Exploiting Hollywood 1980.

Chapter 861 The Call of the Deep Sea

"Do you know what scripts are available in Hollywood now, with Wall Street as the background? There are elements of workplace and love." Ronald asked David Simkins, his script assistant, who was sitting across from him.

"I don't know, I haven't seen a similar script, submitted it to our daydream, you know, Rachel?" David Simkins just returned from Baltimore, he is the executive producer of "Hairspray" all the shooting process.It happened to escort the developed film to Los Angeles, and Ronald, who was flying back from New York, happened to meet at Daydream Company early in the morning.

"I haven't heard of it, boss. This kind of script depends on the chemical reaction between the right actors, which can be convincing. It also needs to set up the scene or shoot the scene of Wall Street. Convincing is also very expensive. This kind of script They won’t submit articles to small companies like ours. They usually go to the Seventh University to try their luck.”

Rachel Talalay, the capable female production director David Simkins met in "The Nanny Adventures", was also recruited by him this time as the production director of "Hairspray".Ronald heard from David that Rachel is very capable and can be an independent producer in the future.

"Yes, Ronald, the structure of this kind of script and professional financial knowledge are not something a fledgling screenwriter can challenge. I guess he is a veteran, and there must be an agent to help him send it to a big studio. Why, listen Got wind of something?" David Simkins agrees with Rachel Talalay.

"I heard people talking about it in New York, and I didn't hear the title, so I asked you." Ronald made up an excuse for the dream. "How was the hairspray filming?"

"All the sample films have been shipped back, and the sound and picture synchronization has been done. Director John Waters said that editing will start in two weeks." David Simkins replied.

Ronald laughed, John Waters has been making ultra-low-budget movies and is a veteran.After the shooting is completed, he is very clear about the industry rules that the director cannot start editing immediately.The movie itself doesn't have to spend much energy staring at the editing.

"Are you going to see the swatches?"

"Okay, let's go and see together," Ronald and the two went to the editing room.

"This is the Divine, right? I didn't expect to wear a wig to play a fat mother."

Ronald randomly picked a few discs to watch. The mother of the main character, the fat girl Tracy, was played by the famous Drag Queen.She pretends to be a woman, and she looks a bit like a woman. We have all seen that kind of fat mother with a knife mouth and a bean curd heart in life. She usually chatters and gossips, but she always takes good care of her children. It will also comfort you when you are psychologically frustrated.

"Hehehe, Sonny Bono's performance is not bad." Rona picked another film, which happened to be the plot of the very mean girl villain heroine Amber.Her father is Cher's ex-husband played by Sonny Bono.He played a snob perfectly.

"Very good, Rachel, your work is very good." Ronald watched a few reels of film, and the scenes and props did not see any confusion. This kind of plot with many group performances and large scenes can be done in a trace. Not chaotic, the ability of Rachel Talalay, the production director in charge of the scene, can be seen.

"Thank you", Rachel was very happy to be recognized.

"You guys have a long vacation first, and the filming of 'Ecstasy', which I co-produced with Mr. Roger Coleman, will start soon, and this time you can be an independent producer." The person in Ronald's hand Not much, Michelle Cannold's team seems to be more adept at distribution, there is a capable woman here who can solve a lot of things.

"Where's David?" Rachel Talalay didn't expect that she would be able to take charge of herself soon, and this speed exceeded the average promotion speed of the industry.

"David will also help me preside over the selection of scripts, and he will also be named as an executive producer. However, you are responsible for the on-site affairs, and you should discuss it with the people from Coleman's company."

……

"Does the script you mentioned contain love and betrayal, as well as financial operations involving Wall Street?"

After reporting on his work, David Simkins suddenly remembered something.

"I think it is, like a modern version of a classic drama that takes place on Wall Street." The movie that Ronald dreamed about didn't have many scenes, but the woman sitting in front of the window, very beautiful, said something M&A Such professional vocabulary, presumably is such a movie.

