Exploiting Hollywood 1980.

Chapter 685 Top Gun returns to the top of the box office
"Top Gun"'s North American box office dipped slightly in the weekend after Memorial Day, but not by much, staying above 800 million.This result made Paramount so happy that it didn't know what to say.

According to the original plan, starting from June, the distribution department will add 700 copies, which will be delivered to more than 500 theaters that have newly joined the screening plan.Continue to wrestle with new films in the summer file.

"Cobra" directed by Minahan and starring Stallone, although it surpassed Top Gun and won the championship in the first week due to its large-scale release in more than 2000 theaters, the plot of this movie is relatively old-fashioned, and Stallone The role of the "Cobra" special forces captain and Brigitte Nelson's kidnapped businesswoman were not convincing, and the audience's reputation was not very good.

Therefore, its stamina is seriously lacking, and the box office has dropped by 40% from the first week, which is obviously the box office trend of middle-quality movies.It is not the same as Top Gun, which only fell by 10% this week and has not decreased but increased in the second week.

"Blood to capture the devil" handed over the championship in the second week."Top Gun," which played in half as many theaters, is back on the throne.

Ned Tanin, who was in charge of the production, saw this kind of box office trend curve, and knew that he had won the big prize again, and Top Gun showed the image of a king.He knew that the top three at the box office of the year were in sight, and he began to think about shooting a sequel to "Top Gun".

On this day, he invited Ronald, who had just returned to Los Angeles, Don Simpson, and Jerry Bruckheimer to the executive office on the top floor of Universal, and discussed with them whether to strike while the iron is hot and launch a sequel.

"Our box office in the UK has broken the record for the first weekend of this year's release. In China and Germany, although there are language barriers, the number of viewers is also very optimistic. After all, the air combat of modern fighters and the love story of handsome men and beautiful women are beyond language. Obstructive.

We will be screened in Japan, Korea, and Xiangjiang next week, and we will definitely get good results for Hollywood films.In particular, the accident that the Sowell Alliance mistakenly shot down the Air Koryo airliner a few years ago has not been forgotten. This movie, in which a Tomcat fighter jet shot down three MiGs, should make their audience like it. "

"Hahaha, I like your way of saying it, Ned." Don Simpson's energy rose, and he repeatedly slapped his desk in applause.

Ronald smiled back, too, to see what they would discuss when Ned Tanin called them over.

"So, I think, since the audience likes to watch our naval fighters so much, it hurts Mig's plot. Why not take the hot iron and launch a sequel?"

Don Simpson shook his head and objected.

"Ned, we would like to launch a sequel, but the audience may not be able to accept another aerial combat film in a short time. It will take some time for them to forget the aerial combat in the original film, or would it be more appropriate to make a sequel next year?"

"After all, this is a special film. There is a premise that the audience likes the aerial combat shots. It is because of Ronald's special talent. We also saw his Saab commercials before we made up our minds about this project. We did not want to take risks. .” Jerry Bruckheimer added a few words, they don’t want to make a sequel, but everything hasn’t been settled yet.

"That's why I asked someone to write a new outline of the story. The Lone Ranger taught students who were as wild as him at the Top Gun School, and then went on a mission with the students again to defeat MiG and rescue our captured side. Pilot, complete the unfinished business of the deceased father, how about this story? We are starting preparations now, and it will be released in [-]"

"A new protagonist?" The three looked at Ronald.

Ronald pondered for a long time before speaking slowly.

"It's sudden for you to say that. I haven't had time to think about it. If you guys want to shoot, you have to have a very convincing story. The personal growth of the Lone Ranger, his love life, we are all in Top Gun. Alright, how do you go on to shoot?
Of course, the idea of ​​photographing his cadets was brilliant.I even think we could have a female pilot as the main character.This would ease the problem of viewers watching male pilots who are fed up with hormones.

But I think the biggest problem with this sequel is that all the flying stunts we were able to show were all filmed in Top Gun.The Navy was unable to find a dog fight scene that could be shot at a relatively low cost and that could be recognized by the audience. "

Ronald looked at Ned Tanin and saw that he showed a puzzled look, "I know it's hard to explain, to put it simply, we've shot everything we can, and it's very difficult to shoot something different. Big. After all, air combat is not boxing, and you can’t cheer up the audience just by changing your opponent and coach like Rocky did.

