Exploiting Hollywood 1980

   Chapter 726 Looking for the location

"We're Daydream Pictures, calling you from New York, we want to chat with you, the latest Ronald Lee movie...yes, the director of 'Top Gun',...wait a minute, We're not liars. Not..."

   "Ah... ah ah" Donna started a summer job at Ronald's Daydream Pictures. She was often accused of being a liar.

   "Don't do this, Donna. It's normal to be rejected in this line of work. You have to throw away those bad emotions and continue to make another phone call." A female employee who seemed to have some experience came to comfort Donna, who was regarded as a liar.

   "Thank you, Dolly." Donna recovered and went to make a cup of coffee to sort out her emotions.

  Dolly Bellingstein, is a proficiency recruited from Colombia by Cannold, who is in charge of the distribution. Said to be a skilled person, in fact, she does not have much experience, but she is better than others to understand the industry, and she is willing to work hard.

"Hello, is this Mr. Thomas Stephenson from the Hollywood chain in New Jersey? I'm Donna Parker from Daydream Pictures and I'm on the phone to talk to you about Ronald Lee's next movie. The release of the work." Donna sorted her mind and continued to make phone calls from the directory.

   "Hey, it's me. I met Ronald at the Las Vegas show. Why isn't his next movie released by Big Seven?"

"Ah, thank you for believing in me." Donna finally met a theater owner who didn't have a liar she was a liar, "Ronald's next film is a small production, about a Jewish man from a wealthy family in 1963. A love story between a girl of American descent and a poor Irish dancer boy. For various reasons, Ronald decided to release the film himself."

   "I'm very interested, you have my fax, right? You can send me the brief introduction of the project."

   "Yes!" Donna shouted happily after finally talking about a visionary theater owner.

  …

   "Yes, yes, yes yes, these are the songs, yes."

   At this time, Ronald, in the office next door, found Eleanor, the screenwriter of "Dancing Hot", and began to ask her what she thought of each scene in the script.

   This semi-autobiographical script, no one knows better than Eleanor what the movie she wants to make is like.

  Two people chatting scene by scene, confirming the appearance of each place, background, utensils, and even the music used at the dance party one by one.

  Eleanor posted a note to each scene in the script, and wrote down the soundtrack she wanted. They are all old songs from the 1950s and 1960s, and in addition, there are a few new songs.

   She also specially found a list of all the episodes she thought should be used, ripped it from the record to a blank tape, wrote "Eleanor's hot dance episode" on it, and gave it to Ronald.

   Ronald took out the tape recorder and listened to it, which matched the episode in his dream, and immediately cried out happily.

   "Very good, that's what it tastes like." Ronald was delighted and put together the tape and song list.

   "There are more than 20 songs in total." Ronald counted.

   "Why, do you think you use too many old songs?" Eleanor was very happy when she saw that her movie had been approved. She felt Ronald's respect for her original screenwriter. In addition to the transfer fee of the production rights, there is also a small part of the profit, which makes her feel good and tries her best to help Ronald's production process.

   "No, were these old songs very popular in the past?" Ronald asked.

   "Then, of course, this was a regular on the charts when I was young. Otherwise I wouldn't be writing, just play these songs."

   "The record company's transfer fee is not cheap." Ronald clicked his tongue. In total, I only prepared a production budget of 4.5 million for the project, and a reserve of 1.5 million. If the record company raises the price of these songs, it is likely to cost him hundreds of thousands of dollars per song.

   "Well, I don't know. If it doesn't work, let's change to other cheap songs." Eleanor said in frustration. The budget of 4.5 million is limited everywhere, and it has to be used sparingly. It is unlikely to spend so much on the episode.

   "I'll ask someone to ask first." Ronald also felt that it was a pity to give up those songs that fit very well. These are the songs that Eleanor had in mind when she was writing the script.

   "Find another person to collect episodes." Ronald looked at the money in the budget table and knew that it was too expensive to find those old friends to customize an episode, so he still tried to find a cheap composer.