"You mean, is it Wall Street coming out soon? It premiered over the weekend. The structure of the story is that of a seventeenth-century Christian writer, John Bunyan's novel 'The Pilgrim's Progress' in a modern setting, telling The story of a young man who was seduced by the devil and driven down by the lust for easy money."

"Huh? It's already been filmed, and it's about to be released?" Ronald let out a disappointment.This is the first time this has happened, missing the movie in the dream.

"Who took it? What company?" Ronald asked Simkins with the last sliver of hope.In case the shot is not good, I can change my face and retake it...

"Directed by Oliver Stone, invested and distributed by [-]th Century Fox, Stone's team in Platoon, Charlie Sheen as the young man who was seduced, Michael Douglas as the villain who seduced him, Darryl Hannah Playing the villain's wife, having an affair with the protagonist."

"You understand very clearly?" Ronald seemed to remember that Michael Douglas did film in New York for a while.Oliver Stone, who just won the Oscar for Best Director, and Douglas, who is very popular now, are matched with young handsome men and beautiful women. It is impossible for me to remake.

Sorry, sorry...

"Of course, this is a movie script with a complete classical drama structure that has rarely been seen in Hollywood in recent years." David Simkins didn't see Ronald's uncomfortable expression, and enthusiastically put the movie together. I analyzed the excellent structure of the script in detail.

Overall, this is a screenplay befitting of a Christian missionary novel.If a righteous person cannot fully abide by the moral code, he will be tempted by an evil person to commit the original sin.

And the evil person will win the war with the young man who is immoral in some places because of his lower moral bottom line.

If you want to defeat the greedy demons of Wall Street, you must maintain your own moral perfection...

"You understand so deeply, remember to recommend it to me next time..." Ronald couldn't help but sneer.

"Huh?" Simkins was a little puzzled.

"Sorry, I haven't seen such a good script recently, so I'm a little jealous, you've done a good job." Ronald rubbed his chin, this was the first time he was a step late in a movie in his dream, and he was a little annoyed Shun.

"However, the woman's back looks like a professional woman, not the Daryl Hannah who played the vase wife in Wall Street. Daryl Hannah's temperament is more inclined to a sexy stunner who needs protection , it seems that I can't play a strong woman."

……

Putting aside these feelings that he couldn't tell others, after Ronald finished handling the company's affairs, the most important thing in Los Angeles was to prepare for the premiere ceremony of "Moonlight Sultry".

After being persuaded by marketing expert Michael Gray, Ronald also began to publicize more directors.

Gray believes that this year is a year for the best film and best director.Except for Spielberg's "Empire of the Sun" and "The Last Emperor", which recently received unexpected praise from film critics, there are no particularly strong movies in Hollywood.

It is very likely that films with high artistic quality will not be able to make up 5 nominations.In this way, under the commercial packaging of Ronald's "Moonlight Sultry", a film with a bit of artistic depth and reflecting some less important social issues (family and older leftover women's marriage and love), there is a chance to make the best movie. The nomination for best director came out.

Ronald communicated with his agent Nisita about his idea of ​​getting nominated for the best director.

Nisita was in the office, after listening to Ronald's thoughts, without saying a word, he took out the Oscar yearbooks of the past ten years from the filing cabinet, and then looked at the nominated films one by one.

Finally Nisita closed the yearbook and said happily to Ronald, "Yes, there is a chance this year. Oliver Stone's field platoon won the first place last year, and the nominee was Wood for 'Hannah Sisters'." Dee Allen, David Lynch in 'Blue Velvet' and James Avery in 'A Room with a View'.

No matter which one, it has the potential to win an award this year.Not even Coppola's 'Peggy Sue Is Getting Married' was nominated. "

"Then you think there is hope? Your CAA will cooperate?" Seeing Nisita's attitude, Ronald seemed to have a wildfire in his heart, which was slowly burning.

"I can't say I'm sure, but it's definitely worth trying, absolutely..." Nisita's fingers quickly bounced on the table a few times.

