Exploiting Hollywood 1980

"Change another bed?" When Little Bud came to pick up Ronald in the morning, he heard Ronald instructing him to buy a new bed. "What kind of bed do you want this time?"

"Yes, a bigger one," Ronald pointed at the old bed and said to him, "bigger, wider, longer, you know."

"Uh..." Little Bud scratched his head, in fact, he didn't understand.

His boss was good in everything, with a good salary, and he lent him and Lucy an apartment. He could be said to be a boss who was easy to serve.

The only shortcoming was that he often liked to buy new beds. Since he became his driver, he bought several new beds. The general trend was to buy bigger and bigger beds, and Ronald seemed to have a mysophobia. Every time he changed his female companion, he had to change a new bed.

"If you want to change to a new one, you can actually just change the sheets, or change a mattress?" Little Bud said a few words, and saw that Ronald's face was not right.

"I mean, if you don't want it, can you give it to me? Lucy and I are just thinking of getting a new bed."

"Take it, take it. Then get a new mattress for yourselves." Ronald was embarrassed to say that he had to change the bed because he kept falling off. He counted a stack of cash and gave it to Bud, "Let them deliver that thing today. It must be a bigger one."

"No problem, buy a big one." Little Bud happily measured the size of the bed. This was already a big bed in the hotel, and it was of high quality. Lucy would definitely like it when he took it home and got a new mattress. However, Ronald was successful now, and the bed was getting bigger and bigger. How many people would it take to fill it?

Ronald was very satisfied with the new bed at night. It would not fall off easily this time. Ronald was happy to stand up several times on the bed that was a circle bigger than the original one. Now there was no problem.

After a few days of busy work, Ronald received representatives from Kadokawa from Japan and also contacted 20th Century Fox.

It was the weekend again, and the script of the adaptation of "Nothing is Forever" was revised by Jeb Sterter. This time he found a taxi and brought the newly bound script to the office.

Ronald and Joel Silver were very satisfied after reading it. This book was published eight years ago, and some of the plots are no longer up to date. Jeb has preserved several key elements in it very well, such as the protagonist hiding in a skyscraper at the beginning and not being discovered by the kidnappers. There is also a scene where the protagonist tied a gun to his back with tape to deceive the robbers.

However, some specific details have been changed to suit the current social trends, such as the sheriff who met downstairs and the driver who picked up the protagonist in a luxury car, both of whom were written as black.

The relationship between the protagonist detective and the company president's secretary has also changed from father and daughter to husband and wife, and the two are separated in two places, considering divorce but still loving each other, etc., making the plot structure more fascinating.

Of course, Ronald specifically proposed that the president of a multinational company, who was unfortunately killed by the bandits, was changed to a Japanese. It just fits the current situation of Japanese capital's acquisitions in America.

"First-rate work, Jeb, first-rate." Joel Silver knew what he was doing and knew that the script had a good rhythm and that with the right director, it could produce a good action movie.

"What do you think, Ronald?" He turned to Ronald.

"Just like you said, it's first-rate work." Ronald said to the screenwriter Jeb Stewart who was looking at him eagerly.

For such screenwriters who are full of desire and passion, Ronald knew that he had to affirm their work first. Because most of these people don't have much money, they rely on their enthusiasm to work day and night, trying to turn things around and become one of the gold medal screenwriters in Hollywood.

Sure enough, Jeb finally smiled. Ronald, who was nominated for the Oscar for Best Screenwriter for his first script, is the idol of all Hollywood screenwriters who write silently with pencils and broken typewriters and try to turn things around.

The affirmation from him seems to make him feel more at ease than that from producer Silver. The results of working hard for more than ten hours a day finally paid off at this moment.

"We will adopt this version of the script. You can wait for the first payment." Silver said to Jeb generously, and then called in the secretary to prepare the payment paperwork and prepare to issue a check.

"This... Thank you... Thank you", as if he did not expect Silver to give money directly instead of buying options, screenwriter Jeb was very excited about the sudden good news.

