Exploiting Hollywood 1980

   Chapter 412 Karate Martial Arts

Jerry Weintraub was a Jew who came from a poor background, and he tried to think and do it. He called Elvis's agent day after day for more than a year, and finally persuaded Elvis to retire. He made a comeback in the state, held a national tour, and earned his first pot of gold.

He later became the touring promoter of the famous Hollywood "RatPack" boss Frank Sinatra and Bob Dylan. In addition to the Carpenters, the Beach Boys Organizing and planning large-scale concerts for bands, etc.

   In addition to that, he was the manager of the famous singer John Denver. But his most famous single management business is that of his wife, Jane Morgan.

  The famous songstress, who is thirteen years his senior, rolled onto the bed two hours after meeting Jerry Weintraub for the first time. Soon Jane Morgan divorced her husband and married Weintraub.

   This is Jerry Weintraub, a shrewd, greedy, street smart, but friendly Jewish businessman with many friends.

   Ronald came to Jerry Weintraub's mansion in Beverly Hills. On one side of the huge living room is a large floor-to-ceiling window with a bird's-eye view of the mountain. The customized leather sofa is very large. Jerry Weintraub is sitting on it, a tall man with a typical Jewish big nose and a shrewd face. look.

   "Honey, I won't bother you with business." Jane Morgan got up from the sofa and went to the other room.

   "Mr. Weintraub, I wonder what story you want me to write through Mr. Frank Price?"

   "It seems Frank didn't lie to me, you are indeed a gifted, capable young man." Jerry Weintraub stood up and shook his hand. Growing up in the Bronx, New York, he has an extraordinary intuition. No matter who he is, as long as he meets him, he can quickly distinguish whether it is a friend or an enemy. This intuition allows him to weather the storm. Become a music tycoon.

"I used to be called the film 'Nashville' directed by Altman, but I really got into the film industry and made a film, which was 'Diner' which was released last year. With a budget of five million, I finally got a Fourteen million box office results.

   At the beginning, the distributors were not optimistic about the film, and even fell asleep while watching the film. I threatened them to buy the film and distribute it myself, and they began to pay attention to it, and finally made a lot of profit.

   This has made me very interested in the film industry. I feel that many Hollywood producers have lost their judgment on audience tastes and trends, so I want to try it out. "

  Ronald listened quietly, Weintraub was clearly a man with a very large ego, and he had to lead any conversation. Especially in the face of a young director like Ronald, in his opinion, it is better for him to understand the mysteries of movies. If it weren't for the fact that I didn't know how to write movie scripts, I needed an expert to do it...

   "Frank recommended you to me, I also checked your resume, and you participated in the recent "Lightning Dance", I am very satisfied. Because the story I want to shoot is also an adaptation of a true story that was published in the newspaper."

  "Get it for me", Jerry Weintraub handed Ronald the wine glass in his hand, then got up and looked for a while on the huge desk, and took out a copy of the newspaper.

"I've been paying attention to the news, and there are great opportunities there. The day my wife and I went to see 'The Flash Dance,' this story caught my attention." Weintraub handed a copy Ronald.

   Ronald took it and read it, the story of a kid who was constantly being beaten by gangster bullies on his block. His mother was a single mother, and after begging her, he went to train in Karate.

  After a long-term training by a Dongying instructor, he has the fighting ability in actual combat. He eventually won the local karate competition. Because of the ability of self-defense, the gangster who beat him took the initiative to apologize, and no one dared to bully him again.

"My biggest feeling about learning karate is that once I learn how to protect myself, I don't have to hit others with karate in my life. Martial arts is not for bullying others, but for self-defense." At the end of the interview, the child said, Said such a sentence.

   "Do you think it's possible to expand this little martial arts story into a movie script?" Jerry Weintraub stared into Ronald's eyes and asked a question.

"I'm afraid I'm still a little weak, and I need to add different elements, Mr. Weintraub," Ronald said, "The core of the story here is actually a weak boy who uses martial arts to defeat the enemy and himself. It's our favorite story in America."

  In the context of America, Karate is not only the karate of the East, but the Jeet Kune Do of the Chinese Bruce Lee can also be classified into the category of Karate, as long as the skills of fighting without weapons and bare-handed are counted. So in fact the scope of this term can be extended to all karate martial arts.

"But this story alone is not easy to move the audience and develop characters. I think that since I am a young man, I definitely need a romantic love. Martial arts kill two birds with one stone here, which not only helps him defeat bullies, but also helps him win the favor of beautiful women. "

   Ronald simply took out his pen and drew a diagram on the back of the copy.