Unless you have a particularly good story that can make the audience worry about the Lone Ranger and his students again. "

"Also, Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Kelly McGillis have skyrocketed through this movie, and I worry about their pay going up like a helicopter ride," Bruckheimer added. arrive.

Ned Tanin smiled, "We will prepare a sufficient budget. Paramount will not be stingy with stars who have proven themselves."

"In this way, let's prepare separately. I will find someone to write the script, and you can talk to some of the main creators. Ronald is here to see if there are any more stunts that can be filmed."

Ned Tannen took none of these difficulties seriously.In particular, Ronald said that there are no stunt aerial combat shots to shoot. In his opinion, it probably belongs to self-promotion.There are very few pioneering talents in Hollywood, but seeing you filming and improving on your basis, this is a commercial operation.

"By the way, your friend's 'Crocodile Dundee', we are already planning to release it during the box office gap in September, which cost us a lot of resources. However, the quality of the film is quite high, and I think it can make us some money."

"This is something to be happy about. Have you notified them?" Ronald was very happy when he heard the news.

"Not yet, just wait for you to tell them the good news."

"Hahaha, thank you." Ronald knew that Ned Tanin was selling himself a favor, but he was just helping out. Anyway, Daydream participated in this business, and maybe he could make a little money.

Ronald went to his agents Nisita and Richard, informed them of Paramount's ideas, and asked them for their opinions.

"Hey, it's not easy. How much budget can Paramount come up with?" Richard took the initiative to help Nisita clear the difficulties before he could speak.

"I haven't heard Tanin say the specific number, but I think it will not be a problem to rise to more than 500 million."

"Not enough, not enough." Nisita drank the espresso in one gulp, "Paula told me that he had asked Tom for more than 500 million. If she can do well, she will raise the price.

"How much?" Ronald was almost scalded while drinking coffee. "Is this number almost the same as Dustin Hoffman or Robert Redford? Is Paula so confident?"

……

"You're already an old idea, Ronald." Paula Wagner, who was called, explained to Ronald in detail that this person can't be perfunctory, and must tell the truth.

"Huh?" Ronald made a gesture of please.

"Since your friend Minahan Golan gave Stallone this action theater where half of his face can't make any expressions, a three-film long-term contract of 500 million, no self-respecting first-line male star in Hollywood will accept it The salary is below 800 million.

In the past six months, starting from the action star Schwarzenegger, to the comedy star Bill Murray, and then to the teenage star Michael J. Fox, it is a chain reaction.

Schwarzenegger said that Stallone was as famous as him, so he also had to ask for 800 million.Bill Murray said that the box office of his "Ghostbusters" is no less than that of Stallone's Rocky series, so he has to pay this price.

Then there's Michael J. Fox, whose 'Back to the Future' was last year's box office champ, so he's worth that too.

Now Dustin Hoffman, Jack Nicholson, and Harrison Ford are also asking high prices, and Minahan single-handedly re-set the prices for Hollywood male stars. "

"No way? If things go on like this, how will it end? It will be even more difficult to make films in Hollywood that are not medium-funded? With an average production cost of 200 million, now you can't even hire a first-line male star?"

"That's true. And Top Gun is even more difficult. Besides Tom, Val Kilmer is also a quasi-A-list star, and those supporting actors who are full of hormones will raise their asking prices. Your friend McGillis, I'm afraid it will also call out a relatively high price among female stars.

If it's another movie, it's not sure, but if it's a sequel to Top Gun, it will definitely charge a high price.You can trust my judgment as a CAA agent. "

"It does make sense." Ronald thought for a long time and thanked Paula.

No wonder Ned Tanin said that he wanted to film the story of the Lone Ranger students. I am afraid that he has already considered the issue of collective salary increase.

By filming the stories of his students, all characters other than the Lone Ranger and his girlfriend instructor Charlie can be removed, so that there is still some room for filming sequels without going too far over the budget.

