Exploiting Hollywood 1980.

Chapter 856 What Kind of Manager Does a Star Need?
At JFK Airport in New York, as soon as Diane Lane came out of the boarding gate, she saw Ronald waiting for him at the gate.

"Ronald!" Seeing Ronald, Diane ran over immediately, with bright eyes, and hurriedly pulled his arm.

"Are you tired? I booked you a room at the Peninsula Hotel. You can live there if you want, or you can live in my new apartment."

"I made an agreement with Donna to stay with her and leave it alone."

"Haha, that's okay, she's living in the old apartment above that leg warmer store in Midtown now."

After putting the luggage on Ronald's car, Diane happily got in, "Why did you let me come to attend the premiere with you? What is the story of this movie, is it good?"

"A story about the last emperor of the Hua Kingdom. He became emperor at the age of three, restored several times after that, then abdicated, and finally became an ordinary citizen."

Ronald chatted with Diane about the "Last Emperor" story.For this premiere, Ronald had to find a female companion to go with him, and he seemed to value each other.After all, there was a deputy minister there.

Helen Slater, who was originally in New York, was busy raising funds for her new film.Ronald was one step late for an appointment, and she had already traveled to New Jersey to find a potential investor.

It happened that Diane was very free recently, so Ronald called her back from Los Angeles.Let her be with me for a few days.

Diane's recent star luck is very bad. The new film "The Running Man" starring her and Schwarzenegger, after more than half a year of re-shooting by the director, and editing and remediation, finally cut into one A full-length movie, which was released to the audience last week.

This action film was criticized by film critics as a big-budget commercial film with the camera and lighting of a live TV talk show.

Director Paul Michael Glaser, was generally considered a poor choice.He can only make TV series, not movies.The now very popular action star Schwarzenegger was photographed as a silly TV guest.The former young lady Diane Lane was photographed as the background audience of the TV station.

Distributor Samsung Pictures has completely given up after seeing the finished film. The $2700 million production did not even have a decent premiere.A total of more than 1600 theaters were screened in the first weekend, and in the end they only got 800 million US dollars. The average box office of a single hall is not as good as "Fatal Attraction", which has been in theaters for ten weeks, and only just surpassed Disney's 1950 animation "Cinderella". ".

Diane was depressed at home for a long time. She didn't know what was going on, as if she had spent all her good luck after appearing in three Coppola movies in a row.No matter what movie you make, the box office is smashed.

She was very happy to receive Ronald's phone invitation. She packed her clothes immediately, bought a ticket and flew over.

When they arrived at Donna's apartment, Ronald still had the key here, and when he entered, he found that Donna was there.

"Hey, Diane, why are you here?" Donna hugged Diane happily, leaving Ronald aside.

"I'm here with Ronnie for the premiere of a foreign movie."

"Okay, okay, what nice clothes have you prepared?" Donna took the box of her best friend and opened it.

Pa..., balls of clothes fell out of it, already crumpled.Diane was busy catching the plane, so she didn't arrange her clothes, so she just put them in, closed the box and came.

"You're too anxious. I've actually prepared a plane ticket for the evening. You can come with my agent Richard." Ronald smiled and helped her close the messy suitcase.

"I have prepared two sets of dresses, one from Saint Laurent and one from Armani. You will try them on later."

"That's good, I'll go with you." Donna was happy for her girlfriends, and regardless of the research work she was doing on the computer, she put on her coat and went to Fifth Avenue with them.

Giving up the back seat to his sister and Diane, Ronald sat in the co-pilot, picked up the car phone, and began to contact the specialty store and dinner.

When we arrived at the building where the apartment on Fifth Avenue was located, in the boutique on the ground floor, Diane picked out a YSL Saint Laurent outfit, which seemed a bit heroic.

The three of them went to the Japanese restaurant next to them again, and ate the tuna that was specially airlifted, and the tempura made by the Japanese master chef that was also airlifted.

