'll tell him." Ronald smiled. It's impossible for him to sign a long-term contract with Minahan. A company with appeal.

Natasha Kinski was pleasantly surprised to receive a call from Ronald and immediately invited Ronald and Minahan to attend the premiere of "Paris, Texas".

"Paris, Texas" is directed by Wim Wenders, a tall, lanky West German who looks a bit shy.

He was a key figure in the New German Film movement in West Germany.This is a funding project funded by the West German government to support film production in the 70s in order to expand its cultural influence.At that time, a generation of stars represented by Natasha Kinski's father Klaus Kinski was also promoted.

However, this kind of government-funded project cannot produce many blockbuster films, and leaving the market is only a tool for the director's self-realization and awards.The New German Film Movement quickly withered, and Wim Wenders had to borrow money and space from Hollywood to make his new films.

"Congratulations, you made a great movie," Ronald complimented Wim Wenders after watching the premiere.

how to say?This movie is indeed very well shot, the actors' performances are precise, and the emotional expression and narrative are very good.But this can only be understood by audiences who have similar life experiences to the protagonist.

After all, it is not an eternal story of revenge, love, and defeating an opponent for thousands of years, but a story of a frustrated middle-aged man looking for memories of the past.

Soon the guests at the scene came up one after another to congratulate the director and the leading actors.Ronald quietly left the main creative team, and he went back with Minahan.

"So East Germany also succumbed to the pressure of the Sowell League and participated in the boycott of the Los Angeles Olympics? Didn't you ruin the hard work of the athletes for four years for political purposes?"

"You can't say that. It was you American people who first made the boycott in the last session. We can say that it was just an eye for an eye."

"But your late former General Secretary Yuri took a positive attitude towards participating. We have prepared the Olympic Village for you in Los Angeles, and there will also be a documentary filming team to follow the shooting of athletes from various countries."

"Old friends you know, we are now the new General Secretary Constantine."

A voice of conversation drifted into Ronald's ears.

He felt that the English with a Russian accent was a little familiar, so he took a closer look, huh?
"Mr. Counselor, I didn't expect us to meet here."

It turned out that the person who spoke was the Cultural Counselor of the Sowell Union who sat with Ronald when he received the Oscar's best theme song lyrics award.

"Aha, Ronald, I didn't expect to see you here. Let me introduce you. This is your Hollywood mastermind, the number one cultural enemy of our alliance, Mr. Jack Valenti, chairman of the American Film Association."

"Hello, Mr. Valenti," Ronald also recognized this Mr. Chairman who often spoke at the Oscars.

"Hello, I've heard of you." Jack Valenti shook Ronald's hand enthusiastically, "Your address is a bit wrong, Mr. Counselor has been transferred back to China, and now he is working as a commissioner in the Film Bureau of the Alliance. "

"Congratulations, Mr. Commissioner."

"It's nothing, I just came to accompany Mr. Yusuf, a member of the jury, as a matter of routine."

Hmm... Ronald understood the implication. Konchalovsky of "Maria's Lovers" defected to the country of hair under the pretext of making a new film. This kind of thing happened many times in the early 80s.

The general secretary has tightened the policy, and for this kind of honorary position as a jury member of the Cannes Film Festival, a trustworthy official must be sent to accompany the artist.Yusuf is an ethnic minority in the alliance. He has been working with Tarkovsky as a photographer for a long time, and has been abroad for competitions all the year round, so the higher authorities are not very relieved.

"What do you think? Do you think the league should boycott the Los Angeles Olympics this time?" Jack Valenti looked at Ronald with great interest, wanting to hear the young director's views on the issues they were arguing about.

"Me? I think we should come here. Without athletes from the league and the Eastern camp, then the competition would not be at the highest level." Ronald answered decisively. For example, gymnastics, without the entire Eastern camp and Romania, wouldn't it be just Have you seen America?
"Hahaha", Jack Valenti was very satisfied with this answer and glanced at Mr. Commissioner.

"Not all the eastern camps participated in the boycott, some countries chose to participate, such as Huaguo." Mr. Commissioner did not choose to continue arguing about this kind of matter, but stated the facts.

"Oh?" Ronald was refreshed when he heard the unexpected news, thinking that the Olympic Games will be in summer soon?At that time, you can go to see the performance of the athletes from the motherland in your previous life.

"In the future, when we return to Los Angeles, we can come and participate in the exchange activities of our Film Association." Jack Valenti felt that Ronald's thinking was in line with the mainstream values ​​of America, advocating freedom and competition.He was invited to participate in more association activities in the future.

