Exploiting Hollywood 1980

"We are willing, we are willing to pay to make a movie, as long as you are willing, we can't ask for it..." Capcom's president Kenzo Tsujimoto loudly asked Ronald on the other side of the transatlantic phone to make the game into a movie. Movie.

Capcom's response was unexpectedly strong. Sales of their Street Fighter II, the hottest arcade game of all time. Since the beginning of this year, more than 60,000 arcade machines have been sold around the world, and the number of pirated copies may be several times that.

According to statistics, the coin volume of arcade machines has exceeded 300 million US dollars. In addition to this, there are sales on various platforms. Nintendo's latest home console platform, the Super Famicom, has sold more than three million, and Sega's old 16-bit console has sold more than half a million. Coupled with the floppy disks of various computer models, this game is simply a money-making machine.

Ronald was very happy. As a shareholder, he never expected that such a fighting game could actually make so much money. When this game was first released last year, it was not very popular. Later, after a magazine reported on the battle method, it became very popular.

Looking at it this way, when Capcom releases its annual report at the end of the year, won’t his stocks still be worth a lot of money?

"Okay, okay, how much are you willing to pay?" When Ronald heard that Capcom had helped him make so much money, it was easy to talk. If the other party offers 10 million US dollars, half of the production costs will be covered, right? Although no one in Hollywood is willing to do this, which allows them to publish the rights for free and fund the filming, but it doesn't prevent them from asking, right? What if the other party doesn’t understand?

"We are willing to pay four billion yen..." Kenzo Tsujimoto gritted his teeth and said a number. If Hollywood didn't like it, he would have no choice but to go out and ask Ronald San, the shareholder, for help. I heard that the latest Terminator 2, which was released in Japan, cost more than 10 billion yen.

"Four billion yen..." Ronald calculated in his mind, it was close to 40 million US dollars... "Tsujimoto-san, if you have any requests, just ask..."

"Requests, what else can we make?" Kenzo Tsujimoto suddenly felt as if he had gone astray, "We only have two requests. The role of Coulee from the US military must be played by Jean-Claude Van Damme, and the role of Takashi from Japan must be used. Starring actors…”

"Ah, Jean-Claude Van Damme is quite expensive. His salary is over five million US dollars. Are you sure? What, he is very popular in Japan? Why? Because an American is very good at karate? He He's from the country of Zhao, forget it, if you insist so much, I'll go and ask..."

Ronald also felt that he seemed to have gone astray. There may be no talents in Japan to shoot commercial films, and their ideas are still limited to the model of twenty years ago.

In fact, these two requirements are nothing compared to Hollywood producers. Ronald immediately agreed, and the two parties roughly agreed to release the film in 1993, and also made Capcom one of the producers... Kenzo Tsujimoto immediately sent people to Los Angeles to discuss the script and casting with Ronald things.

"Isn't this the idea?" Ronald proudly thanked his daydreaming colleagues, "Medium-sized production is risky, so let the Japanese invest..."

"Really..." The employees who were daydreaming were speechless when they saw that their boss could get a budget of 40 million US dollars with just one phone call. How could they do this kind of thing without Ronald's connections?

Ronald also thinks this is just a coincidence, but it is a revelation. There are indeed many markets that have not been thought of and are worth trying. For example, production companies in Europe also want to use Hollywood's production capabilities to promote their own stars, and also want to make money in the American market.

You can invite Hollywood to invest in anything. You can discuss any requirements you have. There is nothing you can’t discuss...

For a while, everyone's minds were open, and they were all wondering where they wanted to find a rich producer, or a rich person who could afford an advance payment to find money.

…

Having opened up a new production route, Ronald didn't care about the remaining details and let the daydream people handle it. I turned around and started working on the "sugar-coated trap" project.

"Jerry, how are you thinking about your guest appearance?"

"I, do you really think I can do it? I've never acted before."

Jerry Weintraub saw his part in the movie when Ronald dreamed about it. Weintraub plays a stupid rich man who does side business. He already has a bit of gangster temperament in him. After all, he made his first fortune from touring with Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra, so he couldn't do it without a little bit of charlatanism.

Moreover, Weintraub has a combination of stupidity and innocence unique to the bottom-class self-made rich people that Americans both hate and a bit like. The people at the bottom were jealous of his wealth, but also felt that this guy's temperament was similar to that of his friends.

