Exploiting Hollywood 1980.

Chapter 798 MJ's generosity

After the premiere, Helen and Ronald got together for a day and returned to New York.She wants to be working with several like-minded actresses to co-create the movies she wants to make, all female movies with actresses as the leading roles.

On Monday of the second week, Ronald also got the premiere box office data of "Secret of Success". More than 1300 theaters raked in nearly 780 million box office.

Especially in Ronald's hometown of New York, the film set off a movie-watching frenzy.The white-collar workers in Manhattan lined up to watch this movie in the cinema after get off work, and even the New York Times released a special review.

"Bentley, played by Fox, lived a double life as a boy in the mail room and a senior manager, pretended to be other people's names in the company, and did two jobs that best understand the business situation, which inspired Bentley's nature. ingenuity.

Of course, the movie is full of homages to the '61 Broadway musical 'How To Effortlessly Be Commercially Successful'. "

"Huh?" Ronald became more and more wrong as he read it. Why does this sound like accusing Jim Cash and Jr. Jack Epps, the screenwriters of "Secrets of Success", of plagiarism?These two people also rewrote a version of the script of "Top Gun". Although they didn't adopt much of the plot written by them in the end, they signed it after all.

Ronald called to ask his script assistant at Daydream Pictures, David Simkins, an expert on the history of Hollywood and Broadway theater.

"Didn't it say that this movie was adapted from Spielberg's experience? Why did the New York Times film secretly tease him for plagiarizing a musical in 61?"

"Because it's really similar. That musical also tells a satirical story about a young man from a small town from the countryside who took a shortcut to get to a high position by dating the boss's lover. But when this movie came out, I saw many audiences. It is viewed with an appreciative eye.”

Simkins returned to his Los Angeles office after filming his "Babysitter" from Toronto and continued to collect scripts for Ronald.He has been working in the screenwriting room, and he is much more familiar with these old scripts than Ronald.

"Is this screenwriter cheating?" Ronald has been in the circle for a long time, and he also knows that many screenwriters deliberately choose some old movies and dramas, change their appearance and pretend to write them themselves.

It's just that this time it's too close to the original, only 25 years ago, and many film critics who watched the drama at the time remember that it was exposed to the old, and they don't know how Universal will deal with it.

The ridiculous screenwriter also vowed to say that it was based on the real incident of Spielberg posing as a staff member at Universal when he was young and occupying an office by himself.

"You can judge for yourself. I have the original script and the novel of the same name in 51. I will send it to you."

Ronald read the original script sent by the errands.

Well, maybe Spielberg did something about occupying the spare office, and it was adapted from the script.But the main story of the script, the two main jobs of the protagonist, the mail room and the senior manager are all very similar to the original version, and the plot of having an affair with the general manager's lover is also exactly the same, it is indeed plagiarism.

"This is going to happen." Ronald asked for a call from Vincent Canby, a veteran film critic of the New York Times, and called to confirm it himself.

"Ronald, I have said a lot of good things about your movie. Pauline Kyle is very optimistic about your future. She thinks you are someone who can revolutionize Hollywood. How about it? When will your new movie be released? Get a sneak peek."

New York film critic circles respect New Yorker film critic Pauline Kael.Vincent Camby, who is older than her, is no exception. Both of them are directors of the New York Film Critics Association.Hearing that it was Ronald calling, he quickly became familiar with him.

Ronald talked about the release time of his new film, and also invited him to watch the film critic session.In addition, I talked about my interpretation of his evaluation of "the secret of success", does it imply plagiarism?

"However, this movie has nothing to do with you, right? You and Herbert are friends?" Vincent Canby was referring to the director of The Secret of Success, Herbert Ross.

"No, the heroine, Helen Slater, was recommended by me. I have read the script of the old musical you mentioned, and I want to confirm with you."

"It turns out that Helen is yours. I can tell you clearly that it's not the first time those two screenwriter boys have done this. Your Top Gun is also full of scenes from classic western movies."

Well, Ronald is really unfamiliar.He checked with Vincent Canby, and many of the plots written by these two people that did survive were plagiarized.

This is not something that he can completely stay out of. Ronald picked up the phone and called his agent Nisita.

"I have a message..."

……

"Nisita said you have some important news?" Universal's president, Tom Pollack with squinting eyes, asked his secretary to change his schedule to receive Ronald, the youngest blockbuster director in Hollywood. ·plum.

