Exploiting Hollywood 1980

Jerry Weintraub is a Jew who was born in poverty. He relied on his daring ideas and hard work to call Elvis' agent day after day for more than a year, and finally persuaded Elvis to come out of retirement and hold a national tour, earning his first pot of gold.

He later became the tour promoter of Frank Sinatra, the famous Hollywood "Rat Pack" boss, and Bob Dylan. In addition, he also organized and planned large-scale concerts for the Carpenters and the Beach Boys.

In addition, he is also the manager of the famous singer John Denver. However, his most famous management business is his wife Jane Morgan.

The famous female singer is thirteen years older than him. Two hours after meeting Jerry Weintraub for the first time, he married Jerry Weintraub. When they met, they rolled onto the bed. Jane Morgan soon divorced her husband and married Weintraub. .

This is Jerry Weintraub, a shrewd, greedy, street-smart, but friendly Jewish businessman with many friends.

Ronald came to Jerry Weintraub's mansion in Beverly Hills. One side of the huge living room is a large floor-to-ceiling window, which can overlook the scenery below the mountain. The custom-made leather sofa is very large, and sitting on it is Jerry Weintraub, tall, with a typical Jewish big nose and a shrewd face.

"Dear, I won't bother you to talk about business." Jane Morgan stood up from the sofa and went to another room.

"Mr. Weintraub, I wonder what story you want me to write through Mr. Frank Price?"

"It seems that Frank did not lie to me. You are indeed a talented and capable young man. "Jerry Weintraub stood up and shook his hand. Growing up in the Bronx, New York, he had an extraordinary intuition. No matter who he met, he could quickly tell whether they were friends or enemies. This intuition helped him overcome all the ups and downs and become a music mogul.

"I once had a name in the movie "Nashville" directed by Altman, but I really entered the film industry and made a movie in "Restaurant (der)" released last year. The budget was 5 million, and it finally achieved a box office of 14 million.

At the beginning, the distributor was not optimistic about the film and even fell asleep while watching it. I threatened them to buy the film and distribute it myself, and they began to pay attention to it, and finally made a lot of profit.

This made me very interested in the film industry. I think many Hollywood producers have lost their judgment of the audience's taste and trends, so I want to try to get in. "

Ronald listened quietly. Weintraub was obviously a man with a very strong ego. He had to take the lead in any conversation. Especially when facing a young director like Ronald, he thought he didn't understand the secrets of movies as well as he did. If it weren't for the fact that he couldn't write a movie script and needed an expert to do it...

"Frank recommended you to me. I also checked your resume. You participated in the recent "Flashdance". I am very satisfied. Because the story I want to shoot is also adapted from a true story that was reported in the newspaper."

"Help me get it," Jerry Weintraub handed the wine glass in his hand to Ronald, then stood up and searched on the huge desk for a while, and took out a copy of the newspaper.

"I always pay attention to the news. There are good opportunities there. On the day when my wife and I went to see "Flashdance", this report caught my attention. "Weintraub handed the copy to Ronald.

Ronald took it and started reading. It was a story about a child who was constantly beaten by gangsters in his neighborhood. His mother was a single mother, and after begging her, he went to participate in karate training.

After a long period of training with a Japanese instructor, he had practical fighting skills. He eventually won the local karate competition. Because he had the ability to defend himself, the gangsters who beat him took the initiative to apologize, and no one dared to bully him anymore.

"My biggest feeling about learning karate is that once I learned how to protect myself, I don't have to use karate to beat others in life. Martial arts is not for bullying others, but for self-defense." The child said this at the end of the interview.

"Do you think this little story about martial arts can be expanded into a movie script? "Jerry Weintraub stared into Ronald's eyes and asked the question.

"I'm afraid it's still a little thin, and we need to add different elements, Mr. Weintraub," Ronald said without hesitation, "The core of the story here is actually a weak boy who defeats his enemies and himself through martial arts training. This is the story we Americans like most."

In the American context, karate is not only Japanese karate, but also Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do can be classified as karate. As long as it is a technique of bare-handed fighting without weapons, it counts. So in fact, the scope of this word can be expanded to all bare-handed martial arts.

"But this story alone is not easy to move the audience and develop the character. I think since he is a young man, he definitely needs a romantic love. Martial arts kill two birds with one stone here, helping him defeat the bully and win the favor of the beauty. "

Ronald simply took out a pen and drew a diagram on the back of the photocopy.

"And this karate gym also needs a mentor to teach this young man, a master role. Add some villains that need to be defeated, so that a solid story can be formed."