Being able to renew his contract with Ronald binds his influence in CAA and even Hollywood in the next few years.As long as he and his wife, Paula, continue to attract the most potential director and the most potential male star in Hollywood, the future influence of the couple can be foreseen.

"I will mobilize all my connections and attack in the directors' association and film critics' associations in major cities. I will go to see Mr. Michael Ovitz later and ask for more assistance." Nisita immediately made a decision .

Generally speaking, for a director to be nominated for an Oscar, it takes more than ten years in the industry before the directors in charge of the nomination will recognize you.But this year's situation, no one expected. There is an opportunity in front of you, and you should try your best to fight for it.

"All your personal relationships must also be mobilized. Ronald, a director who has been nominated for an Academy Award, and a director who has not been nominated for an Oscar, actually belong to two species in the eyes of film critics and some producers .”

"Oh?" Ronald didn't expect his agent to place so much importance on this nomination.

"You know, a lot of producers don't really know what movies are popular. And those film critics...hehe...they don't necessarily know whether a movie is good or bad. As long as you have been nominated for best director, those mediocre people, Seeing your honor, I can't say bad things about your movies without bottom line..."

It turned out that there was such a relationship, Ronald understood a little bit.Being nominated for an Oscar for Best Director is like being a certified branded product.If others want to speak ill of you again, they have to weigh it carefully before speaking.

Maybe even if there are reasons and evidence to point out many flaws in your film, readers may not necessarily buy it. If someone has been nominated for an Oscar, does the Oscar understand or you understand?
"So, there is really a chance?" Ronald originally thought of it as a practice if he didn't succeed.I heard that Nisita also thinks that this year is a rare opportunity, and he will start to devote himself wholeheartedly.

"Really, I will ask Paula to make some connections. Although she is no longer your manager, this is too important to your career. We must do our best."

"I really don't know too many directors who have voting rights." Ronald counted for a long time on his fingers.

Spielberg himself has a film to compete for, and Lucas is no longer a member of the directors' union, and he has a bit of a fight with the Academy because of Star Wars' lack of nominations for the grand prize.Although Roger Coleman is also a director, he only makes low-budget horror films, and he probably doesn't even have the right to vote in the academy.

Among the directors with whom I have a very good relationship, only Chris Columbus and James Cameron have voting rights.

Directors are really a species that don't see each other very much.Those that Ronald is familiar with and often cooperate with are photographers, art directors, or screenwriters.After all, there is only one director for a film, and everyone does not need to cooperate with each other in their work.Rely on personal relationships or mutual support in the circle to build relationships.

With an idea in mind, Ronald called Cameron and came to visit with a gift.

"Gail, this is a gift for you." Ronald took out a high-value shopping coupon for Eve Saint Laurent women's clothing and gave it to the hostess.

"This is for you, Jim", the gift for Cameron is a voucher for a set of customized modification of Harley motorcycles. Dongying people have a lot of professional accessories. After the replacement, Harley's rough temperament, durability and The quality will be much better.

After personally presenting the invitation letter for the premiere of "Moonlight", Ronald directly expressed his intention to James.

"Jim, I need your help. I'm running this year's Oscar nominations..."

"Small, let me tell you, you should have been nominated long ago. Those old directors from the directors' union are still using the standards of 30 years ago to measure the selection of the best director, and look down on commercially successful films. You know, in the past In Hollywood, only commercially successful films are eligible to be nominated for awards, and at that time, if a film did not do well at the box office, it would be laughed at if it was nominated."

"Thanks, brother." Ronald hugged Cameron happily.

In fact, this trend has become more and more obvious since the 80s.Since Jane Fonda's "Return of Honor" invented this method of rushing to be released in limited theaters at the end of the year, meeting the requirements of the Oscar selection, and grabbing Oscar nominations, more and more movies have begun to learn this method. An effective method of charging prizes.

