Exploiting Hollywood 1980.

Chapter 688 Without Ronald, You Can't Shoot Anything

"Ronald, I'm Billy, Chris is next to me, we're Top Gun clips, do you remember us?"

"Of course, how could I forget? Have you guys watched the finished film? Our chances of success this time will be great, and it is expected to be among the top three at the annual box office."

Ronald suddenly received a call from the two top gun editors, and he chatted with them about the box office situation with a smile.

There was another anomaly at the box office in the fourth week.This week, Paramount added more than 400 theaters across the country and released more than 700 new prints.

Over the weekend, the box office suddenly rose by 20%, breaking through the 1000 million mark again.

Two freak box office rebounds, Hollywood hasn't seen such a strong movie in years.The posture of the king has already appeared, and various evaluations, analysis, and afterthoughts have come in one after another.Everyone is analyzing why "Top Gun" is so powerful.

Some people think that Ronald is good at marketing each other with hit singles and movies.Starting from "Night of the Comet", each movie has a good episode, and when the movie was released, it was also in the top ten of the charts.

This time, "Take My Breath Away", it hit the top of the list in one fell swoop and stayed there for a long time.Fans and movie fans will influence each other.Watching a movie and thinking that the song sounds good will boost sales, and there are quite a few people who are attracted to the movie theater after watching a single on MTV.

Others felt that it was a fast-cut narrative rhythm led by Ronald.The film critic also found the MV and commercials shot by Ronald, and pointed out that "Top Gun" is the first blockbuster film in which Hollywood learns the editing rhythm of MVs and commercials.

The first generation of teenage viewers after the baby boomers has come of age, and many more are still watching music videos on MTV and commercials all over public television every day.

In order to fit a complete plot or story within a dozen seconds to three minutes, a faster editing speed and shorter shots must be used to reconstruct the grammatical content of the movie.

He described Ronald as the first director in the 80s who deeply understood the huge changes in teenagers.And it is predicted that in the future, Hollywood's fast narrative rhythm and the filming method of omitting a large number of transitional bridges will gradually become a popular trend.

Others feel that Ronald has a sense of reality no matter what subject matter he makes.The shots of fighter planes fighting are very similar to that.And he shoots karate, which gives people the feeling of a professional karate master.

The deep understanding and presentation of the content involved in the industry is exactly the charm of Ronald's films.

Of course, Ronald felt that it was not true.Especially the third statement, the instructor pilots at the Miramar base still have a lot of complaints about their aerial combat shots.

"Of course we watched it, Ronald. The two of us called you this time to talk to you about something." Billy and Chris, the two editors, brought up the topic.

"Oh, please tell me." Ronald tidied up
"Last weekend, Paramount executives sent a project manager over and told us to pull up all the 'Top Gun' fly stunts and go through them. Even the crap you didn't use, they're looking for Come, put it back together according to the edit log, and take it away."

"I remember that I didn't take any extra shots. Basically, I used all the shots that could be used in the feature film. The rest were either without impact or had flaws and couldn't be used. Even the sidewinder missiles specially approved by the Navy were fired. The lens, I have used it several times."

"Yeah, that's what we said. But the manager didn't care, he took all the copies of the work. We thought it was unusual, so we gave you a call."

"Okay, thanks. Did the guy say what he was going to use it for?"

"We asked, but he didn't answer. But he asked us a lot of questions, such as how long the original film was, and checked the edited logs one by one. He worked with us for a whole day and checked all the films before leaving. .”

"Okay, thank you, I will remember this favor."

Ronald hung up the phone and immediately called Nisita, "Call that bastard Ned Tanin, what does he want to do? Take my remaining shots and go to shoot a sequel?"

"Yes, I'm going to protest." Nisita changed the phone to another ear, "However, in theory, you do not have the ownership of the movie footage. Even if these footages are not used in the feature film, the property rights belong to Paramount Yes. They’re the studios, so theoretically we can only morally blame them if they do that. It’s best not to go outside.”

"Fcuk! Impossible. I almost didn't have enough shots for the aerial combat stunts. If they want to make a sequel, they have to figure it out themselves, don't expect any shooting tips from me. Fuck, Ned really It's shameless."

"It's good that there is no room for him to take advantage. I will unite with several CAA agents to put pressure on Paramount. This is really disappointing."

The gold dollar storm brought by Minahan Golan has greatly affected Hollywood.In the past, the presidents of the Seventh National Congress would not be able to do this kind of thing to popular directors.But now the film salary is rising rapidly. If they don't make some extra moves, they will lose their seats as soon as next year's financial report is lost, so they won't be able to care about the future.

Ronald even felt that in this day and age, being a senior executive of the seven major studios is of course a high position and authority, and can determine the fate of many people, but he is also constrained by stars and famous directors.

This is not an easy job. If you don’t work for a few years, you can leave and start your own production company and get a guaranteed release contract. It is estimated that people like Ned Tanin and Tom Pollack are not willing. to sit in that position.

"Sorry, let's continue."

After Ronald answered the phone, he walked into the office of Daydream Films in West Hollywood.

Sitting here are two middle-aged women, one is "Dirty Dancing" screenwriter Eleanor Bergstein, and the other is the producer she found Linda Gottlieb.

There is also a middle-aged man, who is Michelle Cannold, the production director of the videotape production and distribution company "Weston Films" that Linda went to find.

"It's okay. We saw the script that Linda had brought and wanted to cast this movie. It's a very unusual movie. It tells the whole story from a girl's point of view. It's a female version of 'Breakdance'. "

Michelle Cannold continued the topic just now, Weston wanted to buy the production rights and start filming this "Dirty Dancing".

Weston is a small company in Connecticut. Eight or six years ago, they mainly produced video tapes for the seven major studios, and they were the outsourcers of the seven major studios.

