Exploiting Hollywood 1980.

Chapter 627 How Do You Direct Comedies?

"I'm interested in one of the scripts, but it may not be suitable for me..." The next day, Ronald called Eisner in the CAA office.

"You picked out the script so quickly? That's great." Before Ronald finished speaking, Eisner immediately praised happily, "I knew you were a very efficient director. What is your favorite?" department?"

"A villainous husband, it's a comedy," replied Ronald.

"Very good, the comedy is very good, Ni's debut work 'Fast Tempo' has very good comedy elements..."

"No, Mr. Eisner, that's why you trust me?" Ronald recalled the dream last night, thinking that in his subconscious, he didn't believe that he could make a good comedy.

I believe you, why not?You have made so many low- and medium-budget films, which ones have you experienced before?No problem, I can get Katzenberg to initiate project negotiations whenever you're ready. "

"Why is Eisner so confident in me?" Ronald put down the phone and asked Nisita and Richard, who were sitting across from him.

Ronald felt very wrong, when did the script discussion turn into this?It used to be so difficult to win a film director, but now it seems that Eisner is going to ask him instead.

"Why not? As he said, several of your films involve different genres, different genres. There are youth exploitation films, sci-fi themes, musicals, action films, and the new 'Top Gun' , I am not good at categorizing, air combat films or sports films?
In short, you are a director who is good at grasping the audience's psychology and knowing what they like to watch.So maybe comedy is for you too?There's no reason to think that you can't make a comedy, although he doesn't have the same performance requirements as other genres..."

Nisita said a lot of good things. In short, you can do it. Hollywood has confidence in you. Do you want to make Shakespeare?Well, the directors of the new era have the courage to challenge themselves to shoot the classics of this generation.You want to make a gangster movie?Great, the gangster movie has finally waited until after Coppola, the new generation of saviors.

"What do you think?" Ronald looked at Richard who was still looking down at the script. He might be able to give himself some enlightening advice.

"I have no opinion. You have proven your own strength many times. You can control movies of various genres and budgets. I think when your new movie is released, there will be people queuing up to send you the script. I'm just a Lucky agent, I don't have any opinions on the selection of projects. In short, as long as it's your decision, I think it's good."

"If you decide to make the next part of this book, I still have some actors to choose from..." Nisita took out a stack of audition resumes from the drawer, "They are all clients of my side under CAA , as you choose."

"Let's let it go first, I haven't fully decided yet."

"That's good, you already have the characteristics of a calm director. You won't take on a project just because you are touched by a certain script on the spur of the moment, but you will consider the overall profitability of the project. In addition, the trial of Top Gun in Chicago The screening was also very successful, and audiences in the three largest cities gave you an A+ rating, and Ned Tanin began to prepare a marketing plan, and I invite you to go and refer to it when the time comes."

It seems that the excellent reviews of the test screening of "Top Gun" also had a considerable impact on my agent.

Ronald figured it out, everyone was for profit.Eisner, probably because of the pressure of the Screen Fund, wanted to please himself a little and set up a movie as soon as possible.And the brokers are trying to get more packaged projects, they are a bit too much in their own words.

"Come on, Rick, Richard. I've known you guys since I was a little-known screenwriter, and I know comedy isn't easy."

"Generally speaking, comedy directors and comedians are a specialized category." Seeing that Ronald was still sober after receiving the project guarantee from Touchstone Films, Nisita couldn't help admiring him a little.

Many directors and actors can still be modest and prudent when they achieve professional success, but once they are given the power to produce, they often overestimate the scope of their abilities.Many directors and famous actors have lost a lot of money because they were also producers, and they have been depressed for many years.

Nisita told the truth, "Comedy has special requirements for performance. If you don't have a special study of comedy, it's easy for the audience to feel uncomfortable."

"Indeed, directing acting skills is the shortest version of my directing ability." Ronald couldn't help but think of the embarrassing scene in his dream.I was able to make consecutive blockbuster movies, thanks to the finished film in my dream, which pointed out to me the actors who were cast and the style of acting, otherwise I might not be able to make consecutive blockbuster movies.

"Can you find me an acting coach? I want the best one. I'm busy now, so it's better not to have a fixed class time. Besides, don't look for someone like Lee Strasburg."

"Well, no problem." Richard carefully wrote down Ronald's request in his notebook, "The one that best meets your requirements is probably Messner's acting training camp, which happens to be held in North Hollywood this year. I will give Go and ask on the phone."