Who asked his agent to make things serious on the phone.

"This is a film review written by Vincent Canby," Ronald flipped to the page where he secretly picked out plagiarism, and marked it with a marker.

"This is the original script and novel," followed by two thick books. "I checked with Vincent Canby. He didn't directly mention it out of caution."

Tom Pollack looked at it and covered his face with one hand, "Shxt, this musical, was adapted into a movie in 67, produced by United Artists, I remember seeing the top ten box office over the years, and I have an impression of this name. Those people all eat dogs..."

"Hey, the person in charge of script review will come to my office later." Pollack picked up the phone and briefly explained to the secretary.

"Thank you, Ronald. I owe you a favor. What do you want?" Pollack squinted three meters to Ronald's side, and his good eye looked directly at him.

Ronald was a little hairy in his heart, and he couldn't express his ridicule for other people's physical disabilities.

"I just think this matter is very serious, so I came here to have a special interview with you. I have nothing to exchange for you, I just hope that Helen will not be affected, and my friend Michael (J. Fox)"

"I will remember. Don't worry, Universal's public relations department is still strong. I will let the film critics maintain a tacit understanding. I will add these two little bastards to the blacklist and then notify all other studios.

By the way, you are also a member of the Producers Union now, right?The last time I went to a meeting with your general manager Eddie Cohen, it's time to share these blacklists with you.I'll get someone to bring a copy, please keep it secret. "

"Thank you then."

Ronald got up to say goodbye, Tom Pollack was always working like a clock, don't waste any more of his time.

On the way back, Ronald looked up the blacklist shared by the industry. He really felt that this exchange was very generous, and that good intentions were rewarded.

In Hollywood in the past ten years, many screenwriters, directors, and entertainers with bad deeds have been listed on this list.Of course, the names of all the big-name celebrities have not been seen, and there must be another version with a higher level of confidentiality.

But these ordinary dishonest, plagiarized, and nonsense names are also a very important weapon for small companies to avoid losses.

"These producers, if I don't ask them for it, they won't give it." The general manager Eddie has also vaguely heard of such a blacklist, but no one took the initiative to recall the memories of attending the Producers Union several times. prompt him.

"Keep it well, make a copy, and don't read it if you are not a senior manager." After Ronald ordered, he directly put a copy in the safe of his apartment.

"Secret of Success" officially topped the box office charts on Monday night after all the movie box office statistics were released.

"Blind Date", which was released with his back and forth, was dropped to a far second place, with only $400 million in the box office.

This romantic comedy is starring Bruce Willis, the hottest comedy star in the TV series, and Kim Basinger, a sexy porn star famous for "Loving You for Nine and a Half Weeks".There is still a long way to go from the "secret of success".

Ronald watched it and felt that his acting skills were exaggerated and he had a strong TV drama style, and Kim Basinger could not boost the box office of the movie.After all, she didn't take off in this movie.

After that, there is "Lethal Weapon", which has been released for more than a month.The leading actor is also another Australian male star who had a relationship with Ronald, Mel Gibson.

Movies that combine action with comedy elements are very popular now.In particular, Danny Glover, who plays Mel Gibson's partner in the film, is a bit of a comedy master in the silent film era, who can make people laugh with body language.

Then there's Nicolas Cage's "Raising Arizona," a weird movie that did well at the box office.

Finally, "Field Platoon", which was released for 5 months, still has a tenacious presence at the box office.There is great momentum to copy last year's "Top Gun" and become a box office hit.

In short, in the first half of the year, the box office of the entire North America was supported by these blockbuster movies.

Tom Pollack's measures were powerful.Over the next few days, Ronald noticed that there were no more hints of "Secret of Success" plagiarism in the film reviews.

The film lived up to expectations and achieved an average of US$5700 for a single venue.Continue to make great strides in the middle of the week, and it is about to win the box office champion again.

Two well-known film critics in the Chicago Film Critic also commented on the film on the TV show:
"The secret to success, it seems, is trapped in some kind of time machine, as if the script has been sitting in a drawer at the top of Universal since the 1950s and no one bothers to update it. Starring Michael J. Fox, and Helen Hunt, are the only Two highlights.

