Exploiting Hollywood 1980

   Chapter 313 Box office continues to explode

"But why, Aunt Karen? None of my college classmates can direct a studio feature film yet?" Ronald was a little puzzled, why he was so successful, and his aunt still wanted him to go back to college .

"Ronald, film is a high-risk business. Your agent Eddie from New York came the day before yesterday and said your teacher, Marty Scorsese, was depressed. He's such a successful director that no one is looking for him now. He's filming."

   "Huh?" Ronald didn't know what had happened to Matty Scorsese, and thought to himself that he would visit him in two days.

"But Aunt, isn't it the same. I happen to be directing a movie that is going to be a big hit, and it's about time the studios come to me to make a film. You heard Richard say that too, and a few studios gave it to me. Invited."

   "I can't understand the young people nowadays. But I think the movie you made is noisy and there is nothing touching.

  Film is a daydream, a solace when the poor are out of breath. When I was a restaurant host, I had to raise Donna and treat you. I encountered a lot of difficulties, and I felt that I was about to endure it.

   At that time my friend gave me a movie ticket. It's Mr. Scorsese's movie "AliceDoesn\'tLiveHereAnymore". It was this movie that gave me renewed courage. I must persevere and let you grow up.

   Although many people watch the movie you made, what experience did you give them? And there are too many naked scenes..."

   "Hey, audiences like to watch it now..." Ronald hesitated. It turns out that in the eyes of my aunt, my movie is a farce?

   "I shouldn't have said that about you, my dear. But I really hope you can make a movie that gives people the power to soothe the soul.

   Your luck is obviously very good this time, but can you guarantee that your luck will continue to be good in the future? Even Mr. Scorsese..."

"This?"

   Ronald actually disagreed, but Aunt Karen was very kind to herself, and she said it for her own good, so she nodded.

   "Auntie, even if I'm not a director, I'll save enough money."

   "But you haven't graduated from college yet." Aunt Karen still wanted Ronald to get a college degree.

   "I don't know your father's family very well, but he definitely wants you to graduate from college.

  My maiden name is Parker. Parker's family has never been a college student. You are the first in your family to go to college. "

   "Oh, don't worry. Donna will definitely pass."

Aunt    finally smiled, "Ronnie, you always know how to make me happy. Well, let's not talk about that, do you remember what you promised me?"

   "I remember. I'll graduate, I promise. Now is the time to get a chance to make a few more movies. If one day no one sees my movie, I'll go back to college and get my degree."

   Early the next morning, the agent Richard came, and he brought several studio offers to discuss with Ronald.

   "Universal gave you a film contract, so you can choose your own theme, or choose an existing script from Universal. What they mean is that the theme of the next movie is a teenage sexual comedy exploitation film."

   Ronald did not comment, "Anything else? I want to see other invitations."

  The internal struggle at Universal is very serious, and it is obvious that it will not be completely changed because of Tom Mount's resignation. Might as well listen to other options first.

"Producer Art Linson appreciates the script you wrote with Cameron Crowe. He wants to invite you to work with Crowe again. He thinks the theme of growing up is very well done by you. Obviously you Has the keenness of peers and knows the mental state of teenagers."

   "Anything else?" Ronald felt that Linsen must still cooperate with Universal.

   "There are also offers from other companies, all of which are sexual comedy exploits for teenagers." Richard took out a bunch of script outlines. Now Hollywood thinks you're good at making this kind of movie, and you're facing the transition from the big studios to the teenage market. "

   Ronald was a little surprised, "So many? Are they all optimistic about my director?"

   "Yes, this year, several major studios have tried to enter the teenage market. So far, only you have succeeded." Richard is very happy that his client has achieved a small monopoly in the market.

"Grease II has been released. The box office of 11 million has not even reached the so-called filming investment. It is estimated that Paramount did not make any money. In addition to praising the heroine of Michelle Pfeiffer, the film critics praised Michelle Pfeiffer. It's a bad comment on everyone else."

   "Disney's live-action 'Texas' is also out, Matt Dillon, plus Meg Tilley, just over $7 million. Good reviews though."

   "On the market now, you are the only one who can make a blockbuster teen exploitation film. Yesterday's box office was still growing, and it is estimated that your film will rush to ten times the first weekend box office sooner or later."

  Ronald sat quietly and thought about it for a while. This movie has brought him a lot of opportunities. What would those women say if they saw their status as the best-selling director today?

   "Which one do you suggest I choose? Richard." Ronald asked.

   "I shouldn't be giving you advice, Ronald. Obviously you know what you're doing." Richard joked.

"My suggestion is to not choose for now. Your box office is still growing, we will wait and see. Nisita also estimates that in two weeks, more studios will join the fight for you. You will get more quality script."

   "Okay, that's it." Ronald thought the idea of ​​waiting was a good idea.

   "I went to see Marty today and heard that his new movie is not going well."