   "What's next? Are we looking for a studio to set up a set?" Eleanor's understanding of film shooting was still ten years ago.

   "Ah, we don't have that much money. Let's find the real scene." Ronald laughed.

   Setting the scene in the studio, imitating the actual scene, that is the patent of the big production. Just like Diane's "Street of Fire" and Helen's "Supergirl", with a budget of tens of millions, you can spend millions of dollars to build a real scene for one or two important big scenes.

  My poor millions can only find real scenes in reality and shoot them with natural light. Although the effect is a little worse than artificial lighting, it is cheaper, and the taste of the audience is gradually turning to live shooting.

   "Well, when I wrote this script, it was based on Catskill who was on vacation in New York as a kid. It would be great if it could be filmed there."

   Farewell to the screenwriter Eleanor, Ronald realized that the most urgent thing now is to find an art director, determine the location of the real-life shooting, and find the corresponding place in the Catskills one by one.

   Ronald's old relationships were all in Hollywood, and the Catskills were a Jewish-only resort in Greene County, New York, and he had to find an art director who was familiar with the surrounding New York.

   "Why don't you ask Jonathan Demme? His 'SomethingWild' was shot in New York and New Jersey."

  Nisita got a call from Ronald, who didn't know that the art director was familiar with New York, so he called Jonathan Demme.

   "Hello, Ronald. My art director Stephen Lineweaver is very familiar with New York and around, you just describe the scene you need and he can find the right spot."

   Jonathan Demme heard that he was a junior and needed someone, so he quickly recommended the acquaintances he had worked with.

  Stephen Laneweaver was a big bearded, tall man, and after he met Ronald, the two got along very well. After Ronald gave him a standard contract, the two set off for the Catskills Resort.

   "It's very interesting here. The Catskill Village is a town dominated by tourism and vacation. Every winter and summer, countless wealthy Jewish businessmen, lawyers, doctors from New York and New Jersey come here for vacation with their families."

   Ryan Weaver put on his sunglasses after arriving at the resort and introduced Ronald.

   "Why do you only give Jews a vacation? Don't other people accept them?" Ronald also wore sunglasses. He was not Jewish, so would the other party not be willing to rent it to him?

"In the beginning, after the Second World War, many Jews from Eastern Europe immigrated to the East Coast. At that time, the mainstream people did not like Jews. So some business-minded people among them set up such a special reception for Jews. resort.

  Because they are here, they don’t have to worry about being discriminated against. Jews generally attach importance to education and can afford it soon, so the development here is very fast.

   Later, Jews mainly liked to be with people of the same ethnicity, so they were the same in customs. "

  Ronald and Ryan Weaver walked to the resort, which is close to the mountains. In summer, the temperature is cooler than other places in New York. There are many mountain winds and shady places. There is no need to turn on the air conditioner to live here.

   "There are a lot of tourists here, and they are rich." Ronald saw a lot of expensive cars parked outside the resort.

   "Yes, the conditions here are the best, the best of all Jewish resorts within a two-hour drive around New York."

   "Hello, welcome to my place to shoot, Director Ronald."

   The owner of the Catskill resort, of course, is also Jewish. He heard that director Ronald Lee was interested in renting his place to shoot a movie, and the fat on his face was shaking with joy.

   "How much shooting time do you need? How can we match your shooting?"

   "The shooting plan I made will take about four weeks. For two of them, the main attractions of the resort need to be used by the film crew. For the other two weeks, only the venues that need to be shot can be closed."

"Oh, although this will have some impact on our business, I'm happy to cooperate with you." The boss took out a piece of paper and began to calculate, "We will not receive tourists for two weeks, and we will close some places for the other two weeks. , for your shooting use."

   "Yes, that's about it." Ronald felt that the boss also wanted to make a big advertisement for his resort, so he was more cooperative.

   "The total cost is about this figure." The boss handed Ronald a cost breakdown sheet with various expenses written on it.

