Exploiting Hollywood 1980

A tentative agreement that would allow members of the Writers Guild to temporarily work on Hollywood productions received overwhelming approval from the Writers Guild. After all, compared with ideas and empty promises, bringing bread to the family table is the most urgent need of every screenwriter.

Ronald's Daydream is also associated with medium-sized producers such as Cannon and Orion, as well as Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment, Rob Lennar's Castle Rock, and other 150 companies under the director's name. Several small production companies signed a tentative settlement agreement.

"Why do I feel like the seven major studios are not afraid of the antitrust lawsuit?" Ronald asked his lawyer Mickey Kanter after signing the agreement.

"In America, the original intention of filing a lawsuit is not necessarily to win the case." Kanter explained to Ronald.

There are two types of antitrust lawsuits in America. One is a public prosecution investigation initiated by the Department of Justice and the Board of Trade. Based on the Shelton Act, it opposes the collusion of large enterprises with each other or the abuse of monopoly to obtain improper benefits.

This antitrust is very strict and will result in fines, bans, and even splits if found guilty. Just like when Paramount was forced to split up its theater business.

The other type is the private lawsuit filed by some people in the Screenwriters Guild. This kind of antitrust is mainly based on the Clayton Act, and it mainly opposes behaviors that lead to monopoly or significantly reduce competition. For example, several major studios and three major public television stations have formed an alliance and refuse to agree to a new labor agreement.

This law is relatively lenient. If you lose, the plaintiff will only be compensated three times the damages and attorney fees.

But if this case is officially scheduled for trial, it will definitely attract media attention. Maybe it will attract the attention of the Trade Commission and the Ministry of Justice. If you encounter another minister with political ambitions, you can launch a public prosecution and investigation.

Therefore, the reason why the Writers Guild filed the lawsuit was also to make a threatening gesture, hoping that these die-hard members would stop boycotting the agreement. Otherwise, the Writers Guild may undergo changes at the top and attract public power to intervene, which would not be good.

…

Whether or not the lives of the writers who wrote for television were improving, the writers who worked on Hollywood and Ronald's Daydream were laughing.

Robert Harlin can finally appear on the crew as a screenwriter. Several screenwriting doctors that Ronald hired urgently also began to work with him to make emergency modifications to lines and scenes in some places that were not suitable for film shooting.

Diane Lane's accent training was almost completed, and she came over to report the results to Ronald.

"Where did you get the pickup truck?" Ronald asked funnyly when he saw Diane driving a broken pickup truck and parked in front of his high-end apartment.

"I'm telling you, Ronnie, that pickup truck is a really good car. It's perfect to drive for fishing!" Diane smelled like corn stubble when she spoke, and she walked like a girl from a southern town. If you don't know her, you will really think that she and Dolly Parton are from the same place.

"Hahaha, your special training is very good." Ronald was happy. Diane is talented in acting. After several weeks of training, he has mastered the characteristics of southerners very well.

"I want to reward you, what do you want to eat?" Ronald knew that the film was shot in 1.85:1, and the character of Diane wore a conservative skirt from beginning to end, and the management of the figure was not so strict. It was hard work. After taking so long to prepare, eating something delicious is always very attractive to actresses.

"We have to celebrate tonight. The barbecue is delicious. I'll bring that bottle of bourbon later." Diane continued to be immersed in the southern state.

"Do you really want to eat barbecue?" Ronald didn't care.

"Hahaha, no, no, if I eat barbecue, this month's training plan will be in vain. I now practice yoga and aerobics every day."

"Since you are exercising, you are not afraid of eating barbecue. If you want to eat, we will eat it. Then we will do more 'exercise' to burn off the calories." Ronald emphasized the word exercise.

"You promise?" Diane laughed out loud, her eyes brightening, "Hahaha, okay, let's go eat some delicious food. I heard that the nearest Japanese restaurant is good."

I didn’t taste the barbecue, but the expensive Japanese Wagyu beef flown in from Japan, and the American Wagyu beef that is a cross between Wagyu beef and local cattle, are not the same level of enjoyment at all.

"Mr. Li, Mr. Horowitz wants to see you."

While Ronald and Diane were enjoying the meal, a waiter wearing a white shirt and black tie came over to give Ronald a message.

