Exploiting Hollywood 1980.

Chapter 533 Ronald is the Key Person
"Ronald, have you read the Chicago Sun?" Weintraub called again, "I'll read it to you, Albert is saying good things about you throughout the article, and I gave you four stars out of [-] .”

"I'm reading," Ronald said without bothering Weintraub this time.He looked at the words of praise and Albert's admission that he had misunderstood his director's ability, and he felt very happy.

"Ding dong", after finishing the phone call, the agent Richard rang the doorbell.

"Are we going now?" Ronald changed into a new hand-stitched suit he'd found at Armani's tailor in Los Angeles.Italian cut, perfect fit.

Richard had switched to a larger Toyota Camry, and the two went to the headquarters of Twentieth Century Fox together.Today Ronald received a third offer from another studio that took the initiative to negotiate.

"We've come to see Mr. Noel Black. We have an appointment."

Noel Black is still in the meeting.Ronald and Richard had to wait at the door.

"Didn't you agree on this time?" Ronald was a little dissatisfied. Now he can be regarded as a successful director who can direct medium-sized productions. Even if you are a senior executive of the studio, it is impolite to be unpunctual.

"Ronald? Is that you? Ronald?"

There was another thick South African accent, and a cry of surprise came.

Ronald turned his head and saw that this wasn't the one he met when he was working for Roger Coleman, when he went to the Montreal Film Festival...it was the producer of "God Is Crazy", what is it called? ...

"Mia Toski", the other party saw Ronald's predicament and took the initiative to remind him of his name.

"Mia, it's been a long time. Why are you here this time?"

"God is also crazy and finally got permission to release in America on a large scale. This time we came to the top management of [-]th Century Fox, hoping they can give us more theaters. In any case, [-] theaters are not enough. of."

"That's really a little less." Ronald still remembered this unusual comedy, "What? The sanctions imposed on you by the American government?"

"Yes, it has loosened. Mandela of the ANC has been transferred from the poor conditions of Robben Island prison to the better conditions in Cape Town. The doctor is giving him a full medical examination. So, After we made a special application to the American Congress, we can finally put the film in America."

"That's great. When we're done talking, we'll find a place together today and we'll have a chat."

"It must be, we have traveled a lot in America, and it is rare to see Hollywood people who are so enthusiastic about helping us." Mia shook Ronald's hand and agreed.

……

"How about my script? I rewrote it according to my memory and experience when I was young. I cherish this memory very much and have always wanted to find an opportunity to shoot him."

Noel Black finally finished the meeting and summoned Ronald in his office.When he came up, he first handed the script of "Heart and Soul" to the other party.

"Written from memory," Ronald glanced at Blake, who was in his 40s, and thought to himself, "No wonder there is a musty smell, this is all high school experience in the 60s. Kissing in high school is already out of line? Driving a classic car Drag racing, and the prejudice that Latinos are bad guys, how can young people in the 80s see it now.”

"I know you are a screenwriter, I respect your opinion, and you can mention anything." Noel Black is eager to promote the film in a short time, so he is also a corporal to Ronald.

"Mr. Black's script is very exciting. I have to read it carefully before I can give a specific opinion. However, from the feeling of my simple reading, whether the age is a little old, those antique cars may not be understood by the current audience. .”

"No, Ronald, those are the beauties of my youth. Whoever owns one, it's easy to pick up girls."

It seems that he really likes his script.

"Then give the audience a little more ice cream, so that when the male protagonist is seduced by this girl, there will be some exposure shots.

"Wouldn't that be an R rating? I wish more people would see this movie, especially middle school kids."

"This is a trade-off, Mr. Black." Ronald felt that he had nothing to say. He was so obsessed with his own script, he might as well direct it himself.How can such an old script attract audiences without interesting scenes?
"Well, I'll think about it."

The words were not speculative, and the two of them couldn't continue talking after talking for a while.

"It seems that he is also a director who prioritizes business. Should I listen to him and make an R-rated film? Although this will have fewer audiences, it may be released for a longer time." Noel Black in Ronald After leaving, he began to think about something, "It's okay, let's go according to his opinion. If we don't hurry up and start filming this month, we will have long nights and dreams when the new president arrives."

Ronald found Mia Toski and his party, and they found a small restaurant together to eat and chat.

"So you guys have a deal with Fox?"

"No, they still insist on showing only [-] theaters." Mia shook her head. Hollywood has always been prejudiced against South African movies, thinking that such a small market cannot produce high-quality goods.