   "Cough cough..." Ronald coughed when he saw the total price that was finally added up.

   At this price, it is impossible to occupy more than one-third of his production cost.

   "Could it be cheaper? Our movie will be a big advertisement for your resort."

   "I'm sorry, Mr. Li." The boss put the paper back with a puzzled expression. Ronald Lee is the director of "Top Gun" and must be produced by a major studio. How can he not afford the venue fee?

"We have a good day-to-day business, and we have a lot of clients in New York and New Jersey, so we don't really need a lot of advertising. That's the best price we've given, and it's still if you're shooting a Jewish movie. superior."

   "Hey, alright, you don't mind us looking around and making a decision?"

   "Please go."

  Ronald and art director Ryan Weaver bid farewell to their bosses and wandered around the resort.

"This is the hall where the dance party is held in the script, and this is the big house by the lake, where the dancers teach the guests to dance. The trees here are very good, and they are all decades old. It is very suitable for the summer in the script. Like a vacation."

   Ryan Weaver kept complimenting the resort's exterior.

   "Yeah, this is where screenwriter Eleanor had in mind to write the script. So there must be a similar scene.

   "No wonder" Ryan Weaver held up the director's viewfinder and looked around.

“Will it be much cheaper if we wait for the peak season of summer to pass and shoot in the fall? I know the price of resorts in the off-season is only one-third to one-fifth of the peak season. That way we have enough money to rent. Off to the location."

   Ryan Weaver suddenly had an idea. Filming is cost-conscious, and in order to save money, shooting summer scenes in the fall is not a problem.

   "Good idea, let's go back and discuss it with the boss." Ronald applauded with high fives, attracting many tourists. The two turned around and wanted to go back to the hotel.

   "Ha, are you going to shoot a summer movie? It's better to shoot before August. The trees here will turn yellow and fall in autumn, so there is no summer vacation atmosphere at all."

   A chubby girl said to Ronald.

   "What? Will the leaves here change color and fall in autumn?" Ronald was stunned. Having lived in Los Angeles for a long time, he forgot that the East Coast was dominated by deciduous trees.

   "Yeah, I was born and raised here, I know best."

   "Okay, thank you...you know how to make movies too."

   "I've also made movies, and I recognize you, Director Ronald."

   "Oh, sorry, I forgot my manners", Ronald stretched out his hand to shake the fat girl, "Thank you, you are...".

"Connery, Jennifer Connelly. I acted in Once Upon a Time in America when the heroine was a child, because my nose is very similar to that of the heroine Elizabeth McGovern," said the fat girl, pointing to her nose. Ronald looked at the smiling face, the fleshy nose was cutely squeezed out, and the surroundings were wrinkled.

   "Ah... sorry again, I've been too busy with projects lately, no wonder I look familiar to you."

   Ronald quickly apologized for not recognizing the actors, which was a great offense to them.

   However, it's not my fault, why are you so much fatter than "Once Upon a Time in America"? The face is round and the figure is good.

   "Ronald, can I call you Ronald? I don't know what movie you're making? Can I have a chance?"

   "Uh..." Ronald was at a loss for words, "How old are you this year?"

   "I will be sixteen at the end of the year." Connery answered honestly.

   "We are a film with a tight schedule about the romance of grown girls, so we need actors who can shoot for a long time."

   "Oh..." Jennifer Connelly nodded. At her age, filming a movie in New York, the Screen Actors Guild will definitely keep an eye on it. Is it overtime? Are there arrangements for teachers to remediate high school courses? Do you work overtime after eleven o'clock in the evening?

   Generally, directors will not find underage actresses unless they have to, and would rather find older adult actors to play the role.

"There will be some supporting roles with few roles. If you are interested, you can ask the agent to call me." Ronald took out a business card and handed it to the other party, if she hadn't reminded the environment of the great changes caused by the discolored trees and fallen leaves , maybe the filming is going to be a bad thing.

   (end of this chapter)