Exploiting Hollywood 1980

The North American box office for "Top Gun" dipped slightly over the weekend after Memorial Day, but not by much, remaining above eight million. This result makes Paramount so happy that I don’t know what to say.

According to the original plan, starting in June, the distribution department will add 700 copies and deliver them to more than 500 theaters that have newly joined the screening plan. Continue to work hard with new movies in the summer season.

"Cobra" directed by Minahan and starring Stallone, although it surpassed Top Gun and won the championship with a huge opening of more than 2,000 theaters in the first week, the plot of this movie is relatively old-fashioned. Stallone's "Cobra" special forces captain and Brigitte Nielsen's kidnapped businesswoman were unconvincing, and the audience's reputation was not very good.

Therefore, its stamina is seriously lacking, and the box office dropped 40% from the first week, which is obviously the box office trend of a medium-quality movie. It is completely different from Top Gun, which only fell 10% this week and continued to increase in the second week.

"Bloodbath" handed over the championship in the second week. "Top Gun," which opened in half as many theaters, has reclaimed the throne.

Ned Tanin, who was in charge of the production, saw this box office trend curve and knew that he had hit the jackpot again, and Top Gun showed the image of a king. Knowing that he was in the top three at the box office of the year, he began to think about filming a sequel to "Top Gun."

On this day, he invited Ronald, who had just returned to Los Angeles, as well as Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer to the executive office on the top floor of Universal to discuss with them whether to strike while the iron was hot and release a sequel.

"Our box office in the UK broke this year's opening weekend record. In China and Germany, although there is a language barrier, the number of moviegoers is also very optimistic. After all, the air combat of modern fighter jets and the love story of handsome men and beautiful women are stories that transcend language. Obstacle.

We will release it in Japan, Korea, and Hong Kong next week, and we will definitely get good results from Hollywood films. In particular, the Soviet Union's accidental shooting down of an Air Koryo passenger plane a few years ago has not been forgotten. This movie about a Tomcat fighter jet shooting down three MiGs should be liked by their audience. "

"Hahaha, I like what you said, Ned." Don Simpson became excited and patted the desk repeatedly.

Ronald smiled back, looking to see what Ned Tanin would discuss when he called them here.

"So, I thought, since the audience likes to see our naval fighter jets beat up the MiG so much, why not strike while the iron is hot and launch a sequel?"

Don Simpson shook his head and objected.

"Ned, we also want to launch a sequel, but the audience may not be able to accept another air combat film in a short period of time. They need a certain amount of time to forget the air combat in the original film, or would it be more appropriate to make a sequel the next year?"

"After all, this is a special film. There is a prerequisite for the audience to like the aerial combat scenes. It is because of Ronald's special talent. We also saw the Saab commercial he shot at that time, and then we made up our minds about this project. We don't want to take risks. "Jerry Bruckheimer added that it's not that they don't want to make a sequel, but nothing has been decided yet.

"This is why I found someone to write a new story outline. The Lone Ranger is in Top

At Gun School, he taught students as wild as him, and then went on another mission with the students to defeat the MiG, rescue our captured pilots, and complete the unfinished business of his late father. How about this story? We are starting preparations now and will release it in 1988."

"The new protagonist?" The three people looked at Ronald.

Ronald pondered for a long time before speaking slowly.

"You said that very suddenly. I haven't had time to think about this issue. If you want to film it, there must be a particularly convincing story. The Lone Ranger's personal growth and his love life are all fulfilled in Top Gun. Okay, how to continue filming?

Of course, the idea of ​​the student filming him was brilliant. I even thought we could have a female pilot as the main character. This will alleviate the problem of viewers who are tired of watching male pilots with overflowing hormones.

But I think the biggest problem with this sequel is that all the flying stunts we were able to show were filmed in Top Gun. The Navy was unable to find a dog fighting scene that could be shot relatively cheaply and that would arouse the audience's approval. "

Ronald looked at Ned Tanin and saw that he had a confused look on his face, "I know this is difficult to explain. To put it simply, we have photographed everything we can, and it is very difficult to photograph something different. Big. After all, aerial combat is not boxing. You can't change the opponent or coach to make the audience happy like Rocky did.