"Then what are you going to do?" Ronald felt that it would be a crime for such a high-quality movie not to meet more American audiences.

"We plan to let them go state by state." Mia Toski is worthy of being the daughter of the largest movie theater chain owner in South Africa. If it is willing to be screened on a large scale, it is mostly impossible to find other people.

"A state-by-state screening past?"

"Yeah, don't you know? Here in America, there's no law that stops a studio from going to the theaters to show it themselves. People go to distributors because they think they're cheaper. I'm crazy about 'God' I am very confident in my quality, as long as we let it go state by state, we will always be able to accumulate good income over the course of a year."

Ronald raised his glass to express his admiration for Mia.This kind of distribution is very laborious. The laws of showing are different in each state. They have to take hundreds of copies and cruise along America. If they are not very interested in developing the American market, they have no motivation. In this stupid way.

"Since you say that, it must not be an exclusive agreement with Fox. I know two small-scale distributors here. They may be interested in your film, but most of their distribution theaters are relatively poor second-tier... ..."

"It doesn't matter, Ronald, we are willing..." Mia stood up excitedly.

"Relax, since you are interested, I can call the two of them, and then we will make an appointment to watch a movie."

Ronald had Roger Coleman's Concorde and Minahan's Cannon on his mind.As long as one of the two of them is willing to distribute, they can still make a little money. In addition, they can participate in the domestic distribution market and have a deeper understanding of the film industry.

"That's right, I was so excited all of a sudden," Mia sat down, and finally found a suitable person to promote this matter.

The world's largest film market is technically very open, as long as someone is willing to watch your film, you can distribute it here.However, the atmosphere is very conservative. Both audiences and distributors are prejudiced against films made in small foreign markets.

Ronald has watched his own "God Is Crazy" again, and he still thinks it is good.Just now at Fox, he negotiated directly with Vice President Noel Black. Black still respects him in words and actions. He must be an important figure in Hollywood now.He was accompanied by the man next to him who looked like a broker in suits and leather shoes.

Mia's business acumen made her start to flatter Ronald intentionally or unintentionally.Ronald is the key person for "God Is Crazy" to enter the American market.

"Ronald, I didn't expect you to have realized your dream and shot four movies." Mia was greatly moved after learning about his recent situation.

"I know that all of you directors want to have good scripts and actors. Are you willing to use foreign scripts and actors?"

"Of course, as long as they pass the English test, I have nothing against it." Ronald affirmed Mia's thoughts, "Do you have anyone to introduce?"

"It depends on what you like. Those of us foreign filmmakers working hard in the Aramco market have a small circle, especially those like me who come from the southern hemisphere. We need to communicate with each other. We have a Small party, if you are interested, I will ask my assistant to pick you up...and your manager."

"That's great." Ronald thought, it would be nice to meet foreign filmmakers.

Richard next to him smiled and did not object.He took out his notebook and wrote down Ronald's itinerary.

"Do you think our movie can be popular here?" Mia started talking about the release of "God Is Crazy" again.

"I think it's really good, and it's a rare high-quality movie."

"I don't quite understand why Fox is not willing to release it on a large scale. They are not optimistic about this movie."

"Hmm..." Ronald recalled the episodes he had watched back then, "If you want to talk about concerns, maybe there are too many Afrikaans slang in this movie, and the American people will be a little civilized after hearing it. Some of the humor is lost because of the disconnect."

"We did run into this problem, and the only way to explain it was with subtitles during the screening."

"You have to worry about subtitles. Young people nowadays don't really like movies with subtitles." Richard interjected.

"That makes sense." Mia nodded.

"Have you considered re-dubbing it?" Ronald recalled watching "Breakdance" in his dream, which also spoke Chinese.

"Voice?"

"Yeah, find two local actors, rewrite the dialogue, and replace the voices of the South African actors."

"This is a good way", Mia suddenly understood, who said that English movies can't be re-dubbed?
After breaking up with Mia, Richard drove Ronald back again.

"Ronald, when you went into the office to talk, I thought I saw Barry Diller."

"Who?" Ronald was thinking about something, but couldn't hear clearly.

"Barry Diller, chairman and CEO of Paramount. I saw him in the [-]th Century Fox office."

"Huh?" Ronald glanced at Richard, "Are you sure?"

"I'm sure. I have photos of the top seven executives. I'm afraid I'll miss the opportunity if I don't recognize them. I'll report to CAA tomorrow."

(End of this chapter)