Exploiting Hollywood 1980

"Director Hu, hello, I've heard of you for a long time."

In his early years, King Hu worked as an editor for a radio station in America. He has a green card and even met his wife during his time in America. It just so happens that he has several film projects and wants to find investors. He has been traveling between Hong Kong and America for a long time and is just in time.

Yang Yanzi quickly contacted him and asked him to come and talk to Ronald.

"Hello, Director Luo, I have heard from several people that you are a good friend of our Chinese. This is the first time I have met an investor interested in my project in all these years."

"There are many Chinese here, and they also have some cinemas that show Chinese-language films. I just need these cinemas to distribute my other films. This is a win-win situation... Please sit down, this is the black tea I found from the mainland."

"Thank you..." King Hu frowned when he heard that it was a commercial consideration. His movies are famous for being well-received but not popular.

"This is the first draft of the script that I asked a Chinese youth named David Henry Hwang to write. I brought it here for you to review."

"I don't have time to read it. Do you have a synopsis?" Ronald waved his hand, knowing that Director Hu didn't know the rules of Hollywood.

"It's basically a story about Chinese workers in the 1860s, more than a hundred years ago." King Hu simply told the story vividly. He spent his youth in the mainland and spoke standard Mandarin.

This story is about a large number of Chinese workers who participated in the construction of the transoceanic railway in the 1860s. When they arrived in California, they saw people panning for gold. One Chinese person also found a rich mine with the gold panning knowledge he learned in his hometown.

Originally they thought they had made a fortune, but the gold mine they found was occupied by white American villains. After escaping from the gold mine, they continued to run away and came to a Swedish mine and stayed to work.

At this time, the bad guys caught up again and wanted to occupy the gold mine again. The Chinese united to fight against the bad guys, using a lot of martial arts and folk methods, and finally defeated these bad guys.

"This?" Ronald felt that the overall structure was okay, but the plots of defeating the bad guys were too old, and it seemed that they had been out of touch with Hollywood for at least 20 years.

"The name David Henry Hwang is a little familiar." Ronald looked at Yang Yanzi.

"He is also a Chinese playwright. He didn't come to the promoter's dinner last time, but many people said he was the author of the popular "M. Butterfly" on Broadway now."

Yang Yanzi was now familiar with the situation of Chinese filmmakers. She immediately took out her notebook and talked about the general situation of "M. Butterfly".

"Huh? This play is a bit out of the scope of the production of Daydream." Ronald frowned. This story is full of Americans' imagination of the hairy and Chinese people, and it is based on the stereotypes in their eyes. In addition, the plot is absurd and bizarre, and it is not the way of commercial films.

"Hahaha, Director Luo is really a quick-witted person. I also feel that this script is not a story about Chinese people, but a story from the perspective of Chinese people who grew up in America." King Hu felt that Ronald had found a kindred spirit.

"Director Hu, I think this script is still a little far from our production standards. At least we need to delete these martial arts scenes. This is a plot drama, not Jackie Chan's martial arts scenes. It's a very abrupt part.

Swallow, if you can do more, please contact Director Hu and see if there are any professional screenwriters who can help him with some polishing."

Ronald felt that this movie could actually go the route of a western. Dances with Wolves just overturned the Indian verdict, so it might not be impossible to make a western with Chinese as the protagonist.

"Okay, Director Luo, I only have three requirements. First, this movie must oppose racial discrimination. Second, America is a place where people of all races can realize their dreams, so Chinese people must also succeed after struggle. Third, we must oppose the stereotypes of Chinese people in Hollywood before."

"You said it very well, I think it's okay. However, it's not easy for a purely Chinese story to succeed. So I think we can add a white protagonist, who is also an immigrant like the Chinese protagonist, and succeeds after struggle... What do you think?"

Ronald learned from the experience of the promoters, and there must be some white plays to make it a hit.

"Okay, but the Chinese must be the first protagonist..."

"Okay, after the script is revised, I can invest half of the budget. Director Hu will go back to Hong Kong and XX to find some distribution channels. It is very commercially feasible for this kind of movie to be released in both places."

Ronald first promised half of the pie. This kind of movie still needs to be co-produced by China and the United States. Otherwise, relying solely on the market here, the risk is too great.

"By the way, who do you want to find as the male lead?"