】

"It's a crime to interrupt enjoying a meal with a lady..." Ronald held Diane's hand and didn't pay much attention to the public relations consultant Horowitz.

The two were about to finish the remaining steaks sweetly when they saw Horowitz walking from the side and said, "Ronald, the governor and Johnny Carson are over there. Let’s go sit together?”

"You are really a spoiler..." Ronald wiped his mouth. He could have gone back to exercise with Diane. He turned around and asked Diane, "Do you want to meet Mr. Carson?"

"Okay, last time I was on his show on my eighteenth birthday, but he called me by the wrong name." Diane was in a good mood, and it was good to meet the host with the most viewers on the TV station.

Ronald nodded to Public Counsel Horowitz, and went over with Diane to the other side of the restaurant. There was a single room near the corner. There was only Johnny Carson, Frey, the producer of his Tonight Show. de Cordova, and the tall governor of Arkansas.

"Ronald, right? My wife, I, and my seven-year-old daughter all watched your Dirty Dancing video. They would be happy if they were here."

The governor smiled sincerely and stood up to shake hands with Ronald. His handshake was strong and confident, but not the kind of strength that showed he was superior to others. The dark blue suit and plaid tie are interesting and playful. The governor then placed his other hand on Ronald's elbow in a gesture of intimacy.

"Nice to meet you. I watched your speech at the conference, and despite the boos from the audience, I actually think it makes sense."

"Haha, this makes me feel very uncomfortable. I think the half hour I spent at the conference was the most difficult time in my life. But it is also good. At least many people know about me, such as you..." The governor's arm He put it on Ronald's upper arm and shoulder and patted it twice.

"That's right, Johnny, Mr. Cordova." Ronald felt that the governor had no airs and spoke to him very familiarly, as if they had gone to high school together and played on the same team. A close buddies relationship like rugby.

This was the first time for Ronald to see such a charismatic politician, and he couldn't help but be surprised.

"Hello, Miss Lane..."

"Hello, Mr. Governor..."

Diane also shook hands with the governor, and he held Diane's elbow with his left hand. It seemed that this was a gesture to express his intimacy and interest in you.

Ronald frowned, this level of intimacy was a bit too much.

As if sensing Ronald's displeasure, the governor immediately put his hand down, then pulled out the chair and let Diane sit down.

"You should talk to Ronald, Johnny. It's not a bad thing to have a political guest on your show."

The governor conveniently drew Ronald into the conversation between him and Johnny Carson.

"Hi, Diane, meet again?" Johnny Carson was a little embarrassed, he didn't want to talk about this issue. Politicians not appearing on their own programs is the most important criterion to maintain their neutral attitude and win more viewers. The show's ratings are now falling due to the writers' strike.

Carson, who could have made a temporary agreement and resumed hiring screenwriters, was forced to find a lot of college freshmen and direct them to produce jokes every day because NBC boycotted the agreement. He has been wallowing in a tortured hell for several months, not wanting to cause trouble and be criticized by the outside world for losing his neutral position.

"Mr. Carson, do you remember me?" Diane looked surprised, "My birthday was on your show last time...".

The guests continued to chat, but Ronald did not want to pay attention to them. He still held Diane's hand under the table and rubbed it in her palm... which caused the beauty to look back with a smile.

"Johnny, I think the governor's approachability and camera sense are very good. Do you want to give it a try?" Producer Cordova began to lean towards that side. Horowitz was very good at public relations, and he was inclined to agree, and now Carson was strangely facing competition from David Letterman, who was much younger than him.

Letterman started out writing jokes for Carson. He was younger and more energetic. Many viewers who did not watch the Tonight Show went to watch Letterman's late night show, which was broadcast immediately after Carson's show.

Johnny Carson's own writing skills have deteriorated very badly. The college student team is not familiar with his style, and the jokes are getting less and less funny.

And now that the governor happens to be a national sensation, Carson can't compete with other shows in exploiting his jokes. Now the governor has offered to appear on his own TV. Regardless of whether it is funny or not, as long as he is on the show, it will greatly increase the ratings.

"I understand very well that TV audiences are completely different from live audiences. I have also experienced the kind of situation where I was on stage, the lights were shining down, I couldn't see the faces of the audience clearly, only their voices came through, and I was so scared that I couldn't speak. time." Carson empathizes with the governor's problem, which is often called the "quicksand" trap in the television industry.

