Exploiting Hollywood 1980

   Chapter 514 Stay away from the Rat Gang

   "Ronald, have you returned to Los Angeles? Come to my house, I'm looking for you."

   Weintraub, the producer of "Longwei Kid", called this day and asked Ronald to come to the house for a talk.

   Weintraub also lived with his wife, Jane Morgan, who bought a small house for his wife, Susan Atkins, and used to live there sometimes, basically living a double-family life.

   "Did you go to Mad Woman Shirley MacLean's birthday party?"

  Weintraub invited Ronald to come this time mainly to remind him.

   "I have to warn you, don't have more contact with this person, otherwise you will also be disliked by the mainstream Hollywood."

   "I was her boyfriend on Oscar day, and then I went to her birthday party." Ronald felt that Weintraub was making a fuss.

   "I've been dealing with them long enough that you may not know some history. Do you know the Hollywood RatPack?"

  It turns out that the Rat Gang is a small gang of Hollywood actors and singers, inherited from the ancient Humphrey Bogart era. After Bogart's death, the leader of the Rat Gang became Frank Sinatra. Also Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and others.

   They are notorious for being a womanizer and drinking too much. Because Sinatra performs in Las Vegas all the year round, it is also deeply related to gambling.

  Shirley MacLean had long been a female member of the Rat Gang and had a close relationship with them.

"I'm Frank Sinatra's concert manager, but I never hang out with them. If you get the name of the Rat Gang, you'll have a bad reputation in Hollywood." Weintraub pointed to Luo Nader said.

   "I only went to a party once in a while, and if that's the case, I won't go anymore."

Weintraub nodded, "I'm not alarming. They drink and pick up girls in Las Vegas and Hollywood all year round. Many beautiful Hollywood actresses are passed on by them. Although their power is great, they are in Hollywood. There are many enemies."

   "It's not that exaggerated, is it?"

"I just remind you that the Rat Gang has been based in Las Vegas for a long time. Especially the Macleans and the girls who have been with them for a long time, and now believe in aliens and mysticism, if you don't believe in these, you'd better get along with them. They keep their distance."

   "I see. Just going to her birthday party and getting to know some people in the New York film industry."

   "That's good, our movie has already received a PG rating from MPAA. Columbia said that the national premiere will be initially scheduled on June 22nd..."

   The two chatted about the release of "Longwei Kid" again, and Ronald left.

   "Rick, is there something wrong with the Rat Gang? Weintraub specifically told me not to get too close to McLean." Ronald still felt inappropriate when he got home and called his agent, Nisita.

   "The Rat Gang, they have long been based in Las Vegas, and Frank Sinatra had a deep connection with him and the gang forces there very early on.

   These people get money and get women, and their reputation is not very good. As for McLean, she used to help the Rat Gang find fresh women to fill their harem. "

"what?"

   "But they've been out of the Hollywood spotlight for a long time. Maybe Weintraub knows something new? He's an old slick, you heard him right."

   Ronald, who hung up the phone, understood a little in his heart. No wonder Shirley MacLean keeps introducing him to beauties in the film industry. Does this treat yourself as a new rat gang?

   Anyway, let Diane stay away from her!

Diane who received the call was still carefree, "I know, what are you afraid of, I can't go to sleep on the red sofa because of the role. Besides, the final version was finally cut out on Rage Street, and I haven't lost yet. Next month I have to go to LA for a marketing event for the movie and get in touch later.”

  Diane was pretty clean, but another beauty, Natasha Kinski, came to Ronald uninvited. She called Ronald to introduce her and Konchalovsky to Cannonball executives, hoping to find a distributor for their new film, "Maria's Lovers."

   On this day, Ronald was in the office of Cannonball Pictures, and the three leading actors of "Breakdance" had a meeting with Minahan to discuss the arrangement of marketing activities before and after the release.

"We're going to premiere on May 4th, in theaters in the early 1,000s across the country. We'll meet the audience at the premiere theater in Los Angeles that day. Then we'll go to Chicago, and New York. After that, the three of you will continue to play in your respective theaters. When I go to a fan meeting in a big city, Ronald and I go to the Cannes Film Festival with me.”

  Meinahan took out the timetable and handed it over.

   Ronald himself asked to participate in the overseas film sales process of Meinahan, and he would go to Cannes with him.

  The three leading actors are chatting there, they are all from poor backgrounds, and many of the cities on the list have never been to.

   "Why aren't you too happy?" Ronald looked at the black man among the three, and the bougainvillea prawn was a little listless.

   "Hey, I'm disappointed. MJ's Pepsi commercial with 'Billie Jean' music didn't feature me and Falcon's choreographic signature."

   "No way? Did you make a mistake?" Lucinda Dickey asked kindly.

"Not only is it not in the commercials, but even his latest TV music MV doesn't have my name. His improved spacewalk, you can tell it's mine at a glance, and the way the east coast's 'crazy legs' exerts power Totally different. And Falcon's pop mechanical dance, he took it too."

   "What's going on? Didn't you sign a contract? You can file a complaint with the union." Ronald saw that Bogalo Prawn also encountered the same problems he encountered when he first entered the industry.

