Exploiting Hollywood 1980

  Chapter 713 The Treatment of Successful Hollywood Producers

  Hollywood is a Vanity Fair for handsome men and beautiful women, and a place for artists to realize their dreams, but in the final analysis, it is a business field.

  The earliest batch of studios, to avoid Edison's film patents, came from New York to California's Hollywood pioneers. At that time, the most important thing for studios was the photographer. A photographer who can take a shot that others can't, can sell for a lot of money.

  The diffusion of knowledge is rapid, and by the time all photographers can master the photography method, the screenwriter begins to become the most important money-making asset. A large number of screenwriters who couldn't make it on Broadway flooded into Hollywood and began to make some short plays with stories.

When the famous director David Griffiths innovatively used close-up shots and editing techniques, he began to connect the short plays with unique ideas and tell an hour-long story. At this time, he can control everyone's work. The director has become Hollywood's most reliant object.

But when Griffiths filmed "Party Dissent," which cost a record $400,000 in 1916, and ultimately failed at the box office, all studio owners understood that there was no such thing as any other industry. different.

   It is all about trying to figure out what the market likes, and then formulating a budget according to the market, inviting stars, directors, photographers, and screenwriters, and launching them into the market as a product.

  Beginning in the twenties, the producer began to become the most powerful person in a crew. From then on, the success of the producer is considered by Hollywood to be the most reliable success.

   Therefore, Ronald's titled producer, "The Family Has Evil Husband", showed his fangs in the second week. After the box office went up against the trend, everyone began to look at Ronald in a different way.

  The director of the Zach trio, who is famous for dense language, has transformed into a comedy film that focuses on the plot.

  The actors are all second- and third-tier supporting roles, and actresses who have been outdated. Putting these uncharacteristic people together suddenly became a dark horse at the box office. This ability to discover potential, untapped markets, and the ability to find a bunch of cheap actors but aggregate a high-quality gem, excites everyone.

From the ancient "Gone with the Wind" producer David O. Selznick to the "Chinatown", "Urban Cowboy" and other box-office box-office producer Robert Evans in the New Hollywood period, every time There are one or two producers with a particularly keen sense of smell, who can see through the fog of the market and go straight to the hearts of the audience.

Their successes all have a characteristic. They don’t repeat successful movie genres very much. They can reach the balance between good reviews and box office sales many times. Any script, if they look at it, may become a blockbuster that everyone is talking about. .

The resume of Ronald's previous co-producer of "Lightning Dance" and other movies was also turned up. Everyone suddenly found that Ronald was not only the director of blockbuster films, but also did a lot of production work. , feel that he may become the next Hollywood "Golden Boy".

   Just like the previous old golden boy, Robert Redford, no matter whether he is an actor, a director, or a producer, the first shot is the ceiling.

  Therefore, the number of calls received by two people suddenly increased rapidly.

   The first was Ronald's script assistant, David Simkins. He suddenly received a lot of good quality screenplays, and wanted Ronald's eyes to see if he could reach a production agreement.

  The other is Ronald's main agent in CAA, Nisita. Suddenly, the senior leaders of the seven major studios began to call him personally and offered to meet Ronald to "talk about the project". No matter what the subject is, no matter what actor is used, there is only one requirement, he must be a producer in addition to the director.

The first person    found was of course the publisher of "There are Evil Husbands", Touchstone Pictures, a subsidiary of Disney.

   Compared with other people, their mood is actually not so excited. Because Eisner understood that Ronald didn't really get involved in the production work, he just looked at the blueprint of the director team and interfered a little with the casting of the male and female supporting roles.

   However, a brilliant producer, doesn’t he just see the collaboration potential of the main creators?

"We are very satisfied that this kind of live-action film with small and medium production costs can achieve such unexpected box office results. Next we need to invest more in this type of film, Ronald. Whatever project you have, whether it is yourself The director, or find another director, we will give priority to release."

   Eisner promised Ronald over the phone.

   "I happen to have a project here, and I will submit it to Mr. Katzenberg." Ronald asked Eddie to prepare the project information for "Dancing Hot", and made an appointment to submit it to Touchstone Pictures

   "Very well, I'll take care of it myself."

   And then there was Ned Tanning of Paramount, who personally asked Ronald to talk in person.

   "Aha, Ronald, very good, very good, do you have the box office ranking in the newspaper that day? I prepared it for you, keep it well."

  Tanin came over and gave Ronald a gift, which was the top three newspaper pages in the box office that day, framed in a photo frame.

   "Haha, thanks a lot. My family will love it."

   "How is your new project?"

   "I signed with MGM." Ronald's "Moonlight Sultry" has chosen Weintraub, who has more confidence in himself.

