Exploiting Hollywood 1980

"As long as you sign here, you will become an official client of CAA." Paula Wagner pointed to the dotted line on the contract and said.

"So I have an agent after signing?" The sunny boy Tom felt like he had been hit by the lottery jackpot. "I could only find a temporary agent before the audition, in case I was selected to help me sign the contract."

"Don't hesitate, isn't this your dream? And lawyer Lindsay has already helped you look at the contract." Ronald called Tom to discuss something, and took him to dinner to celebrate Ronald's signing with CAA.

It happened that Paula had communicated with the headquarters and confirmed Tom's signing and contract details, and rushed to the restaurant. Anyway, the lawyer lady was there, so she took a look at the contract and asked Tom to sign on the spot.

"Thomas Cruise Mapother IV." Tom signed his full name.

"Cheers!"

Seeing Tom Cruise signed his name, Paula breathed a sigh of relief. Then she took the lead in raising the glass, and everyone toasted to the sunny boy for having an official agent.

"I will be your main agent at CAA. You pack up the things you need to bring and go to Los Angeles with me in the next stage. I will find a suitable apartment for you in Los Angeles." Paula is a qualified agent and has thought of everything.

"No, Sean Penn called me and asked me to go to Hollywood as soon as possible. I can live in his guest room. You know I have never performed in a formal film or TV series, so..."

"No, you will have your debut soon. Don't worry about the money, Tom. You are now a signed agent of CAA. I, no, we can advance your rent for the first three months."

"Will I have my debut?" Tom asked excitedly, "What is the subject? Movie or TV? I have been preparing for this day, Paula. Don't worry, I will definitely act well."

"I have an appointment with Director Zeffirelli tonight to discuss your role in the crew of "Endless Love." Paula smiled,

"You want him to play the leading actor?" Ronald wondered, CAA is really powerful, and it got the Italian director as soon as it signed the contract? But is old glass Zeffirelli willing to give up his "benefits"? Or will CAA's agents urge actors to "sacrifice"?

Ronald looked at Tom Cruise, then at the lawyer. If that was the case, he didn't know whether it was a good thing or a bad thing to let Tom sign with Paula.

"No, that role doesn't suit you." Paula wiped her lips with a tablecloth, drank a sip of water and said, "Tom is the spokesperson for American handsome men, and he can't play such a gloomy villain."

Ronald thought about it and it was true. The male protagonist of Endless Love was actually a villain. He seduced a rich girl and was forbidden to have contact with her by her father. Then he lit a newspaper at the front door of her house, hoping to rush in to save her while the smoke was rising. However, he made a mistake and burned the house.

He was later convicted of arson in court and imprisoned in the notorious Elizabeth Mental Hospital. His parents sold their house to save him. Then he harassed the rich girl again, causing her father to die in a car accident. He also flirted with her mother. Finally, he said that it was all love to excuse himself.

"Tom, you haven't been to acting school, so your debut work shouldn't be too demanding on your acting skills. I picked a role for you that doesn't have many scenes but plays a key role in the plot."

Ronald thought for a moment, "Is it Billy?" Billy is the classmate of the male protagonist David. During the chat, he happened to mention that he had put a wet newspaper outside the neighbor's house and set it on fire, which produced a lot of smoke, and then went to put out the fire, which won the favor of the neighbor's family. It gave David the inspiration to set the fire.

"Yes, you are very smart, Ronald." Paula said, "If you are free in the evening, go with us." Ronald is familiar with Director Zeffirelli and can talk to him. Paula wants to take him with her to add some weight to Tom.

Ronald looked at the lawyer lady.

Lindsay Doll said, "I will go to the meeting with the opposing lawyers representing the New York police in the afternoon to discuss the settlement plan on your behalf. You need to be present, but the meeting will not take long, so you can make it in time."

"Can I bring Michelle Pfeiffer with me?" Ronald also wanted to get another role for Pfeiffer. Even if she was not chosen as the protagonist, she could still play a supporting role as a classmate, which would be beneficial for Pfeiffer to find an agent.

"Of course, bring her with you." Richard agreed.

"Ronald, agents generally do not directly reject clients' requests. You have to remember that." Richard said as he sent Ronald and the lawyer away alone.

"What he meant was that you don't need to ask them for their consent for such things. Just take Pfeiffer with you. Paula needs your help, so you can bring someone with you to even things out. Don't give the other party a chance to reject you." Lindsay Doll saw that Ronald was a little confused and pointed it out.

"Yeah, I'm not used to having an agent."

...

"Rudy, my client was searched by the Southern District Police Department in New York City in violation of the law, resulting in the loss of two important movie scripts. He is a contracted screenwriter for CAA and was originally discussing the sale with Hollywood producers. The Southern District Police Department's actions have violated my client's legal rights and interests and caused huge economic losses."

Lawyer Lindsay Doll, Ronald sat on one side, and on the other side was a representative of the Southern District Police Department in Manhattan and his lawyer Rudy.

