Exploiting Hollywood 1980

"So is Jane Fonda really coming to CAA this morning to discuss the script with me?"

"Of course, Ronnie."

This is the third time the same conversation has occurred between Ronald and his agent Richard. He asked Ronald when he picked him up from the hotel, and asked in Richard's car. When he got to the elevator of CAA Company, Ronald asked again.

He was about to meet the double Oscar winner, but Ronald still felt like it was all a dream. Why did Jane Fonda take notice of her just after she wrote her second independent screenplay? Is it because I really have talent or just luck?

Putting aside these messy thoughts, Ronald entered CAA. The front desk secretary greeted him. Rick Niceta hugged him in a light suit. Paula Wagner was dressed beautifully today, but Ronald didn't. Care, there is only one thought in my mind, will Jane Fonda come?

If Ovitz had lied to him, or had not persuaded Jane Fonda, she would not have fallen out with him. She would have forgiven him gently, and then asked him to work harder to sell his script, except for "my brother's "Protector", I also have a book called "Intersection", which is also very popular.

Ovitz may be ashamed of his bragging yesterday. No, the word "shame" is not in the dictionary of these agents. Yesterday they were bragging in front of a newcomer. You must remind yourself of lying and put some pressure on them.

But you can't blame it too much to prevent the president of a brokerage company from stepping down. The balance must be grasped. Ronald secretly thought about the lines and Ovitz's reaction in his mind.

Niceta opened the door. There were three people sitting in the executive conference room yesterday. Ovitz, the official CAA president on the left, smiled and asked the man and woman opposite, "So I can treat this as your participation in the show." "Promise, Jane?"

"Of course, I promise to participate."

Ronald looked away and saw that the person speaking was a middle-aged beauty with huge gold earrings on her ears and her hair casually combed into a bun on the back of her head. Wearing a brown vertical striped shirt on the upper body and a khaki skirt on the lower body, it is Jane Fonda who was crowned the heroine for the second time in "The Return".

"Can you walk on water like Jesus?" Ronald blurted, looking back to Ovitz.

Everyone was stunned for a moment, and then burst into laughter.

Ovitz smiled especially happily, stood up and said to Jane Fonda, "Jane, this is the screenwriter of the script, Ronald Lee. I believe you have been friends for a long time."

Jane has recognized Ronald as Sleepy Luo, who supported her in the TV interview. She was also interviewed by the TV station and asked her opinion of Ronald's comments on The Deer Hunter. The competition for the Oscars was very fierce that year, and this uninvited audience comment gave him some extra boost in his bid for the Best Actress crown.

So Jane Fonda stood up and hugged Ronald. "Ronnie, it's great to meet you. It seems that you are not only good at criticizing, but also good at creating."

Although she is already in her early 40s, Jane Fonda still has an amazing figure. Ronald and Jane kissed each other twice to say hello, and then greeted her producer Bruce Gilbert.

The fact that a white actress can still maintain such a figure and temperament at the age of 40 is the result of a lot of exercise and a moderate diet. No wonder her ex-husband Vadim gave up European beauties such as Catherine Deneuve and Brigitte Bardot for her and was willing to come to America to marry her.

"So, tell me, how did you come up with the idea of ​​writing such a Vietnam War-themed script?" Jane Fonda took Ronald's hand and asked him to sit next to her, looking at Ronald with her beautiful eyes , asking questions that people can’t refuse to answer.

This is the charm of stars. They can make people fall in love with them in an instant. No matter on or off the screen, the audience will always think that the stars are their friends. A star with this kind of charisma can control the emotions of the audience and make them loyal and dedicated.

Ronald took a deep breath and replied, "Actually, you inspired me, Jane. My aunt is a Vietnam War widow. She saw you return home and said to me, Ronnie, you have to write a book." The script of the Vietnam War allows Jane Fonda to play a happy ending, falling in love with a Vietnam War veteran and living happily together.”

"Hahaha, she is really a lovely woman with great vision." Jane Fonda smiled, "So did you hear all the details of your Vietnam War stories from your uncle's former comrades? "

"Yes, I interviewed more than 50 Vietnam War veterans and their wives." Ronald reached for his briefcase, took out a large interview notebook, and handed it to Jane Fonda.

"This is my interview record. In fact, they have many true stories, but sometimes you have to buy them a drink before they tell the truth, otherwise they will always use urban legends to fool children."

Jane Fonda took Ronald's interview book and flipped through it a few times. It was filled with various shorthand notations, as well as the typewritten transcripts that were later added. Then he quietly winked at his companion Bruce Gilbert and handed the notebook back to Ronald.