Jeb's wife Ann was his high school classmate. She married him as a full-time housewife after graduation. However, he should "bring bread home", but he did not bring back much bread money, so Ann had to work as a waiter to earn tips to support the family.

Now he got the first 20% of the script payment, not only did he not have to worry about income for at least half a year, but he could also postpone the mortgage.

"I really don't know what to say, thank you for your generosity, Mr. Silver." Jeb signed the document and received his own check. The number on it made him very happy. He went to the bank to deposit it into his account. Should he take his wife to eat steak tonight or eat popular sushi?

"You should thank Ronald. If it weren't for the Japanese investment he found, we might not have started filming so quickly. Now as long as the money he promised is in place, we will hurry up and finish filming by the end of this year, so that we can catch up with next year's summer schedule." Joel Silver smiled and explained why the project was able to be approved so quickly.

Yesterday, Ronald had already contacted two Japanese investors. In particular, Kadokawa Shoten was a powerful conglomerate in the publishing and entertainment industries. The vertically integrated group companies in Japan have long coveted America's market and resources.

Steve Bannon, as the matchmaking middleman, inspected Silver's production company with Japanese personnel and felt that his cooperation with Ronald's Daydream was strong. The two's new films "Lethal Weapon" and "Dirty Dancing" are expected to sweep this year's box office charts.

As a test of cooperation between Japan and America, it is very suitable to be able to cooperate with two of the most powerful producers in America today.

Bannon and Ronald will also invest some funds into this project. On the one hand, they can reassure Japanese investors and increase their confidence in the project. On the other hand, they can also participate in the later share of the project.

As for 20th Century Fox, they were really overjoyed to see Ronald's participation. Not to mention the huge amount of Japanese investment he has brought, the production of the film can be brought to a higher level. His participation, experience and vision alone can add a lot of insurance to the film.

In short, all aspects of this cooperation are very satisfied with the partners, and we are still looking forward to more in-depth cooperation in the future.

The new president of 20th Century Fox, Leonard Goldberg, who was poached from Paramount Television by the chairman, Australian Rupert, came to personally inquire about the project.

As a TV industry veteran who participated in the development of the hit series "Charlie's Angels" at ABC TV, he had just taken office at Fox and was trying to work on several big projects to accumulate some merit for himself.

"I've heard Weintraub tell you many times that you are an amazing director and producer. I heard that you brought many of the original ideas to The Kid." Come to Leonard Goldber Without waiting to receive the script, Gerard agreed to give the project the green light, but only on the condition that Ronald would serve as the project's producer. Whether directing or not, he oversees the creative and production processes from start to finish. So today Silver relied on Ronald's opinion for everything.

"Of course, thank you, Ronald, your affirmation is a great honor for me." Thanks to Japan Capital. Jeb Stewart made the decisive decision to eat sushi tonight.

"Oh oh oh...wait a minute, Jeb. You don't think we can start shooting now, do you?" Ronald smiled and said to screenwriter Jeb, "The big picture of the script is very good, but there are some dialogues, details, and actions. Wait, it still needs professionals to modify it.”

"Ah, that's it..." Jeb Stewart sobered up a little from the impulse he had after buying the script.

Ronald knew that he couldn't give too much credit to the screenwriter now, and instead had to find some faults. In the process of film production, the task of the signed screenwriter has been roughly completed by now. Next, he will gradually reveal the production process, most likely participating in casting and chatting with actors and stars about the plot.

"Ronald, will you change some of it yourself?" Of course Joel Silver knew that Ronald himself was a talented screenwriter, and he hoped that Ronald could contribute some content.

"Well...there are indeed a few places that need polishing and fine-tuning."

Ronald opened the script again and told Jeb and Joel a few areas where he felt inadequate.

Based on the plot of his dream, Ronald proposed that the protagonist start flying from New York to Los Angeles. He listened to the advice of his neighbor on the flight, took off his shoes during the break, and fought with the gangsters barefoot. Adding trouble to the protagonist for the action scenes that follow.

Then add some details that put gold on the faces of Japanese people. For example, Takagi Yoshinobu, the president of a multinational company, must not only be kind and righteous, but also stand up from the safe house and face the gangsters to protect the safety of his employees. So that he was finally killed.

