Exploiting Hollywood 1980.

Chapter 828 No one wants to play the leading role in a big production?

"So what's the script?" Ronald asked Joel Silver.

"It's an adaptation of a novel 'Nothing lasts forever'. The author, Rodriguez Thorpe, is a true New York detective. His detailed and popular novels were adapted into Hollywood movies in the 70s. Starring Frank Sinatra."

Joel Silver winked at the blonde beauty in his arms, she obediently stood up and went out first, leaving the study room to him and Ronald.

Then Silver rummaged on the bookshelf, found an original first edition of the paperback novel "Nothing Lasts Forever," and handed it to Ronald.

"When I was filming 'Streets of Rage', you made a deep impression on me. If only I had asked you to be the director at that time." Joel Silver brought up the old story again.Back then, he and director Walter Hill, in order to steal money from the budget, set up a studio for all the shots that could have been shot on-site.

In the studio in Los Angeles, a Chicago subway station and night view of the city were reconstructed.We also invited the best lighting engineer, the best costume designer, and the best composer, but we forgot to invite the best director.

Walter Hill's creative taste could not catch up with the audience of the new era, and he failed miserably at the box office and was ruthlessly abandoned.Joel Silver was deeply impressed by some of Ronald's ideas back then.In the few years after the failure of the film, Silver sometimes thought in the dead of night that if he could use Ronald as the director, maybe he would continue to be successful.

Ronald took the novel and flipped through it casually. It was a normal paperback detective novel package. On the cover was an old detective-like man with a skyscraper in the background.

"Take it and have a look. If you're interested, call me anytime. I'll be open. I've been working on this project for the whole year." Silver smiled warmly at Ronald with a simple and honest look.

"Busy all year? Where's your script?" Ronald looked at the brief introduction. It was about a retired detective named Joe Leland who was killed by a group of German terrorists when he visited his daughter in New York for Christmas. He took his daughter and grandson as hostages...

"The script is still being written..."

"Hey..." Ronald let out a sigh. I don't know if he was surprised that the other party was able to hold his breath and strive for excellence in the pursuit of wonderful scripts, or that the producer was always like this, and dared to come out to persuade him when he had nothing in hand. Others join in.

"Who is your bank mortgage? Sinatra is suitable. He will be 70 this year, right? Playing a retired old man is just right."

What Ronald was talking about was the jargon of a producer. It is a chicken-and-egg problem for a film to be approved, get a contract from a distribution company, and then start financing.

Whoever it is in Hollywood likes to join a project that already has other well-known industry insiders on board.If a project already has a big star who has agreed to take part, then the rest of the stuff falls into place.

Unless, like Ronald, he used his own money to make a movie.The starting point of a medium-sized or above Hollywood project is to first settle one of distribution, director, and star, and then use the people and resources that have been settled to persuade others to participate.

In terms of difficulty, it is easiest to start with stars because banks have no idea what projects are popular.As long as the star agrees to play, the remaining difficulty will be an order of magnitude smaller.

This is also one of the reasons why Hollywood stars are so sought after, and they can almost do whatever they want in normal times.

Because the role of celebrities is so great, banks can basically regard them as collateral for the project when they see stars participating in the show, so everyone in the industry likes to call celebrities bank mortgages.

"Sinatra is in his 70s, and emphysema has made it difficult for him to sing on stage in Las Vegas. I don't think he can do the heavy physical labor of filming."

"Uh...then who did you find?" Ronald continued to ask.

"Whoever you want to work with, we will find who. Stallone, Schwarzenegger, Clint Eastwood..."

When Ronald heard these names, he shook his head in his heart. Joel Silver may not know the "history" between himself and Stallone, and Stallone and Eastwood are both narcissistic and have nothing to do with him. Well... that is, Schwarzenegger and himself still hit it off.

"Wait..." Ronald was still thinking about what project Schwarzenegger was filming now and whether it was suitable for him to act, but suddenly he realized that he was almost deceived by Silver.

"You SOB, you haven't managed a single star, you want me to be your bank mortgage, right?"

"Hahaha...", Joel Silver didn't feel ashamed after being exposed, but laughed, "You should be proud, Ronald. Now you can also be the same as those big stars, by Wall Street's SOB Ours is a guarantee of the box office."

"So you SOB, you come to use my name, and then go to lie to those SOBs on Wall Street?" Ronald also laughed, Silver is really a wonderful person.To be honest, being a producer requires such shameless "talent" to test everything.

"To be honest, I really want to work with you." Silver put away his smile and looked very sincere, "I have a very good relationship with Twentieth Century Fox. As long as I can agree to the director, I can tell them A better condition."

"Hey... I have a good relationship with their vice president, Joseph Farrow, and I can get what you said by myself." Ronald did not hide it, and his relationship with the CEOs of several major studios was very good. It’s not bad, Fox’s Farrow, who produced “Spirited” together with himself, has tacitly cheated a lot of Fox’s money and resources.

"Go and talk, can you talk about the box office commission?" Silver lowered his voice.

"Can you get it?" Ronald was also interested when he saw that he seemed to be able to do it.