Ronald certainly didn't want to make R-rated exploitation films all his life, so he kept watching classic Hollywood movies, especially studying the works of screenwriter master Billy Wilder. He figured out a little bit of the trick for himself, so he talked in front of Jerry Weintraub and seemed very convincing.

"What do you know? You just convinced me, I am willing to hire you to help me write the script for this movie." Jerry Weintraub respects people with professional ability. He has always only focused on the key points, and the details are left to people with stronger abilities. Hearing Ronald's words, although he didn't quite understand them, it was obvious that Ronald knew how to write a script.

"Thank you for your trust, Mr. Weintraub." Ronald was very happy and ate another $200,000.

"Call me Jerry, Ronald. Would you like some brandy?" Jerry Weintraub was very happy after confirming the screenwriter after the interview. He took out another glass and poured a glass for Ronald.

"This is the first time I plan a movie from a story. Before, others came to me with the script. What kind of help do you need? You can ask."

"I think I need some advance payment, I can do some research. I practiced wrestling in high school and I also know a little Chinese wrestling, which is also an ancient skill.

In addition, karate was once popular in America in the 1970s, but with the death of Bruce Lee, it gradually declined. I will find some friends who know karate and then study the moves carefully.

You know this kind of kung fu film is actually the same as a musical. You have to design good-looking moves in advance to make the movie look good. Some moves are practical, but they don’t look good in front of the camera. And some moves have no real effect, but they are very visual in front of the camera."

"I'll listen to you. Let your agent talk to me about the contract."

The two clinked their glasses.

"Do you know why I like this story? Because I admire the Japanese. Their management ability and hard work spirit are amazing, just like the art of karate, which is fast, direct and powerful." Jerry Weintraub put down his glass and imitated Bruce Lee to hit twice.

"In fact, karate did not originate from Japan. It is a kind of karate martial arts in Ryukyu. And this martial arts was passed on from China." Ronald had played in a karate gym in Los Angeles several times before, and talked a lot about the history and skills of karate with the coach.

By the way, the coach was no longer in the gym. I tried to find him to talk, maybe I could learn more details. What was his name? I had to go back and find his business card.

"Very good, this is the plot I want to see in the movie, history, ancient, mysterious, and a sure hit." Jerry Weintraub became happier and happier as he talked.

"But now we still have to make this master a Japanese. Now when Americans talk about Japanese, they say they are awesome, admire and fear them. We have to use this emotion and make him a Japanese. That's more reasonable."

"Jerry, you may not know that Ryukyu is the ancient name of Okinawa (Okawa). We just need to make the master be born there, which is also in line with the historical facts of karate."

"Very good," Jerry Weintraub drank the brandy in one gulp.

Ronald returned home and began to look through the business cards he had accumulated over the years. Finally, in the corner of a shoebox, he found the karate coach he had sparred with, Daryl Vidal.

"Do me a favor, Richard, and look for this person. He is a karate coach. He used to have a dojo in Venice Beach, Los Angeles, but he moved away a few years ago. Maybe we can get his information from the Karate Association."

Ronald went to CAA and handed the job of finding people to his agent Richard.

Nicita had already brought the signed contract and the advance check for $20,000.

Ronald thanked him and took it.

"Do you know who was given the script for Rambo 2?" Niceta asked with a smile.

"Who?"

"Your friend Jim Cameron. Stallone heard about his reputation for the robot script and thought of him."

"Hahaha, just in time, he's in need of money, I'll give him a call."

...

Jim Cameron had already received the scriptwriting business for the "Alien" sequel, and his own "Terminator" needed to be constantly revised and improved, so he was very busy at home. Now the third script character has come, and now he is even busier.

Now he puts the three scripts in different places, and then sets the time, allocating four hours of time for each script every day, and then breaks down the writing and revision of the script, and when the time comes, he changes to another place to continue writing.

"Jim, I brought you something." Ronald handed Cameron a book he wrote.

"What is this?" Gail helped to take it.

"These are some of the plots and ideas I wrote when I was writing Rambo 2. You can use them if you think they are useful."

"Oh, I don't know how to thank you. I'm already very busy, and now I've taken on another one."

"Why don't you take a break?"

"Hey, I have to support my family, and Sarah has agreed to divorce me, so I have to pay alimony." Jim said in a low voice.

"Then you can do whatever you want. Anyway, Stallone and I have fallen out, so just don't let him know it was my idea."

"What about you?"

"Me? Don't worry, I found another job."