Exploiting Hollywood 1980.

Chapter 572 Chapter 2 Fishing Ronald
"Tom Cruise hopes to see the complete script before considering whether to act." Jerry Bruckheimer got a response from Tom Cruise in London.

"Damn it, this movie is an aerial version of a cowboy western, what do you need a complete script for?" Don Simpson totally disagrees that a movie requires a script.

"The script that Guber made before is very complete, but can it be used? Who will read the story of the aerial photographer? The actor's job must be cool, and he is shooting fighter jets. Why not a story about fighter pilots? ?”

Don Simpson's role in the duo is the one who pursues his dreams and thinks of great ideas.In his opinion, as long as a movie has a male lead, a fighter, a beautiful woman, and some heads-up, where the hero kills the bad guy, that's enough.

"There is nothing wrong with that, but we must get a leading star. Since Tom Cruise requested, we must either satisfy him or choose someone else."

In the duo, Bruckheimer is the more practical one.How Simpson's good ideas turned into feasible projects, how to sign stars, and how to get the studio to agree to invest money, were all implemented by him down-to-earth.

"Which backup plan do we have? That Matthew Modine that Eisner was talking about?" Simpson asked.

"Him? He can't. I read the records at the time, and he said that this movie was too supportive of the military, and he was going to act in an anti-war movie."

"Anti-war, anti-my ass..." Don Simpson swears, this kind of actor still wants to play the male lead in a big commercial production?

"That leaves the clichés, Emilio Estevez, he's hot right now. Matthew Brodick, whose father just passed away, he can go back to the movies. And then there's Tom Hanks is also very handsome..."

"Hormones, hormones!" Don Simpson yelled, and we wanted a leading man full of hormones.

"Sean Penn? Or Van Kilmer?" Bruckheimer thought of two more.

"Not handsome enough." Don Simpson thought of something else, "Where is the director? How did Ronald go to the East Coast? I remember that he has a good relationship with Tom Cruise. If he is signed as the director, he can persuade Cruise has a better grasp."

"Yes, he is still a very good screenwriter, we can pull him together to perfect the script."

"Well, good. We always have to sign one first, and then use his name to sign others. The manager of Cruise protects him like a little cock. This time his salary, it is estimated It can’t be lower than 80.”

The pair made a new offer to Paula Wagner.Word came back that Tom Cruise was interested in the story itself.Ronald Lee would have been more interested if the producers had hired the director.

"This Paula is really annoying. She always refuses to give us a definite Yes."

"Why did he specifically add the condition of naming Ronald? Do you know?" Bruckheimer keenly felt that there seemed to be a story in it.

"I don't know. Let's go to New York. It seems that this time we have to start with the director's contract."

"Okay, I understand, I will stick to Tom Cruise as the leading actor. To be honest, this movie is the most suitable for him. Without the arrangement of CAA, he is also my first choice."

"Very good, I'm going to make this fighter movie the first packaged project between Paula and me, and we will get all the main creators." Nisita learned that Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer After going to New York, I quickly called Ronald to discuss the caliber of both sides.

"When are you going back to Los Angeles?"

"I'm going to stay here for a while. Jane Fonda is asking me to talk about business. She's coming to visit my factory."

After hanging up the phone, Ronald took his fishing rod and ran to fish in the small river in the town of Tottville at the southern tip of Staten Island.

Business matters are sometimes like fishing. Don't disturb the big fish by moving around, just wait quietly in the right place.

Ronald received a call from Jane Fonda by accident the day before yesterday.I haven't seen her for a few years. Instead of maintaining high-frequency filming, the female star ended her and her partner's studio and signed a long-term exclusive contract with Warner.Her current attitude towards filming is based entirely on interest.

And the confidence that she can do this is that Jane Fonda has received huge income from fitness videos.Since 59.95, her videotape priced at $41 has occupied the first place in the sales list for 75 weeks and the second place for [-] weeks.

