Exploiting Hollywood 1980

   Chapter 379 Ready to shoot

"Ronald, this is a great opportunity, Shirley Lansing's Ron Howard has turned her down for 'The Mermaid', Herbert Ross, Michael Cimino, Ron Howard, she has Three directors have been smashed. If the director is not sure, the project will be put into a 'cold storage'.

And you're the one who worked on the last version of the script, Tom Cruise would love to work with you, it's an eight million dollar investment, a big studio project, your 'Night of the Comet' isn't as good as put off. "

   Paula Wagner found Ronald and lobbied Ronald in the CAA office to try to get "Footloose" first.

   "Paula, tell the truth, I want the director to be "full of energy", and how many people will nod?"

"The main people we are going to interview are mainly the following people. First of all, Ms. Shirley Lansing, who is in charge of the project, is actually not difficult. Unless she has other famous directors, you are his first choice. .

   Then came the two producers who were responsible for the realization of the project, Lewis J. Lachmir and Craig Zadan. We just have to convince them that you are capable of directing this film.

   Then there was IndieProd's president, Daniel Melnick, who was the executive producer of the film. He's no longer in charge, so we're pretty good at it.

   The second-to-last is Mr. Katzenberg, the VP of production at publisher Paramount, whom you've dealt with, and he's always been generous with projects with great scripts.

  The last level is the signature of President Eisner, and your impression of him is very good. As long as it gets to this point, it's not much of a problem to get the final green light. "

"That is to say, these five or six people, I have to interview again and sell myself? And everyone has different ideas about the project? If anyone is dissatisfied with me, I will Re-revise and submit again. Do you have to pass five levels before you can finally get the guidance qualification?"

"Well, I thought you were someone who thought that the glass was half full. We have to look at the problem with a positive eye. This is not a project invested by Paramount alone. With multiple investments, there are naturally several hurdles to pass. . And several of your competitors have been nominated for Oscars or even won."

"My answer is no, Paula, I have no opinion on you, and I really want to work with Tom, but I have already started the preparatory work for 'Night of the Comet'. Although 'Full of Strength' is a big investment, I don't need to give up A small project that is already secure, go for a large project with an unknown success rate.”

   "Well, you're right, I thought you would want to work with Tom. He just wants to work with the big director besides you now."

   "I'll call him."

  Ronald declined to bid for the director of "Full of Power". This kind of big studio project is managed by too many people, and everyone's words are not counted. Only by persuading all of them can it be finalized, and the process can go down in a circle to satisfy everyone's hobbies. Half a year has passed.

  Unless you are already an Oscar-nominated best director, or a genius who has repeatedly created box office miracles, everyone has to go through this "planning hell".

  No wonder Minahan Golan of Cannonball always accuses these Hollywood producers of talking and talking every day without actually making a movie. It's like he talks less and does more.

  Thomas Coleman, the president of Atlantic, also has a similar character to Meinahan. He signed a contract and started shooting when he liked a project. Maybe a small company doesn't have a management team that makes decisions faster.

  He brought in two colleagues, Wayne Crawford, and Andrew Lane, to work with Ronald as producers on "Night of the Comet". The pair are also producers on The Atlantic's upcoming "Valley Girl."

   They sat down with Ronald and went through the expenses of the shooting budget, bit by bit, to calculate the money.

  Atlantic invested $500,000 in "Night of the Comet" and undertook the distribution of America. Then there's 100,000 for Roger Coleman's new company Millennium, 300,000 for Cannon Films, which is responsible for overseas distribution, 100,000 for Ronald's friend Douglas Jr., and finally 200,000 for Ronald himself. .

   A total of 1.2 million production budget.

Then there are expenses. Atlantic has to pay himself a director's salary of $100,000, and then various online expenses. For example, the salary of the actor Kevin Costner is calculated according to the whole movie, and he is calculated according to the film. Also paid are two leading actresses, Katherine Marie Stuart, and Kelly Maloney. Plus a supporting actress, Mary Voronoff.

   In addition to the work of DP Arthur Albert, art director John Mutto, and special effects director Jim Cameron.

  The rest is the offline cost paid on a weekly or daily basis after the filming starts. For example, the cost of other supporting cast members, the cost of lighting, photography, drivers, makeup, hair, etc., the cost of film, the cost of applying for a street view permit from the city hall, and so on.

   Then comes the cost of stunts - lightning, explosions, drag racing, guns, doubles, special effects models and makeup, etc.

   Then there are some teen favorite episodes that teen movies must have, like "Famous" with Erin Kara's song "Fame", which will increase word-of-mouth among many teens.

   "Night of the Comet" is a small production, and all the soundtracks must be purchased at your own expense. This part of the soundtrack purchase cost about 10% of the total budget.

   In the end, there will be about 100,000 US dollars left as a mobile fund to prevent overspending during the shooting process. It's really not good, Ronald still has some money in reserve, which can be remedied. If this money is used up, he can finally go to Roger Coleman.

  The two producers and Ronald moved from side to side, the budget was still a little tight, and a few people discussed how to squeeze out a little money from there.

