Exploiting Hollywood 1980

"How dare Shirley Lansing hire a director who bankrupted United Artists?" Ronald was still not happy on the way back in the car. Instead of using a director as popular as himself, why not use a madman like Cimino?

Niceta smiled in the driver's seat, "Don't underestimate Shirley Lansing, she has a way to limit Cimino's mischief. In the late filming of 'Heaven's Gate', the top management of United Artists had actually found Cimino's The weak point is that if he doesn't finish the filming on time and on budget, he will be sued for bankruptcy.

Lansing could have signed an agreement with him and fined Cimino severely whenever he went over budget or over time. Cimino is very cheap now, and he is, after all, the man who won the Oscar for Best Director. "

"It seems that Ms. Lansing is very confident," Ronald said nonchalantly, "I'm afraid she will regret it later."

"In fact, the bankruptcy of United Artists is an exaggeration. Pan American, the parent company of United Artists, announced the sale of United Artists after the box office failure of "Heaven's Gate". It only took three days for the stock's rising market value to be replenished. A hole in the movie.”

"Hey, it's all due to the weak movie market now. These multinational companies all regard movies as a money-losing business. Look who are the people who are coming to take over the business? MGM was bought by a casino operator, and 20th Century Fox was bought by a casino operator. The oil diggers bought it.”

"Stop complaining, Ronald. It's okay if you refuse in person this time. Shirley Lansing is a smart person. She will always find out that what you said is right. There is not only one way to shoot a movie, a dramatic movie It’s not something everyone likes to watch.”

"I have nothing against low-concept dramatic movies, but how many people are going to go back and watch the story of a high school kid in a small Southern town? Gotta give their eyes some ice cream," Ronald replied.

He took Roger Coleman's teachings to heart. There is more than one way to shoot a movie. You can use it as a vehicle for drama, you can use it as an experience for teenagers to have their hormones explode, or you can even use it as cultural propaganda in another part of the world.

"What's going on between you and Cimino? I think he seems to be very provocative towards you."

"Personal grudge..." Ronald told Niceta in detail about the incident in which he was inadvertently involved in the Oscar battle between the two crews of Jane Fonda and Cimino after the TV interview was edited.

Finally he said to Niceta:

"Rick, I figured it out. If I want to make a movie according to my own ideas, I have to take the initiative. Since they still have doubts about my ability to direct, let's start with an exploitation film.

Since they all say that I make exploitation films, then I will make exploitation films. Since major studio projects can also have multiple investors, there's no reason why my exploitation films can't be the same.

After the release of "Fast Pace", you should contact all the small studios that ask me to make films. I am open to them about "Night of the Comet" and am willing to invest or help with distribution. Whatever it is, it's easy to discuss. Get things done first, then think about other things. "

Ronald decided to follow Don Simpson's lead and find his own investment in a joint venture. There is no need to force major studios to participate in the second film. While some may think they were lucky the first time around, no one wanted to invest in the second one, forcing them to go back to small-budget exploitation films.

But not all good things in this world will be your turn. If you want to make a big production, you must rely on the tastes and ideas of the studio's top management. If you want to stick to your own ideas, don't care about the aura and resources of the big studios. Now studios produce so little a year, they don't give themselves a lot of freedom.

"Have you thought about it?" Niceta looked at Ronald in the co-pilot. This client has very independent ideas, but his screenwriting skills are still very promising. Even if this fails, script business will still come to him in the future. . It may not be impossible to make a comeback.

"I thought about it, making movies should be a free thing. Orson Welles didn't know anything when he made a movie for the first time, but he made a classic masterpiece. It's like painting, each has its own gameplay."

"By the way, now Tom is afraid...Paula should complain about me."

…

"You are worrying too much. Shirley Lansing has always been very optimistic about Tom Cruise. She has always wanted to invite Tom to play the leading role. But now Cimino wants to change the script into a realistic story with more dark elements, so we Have to think about it.”

Arriving at the CAA offices, Paula Wagner was amused by Ronald's idea. A handsome and motivated actor like Tom Cruise will never be short of scripts.

"That's good." Ronald felt that he had gone astray. Tom Cruise was no longer the unlucky actor who had no money to see a dentist and no agent willing to take over.

"By the way, where is Mr. Ovitz? And Mr. Meyer, I haven't seen them since I came to CAA several times?"

"They were trying to persuade Sly to accept the project."

Niceta lamented.

"Stallone? What project?" Ronald was very interested in the current trends of this red and purple male star. "First Blood" is doing well at the box office, and it seems that Stallone's transformation into an acting star has been very successful.

"Beverly Hills Cop, Ovitz and Meyer are very optimistic about the fusion genre of comedy and action movies, or comedy and horror movies, but Stallone is not necessarily willing to try it."

"Oh", Ronald heard CAA favor the fusion of two different types of movies for the second time, "Is this Mr. Ovitz's judgment?"

"Yes, now if there is a good script that combines comedy and other types of movies, CAA will do its best to pursue and promote it."