Compared with the low production cost, Jane Fonda can get a lot of money from the copyright and sales revenue.The producer of the TV series "Dallas" also bought out her original video producer for US$300 million and took over the production and distribution, which brought the sales to a higher level.

Jane Fonda had money to support her beloved California Donkey Party cause and opened an aerobics center in Beverly Hills, Hollywood.The sideline also includes selling peripheral products for video tapes, the largest of which is the RTKD leg warmer produced by Ronald.

This time she came to Staten Island to inspect the operation of the factory. She hoped to invest in the purchase of Ronald's entire leg warmer business and completely incorporate it into her own fitness industry empire.

Aunt Karen was very happy to meet Jane, and she really hoped that Ronald would make the past script into a movie and let Jane Fonda play the veteran's wife again, this time her role would be very loyal to the veteran, completely in line with traditional values kind of.

Jane Fonda has somewhat forgotten the content of the script written by Ronald. She met the manager of the factory, and Ronald’s aunt is her fan. She also felt very happy. The idea has been made to buy the whole factory.

Ronald and Jane Fonda were only responsible for hammering out two important details.Whether the original employees will continue to work in the factory, and how much the original shareholders can share.

"All employees can continue to work in the factory. However, I will move the factory to Southern California, which is closer to Hollywood, within two years. I can accept the families of employees who are willing to move. They are all rare and familiar.

As for the purchase price, after Ronald presented an income statement with an annual profit of 20 U.S. dollars, Jane Fonda proposed a purchase price of 220 million U.S. dollars.

After the signing ceremony, it was held in the factory. The two shareholders, Teresa Kate and David, received a purchase price of more than 40 US dollars, smiling from ear to ear.

They will also continue to serve as sales representatives in Jane Fonda's factory. The retail store in Manhattan will still be operated by their husband and wife. It is not within the scope of this acquisition, and they can continue to retail after Jane Fonda's acquisition. products, and enjoy the promotional phrase of "Famous Authentic Leg Warmers". .

The movie star would not talk about the details of the acquisition. Ronald's lawyer, Ms. Lindsay Dole, led the colleagues of the firm and happily discussed the details of the acquisition with Jane Fonda's lawyers.This kind of acquisition business is very profitable.

Aunt Karen was finally done with her work and could go back to Staten Island to devote herself to the Veteran's Association charity.Several of her friends, such as Little Bard's mother's family, all received a little gift of shares, and this time they were also able to buy a house in Tottville.

"It's really a very beautiful house." After the acquisition, Jane Fonda was retained by Ronald and continued to play in Staten Island.The scenery here is pleasant and has a strong colonial architectural style.

Ronald acted as a tour guide for Jane Fonda, visiting the island's scenery.

"This is the house where the wedding was held at the beginning of 'The Godfather'. Ronald drove Jane Fonda with him, and it was still the location of classic movies.

"It used to be the home of Paul Newman and his wife, Joanne Woodward. It's the most famous film celebrity home on our island."

He insisted on pulling Jane Fonda around, and Ronald invited her back to taste the biscuits baked by his aunt as a parting gift.

"Ronnie, your agent has brought someone to look for you."

After parking the car, Ronald was relieved to see his aunt talking to him at the door.

He almost couldn't think of a reason to ask Jane Fonda to stay again. If the female star was retained again, he might doubt whether he wanted to pursue her as a married woman.

"Ronnie," Nisita and Richard appeared at the door together, "Ms. Fonda."

Next to them were Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer, who had come to discuss the contract with Ronald.

Jane Fonda greeted them and went to Aunt Karen to share her cookie-making secrets.

"What, are you talking about the new movie with Jane again?" Jerry Bruckheimer and Don Simpson exchanged glances, and Bruckheimer asked the question.

"No, she came to buy my other business," Ronald denied, "The first play I debuted, 'My Brother's Protector', was bought by Frank Price and invited Jane Fonda to star in it." Yes, if it is finally made, maybe my career history will be very different."

