Exploiting Hollywood 1980

"Why do I think they are not very interested in the sequel of 'The Dragon King'?" Another Japanese publisher was sent away, and Ronald discussed with Weintraub behind closed doors.

This was their third day in Tokyo. Ronald and Weintraub met with several Japanese film distributors, including large companies such as Shochiku Pictures. They spoke highly of "Longwei Boy"'s praise of Japanese culture, but their words revealed that they were not very interested in the sequel movie.

Japanese people always look submissive to American producers and directors, but their true inner thoughts are not easy to figure out. Ronald and Weintraub were at a stage where they were a little confused.

"We split up in the evening. I went to interview some key figures in the Tokyo business community and investment community to see what they really thought about the second part of 'The Dragon King'. You go and get to know the artists in the entertainment industry and get to know them from the side. Let’s see what the Japanese film industry thinks of ‘Long Wei Boy’.”

"Brother Ronnie, there are too many people here, and the department stores here are too rich." Diane and the accompanying translator spent a whole day shopping. Used Ronald's credit card to buy back a lot of stuff.

Little Bud was in the back with a pile of shopping paper bags, putting his things down.

"Look, Aunt Karen's leg warmers are all here." Diane dug out a paper bag and took out a pair of long leg warmers, woven from white wool and with natural pleats.

Ronald took it over and looked at it carefully, "This is a pirated copy."

"Huh? Piracy?" Diane was furious and threw the leg warmers back, "Why do Japanese people engage in piracy?"

"They pirate a lot of products. When I was in the Marine Corps, I heard that the Japanese had placed many restrictions on the domestic market. Many of America's patented products were pirated and it was difficult to protect their rights," said Little Bud.

"This is already Jane Fonda's trouble." Ronald glanced at the embarrassed translator and signaled that it was okay. Fortunately, the leg warmer business has been transferred, so I no longer have to worry about such things.

"What else did you buy?" Ronald asked Diane. Diane took out a lot of beautiful shoes, clothes, and toys, "They're all not expensive, and they're very cheap when converted into U.S. dollars."

Ronald looked at the three Chinese characters on the shopping bag, "Eight Hundred Banner?"

"Hai. Yaohan, yaohan." The translator quickly pointed to the name of the department store, then turned on the TV and adjusted it to NHK. "The TV series 'Axin' is adapted from the life experience of the old lady who founded Yabaihan. "

Ronald took a look at the TV series. The heroine had Japanese characteristics and had a cute smile. It's a pity that I can't understand the content.

Ronald asked Diane to pack up, change her clothes, and attend the film artist's party with the translator.

"Ronald San, we all have great respect for your 'Longwei Boy' for mentioning the tragic history of Japanese Americans in America."

Several young directors and actors praised Ronald's courage at the symposium.

"What do you like about this movie? Is it the crane kick of karate, or the father-son relationship between Daniel and Master Miyagi."

"Karate, hahaha..."

Everyone laughed after hearing what Ronald said about karate.

"What are they laughing at?" Ronald asked the translator.

The translator smiled and refused to say anything. After Ronald's repeated requests, the translator told the truth, "Haha, actually we all think the karate moves in Long Wei Boy are fake. We Japanese people don't practice karate like this. Karate is a martial art." , I can fight, I’m not this soft.”

"Oh", Ronald understood a little bit. It turned out that the crane kick in "The Dragon King" and the performance of some karate techniques were all added to the American understanding. This is similar to the Japanese film and television drama's understanding of karate. Performance is a completely different direction.

I'm afraid the Japanese side is more like Akira Kurosawa's "Zi Sanshiro", which shows karate and judo as a mysterious killing technique. No wonder they found it funny when they saw Daniel's crane kick in Longwei Boy.

"It seems that Weintraub's financing may also encounter difficulties." Ronald frowned.

"Excuse me, Ronald-san. I would like to ask, what is the name of your female companion?" A young director saw Ronald chatting with the translator. The more he looked at Diane, the more curious he became, and finally he couldn't help it. Asked.

"Ah, this is Diane Lane, she is also a movie actress..."

"Diane Lane? It's really Diane, Ellen Ann from the Streets of Fire?"

"Ha, do you know me?" Dai An was feeling a little bored. Seeing that the other party knew him, he nodded quickly.

"It's Dai Ansang, you are the dream lover of all our Japanese teenagers. Do you have any plans to shoot a movie in Japan?"

After confirmation, the young directors and actors immediately surrounded Diane and communicated with her through a translator.

"Hahaha, director Walter Hill is not here this time. If he knew that his movie was so popular in Japan, he would be very happy." Diane said to the translator, waiting for the translation for everyone.

"Of course, if he comes to Japan, it will be a sensation for all Japanese college students. If we Japanese students have not watched 'Fire Streets', they will not even be able to find a girlfriend. And Director Hill's early years The movie "Soldiers" is a must-see. In "The Streets of Fire", the villain Willem Dafoe is shirtless and wears a leather vest, which is now the dressing bible for us young men. "

"Yes, yes", another actress also came up and showed Diane her fashion magazine. The youth-oriented magazines in her hand mostly used mature women as covers, and the above was just like imitation. The cut and color of Diana's Armani costume.