   "Isn't it fair, why don't you let your agent negotiate with them? No, you can find the actors' union, or the choreographer. The choreographer's union should be affiliated with the truckers' union. They have a lot of energy."

  Prawn Bougallo shook his head, "My agent advised me to take monetary compensation. There is no clause in our contract that must be signed. He said that it is also very troublesome to file a lawsuit."

   "But it's a pity that you don't have a signature, otherwise you can enter the industry right away and make a career as a choreographer for movies."

  Big Prawn Bugalo didn't say anything, and only said after a long time, "He is the idol and hero of our black people. I didn't expect that he didn't even have this kind of bearing."

   "I'm afraid it is precisely because of the black hero's status as an idol that he can't expose the flaw that his breakdance movements are not original." Ronald touched his chin, I am afraid this is the real reason why MJ is reluctant to let them sign.

   "It doesn't matter, the 'Break Dance' starring you will be released soon, and it will be as popular as ever." Ronald comforted the black guy.

   "Don't talk about me, how are you guys preparing? Lucinda, have you learned to backspin?" After all, Bougallo was young, and when Ronald said it, he immediately regained a good mood.

   "Of course," Lucinda simply showed them a standard backspin on the floor of the office.

   "Oh," Ronald took the lead in applauding her, "This trick was used at the audience meeting, wouldn't it make the audience scream."

   "Of course, I'm also a professional dancer." Lucinda glanced at Sabado, and if she had time to practice, she would be no worse than him.

   "However, I may only be able to roadshow until the end of July, if breakdance is still in theaters at that time. Then I will go to see my good friend perform at the Olympics."

   Lucinda Dickie is talking about her friend who was selected for the Olympic gymnastics America team. "This time, the Solvay Alliance is very strong. They did not boycott the Olympics. My friend needs me to encourage her."

  "Ronald", Minahan came over and asked him to come over, "What happened to your friend Miss Kinsky's movie? Did she invest it herself? How's the quality?"

   "I heard that her friend invested in it, but I haven't seen it. But the director is Andrei Konchalovsky of the Souvelle Union."

   "Oh? It's him?" Minahan said that he was very familiar with his name, "When can I invite them to chat?"

   "I'll call her, but I don't know the quality of the film, you have to measure it yourself."

   Natasha Kinski's actions are fast, and the investment of her friend is very difficult to be honest. She brought Konchalovsky to Los Angeles to find Ronald.

  Ronald took them, and the copy they had brought from the plane, and went to Menahan to try it out.

   "What do you think?" After reading it, Minahan asked the two creators to go out first. He first asked Ronald for his opinion.

   "The filming is very good, the audio-visual language is very good, Andre is indeed a master. But watching the plot of this movie, it is not like the type that can be popular in America."

   "That is to say, it is possible to gain favor in Europe?" Minahan thought.

   "Well, it's possible." Ronald thought for a while.

  Don't say it, this idea does have the possibility of being established. The quality of the film itself is not bad. American audiences don't like this kind of tangled and humanistic story, but in Europe, especially those film festivals, maybe the judges' eyes happen to like this kind of green hat story?

   "Cannes is too late. I will try the Venice Film Festival later. It happens that I have a good relationship with their film pickers. I think if I can get selected, I can pay for this film."

   "Think for yourself", Ronald knew nothing about awards.

"I've been very busy lately, and I'm busy releasing Ronald's blockbuster, going to the Cannes Film Festival. I've seen your films, it's hard to show in America, but there's a market in Europe, if you want, I You can pay to buy the copyright, at least you won't lose money."

   After Minahan went out, he immediately shared his thoughts with the two creators.

   Konchalovsky is already very satisfied. Coming from the alliance, it is a pleasant surprise to be able to make the first feature film in such a short period of time, and possibly send it to Europe for release.

  Natasha Kinski is a little suspicious, she still wants to release it in America, and her friends can get a share of the income to earn a little bit, so that the favor she owes can be repaid.

   She said on the spot that she would have to consider it for a while.

   "Yes, you can find me as soon as possible within a week."

  Natasha Kinski has been negotiating with her agent for a long time, but she is still not willing to just sell the film rights. A few days later, she called Minahan again.

   "I still want to go with the usual distribution model, because I want to be able to go to theaters in America as well."

   "Think about it for yourself, that's our proposal." Minahan wasn't there, and his cousin Yoram answered the phone.

  Natasha Kinski realized that she had no negotiating advantage at hand, and she had no choice but to seek Ronald to clear up the relationship.

  Meinahan has been ignoring his "Maria's Lovers" for the past few days in order to be busy with Ronald's movie release.

   In just a few days, she saw Ronald's influence once again. She dug out the audition photos Ronald took for her from the suitcase and watched it for a long time.

   "It's not a loss for me." Kinsky dug out Ronald's phone and called.

   "Ronald, I want to invite you to dinner. We haven't seen you for a long time. I didn't expect you to realize your dream and become a Hollywood director..."

"Is that Miss Kinsky?" There was a strange man on the other side of the phone, "I'm Ronald's manager Richard, he's going to the premiere roadshow of 'Breakdance', all calls have been forwarded I'm here, if you have anything, you can leave a message."

   "I...I want to congratulate him on the release of his new movie..."

   (end of this chapter)