Exploiting Hollywood 1980.

Chapter 726 Finding the location

"We're Daydream Films, calling you from New York, we want to chat with you, the latest Ronald Lee movie... yes, the director of 'Top Gun',... wait, We're not liars. We're not..."

"Ahhhhhhhh" Donna started her summer job at Ronald's Daydream Films, she was often accused of being a liar, she couldn't help it anymore, and couldn't help crying out.

"Don't be like this, Donna. It's normal to be rejected in this line of work. You have to get rid of those bad emotions and continue to make another call." A female employee who seemed to be a bit experienced came to comfort Donna, who was always regarded as a liar.

"Thank you, Dolly." Donna recovered her emotions and went to make a cup of coffee to sort out her emotions.

Dolly Belinstein is a familiar hand recruited by Cannold from Columbia, who is in charge of distribution.She is said to be a pro, but in fact she does not have much experience, but the strength is that she understands the industry better than others, and she is willing to work hard.

"Hello, is this Mr. Thomas Stephenson from Hollywood Cinemas in New Jersey? I'm Donna Parker from Daydream Films and I'm calling to talk to you about Ronald Lee's next movie. The release of the work." Donna gathered her energy and continued to make calls on the directory.

"Hey, it's me. I saw Ronald at the Las Vegas show. Why isn't his next movie a Big Seven release?"

"Ah, thank you for trusting me." Donna finally met a theater owner who didn't know that she was a liar. A love story between an American girl and a poor Irish boy dancer. For various reasons, Ronald decided to distribute the film himself."

"I'm very interested. Do you have my fax? You can send me the brief introduction of the project."

"Yes!" Donna yelled happily after finally talking to a theater owner with image.

……

"Yes, Yes, that's right, these are the songs, that's right."

At this time, Ronald, who was in the office next door, found Eleanor, the screenwriter of "Dirty Dancing", and began to ask her about each scene in the script.

This kind of semi-autobiographical script, no one knows better than Eleanor what the movie she wants to make is like.

The two chatted scene by scene, confirming the appearance, background, utensils, and even the music used in the dance party one by one.

Eleanor posted a note for each soundtrack scene in the script, and wrote down the soundtrack she wanted.They are all old songs from the 60s and [-]s. In addition, there are also a few new songs and interludes.

She also specifically found a list of all the episodes she thought should be used, ripped them from the record onto a blank tape, wrote "Eleanor's Dirty Dancing Episode" on it, and gave it to Ronald.

Ronald took out the tape recorder and listened to the episode in the dream, and immediately cried out happily.

"Very good, that's the taste." Ronald was very happy, and put the tape and the list of songs together.

"There are more than 20 songs in total." Ronald counted.

"Why, do you think there are too many old songs used?" Eleanor was very happy to see that her film project had been approved, and she felt Ronald's respect for her original screenwriter.In addition to the transfer fee for the production rights, there is also a small share of the profits, which made her feel happy and tried her best to help Ronald's production process.

"No, were these old songs popular in the past?" Ronald asked.

"Of course, these were the regulars on the charts when I was young. Otherwise, I wouldn't play these songs when I was writing."

"The record company's transfer fee is not cheap." Ronald clicked his lips.I have only compiled a production budget of 450 million for the project, and I have a reserve fund of 150 million.If the record company raises the price of these songs, it is likely to cost him 10,000+ dollars per song.

"That's it, I don't know. If it really doesn't work, then change to other cheap songs." Eleanor said dejectedly.The 450 million budget is limited everywhere, and it has to be used sparingly. It is impossible to spend so much on episodes.

"I'll ask someone first." Ronald also felt that it was a pity to give up those very suitable songs.These are the songs that Eleanor originally composed in her mind when she was writing the script.

"Also find someone to collect the episode." Ronald looked at the money in the budget form, knowing that it would be too expensive to find those old friends to customize an episode, so he still found a way to find it at a cheap composer.