"I can see that you have done a lot of preparations. I wonder why at your age you know a lot of slang among Vietnam veterans, such as the nicknames they used to call various weapons. I went to Vietnam back then and heard some, and you The writing is spot on.”

"Yes, they are generally reluctant to talk about too many details of the battle, but they are very loyal to their weapons and have given them various nicknames, such as calling the M16A4 rifle the Musketeer (The\u0026), and the M60 machine gun the Pig (The Pig)..."

Ronald and Jane Fonda hit it off immediately and had a pleasant conversation. The two talked a lot about the creative ideas and characters around "My Brother's Protector".

Time went fast in the conversation between the two. Michael Ovitz tapped his watch, "Jane, Ronnie, as your agent, I have to remind you that you still have to sign a letter of intent for cooperation. With this letter of intent, we can ask for quotes from the eight major studios."

Jane Fonda sat up straight and nodded, "I will sign it as long as you meet one condition of mine."

When saying this, Jane Fonda looked at Ronald.

Ovitz didn’t expect this to cause any complications, and he joked to ease the atmosphere, “What are the conditions? I hope it won’t be too difficult for Ronald.”

“I want Ronnie to change the protagonist of the script to me, the platoon leader to a female officer in the Vietnam War, and then change the title to ‘Her Brother’s Keeper’”

Ronald was shocked. Is this the Hollywood legend of stars forcing screenwriters to change the script? Ignoring the logic of the story and the development of the characters, just to get more screen time and more shots, forcing the character’s personality to adapt to their star image, instead of adapting to the character’s personality as an actor?

But Jane Fonda doesn’t seem to have such a bad reputation?

She played “Klute”, “Homecoming”, and even the earliest exploitation film “Barbara the Space Marine”, all of which are different characters, and Jane Fonda played them very well.

Her social image is mainly due to the many anti-war and peace actions she and her current husband Tom Hayden have made, including going to Vietnam to make peace actions, and being scolded as Hanoi Jane. It has nothing to do with her screen image.

But when the time comes, it's superfluous to say anything.

Ronald hesitated for a long time, and finally managed to say, "During the Vietnam War, did the US military have female officers?"

"Hahaha..."

Jane Fonda was amused and laughed, "Got you!"

"I thought you could write such a mature script, and other aspects are also very mature. Now it seems that you are a real Hollywood newcomer."

"It turns out that you are joking." Ronald said in his heart, secretly wiping his sweat.

"Ronnie, come to my party tonight. I will introduce you to some young people in Hollywood."

"Jane's party is famous for its craziness and many stars in Hollywood." Ovitz interrupted.

"That's all in the past. Now my party is mainly a dialogue between some creative geniuses. Are you coming, Ronnie?" Jane Fonda invited.

"Of course, I'm very honored."

"This is my home address. Let your agent take you there in the evening." Jane Fonda stood up, signed the letter of intent for cooperation, and handed it to Ovitz.

"Then I'll wait for your good news, Michael?"

"Of course, I won't let you down." Ovitz and Jane Fonda hugged and said goodbye.

"I'll drive you to Jane's house tonight." Ovitz said to Ronald, then turned around and called Ronald's agent Rick Nicita, "Rick, you come too."

He nodded to everyone and returned to his office.

"How is it? Are you very happy, Ronald?" Rick Nicita had the opportunity to go to Jane Fonda's party, which was a good social opportunity. He came over and held Ronald's shoulder and asked him happily.

"I feel like I'm walking on water, and my legs can't touch the ground." Ronald hasn't recovered from one surprise after another.

"Hahaha, you'll get used to it. This is Hollywood. You can go from a nobody to an important figure overnight."

...

"Jane, so Ronald is really the author of the script?" Producer Bruce Gilbert asked his partner Jane Fonda in the car on the way back.

"It's undoubtedly him. His interviews and ideas are very detailed. If it was someone else's script, he wouldn't know details like the nicknames of guns."

"But will the audience accept you for such a script? After all, you used to appear as an anti-war image. If you try to please most of the audience, you risk destroying your anti-war image."

"So I can't play a female officer like you thought. I have to play a role far away from the war, whose family is hurt by the war, and who finally falls in love with a retired officer who deeply reflects on his war behavior."

"But you have already won the Oscar for Best Actress twice, and there will be another Vietnam War-themed movie in the short term. It is unlikely that the judges will give you the title for the third time."

"Yes, that's why I need to fight for a large guarantee contract. I want to set an example of equal pay for equal work for men and women in Hollywood, Bruce."