"Ah, hahahaha, I didn't expect my movie to be so popular in Japan."

Diane was very happy and communicated with them about the filming process through a translator, and talked a lot about the director's arrangements and lighting. For a time, all the young Japanese artists were centered on Diane and listened in rapt attention.

Ronald curled his lips next to him, "Dian Sang, I didn't expect you to be more popular than me in Japan?"

After finally waiting for Diane to finish chatting with them, Ronald, who was already sleepy, was shaken awake, and he and Diane were about to retreat back to the hotel.

A few people were about to get up when two young men slipped in from outside the door, "Who is Ronald Sang? Ronald Sang?"

Ronald couldn't help but feel happy when he saw it. It turns out that I also have fans.

"You are Ronald-san, right? Please accept us as your disciples." The two young men found the rightful master, fell to their knees on the ground, and kowtowed to Ronald respectfully.

"I see Shingo in the wind...I, Toshihiko Tahara, hope that Ronald-san will accept him as his disciple and teach us the techniques of break dancing."

"This? I actually don't know how to dance. Those are all for actors. If you want to learn, you can learn from the Boogaloo Prawn."

"Jingo, Toshihiko, what are you doing?" Someone at the table recognized these two Johnny's artists and wondered what they were doing.

"Break dance, break dance, Blake is the director, it was directed by Ronald Sand! Don't you know?"

"Ah... Breakdance, it turned out to be directed by Ronald Sand. It's a really exciting dance." The people who had just gathered around Diane to ask questions now bowed to Ronald again.

"So you like break dancing?"

"Yes, Blake Dance is really amazing. We don't have such original dances in Japan. It would be great if we could learn authentic dances." Two Johnny's artists took the lead and started Touting how revolutionary Ronald's "break dancing" was.

"Oh...hey..." It was Diane's turn to yawn.

"If you really want to learn, I can call two actors who are break dancers. They once worked as choreographers for J." After finishing the exchange, Ronald faced Shingo Kazami and Toshihiko Tahara. said the actor.

"Going to study in America?" The two looked at each other.

"I'm afraid so. The latest developments in break dancing can be found there." Ronald shrugged, "Actually, if you want to learn some dance moves, you don't need to go there specifically."

Toshihiko Tahara was doing very well as a singer in Johnny's. He and Masahiko Kondo were the stars of Johnny's for a while. When they heard that they had to go to America to learn authentic music, they gave up a little bit.

Kazami Shingo is just an ordinary member of Johnny's idol team, and he has made up his mind to make his debut by breakdancing.

"Yes, Ronald San, I have made up my mind."

"Okay, come with me. I'll give you the phone number of Minahan, the boss of Breakdancing's production company. You can call him directly and say that I introduced him."

After hearing the interpreter's explanation, Kazami Shingo fell to the ground again and saluted Ronald.

Ronald motioned for him to get up, and they returned to the hotel to meet Weintraub.

"Ronald, you're here at the right time. These are financiers and people from the film industry who hope to invest in 'The Kid 2'."

Weintraub happened to be chatting with several potential investors about the plot of the sequel.

"Hello everyone, our sequel intends to increase the plot of Miyagi-sensei in Ryukyu."

When several people who were interested in investing saw that the director was coming, they all stood up and continued to discuss with him.

After hearing about the plot of the Ryukyu US military base, the farmland Mr. Miyagi cultivated when he was a child was occupied by the US military base. Several investors looked at each other and expressed satisfaction.

They decided to invest in the sequel of "The Mighty Kid" and raise funds for the movie by purchasing the Delphi Film Fund and specifying the investment in "The Mighty Kid 2", but the plot must be as stated just now.

"It seems to be going well?" Ronald asked Weintraub quietly.

"These fools, as long as we add some plot about the Ryukyu base, they will obediently pay the check." Weintraub whispered in Ronald's ear. It turns out that Japan’s movies, TV shows, and novels are all controlled by America, and many contents must be censored by the top brass of the American garrison.

In recent years, censorship has gradually been relaxed, but they did not dare to film content that spoke ill of the US military base. If an American producer could show the arrogance of the Japanese military base and make the audience realize this unreasonable thing, it would be a project worth investing in.

"Who is this?" Several producers saw Diane peeking out from behind.

"This is Diane Lane, the heroine of your popular Japanese movie 'Streets of Fire'."

"Ah... Sodsner..." Several business people nodded to each other, "May we have the honor to invite Miss Diane to shoot a few commercials for our products? We won't waste too much time. Miss Diane has a strong appeal in Japan and is the idol of millions of girls in Tokyo."

"Ah?" Diane Lane was surprised for a moment, and immediately smiled and said to the translator, "No problem, just talk to Ronald about the products you have."