"Zun Long from The Last Emperor..."

"He can do it, he's not bad..." Ronald nodded as soon as he heard it. This man has acting skills, looks handsome, and is a familiar face to the audience.

…

The busier Yang Yanzi was, the happier she was. Ronald let her do it and went to Scorsese. The Coca-Cola commercial had to be filmed, and Ronald went to the scene to support Scorsese.

Coca-Cola had already found two camps, about five directors each, to shoot commercials, and then broadcast them on TV, but from the effect, there was not much difference.

The senior management of Coca-Cola was undecided, not knowing whose words to believe. Should they take the speculative route of Ovitz predicting the stars who will be popular in the next few years, or should they go directly to famous directors like Ronald and Scorsese and bet on the probability?

"Darcy, what is the situation now? Which side's advertising effect is better?"

The person sent by Coca-Cola's advertiser was Ronald's old acquaintance, female director Darcy Maguire. The two hid aside and talked about the advertising situation.

"In fact, for a product like Coca-Cola, the advertising effect is a metaphysics?"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"There are not many beverages in the Coca-Cola product line. This time, more than ten directors shot the classic version of Coke. Consumers all over the world have been drinking it for decades. As long as the can of Coke appears in the advertisement, I think the effect is almost the same..."

"So?" Ronald felt bad. He was thinking too much. The ads for chewing gum and diet coke that he shot with Maguire were all new products. It is easy to put the credit for the increase in sales on the head of the advertisement.

And a classic product like Coca-Cola, as long as it is put on TV for enough time, consumers will go to restock when they see the red can of Coca-Cola. As for creativity and celebrities, it doesn't really matter.

"Besides, I saw Ovitz go to Coca-Cola's headquarters for a meeting. His speech was more like that of an advertising company, not a CEO of an agency."

"No way? You mean, he wants to open an advertising company?"

"I'll only tell you one person. My company's boss was in the meeting room at the time and wrote a word on my notebook. It's broken!"

"Does he really want to open an advertising company?" Ronald felt that Ovitz was also very imaginative. You are an agency, just do a good job of attracting business for celebrities. At first, you wanted to be a production studio. After the seven majors became suspicious, the packaging business also encountered resistance. Now you have the crazy idea of ​​opening an advertising company.

What Ogilvy, BBDO, JWT are also old companies with decades of history. No matter how smart a person is, it is impossible to cross three industries and become the boss, right?

"I think he talked about Coca-Cola's advertising strategy instead of the schedule of directors and stars in front of Coca-Cola's president Keough. I think his thoughts are not just for me and my boss."

"Does Coca-Cola trust him so much? If it were me, I would definitely trust the experts of your 4A advertising company..."

"Hey, this is also our own problem." Darcy Maguire was a little embarrassed. Today's multinational companies are huge in size, with huge advertising budgets every year, and products don't need too much creativity. In fact, everyone's core competitiveness is mainly customer relationship management.

Coca-Cola sees that they make so much money every year, and the advertisements are uglier than each other. It's understandable that they want to change their thinking. It's just that after decades of inertia, most multinational companies don't think of this. Once Coca-Cola opens this door, the advertising company's business will be difficult.

"Also, Ovitz didn't charge for the meeting this time..." Maguire said again. Compared with the expensive consulting fees of advertising companies, Ovitz's move really impressed Coca-Cola.

"What? You don't know about Ovitz? He won't take it now, but he will take it later..." Ronald thought of the seafood restaurant that had a magnetic touch with the wolf.

"Really? This is good news for us," Darcy Maguire hurriedly wrote down the name of the restaurant.

"But even though there is this strong evidence, the problem of our creativity that Ovitz accused us of also hits the nail on the head."

Ronald nodded to show that he understood. Everyone is scrambling to "manage clients," so creativity is not so important...

"I think you may still have to take action at that time. This is not a problem for our advertising company alone. The entire Madison Street wants to unite and take down Ovitz. This is our common goal, and it is actually a win-win situation..."

"I don't think I can be any better than Marty and Francis in shooting commercials." Ronald nodded and agreed. But he still knew in his heart that Ovitz was very good at sales, and those senior executives of Coca-Cola might have been persuaded by his mouth.

Unless he could come up with a great idea that could invalidate Ovitz's idea of ​​predicting future stars through CAA's unparalleled data in the industry, and no longer have any advantages, it would be possible to stop him from switching to other industries to make big money.

