Exploiting Hollywood 1980.

Chapter 706 The Hollywood Fake Courtesy

"Ned, would you like to give the green light to 'Moonlight'?"

Taking advantage of the fact that his two directorial works are on the box office charts, Ronald decided to put some pressure on Paramount's president, Ned Tanin.Together with his agents Nisita and Richard, he found Tanin on the weekend and had to work overtime to solve this problem.

"Of course, no doubts, no questions, I've always had your back. It's just that there are a lot of old-timers inside Paramount who don't understand what kind of movies a new generation of audiences like to see, before and after 'Top Gun,' either. Are there many people who object?"

"So, we can sign?"

"Of course, my contract is ready." Ned Tanin pressed the button on the phone and asked the secretary to bring in the contract. "

Nisita and Ronald looked at each other, and it seemed that this strategy was good.If the box office results of the first week of "A Family with an Evil Husband" are officially announced on Monday, Tanning may find a new reason to delay.

"This is yours." Tanin handed the two contracts to Ronald and his agent respectively, "Look, have you selected the heroine yet? If the heroine is among the candidates listed , we can start the project immediately.”

Ronald took it over and flipped to the place marked by the secretary in advance. On it was Ronald's favorite Cher, as well as the names of Sally Field, Diane Keaton and others proposed by CAA.

Frowning slightly, Ronald asked, "So you want me to decide on the heroine first, and then give the green light to this project?"

"Of course, based on your box office appeal, these female stars will all be willing. Who would refuse an invitation from a blockbuster director like you, Ronald?" Tanin was giving him a high hat.

"Cher and Diane Keaton just said no," thought Ronald.

When CAA contacted the famous actor who played the young godfather's wife in The Godfather, Ronald thought that with her famous role in Italian movies, Diane Keaton would be able to tell this story about Italian movies. Interested in screenplays of family stories.

But Diane Keaton quickly had his agent turn down the offer.She said she would love to work with Ronald, but her schedule already includes a movie called "Baby Fever" and a cameo in ex-boyfriend Woody Allen's new project.Can't arrange it on schedule.

At that time, Ronald still felt very regretful, and wanted to lobby Keaton through CAA or Coppola's relationship. After all, Ronald felt that she was the best candidate besides Cher.But after the agent came back, he found that Diane Keaton's new film will not start shooting until November, and the schedule can actually be arranged.

This reason for refusing to act is very reasonable.In fact, it is a fake Hollywood star-style courtesy.

After all, Ronald's agency is CAA, and it is easy to find her real schedule, so that she can reject roles she doesn't want to play without hurting face, and won't hurt the face of an unfamiliar popular director like Ronald.

In contrast, Cher, whose main acting career is as a singer, was more straightforward in rejecting it.She asked her agent to talk about the outline of the script, and she said that she didn't want to play an old widow.

Although Xue Er really has other film projects to start in July, she can use the excuse of not having enough time.

Ronald came back from the memories, and he had to persuade Tanin to issue the contract first, and then go to Cher or talk to other candidates.

"You know, Ned, it's a chicken-and-egg problem. As long as you agree to release the film, we won't have a hard time finding female stars who want to be in it."

"Relax, Ronald, I support you in whatever you want to shoot. But this movie must have a star to support the scene. If you can convince a male star to play the role of Ronnie, I can pass it right away." Ning took his time and poured a glass of wine for the box office director himself.

"Although I will support your decision even if you don't have a single star, it will affect the budget after all. The upper limit of my decision-making authority at Paramount is 1000 million US dollars. If you can make up for the budget For the rest, I am also willing to give you a contract immediately."

"You read the script, too, Ned. And I'm directing. I want top-notch female stars, the best crew and equipment, and the movie will be shot in New York on a massive scale, less than fifteen million. I'm afraid the investment won't work..."

Ronald listened to the other party's wishes and could sign the release contract first, but the maximum investment was 1000 million.He began to bargain, put his advantage, box office guarantee.

"Of course, there is no limit to my confidence in you, but I have to be responsible to the board of directors, and deal with those old stubborn in high-level meetings. As long as you can come up with a female star, I am sure to issue you a contract, and 500 million budget.

Of course, if you are willing to take care of the rest of the financing yourself, I can also sign the contract immediately. "

Ned looked at Ronald's face, he didn't look very anxious, and he had a bottom line in his heart.

Although Ronald is the most popular young director this year, he made two blockbuster films in one go.But if the other party can come up with their own real money to invest, the responsibility they bear will be much smaller.

In fact, the subject matter of this movie is very risky, there are no stars, no high-concept appeal, and the box office depends on luck.And Ronald is unwilling to sign a long-term contract with Paramount to bind the next three film contracts, so that even if one fails, he can still pay back by making other commercial films.

Every director has his limitations.

Just like the last golden boy director Spielberg discovered in Hollywood.Since his debut, almost every movie has sold well, but he just can't make comedy movies.

In the time between "ET Aliens" and "The Third Kind of Contact", Spielberg also made a comedy movie "1941", with a budget of 500 million, and only got 500 million domestic box office.

