Exploiting Hollywood 1980

Writing a script and then pitching it to various producers is called "speculative writing." Speculation means you start writing a script without knowing whether anyone will buy it.

Speculative writing is banned by Screenwriters Guild order because it raises legal piracy concerns. If a producer sees your script, pretends to reject it, and then has someone change it based on the script, turning your script into his.

Such behavior is difficult to define, and the Writers Guild is therefore unable to protect the intellectual property rights of its members. The union's approach is to simply prohibit it. The bureaucracy's thinking is simple and clear. If there is no such thing, there is no need for protection.

The method of prohibition is to declare speculative writing illegal in union rules on the one hand, and to put pressure on buyers, producers and agents of speculative scripts. After several court battles, a producer actually lost the case for buying a speculative script. Now producers are no longer willing to read scripts submitted by new screenwriters.

But in order to get into the industry, newcomers have the only way to write their own scripts and submit them. Therefore, before submitting, they will attach a waiver of authorization letter stating in advance that if the other party reads their scripts, they will not be exempted from any legal disputes that may arise.

Many producers and agents do not read the script without this authorization letter to avoid trouble.

It is obviously to protect the screenwriters, but after such a bureaucratic red tape operation, the new screenwriters become even more vulnerable. Sometimes they blatantly rewrite their speculation scripts, but because of the prior disclaimer, they can't sue.

After receiving the notice from the secretary, I was not in a hurry to write and submit the article immediately. Anyway, there is no shortage of speculative scripts for agents. Ronald spent several months slowly polishing the scripts. When the time comes, he will send them to the agent named Rick Niceta, and he will still be able to read them.

Ronald wanted to write a romantic love story between a Chinese gangster man and an Italian female assistant prosecutor.

As the successor of a gang, the Chinese man wanted to transform the gang into a legal business, but he did not tell the Italian woman his true identity. Italian-American women often scare away men of the same ethnicity because of their work, and do not tell them that they are prosecutors. The two fall in love without knowing each other's identity.

Ronald gave Spike Lee the outline of the script.

"Isn't this the 'Corner Store' directed by Lubitsch in 1940? The man and woman do not know each other's true identity and fall in love with each other's false identities. In their true identities they are hostile enemies, but in their false identities they are indeed romantic lovers. In the end Exposed, everyone is happy.”

Spike criticized Ronald for plagiarizing old scenes, "Haven't you seen it? Starring Jimmy Stewart." Then he roughly told the plot of the corner store.

"I really haven't seen it," Ronald shouted, "It's just that the core is a little bit similar, my details are completely different."

Then we discussed it with Kathryn Bigelow, who is also an all-around talent as a writer and director.

"I like the dramatic core of this script very much, but why does it end with the heroine giving up the prosecutor, marrying the hero, and the two of them running the company together? Don't you think the hero's background is complicated and that he should give up his identity as a gang heir and find someone else? A normal job, supporting the heroine?”

"This? The audience doesn't like watching it," Ronald muttered.

These people are all professionals. When they see the script, they analyze it from the screenwriter's perspective, how it should be written, and how it should be modified. This is not the reaction of a normal audience at all.

Ronald decided not to ask them, but instead asked how ordinary people felt, starting with the newsstand owner.

"Jimmy, let me tell you a story. A Chinese man, he is the successor of the gang..."

"Oh, why would the successor of the gang have the idea of ​​​​retiring from the world? You see in The Godfather, Mike succeeded the old Godfather. I gave her an offer she couldn't refuse. Isn't that cool? What newspaper do you want to buy? It's still the same. Daily variety show?”

"Yeah, another Hollywood Reporter."

Ordinary ideas are more out-of-the-box, and Ronald also received a lot of real feedback. The point where they couldn't listen and started to lose focus was often the point where the drama was too weak, so they went back and revised it.

…

That day, little Douglas, who was studying in Columbia, came to see Ronald again.

He is Ronald's best friend on the high school wrestling team. Some time ago, he failed to pursue Kathryn Bigelow, a beauty who is 9 years older than him. However, he has not given up on his dream of finding a girlfriend in the entertainment industry. This time it is for a celebrity girlfriend. The plan comes to Ronald.

"Did you know? The owner of Club 54 is going to jail soon."

When Ronald heard the name of Club 54, he felt unhappy. That big doorman likes to take apart a pair of dates and put one in. Isn't that intentional sabotage? Just use this to enhance your power.

"I haven't heard of it. Why?"

"Tax evasion, the police found millions of dollars in cash in their basements."

Ronald looked at little Doug, you didn't just come to tell me the news, did you?

