Exploiting Hollywood 1980

"Mr. John Muto, my idea is to make 'Night of the Comet' into a doomsday zombie film with a romantic comedy atmosphere. The two heroines are valley girls who yearn for romantic love. After the comet destroyed the world, they did not give up the spirit of modern civilization..."

"A combination of romantic comedy and zombie exploitation? It sounds like a comic book."

"That's about it. Another name for this movie may give you more inspiration. It's called 'Comet, Girl, and Zombie'." Ronald smiled and continued to explain his thoughts on the overall visual style of the movie.

"It's really easier to understand this way. The comet is a dark red that destroys the world, the girl is a bright bright color, and the zombie is a grayish brown." Muto took out a colorful disc and pointed to a few colors for Ronald to see.

"That's right, that's what I want."

Muto was introduced to Ronald as an art director by Cameron and Gail. He served as an art director in "Galactic Departure" and worked well with Cameron, who was the special effects director, and Gail, the associate producer. .

After meeting him, Ronald fell in love with this elegant artist. The two of them had similar ideas, and the salary requirement was not high. After two conversations, Ronald decided to sign a contract with him.

"When will our location scouting start? The most important scene is the deserted city. Do you use a studio to build the scene or shoot it live?" Another middle-aged handsome man asked Ronald.

Arthur Albert was the director of photography that Ronald found. Unlike art directors who are relatively cheap, good directors of photography, especially those with special effects experience, are not cheap.

Ronald looked around, and finally his agent Niceta recommended him a suitable price.

Arthur Albert was born in Venezuela. He had been shooting low-budget exploitation films in Spanish before. He had experience shooting zombies and science fiction themes. He had just entered the English film market, so he was inexpensive and experienced.

Ronald liked Arthur's practical spirit. Although this guy was born in Venezuela, he actually came from a good family and received English education, so there was no problem in communication.

"This is the biggest undetermined issue. I can only tell you after I meet the new CEO of the distribution company today."

Ronald shook hands and said goodbye to the two crew members who had arrived earlier. The handover process of New World has not been completed yet, and the salaries of the two were paid by themselves.

I will have a meeting with the new CEO of New World this afternoon. If their additional investment is sufficient, we will use a better performance method. If there is no additional investment, we will have to find a way to find a relationship with the Los Angeles police and close the road for real filming.

Nicita has agreed to help when necessary. However, the budget is limited, and only important shots can be selected for shooting. The final effect of the film will be seen in the results of the meeting with the new CEO.

Ronald sent off the two crew members and returned to the CAA office. Nicita agreed to lend her office to Ronald to meet important people. Although Nicita cannot invest in herself due to the agent's law, she still helped a lot in other aspects.

"Hey, look who's here? Are you going to switch from William Morris to CAA?" Rick Niceta stood up to greet his Italian colleague, Ed Limato, a senior agent at WMA.

"Don't talk nonsense, I'm here to see Ronald, is it convenient for us to chat?" Limato waved his hand like he was shooing away a fly, making Niceta disappear so that he could chat with Ronald.

"This is Niceta's office, Ed." Ronald laughed. "Go ahead, I have nothing to hide from Niceta."

"Okay, it's about Nick. He was chosen by the director of Paramount's 'Rabsp;with the Moon' to play one of the leading roles with Sean Penn and Elizabeth McGovern. Rehearsals are scheduled to start at the end of February and filming will start in March. Will your movie be in time?"

"Is that so? It should be in time. My movie only takes two weeks to shoot, plus the pre-rehearsal, and it can be finished in mid-February. There may be some reshoots."

"That's okay, a day off?"

"Okay, Nick has a lot of scripts now?"

"Yes, he will also shoot 'Birdy', directed by Alan Parker... Why don't you like him?" Limato noticed Ronald's discomfort after hearing Alan Parker's name.

"I don't get along with him."

"Then I'll sign a contract with Nick. He's afraid that your schedule will conflict with his."

"It won't delay his new film."

"Well, since we've agreed, I'll leave now. If I stay here with Niceta for one more minute, there will be one more person outside spreading the rumor that I'm going to switch to CAA." Limato left in a hurry again.

"Let's go too. I don't know what the temper of the new CEO of New World is. There's no harm in going early."

The biggest change in New World is that a new sign has been erected at the door, which reads "New World Productions". It seems that the new boss has not maintained Corman's low-key style.

The new CEO works in the original Roger Corman's office. Ronald and Niceta waited outside the door for a while, and were invited into the office by the blonde secretary.

"Mr. Remy, Mr. Ronald Lee, the director of "Night of the Comet", has arrived."

"Come in."

A familiar name, a familiar voice.

Ronald looked up and saw a tall figure sitting in a chair with his back to them, and then Remy turned the chair to face Ronald.