Furthermore, he needs to be humane and well-liked by his employees.

Ronald took up his pen and added two words to the script, "watch." It means that at the climax of the rooftop action, the protagonist lets go of his wife’s hand and the Rolex gold watch was given by President Takagi to his right-hand man, the protagonist’s wife.

Then he wrote "luxury car", and President Takagi specially sent a luxury car to the airport to pick up the husband of his capable subordinate Holly for the company reunion. Japanese people value family and treat employees in the company as if they are in a big family. They are completely different from the American vice president who took advantage of the male protagonist's couple's separation and wanted to date Holly. He is a good leader.

"In short, the Japanese character must be very positive and tall, with Japanese culture, and speak like an American business elite." Ronald set the tone for the modification of the Japanese in the script.

"Relax." After Ronald wrote some notes, he found that screenwriter Jeb was a little nervous. After thinking about it, he understood what the other person was thinking.

Only a maximum of three names can appear in the screenwriter column of a movie. If Ronald wants to snatch a name away, he has no way to resist.

"The signature is still yours. I will not add my name to the script. The subsequent polishing will only be fine-tuning the details. In short, well done!"

"Understood. In short, let the Japanese CEO Takagi possess all the virtues, and then kill him with one shot." Jeb understood Ronald's intention. When I heard that I would have an exclusive signature on the script, so that I could enter the Writers Guild, I happily picked up a pen and carefully noted down Ronald's opinions.

"A rookie is really lucky to be appreciated and protected by a master." Jeb thought as he wrote.

Ronald smiled and nodded when he saw him say that. That's it. The supporting role is made great and does not affect the main plot. His death can also highlight the brutality of the gangsters. In front of the capital of Japan, everything can be explained.

"In addition, I have two more questions." Ronald patted Jeb on the shoulder, "Why did you name the protagonist John Ford?"

"Because I am a loyal fan of westerns. I think this movie is a reproduction of a western. The male protagonist is not a perfect hero, but a flawed hero like those tough guys in old westerns. In bad experiences, they learned how to become a better self, not another person."

Jeb Stuart now admires Ronald very much, and quickly told him all his considerations for setting this role.

"Good idea, but John Ford won't do. This name will cause commercial disputes. Let's change it, for example, how about John McClane?"

"McClane? I think it's good." Jeb Stewart was very surprised to hear Ronald's suggestion. He himself was of Scottish descent. Hearing the name McClane, which has a strong Scottish flavor, and thinking of the protagonist's nonchalant attitude towards difficulties, he was very much like the Scottish way of dealing with things.

"Sure enough, he is a master screenwriter. A name can fit the role and the plot, making people unforgettable." Jeb sighed in his heart. Some people are really more famous than meeting them. You can tell their level as soon as you extend your hand.

"There is another question, that is, what does the protagonist's yippee-ki-yay, otherfxcker mean?" Ronald saw that the protagonist said this sentence more than once in the script when he encountered difficulties and had to force himself.

"This is a famous saying of the Western movie star Roy Rogers. He always said yippee-ki-yay, kid."

"Okay, then keep it." Ronald understood the thoughts of this die-hard fan of Western movies very well. Besides, this catchphrase is also very smooth and has no effect on the movie. So he agreed.

After dealing with the film, Ronald did not accept Joel Silver's invitation to attend the party in his mansion with many bikini girls. Instead, he went straight home.

He was unwilling to mess around with those brainless blonde bibo girls in this matter.

Without communication, Ronald always felt like he was buying it, and Richard and Niceta also warned him many times not to be used by others. He is now famous, and many girls will secretly leave evidence and then ask for benefits.

Speaking of which, after having some power and fame in the industry, Ronald's range of choosing female companions has actually narrowed down. He is most suitable for those female stars who are equally matched in the circle. In this way, both parties are unwilling to leak privacy, which is the safest.

"Ronald, have you heard? Shirley Lansing has a new idea?"

Thinking of his girlfriend in the circle, Kelly McGillis called.

"What's the matter?" Ronald was a little puzzled when he answered the phone.