   "I'm going to rent a car. During this time, I'll be your driver." Richard got up to make a phone call.

   "Drive mine." Ronald threw the keys to his Honda.

   It seems that CAA is also getting nervous about himself. When the director makes a score, it is also the time for other economic companies to start poaching.

  Richard drove Ronald to where Matty Scorsese worked in his Honda.

  In an editing room, they found Scorsese.

   Scorsese, wearing an oxygen mask, was discussing something with an editor in front of the editor.

   "Marty, what's wrong with you?"

  Ronald is very surprised, how come he hasn't seen him for a while, Marty's body is already so bad, does he need oxygen to work?

   He remembers coughing when Scorsese gave him the director's viewfinder. Could it be pneumonia? I don't know if it's contagious.

   "Oh, Ronald. So nice to see you." A muffled voice came from behind Scorsese's oxygen mask.

   "I'm fine, it's just that when I was filming 'The King of Comedy', my body couldn't take it anymore and my asthma started to explode. Now I can only edit with an oxygen mask."

   "Oh, you better rest." Ronald was relieved to hear that it was asthma.

  Stayed for a while, Marty Scorsese and the editor explained, took Ronald out of the editing room, and the two found a cafe to catch up.

   "It's really boring wearing this stuff." Scorsese took off his oxygen mask and started drinking coffee.

  Except for a mark on his face by the mask, Marty seems to be in good physical condition, not as weak as when wearing a mask.

   "It works so well, when I put it on, they pity me and respect my decision more. I've been wearing it to work since I filmed 'The King of Comedy'."

   Scorsese winked at him.

  Ronald finds it interesting, and Scorsese's acting seems to be good too. But the editing seems to have encountered some difficulties. Even a director like him who has just been nominated for an Oscar has to pretend to be pitiful?

   "Is there any difficulty with the movie?" Ronald asked.

"Hey……"

   Scorsese may have had no fellow directors to complain for a long time, and he began to talk about the various troubles he encountered during filming.

  The director must be full of confidence when facing producers and investors. When dealing with actors, you have to be courteous, and sometimes you have to get angry. to complete the filming.

   The person in the world who can understand the work of a director may be another director.

  It turned out that the filming of "The King of Comedy" was not smooth, and the distributor refused to invest after reading the script at first.

   The project was later bailed out by an Israeli producer, Arnon Milchan.

   But during the filming, Scorsese's old partner Robert De Niro, a famous method actor. In order to elicit a reaction from the other protagonist, Jerry Lewis, he was verbally abused in anti-Semitic language.

  Although the opposite scene was very real and exciting, the recording was overheard by producer Anon Milkan, who believed that De Niro was a real anti-Semitic and threatened to make a substitution.

   Scorsese was caught in the middle, and the last two were unflattering. When the producer is editing, he is also picky everywhere. The two sides have lost basic trust.

   "When you take on new films in the future, you must stay away from them as much as possible. There are too many of them, and I can't help it."

   Ronald comforted a few words, he understood Scorsese saying they were Jewish.

   The circle was indeed surrounded by Jews. The two heroines of his first film, the producer, Universal's president Simberg, director Spielberg, etc., are all Jewish.

   After chatting for a while, Ronald got up to leave. "Good luck, Marty." This sentence is a sincere blessing.

   "How is Isabella? Say hello to her for me."

   "Oh, she should be fine. Thanks."

  The weekend passed quickly, and "Fast-Paced Richmond High School" had a staggering weekend box office growth, grossing over 3.5 million for the full weekend. The overall box office has exceeded the 15 million mark and is still growing strongly.

   "Paramount also sent an invitation to talk to you about a movie contract." Richard went to Ronald's house again.

   "And Spielberg's Amblin studio."

   This time he brought a lot of film contracts. Also various teen movies.

   "You're staring at me very tightly, Richard." Ronald was half-joking, and Richard has been in front of him for an unusually long time these two days.

   "I have to keep an eye out, your other agent in New York, Eddie, has come to see you too."

   "Oh, he's here to talk about advertising, not movies." Ronald waved his hand.

   "I regret not signing your full financial contract at the time," Richard said.

   "It's not good news. Vans canvas shoes gave me a lifetime free qualification. They give me a few pairs of new canvas shoes every year, which are valid for life."

   "Oh, they are really stingy. I think the black and white checkerboard style canvas shoes that Sean Penn used to pat himself on the head are very popular. I see people wearing their shoes on the road."

   "Yeah, I heard that that model has already sold hundreds of thousands of pairs." Ronald also regretted it a little, why didn't he sign up and divide it according to the sales ladder, or give bonuses? Moreover, the sponsorship that was pulled was not owned by me, and was used in the filming of the film.

   "It would never have been this way if our CAA operated."

   "Maybe. Eddie said he's already contacting a new advertiser, but I don't really want to do commercials, it's still interesting to film."

   (end of this chapter)