"Basically, Fox's financial situation is not very good now. Half of their building has been repaired, and the upper floor has not yet been renovated, so the legal department and the financial department have moved in. Let's take advantage of this time to discuss conditions with them. Absolutely Can make a fortune.

Besides, your old relationship, Farrow, now has less power to speak at Fox, and the new president is Leonard Goldberg from the past of ABC TV. We have known each other for a long time..."

"In that case, it's worth thinking about." Ronald thought of two friends from Dongying who wanted to invest in Hollywood. It happened that Fox was short of money, so it might be a good opportunity.

"That's right." Silver picked up the novel from the table and put it in Ronald's hands. "You have a good look. Even if you don't direct, I welcome your company to invest in this novel." movie."

Ronald put away the novel, and he already planned to take some time to see if he could put some positive Japanese characters in it.Anyway, as long as the positive image appears in the movie, the two pro-American entertainment bosses in Dongying can invest.

"I said Joel, can you tell me the truth, who is the actor in your mind, and who did you contact? Who rejected it, and who agreed to consider it? It will save me in case I am interested. Go ask those who say no."

"It's fair," Silver raised his hands in a gesture of surrender, "Both Eastwood and Stallone refused, we hope that the leading actor has action skills and a certain sense of humor, and now the most promising is Schwarz Singh, making contact."

"It doesn't sound that promising?" Ronald saw that two of the three names on the list were crossed out by him.

"Hey, you'll understand if you make a few more movies. Not all the projects of the seven major studios will have star competition."

Joel Silver produced a portrait and handed it to Ronald.

Above is a sketch of a leading man, all muscular and smiling.

"You have to have talent in both action and comedy. These two conditions don't seem to be very compatible unless we find a black star Eddie Murphy."

"Hmph, I see." Ronald glanced at the portrait twice, and there were a lot of names of celebrities listed below.

The left column is action stars, including Sylvester Stallone, Schwarzenegger, Eastwood, etc. They can shoot action scenes, but their comedy talent has not been proven.

The right column has acting skills, including Harrison Ford, Paul Newman, Al Pacino, etc., but their ability to shoot action scenes is slightly inferior.

"I'll take this novel and have a look. I can't promise anything." Ronald patted the thick paperback novel, ready to leave.

"Of course, of course, but I think you'll enjoy the novel and the project," predicted Joel Silver.

"By the way, you said the screenwriter is still writing the script. Is it too late? When will Fox set up the project and when will it be released?"

"This year's Las Vegas trade fair has been confirmed, and next year's summer vacation. Don't worry, the screenwriter I'm looking for is paying off the mortgage. His previous script was abandoned by Columbia, and now Disney is giving him a little part-time job and he can't make ends meet. , I gave him a high salary, he can work 18 hours a day..."

"Fuck you SOB, eighteen hours a day? Joel, don't squeeze it too hard. Now the screenwriters union is very dissatisfied with the share of the video tape. They all sent letters to me, a union member, encouraging everyone to refuse to grow up. time overtime."

"Yeah, yeah...you're still a member of the Producers Union, you're on our side." Joel Silver laughed and sent Ronald out.

……

After negotiating the rights to the videotapes of several pre-produced films, Ronald and Michelle Cannold were going to make another trip to the East Coast to finalize the business of the videotape factory in New Jersey.

Since Ronald took a long-distance flight in a private business jet, he feels that a business jet is much better than the first-class cabin of a commercial airliner.He knew many bigwigs who owned business jets, and he also obtained the contact information of the business jet leasing company through his broker.Connected with them.

Los Angeles and New York are the busiest business routes in America, and there are many commuting flights every day. Ronald can find cheap business jet charter segments as long as he informs them in advance.

Many CEOs of listed companies, or wealthy people who lease business jets for travel, do not return immediately after flying to their destinations.At this time, the business jet company needs to dispatch the plane back. At this time, by the way, one or two passengers can be picked up, and the price can be greatly discounted.It's just that the time is uncertain and you need to wait.

This time, Ronald was put on the waiting list by the business jet company, and it took about 24 hours before the scheduled flight to New York.

"Ronnie, where are you? New York or Los Angeles?"

Ronald, who happened to be hiding at home to read a novel, received a call from Kelly McGillis.

"I'm in Los Angeles. I could go to New York anytime. What? What's the matter?"

"It's great that you are in Los Angeles. I have something to ask you. Are you still in the old place?"

"Yes, you come." Ronald put away the novel, and McGillis asked him what he didn't know?It won't be the one I mentioned last time... right?

Just thinking about who McGillis' girlfriend would be, Kelly rushed over as fast as he could and knocked on Ronald's door.

"Ronald, help me, I've been calling all over the past two days." McGillis was very anxious when he came in.

"What's the matter?" Ronald helped McGillis take off his coat and hung it on the coat rack.Looking back, it seems that there is no second person.

"Paramount couldn't find a suitable actor for the rape victim in 'Robbery of Ewha'. They still wanted me to play the victim and find another lawyer."

"Oh, how come?" Ronald took a list that McGillis took out from the bag, and there were many candidates for the heroine proposed by Shirley Lansing.