After all, at the end of the year, the nominations were very close, and the judges were even more impressed.For those movies that were released in the first half of the year, except for those few that had excellent box office and good reviews, some judges probably forgot about them.

"What projects are you working on recently?" Cameron is a director after all, and he is still most concerned about the film industry when he is with his friends.

"I originally wanted to plan a story that reflected Wall Street. After all, after the stock market crash, many people were curious about those bankers... However, it is obvious that Oliver (Stone) has a more sensitive sense of smell than me."

"Oliver really has a keen sense of smell. He can always find the subjects that people want to see." Cameron also agreed, "Many directors can only shoot the stories they want to shoot, and they can combine what they want to shoot with what the audience wants to see. Uniform is a great director." Cameron let out a long sigh.

"What projects do you have recently?" Ronald heard that the old friend seemed to have something in his heart.

"'The Abyss', this is a movie I've wanted to make since high school. It was inspired by HG Wells' science fiction."

Cameron talked about his thoughts.HG Wells, the early pioneer of science fiction, many of his novels have been adapted into film and television dramas.This "Abyss" tells a story about diving in the deep sea.

I heard from Cameron that during the editing of "Alien 2", he watched a National Geographic documentary about how to operate a deep-diving robot on the bottom of the North Atlantic Ocean.

This documentary awakened Cameron's youthful dreams. He made a modern adaptation of his Wells novel, changing the original protagonists of a group of scientists into blue-collar workers who are more commercially attractive to audiences.

However, for such a movie, the studio is very hesitant.This kind of movie requires a huge investment, and the construction of the water tank will cost a lot of money, and the special effects pictures generated by computer graphics cannot meet the requirements.Having to develop while filming is a risk that most studios can afford.Especially in the current economic situation, everyone is still conservative.

"Why do you say this to Ronald? Can he still use his own money to make this kind of movie for you? I have said a long time ago that this movie should not be born now, or wait five to ten years, Only the technology can mature.” Gail Hurd was angry when he heard that Cameron started talking about his sci-fi movies again.

Cameron's talent in commercial films is undoubtedly revealed, and I don't know why he doesn't continue to shoot some films with commercial potential.Just like Ronald, it's not too late to make a few blockbusters first, and then think about the movie you want to make.

"If I have to wait for the technology to mature, then I can't shoot the Terminator yet." Cameron was a little annoyed by what Gail Hurd said.

"Whatever, I wish you luck, you can find a studio that is willing to pay 4000 million without squandering it for you." Gail's voice became louder, and the couple obviously had a lot of arguments about this recently.

"4000 million?" Ronald didn't expect the shooting cost of this "Abyss" to be so high.

"Maybe it's not enough. I talked to the engineers of Industrial Light and Magic in detail. They need more than a year to develop and produce it at the same time."

"Well, with a production cost of more than 4000 million, it takes about [-] million at the box office in North America to recover the cost. I don't know why you have such confidence. It is a diving story." Gail commented on the film Full of complaints.The commercial potential of the story is not that great.

"This is my lifelong dream. I just want to make a movie about deep-sea diving." Cameron smiled, and Gail still couldn't understand his dream.

"4000 million, in the current market, which studio is willing to gamble so much?" Ronald also scratched his head. Cameron is amazing, but the Terminator only has a domestic box office of 3800 million. 8500 million.

After the stock market crash, Hollywood suffered from a cash shortage. The cash that a big company can use is 5000 million to [-] million. Who would dare to bet on such a science fiction movie?

……

"Ronald, the preparations for Bruce Willis' film are almost ready. When will you come and see it? Twentieth Century Fox hopes to hear your confirmation before letting go to director John McTiernan."

Joel Silver didn't know where he knew that Ronald had returned to Los Angeles, so he called him right away, it's time to care about the movie he worked with.

"Well, when?" Ronald thought to himself that he should really care about this movie.

"Tomorrow morning, we will meet under the new building of Twentieth Century Fox."

(End of this chapter)