"Help Diane, she can't get a good script now." Donna whispered to Ronald when Diane went to the bathroom in the middle of the meal.

"It's strange. Diane is beautiful, photogenic, and has acting skills. But in recent years, it seems like bad luck. No matter what she shoots, she doesn't sell well. She fell into a vicious circle. The less popular, the less popular she is. If you can’t get a good script, and the less you have a good script, it will become a box office poison.”

Ronald didn't know what was going on, probably stars, especially actresses, were a bit lucky.I also helped Diane find several opportunities, but the results were also mixed, and there was never a work that made her successful.

"Ask your agent, they are professional. I see your agent, his client development is very good, Tom Cruise is now considered a big star, Diane's acting skills are better than his When I first debuted, I was strong..."

"That's right..." Ronald patted Donna's shoulder lightly to express his gratitude.I really didn't think about it from this aspect, Diane's manager didn't seem to be very effective.Now that I am very busy, sometimes I forget to take care of Diane.

Instead of finding a good role for Diane through his own relationship, it is better to find a good agent for her.

"What are you talking about?" Diane returned.

"Talking about your new clothes", Donna smiled happily.

……

"Richard, why do you think Diane can't get a good role?" In the evening, the agent Richard also rushed to New York, and Ronald chatted with him in detail in the bar below the apartment.

"She was unlucky. At the most critical moment, she followed the wrong director. She failed three consecutive films at the box office and was put into another book." Richard was familiar with the situation of these stars and immediately gave the answer.

On the one hand, the roles of young girls in Hollywood are very scarce, and the competition for female stars of this age is too fierce.There may be more than 20 good movies with such young female characters every year, but actresses from 16 to 35 years old stare at these roles.

On the other hand, Diane's agent did not have a good long-term plan for her.Diane Lane was born as a child star, and she didn't have a breakthrough female role after that.So her salary is very low. When she was the most popular, she could only earn less than 30 yuan for a movie.

Therefore, the agent can't take Diane as a key client well, but recommend any role to her for which movie pays more.Diane is more interested in acting, and she doesn't take over some particularly bad movies.

After going back and forth, the manager of William Morris seemed to have lost hope in Diane, and he was not very interested in her career.And I feel that the agent is not good, and it is very taboo to change jobs within William Morris, so the opportunities Diane got were not ideal in quality and quantity.

"That's it, can you take over her agency contract?"

Ronald looked at Richard. Anyway, he doesn't have any suitable actor clients now, so it wouldn't be troublesome to help take care of Diane.

"Are you sure you want me to take over? I thought you wouldn't let me represent the women around you." Richard said bluntly to Ronald.

"Why?" Ronald didn't understand.

"I'm your main manager, what if Diane conflicts with your interests?" Richard asked.

"How could there be a conflict?" Ronald was even more confused.

"Let me make an analogy. If you have a movie and you need an actress to play the leading role. Let's say it's Diane, she wants to play. As her agent, I need to fight for her. But she may be very interested in this role. Not the best for...do you remember what happened to Paula back then?"

Ronald listened carefully for a while and understood what Richard meant.

It's actually very simple. As Ronald's agent, Richard has a certain influence on him.If he only serves one client, Ronald, then he must be working hard for the movie's greatest success in the end.

If there are other actor clients, then for the greatest success of the actor, even if they are not the most suitable person for the movie, they will try their best to recommend them.

Taking into account the interests of both Diane and Ronald may result in a result where everyone is not at their best.

Ronald nodded, just like his other agent, Paula Wagner, Tom Cruise and himself, she must have prioritized Cruise's best interests.

In the same way, his other agent, Rick Nisita, is actually not suitable to be Diane's main agent.

"Then CAA has no suitable person who can take over her contract. I am willing to endorse Diane, she definitely has potential."

"Why are you looking far away?" Richard smiled, "Isn't there a very suitable candidate?"

"Who?"

"We were talking about her just now."