"Mr. Commissioner, I also brought a film I directed to Cannes this time. I would like to ask for advice. Is there a chance to sell it to the league?"

"Hahaha", Mr. Commissioner was amused by Ronald's typical American mercenary attitude.

"To be precise, we do import a small number of American films, but they all require censorship and are in line with the country's values. And generally only pay a buyout price."

"Oh..." Ronald was a little disappointed. It seemed that it was not so easy to sell the film to the Eastern camp. In their view, "Breakdance" might be some kind of capitalist dance?

"If you really want to..." Mr. Commissioner drew out his tone.

"Hey, I forgot to introduce. That fat man is the producer of the movie. I wonder if it is possible to invite Mr. Commissioner to dinner?" Ronald understood the other party's hint, and quickly called the person who was negotiating with Kinski. Minahan, let's invite the commissioner to the best Chinese restaurant for dinner.

"Hmm..." The commissioner scooped up a spoonful of high-quality Black Sea caviar, "Did you know? This is a specialty of our Black Sea. Our country's annual export volume is very limited, but it can be bought in any high-end restaurant in the country. Eat it normally."

The commissioner said something that had nothing to do with the movie deal.

"Is this because of smuggling?" Ronald asked tentatively.

"Yes, truckloads of caviar, crude oil, and all kinds of special products of Mother Goose Ross were transported to East Germany by train and army, and then transferred to West Berlin through various unknown underground channels, and even you in the United States. .and when they return, they bring cheap televisions, refrigerators, washing machines, and... copies of movies."

"I think Mr. Commissioner must need the latest Japanese large-screen TV and VCR to study literature and art." Ronald asked.

"And your wife also needs some perfumes from China and Italian bags. They are good materials for studying literature and art," Minahan immediately received.

"Thank you for your kindness. I say this to remind you that although our camp cannot freely import Hollywood movies, good movies released in West Berlin will appear in East German movie theaters in a month, and then continue to spread to other countries. Proliferation in Eastern European countries.”

It turned out to be the case.

No wonder the West German publisher delayed making a decision.Their purchased copies will not only be screened in their own countries, but will also be supplied to the entire Eastern European region through underground channels.In this case, they have to look at the acceptance of the two films "Breakdance" and "Hot Street Boy" in East Germany before making a decision.

"I don't know what principles are used to select movies in East Germany?" Ronald asked Mr. Commissioner again.Minahan snapped his fingers, called the waiter, and added two bottles of brandy to Mr. Commissioner for him to take home to taste.

"Hehehe, as you know, East Germany is also called a satellite country of the Soviet Union by you Americans. In terms of movies, the attitude of our alliance can also appropriately affect their preferences for movies."

"Then I would like to ask Mr. Commissioner to give you some kind words."

Mr. Commissioner received two bottles of brandy and was very satisfied when he saw the words "XO" on them.Ronald is his old acquaintance, and he was promoted and returned to China because Ronald chose "Moscow Doesn't Believe in Tears" to win an Oscar.

Doing a little business with such an old friend will not be dangerous, and this kid and that fat producer are very good.

So he spoke up, "No, you should let me criticize severely."

"Why?" Ronald and Minahan looked at each other, confirming that the commissioner was not joking.

"Have you ever heard a saying that the more prohibited something is, the more widespread it will be spread?"

"Oh..." Ronald understood. In the eastern camp, the more they are not allowed to release, the more the audience wants to see what is not allowed in it.

"I think 'Hot Street Boy' does a good job of exposing the exploitation of American capitalism and racial discrimination. The black people in the slums are forced to dance on the street. This is the work of American realism.

And the "Breakdance" with the same theme has done too much beautification of their poor life.Blacks and Latinos can work in supermarkets, and they can afford tape recorders, and they can afford the kind of chemical fiber clothing that only the rich can afford, and the kind of ankle boots that only ballet majors can afford.

We don't like this glorified work. "

The next day, when interviewed by the media, the commissioner of the Sowell Union Film Bureau also commented on the Hollywood films exhibited at the Cannes Film Festival, and praised Orion's film strongly.

"Happy cooperation! Hans!"

Minahan happily signed a high-value copy number buyout agreement with a local German importer, which is enough to supply the entire Eastern Europe in addition to West Germany.Now copies of "Breakdance" could be distributed to underground theaters in Eastern Europe, as far as Moscow and Leningrad.

On the other hand, Minahan also happily offered a higher price, buying "Maria's Lovers" filmed by the defected director Andrei Konchalovsky, and prepared to make persistent efforts. on the competition.

This is their first battle to establish their artistic reputation and attract more directors to make movies.

(End of this chapter)