"What should we do next? Shall we find a studio to set up the scene?" Eleanor's understanding of film shooting is still ten years ago.

"Ah, we don't have that much money. It's better to find a real scene." Ronald laughed.

Setting up a scene in a studio and imitating the actual scene is the patent of big productions.Just like Diane's "Fire Street" and Helen's "Supergirl", with a budget of tens of millions, for one or two important scenes, millions of dollars can be spent to build a real scene.

For my poor millions, I can only find real scenes in reality and shoot them with natural light.Although the effect is a little worse than artificial lighting, it is cheaper, and the taste of the audience is gradually turning to live shooting.

"Well, when I wrote this script, I wrote it according to the Catskill (Catskill) where the Jewish people in New York vacationed when I was a child. It would be great if I could shoot there."

After bidding farewell to screenwriter Eleanor, Ronald realized that the most urgent thing now is to find an art director, determine the location of the live-action shooting, and find the corresponding places in Catskills one by one.

Ronald's old connections were in Hollywood, and the Catskills was a Jewish-only resort in Greene County, New York. He had to find an art director who was familiar with New York.

"Why don't you ask Jonathan Demme? His 'Shot Lulu (Something Wild)' was filmed in New York and New Jersey."

Nisita received a call from Ronald. He didn't know that the art director was familiar with New York, so he called Jonathan Demy.

"Hello, Ronald. My art director Stephen Laneweaver is very familiar with the surrounding areas of New York. You just need to describe the scene you need to him, and he will find the right place."

When Jonathan Demi heard that the younger brother needed someone, he quickly recommended the acquaintances he had worked with.

Stephen Laneweaver was a bearded, tall man, and after he met Ronald, the two chatted very congenially.After Ronald offered him a standard contract, the two set off for the Catskills resort.

"It's very interesting here. The Catskills Village is a small town mainly engaged in tourism and vacationing. Every winter and summer, countless wealthy Jewish businessmen, lawyers, and doctors from New York and New Jersey bring their families here for vacation."

When Ryan Weaver arrived at the resort, he put on sunglasses and introduced them to Ronald.

"Why only give the Jews a vacation? Don't others accept it?" Ronald also put on sunglasses. He is not Jewish. Could it be that the other party is unwilling to rent it to him?
"At the beginning, after the end of World War II, many Eastern European Jews immigrated to the East Coast. At that time, the mainstream people did not like Jews. Therefore, some of them with business minds opened such a special reception for Jews. resort.

Because they are here, they don't have to worry about being discriminated against. Jews generally value education and can afford it soon, so the development here is very fast.

Later, Jews mainly like to be with people of the same ethnicity, so everyone has the same custom. "

Ronald and Ryan Weaver walked to the resort, which is close to the mountains. In summer, the temperature is cooler than other places in New York. There are many mountain breezes and shady places, and there is no need to turn on the air conditioner to live here.

"There are a lot of tourists here, and they are very rich." Ronald saw many expensive cars parked outside the resort.

"Yes, the conditions here are the best. It is the best among all the Jewish resorts within a two-hour drive around New York."

"Hello, welcome to my place to film, Director Ronald."

The owner who runs the Catskill resort is of course Jewish.He heard that Director Ronald Lee intends to rent his place to shoot a movie, and the fat on his face trembled with joy.

"How much shooting time do you need? How can we match your shooting?"

"The shooting plan I made will take about four weeks. For two weeks, the main scenic spots of the resort need to be used by the film crew. In the other two weeks, only the venues that need to be filmed can be closed."

"Oh, although this will have some impact on our business, I am happy to cooperate with you." The boss took out a piece of paper and began to calculate, "We will not accept tourists for two weeks, and we will close some places for another two weeks , for you to shoot and use.”

"Yes, roughly like this." Ronald felt that the boss also wanted to make a big advertisement for his resort, so he was more cooperative.

"The total cost is about this figure." The boss handed Ronald a cost breakdown sheet with various expenses written on it.