"Paula?" Ronald rubbed his chin. The answer was unexpected and reasonable.

Back then she had a conflict of interest between herself and Tom Cruise, but now she is no longer her agent, and after so many years, Paula can be said to be very dedicated to Cruise's career, helping him fight Reasonable and proper, move forward step by step.

"Paula Wagner is best at planning the long-term career of a star, not because the current film has the highest salary and she can get the highest commission, but to find the most beneficial choice for the long-term development of the actor.

If you are worried about her spending too much time on Tom Cruise, just help Diane find an assistant agent who is usually busy with her affairs. In fact, Paula only needs to grasp the overall direction. CAA signs multiple agents anyway. system. "

Richard finished his glass of wine and analyzed slowly.

Ronald is very appreciative, which is tantamount to pushing out the ready-made commission. As Richard, the agent, ability and relationship are secondary, and everything is in the interests of Ronald. In this business Here, Ronald feels very rare.

"Thank you, Richard, our contract will be renewed soon, I think everything will remain the same." Ronald released his promise to renew the contract.

"Wish we keep going..." Richard ordered another martini and toasted Ronald.

……

The next day, Ronald found Paula Wagner on the set of "Cocktail" in Jamaica through Nisita, and told Paula his hope.

Paula Wagner is very happy. She lost Ronald, a big client. After focusing on Cruise, although her career and income have risen rapidly, she has lost a client of a big director, although she is still a client of her husband Nisita. , but for her who is so strong, she is always a bit frustrated.

Now Ronald reconnected with her and asked her to help represent his girlfriend Diane, which was a dream arrangement for her.

"I've actually wanted to say it a long time ago. Diane's agent really doesn't know how to market Diane. She is the most 'ordinary' star in America. Anyone who sees her will think that Diane is their friend. .”

"So what are you going to do with her career?" Ronald asked.

"Nowadays the competition for blockbuster movies is very fierce. Even with your face, it is very difficult for Diane to rise to the top. If you are willing to tailor a movie for her, let's talk about it."

"It's about finding the right script, and I can take my time watching it."

"The best way is to let her start with independent productions that are very popular now. Or TV mini-series, TV movies. Those are different from ordinary TV dramas, they are shot in the way of movies, and Diane's acting skills It's a bonus."

Since "Dirty Dancing" produced by Ronald got a big hit at the box office, many small and medium-sized studios, as well as Wall Street capital, have also begun to try this production method.

"Okay, it's you, I'll let Diane come to you." Ronald understood what Paula meant, TV movies, and TV mini-series, compared to TV dramas, they are all well-produced, Diane's acting skills can be used, You can also get a wave of familiarity among the TV audience.

"I think it's better for me to come to her. This is better." Paula Wagner had already made up her mind to pack Diane well. Ronald recommended her, and she took the initiative to find her to represent her. Ann Lane's perception was very different.

When Diane was at a low ebb, a well-known broker came forward, which was also a good restoration of her confidence.

……

"Diane, this is Chaoli." Outside Hall 1 of the Twin Theater, Ronald and Diane, who was wearing a new Yves Saint Laurent dress, appeared together at the New York premiere of "The Last Emperor".

"Aha, Diane, hello, long time no see." Chaoli and Diane had acted together in "Demons in Chinatown". Although the box office of the movie was not good, the relationship between the two was good.

"Let me introduce to you, this is John Long, playing the adult last emperor. This is Joan Chen, playing the queen. She came from China. She has acted in director Xie's movie before." Chaoli is very fond of Chinese actors. familiar.

"Hello, hello, hello." Ronald shook hands with several Chinese actors.

The two protagonists came to the premiere and were very excited. John Long is wearing a black suit. He is a very delicate actor, with both Eastern and Western advantages. Joan Chen's English is a bit like Xujiahui's steamed buns. She is a typical Chinese.