"She interviewed Judy (Foster), but she was too fat and wanted Molly Ringwald to play the role of the victim."

"Molly Ringwald, she seems to be fatter, right?" Ronald said what was in his heart directly. The young female star who was John Hughes' muse and once led the trend of American girls dyeing their hair red quickly gained weight after playing Godard's super bad movie "King Lear". In the newly released "The Pickup Master" co-starring with Robert Downey Jr., she became even more sturdy.

"Let me talk to Ronald?" Jodie Foster took the phone, "Ms. Lansing doesn't like me, and I don't like her either."

It turned out that after auditioning "The Catcher in the Rye", Jodie Foster had not received a second round of interview notice. It was still in the newspaper that she and Kelly saw the gossip that Molly Ringwald was expected to play.

Both female stars felt Shirley Lansing's malice.

"I can't help you with this," Ronald heard the two beauties' joint appeal call, thinking that he had no say in this project and it was impossible for him to direct this movie. It seemed inevitable that Jodie Foster would be forgotten.

Jodie Foster hinted that she could accompany Ronald in exchange, but it was fruitless, so she had to accept the fact that her acting career was closed.

Fortunately, she was a top student and had other options. "It seems that I have to prepare for the GRE. Several professors of literature and psychology in Ivy League universities may accept me."

"Huh... I'm sorry." McGillis also shook Judy's hand. Female stars just don't have enough bargaining power in this matter.

...

"Ronald, this is Shirley, do you want to be the director of this movie?"

Early Sunday morning, Ronald was waiting for the new week's box office results of "Dirty Dancing" when he received a call.

When Ronald heard that it was not the box office results, and that this strange woman called herself by her name, as if the whole world should know her, he blurted out: "Shirley who?"

"Shirley Lansing...l...a...n...s..."

"I know how to spell your name, but I don't know why you called me." Ronald stopped the other party's inexplicable angry words.

"Do you want to direct 'The Robbery of the Pear Flower'?" Shirley Lansing didn't waste any words and got straight to the point and stated her problem.

"I don't want to, why... who said I want to..."

"Then don't interfere with the casting..."

"Who the hell interfered..." Ronald cursed.

"You didn't? I was going to invite Molly Ringwald to play the leading role, but you strongly recommended Jodie Foster."

"I didn't strongly recommend her, I just thought she could audition."

"She's not suitable for the female victim, she's too fat."

"No, isn't Molly Ringwald fatter?"

"You really want to interfere."

"I don't want to..."

"Whatever, Foster is not suitable for the female victim at all. The role is a low-level restaurant waitress who believes in astrology and has no college education, while Foster is a top student at Yale."

"No, what's wrong with astrology? First Lady Nancy also believes in it."

"You don't understand, this is a female film, speaking for the majority of women... In short, neither you nor Ned Tanin can interfere with my project!"

"It's inexplicable, who you want to find is none of my business."

Ronald hung up the phone.

He felt more and more that women who were producers were sometimes just being strong for the sake of being strong. I just introduced Foster to McGillis for an audition. If you don't want to, then don't. It's like I'm forcing you to interfere. You don't know what it's like when I interfere.

But what about Ned Tanin?

"Hey, Ned, what's going on with Shirley Lansing?"

Ronald called Ned Tanin to find out the situation.

"Hahaha... She wanted to compete with me with this project. I heard that you recommended the child star Jodie Foster. Maybe, maybe, you used your name to veto her idea..."

Like Lansing, Tanin, who is also Jewish, laughed shamelessly on the phone.

"Fuck, you owe me one, what the hell are you doing with Lansing?"

"I owe you one." Ned Tanin also laughed, "What else, she wants to replace me and become the head of Paramount."

"There's more? This woman is too ambitious. What's your plan? Stop using my name."

"Actually, I don't mind ambitious producers, but this matter is a bit complicated. Come to me and talk? Maybe I can help your female companion Foster fulfill her wish."

"No, Judy is not my female companion."

"Come on, I have good wine, and you are interested in the nomination for the best director at the Oscars next year. Do you want it?"

"Go on..."