   "Without an UltraCam camera, the rent can be half as cheap." One producer suggested.

   "You kill me, I'd rather go to the pawnshop to **** my pants, and don't need that broken machine." Ronald had a fresh memory of the nightmarish effect of this super card film machine, and he was determined not to follow it.

   "If you don't have a soundtrack or an interlude, use the public version of the music to save a little money. That's what low-budget movies do anyway," suggested another producer.

   "This is not very good. When listening to the familiar music, the audience will know that it is shoddy music. If you have the ability, you should ask someone to compose the music. And there must be a popular episode, which is conducive to word-of-mouth communication."

Ronald remembered the song "Girls Just Want to Have Fun (Girls Just Want to Have Fun that he heard in his dream was very nice, but he had never heard this song on the radio. .

   "Then let's just start shooting like this. We trust your cost control ability. You graduated from Roger Coleman University, and the previous step of 'fast pace' has been completed with quality and quantity."

   "I don't trust myself very much. After all, this movie is my first time as a producer, and there are many things that are unreliable."

"I have a suggestion, I hope you don't get angry." Producer Wayne Crawford was a little embarrassed to see Ronald, remembering that President Thomas Coleman said to try to save the filming budget and ensure the release of "Valley Girl" Funding entrustment.

   "Please say. It's all for filming."

"Can you pay your director's salary after payment? In this way, the overall budget of 1.2 million can be used for production. We can convert your salary into a share of the profits after the movie is released. Your 20 10,000 investment, and 100,000 director remuneration, can be counted as 25% of the profit.”

   "Yes, we actually want the director to handle the compensation issue that way. That way we can share the risk," said another producer, Andrew Lane. In this way, how much the director is paid depends on the quality of the film. It is very beneficial to Atlantic's desire to improve the quality of the film and prevent the director from swaying.

   "Share?" Ronald couldn't help thinking of a great legend in the movie industry, "The profit share that will never be obtained".

   "I want to talk to my lawyer."

   After negotiating with his personal lawyer Lindsay, Ronald made some changes to the sharing clause, signed an agreement with Atlantic, and then got the preparatory and filming funds.

If the filming of "Night of the Comet" is completed and released smoothly, then Ronald's director's compensation of $100,000 will be paid first. After the box office breaks the break-even point, he will also be automatically reimbursed for his investment of $200,000. Finally, the film's box office breakthrough More than 5 million, and then according to the proportion of 25%, the profit of the film will be distributed.

   "This will first ensure that my investment is recovered, and if there are surprises, I can also share some money." A few days later, Ronald introduced the arrangement to Cameron, who came with a special effect model.

   "Oh, you are also a producer who can get a share of the profit." Cameron put several zombie head models on the table, with disgusting wounds on their gray faces.

"It's good, it's in line with the tone of the bad guys." Art director John Mutter has always wanted to make "Night of the Comet's main tone a comic-like feel. The good guys are bright colors, the bad guys are dark colors, so that the audience's The subconscious will understand their camp as soon as it sees it.

   "These are the bad guys in the scientific research base. They were still human at the beginning, and they gradually decayed without the blood of healthy children." Cameron pointed to another batch of special effects models on the table to introduce.

   "We can add some material to the wound." The special effect makeup artist also came to participate in the discussion.

  Ronald was very satisfied as he watched the progress of various preparations in the preparatory office built in the large rented warehouse. I think more about the difficulties when preparing the film, just to save money for the shooting time. It costs money when you find out that you can't complete the shot while shooting.

   "The three protagonists are all dressed up. Come and see, Director." The costume department called him again.

  Ronald saw Kelly Maloney, who played his sister Samantha, shown left and right in a cheerleading outfit. She acts as a cheerleader in "Fast Rhythm", which can be said to be familiar.

   "Is this the blue one or the red one?"

"The blue one is more vivid, the red one is a bit darker. You are making a set of the blue one. Kelly has a lot of scenes to wear this suit." Ronald ordered, wearing only one set for a lot of shooting God, I'm afraid it will stink in the end.

   Ronald then chose costumes for Kevin Costner and Katherine Mary Stuart.

   "Director, can you see this motorcycle stunt?" The stunt team Ronald is still looking for an old partner, Debbie Evans, the stunt woman who once defeated the male stunt team and won the award.

   "Yes, I don't need too difficult stunts, as long as the heroine Regina is a girl who likes machinery."

   "Ronald, take a look at this motion control photography sketch." Jim Cameron came to Ronald again to discuss how to shoot the first comet return special effect.

   "Director, you have to audition for several main supporting roles in the afternoon, including the heroine's stepmother, father, and the son brought by the stepmother. And the owner of the movie theater where the heroine works part-time."

   "That stingy boss, leave it to Roger Coleman for a cameo, I've already spoken to him."

   "Okay, I'll mark it, there are a few gangsters in the mall shootout, and a few children who were caught by the base as an antidote..."

  Everything is going on in an orderly manner, just wait for everything to be ready and start shooting.

   (end of this chapter)