...

Ronald returned home and watched TV with Helen. She came to Los Angeles this time to try on the new Supergirl uniform. Warner Bros. and DC Comics discussed and cancelled the ugly red headband, redesigned a new Supergirl uniform, and moved closer to the Superman movie.

Jane Fonda declined the newly rewritten script without Superman guest appearance and anti-nuclear weapons content, and the producers began to contact Faye Dunaway.

Like the first Superman movie, although Helen was the first heroine, her salary was far lower than that of Dunaway, Mia Farrow, and Peter O'Toole who played supporting roles.

"The funeral of the former general secretary of the Soviet Union was held on the 15th Moscow time. The chairman of the funeral committee, KGB Chairman Yuri, presided over the funeral."

ABC TV began to broadcast the funeral of the top leader of the Union. Several members of the highest authority carried the coffin and marched in front of the Kremlin.

Behind them was a row of senior government officials, more than 40 in total. Each of them held a velvet cushion with several medals on it.

This is the etiquette of the alliance. When each top leader passed away, a senior official held the medals he had won during his lifetime and followed behind the coffin to show the world the leader's achievements during his lifetime.

However, Leonard had too many medals. More than 40 senior officials followed behind him, and each of them stuffed several medals on the velvet he held.

The last two pallbearers tied the coffin with two white cloths and put it into the grave. One of them put it a little too fast, and the coffin seemed to fall into the grave. Then the wives of the leaders and their husbands in high positions began to throw white flowers into the grave. The coffin that wanted to bury the Secretary-General of America was soon buried with white flowers and soil.

"Ronnie, I'm almost going back to New York. I'll go to London after Christmas." Helen said while watching TV and hugging Ronald.

"I'll be in New York before Christmas." Ronald was a little reluctant to let Helen go. "Will you come with me to watch the football playoffs tomorrow? A Canadian actor gave me two tickets."

"Okay, which team are you a fan of?"

"I've actually only watched the San Francisco 49ers, so I'm just a fan of them now. What about you?"

"New York Giants, my dad took me to watch the game live. It was crazy."

...

"Ahh..." In the fourth quarter, 49ers quarterback Joe Montana made a long pass and successfully touched down. The 49ers finally defeated the Los Angeles Rams 30 to 24.

In Anaheim Stadium, Ronald and Helen, John Candy who gave him the tickets, and a Canadian fellow villager of his also started cheering.

Like Ronald, they don't have a home team. They are all new fans who were conquered after watching the 49ers win the Super Bowl last year.

Helen was also brought to cheer for the 49ers, and the two of them high-fived John Candy and his friend Michael. In the last quarter, they caught up from behind and scored another touchdown to overtake. There is no more classic Montana-style victory than this.

"This year's NFL was dragged down by the strike. There are only 18 games. The 49ers did not perform well. If it was still a normal season, it would never be like this." Michael said.

Michael J. Fox is also a Canadian actor. He plays the eldest son of the Keaton family, Alex P. Keaton, in the latest TV series "Faily Ties".

The plot setting of this TV series is very interesting. The parents of the Keaton family are two former hippies who participated in many anti-war and peaceful demonstrations in the 1960s. But their eldest son Alex, the role played by Michael, is a member of the Elephant Party and a supporter of the new president.

He always uses supply-side economics to correct his parents' ideas. This drama has been very popular since its launch, and it seems to have hit the trend of thought of some American people.

Michael J. Fox is a short man. He is actually 21 years old, but he has a tender face, so he has no problem playing a high school student. He is also very lucky. Matthew Broderick, who was originally scheduled to play Alex, took over the role because his father, a famous actor, was seriously ill.

Who knew that ALex became famous overnight and became the most popular character in "Family Ties", even surpassing the protagonist's parents.

"It seems that the camera is filming us." John Candy whispered to the three people.

"I have to put out the cigarette..." Michael J. Fox hurriedly put out the cigarette in his hand on the sole of his shoe, showing the signature smirk of Alex, a young supporter of the Elephant Party.

"It's comedian John Candy, and Michael J. Fox, who plays the role of little Alex in "Family Ties". Next to them is Ronald Lee, the director of "Fast Pace". Oh, who is that beautiful woman? Do you know?" The TV commentator quickly recognized them.

"I don't know, it seems to be Ronald's girlfriend, probably also an actor."

A yellow flag was thrown into the field.

"Yellow flag, the referee called a foul. The 49ers coach called a timeout. They have to hold on to their six-point lead in the final two minutes."

"Kiss Ca." Another broadcast commentator smiled cheerfully. After the big TV screen was installed at Anaheim Stadium, every time there was a pause, the live camera would look for two couples sitting together and project them on the big screen.

A burst of music sounded, and the audience members who were photographed had to perform a kiss in the middle.

The camera found Ronald and Helen, and the two smiled at each other, and kissed passionately in front of 59,000 live audiences and more TV viewers.