The two leading actors were both excited and a little worried.They knew that Ronald was the director of several blockbuster films, and having such a big man come to the premiere of this foreign film made them a little surprised, and their confidence in the film increased a lot.

The worry was that apart from Ronald and his beautiful female companion, there weren't many other insiders at the premiere.

In the audience, only a few celebrities from New York came to catch the heat. They were the so-called "celebrities" who would go wherever there were reporters and come whenever they had the opportunity to make an appearance.

"Hey Ronald, I like your movies", like this black model posted to insert into a few people's circle, Grace Jones is a typical celebrity.

Her skin is very dark, unlike the blacks in America, her complexion is not so dark anymore, and she is more shiny.She's a black Jamaican who immigrated to New York in her teens, unlike all native blacks.

Grace Jones has a square face, charcoal-like skin, and weird clothes, but now the fashion industry recognizes her, saying that she is a real black African, and has given her many opportunities for racial justice.

Ronald couldn't bear to watch it. This black charcoal star was very different from his own aesthetics.After a few perfunctory words, he walked inside with Diane.

"Hey, I still want to say a few more words to Director Ronald," Joan Chen looked helpless.

"What do you want to do? Don't forget that we are already married. If you have any ideas, let me arrange them for you. I am your manager." A man, standing behind Joan Chen, was very excited when he saw this scene Look worried.

"I'll go in first." John Long also rolled his eyes. Joan's husband and manager is very annoying.Seems like everyone wants to seduce his wife.I follow behind everything and want to watch over my wife.

"Jimmy, what are you talking about? I'm here to expand my social relationship. If you're like this, where can I find a suitable opportunity?" Joan Chen was so angry that after all these years in America, it's hard for a film to break into mainstream theaters.Although her husband, Jimmy Lau, helped him a lot when he first came here, he is getting more and more tied up now, making it hard to breathe.

"You want a better chance, I can help you, I'm your agent", the husband and agent named Jimmy is still arguing.

"Okay, okay, I'm going to Hong Kong..." Joan Chen waved his hands angrily. He couldn't find any agent or role, so he could only hold himself back.

"Let me introduce to you, this is the British Minister of the Ministry of Culture." Zhao Li continued to lead Ronald and Diane to the No. [-] screening hall.

"Hi, nice to meet you, Mr. Minister." Ronald offered to shake hands with a tall man with a refined face.

"Hello, I have admired your name for a long time. Director Xie from Xujiahui has a high opinion of you." Minister Ying spoke with a standard London accent, and his English was very fluent, and he spoke with those people Ronald met in China. English with Hua Guo accent is very different.

"Director Xie told me that he likes your movies very much. I also really want to get to know you. I heard that you still know our Tang poems?"

"Hahaha, I learned a little bit when I was in college. There is a confidant in the sea, and a neighbor in the world..." Ronald dropped a sentence.

"Ah... that's right, that's right, the actors and directors of our two countries also appreciate each other, and the world is like neighbors..."

The British Minister admired Ronald's Chinese studies and pulled him to sit beside him.

"I am here this time, not only for the premiere of the first important co-production film after the reform and opening up, but also for the exchange..."

Ronald listened for a while, feeling drowsy.

"Please enjoy the movie first, and we will talk about your views on this movie later."

"Is he an actor in the movie The Last Emperor?" Ronald Wen Chaoli.

"Yes, he played a very important role as the prison guard of the last emperor." Chao Li replied, "Now that he is an official, sometimes he can't help himself." The cautious-looking Huaguo nuzzled and secretly winked at Ronald.

Ronald took a look, he didn't look like an actor, maybe he was in the delegation?He smiled at the delegation member.

Zhao Li smiled, he knew that Ronald didn't understand, he didn't know this role.So I talked to him about Minister Ying's strength, "Old Ying is the true family of the last emperor, and he is of Manchu origin. His English is very good, he can act in Shakespeare plays, and he once filmed the TV series "Marco Polo" filmed by Italian TV [-] Kublai Khan."