In Ronald's opinion, as long as Weintraub can let go of this kind of role, there is no problem at all in playing the role as he is.

So can Weintraub let go?

Of course he could. When he was pursuing the singer Jane Morgan, when they first met her husband while she was still in a hotel, he dared to call her down to court her.

"Don't look at the camera, Jerry, just pretend that this big guy doesn't exist." Ronald asked Weintraub to come over for an audition. He was a little nervous, so he didn't perform well the first time.

"Aren't you looking at the camera?"

"Oh, yes, just talk to me, treat me as the fledgling director back then, and show your discerning eye for talent. When you talk to me, look at me, and when you talk to Julia, look at her. Forget the camera, just talk the way you talk in real life."

Ronald knows the limitations of amateur actors, and also knows that they are amazingly realistic when they play themselves.

"Look, isn't it very stylish?"

Afterwards, Ronald and Weintraub watched the audition clips and talked to him about other collaborations.

"I didn't expect that I acted so well. What do you think, Ronald, do I have some acting talent?" Weintraub has recovered from the bankruptcy crisis, and now he has regained his former confident state.

"You entered the industry too late. To be a professional actor requires a lot of training, and you don't have the time. But if you ask me, many Hollywood movies now need supporting roles of unscrupulous rich people. You must be very good at playing such roles. Some professional supporting actors, without your life experience and business experience, can't play such vivid expressions." "Hehe, I will write your words in my actor resume." Weintraub has been in the business world for many years. Of course, he heard Ronald's teasing, and he also responded with a joke. The two have become friends for so many years. Weintraub is still very grateful to Ronald for helping him when he was in trouble... "By the way, how are your preparations for the new Karate Kid?" Ronald remembered the last time Weintraub said that he would shoot a "new Karate Kid" with a girl as the protagonist. "I have found the script and director. Are you interested in talking to him?" Weintraub smiled as if he had some other meaning. "Okay, I'm quite interested." Ronald still has a lot of feelings for the movie he shot in his early years. It would be a good thing if he could continue this series now.

"I asked them to come over..." Weintraub made a phone call happily, "You can come over..." It turned out that he had asked the director to wait outside, and as long as Ronald agreed, he would let them come to meet him.

"This is Christopher Kane, this is Ronald." Weintraub introduced Ronald to his prospective director. This Christopher Kane actually entered the industry earlier than Ronald, and started to be a director in 1977.

But he was not capable enough, and none of the movies he shot one after another were a hit. It was not until 1988 that he shot "Young Guns" with many young male actors. With a production cost of 10 million, it achieved a box office of 50 million, and then it became somewhat famous.

But in front of Ronald, Christopher Kane was still a small figure. He had a flattering smile on his face, and he really wanted Ronald to recognize him, so that his family could be guaranteed.

"If you don't mind, let me ask you, why don't you continue to direct the second episode of Young Guns?"

Ronald looked at the director who was much older than him. Young Guns was actually a western that followed the trend. It relied on all young male stars to capture a part of the market. Making a sequel to this kind of movie was like making money.

If Christopher Kane was just a director, it would be fine, but when he introduced himself, he said that he participated in the production of the movie, which made Ronald confused. He didn't pick up the opportunity to make money. What kind of mental illness is this? Or did this person exaggerate his role in the movie. That is equivalent to lying openly...

Although bragging in Hollywood is not a big mistake, but Ronald can also tell such a lie that can be easily exposed, which makes people worry about this person's IQ and moral standards.

"I don't want to say bad things about others, but many people in Hollywood know that it was actually resisted by several protagonists and prevented me from directing the second part."

"Oh?" Ronald thought it made sense. This movie stars old acquaintances, Emilio Estevez, Kiefer Sutherland, Charlie Sheen, Dermot Mulroney and other young stars who play some great thieves in the Western era. Jack Palance, the last Oscar Best Supporting Actor, also plays an old-timer, a big villain in a Western movie.

No wonder. Emilio Estevez, who plays Billy the Kid, and Kiefer Sutherland, who plays Doc Scurlock, are both tough guys. They definitely want to keep the power of the second part in their own hands.

If they had met a less powerful and scheming director, they would probably have been boycotted by these bad boys on and off the screen.