"Ronald, we meet again."

"Haha, hello, Mr. Remy."

Ronald sat down carelessly and crossed his legs. He could tell from the voice that it was Robert Raimi, the original vice president of Universal. This man once accused himself of being morally corrupt and immoral during a screening of "Fast-paced Richmond High School."

"Would it be okay if young people in America grew up watching this kind of movie?" were his exact words. And Raimi and Tom Mount were in the same camp, voting against a "fast-paced" release.

Robert Raimi, with his sinewy face and narrow eyes, is a common Hollywood creature. Most of them serve as leaders in the sales department. Regardless of their appearance or style, they are like bulldozers. He is always exploiting and squeezing his subordinates, and he is groveling to his customers, just to sell movies.

When Ronald saw that he was the CEO hired by New World, he knew that the production of "Night of the Comet" would be in trouble. As soon as he came, he made peace with it. He simply sat on the chair and crossed his legs, looking at Remy nonchalantly.

"Calm down, if it doesn't work, I'll find another publisher for you. Don't start a fight here." Manager Niceta was also stunned for a while, and then warned in Ronald's ear.

He knew that this client was good at wrestling, so he just didn't want to get into a fight with a leader like Remy who often threatened his subordinates physically.

Robert Remy squinted his eyes and looked at Ronald with a feeling of hatred in his heart. Tom Mount failed in Spielberg and Ronald's film and was kicked out of Universal, which affected himself, a die-hard supporter.

Mount was protected by a golden parachute and left the Globe with good conditions.

I have just joined Universal for a year, but I don’t have such good conditions for leaving. I have been working in small-budget film companies for more than ten years. I didn't expect that when I first joined a large company as a senior executive, I was kicked out immediately. This includes the "credit" of this young director.

"I have read your script and there are some serious problems, so I hope you will make some changes, and then New World will discuss the filming process with you."

Remy took a baseball bat from the nearby bookshelf, held one end in his right hand, and slapped the other end on his left hand to accompany his words.

"What's the problem?" Ronald asked casually, looking at the furnishings in the room. Remy's taste was much worse than Coleman's. He had bought a lot of leather furniture into the originally simple and tidy office. , completely inconsistent with the original modest interior decoration.

"There is a problem with values. Young people in America cannot grow up watching these anti-government ideological propaganda, and these X-rated marginalia, and they must be revised. I will not repeat Universal's mistakes."

Seeing Ronald's nonchalant look, Remy felt even more angry. Why doesn’t this young man respect an industry expert like himself? Do you think that after making a blockbuster movie, you can become lawless?

"Universal's mistake?" Ronald sneered, "Or is it yours?"

Robert Raimi was heartbroken, but this young man was still irritating, "Don't be ridiculous, kid. Universal ignores the public's perception for the sake of temporary box office results. Under my management, this kind of thing will not happen in the New World. What we want to do is to make films that are more socially responsible.

If your film can be modified in the following areas and I agree, then I will agree to fund the filming.

First, there can be no more pornographic sidelines. New World is a medium-sized production company and does not have the same influence as Universal in the rating agency MPAA. Otherwise, it will be difficult for us to pass the rating. If we cannot even get an R rating, it will be impossible to have a good film. issuance results.

Second, in the end, the only remaining government research institute in America cannot be the villain. The movie is not only about box office, but also in line with the spirit of America. I don’t like this plot setting..."

"Tsk, I don't like this kind of plot... setting..."

Ronald was still nonchalant, picking his ears with his fingers and quietly imitating with Niceta to laugh at Remy's way of speaking.

"Bang...bang...bang" Remy was finally so angry that he banged the baseball bat on the table.

"Did you hear what I said clearly? I'm asking you to re-revise the script, and you won't start filming until I agree."

"Hey, let's be frank, Robert." Ronald stood up. He was about the same height as Remy and walked to the desk. He stared into Remy's eyes and said every word.

"You don't like me, and I don't like you either. Put away those nonsense and lies, and if you don't want to watch my movie, then find another producer. I signed a contract with New World."

"Kid, you haven't seen the true dangers of Hollywood. You might as well ask your lawyer to come and see what he tells you. In short, I will not give you the green light for such a movie."

Ronald snatched the baseball bat from Remy's hand that he kept swinging and banging, "That's good, I like your frankness."

"Let's go, Niceta." Ronald ignored the astonished Remy and asked his manager to leave together. Before leaving, he threw the baseball bat at the door. "Didn't your mother teach you not to hit the table with a baseball bat?" ? It’ll knock holes out of your desk.”

"Let's go find Roger Coleman and see what he says." Ronald closed the door, blocking out Remi's shouting from inside, "Fuck, call the furniture supplier quickly, their tabletops have holes in them."