Exploiting Hollywood 1980

"Hello, Mr. Price, nice to see you again." Ronald was the third to shake hands with Columbia President Frank Price after Weintraub and Avildson.

When he and CAA President Michael Ovitz came to promote the script of "My Brother's Keeper", Frank Price had just taken office as Columbia President and was full of vigor and vitality. Now he is much more reserved because he has actually resigned from this position.

"Come in, Ronald." Price was in good spirits and patted Ronald on the shoulder. He still loved this young man who had locked in the big star Jane Fonda for him, helped stabilize Columbia's internal conflicts, and resisted the hostile takeover by the Las Vegas tycoon.

When Weintraub asked him to recommend a screenwriter, he immediately thought of Ronald. In a few years, Ronald had become a director and made two movies with good box office. If he didn't work at Columbia in the future, he would really want to sign him and make a movie for himself. But things are unpredictable, and there will be opportunities in the future.

Frank Price is widely recognized as the only president of the seven major studios who knows how to read scripts and judge the quality of movies. He read the script of "The Karate Kid" submitted by Ronald to Weintraub. It is more fluent than the scripts of a few years ago and shows the potential to be a big hit.

But these have almost nothing to do with him. Price asked a few people to sit on the sofa in the office and asked his secretary to make coffee. He can still keep this office and secretary's treatment for a few months.

"Frank, when Barbara came to Los Angeles last time, Jane went to accompany her. Why didn't you see your wife Catherine?" Weintraub mentioned the wives' gathering in the tone of an old friend.

"Catherine went to Roy's graduation ceremony." Price explained. Catherine Crawford is his wife, who used to be a TV actor, and Roy is their third child who just graduated from high school.

"To be honest, Fay Vincent is a boring guy who is really ignorant. Most of your profits last year were from the share of 'ET Aliens' that you fought for, right?"

"Yes, 5% of the profit share is actually more than the profits of all other Columbia movies combined." Frank Price laughed bitterly.

Fay Vincent was the former chairman of Columbia, and he led Coca-Cola's acquisition of Columbia. This entertainment tycoon who was a lawyer also became the executive vice president of Coca-Cola.

Every president and CEO of a listed company will have conflicts, but it is rare to see someone like Fay Vincent who desperately excludes himself and wants to get rid of himself because of different strategic ideas.

"So, give our project the green light as soon as possible, while you are still in this position."

"Don't joke, your script and director team are great, and I didn't let it go because of your relationship." Price and his old friend laughed and scolded for a while, took out a thick Montblanc pen from the drawer, and signed his name on the filming consent form.

"Okay, as long as you have the funds in place, you can start filming. If you need my help, please let me know as soon as possible. I will not be working here soon." Price's signature meant that "The Karate Kid" got the green light for filming.

"Tell me, where is your next company?" Weintraub was very interested in his whereabouts.

"I will open my own production company and retire with a golden parachute."

Weintraub looked unconvinced, but he still happily took the signed consent form for filming and read it again and again.

With a "beep", the intercom rang. Price connected with the secretary in front of everyone. "Mr. Price, Mr. Aykroyd, and Mr. Reitman are here."

"Please let them in", Frank Price sat straight, smiled and asked his old friend to leave first, he still had to meet the next crew who came to talk.

After Ronald said goodbye to Price, he also left the office. He suddenly found that Niceta was chatting with a man with a CAA logo on his suit.

"Rick?" Ronald asked.

"Ronald, let me introduce you. This is Dan Aykroyd, actor and screenwriter. This is Ivan Reitman, director. This is Ronald Lee. They are all clients of our CAA. They just came to see Mr. Price at the same time as you."

"Hello, Mr. Aykroyd, hello, Mr. Reitman." Ronald greeted them.

"Ronald, John Candy told me your name, you are also a football fan, huh? It's a pity that he rejected my invitation and didn't come to participate in this movie, otherwise we could have a good chat." Dan Aykroyd is a fat comedian, who speaks and laughs enthusiastically, making people feel like spring breeze.

"If there is a chance, let's go drink Canadian beer together. I also know a few Canadian directors and actors." Ronald was reminded by Niceta in his ear, knowing that Aykroyd was Canadian, and invited him enthusiastically.

"Why not? Anyway, we all belong to the same agency."

"Gentlemen, please follow me, Mr. Price is still waiting for you." The secretary reminded.

"See you later."

Weintraub and Avildsen saw that Ronald's agent had other arrangements, so they said goodbye to Ronald and prepared to leave.

There are still many casting and location selection matters that the two have to continue discussing. Weintraub is a boss who likes to get involved in the details of film production. He wants to understand everything.

"Hey, Susan, let's leave this young man behind, Ronald, and you go on a date with me." Avelson saw Weintraub's secretary, Susan, and started flirting with her again.

"John, we still have to talk about casting. You know? There are many old Hollywood stars who heard about my investment in a teen movie and they all called me." Weintraub said He put his arm around Avelson's shoulders and separated him from his secretary, Susan.

"Of course, who is there?" Avelson asked.

“There’s Steve McQueen’s widow…”

The two of them walked out arm-in-arm, with Susan, who looked a bit fat with red hair, following behind.

