Exploiting Hollywood 1980

, Exploitation Hollywood 1980

Ronald opened the note and there were three people on it asking him to call him back.

After asking about the hotel's long-distance phone rates, Ronald quickly ran up the stairs, entered his room and started dialing.

The first one was his main agent, Richard Lovett, who left a message saying he had great news and would call back immediately. Could it be that his script has been sold?

"Ronald, you are about to become famous. Columbia has bought your script. It is expected to start filming next year and be released in the summer of 1982."

"I……"

Ronald thinks back to arriving in Los Angeles with the script as if it was yesterday. Is this sold? After signing with an agent, the script was easily spotted and bought by a major studio? Is CAA so capable?

Although Ovitz took him to several major studios to promote the script last time, Ronald did not expect that it would be completed at the speed of light in just a few days.

"Hey, Ronald, are you still there?"

Ronald came back to his senses and quickly asked Richard:

"What is the total budget for the shooting? Jane Fonda is the heroine, right? Has anyone decided who will play the role of Platoon Leader and Idiot? Where is the director?" Ronald held the phone receiver in one hand and went to open the small freezer, his hands trembling slightly with excitement. .

He quickly clamped the microphone around his neck, opened the freezer with both hands, and took out a can of Coca-Cola.

"Take your time, Ronald. I can't answer so many questions at once." Richard on the other side of the phone must be very excited, and he speaks with excitement.

"Colombia invested 10 million, Jane Fonda's IPC invested 2 million, and the total budget is 12 million. The leading actor has not yet been determined. I heard that the candidates include Jack Nicholson and Stallone.

The choice of director is Jane's old partner, James Bridges. "

"Who will play the fool?" Ronald asked impatiently.

"Relax, Ronald. The movie is still in the early stages of preparation. Idiot may invite several young actors to star. It is still in the rumor stage.

I heard that Jane Fonda admired Timothy Hutton, who played the young man in "Just Ordinary People." However, there are a lot of variables at this stage, and except for Jane Fonda, everyone else can change. "

"Okay, I'm just too excited. Do they have any comments on the script? Do they need me to revise it?"

"Yes, Columbia's president Frank Price directly made a lot of modifications to your script. After you return to Los Angeles, we will discuss the modification plan."

"That's great!" Ronald got so excited that he broke the ring of the can, but the Coke was still in the can and couldn't be poured out. He didn't take it seriously, and immediately turned around to open the small freezer, took another bottle and drank it.

"So why don't you ask how much your script sold for?"

"How much did you sell for?" When Ronald heard this, he stopped drinking Coke.

"Three hundred and fifty thousand dollars, thirty fuxckg fifty thousand dollars."

"What? Isn't this in line with the market price? Did you count the wrong number?" Ronald calmed down quickly when he heard this ridiculously high number. None of Walter Mersey's scripts had such a high price. He thought Richard was telling the wrong number and had added an extra zero.

"Today is your lucky day, Ronald. Columbia is being sued for a hostile takeover by Las Vegas tycoon Kerkorian, and they need a high-profile response with a movie. Jane Fonda gets $2 million guaranteed According to the contract, even if Colombia doesn’t want her to star in this movie, she still has to pay her.”

"So President Mr. Price doesn't care about money. He just wants to build momentum in the media and let everyone know who has the final say at Columbia Pictures now."

"In addition, Mr. Ovitz asked me to tell you not to tell anyone about this news at this stage until he and Columbia Pictures release the news online in the media. He and Mr. Price are now focusing on project establishment and marketing, etc. Now that this is over, I’ll talk to you about specific script improvements and casting.”

"I understand, I won't tell anyone."

"Whenever you come to Los Angeles, you can get the check. Give me a call before you come, and I will pick you up at the airport. This is also my first business as an agent. Let's celebrate."

After hanging up the phone, Ronald happily danced disco in the room. He jumped on the bed and jumped a few times in excitement, "

"Hey, hey, it's all because of me that I can win this award..." Ronald found that there were still two phone calls to be returned on the note in his hand. He jumped out of bed and continued to dial Aunt Karen. She said it was important. things need to be discussed.

"Auntie, it's already past 9 pm at your place. What's going on?"

"Ronnie, you did a good job. Now Diane Lane is here."

"What's the matter? What's coming to your door and I didn't do anything?"

"Are you telling Diane that for a 15-year-old single girl like her to rent an apartment in Manhattan, it's best to rent an apartment in Midtown?"

"Yes, she has a lot of savings from filming, but in those rent-controlled apartments uptown, the owners vote that it is impossible for a single minor to move in."

"Then have you ever said that if you don't have enough cash, you can consider sharing a house with other girls?"

"I did say it, but Diane... no, she won't want to rent the apartment where you and Donna live, right?"

"exactly……"

"This..." Ronald thought for a moment, "Aunt, I don't object to her being a frequent guest, but Diane is not an ordinary girl, she is a child star who has been on the cover of Time Magazine. She may bring a lot of media attention of."