"Okay." Ronald was not very familiar with acting coaches, so he relied on his agent's recommendation. "Also, I still want to find a script reading assistant."

"What do you want?" Richard smiled. It seems that reading scripts is indeed hard work. Otherwise, Frank Price of Universal would not be the only one who insisted on reading in person among the top Hollywood executives.

Ronald had lingering fears about last night's dream, probably because he had read too many scripts and put too much pressure on himself, which he had never experienced before.He snapped his fingers and said his request to the assistant one by one.

"It is best to have worked as a screenwriter in the industry and have experience in writing movie scripts. I don't require a fast speed or a KPI of how many books to read per week. I only require a sense of responsibility and a certain ability to discern."

Richard wrote down one by one, "This requirement is a bit high. People who really have such experience will not be satisfied with being an assistant who reads scripts."

"If the script I wrote satisfies me, I can also consider recommending it to Touchstone, or if I invest in a small production." Ronald couldn't help but think of himself, when he was in the New World, he also gave it to Roger Coleman. Started by reading the script.

"Then there are many candidates, let me help you choose."

……

After leaving the office, he went to Darryl Vidal's karate dojo to practice for a while, and the two chatted about the preparations for the sequel to Dragon's Way Kid.The sequel is likely to tell the story of Master Miyagi's return to Ryukyu, and Vidal will be required to film fight scenes at that time.

Ronald always has a bad feeling when the edit is finished and the film is waiting to be released.Life in movies is so colorful, but real life is very boring and dull.It always takes him a while to get used to this mundane life syndrome.

Many Hollywood stars spend their days drinking and drinking every day when they are not filming, and they may not be able to bear the boring and ordinary life.

Thinking of his fear of directing comedies and of training actors to act, Ronald involuntarily rode on his motorcycle and went to Cameron's house to chat with him.Only Cameron, who is also a young director, can talk about this kind of concern.

"They're sexist!" Gail was furious at Cameron, seeing Ronald knocking on the door and coming in, changing his face, "You're here, Ronnie, I'm going to order you a pizza Takeaway and some beer."

"What's the matter? Gail seems very upset?"

"Are you here?", Cameron was very happy to see his old friend here, "Gail was targeted by Fox's boss, saying that she could not take on a real producer role, so 'Alien 2' may only be one of her roles." Named producer."

"The one who discriminated against Shirley Lansing?" This has become an industry joke.

"It's not just him, Barry Diller, the former chairman of Paramount's board of directors, didn't believe that Gale could fight me as a director on set." Cameron pointed to his nose.

It turns out that the crux of the matter is that the producer must dare to fight the director on the set.Sometimes the director does not hesitate to take multiple shots in order to get a good performance, and it is not surprising that the schedule is delayed.The producer will stand up and say no at this time.

Maybe Barry Diller felt that Gale was Cameron's wife and would not get angry with her husband on the set.

"They really don't know Gail. If anyone can face you on the set, it must be Gail." Ronald has experienced Jim's "style" on the set.

"Can you repeat this sentence in front of the Fox executives?" Gail walked in with a few cans of beer, just in time to hear Ronald's last sentence.

"Of course, I'd like to endorse you." Ronald knew what Gale meant. He used his influence in the industry to prove to Fox executives that Gale could be a qualified producer and keep the cards under control. Mellon.

"Hmph, you're still good friends." Gail also opened a can of beer and clinked glasses with Ronald.

"By the way, you said you came..." Cameron asked.

"That's right, I saw a very good script, and I think it has a good chance of being filmed, but it's a comedy, and I'm not sure about comedy at all." Ronald expressed his distress.

"Indeed, do you know why there are comedy directors and comedians, but not tragedy directors and tragedies?" Gail, well-informed, asked Ronald.

"I really don't know." Ronald thought for a moment, it was indeed so.

"Because comedy requires a special rhythm and special acting skills. Anyway, their acting skills are not the same as those of ordinary actors. It turns out that in the new world, Roger never invested in pure comedy films."

"Do you remember that Jerry Zucker?" Cameron also asked.

"Remember", Ronald still remembered that when filming High School of Rock, Zach was busy making his own film, and only then did he have the opportunity to be the director of the second group and join the labor union. "

"Roger refused to invest in his script, and there are also reasons for this. Comedy is very unpredictable at the box office, so studios like to follow successful comedy directors or comedians. If you really want to be funny, the cost of comedy is actually not high. , is the dialogue of several characters, and the box office is not worse than that of blockbuster movies." Gail concluded.

"How about I ask Zach and his trio?" Ronald thought.

(End of this chapter)