Exploiting Hollywood 1980

“The first way is to purchase the copyrights of a batch of popular music at the top of the charts and directly use it as the soundtrack of ‘Son of Grease’ to attract fans.

The second way is to convince the two protagonists of the original work, John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, to continue to play major supporting roles in the sequel instead of just making guest appearances. Engage their fans.

As long as we can do either of the two, this sequel will be on the qualified line. If we can do both, it may become a hit. "

The next day, Ronald approached his agent, Rick Niceta. Convey the choreographer's opinions and your own observations on the script to him. Hearing that Ronald had found ideas for screenwriting, Ovitz was also very satisfied with his efficiency and listened to Ronald's briefing with Niceta.

"There is no problem with the first one. Andy Gibb is a popular singer. Ever since he debuted with the song "ijtwanttobeyoureverythg", Robert Sturwood has always wanted him to work part-time as an actor, and his The beegees band composed of three brothers can also provide him with many songs. "

Ovitz and Niceta had no objection to the first.

Article 2..."

The two of them whispered to each other, and Niceta replied:

"John Travolta has become famous. He began to seek a transformation. He was unwilling to appear in musicals and appeared on the big screen as an American gigolo.

As for leading lady Olivia Newton-John, her new film ‘Xanadu’ did not do well at the box office and critically, so we can try to raise the issue with Paramount. "Knocking on the table, Niceta decided to propose the heroine to participate first.

Ovitz was already considering whether to recommend directors and actors to Paramount. "You did a great job, Ronald. We will forward your screenwriting comments to Paramount and Sternwood. Wait until they finalize the songs and After the stars join the cast, we will have another interview to finalize the contract.”

"If you stay in Los Angeles for another two days, I expect there will be an official response soon."

Ronald let out a sigh of relief as he walked out of the president's office. Since you have decided to write a script, you must do the best you can within your capabilities.

"Ronald, it's you!"

An unexpected voice stopped Ronald in the lounge area.

"Minahan?" Ronald thought of the owner of the voice, who seemed to be the Israeli filmmaker Minahan Golan, who had failed in his Canadian film and was about to jump off a building.

Turning around, it was indeed Minahan and his cousin Yoram.

"Why are you here?"

"We're here to see Mr. Ovitz, why are you here?" Minahan asked.

"I'm a contracted screenwriter with CAA. This time I'm here to talk about some script projects." Ronald nodded and wanted to leave.

Minahan quickly exchanged glances with his cousin. Maybe the breakthrough depends on him?

"Ronald, we haven't thanked you for your help in Canada. Why don't you come to our office at Cannon Pictures? Let's have lunch together." Minahan invited out.

"Don't you want to see Mr. Ovitz?"

"Hahaha, he is a busy man. We didn't make an appointment this time, just to try our luck. If we meet you, let's go to the office to chat first." The two of them pulled Ronald and walked out.

"Okay, let me talk to the agent." Ronald went to say goodbye to Richard.

"Do you think he can help us?" Yoram asked Minahan.

"Who knows, Ovitz flatly rejected our request and didn't see us for the past two days. Why not ask Ronald? He was the one who gave us this idea. Maybe he has some idea."

Ronald walked out of the office, got into the car of the two Israeli brothers, turned a corner, and soon arrived at the office of Cannon Pictures.

This is an old office building. Open the door of the company and you will see the front desk. There is a logo of another company on it.

"We just took over this office, and all the furniture was left behind by the previous tenant. We don't spend money on these places, all the money will be invested in the filming of the movie." Minahan kept his expression straight and talked eloquently.

There were also two desks placed in the corridor, which seemed to be the screenwriter's seats. Two screenwriters were typing on the clattering typewriters. Two paper boxes with pagoda patterns were placed on the table. It seemed that they had ordered Chinese takeout before they had time to eat.

Walking into Minahan and Yoram's office, two desks facing each other take up most of the space, as well as two corner sofas and a small table as a place to entertain guests.

"This is our office, where Yoram and I discuss the company's film projects." Minahan pointed to various movie posters on the wall, "This is 'Lemonade' that we shot in Israel, breaking all the Israeli box office record, we can come to America to continue our movie dream.”

Ronald nodded, the two of them had made big-selling movies. Not the kind of pure amateur who messes around. Moreover, this entrepreneurial spirit also made Ronald feel very friendly. There were not too many hierarchies and the employees were very motivated.

"So why are you looking for Mr. Ovitz? How can I help?" Ronald simply pointed out the unspoken subtext of the Israeli brothers.

"We", the two brothers looked at each other, and it was Minahan who spoke, "we remembered the advice you gave in Montreal, and when we came back, we approached United Artists and MGM to discuss the distribution contract of Cannon Pictures. But their president only wanted to Thinking about 'Heaven's Gate' editing issues."

"What about MGM?"

"After Kerkorian acquired 40% of its shares, MGM has greatly reduced its film production output. They now have no distribution channels of their own, but use United Artists' distribution channels."

