Exploiting Hollywood 1980

Ronald knew nothing about Tanin's little tricks.

He and Niceta are now busy preparing for the new film "The Secret of Success" led by Universal President Frank Price.

This movie is not a pure commercial film. It is a rare business war film in Hollywood, but it is mixed with a lot of love between men and women and the plot of small people's counterattack.

In addition to the part adapted from Spielberg's personal experience, the climax of the movie is the process of a large listed retail company being acquired and counter-acquired. This part attracted Ronald. He asked someone to do his homework and went to Wall Street to interview many fund managers and lawyers engaged in mergers and acquisitions.

In addition, Ronald was attracted by the ubiquitous sense of humor in the script. Including the plots of those executives who are uneducated, running and exercising on the rooftop of the building every day, and taking a lot of dietary supplements, all made Ronald laugh.

In large institutions, no one knows who you are. You can pretend to be someone and attend high-level meetings without being discovered. The core of the story also makes Ronald feel very real. Today's large enterprises, with tens of thousands of employees, can indeed be exploited by scammers without being discovered.

"The so-called 'aunt' of the protagonist must be a coquettish middle-aged actress, otherwise the whole story will not be convincing. We can try Kim Basinger, who is the most popular now. See if she has time and interest.

In addition, I am considering using the height difference between her and Fox to persuade Helen to give up the vase role she wants to play. Oh, it's really troublesome..."

Ronald is now also a star director. Most producers want to support him, so many privileges that he could not enjoy before can now be used to his heart's content.

If you want that actress, just contact her. If you don't want a certain actress, there are people to help you deal with it.

"The videos of the models you want are here. Which one do you like?" Nicita took out a lot of videotapes from a big box and put them into the machine to show Ronald.

The beginning of "The Secret of Success" is the scene where the protagonist Brantley was shocked when he just came to New York from the countryside of Kansas.

Here is a shot where he saw a row of fashion models taking photos on Fifth Avenue, and he greeted them, but was ignored. It depicts the appearance of a country boy who just arrived in New York.

Ronald proposed to use real models, so Niceta contacted the model agency and found a group of fledgling models for him to choose from.

"This one is good, very distinctive, and looks like a model at first glance." Ronald saw a good one.

"Paula Porizkova, a Czechoslovak immigrant. You have good taste."

Ronald glanced at Niceta.

"I mean, her swimsuit photo was on the cover of GQ magazine, and she is very famous."

The competition for female models in the fashion industry may be more intense than that of Hollywood actresses. Therefore, the ones selected by this movie can greatly add points to their modeling careers, so it is undeniable that some models are willing to exchange themselves for an opportunity to appear on the screen.

Ronald is not prejudiced, but he is afraid that the models he finds are not beautiful enough, and the opening is not powerful enough to shock the audience, so he insists on choosing by himself.

"This one is also good, very photogenic."

"Linda Evangelista (ldaevaa), a Canadian model, but she has been spotted by Chanel, and signing her requires some skill and pay."

"Well, I think it's good, she can try it if she wants." Ronald thought this one also looked like a fashion model.

"Look at mine." Nicita seemed to understand something.

"This one is also good, this mole looks very charming." Ronald finally chose a model with a mole at the corner of her mouth.

"Cindy Crawford (dycrawford), this is an authentic domestic product. Just signed with the New York Elite Model Agency." Nicita found her name in the catalog.

"I think these few are good, you can recommend others."

"Okay..." Nicita hurriedly wrote down Ronald's choice. Except for Linda Evangelista, these three are not difficult to get.

For the remaining places, you can do favors yourself.

"Let's go to the Universal office and talk to Frank Price. Don't let him wait for us." Nicita looked at the watch. The next itinerary is to go to Universal and report the results to the president.

One of the benefits of being a popular and popular director is that you can find the best technical experts in Hollywood to cooperate with.

Ronald has made two big hits in a row. Seeing that the third "The Karate Kid 2" is about to be released, he can find almost anyone he wants to cooperate with, except for a few first-line stars.

This time, in addition to the director of photography, the art director is the famous Polly Platt.

She is the ex-wife of the famous director, Peter Bogdanovich. In the middle of filming "The Last Picture Show", her husband Bogdanovich abandoned her and lived with the heroine Sybil Shepherd.