Everything was going well, but for some unknown reason, suddenly the audience started to oppose you. You were nervously considering how to respond. Before you could react, you couldn't deal with it. It was like you encountered quicksand in the desert and got stuck. What did you do? Everything is wrong. Just wait for your companions to pull you out.

The governor's mistake was that he lacked a person with experience in televised speeches. At the unfavorable moment, he could take over the conversation and just interrupt with one or two sentences to turn the situation around.

What a pity that occasion...

"To be honest, I just wanted to make Duka Keith look good that day... God knows, I succeeded in a special way..." The governor began to laugh at himself. He was laughed at by everyone and turned the dull-speaking Duka Keith's contrast was quite good.

"Pfft..." Diane laughed out loud when she heard it, and whispered in Ronald's ear, "This governor has a sense of humor, almost like a stand-up comedian."

Ronald continued to touch Diane's palm, and a wave of heat spread through his palm. "It's very funny".

Actually, this is not funny at all. Politics is an art of competing for attention. Although the governor is now under criticism, he has also taken away all of Dukakis's limelight. The Donkey National Convention was originally a good opportunity to promote his political views to voters across the country. Now...

"Ronald, what do you think? How should I tell the governor that people who are currently in public office are not suitable to appear on my show." Johnny Carson didn't want to continue the discussion. He had drunk enough and was about to go back to continue writing jokes with the rookie screenwriters.

"Then don't go on your show as the governor. It's not bad to be a stand-up comedian." Ronald blurted out. He didn't want to waste time. Diane's palms were a little greasy and her face was getting redder and redder.

"That's a good idea, Ronald." The producer on the opposite side and the governor agreed. If I can't invite the current governor to the show as a guest, then can't I just go in a different identity?

"Can you say stand-up comedy?" asked producer Cordova.

"I've been playing the saxophone in the band in college..." The governor quickly changed his talent. As a governor, it's okay to tell some jokes to liven up the atmosphere and make the audience happy, but it's too low to do stand-up comedy by yourself.

Johnny Carson looked embarrassed, but finally nodded in agreement, "I wanted you to defend my argument." On the way out, he quietly complained to Ronald. In order to avoid suspicion, the governor had already left from another exit.

"It's a pity that it's not a recording program, otherwise I can make up a clip to agree with you..." Ronald smiled and said goodbye to him. He and Diane got in the car and left.

"Hahaha, did you see Carson's face?" When they arrived at the apartment, Diane smiled happily and fell on Ronald. When she was on the show, Carson called her by the wrong name, and she finally cut a clip to make up for it, which made her, who was still very young at the time, very nervous throughout the performance.

"As long as you are happy, I like it..." Ronald said while hugging Diane.

"Well... I like you to say nice things, cowboy. Are you so strong when you work?" Diane imitated the tone of a southern chick again, and put one hand on Ronald's chin, flirting.

"Well..." Ronald felt as if Diane had changed into a different person. Different tones brought different feelings. The woman in his arms was familiar and strange, and the desire to conquer her rose for a moment.

"Let me show you if I'm strong enough." Ronald approached Diane. Both of them felt an unusually high passion from this role-playing game.

"Bye, I'll go to Louisiana to watch you shoot after I finish other things." On Friday, Ronald sent Diane on the plane. "Steel Magnolias" was about to start shooting, and Diane had to go to Louisiana to familiarize herself with the environment first.

"I'll wait for you, cowboy." Diane smiled and got on the plane, and said goodbye to Ronald with her naughty head sticking out of the window.

…

"Mr. Li, we have followed your instructions and used all the funds on the books to buy Coca-Cola stocks. You now have about $26 million worth of Coca-Cola stocks in our company's securities account, which is equivalent to 0.2% of the total market value. What do we need to do next?"

"Very good, no need to do anything, I just wait for the dividends." Ronald put down the phone, and with the Coca-Cola stocks he bought earlier, it was close to 0.5% of the total share capital.

With so much money, you can live a good life by waiting for dividends every year. Ronald will not buy and sell frequently. Anyway, I don't know how to speculate in stocks, and it's best to take dividends. I heard that if you used your savings to buy Coca-Cola stocks during the Great Depression, you would be a millionaire at least now.