"Of course I've thought about this, but Diane said she's out of fashion now, and no one would recognize her if she walked on the street without sunglasses. Besides, she's taller and fatter now, not as thin as she used to be in the movies."

"Aunt, don't mention the word fat in front of the actress." Ronald hurriedly reminded, "and if she lives in the family apartment, we have a certain responsibility to take care of her. After all, I know Bert and I have to be responsible for her family."

"This is what Bert agreed to. Diane threatened him that if he didn't let her live here, she would have to live in the home of the playboy Christopher Atkins."

"What?" Ronald remembered the attitude of the male lead in the movie "Blue Coral Lagoon" towards Diane at the party, "It doesn't matter, she must be scaring her father."

"Bert and Diane are still at home now, I'll let him talk to you." Aunt Karen put the phone down, and a voice came from the receiver, and someone picked it up after a while.

"Ronald, this is Bert."

"Bert, what does Diane think? Is she angry with you? Have a good talk with her."

"Ronald, I ask you to let Diane live with you for a while. I will visit her every day. I promise that she will not cause trouble to you and your family."

"That's not a problem. When she came to tutor before, my aunt and Donna liked her very much, but how could she..."

"Listen, Ronald, just consider it as something I owe you." Bert lowered his voice, "Diane is very determined this time. If I don't agree, she will move to another apartment. I can't stop it. She has declared independence. Legally, she is an adult."

"Oh my God." Ronald knew that this little girl was very smart and had planned everything. Child stars like this one in America who have their own income can declare independence in advance with the help of a lawyer.

"So what are you going to do?"

"I will come to see her often, let her live in your house for a while, and I will slowly persuade her to go back. She will take the high school entrance examination soon, and she wants to live an ordinary high school life."

"Okay, give the phone to Aunt Karen."

Ronald discussed with Aunt Karen and agreed to let Diane Lane stay in the new house temporarily. But first negotiate the conditions with Diane, and she can't leave at will, and she must keep in touch with Bert frequently.

"Ronald, don't worry, I just want to live an ordinary girl's life, no acting practice, no auditions, and I won't quarrel with my father because of casting. After I pass the high school entrance examination, I will return to normal. If it weren't for you, Bert would never let me live in someone else's house, I can only ask Karen for help."

"I know you have a charm that makes everyone love you. I believe you won't let us down, Diane." Ronald finally said a few words to Diane Lane and hung up the phone.

"Yeah, your cousin agreed." Diane and Donna hugged each other with joy.

"This bedroom belongs to you, but you can't party too late." Donna gave a bedroom to Diane.

"Don't worry, let me make a few calls and find someone to celebrate first."

...

Another call was to Michelle Pfeiffer. She said she missed him and wanted to talk. Ronald was very happy. This was the first time Michelle took the initiative to leave him a message saying she missed him.

"Hi, Michelle. This is Ronald. I'm so happy today. Guess what happened? Uh... Uh..." Ronald made a few kissing gestures across the receiver.

Ronald dialed Pfeiffer's number and couldn't wait to share his happiness with her.

"Listen, Ronald. It's me, Limato." The person on the other end of the phone was Michelle Pfeiffer's agent.

"Um..." Ronald paused awkwardly, "Hello, Ed. I didn't know you were here."

"I asked Michelle to call you. Your script has been bought by Columbia. Can you use your influence to help Miss Pfeiffer get the supporting role of the silly sister?"

"How did you know? I just received a call from my agent telling me the news. He said the project is still in the preparation stage and is highly confidential."

"There are no secrets in the agent business, Ronald. She told him, he told her, and I have my network of information."

"Okay. I haven't contacted the producer yet. I heard that Columbia paid a high price. But to be honest, I don't understand how to use my so-called influence to get Michelle to get this role.

If you have any ideas, You can tell me. You know, I heard someone say that once the script is sold, the screenwriter is out of the power game.

The real star of this project is Jane Fonda, and few people know me. "

"I understand, this time Ovitz seems to be preparing a big move. You will have influence later, and Hollywood will know you by then."

Limato seemed to have heard some news and seemed very confident, "You might as well stay in San Francisco for a while, and try to meet Francis Coppola once after the news comes out, and take advantage of his momentum."

"Damn it, these should be taught by Ovitz, you can call him." Limato handed the receiver to Michelle Pfeiffer, and motioned to Pfeiffer to talk more with Ronald, and turned to leave the room.

"Michelle..." Ronald called.

"Ronnie..." The agent taught her to please Ronald to get a role in a big production, "I miss you. You are not in Los Angeles, I feel a little lonely. "

"I may stay for another week or two, dear. I still have some editing questions to ask the masters here, and then I can go back to Los Angeles soon."

"Well, I will join the crew of Inspector Charlie Chan soon, and you can see me if you come back early. By the way, did you see me on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson? Although it was only three minutes, some people recognized me on the street."

"Yes, I saw it, you were so beautiful on the show..."