After that, she fell into trouble, and it was Ronald's former boss Roger Corman who gave her a job to let her stand up again and raise her children.

Polly Platt once served as the art director for the Oscar-winning film "Mother and Daughter" and also wrote the script for Brooke Shields' debut "Pretty Baby". Ronald has always wanted to work with this legendary art director, and this time he finally got his wish.

In addition, for the soundtrack, he also specifically asked John Williams, the composer of Star Wars, Jaws, and Superman series.

These people have one characteristic, which is that they are rare among technical experts and are well-known by people outside the circle. Ronald also plans to ask Walter Murch to be his editor. In this way, he can get rid of the heavy editing work and just be a bystander and adviser, and maybe he can learn a few tricks from Murch.

Nicita drove the cash cow to the Universal Pictures office next to Universal Studios.

Ronald took over this movie, and his faction in CAA could put a lot of actors in it. There are many supporting roles, such as the protagonist's uncle. If Helen does not play the vacant female lead, there are many important supporting roles, such as the protagonist's friend in the communication room, etc.

"Please wait a moment. Mr. Price is watching the preview. He was supposed to wait for you, but something might have delayed him."

Frank Price's secretary is a middle-aged woman. Like her boss, she is not arrogant. She treats Ronald with great respect and even brews Ronald's favorite black tea.

"Okay, it's okay. Mr. Price is the benefactor who helped me debut. I should wait for him. I wonder what movie he is watching for the preview? Can you tell me?"

Ronald asked curiously.

"It's George Lucas' new movie. I wanted to see it. If it's good, I'll take my daughter to see it."

"Sorry to interrupt your arrangement."

"Hahaha, Mr. Li, this is my job. I've never seen a big-name director as humble as you."

Drinking black tea and eating snacks, Ronald didn't expect it to be Lucas' new movie.

At that time, Diane Lane also auditioned, but unfortunately she couldn't really sing and lost to Lea Thompson. If it is an internal preview now, it seems that it will be released in August anyway.

It's best not to collide with my Top Gun and The Karate Kid sequel. Lucas' lightsaber is too sharp. His Star Wars and Indiana Jones series are really box office harvesting weapons. Whoever touches it will die.

Fortunately, they are aiming at the center of the summer season, and there is not much competition with me. I guess at the movie ordering conference in Las Vegas, Paramount and Universal coordinated the release dates for several big productions with high hopes.

From this point of view, I am still far from the real big-name directors like Lucas and Spielberg. At least the seven majors dare not use me to fight them head-on.

Fortunately, my friend Paul Hogan's "Crocodile Dundee" also avoided the limelight of his new film. No one wants to face him head-on.

"By the way, what is the name of Lucas' new film?" Ronald couldn't remember it a little. He also promised Lucas to attend the premiere in return for attending the premiere of Top Gun.

"My name is Howard the Duck. Don't forget when you meet Price later. This is their biggest project this year. Lucas made a duck with special effects. It's an alien. It came to Earth and fell in love with a rock star..."

"Yeah, thank you." Ronald quickly made up for the plot so that he wouldn't be unable to keep up with the conversation.

"Mr. Li, Mr. Niceta..." The secretary came over to call the two. Frank Price seemed to have finished watching the internal preview and was walking towards his office from the screening room next to him.

Next to him seemed to be another acquaintance of Ronald, Mr. Sidney Sheinberg, a senior leader of Universal's parent company, Gulf West, who had helped him in his debut work "Fast and Furious Richmond High School".

Ronald straightened his clothes and tie. This time, two Universal bosses appeared together, and he had to show the corresponding respect. If there were any other people in the seven major studios that Ronald had to listen to seriously, then these two were undoubtedly the most important two.

"Dxnit! Who gave the green light in the first place?" Sheenberg walked behind, his face under the gray hair, looking dejected, and he cursed as he approached the office.

"Sidney, what do you mean? You were the one who insisted on winning over Lucas in the first place." Frank Price was also in a bad mood, and the lines on his face were a little deeper. Hearing Sheenberg's words, he ignored Ronald who was waiting for him in the office and turned back to argue with Sheenberg.