But how could Ronald think of it? Even if he had any creativity before, he relied on dreaming. Daydreaming is his first productivity.

Thinking of this, Ronald suddenly had an idea in his mind. If he didn't dream, could he take the initiative to find the feeling of dreaming? Anyway, the most suitable thing for him to dream recently is to take a plane.

"Swallow, Swallow?"

"Yang Yanzi is busy with the Joy Luck Club. If you have anything to do, I can help you." Helen came over in a red home dress with a smile...

"Ah, it's okay, I want her to help me book a business jet." Ronald smiled and touched Helen's waist.

"Are you going back?" Helen was hugged in Ronald's arms and twisted twice to protest.

"Well, it's a bit urgent..." Ronald put his head on Helen's shoulder and smelled the scent of shower gel in her hair, "Forget it, it's not that urgent..."

"Well..." Helen felt a warm stream blowing from the back of her neck, and couldn't help but screamed in comfort.

"When are you going to film with Billy Crystal?"

After a while, Ronald and Helen were lying on the big bed in the Fifth Avenue apartment in Manhattan, chatting side by side.

"It will be these two days. I have finished filming my scenes here." Helen's breathing has not completely calmed down.

"Then why don't you come with me? It's more convenient for us to fly on the same plane." Ronald couldn't help but think of the fact that a few years ago, being with a beautiful woman seemed to promote dreaming. How about combining the two?

"You want to stay with me for a while? Hehehe", Helen misunderstood, thinking that her lover wanted to stick with her more, and she was so happy that she turned over and sat on Ronald.

...

"Why is it the Gulfstream III again?"

Ronald felt that he had made a mistake when he got on the plane. The plane Richard ordered for him this time was also an old version, mainly used for business aircraft leasing business. So the seats on the plane were standard, and there was no private space at all.

Ronald's plan failed, and he was a little disappointed. He still had to put the matter of buying a plane on the agenda. Who among my friends has a private plane? Go ask the door.

Ronald calculated that maybe only investor Warren Buffett has one?

He slept hastily on the plane and didn't dream about anything. There was no assistant on this trip, and Ronald had to help Helen with the luggage.

"What are all these? Do you have so many luggage?"

"Female stars don't have many of these..." Helen Slater rolled her eyes at him. Don't Hollywood actresses have to bring them when they go out?

"And this, what is this?" There was a soft cloth bag in the middle of the luggage.

"This is my stuffed toy... I'm used to hugging it when I sleep." Helen took the cloth bag, and inside was a stuffed bear toy, which looked very big. It was used when Ronald was not around.

"Uh..." Ronald was speechless, looking at the big bear... "I'll stay with you tonight, I'll call Richard and tell him I won't be back until tomorrow."

At night, in the suite of the Beverly Hilton, Helen hugged Ronald and slept particularly sweetly. The gentle breath sprayed on Ronald's body, and it was obviously more comfortable to hug a real person.

Ronald also fell asleep in this peaceful atmosphere.

Who knows, when you don't think, dreams come quietly.

A fluffy black and white panda was boxing vividly in the dream. There was also a turtle next to him, talking to him.

"Huh? Is this a computer-generated special effect?" Ronald looked at the cute panda and found that the hair on his body was very real.

Including his movements and expressions when speaking, they all looked like real people. What kind of technology is this? So similar?

"Oh, I'm going to be late, dear, I won't have breakfast, you can arrange it yourself."

The next day, both of them overslept for the rare occasion.

"Is it okay? Let me call Billy?" Ronald smiled as he watched Helen frantically getting dressed.

"No, I don't want them to say I'm special." Helen smiled and stopped him. "It's all your fault. I slept too deeply last night..."

"I'm definitely better than that teddy bear?" Ronald also smiled.

Helen called a car to go to Billy Crystal's meeting, and Ronald was alone in bed thinking about things. The panda I dreamed of last night was obviously very real. I wonder when technology has developed to this point?

If the cost of this technology is not high, won't real-life stars be robbed of a large market share by such animated characters in the future?

"Hmm?" Suddenly, Ronald thought of something. He got up and took out the phone number of his special effects director Van Fleet from his notebook.

"John, if I want to make a panda with fur effects, is the current technology capable of that?"