   "And this karate gym also needs a mentor to teach this young man the role of a master. Coupled with some villains that need to be defeated, so that a solid story can be formed."

   Ronald certainly doesn't want to make R-rated exploitative films all his life, so he keeps watching classic Hollywood movies, especially studying the works of master screenwriter Billy Wilder. He also figured out a little way for himself, so it seemed very convincing to talk in front of Jerry Weintraub.

"You know what? You just convinced me that I'm willing to hire you to help me write the script for this movie." Jerry Weintraub respects people with professional abilities. He always pays attention to the key points and details. Hand it over to someone who is more capable. Hearing Ronald's words, although he didn't quite understand it, it was obvious that Ronald knew how to write a script.

   "Thank you for your trust, Mr. Weintraub." Ronald was delighted and ate another two hundred thousand dollars.

   "Call me Jerry, Ronald. Would you like some brandy too?" Jerry Weintraub was very happy after confirming the screenwriter after the interview. He took out another glass and poured a glass for Ronald.

   "This is the first time I started planning a movie from a story. Before, others came to me with the script. What help do you need? You can mention it."

   "I think I need some advance payment and I can do some research. I myself practice high school wrestling, and I know a little Chinese wrestling, which is also an ancient skill.

  In addition, karate flourished in America in the 1970s, but with the death of Bruce Lee, it gradually declined. I would find some friends who know karate and study the moves carefully.

   You know this kind of kung fu film, in fact, just like musicals, you have to design good-looking movements in advance to make the film look good. Some moves are useful, but they don't look good in front of the camera. Some moves have no real effect, but are very visual in front of the camera. "

   "I'll listen to you, let your agent talk to me about the signing."

   The two clink glasses.

"Do you know why I like this story? Because I admire the Dongying people. Their management skills and hard work are amazing. It's like karate, which is fast, direct, and powerful." Jerry Winterlow Bo put down his wine glass and took two hits like Bruce Lee did.

"Actually, karate didn't originate in the East, it's a karate martial art from Ryukyu. And this kind of martial arts was passed down from China." Ronald played several times in a karate gym in Los Angeles before, and chatted with the coach. Have a lot of karate history and techniques.

   By the way, that coach is no longer in that gym, try to find a way to chat with him, maybe we can learn more details. What's his name, he has to go back and look for his business card.

   "Very good, that's what I want to see in the movie, historical, ancient, mysterious, one hit." Jerry Weintraub got happier as he talked.

   "But now we still have to make this master a Dongying. Now when the American people talk about the Dongying, they are amazing, admired, and scared. We have to use this emotion and set him as a Dongying. That's the truth."

   "Jerry, you may not know that Ryukyu is the ancient name of Okinawa. We just let the master be born there, which is also in line with the historical facts of karate."

   "Very good," Jerry Weintraub gulped down the brandy.

   Ronald, who returned home, began to rummage through the business cards he had accumulated over the years. Finally, in the corner of a shoebox, I found the karate coach Daryl Vidal, who I used to practice with.

"Do me a favor, Richard, look for this guy. He's a karate instructor. He used to have a gym in Venice Beach, Los Angeles, but moved out a few years ago. Maybe you can learn about him from the Karate Association. information."

   Ronald went to CAA and left the job of tracing people to his agent Richard.

  Nisita has already signed the contract and came with a check for $20,000 in advance.

   Ronald thanked and took it.

   "Do you know who wrote the script for First Blood 2?" Nisita asked with a smile.

"Who?"

   "Your friend Jim Cameron. Stallone heard about his reputation for that robot script and thought of him."

   "Hahaha, just right, he is short of money, I will give him a call."

  …

   Jim Cameron originally received the scriptwriting business of the "Alien" sequel script, and his own "Terminator" needs to be constantly revised and improved, and he is very busy at home. This time, the third script character has also come, and now he is even more busy.

   Now he puts the three scripts in different positions, and then sets the time. Each script is allocated four hours a day, and then the script writing and revision are broken down. Every time the time comes, he will change the position to continue writing.

   "Jim, I brought you something." Ronald handed Cameron a copy of the materials he had written.

   "What's this?" Gale helped.

   "When I wrote the first blood 2, I wrote some plots and ideas. You can use it as you see it."

   "Oh, I don't know how to thank you, I was already very busy, and now I have another book."

   "You don't rest either."

   "Hey, I have to support my family, and Sarah has agreed to divorce me, and I still have to pay alimony." Jim whispered.

   "Then look at the handle. Stallone also fell out with me anyway. Just don't let him know it was my idea."

"then you?"

   "Me? Don't worry, I've found another job."

   (end of this chapter)