   "I didn't mean that. I heard that you also bought the production rights of a movie? Have you considered releasing it in our Paramount?"

   "This project? It's a small investment, and Paramount rarely publishes it."

   "Nothing, as long as it is recommended by you, we can give priority to the evaluation, and we can also invest in small productions, right? You can also find stars to participate." Tanin didn't want to lose the film.

"Tsk, you didn't say it sooner. I've already talked to Disney's Touchstone. So, if they're not interested, I'll bring you the script again?" Ronald said deliberately, to give him a look .

   "Ah, that's right, that's right, it's you who cooperated with the villains." Ned Tanin drank coffee to cover up. This kind of genius producer Miaozi's project was submitted to the touchstone, how could they still release it? You might as well think of other ways.

   "What other scripts do you have here, but don't forget Paramount. Speaking of your first co-producer film, it was Paramount's 'Lightning Dance'."

   "I don't have a new script for the time being, but my script assistant David said that several excellent scripts have been submitted to Daydream. I have new ideas, and I must contact you first."

   is almost the same, and you don't have to get too stiff with the Paramount family.

   Ronald felt that maintaining a good relationship with several distributors and maintaining a healthy competitive situation would be beneficial to his future production business.

   This trick was learned by him and Spielberg.

   "You...you can...I really misunderstood. Your production and negotiation skills are even more surprising than your directing skills." Ned Tanin drank his coffee again.

   "I didn't actually do much work, Jerry Zucker was the lead on this movie project." Ronald told the truth.

   "Humility is a virtue, and that's what I like about you." How could Ned Tanning believe it.

"I love working with you the most, Ronald. From your earliest 'Fast-Paced Richmond High School', you've been a good director who respects the producers and respects the distributors. What we ask of directors is actually It's simple, on time, on quality, and within budget.

   It seems that you have had a producer's heart since then. We are actually very tolerant of directors. You see Zemeckis, the director of Back to the Future. He changed the villain's name to mine because he was dissatisfied with my evaluation. Actually, I am not angry at all.

   To be able to leave a footprint in this landmark movie, I'm not really an antique, right.

  You can rest assured, as long as it is the project you brought, I will personally ask it and pass it first. "

  Ned Tanin actually has nothing to do with Ronald. In this situation, he can only lower his body, talk good things, and hope that he can get one or two good projects.

   Actions are stronger than all sweet words.

  Universal's new president, squinting Tom Pollack, had a different strategy, and he acted first.

   "Ronald, the heroine of 'The Secret of Success' has a problem, we caught Christie McNichol for drug abuse, she's mentally unstable and has a psychiatric record.

  So we have to change roles. Director Herbert Ross and I both think that Helen Slater is the best performer in the audition. Please help to say a few good words and let Helen come to the rescue. "

   These words made Ronald very emotional, Tom Pollack's wrist is very high. Christie McNichol's problem, the director and the producer may not have known before choosing her, this is a relatively common problem in Hollywood.

   And use this use to get rid of her, ask Ronald's person, Helen Slater, to replace her as the heroine, and also say that Ronald can help persuade her, this is to send a gift to the door and thank him for trying it out.

   Without saying a word, Ronald also has to accept his love. For any future projects, cooperation with Universal is also due.

The    trick is old, but useful.

   Helen rushed to Ronald's house, "Ronnie, Ronnie, Ronnie, Ronnie..." She hugged and kissed his face when they met.

   "I'm so happy, you helped me steal the heroine, didn't you? Uh...uh..."

   "Can you play this role well?" Ronald asked seriously looking into the beauty's eyes.

"I...I'm not so sure. I've always wanted to play this role and read the script. But since last time, I've always felt that there's a big problem with my acting. Of course I've been practicing with Helen Hunt recently, There has also been a big improvement.

   I can't say I can do the best, but I will try my best. "

   "I'm relieved if you say that." Ronald knew that Helen's acting skills could not improve by leaps and bounds. As long as he had self-knowledge and knew the direction of his efforts, he wouldn't spoil the whole movie, so there would be no big problem. Anyway, in this role, youth and beauty are the most important things.

   "Then there's only one thing left..."

   "What's the matter?" Helen stared at Ronald with wide eyes.

   "You kissed Michael Fox..."

   "Hee hee hee, I know, there is a height gap between me and him, and I will use various methods to make up for it. It must be borrowed by then, you can rest assured."

   "Really? How to borrow?"

   "That's it", Helen gave Ronald a big kiss on the corner of Ronald's mouth, shot from an oblique rear angle, it looked exactly the same as the real kiss.

   "Uh...uh...this is not a borrow" Helen was hugged by Ronald, and her lips moved slowly together.

   "Well... it's still really comfortable to kiss."

   (end of this chapter)