"Hey, did you know? Before they go to jail, they will hold a big farewell party. Many female stars will go there. If you can go in, you will have the opportunity to meet some female stars."

"I can't get in. The doormen there are very picky. Unless you know someone important, they'll let you in."

"Don't worry, I've already got two invitations." Little Douglas took out two invitations to the farewell party of Club 54, "But I lack an insider to introduce me into the circle. So..."

Ronald also wanted to see Club 54, the best nightclub in New York, so he readily agreed.

But they regretted it at the door of Club 54.

Howie Montague, the gatekeeper of Club 54, looked at their invitation and winked at Ronald, "Same-sex couple? You have a lot of fun. I remember you, you came with Madonna last time, Today..."

Little Douglas and Ronald looked at each other and separated immediately after entering the club. This misunderstanding was not good.

As expected, Club 54 was abuzz with excitement. A huge sculpture in the shape of a champagne bottle stood at the door, and scantily clad male and female waiters served massive amounts of alcoholic beverages. A huge catwalk spanned the center of the dance floor, and on several leading stages were women in bikinis dancing to disco music.

Little Douglas met two acquaintances, a young man from a wealthy family like him and his young wife. The son comes from the real estate industry and is now entering the Manhattan real estate industry. His beautiful wife is an immigrant from Czechoslovakia and they already have a child.

With the young master leading the way, little Douglas was soon introduced to the girl of his dreams, Farrah Fassett (Farrah\u0026). The former actor of the TV series "Charlie's Angels" has now specialized in movies. Although he already has a regular boyfriend, Ryan O'Neal, the actor's charm is irresistible, and he still has little Douglas obsessed with him.

Seeing that he had achieved what he wanted, Ronald didn't bother him and walked through Club 54 by himself. Today is the farewell party, so the music is not that intense, but a little sad, and everyone focuses on saying goodbye.

The Bee Gees' "Saturday Night Fever" music started playing, and an old woman over 70 next to her started dancing, "Young man, why don't you come and dance with me?"

Ronald saw that her dancing was still so vigorous, which was especially rare for such an old man, and he danced a song with her.

The old lady was very happy, "You dance very well. Why haven't I seen you before?"

"Oh, I came once, but I was stopped by Howie."

"Hahaha, why didn't you mention my name? They all call me Disco Sally. Howie knows me and they are all very nice to me. My husband passed away a few years ago and only here can I find friends..."

After dancing with Sally at the disco, more regulars came to invite her as a farewell souvenir. Ronald stepped aside and looked at the celebrities on the catwalk above the dance floor.

There was Stallone who played Rocky Boxer, actor Richard Gere, supermodel Gia Calanchi, and many more stars that Ronald found familiar but couldn't name.

Among them, Ronald also saw Brooke Shields who he wanted to sign in "Endless Love". She and she thought about her mother's one million dollar actress' sky-high salary and the brother's praise for her. She didn't know what the movie was. It's not like I can invite her in the end.

"She's such an American beauty, isn't she?"

When Ronald heard the question, he turned around and saw a tall man wearing a white shirt on the upper body, a brown T-shirt underneath, tight jeans, and a pair of large leather shoes. It is simple to wear, but very stylish.

This is not a movie star style, but a designer style, where all the clothes match just right.

"Yeah, he's the dream girl of every high school boy in America." Ronald replied.

"Hello, call me Calvin, I'm a fashion designer looking for models for my women's jeans ads."

"You have a good eye. I've done the test, and she has a high degree of support among college students." Ronald smiled and told Calvin about the hormone test he did during the casting process.

"So you work in the film industry?" Calvin asked.

"Yes, I'm still an advertising director." Ronald handed over his business card, "My name is Ronald Lee."

"I'm Calvin Klein." Calvin shook hands with him, "Ronald Lee, I heard your name somewhere, chewing gum, right?"

"Chewels chewing gum tastes better? That's right, I directed it."

"I appreciate the simplicity of that ad. We should talk some time. Maybe you could work on my jeans ad?"

"Which advertising agency did you hire? I usually work with Darcy Maguire of BBDO."

"No, I didn't hire any advertising agency. They are just yes-men without any creativity. I will come up with ideas myself and you can help me shoot them. How about that?"

"Why not?" Ronald took Calvin's business card, I will contact your secretary.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!..." Countless sounds of opening bottles of fragrant pancakes were heard, and the waiters in roller skates began a new round of parade. They held trays filled with champagne in their hands and could walk quickly. , without spilling a drop of champagne.

"Cheers!" Ronald took two glasses and toasted to his new acquaintance Calvin.

It’s really a gold-selling cave that is full of money and wealth, but it’s a pity that it will be closed soon.