It can be seen that as long as the country of America still exists, there will probably be many people drinking Coca-Cola.

After hanging up the phone, Ronald was very happy. By next year, at the current sales rate, all products of "Dirty Dancing", including records, videotapes, and box office revenue, are expected to exceed 80 million US dollars. Adding the income from other movies, he can become a billionaire.

He took a can of Coca-Cola from the refrigerator, turned on the TV with the remote control, and started drinking.

It happened that Johnny Carson's show was on in the evening. In a burst of music, the governor came on stage and sat opposite Carson. He was tall and strong, and he felt a little oppressive to Carson. The confidence brought by politics also made Carson, who usually had the upper hand, a little suppressed.

Carson asked, "Mr. Governor, how are you?" Then he took out a timer hourglass. Put it upside down on the table and start counting.

"Hahaha..." The audience laughed loudly. It was not easy to take advantage of Carson.

"The whole country knows you. What happened at that time?" Carson resumed his smile. The old man was still spicy. A prop allowed him to regain the upper hand.

"I don't know, it just doesn't work. I mean, what can I tell you?" The governor was nice, if a little embarrassed, but he was eager to impress the audience.

"My only goal in going there was to make Michael Dukakis look good, and I succeeded beyond my wildest expectations," the governor repeated the joke of the day, which is the best way to impress the audience with self-deprecation.

The two gradually got into the mood and explained the situation to the audience.

"I like your humor very much. It reminds us of our commander-in-chief, another public official known for his sense of humor. Your term will also expire in 1991. What I want to ask is, will you Will run for leadership in the future

? "

"Huh?" Ronald discovered the subtlety of this question. Does the governor have intentions?

"Whether it's possible or not depends on my performance today..." The governor made another improvisation with a great sense of humor, which made the audience applaud at the maximum volume.

"This person would also be a good actor if he were an actor," Ronald thought while drinking Coke.

"I think I might go in the future, but not now. Because I haven't "fulfilled my commitment to the state" yet, and my daughter Chelsea is too young, only 7 years old. I think if I run for governor, I will Very busy, this is too cruel for a seven-year-old girl, I think it will wait until later..."

"Thank you for coming, Mr. Governor. But according to the rules, we cannot invite current public officials to be guests on the show, so you must perform a show as an entertainer and newsmaker..."

"I heard that you started playing the saxophone a long time ago and often participated in band practices?"

Finally, the governor came off the stage and played a jazz song with the live band. The governor's level is not as good as a professional, but he is considered top-notch among amateurs.

Seeing the joy of the audience, Ronald found it very interesting. The governor, who just hours ago was a joke to a national audience, is now a darling.

Real life is even stranger than movies and TV shows!

Even if a screenwriter wrote the script, I'm afraid he wouldn't be able to write such a fun and dramatic script. If you have the governor's quick wit and sense of humor, it would actually be a very good show without the script and on the spot.

…

Early the next morning, the concierge delivered the newspaper to the door as usual.

“The governor of Arkansas has gone from media doghouse to media darling in just one week,” the AP reported the next day, “with just a smile, a few self-deprecating jokes and a song.”

"Before you go on Carson's show, it's over! Play the saxophone on Carson, the new hope of the Donkey Party"

Newsweek, which was still ridiculing the governor of Arkansas last weekend, also made a 180-degree turn.

This is the first time that "Longwei Boy" returns to the national stage. He is a counterattack boy and will make Al Gore jealous! The New York Times even described the governor of Arkansas as a rebellious boy like Daniel in Ronald's movie "The Kid."

He also used the Tennessee politician Al Gore as a comparison. Both were Southerners, both were charming and well-liked by housewives. But men, celebrities prefer this to lower their body like a buddy.

A counterattacking boy in the political world.

“The Writers Guild is in strife!”

Ronald turned to the entertainment section and finally discovered the big news in Hollywood.

The three TV stations and several major producers who were accused did not sit back and wait for the antitrust scandal to cause greater repercussions. They took action.

Twenty-one dissident union members who still support the June 16 proposal filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board seeking to invalidate union rules that bar them from returning to work during the strike.

Some dissidents have threatened to resign their union membership and return to work if the strike is not resolved by July 28. "

Some union "Trojan horses" set off a coup within the Writers Guild, using the just and fair reason that they couldn't go to Hukou if they didn't have a job.