This strange movie is difficult to classify, from sitcom to farce, from sex farce to business war plot, only the performances of the two leading actors can calmly lead the audience through the inherent flaws of the script, through countless quicksand traps, Reached the climax of the ending. "

"Hey..." Ronald turned off the remote control. Roger Ebert is very shrewd. He dared not say anything to the Syndicate TV station that broadcasts his own TV movie review program, the daughter of PBS general manager Gerald Slater. Show a little dissatisfaction, but also have to be careful to say good things.

"Ronald, Mr. Bannon is here." Little Bard knocked on the door and came in to inform Ronald.

"Ask him to wait, I'll be out right away."

Ronald put on a simple coat, and when he went out, he saw Bannon and a limousine parked at the door.

"MJ's manager, Dario, called. He is free to see us tonight." Ronald thanked Bannon who opened the door for himself, and took the seat on the right side of the back seat.

Bannon turned from the back of the car to the left to get on the car, "I put the copy in the back, let's go."

Ronald skillfully took out a bottle of Coke from the freezer, handed it to Bannon, and the two drank it.

Bannon was also the first to be transported in a limousine with a rough cut of the new film "Can't Buy Me Love."As a Wall Street banker, he has always paid attention to such ostentation.

"As for your cousin Donna, I've already written a letter of recommendation. If you're looking for Screen Fund, that's enough. I'll send her resume, along with her resume, to the president of the company in Long Island.

That guy is a mathematician, not like us, a very technical talent.But I can still talk to him and deal with him.I will call him. "

"Then thank you." Ronald saw that Bannon was so concerned about his own affairs, and knew that most of Donna's wishes could be fulfilled.

"Do you think MJ will be interested in our samples? What price will he give us?" Bannon turned his head and began to test Rhoner on whether MJ would agree to grant the Beatles the copyright of the songs and the naming rights of the movies. Germany's influence in front of him.

"It's hard to say, the artist's ideas are complicated. But I saw the sample, the final ending is very good, artists are also a group of people who are easily moved, maybe they can get a good price, such as a heavy discount. "

Ronald also didn't know how much face Michael Jackson could give himself, so he didn't say enough.It's not the same now as it was a few years ago when Ronald filmed him the "Captain Io" short.

MJ's current record sales have broken the record of all singers' single records in history.Now in the music scene, MJ is in a state of whatever he wants.When the new album was about to be released, I was able to spare more than an hour to watch the film. It was already for the sake of an old friend.

"Oh, really? I rarely deal with musicians, I wish us luck." Bannon grunted and sat silent in the back seat.

"Sit down, Ronald, have you brought all the copies?"

MJ's manager Dario, with a bald head, came out to greet Ronald and Bannon in person.

"It's all on the trolley." Ronald pointed to Bannon who was pushing the trolley behind him, carrying a set of rough-cut copies of "Love Is Not For Sale".

"Where is MJ?" Arriving at the screening room, Ronald looked at the empty hall, only a few backup dancers sat sparsely in the back.

"He's very busy right now, and he has a lot to be sure about the new album. Columbia has high hopes for the new album. Come over when he's done chatting."

"Okay." Ronald sat down, and Bannon himself moved the copy into the screening room at the back.

The three of them waited in the private screening room for more than two hours. Bannon had already drank three large cups of Americano coffee, and Ronald began to shake his legs out of boredom.

"Tonight seems to be a long night." Bannon looked at Ronald with no respect just now.In front of America's biggest pop star right now, it's pretty much all about waiting.Looking at this posture, maybe Ronald doesn't have much face to sell with MJ.

"Ronald, you're here, have you seen the MV of my new song?"

After more than half an hour, a slender and gentle male voice finally appeared in the screening hall.

Dario rushed forward with a stride, leading the way for MJ.

"Very good, very good, who directed it? The video style is very good." Ronald stepped forward and hugged MJ.

"John Landis, he works for me now." Michael Jackson said with a smile.

Ronald was taken aback, he hadn't heard this name for a long time.There was an accident that year, and the director who beheaded actor Vic Morrow paid sky-high compensation to Morrow's family and two other Asian children.

His level is actually very good, and now MJ asked him to direct the MV, which is considered a bargain.

"Let's get started." After MJ sat down, he gave orders softly and habitually.

Ronald looked at Bannon, and he immediately ran to the screening room and started showing the movie himself.

The one-hour, two-and-ten-minute film quickly draws to a close, as Amanda Peterson and Patrick Dempsey, riding a lawn mower and thinking about driving along, share a passionate kiss , without a soundtrack.

"Can't Buy Me Love..."