Sure enough, in the second part, the two leading actors not only boycotted the director, but also squeezed out Estevez's brother Charlie Sheen and another leading actor Dermot Mulroney. They replaced him with a New Zealand director who rewrote the script according to their ideas.

But the result was not very good. Emilio Estevez and Kiefer Sutherland's control of the film was still exaggerated. With the production cost rising sharply, the box office was not as good as the first one. A well-made series of movies had to be cut short.

Next, Ronald listened to the director Christopher Kane talking about his preparations for the "New Karate Kid", how to create conflicts with the female Karate Kid and Master Miyagi that were different from Daniel's, how to show a female student getting rid of bullying and psychological fear by learning karate, etc.

Ronald nodded repeatedly after hearing this. This understanding showed that Christopher Kane was quite capable. At least he was qualified to shoot a sequel to a commercial film like this. Besides, his personality didn't seem to be strong, and with Weintraub watching over him, it would be easier to work with him in the future.

"Jerry said you were the most suitable candidate. I didn't believe it before talking to you, but your insights fully show that Jerry is good at choosing people... If you have any questions during the preparation, just go to Jerry. I'm going to shoot my own movie next, so I'll be busy. But if there's anything you can't solve, you can also call my agent."

Ronald said this, indicating that as the owner of the copyright of the Karate Kid series, he agreed to the project. Jerry Weintraub was the happiest.

"Ronald, when I chose you, a genius, to direct The Karate Kid, didn't that show that I had a good eye? There's no doubt about that. Christopher must be very suitable. I see an understanding and familiarity of Eastern culture in both of you. You will definitely be able to shoot a good sequel."

"Hahaha..." Ronald liked to hear others praise his genius the most, and nodded repeatedly. Liking oriental culture is indeed very helpful for filming such oriental-themed movies.

"I... I actually have something right now that I want to get your permission for." Christopher Kane looked like an honest man, hesitating and not knowing what he wanted to say.

With the permission of Ronald and Weintraub, he said that he had two children and wanted to play a cameo role in the movie.

"What's the matter? As long as they can be on camera, it's not a problem. It doesn't matter who you choose for the children... Can't Jerry also play a cameo role?" Ronald laughed. He was indeed a very honest director.

"Hahaha" Weintraub laughed again.

"No, they are all adults..."

Christopher Kane explained repeatedly that his second son Dean was already 26 years old. He was a college football player and was drafted by the NFL Buffalo Bills. However, he unfortunately injured his knee during pre-game training and ruined his career, so he entered Hollywood to try his luck.

His daughter Crisinda Kane is not yet 20 years old and does not have the potential to be a star, but she also wants to enter the film and television industry, perhaps as a supporting role.

"Hmm?" Ronald was a little suspicious. You look only in your forties, how come you have a second son who is 26?

"I adopted him. He is my wife's child from her previous marriage..." Christopher Kane was used to this. People often had such questions. His wife Sharon Thomas was an actress. The father of the first two children was the child of Japanese-American Tanaka. Many people had doubts when they saw the appearance of the two sons.

"Ah... OK, let Jerry decide when the casting is done..." Ronald winked at Weintraub. If it was an unimportant supporting role, it would not be impossible to let him bring his family into the industry.

This guy not only helped others raise children, but also probably had an interest in oriental culture because his wife brought him up. He was really a very sincere person.

"They are nearby. I'll call them to come and see you..." Christopher Kane also knew this trick and asked his two children to wait nearby in advance.

"Hello, this is my daughter Crisinda, and this is my son Dean. This is the great director, Ronald..."

Daughter Crisinda was very excited to greet Ronald, while son Dean was a little cold and looked at him with a bit of hostility.

"What do you think, Jerry?" Ronald looked at the two's appearance and had to say that their mother's genes were still very strong. They were all very good-looking, especially Dean, who had a bit of Hollywood star foundation.

"I think it's good, especially Dean. He can play a major villain. With the foundation of a football player, there will be no problem with action scenes..."

Ronald also nodded with satisfaction. Indeed, Weintraub was similar to himself and liked to take advantage. This director Kane could buy one and get two for free, which was a bargain.

It was his son Dean who always looked at him a little strangely, as if he had stolen his girlfriend.