"Ahem..." Ronald coughed as he looked at the final total price.

It is impossible for this price to occupy more than one-third of his production cost.

"Could it be cheaper? Our movie will be a big advertisement for your resort."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Li." The boss took the paper back with a puzzled expression.Ronald Lee is the director of "Top Gun", so it must be produced by a big studio. How could it not afford the venue fee?

"Our day-to-day business is good. We have a lot of customers in New York and New Jersey, so we don't really need too much advertising. This price is already the best price we have given, but it still depends on you want to shoot a Jewish movie. superior."

"Hey hey, okay, you don't mind if we look around and make a decision?"

"Please."

Ronald and art director Ryan Weaver both bid farewell to their bosses and wandered around the resort.

"This is the hall where the ball is held in the script, and this is the big house by the lake, where the dancers teach the guests to dance. The trees here grow very well, and they are all decades old. It fits the summer in the script very well. Looks like a vacation."

Ryan Weaver couldn't stop raving about the resort's exterior.

"Yeah, this is where screenwriter Eleanor had in mind to write the script. So the scene must be similar.

"No wonder," Ryan Weaver held up the director's viewfinder and looked around.

"How about we wait for the peak season in summer to pass and shoot in autumn, will it be much cheaper? I know that the price of resorts in the off-season is only one-third to one-fifth of the peak season. In this way, we will have enough money to rent Off to the location."

Ryan Weaver suddenly had an idea.Movie shooting is cost-conscious, and in order to save money, it is not a problem to shoot summer scenes in autumn.

"Good idea, let's go back and discuss it with the boss." Ronald applauded with high fives, attracting many tourists.The two turned around and wanted to go back to the hotel.

"Ha, are you going to shoot a summer movie? It's better to shoot before August. The trees here will turn yellow and fall in autumn, so there is no atmosphere of summer vacation at all."

A fat girl said to Ronald.

"What? Do the leaves here change color and fall in autumn?" Ronald was stunned. He had lived in Los Angeles for a long time, and he had forgotten that the East Coast was dominated by deciduous trees.

"Yeah, I was born and raised here, and I know it best."

"Well, thank you...you know how to make movies too."

"I've also made movies, and I recognize you, Director Ronald."

"Oh, sorry, I forgot my manners", Ronald reached out to shake hands with the fat girl, "Thank you, you are...".

"Connelly, Jennifer Connelly. I played the heroine in Once Upon a Time in America when she was a child, because my nose is very similar to the heroine Elizabeth McGovern," said the fat girl, pointing to her nose. Looking at Ronald, on the smiling face, the fleshy nose protruded cutely, and the surrounding area was wrinkled.

"Ah... Sorry again, I've been too busy with projects recently, no wonder I see you familiar."

Ronald quickly apologized, not being able to recognize the actors was a great offense to them.

However, it's not my fault, why are you so much fatter than in "Once Upon a Time in America"?The face is round, but the figure is not bad.

"Ronald, can I call you Ronald? I don't know what movie you're in? Can I have a chance?"

"Eh..." Ronald was speechless for a moment, "How old are you this year?"

"I'll be 16 by the end of the year." Connery answered honestly.

"We're a tight-scheduled movie about grown-girl romance, so we needed actors who could shoot for a long time."

"Oh..." Jennifer Connelly nodded. At her age, when she was filming a film in New York, the Screen Actors Union would definitely keep a close eye on it. Did she work overtime?Have you arranged for teachers to tutor high school courses?Is there any illegal overtime work after eleven o'clock in the evening?

Generally, directors will not choose underage actresses unless they have to, and would rather find older actors to play them.

"There will be some supporting roles that don't have many roles. If you are interested, you can ask your agent to call me." Ronald took out a business card and handed it to the other party, if she hadn't reminded the environment of the trees changing color and falling leaves. , Maybe the filming will be bad.

(End of this chapter)