Ronald knew that McGillis wanted to play the role of the lawyer and use this movie to evoke the social atmosphere in American society that is unfriendly to female victims.She wanted to use the film to show that the criminals, not the sexy female victims, were the ones who should be blamed.

And she herself is troubled by similar things. If this movie can be made, it may be a good relief for her heart knot.

"However, none of you can convince the female stars on this list? I can convince them?" Ronald was a little surprised, why McGillis would come to him for help.

"Kim Basinger, Demi Moore, Jennifer Beals, Michelle Pfeiffer, Meg Tilly..."

At a glance, Ronald saw that apart from Basinger, they were all actresses who had a 'history' with him.Especially the last two names...

He was skeptical that the list was aimed at him.

"Who made this list?" Ronald didn't show emotion, but calmed his voice, stroked the list, and spread it on the table.

"It was drawn by Shirley Lansing, and she went to everyone on the list and got turned down. She seems to be determined that I want to be in this movie, so let me beg you."

Kelly McGillis looked at Ronald with two big eyes and blinked a few times.There is an actor's sincerity and desire in it.

Ronald felt from McGillis' eyes that she didn't seem to be the one who deliberately used her past history.Then Lansing, who came up with the idea, is very suspicious. What does she want to do?Do you think you are still the little screenwriter back then?
Ronald stretched out his hand and slowly flattened the paper on the table, pressing it down one by one. The unevenness caused by the folds was very hard every time, as if he was smoothing the memories that came up because of the list.

"I don't have the ability to convince them. Presumably Lansing and Paramount came forward. There is a reason why they all declined the role?" Ronald said slowly.

"Hey... I know too." McGillis sighed. "I think the same way. This is not something that a director can persuade, and it has nothing to do with the salary. It is the star's choice of his own career path."

Suddenly McGillis seemed to be deflated, and she fell on Ronald's lap, covering her face with her hands. "I have no choice but to beg you. Ms. Lansing said that you may have a way to persuade one of them. She said that the works you directed have beautiful women. Your words are convincing. I "Sorry, I really want to be in this movie."

Sure enough, it was Lansing who was playing tricks, Ronald smiled, "Then you just insist on playing the female lawyer? Don't touch the role of the victim."

"Thank you..." McGillis kissed Ronald lightly on the mouth. "But there are too many people who can play the role of a lawyer. Lansing is still in contact with Jane Fonda and Mel Streep. If she doesn't find a suitable candidate for the victim, she will ask me to play it. , and then give the role of female lawyer to those two."

"This Lansing is too tricky." Ronald got angry in a moment, picked up his tea cup and slapped the table heavily.

This old woman is too good at calculating. McGillis filmed "Top Gun", and now is the time when the bank is most optimistic about it as a box office guarantee.Her interest in the role of the prosecutor in the case in the movie was too obvious, and she was taken advantage of by Shirley Lansing.

As long as McGillis plays the victim, it's still a big bank mortgage.Financing and issuance are not a problem.

And those past events of hers, I don't know where she dug them out.Especially the last Meg Tilly, who is now a powerful producer in Hollywood and the wife of Tim Kinneman, let her ex-boyfriend contact a married woman?She has absolutely no peace of mind about this.

"Forget it, I know you're also in a dilemma. If it doesn't work, I'll just stop acting. I think their filming plan will also be put on hold. Let's talk about it later." McGillis said very refreshingly, stroking his hair.

"This has nothing to do with you." Ronald shook his hands, took out his handkerchief and wiped the splashed water on his hands.

"If you don't mind, let me ask." Ronald had another question that he didn't want to understand. "I can understand that you don't want to play the victim. Why don't these actresses also want to?"

"Hey, Lansing had someone modify the script, and added a crime memory scene at the beginning, which is why I couldn't accept this role."

Kelly McGillis got up, took out a script from her bag, and handed it to Ronald.

"Oh, Shxt!" Ronald flipped through the previous scenes and couldn't help cursing.How many times have the heroine been raped by the criminals in the bar until they are repeatedly raped on the pinball machine? Have you written all of them?
"Ready to rate R? For the market?" Ronald closed the script and threw it on the sofa.

"Yeah, there wouldn't be much market for this kind of subject matter." McGillis also had a painful look on his face.Originally a film that exposes the darkness of society and promotes righteousness, for the sake of box office, it has to compromise with the business, and add those scenes of victims to attract male audiences.

"I have never felt like today that the business logic of movies has its very unreasonable side."

Ronald felt that McGillis' various encounters actually reflected some bad things in the business world.Everything is measured by the box office, and sometimes there is a price to bear.

"You really want to act in this movie so much?" Ronald admired McGillis a little bit, and hoped that her wish would come true.

"Yes, but not that much. You don't have to do things you don't want to do because of me."

McGillis hugged Ronald tenderly. In the world of Hollywood, it is rare to have such a director who can hear what the actors are saying.

"I'll ask when I go to New York. But don't expect anything."

Ronald picked up the list she had brought.In addition to the sexy female stars I know above, there are two names I have never heard of.It's fair trade if one of their own calls makes them decide to play the victim for the sake of fame.

"Rosanna Arquette, Kristen Davis, who are they?"

(End of this chapter)