"Lindsay, as long as your client gives up the prosecution and claims, my client is willing to immediately return his seized materials. You can also apologize to your client in private."

"This is what you should do, not a bargaining chip."

Rudy whispered a few words to the police department representative, "Okay, as long as your client can drop the prosecution, the Manhattan Southern District Police Department is willing to return Mr. Ronald Lee's property immediately and help hunt down the two God's criminals who falsely accused your client." Child Believer.”

"You police officers who deliberately violated the rules?"

"The Internal Investigations Division will initiate an investigation."

The lawyer lady also turned over and whispered to Ronald, "This is the attitude of the police station. If it doesn't make a big fuss and prosecute with all its strength, I guess the so-called raids and internal investigations of the Southern District Police Station are just a show. It's not as good as that. If you offer to reconcile with them, you can also get some benefits. I heard from Karen that gangsters often come to harass her shop..."

Ronald nodded frequently, and then said, "Actually, I support police work. The amount of state taxes I paid this year is among the highest for my age. I support the New York police. For example, I own a school on XX Street in Midtown Manhattan. For small shops that sell dance supplies, when patrol police come, there are far fewer gangsters and wandering fireflies nearby. "

The representative of the Southern District Police Department smiled for the first time and whispered a few words to Rudy.

"We are very grateful to your client for supporting the police. The patrol police work very hard and often have no place to use the restroom. If your store can..."

"We will also prepare some coffee so that the patrol officers can better protect the people."

"In this case, we hope that Mr. Ronald Lee will attend a meeting at the Southern District Police Station to honor enthusiastic people to quell some of the rumors."

"Deal." Ronald and the lawyer exchanged opinions and agreed to the solution.

…

After parting ways with the lawyer, Ronald went to the RTKD store to tell his aunt that Patrolman Karen was back for coffee.

"In this case, those nasty Italian gangsters will come less often. If little Bud hadn't blocked the door, they would always drive away customers when they came in," said the aunt.

Ronald took Pfeiffer with him, and the two drove to meet director Zeffirelli.

"Here's the thing, Paula was basically there to promote Tom Cruise, and I thought this was an opportunity, and if I could get Zeffirelli to meet you, maybe he would think he could give you a role as well."

What the agent Richard said before leaving was inspiring to Ronald. No one in this world is omniscient and omnipotent, and some things can take advantage of each other's blind spots and misunderstandings.

"Why are you helping me? Ronald?" Michelle Pfeiffer, who had been silent in the passenger seat, suddenly asked while waiting for the red light.

Ronald looked back at Pfeiffer and smiled, "Actually, I don't know. I don't want to ask for anything in return. This is a very competitive industry." Ronald gestured to his neck with his hands. He made a gesture of cutting his throat.

"I think it's especially difficult for actresses to get ahead. You know what? The tradition of agents is to only sign famous stars, but now CAA has new ideas and is starting to sign young male stars they are optimistic about who are not yet famous. I would like to express my gratitude to CAA's Bao La Wagner recommended you, but they thought it was too risky to invest in an unknown actress."

"I don't want to see a potential actress being rejected by a suitable opportunity. Plus you asked me for help at that time, I think you must trust me."

Michelle Pfeiffer looked at Ronald with a pair of charming big blue eyes, "You know, I gave up a lot to be an actress, and I don't want to stop yet."

"I know, I just read Ingrid Bergman's autobiography, and I know that before a female star has a stable position, it is a luxury to have a relationship. Before you can choose a script, life is auditions and filming again and again, and you are always busy. "

Ronald looked at the traffic lights ahead, thinking of the women he had dated, and felt a little sad for a moment. American women have to give up a lot if they want to succeed in their careers.

"Ronnie"

Ronald turned around and saw Michelle Pfeiffer's face right in front of him, her golden hair draped over her shoulders, her cat-like face close at hand, her beautiful blue eyes slightly closed, only her fiery eyes His lips trembled slightly.

With a "hmm" sound, Michelle Pfeiffer felt her lips being gently pressed and enveloped by another pair of lips. My whole body seemed to be stimulated by male hormones, and it felt soft, and I couldn't help but make a sound of satisfaction.

"Didi..." A horn sounded from behind. Ronald saw that the light in front had turned green, stepped on the clutch, shifted into first gear and continued forward.

…

"Hello, Mr. Director, this is Michelle Pfeiffer. You have already met her." Ronald introduced Pfeiffer again.

"This is Tom. This is his agent, Paula from CAA. This is his colleague, Richard."

Ronald deliberately placed Pfeiffer between Richard and himself, hoping to cause the director to misunderstand.

"Ha, you CAA people really know how to find time."

A word came from the mouth of a stranger at the door.

The visitor hugged director Zeffirelli and kissed each other.

"Some agents are like rats. They dig holes and steal your cheese without you noticing."

"Introduction, this is my agent, Ed Limato of International Creative Management (ICM)," director Zeffirelli said.