"Really?" Ronald looked at the tall and thin man, who somehow connected with Kublai Khan, the Great Khan in history.

"Really, he is versatile. He also translated the American drama 'Death of a Salesman', which was released in China. His father is a translator as famous as Qian Zhongshu."

"Oh, I really can't see it."

Ronald and Zhao Li chatted, and the lights in the movie theater began to dim.A red oriental seal appeared on the screen.

A burst of nice music sounded, as if the early morning sun had entered the room playfully, and the rhythm of the drums had an oriental charm.

At the beginning, the last emperor was arrested, and he began to recall his life from the interrogation room.When the Empress Dowager who had ruled China for decades was about to die, at the age of three, he was found in the Forbidden City and determined to be the next emperor.

"Is this the layout of an epic film?" Ronald looked at the texture of the beginning of the film and got acquainted with the film.Director Bertolucci's ambitions look great.

Ronald has a good impression of this movie that can compete with "Lawrence of Arabia".This kind of epic film is not easy to shoot. It is a big test for the director and actors.

"Duang! Duang..." A few monks in red cassocks, beating the gong, performed rituals when the Empress Dowager died in the Forbidden City.

"Puchi..." Ronald almost laughed.Italians have many strange interpretations when they look at Huaguo. According to Ronald's understanding, Huaguo would not hold funerals like this.Although artistically, this treatment may make American audiences buy it.

The whole movie involves the life of the last emperor. In the end, he, who was already very old, returned to the hall where he was enthroned when he was a child in the Forbidden City. From under the dragon chair, he took out the cricket that he had hidden there when he was a child and showed it to the children next to him.The people outside are already tourists who have come to visit the Forbidden City under the guidance of a tour guide holding a small flag.

"Huh, huh, huh..." Ronald began to applaud. The standard of this movie is very high, and the filming is smooth and flowing.Although there are many things that do not conform to the facts and the customs of Huaguo, Ronald can understand how commercial movies are handled in this way for the box office.

Especially, those actors in it are very good.An old beggar, a banner man, is especially good, only a short shot, but impressive.There is also a small soldier watching the city gate, which is also very interesting, and a gatekeeper has the smell of a general in the photo.

"What does Director Luo think of this movie? We have great support for co-productions. Spielberg's co-production in Xujiahui will be released next month. Director Luo can also come to China if he has the opportunity. China." Minister Ying came to chat with Ronald again.

"Of course, I will definitely go if I have the chance." Ronald felt that Huaguo also had certain requirements for co-productions. It must be a blockbuster with an epic nature. The chances of his purely commercial film being approved may not be great.

"What do you think of the performance of our Chinese actors? Director Bertolucci is very satisfied with the Chinese actors. He said that under this cost, it is beyond imagination to have such actors."

"That's, that's, I think that old beggar is a very good actor, he should be a big star in China, right?" Ronald asked.

"Ah, he belongs to the actor troupe of Xujiahui Studio, and he has acted in many good movies." Minister Ying was a little embarrassed. The old man who played the Eight Banners was called Li Wei. He used to be... a celebrity.But in the future, he can only play supporting roles. Recently, Bertolucci was seconded to play this small role after watching Li Wei's movie and specifically asking about it.

The vision of these directors is very vicious, and good actors can be found in one shot.

Minister Ying has a new understanding of Ronald's artistic ability, "We recently held the Huaguo Culture and Art Festival in Metropolitan New York, and our Chinese paintings, calligraphy and gardens have all achieved good responses here."

"Aha, I like your garden very much, and I also like calligraphy, which is very similar to the modern art here."

"Director Luo likes Huaguo art so much, can he condescend to take up the post of our Huaguo Art Festival Foundation? This foundation is to promote Huaguo art here in America, hold some art exhibitions, and find some..."

"Hahaha, I am very willing. To tell you the truth, I am planning to build a miniature Jiangnan-style garden in my new home."

