Exploiting Hollywood 1980

  Chapter 686 Real-life fighting between the top executives of the world

  Ronald knew nothing about Tanin's little moves.

  He and Nisita are busy preparing for the new film "The Secret of Success" directed by Universal President Frank Price.

  This movie is actually not a pure commercial movie. It is a rare commercial war movie in Hollywood, but it is mixed with a lot of love between men and women, and the plot of the small person counterattack.

   In addition to the adaptation of Spielberg's personal experience, the climax of the film is the acquisition and anti-acquisition process of a large listed retail company. This part attracted Ronald, who did his homework and went to Wall Street to interview many fund managers and lawyers who were engaged in mergers and acquisitions.

   In addition, Ronald is drawn to the ubiquitous sense of humor in the script. Including those executives who are ignorant, running on the roof of the building every day for fitness, and eating a lot of dietary supplements, Ronald can't help but laugh.

   In a large organization, no one knows who you are, you can pretend to be someone, and the core of the story that you attend high-level meetings without being seen through, also makes Ronald feel very real. Today's large enterprises, with the scale of tens of thousands of people, may indeed be exploited by liars and not be discovered.

"The so-called 'aunt' of the protagonist must find a coquettish middle-aged actress, otherwise the whole story will not be convincing. We can try the most sought-after Kim Basinger. See if she has a schedule and interest .

   In addition to the vase role that Helen wanted to play, I considered using the height difference between her and Fox to persuade her to give up. Hey, it's really troublesome..."

  Ronald is also a star director now, and most producers have to hold their own, so many privileges that were previously unavailable can now be used to the fullest.

  If you want that actress, just contact me. If you don't want an actress, someone will help you deal with it.

   "The video of the model you want is here, which one do you like?" Nisita took out a lot of videotapes from a large box and put them into the machine to show Ronald.

The beginning of    "The Secret of Success" is the scene where the protagonist Brantley was shocked and opened his eyes when he first arrived in New York from rural Kansas.

  Here’s a shot of him seeing a row of fashion models on Fifth Avenue, greeting them, but being ignored. A good depiction of what a country boy would look like in New York City.

  Ronald proposed to use real models for the shoot, so Nisita contacted a model agency and found a batch of fledgling models for him to choose.

   "This is not bad, it looks very distinctive, and looks like a model." Ronald saw a good one.

   "Paulina Porizkova, Czechoslovakian immigrant. You have a good eye."

   Ronald glanced at Nisita.

   "I mean her swimsuit was on the cover of GQ magazine and she's very famous."

  The competition of female models in the fashion industry may be even fiercer than that of Hollywood actresses. Therefore, the selection of this film can give them extra points for their modeling career, so it is no secret that some models are willing to exchange themselves for a chance to appear on the camera.

   Ronald is not prejudiced, but he is afraid that the model he finds is not beautiful enough, and the opening is not powerful enough to shock the audience, so he insists on choosing himself.

   "This one is also good, very photogenic."

   "Linda Evangelista (Linda Evangelista), Canadian model, but she has been fancy by Chanel, she needs a little wrist and salary to sign her."

   "Well, I think it's good, she can try it if she wants." Ronald felt that this one also looked like a fashion model.

   "Look at me." Nisita seemed to understand something.

   "This one is not bad, this mole looks very charming." Ronald finally took a fancy to a model with a mole on the corner of his mouth.

   "Cindy Crawford, it's an authentic homegrown. Just signed with Elite Modeling New York." Nisita found her name on the catalog.

   "I think these guys are good, you guys recommend the others."

   "Okay..." Nisita hurriedly wrote down Ronald's choice. Except for Linda Evangelista, these three were not difficult to win.

   For the remaining places, you can do your own favor.

   "Let's go to Universal's office and talk to Frank Price, don't let him wait for us." Nisita looked at her watch, and the next itinerary was to go to Universal and report the results to Mr. President.

   One of the benefits of being a popular director is that you can find the best technical experts in Hollywood to work with.

  Ronald has made two big hits in a row. Seeing that the third "Longwei Kid 2" is about to be released, except for a few first-line stars, almost anyone who wants to cooperate can be found to cooperate.

   In addition to the director of photography for him to choose this time, the art director is the famous Polly Platt.

