Exploiting Hollywood 1980

   "Meinahan! Let's go for a drink together?"

Ronald hadn't chatted with Minahan for a long time, and now he seems to be relieved from the heavy work of the president, unlike the last time I saw him, he was so busy that he even got the name of the movie he watched wrong, and sent a message. Boundless comments.

  So after the lengthy Golden Globes finally came to an end, Ronald walked over, tapped Minahan on the shoulder, and said hello.

   "Hey, Ronald. Didn't expect you to come and chat with me. I'm so happy to see you at the Golden Globes. The first time we met was at the film festival..."

  Minahan Golan's mental state, it can be seen that it is a little bad. There is a bit of exhaustion in his eyes, maybe because of the busy work on weekdays.

   "Cannonball movies have been given a cold reception, but I don't think the Golden Globes represent anything. The real recognition from Hollywood is the Oscars."

   Ronald felt a little down when he saw his old friend, and he actually talked about the past when he almost committed suicide at the Montreal Film Festival that year. Two words of relief quickly.

   The two greeted their assistants and found a place to chat at the reception held by the Hilton Hotel after the Golden Globe Awards.

   "I have a movie to be released soon, Stallone's 'Flying Over the Peak'. Last year's 'Blood Capture the Devil' sold more than 100 million worldwide. It seems that the star strategy is still successful.

  In Old Hollywood, stars have to make two or three movies a year, now what? They took a half-year vacation after filming one. This is a waste of resources.

   I talked to Stallone, a star as attractive as him, as long as he can increase the number of films, he can continuously produce blockbuster movies. "

   Ronald frowned. After Minahan got the 400 million financing, he no longer insisted on low-cost production as in the past.

   Stallone's film for him last year finally allowed him to break the record for the top-grossing Cannonball Pictures' own "Break Dance". Having tasted the sweetness, he started making films for Stallone, regardless of the current practice in the film market.

   And Stallone can enjoy a high salary in Cannonball, one movie can be worth the past three. In addition, Schwarzenegger has challenged his status as the first action actor, and he also needs to constantly release new works to prove himself.

   For a while, the interests of both sides found a place to reconcile, and Cannon and Stallone became the best partners.

   "Is your movie also coming out next month?" Ronald mentioned the schedule while listening to Minahan's words.

   "Yes, what, you have a movie to watch too?"

   "A small production romantic comedy...I'm also a nominal producer."

   "It doesn't matter, there is no conflict between our two movies..."

   "Don't take it lightly, my 'vigorousness' has good box office potential."

   "Hahaha, it turned out to be that 'Beautiful' movie. I heard some rumors, and the film critics have an opinion on your film? Would you like me to ask you two out for a chat and find a way to publicize it."

   "Huh?" Ronald looked at Minahan and thought, wouldn't it be that you are paying those film critics to say good things about Stallone's new film, so that they are looking for a film to belittle as a comparison? "

   "Why didn't Yoram come today?" Ronald looked at the inseparable cousin of Minahan, who was missing, and deliberately changed the subject.

   After going back, look for the reviews of those film critics who touted Stallone's new film. Make a confirmation.

   "Yoram...well...he...he's mainly in charge of the company's finances and operations now. But the production and distribution are mine, and he's not very involved in the company's artistic creation now."

When   Meinahan spoke, when he mentioned his cousin Yoram, there was no longer the feeling of intimacy that he and his cousin could imitate each other's signatures and sign checks in each other's names.

   "There is no problem between you and him, right? You didn't seem to divide the scope of work before, I always felt that you were one."

   Ronald looked at Minahan's face that couldn't hide his thoughts. There was a story behind his intuition, so he deliberately pretended not to know and stimulated him.

   "He is now the president of Cannon Group, and he is in charge of merging the theater chain there. The business is big, and we are overwhelmed, so it is normal to have a division of labor. Gaga, I am now the chairman of Cannon."

   Minahan smiled reluctantly.

   The suspicion in Ronald's heart is even greater. The chairmanship does not have the blessing of the title of president. I wonder how much real power Minahan has left?

   His cousin Yoram actually had a conflict with him, and he didn't know what happened in the middle.

"It was the largest theater chain in Hair Country, which was originally controlled by EMI Group. After we merged with EMI, we aimed at this theater chain. As long as we eat it, plus the theater chain we acquired in Britain last year, we are in Europe. It's the largest distribution group."

  Meinahan Golan was very happy to see Ronald, and he told some of the company's business without knowing it.

   None of this is clear to Ronald, but there have been some waves in Hollywood.