In addition, they also make some X-rated movies, which are not released in theaters, but sent directly to video rental stores.

But starting this year, fire cannot be contained in paper.Weston's profitability was very good, and they began to acquire other production companies and distribution channels.This aroused the vigilance of the Seventh National Congress. Since the video tape market is so profitable, why should we outsource it instead of doing it ourselves?

So starting this year, Weston has been unable to get orders for the production and sales of outsourced videotapes for blockbuster Hollywood blockbusters.They began to shoot their own movies, and Michelle Cannold was the production director they hired, who had experience in making two B-movies.

"What you said is very interesting, but I originally wanted to buy the production rights of the entire film and cast it myself. Weston has taken away love."

As he spoke, Ronald glanced at screenwriter Eleanor.

The producer, Linda, attached great importance to this movie, because Ronald went to London to attend the premiere, so she took this opportunity to persuade Linda to meet with Weston's people, and the two hit it off, Weston said A $500 million investment could be made to produce the film.

But as Michelle said, whether it was the screenwriter Eleanor or the producer Michelle Cannold, the first director they thought of was Ronald.

No way, they came back and contacted Ronald, hoping that he could direct this small production.

"It's not that I don't want to make this movie. I'm very optimistic about it. But the movies I'm making now all have a budget of tens of millions. This kind of small production, unless it is produced by my company, otherwise I have no reason not to direct Movies with stars in them."

"Yes, that's what we came to talk to you about." Michelle Cannold is a very honest person. All his production experience is X-rated video tapes. If he wants to film the story of such a Jewish girl , It is best to find someone with experience to do it.

"So what do you think about it?" Ronald also learned to listen to the other party first when encountering things.

"That's what we think, ahem..." Michelle Cannold cleared her throat, "We Weston can give up a part of the investment, and your Daydream Films will be responsible for the production. We use Investment and distribution to join the partnership. This is the second film we've produced on our own at Weston, and the first one that isn't X-rated, and we want to release it theatrically."

"That's fine, I agree in principle to participate in the production, and the director will search according to your ideas. I can check the art, and then help you find suitable young actors to audition."

Thinking that he didn't get all the production rights, Ronald was not very interested. Since he had a little investment share, he could do as many things as possible.

"Well, I'm glad you can join this project. Let's go back and discuss with Weston's senior management."

"You guys better hurry up, I'm going to Dongying soon to attend the premiere of Top Gun there, I don't want to make trouble out of the festival."

After suffering a loss in this kind of thing, Ronald figured it out. He told the general manager Eddie about the bottom line of the signing conditions, and asked him to take full control of the negotiations. Then he will participate more in this "dirty dance" , It can also be regarded as Daydream's first foray into the production and distribution of theater films, and to accumulate experience for the future.

"Ronald, is there no chance for you to direct?" Screenwriter Eleanor asked quietly.

"I said, why didn't you wait for me to come back? If I invested myself, I might still be interested in directing."

"Linda is my best friend, and when we were young, we went on double dates. So she begged me, saying that the title of this movie was worth a million dollars, and I agreed to go to Weston to see it. "

"Okay, then I'll let my agent intervene and introduce you to some suitable directors. As long as I fully communicate with the directors in the production, I can still grasp the overall temperament."

Ronald thought to himself that he had dreamed of a few wonderful dance clips, and he had drawn a storyboard sketch for this part, so the director must be able to execute it well.

……

"Ronald, are you not a director? Then I don't want to act either." Michael J. Fox called Ronald when he heard that Universal had changed directors.

"That's not necessary. I resigned from the director for other reasons. You don't have to resign because of me, if you like the movie."

"I really like this script, but I originally wanted to cooperate with you once. It's not because of creative differences, that kind of bullshit? Is it because the new president of Universal has conflicts with you..." Fox said on the phone.

"Not really, I can trust you, Michael." Ronald asked.

"Of course, is it a secret?" Fox's curiosity was aroused.

"Did you hear the gossip about the high-level boxing match around the world?"

"What? Is that true?"

"Almost, I happened to witness everything from the side, so it's inconvenient to continue the project led by Frank Price. Actually, it has nothing to do with you."

"What about your girlfriend Helen? If you want her to be the leading role, I'll ask my agent to let her go. If you don't want to be the director, I'll resign. When they come to beg me, I'll bring her in for you." .”

"You're too polite, it's better not to interfere too much with the new director's choice. Besides, Helen..."

"What's up with her?"

"It's nothing. When I was a director, I didn't like being interfered with casting, so I didn't want to treat others like this. That's what Confucius said." Ronald didn't say it. Helen is much taller than Fox. If the two of them To really play the hero and heroine, you have to make various adjustments like McGillis and Tom Cruise.

"That's it. Don't forget about me when you have a chance in the future. We will always cooperate in a movie."

……

"Damn it, Ronald is a cunning guy. I can't find the air combat footage that can be used for a second in Top Gun, and he edited it all into the movie." After hearing the report, Ned Tanin cursed loudly , the sequel fell through.

"What does Michael J. Fox mean?" Tom Pollack asks the "Secrets of Success" production director, squinting. "He still wants to work with Ronald?"

"He said that he originally came to the crew for Ronald. Unless we find a replacement who is on the same level as Ronald, he will consider quitting the project."

"Hmm... It seems that without Ronald, this project really can't be made."

"I have to give him some favors. I remember the heroine is one of Ronald's girlfriends?"

"But Helen is too tall to play with Fox."

"What do you think?"

"Ronald submitted a casting call for the opening shot, how about we grant his wish?"

"Okay, you can communicate with Nisita, we didn't mean to offend Ronald."

(End of this chapter)