   She is the ex-wife of Peter Bogdanovich, a famous director. Halfway through the filming of "The Last Movie," husband Bogdanovich abandoned her to move in with lead actress Sybill Sheppard.

   After she got into trouble, it was Ronald's former boss, Roger Coleman, who offered her a job to get her back on her feet to raise her children.

Polly Platt was the art director of the Oscar-winning film "Mother and Daughter Love," and wrote the script for Brooke Shields' debut feature, "Beautiful Babies." Ronald has always wanted to work with the legendary art director. Cooperation, this time finally got what you wanted.

   In addition, for the soundtrack, he also named John Williams, the composer of the Star Wars, Jaws, and Superman series.

   These people have a characteristic, they are rare among technical experts, and their names are big names known by outsiders. Ronald also plans to hire Walter Murch to be his editor. In this way, I can get rid of the heavy editing work, just be a bystander and advisor, and maybe I can learn two tricks from Murch.

  Nisita personally drove the cash cow to the Universal Studios office next to Universal Studios.

   Ronald took over this movie, and his faction in CAA could put a lot of actors in it. There are many supporting roles, such as the protagonist's uncle, if Helen does not play the vacated heroine, there are also many important supporting roles, such as the friend of the protagonist in the reception room, etc.

   "Please wait a moment. Mr. Price is watching the preview. He was supposed to be waiting for you. There may be some delays."

  Frank Price's secretary is a middle-aged woman who is as unassuming as her boss, treats Ronald with great respect, and specially makes Ronald's favorite black tea as a treat.

   "Okay, it's okay, Mr. Price is the benefactor who pulled me out, I should wait for him. I don't know what movie he is watching? Is it convenient to disclose?"

   Ronald asked curiously.

   "It's the new George Lucas movie, I wanted to see it too. If it's good, I'll take my daughter to see it."

   "Sorry to disturb your arrangement."

   "Hahaha, Mr. Li, this is my job. I've never seen such a big-name director who is as unpretentious as you."

  Drinking black tea and eating snacks, Ronald didn't expect it to be Lucas' new movie.

   At that time, Diane Lane went to audition, but unfortunately she couldn't really sing and lost to Leigh Thompson. If it's an internal preview now, it looks like it will be released in August anyway.

It's better not to crash with your own Top Gun, and the two sequels of Longwei Kid. Lucas' lightsaber is too sharp. His Star Wars and Indiana Jones series are really box office harvesters. Whoever touches whoever dies.

   Fortunately, they are aiming at the very center of the summer season, and they are not very competitive with themselves. Presumably at the movie order fair in Las Vegas, Paramount and Universal had negotiated schedules for several high-profile big productions.

   Looking at it this way, there is still a gap between myself and a real big-name director like Lucas and Spielberg. At least the Seventh University did not dare to use themselves to fight the two of them head-on.

   Fortunately, friend Paul Hogan's "Crocodile Dundee" also avoided the limelight of his new film, and no one wants to meet him head-on.

   "By the way, what's the name of Lucas' new film?" Ronald couldn't remember a little, he also promised Lucas to attend the premiere in return for the other party's participation in the premiere of Top Gun.

"It's Howard Duck, don't forget it when you meet Price, this is their biggest project this year. Lucas made a duck with special effects, an alien who came to earth and fell in love with a rock star... …”

   "Mmmm, thank you." Ronald quickly made up for the plot so that he wouldn't be unable to catch up.

   "Mr. Li, Mr. Nisita..." The secretary came over and called the two of them. Frank Price seemed to have finished watching the internal preview and was walking towards his office from the next theater.

Next to him seems to be another acquaintance of Ronald, who had helped his Universal parent company, the senior leader of Gulf West, Sidney Simberg in his debut novel "Fast-paced Richmond High School". gentlemen.

  Ronald straightened his clothes and tie, this time with two global talkers, and he had to maintain the respect. If there were people in the Big Seven studios that Ronald had to listen to, these two were without a doubt the most important.

   "DxmnIt! Who gave the green light back then?" Simberg walked behind, his face under the gray hair, his face was downcast, and he cursed as he approached the office.

"Sidney, what do you mean? At the beginning, you insisted on winning Lucas." Frank Price was also in a bad mood, and the nasolabial lines on his face were deeper, hearing Simberg If so, he ignored Ronald, who was waiting for him in the office, and turned back to argue with Simberg.