In the president's office, Frank Price was having a quarrel with another agent from CAA.

"This asking price is too high." Price shook his head. "With a director's remuneration of five million, how much total cost will I have to pay? Your movie must also have a major star." As he said this, he looked at director Ivan Reitman, "What do you think the budget for this movie was?"

"The total price is 25 million to 30 million." It was also the first time for Ivan Reitman to direct such a large-scale production. He had no idea how much such a special effects movie would cost, and he did not discuss it with his agent in advance. . But when things came to a head, Reitman had to multiply the budget of his last movie by four and randomly quote a number that the agent could bargain with anyway.

"Have you chosen your leading actor? Is it Dan?" Price pointed to screenwriter Dan Aykroyd, who came in with him.

"I am only suitable to play this role similar to the 'Cowardly Lion'. The protagonist is a 'Scarecrow'. We feel that we need a famous star to play the role." Aykroyd compared the movie to the characters in "The Wizard of Oz" role in.

"I understand, I understand, comedy generally cannot be a hit at the box office. Since you are asking for a production budget of more than 25 million, we must find a big-name star. Is there anyone who can?" Is Frank Price here? I felt that the price was too high, so I made my own request just for the sake of box office guarantee.

"We can find Bill Murray!" Director Ivan Reitman did not expect that the other party would not counter-offer the budget he casually mentioned. He immediately thought of Bill Murray, who was also a client of CAA and is now one of the most popular male comedy stars.

CAA's agent was also overjoyed and told Reitman that he had done the right thing.

"Bill's sneer style is indeed suitable, but he always decides late whether to participate in a movie. Last time he came to me to promote his own 'Blade Adventure' project." Frank Price He felt a little unsafe, and he didn't want any further setbacks in the last few projects he decided on before leaving his job.

"I can help convince him, Mr. Price." CAA's agent quickly agreed. With a budget of 25 million to 30 million, and the fact that the protagonists are selected from CAA's clients, such good conditions make He was so excited that he immediately packed up everything. "

"Then it's settled. If you can sign Bill Murray, or a similarly famous male star, I agree to give your project the green light."

"Now let's talk about the conditions for sharing. On behalf of CAA, I propose 30% of the box office profit as the upper limit of the total share of CAA's actors and directors participating in the filming of this movie."

"You must be joking, there is no way I can agree to this condition." Frank Price smiled, which was a big opening for a lion.

"I think this share ratio is very reasonable. The script, director, starring, and even the earliest creative ideas are all handled and promoted by our CAA."

"That's impossible. This price is robbery!" Frank Price stopped signing.

"Mr. Price, this is the lowest ratio I can get for you within the scope of my authorization. If you don't agree with this ratio, then I can only call Mr. Michael Ovitz and ask him to negotiate. You negotiated the price.

I never set a high price on purpose, and you know if Mr. Ovitz had intervened, it might not have been this price in the end. "

"Okay," Frank Price really surrendered. No studio executive wanted to face the aggressive CAA president. He signed and said, "Sometimes, I really don't know who's running the business. This movie company, am I still Ovitz?”

"One last question, Mr. Price." Screenwriter and actor Dan Aykroyd was very happy when he saw Frank Price happily signing the consent form. Everyone said that Frank Price was The only studio executive who understands the quality of a script lives up to his reputation.

"Please tell me." Price always had a special preference for screenwriters.

"The name of my script collides with the name of a children's program produced by Universal Television in the 1970s. I wonder if you can help contact Universal Television to solve the problem? I know that at that time, you were the president of Universal Television."

"Ghostbusters?" Frank Price looked at the cover of the script.

"Yes, if this name doesn't work, we can only change it to 'Ghostbusters', 'Ghostbusters', or 'Ghostbusters'."

"Don't worry about it, I'll help you solve this matter." Frank Price waved his hand, indicating that it was just a small matter.

Dan Aykroyd and director Ivan Reitman stood up to say goodbye. They met Ronald who was still waiting at the door. The two happy people invited Ronald to celebrate at the party.

"Sorry, you don't have an appointment, so you can't go in." Price's secretary stopped a short man in a suit who wanted to break into the president's office behind them.

"Go away, I'm the lawyer representing CEO Fay Vincent, my name is Dick Gallop"

The secretary still insisted and asked Price on the intercom before letting him in.

"Hello, Dick." Frank Price signaled the secretary to leave first and close the door.

"Frank, are you trying to approve the movie project at the last minute?" Lawyer Dick walked to the desk angrily and looked at the two projects that Frank Price had just given the green light.

"Whatever you say, I approve it based on the box office potential of the movie." Price said while sitting.

"You must be kidding? A horror comedy with special effects? A budget of 25 to 30 million dollars?"

"I can forgive your rudeness, Dick. But I am still the president of Columbia, and I know what is a movie with potential to be a hit. The fusion of comedy and horror movies is the general trend in the next one or two years."

"You must be crazy." Dick Gallop had no choice but to rush out of the office again, find a meeting room, and directly call Fay Vincent, the executive vice president of Coca-Cola and CEO of Coca-Cola Columbia Studios.

"Mr. Vincent, Price is crazy, he has lost control..."