However, he may not necessarily have thought that Tom Cruise's asking price would be so much higher.

Ronald also received bad news from Matthew, the Pentagon liaison officer, and Pete Pettigrew, a retired Top Gun flight school instructor and crew flight advisor.

The Pentagon and the Department of the Navy are particularly satisfied with the effectiveness of the "Top Gun" recruitment advertisement. This year's Navy recruitment target is about to be completed ahead of schedule.Every movie theater where "Top Gun" was shown became an on-site recruiting point for the Navy.

But because of this, the Admiralty is less interested in making another similar film than it was before.

Pettigrew once again confirmed Ronald's concerns. Ronald took all the aerobatics he could think of, which could be shot with current technology, and which looked good.If you want better and more exciting shots, the only way may be to increase the number.

This one launched two Sidewinder missiles to see if the lower part can send a Phoenix long-range air-to-air missile, the kind to deal with the alliance's Backfire Tu-22m strategic bomber.

This time, two F-14s are participating in the battle. Can the lower part be equipped with early warning aircraft to attack the ground with A-10 attack aircraft.

Without the cooperation of the navy, Ronald certainly couldn't do this, so he could only shake his head with a wry smile.

……

Don Simpson was furious at CAA, and they saw Paula's offer and were furious.

"You're extortion, highway robbery!"

"At this price now, is Tom Cruise less popular with female audiences than Michael J. Fox? Or is he not as handsome as Bill Murray with a face full of acne scars? This year's Top Gun is likely to get Top three at the box office, "The Color of Money" in October, he will also be praised by the critics.

I don't understand, what's wrong with this? "

"They are also at this price?" Bruckheimer was also a little bit impatient.

"I can't give you the exact numbers, but here are a few contracts with the names covered up, and you can easily tell who it is from the description. I emphasize again, you can only see it in the office, you can't leave here, you can't make copies , leaving this room, I will not admit to showing it to anyone."

Nisita took out several processed contracts from the drawer and showed them to the two producers.Recently, the price of male stars has increased, and this scene is often staged.

"It's obviously Michael J. Fox?" Bruckheimer said to Don Simpson.

"I'm afraid it is. He only has time to shoot in the summer, and the price will be a little cheaper, but now it has risen to 500 million US dollars. An actor like him before, even if he acted in a movie like Back to the Future, he can only It's going to be 200 million."

……

"I'm afraid that the plan for this sequel will come to naught. If we don't increase the production budget, let's assume it's 500 million, the sequel may not be able to shoot in the short term. Unless the abnormal salary of the male actors will return to the normal market price. "

The two producers and Ronald returned to Paramount's president's office again to communicate with Ned Tanin.

"It's the same on my side. There are almost no more tricks in the stunt shots. The Navy is not going to release more advanced weapons to Hollywood. If we want to develop from scratch from model stunts, we can achieve the reality of Top Gun. For the effect, it is estimated that an initial investment of 500 million yuan will be required for research and development in advance from six months to a year."

Ronald also expressed his opinion.

"Okay, let's see what we can do." Ned Tanin agreed to put the project on hold, waiting to see what happened.

The three said their goodbyes and left. Tanin picked up the phone and asked the secretary to find Paramount's production manager.

"The box office of this movie is getting higher and higher, and our sequel production plan still needs to be prepared. The producer is worried that the salary will be too high, you ask the screenwriters to think again, and cut Charlie from McGillis, leaving only Tom Cruise's Lone Ranger. Then looking for an actress to play his new girlfriend.

That way Don and Jerry would be interested.

As for Ronald?He's so egotistical that I can't believe I couldn't do a stunt shot without him.You find an editor, go to the film library to find the material during Ronald's shooting of Top Gun, those special effects shots that have not been used in the finished film, you collect and see how many can be used.

The navy couldn't cooperate at a low price, so we used the shots that were not edited in the first film, added some new special effects shots, and put together a sequel.Anyway, in Top Gun, there are not many real air combat shots.

Well, that's it, you go.This matter should be kept secret, and Ronald should not know about it. "

(End of this chapter)