A very typical black male voice began to sing the song "Love Is Not For Sale" by The Beatles.The scene adds harmony to the end of the movie.

Ronald looked at Michael Jackson who was singing softly in the dark, his eyes contained tears, and he could see clearly under the reflection of the screen.

"Can't Buy Me Love...", the backing dancers, and the harmony group, also began to sing along with MJ's a cappella, and began to join in.

"Oh..." After MJ finished singing, subtitles began to appear on the screen.

Ronald knew that things would go well, "You sing really well, I think it's even more moving than the original song."

"Oh, Ronald, you got me excited." MJ calmed down and said lightly.

"You know what? I was in the Jackson 5 with my dad and a couple of my brothers when I was a kid, doing televised shows all over the country, and going to live shows. Every night when I went to sleep, my older brother would come home with some pretty girls .

I was very inconspicuous at that time, and I always wanted to get such a pure love in the movie, without any other love.

Love should not be a commodity. "MJ sat in the dark and said to himself in a very soft voice.

"Pa..." The lights in the hall were turned on.

"So, you agree?" Ronald looked at MJ under the light, sitting there in black clothes.

Ronald wanted to strike while the iron was hot and get the authorization done.

"Of course, of course, you are the best, Ronald. I always find emotion and passion in your movies."

"You're a talented artist and it's amazing to be able to move you. But I'm not the director of this movie."

"Hey, I know. You don't want to be named. The movie is like a song. From the paw prints, you can tell that the tiger has come. The heroine's eyes are full of hope. It must be your handwriting, right? ?”

"Um...that's sort of it." Ronald thought to himself, since he saved Amanda Peterson from Tom Mount's jaws, her eyes must keep this light.

"Mr. Jackson, Mr. Dario, do you agree to license the song of the Beatles to us for this movie? I don't know what price is required? We hope that it will be used as the opening and ending episode, as well as the name of the movie... "

Bannon came up again, he was more anxious than Ronald.

"Dario, what is the minimum transfer fee for the song copyright I bought?" MJ asked the manager Dario.

"Minimum? According to the requirements of the labor union, the minimum authorization for movie episodes is [-] U.S. dollars, and the title is [-] U.S. dollars. But that's usually for fledgling singers..."

"That's it, Ronald is my friend, he made me feel the original passion and innocence tonight..." MJ said and finalized.

……

"Satisfied? This is a floor price."

Back in the limousine, Ronald handed the signed licensing agreement to Bannon.

Bannon took it carefully, and then glanced at Ronald several times.

"This man is unfathomable. MJ originally asked for 100 million for the copyright of the song, but he sold it to us for [-]. He also brought the right to name the movie."

Ronald glanced at Bannon's expression, knowing that the other party misunderstood that his friendship with MJ had reached the point where he could give away the copyright of the song at will.

In fact, Ronald didn't know why MJ was so moved by this very ordinary teenage romantic comedy.Could it be that he was also a girl who couldn't pick up girls when he was a child?
That being said, it's quite possible. At that time, the star of the Jackson 5 choir was his elder brother Jackie.

"Your extra production expenses should be used well. If you use it to buy some film critics for marketing, or put more advertisements on MTV, it will have a good effect."

Ronald knew that Bannon's psychological price was almost one-third of the asking price. He had prepared 30 to [-] US dollars to purchase the copyright of the song.Unexpectedly, one tenth of it was not used.

"I will fly back to New York personally, and take Donna to visit the New York Stock Exchange, and Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, ... and other investment banks. And all the brokerages on Wall Street that can scale up, all of them have had big projects in the past two years Broker..." Bannon turned around and said something completely irrelevant.

"Working on Wall Street, networking is also very important. Donna may not be suitable for the working environment there, but with my introduction, I still need to get to know those important people.

Afterwards, I will personally send her to the Renaissance Investment Company of Professor Simmons in Long Island. The Linroy Columbia Fund managed by him mainly makes fund investments for some universities in the Ivy League.

Donna can intern wherever she likes, and I will guarantee that she will use her professional ability to find a job as an assistant researcher at the Linroy Columbia Fund. "

"I don't know what to say other than thank you." Ronald could only thank Donna as one of his closest relatives.

"It's okay, it's my honor to do something for you." Bannon felt that he had been bumping around in Hollywood for more than a year, and it wasn't until now that he was sure that he had found the man of destiny who could lead him to prosperity.

(End of this chapter)