"That's good. I'll report to the higher-ups when I get back and give you a formal letter of appointment."

Ronald and the British minister were chatting and laughing. They both felt that the other party had a deep understanding of their own country, and they could continue to contact each other in the future.

The premiere is over, and Ronald and Diane are ready to go back to dinner with Donna. Joan Chen seized the opportunity to come up and continue chatting with Ronald.

"Director Ronald, do you like this movie?"

"I like it very much, your performance in it is very impressive."

"I also like your director's work very much. I have watched Dirty Dancing several times. Do you have any advice for my development in Hollywood?" Joan Chen is at home every day, watched by her husband Jimmy, not letting She goes out to socialize, so her thinking still carries a deep domestic imprint.

"Advice? I can't give any advice, but have you considered returning to China to act?" Ronald replied with a smile.

"Go back? Why? I finally got the chance to go abroad and come here."

"How many Chinese characters are here every year?" Ronald asked.The roles of young women are so scarce that even a white actor like Diane has no chance. What's more, as a Chinese, besides a movie that specifically tells the story of China, what other movie would invite a Chinese to play?

"That's it..." Joan Chen seemed to have caught something.

"Joan, why did you come here without saying hello?" Her husband Jimmy Lau quickly approached, "Director Ronald, I am Joan's agent and husband, if you have any business matters, you can contact me through me .” Said Jimmy also took out a business card.

"No, I'll take my leave first." Ronald smiled and walked out of the theater with Diane on his arm.

"What about him? This director is really proud, Arrogant." Jimmy put the business card back, "Joan, I...hey, how did you go...hey, hey...I was talking to you."

After sending Diane back to Donna's place, the three of them had dinner, and Diane proposed to sleep with Donna.

"I'll make it up to you tomorrow. Donna and I haven't seen each other for a long time. I have something to say to him." Diane kissed Ronald on the mouth.

"No problem, Diane. I'll pick you up tomorrow and let's go somewhere to play together."

"I'm from New York, have you forgotten? I won't go there tomorrow, so I'll make it up to you..."

"Well..." Ronald kissed Diane, and went back to the house on Fifth Avenue alone.

……

"Ding dong, ding dong"... The next morning, Ronald heard the doorbell ring.

"You came so early?" Ronald saw Diane outside the door.

"I have good news for you, a new agent wants to sign me."

Diane was all smiles. This time she came to New York, it seemed that her luck had changed for the better.

"Oh, who is it? Which agent wants to sign you? Where is your original agent?" Ronald pretended not to know.

"It's Tom Cruise's agent, Paula Wagner. She heard that my economic contract is about to expire, and she wants to sign me..."

"That's a good thing, she is very good at making stars. It seems that your good luck is coming."

"I'm leaving soon, so I'll make it up to you now, and I'll fly to Jamaica as quickly as possible later, where she's filming a new movie with Cruise. I'll go early so she doesn't change her mind."

"No way, she won't change her mind." When Ronald heard that Diane wanted to sign the contract as soon as possible, he thought that his short-term vacation with her was wasted again, so he hurried back to look for it.

"You don't know, Ronnie. Maybe it's like this for a great director like you, but for an actor like me who has no future, with such an agent offering an olive branch, I don't want to have long nights and dreams."

"Okay then, but can you stay with me for one more day?" Ronald felt that he had done something stupid, and he just asked Paula to contact Diane in two days.

"You are the best, Ronnie." Diane kissed him affectionately, "But this opportunity is very important to me. If I miss it, maybe I will really bid farewell to Hollywood."

Diane began to flatter Ronald in every possible way, after all, she promised him to come and accompany him.

"Okay, then at least leave later, I will arrange the plane"

Seizing the time before parting, Ronald picked up Diane and held him tightly in his arms.Although Diane recently contacted yoga, she seems to have lost some weight, but her figure seems to be better.

"Hmm..." Diane let out a muffled voice, and responded enthusiastically.

(End of this chapter)