  "Me?" Simberg's face sank, and he pushed his large square glasses, "I just said to pay attention to win Lucas, and did not directly instruct to take down this Howard Duck."

   "We gotta get him, Frank. He's the most profitable producer and director of the next decade. Don't you make the mistake of letting the ET aliens go in Colombia again...Aren't you going to admit what you said?"

  Price's face was gloomy.

   This "Howard Duck" film is very bad. The protagonist is a duck who has been a special effect model. The audience doesn't like such a protagonist at all, and his character is not pleasing.

  The story of the whole movie is chaotic, and the **** scene played by Leigh Thompson with the duck is a disaster. Frank almost cried and laughed at the scene.

A movie like    must have been a disaster for Universal. The production cost of nearly 40 million, coupled with the inevitable announcement cost of 20 million, has basically booked this year's global financial report, which is very ugly.

   Now at this stall, Simberg is actually going to shirk his responsibility and say that he is the one who gave the green light?

   "What do you mean? Frank? We're in the same boat, the movie is sinking, and we're both going to die."

   "So you asked me to take responsibility for the sinking of the Titanic? Then you escaped in a lifeboat yourself?" Price also tore his face and waved his fist at Simberg.

   "Don't lose your mind. You are the president of Universal. Of course, you are responsible for such a big investment in a movie."

   "Okay, you really have the idea of ​​letting me take the blame, you Jewish guy! Traitor! Judas!"

   "You have to calm down, Frank, take back your words, I can pretend that I didn't hear..." Simberg also rolled up his sleeves... to show that he was not a weak chicken either.

   "Ahhh..." Simberg was quickly slapped on the face.

   "You old bastard..." He also threw a punch, but unfortunately missed.

   "You Jewish guy, you are all such bastards. When you encounter something, you pass it on to others, and when you encounter benefits, you do it yourself."

  Ronald and Nisita were stunned by the side. These are Universal, the two most powerful old men in the seven major Hollywood studios. How did they stage a live-action fight?

   "Come and help, Ronald, and Mr. Nisita." The middle-aged secretary saw that his boss was fighting with his immediate boss, and hurriedly called for help.

   "Uh..." Ronald rushed up and hugged Price, who punched again. Nisita went to Ratzenberger.

  Frank Price was hugged by Ronald, unable to reach Simberg. He was so angry that he couldn't hit with his fists, so he raised his leg and kicked Simberg.

   "Ouch", Simberg hit in the thigh, and a swing punch also hit Price in the face.

   "Quick, separate them."

   Ronald hurriedly hugged Price and pulled him away, "Calm down, Mr. Price, calm down!"

   "Be careful, Mr. Simberg, don't let others see it." Nisita understands the minds of these executives better, and fights on the spot. If this is seen and spread, it will become a laughing stock.

   But it didn't work as expected. The two people's movements were too loud, which has alarmed many senior managers in the office and their secretaries.

   They went out to inquire one by one, and when they saw that the two bosses were doing it, they immediately retracted in embarrassment, hoping that God would bless them and not be recognized by the two bosses.

   "Calm down, I'll come back tomorrow." Simberg took the lead to calm down. He threw his hands to the elevator, preparing to go back to his office.

   "You have to calm down, Mr. Price." Ronald scratched his head, not knowing what to say.

   "I'm very calm, these Jews from Eastern Europe are like snakes and scorpions, lying on America's body to **** blood. I'm sorry Ronald, I've hurt you."

   "No way? Mr. Simberg won't take anger at me, will he?" Ronald thought, wouldn't he be so stingy?

"No," Price calmed down and shook his head, "Simberg isn't so stingy. But this time, and the fact that Lucas' new film is doomed to fail at the box office, I'm leaving soon. The secret of this success is no longer under my watch, and the person who takes over is most likely to be angry with Simberg and embarrass you."

   "Sorry", Frank Price simply began to organize his things, he gave no hope, and was ready to submit his resignation as soon as possible.

   "Uh... this... no way, if I make a good movie, I have nothing to lose to him, right?"

"Do you think Simberg can continue to maintain his position in Gulf West, the parent company of Universal, after this fiasco? He is right about one thing, this time it is very likely that he will also leave with me. For the sake of If he is not tied to me, he can do anything."

   Ronald and Nisita looked at each other, what's the matter?

   (end of this chapter)