"Me?" Sheenberg's face sank, and he pushed his big square glasses, "I just said to pay attention to winning over Lucas, and I didn't directly instruct to take down this Howard the Duck."

"We have to catch him, Frank. He is the most profitable producer and director in the next ten years. Don't make the mistake of letting the ET aliens go in Columbia again... You said these things, don't you admit it?"

Price's face was gloomy.

The finished film of this "Howard the Duck" was very bad, and the protagonist was a special effects model duck. The audience didn't like such a protagonist at all, and his personality was not likable.

The story of the whole movie is extremely confusing, and the sex scene between the heroine played by Lea Thompson and the duck is simply a disaster. Frank almost cried and laughed at the scene.

Such a movie must be a disaster for Universal. The production cost is close to 40 million, plus the inevitable 20 million publicity and promotion costs, which basically means that Universal's financial report this year will be very ugly.

At this stage, Sheinberg is actually trying to shirk responsibility and say that he is the one who gave the green light?

"What do you mean, Frank? We are on the same boat. If this movie sinks, we will both be doomed."

"So you want me to take the responsibility for the sinking of the Titanic? And then you escape in a lifeboat?" Price also tore his face and waved his fist at Sheinberg.

"Don't lose your mind. You are the president of Universal. Of course you have to be responsible for such a big investment in the movie."

"Okay, you really have the idea of ​​letting me take the blame, you Jew! Traitor! Judas!"

"You have to calm down, Frank, take back your words, I can pretend that I didn't hear it..." Sheinberg also rolled up his sleeves... to show that he is not a weak chicken.

"Ouch..." Sheinberg was hit in the face soon.

"You old bastard..." He also threw a punch, but unfortunately he didn't hit it.

"You Jew, you are all such bastards. When you encounter problems, you push them to others, and when you encounter benefits, you take them yourself."

Ronald and Niceta were stunned. This is Universal Company, the two most powerful old men in the seven major studios in Hollywood. Why is there a real fight?

"Come and help, Ronald, and Mr. Niceta." The middle-aged secretary saw his boss and his immediate superior fighting, and hurriedly called for help.

"Uh..." Ronald rushed forward and hugged Price who was punching again. Niceta went to pull Cinberg.

Frank Price was hugged by Ronald and couldn't reach Cinberg. He was very angry, and couldn't hit him with his fist, so he raised his leg and kicked Cinberg.

"Ouch," Cinberg's thigh was hit, and a swing punch also hit Price's face.

"Quick, separate them."

Ronald hurriedly hugged Price and pulled him away from the spot, "Calm down, Mr. Price, calm down!"

"Be careful, Mr. Cinberg, don't let others see." Niceta understood the minds of these executives better. Fighting on the spot, if seen and spread, would become a laughing stock.

However, things did not go as planned. The two made too much noise, which had alarmed many senior managers and their secretaries in the office.

They went out to investigate one by one, and when they saw that it was the two bosses who were fighting, they immediately shrank back in embarrassment, hoping to God that they would not be recognized by the two bosses.

"Calm down, I'll come back tomorrow." Sheenberg was the first to calm down. He waved his hand and went to the elevator, ready to go back to his office.

"You have to calm down, Mr. Price." Ronald scratched his head, not knowing what to say.

"I am very calm. These Jews from Eastern Europe are like snakes and scorpions, lying on the body of America to suck blood. I'm sorry, Ronald, I have implicated you."

"No way? Mr. Sheenberg won't vent his anger on me, right?" Ronald thought to himself, he wouldn't be so petty, right?

"No," Price calmed down and shook his head, "Sheenberg is not so petty. But this time, the incident has become a fuss, and Lucas's new film is doomed to fail at the box office, so I'm leaving soon. The secret of this success is no longer under my care. The person who takes over is likely to vent his anger for Sheenberg and make things difficult for you."

"Sorry," Frank Price simply began to pack his things. He didn't have any hope and was ready to resign as soon as possible.

"Uh... this... no way, if I make a good movie, it won't be a big loss for him, right?"

"Do you think that after this fiasco, Sheenberg can still maintain his position in Gulf West, the parent company of Universal? He is right about one thing, this time he may also leave with me. In order not to be tied to me, he can do anything."

Ronald and Niceta looked at each other, what is going on?

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