The romantic comedy "Moonlight" is also a genre that Ronald has never tried. Besides, it is the love of middle-aged people. How many movie audiences like to watch the love of middle-aged people?
I don't want to be the executive producer of the only movie with a big loss in the director's resume.

On the contrary, if Ronald took the money himself or found a star to participate in the show, he would have many excuses to explain the failure, such as the star and the director did not cooperate well.

There are blockbuster directors and stars, so if the box office is not good in the end, isn't it luck and providence?The most important thing is to make your own decision and not leave any excuses for being criticized.

Just like Universal's Frank Price, what's the use of having such a good eye for scripts?That notoriety would live with him—the man behind George Lucas's only flop—as long as he got the green light on Lucas's "Howard the Duck," on paper.

"Why don't we think about it for a while? Is there any alternative? I know Sally Field well. Let me make an appointment for you to see if there is any spark?"

"Okay then, I'll put it on hold for a while, you can help me make an appointment with Ms. Field, and I have to discuss this project with several other studios."

Ronald was not very happy, and his words were soft and hard.

"Sure, I should find a few more studios, maybe there are peers who have the power to give you the budget you need." Tanin seemed not aware of it, and politely sent Ronald and his party away.

"This is a Hollywood-style fake courtesy," Nisita communicated with Ronald in the car, "Tanin probably retreated after seeing the bad reviews and poor box office results of your project 'A Bad Husband'." gone."

"Fake courtesy?" Ronald seemed to understand.

"They won't say any words of rejection to a director who has been selling continuously like you. But they will list all kinds of difficulties in objective conditions. If you can solve one, they will raise new difficulties." Chad smiled and explained to Ronald the Hollywood words. Their agents are most familiar with this kind of thing.

"Hey... let's go find Weintraub." Thinking of the name producer's "A Bad Husband", the poor box office also affected his new project financing, Ronald felt that he was too unlucky Yes, you still have to be careful when choosing films in the future, try to be cautious if you haven't dreamed about it.

"How about the new project? When can I invest?" Back home, Douglas Jr., a friend from the wrestling team, called and asked if Ronald Paramount's signing was complete.

He wants to invest a lot of cash in Hollywood. If he can get a high return, then the annuity allocated to him in the family trust next year will be even greater, and the share he will inherit in the future will also be larger.

Ronald explained the attitude of the other party, and then asked Douglas Jr. to wait a while, and then he would talk after he met Weintraub of MGM.

Douglas Jr. was more down-to-earth, "If Paramount has this attitude, it is estimated that the other companies will not give you too many conditions. If you really want to make a film, then do it, and I can find a way to solve the rest. "

"Thank you, but it hasn't reached this level yet. If necessary, I will talk to you. I am sure to ask you for help with a matter of 200 million."

By Monday, the movie box office for the weekend was out.

As expected, "A Family with an Evil Husband" only got 520 million box office in [-] theaters.This relatively average film can be regarded as quite satisfactory, but it is not enough to watch it, produced by Ronald Lee and directed by the trio of Jerry Zucker.

It seems that not every director is George Lucas, and Spielberg, able to control different types of movies, in addition to being a director can also be a good producer.

"boom!"

On the golf course, Ronald tried to play on the fairway for the first time, and hit the ball far with brute force with a tee shot.

"As a beginner, you did a really good job." Weintraub adjusted his sunglasses, and it was also a tee shot, poof...he didn't hit as far as Ronald.

"Look at me," said Susan Eakins, walking to the women's tee a few yards ahead, and bang...a drive high and floating.

"The box office of the second movie of Longwei Boys dropped by nearly 25% in the second week. I am very satisfied, Ronald. CinemaScore estimates are very accurate. The average sequel movie, even with Harrison Ford's Treasure Hunting In the second week, the box office also dropped by nearly 30%."

Weintraub held his lover Susan's waist, and the two kissed.

"I'm not like those professional managers and executives. I'm a rich man myself, Ronald. Your new film 'Moonlight', I plan to let MGM release this project, and the Star Fund will match the production funds. In the 500 million budget, my private production company will provide the insufficient part. Then the company will cooperate with all your requirements."

"Thank you, Mr. Weintraub." Ronald followed and walked towards the landing point.

"Call me Jerry, Ronald. I'll never forget the way you chose Morita Noryuki to play Miyagi-san, and I trust your judgment that it will be a good movie.

But I also have a request. "

"Please tell me," Ronald thought, even if you want your lover Susan to play a supporting role, I'm going to agree to you.

"MGM still needs some time to integrate. I plan to suspend all production projects and check the project accounts for the past three years. So your new film will have to wait three months before it can be launched."

"That's nothing. I still have to use the production and distribution contracts you generously provided to persuade female stars to participate. Do you have any suitable recommendations?"

"I'm not going to recommend, I'm going to trust your vision. I believe you have a better grasp of the casting, I only provide the money and the schedule, as long as you are within the budget and the filming is completed on time, I will not interfere at all. ——I believe It's not a problem for you." Weintraub found his ball, put a tee on the ground, and was eager to hit the ball.

"It's such a blessing to have an executive producer like you. Well... good shot..." Ronald went up to flatter him.

"However, can Susan be named as a co-producer?"

"Uh...that's no problem."

(End of this chapter)