Unless you have a particularly good story that can make the audience worry about the Lone Ranger and his students again. "

"Also, Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, and Kelly McGillis have skyrocketed after this movie. I'm worried that their salaries will also rise like taking a helicopter." Bruckheimer added arrive.

Ned Tanning smiled, "We will prepare sufficient budget. Paramount will not be stingy with stars who have proven themselves."

"In this way, let's prepare separately. I'll find someone to write the script. You guys can talk to some of the main creators. Ronald will see if there are more stunts and aerial battles that can be filmed."

Ned Tanin didn't care about these difficulties. Especially Ronald's statement that there were no stunt air combat scenes to shoot, in his opinion, it was probably a self-promotion. There are few pioneering talents in Hollywood, but seeing you shoot it and improving on your basis, this is a commercial operation.

"By the way, we are ready to release your friend's "Crocodile Dundee" during the box office gap in September, which cost us a lot of resources. But the quality of the film is quite high, and I think it can make some money for us."

"This is something to be happy about. Have you informed them?" Ronald was very happy to hear the news.

"Not yet, I'm waiting for you to tell them the good news."

"Hahaha, thank you." Ronald knew that Ned Tanin was doing him a favor, but he was just helping him out. Anyway, Daydream was involved in this business, and maybe he could make a little money.

Ronald went to find his agents Niceta and Richard, told them about Paramount's ideas, and asked for their opinions.

"Oh, this is not easy. How much budget can Paramount come up with?" Richard took the initiative to help Nicita to clear up the difficulties before he could speak.

"I didn't hear Tanin say the specific number, but I think it's not a problem to raise it to more than 25 million."

"Not enough, far from enough." Nicita drank the espresso in one gulp. "Paula told me that he has already offered Tom more than 5 million. If Scorsese's 'money essence', box office and reviews are good, she will raise the price.

"How much?" Ronald, who was drinking coffee, was almost burned. "This number is about the same as Dustin Hoffman or Robert Redford, right? Is Paula so confident?"

...

"You have an old idea, Ronald." Paula Wagner, who was called in, explained to Ronald in detail that this person could not be perfunctory and must tell the truth.

"Hmm? "Ronald made a gesture to ask for permission to speak.

"Ever since your friend Menahan Golan gave Stallone, an action star who can't make any expression on half his face, a three-film contract worth 25 million, no self-respecting first-line male star in Hollywood would accept a salary of less than 8 million.

In just the past six months, it has been a chain reaction, starting with action star Schwarzenegger, to comedy star Bill Murray, and then to teen star Michael J. Fox.

Schwarzenegger said that Stallone is as famous as him, so he also wants 8 million. Bill Murray said that the box office of his "Ghostbusters" is no less than that of Stallone's Rocky series, so he also wants this price.

Then there is Michael J. Fox, whose "Back to the Future" was the box office champion last year, so he is also worth this price.

Now Dustin Hoffman, Jack Nicholson, Harrison Ford and others are also going to ask for high prices. Menahan has re-set the prices for Hollywood's male stars. "

"No way? How will it end if it goes on like this? Will it be harder to make medium-budget movies in Hollywood in the future? With an average production cost of 12 million, you can't even afford a first-line male star now?"

"That's true. And Top Gun is even more difficult. In addition to Tom, Val Kilmer is also a quasi-first-line star, and those male supporting actors with overflowing hormones will all raise their asking prices. Your friend McGillis will probably also call out a higher price than a female star.

If it's other movies, it's not certain, but if it's the sequel to Top Gun, it will definitely be priced high. You can trust my judgment as a CAA agent."

"It does make sense. "Ronald thought for a long time and thanked Paula.

No wonder Ned Tanin wanted to film the story of the Lone Ranger cadets. He might have considered the issue of collective salary increase.

By filming the story of his cadets, all the characters except the Lone Ranger and his girlfriend, the instructor Charlie, can be removed. In this way, there is still some room to shoot the sequel and it will not exceed the budget too much.