"Then the script now?"

"It's probably still lying in Columbia's script library, maybe Mr. Price will be interested in bringing him to Universal?" Ronald shrugged pretending to be relaxed, and let the two producers enter the living room for a detailed discussion.

Both producers frowned, and if Ronald did go on to film his own screenplay, "My Brother's Protector," with Jane Fonda, they'd be more passive in their casting.

"I am very willing to direct such a film, and my aunt also supports me. You must know that she is a widow from the Vietnam War. Without her approval, I would not make it." Ronald listened to the two producers. When people come, they immediately express their attitude.

"I think the leading actor in this movie is Tom Cruise. I don't say that because I have the same agent as him, or because we have been close friends since early.

It's that he really is the perfect choice for such a hormone-fueled film.Of course, if you have a better candidate, I am also open to it. Among the existing stars, he is undoubtedly the most suitable. "

"My remuneration? You can just talk to Nisita and Richard. I only ask for treatment commensurate with my status in the industry, a suitable salary, and a sharing clause that suits my status. After all, such a Paramount film It will have important reference value for my director's remuneration in the future, if there is no profit sharing, I will not be able to make a price in the future."

The two producers heard mixed sorrow and joy.The good news is that Ronald agreed to direct, and he also revealed in his words that he would use his influence to persuade Tom Cruise to sign.The sad thing is that I don't seem to have much room for bargaining, so I can only sign this hot commercial film director with the agent at the market price.

After explaining the matter, Ronald sent Jane Fonda to the airport with a large bag of freshly baked biscuits and cooking secrets from his aunt.

"Looks like your aunt was sorry I wasn't in 'My Brother's Protector,'" Jane Fonda said in the car.

"Yes, she's a fan of yours and always thought you and Robert Redford were the perfect on-screen couple. What will your next film be about?" Ronald asked.

"Well, I'm going back to Canada right away to be in a nun-themed movie 'God's Daughter.'"

"Nun?" Ronald expressed surprise.Isn't Jane Fonda always on the left wing of the Donkey Party?How can you make such a religious conservative film?

"One of the leading ladies is the hapless Meg Tilly, who would have been better off as the leading lady in 'Mozart' if she hadn't sprained her ankle before filming began."

"Oh..." Ronald laughed.It turned out to be an old acquaintance's movie. It seems that Meg Tilly's husband, after Disney's son-in-law Ron Miller lost power, did not affect his established route of pushing his wife to the top.

"Meg has just given birth to a lovely daughter, and it is very difficult to return to the screen now. Fortunately, she is playing a mother, and she does not need much investment in the performance."

Ronald listened to the plot for a while, and it was the nun played by Meg who had an unexpected pregnancy, insisting that the dead child was the result of a virgin conception, and the psychiatrist played by Fonda went to unravel the truth.

It turned out to be a clash between liberal and conservative religious values.

Ronald sent off Jane Fonda and returned home to Staten Island.

The two producers and agents have initially negotiated a fixed salary of 60 US dollars, plus a [-]% domestic profit share, and Ronald is ahead of everyone else.

"It's disgusting, I don't like this feeling." Don Simpson said unhappily, shaking his head.

"He also promised to improve the script for us, so that if we send it to the Navy for review, it will save a lot of trouble." Bruckheimer advised his partner to be relieved.

Ronald came back and saw Nisita signaled that he had signed the contract according to the agreed conditions.So I happily poured the red wine of Coppola Winery for the two producers, and took out a few plates of salami and biscuits baked by my aunt.

"By the way, how do you plan to shoot the shots of fighter jets? Are you using model special effects, or are you planning to rent them from the Navy?"

"We are here this time, and we will also submit the script to the Pentagon, hoping to get approval to go to the Pacific Fleet to shoot real scenes."

(End of this chapter)