"So what are you going to do?" Ronald looked for water everywhere. Cannon Pictures was still a start-up company, and the secretary was too tactless. The boss's important guest didn't even have a cup of coffee.

Yoram hurried out to get water, and Minahan said eagerly, "We have made preliminary contacts with MGM. They can use the distribution channels shared with United Artists, but they don't know us and are unwilling to endorse a company that has not released movies in the United States. They need us to show proof or find someone willing to guarantee our identity as a producer..."

After listening for a long time, Ronald understood that it was the old problem of entering the industry again.

Minahan and Yoram are Israelis who have just acquired a small Hollywood production company. Before the movie is released in the United States, MGM is unwilling to take the risk of signing a distribution agreement.

But no distributor bought "Apple", and Minahan was unwilling to do a small-scale distribution by himself, which would make the box office of the bad "Apple" even worse, and no distributor would be willing to represent their films in the future. As a result, their American film journey ended before it even began.

So the two brothers kept asking Ovitz, hoping that he could act as a recommender to increase the confidence of MGM's senior management in the Israelis.

But your "Apple" is so bad, Ovitz certainly doesn't want to ruin his reputation.

As if reading a new voice from Ronald's heart, Yoram, who came back with a bottle of mineral water, spoke up, "In fact, MGM doesn't care about the quality of our movies. They don't have many movies to distribute, and United Artists' distribution channels are now idle. As long as there are movies, it's always good."

"But MGM's senior management is unwilling to take risks. Their senior management is undergoing changes now. No one wants to become a handle for doing something wrong because of signing our distribution business, and become a reason for others to attack in the reshuffle of the senior management."

Ronald figured out the trick, which is actually that MGM's senior management doesn't want to take the blame, but they are jealous of the income from the distribution business. I want to find a formal witness to make the decision to sign the distribution contract formal and without fault.

"I can't do anything. I'm just an ordinary client of CAA and can't influence Mr. Ovitz's judgment."

"No, we want you to act as the recommender." Yoram said.

"Me? Ahem..." Ronald was amused by Yoram's statement and choked.

"Do you have any misunderstandings about me?"

"We have inquired in Hollywood. You are a famous screenwriter who wrote scripts for Jane Fonda and made the front page of the New York Times."

"The unknown screenwriter is a big success!" Minahan repeated the title of the time in a thick Israeli accent.

"You haven't read the whole report? There is no name there." Ronald didn't want to mention the script again, and simply said that Jane Fonda was the leader of the project.

"So that's it." The two Israeli brothers looked at each other and sat down a little disappointed.

"But why don't you find a lawyer to prove your strength?" Ronald asked when he saw the two people's frustrated look.

"We have also tried to get the lawyers to provide evidence, but they are unwilling to verify our distribution results in Israel, and they are quite discriminatory against us." Yoram replied.

"Those lawyers who serve Hollywood don't know that there is a film industry in Israel, and they are unwilling to learn more about our distribution results in Israel. They always think that no one can sell movies outside of Hollywood." Minahan was also very uncomfortable.

"Thank you, Ronald, we will think of a way."

Didn't we agree to have lunch? Ronald complained in his heart.

"I do know Mickey Kanter, the former corporate lawyer of MGM. He has left MGM and returned to the law firm to practice. Maybe he will be interested in you."

"Really?" Minahan grabbed the phone on the desk and brought it to the sofa. "You can call him here."

Ronald looked at the two of them without saying a word.

Yoram has been engaged in distribution and sales, and understands the exchange of commercial interests better than Minahan, who is mainly responsible for film production.

"Ronald, what do you want to be in Hollywood in the future? Is there anything we can do to help you at Cannon Pictures?"

"I want to be a director."

"That's no problem. Come to us. We at Cannon Pictures are short of people who can direct English films." Minahan took over the conversation and patted his chest.

"Okay," Ronald didn't really trust the two Israelis, but this matter didn't cost too much favors. It was just a normal introduction to lawyer Mickey.

So Ronald dialed the number on Mickey Kanter's business card and told him about the idea of ​​Cannon Pictures.

Mickey Kanter welcomes this kind of business that is simple and can charge high fees. After communicating with Minahan on the phone, he asked them to go to the office tomorrow to provide materials, and he would contact the MGM distribution manager.

Minahan put down the phone and happily hugged Yoram, "We did it, we did it. We have a firm foothold in Hollywood, and the next step is to make a movie that can win an Oscar! We can go to the awards ceremony next year."

"Oh my god." Ronald covered his face, defeated by the optimism of the two.

"Ha! It's already half past twelve." Minahan thought Ronald was hungry and ran out of the office quickly.

Minahan's high-pitched Hebrew voice and the much quieter defense of the screenwriter came from outside the door. After a while, Minahan took a pagoda-patterned lunch box, took chopsticks, and placed it in front of Ronald, "Here, this is Chinese food, very delicious."