However, he may not necessarily expect that Tom Cruise's asking price will be so high.

Ronald also received bad news from Matthew, the liaison officer of the Pentagon, and Pete Pettigrew, the retired instructor and flight consultant of the Top

Gun flight school.

The Pentagon and the Navy Department are particularly satisfied with the recruitment advertising effect of "Top Gun". This year, the Navy's recruitment target is about to be completed ahead of schedule. Every movie theater showing "Top Gun" has become a live recruitment point for the Navy.

But it is precisely because of this , so the Navy Department is not as interested in making another similar movie as before.

Pettigrew once again confirmed Ronald's concerns. Ronald has taken all the aerobatic moves he could think of, and all the good-looking ones that can be taken with current technology. If you want better and more exciting shots, the only way may be to increase the number.

This movie fired two Sidewinder missiles. Let's see if there can be a Phoenix long-range air-to-air missile in the next part to deal with the Alliance's Backfire Tu-22 strategic bomber.

This time, two F-14s participated in the battle. Can the next part be equipped with some early warning aircraft and A-10 attack aircraft for ground attacks?

Without the cooperation of the Navy, Ronald certainly couldn't do this. He could only smile bitterly and shook his head.

...

Don Simpson was furious at CAA. They saw Paula's offer and were furious.

"You are blackmailing, highway robbery!"

"At this price now, isn't Tom Cruise not as popular with female audiences as Michael J. Fox? Or not as handsome as Bill Murray's acne-covered face? This year's Top Gun is very likely to get it He will also receive critical acclaim with October's 'The Color of Money', a top three film at the box office.

I don't understand, what's wrong with this? "

"They also have the same price?" Bruckheimer was also a little unable to hold on.

"I can't give you specific numbers, but here are several contracts with names concealed. You can easily tell who they are from the descriptions. Let me emphasize again, you can only read them in the office, you can't leave here, and you can't make copies. , I won’t admit it to anyone after I leave this room.”

Niceta took out several processed contracts from the drawer and showed them to the two producers. Recently, the prices of male celebrities have increased, and this scene happens often.

"This is obviously Michael J. Fox, right?" Bruckheimer said to Don Simpson.

"I'm afraid yes, he only has filming schedules during the summer, and the price will be slightly cheaper, but now it has risen to five million US dollars. In the past, an actor like him, even if he acted in a movie like Back to the Future, would only cost I can ask for two million.”

…

"I'm afraid that this sequel plan will come to nothing. If more production budget is not added, let's assume it is 35 million, the sequel may not be filmed in the short term. Unless the male actor's abnormal salary will return to the normal market price ”

The two producers and Ronald returned to Paramount's president's office again to communicate with Ned Tanin.

"It's the same on my side. There are almost no more tricks to be shot in the stunt shots. The Navy is not ready to release more advanced weapons to Hollywood. If we want to develop model stunts from scratch, we can achieve the reality of Top Gun. If it is effective, it is estimated that it will require an initial investment of five million and six months to a year to develop it in advance.”

Ronald also expressed his opinion.

"Well, let's see what we can do." Ned Tanin agreed to put the project on hold and wait to see what happened.

The three of them said goodbye and left. Tanin picked up the phone and asked his secretary to find Paramount's production manager.

"The box office of this movie is getting higher and higher, and we still have to prepare for the sequel production plan. The producer is worried that the salary is too high, so you ask the screenwriters to think again and cut McGillis' Charlie, leaving only Tom · Cruise's The Lone Ranger is then looking for an actress to play his new girlfriend.

Then Don and Jerry will be interested.

As for Ronald? He's so conceited that I don't believe we couldn't have done the stunts without him. You find an editor, go to the film library and look for materials from Ronald's filming of Top Gun, those stunt shots that were not used in the final film, and you collect them to see how many can be used.

The Navy couldn't cooperate at a low price, so we used the footage from the first film that wasn't edited and paired it with some new stunt footage to create a sequel. Anyway, there aren’t many real aerial combat scenes in Top Gun.

Well, that's it, there you go. This matter must be kept secret so that Ronald does not know about it. "