  The EMI company of the hair country and the Cannon of Minahan carried out a merger and acquisition in the second half of last year. After the merger, EMI has occupied a lot of shares. Although the original Cannonball people still dominate the management, the leadership has also made adjustments.

  EMI insists that Yoram, who has a better business sense, should be the president with real power, while Minahan has been deprived of overseas distribution and other business development rights, and only the production rights of film and television dramas are left.

   That's why Minahan has time today to represent Cannon to the Golden Globes.

   "Our Cannonball, the two big productions planned to be released this year are both in the process of filming, aiming at this year's summer season. If you have a movie release, you should avoid it. Don't blame me for not reminding you, Ronald."

  Meinahan has spent hundreds of millions of dollars in the past two years, and he is used to bossing around. In front of his biggest benefactor, Ronald, he still has a little psychological advantage.

   "I have a musical to be released. What is the theme of your movie?"

   Ronald didn't care, and listened to Minahan's thoughts.

   "Two comic-based superhero movies. Musical films are not a hindrance. You have a set of music and dance films, and we are not enough to compete directly with us. As long as the quality is excellent, you will definitely be able to make money."

   "Manga adaptation?"

   Ronald was a little unaccustomed to listening to Minahan's condescending tone of voice. But it doesn't matter. Ronald doesn't think that Minahan has a higher vision than his own producer. He just hit the luck and the general trend. Now that he is also involved in the distribution business, he will not be worse than him in terms of financing on Wall Street in the future.

"Yes, I have two films that I'm going to send to the Cannes Film Festival." Minahan said about making films, obviously more interested than talking about commercial things, he stretched out two fat fingers, to Ronald.

"One is the fourth Superman movie. I paid a lot of money to hire the original Superman actor Christopher Reeve, and also let him participate in the screenwriter of the movie. I also cast the old supporting role of the first movie, Gene Harker Man is back to play the villain Luthor.

  And the heroine Margaret Kidder, I also paid a lot of money to ask her to come back and continue to play the Superman girlfriend Louise she swore not to play.

   In short, this is a superman movie that returns to the classic routine of the first movie. Compared with the boring black comedy mode of the third movie, it returns to what a hero movie should look like.

  The other is also a superhero movie "Space Superman", which is an adaptation of a toy owned by Mattel. I found Dolph Lundgren, who played the Union Boxer who fought Stallone in Rocky 4, to play the protagonist Spaceman.

   There's also a beautiful actress Courtney Cox in the lead role, and they'll be the new Superman and Lois. "

   Ronald felt that when his old friend Minahan was still a producer, he was in high spirits and looked like he had a dream. Maybe it's a good thing for him to focus on production.

   "Such a special effect blockbuster, the cost is not low, right?" Ronald asked.

   "That is, the filming process, plus the star's salary, the fourth Superman cost 10 million. We also prepared a budget of 25 million for special effects production.

   As for Space Superman, we also prepared a similar special effect budget. "

  Meinahan again began to brag about how his special effects cost, how expensive, and how they would be as good as the first Superman movie, to cheer audiences up.

   Ronald felt that, from a commercial point of view, this approach was actually good. Especially the space superman who cooperated with Mattel. Actors are not expensive, but if the box office is popular, you can make a lot of money just from the sales of toys.

And Ronald has always felt that Minahan Golan's filmmaking ideas and aesthetics are similar to cartoons. If he can really make a good special effect film with this cartoon image, maybe he can really make Cannon copy "breakdance". success.

   "You're right, I'm in a bad mood today."

  Meinahan and Ronald were chatting about film production, scratching their itch, and finally got out of the emotions just now.

   "The Golden Globes discriminates against us foreign producers. Zeffirelli's 'Othello' is the greatest work by his own admission.

  Julie Andrews also said that 'Duet' is her best work after 'The Sound of Music' and 'Mary Poppins', but the Golden Globes did not recognize their efforts.

   I'm disappointed, only the audience is selfless, they won't discriminate against my film just because I'm Israeli. Whether it looks good or not is the only criterion for them to buy tickets. "

   Minahan began to denounce the Golden Globes Organizing Committee.

   Ronald asked about the situation. In fact, the Golden Globes Organizing Committee cannot be blamed for this. You have to talk about discrimination, it is true that there is a bit of discrimination against Cannonball's nominated films, but this discrimination is not directed against Minahan's nationality.

   This kind of discrimination, if you look at it as a kind of discrimination, is directed at the stars of Meinahan's films.

  In addition to Stallone, his other films used outdated star actors and star directors. The Golden Globes depend on the stars to attract viewership, and if they don't award Cannonballs movies, they are discriminating against their starring stars who are too bad.

  Thinking of this, Ronald couldn't help but smile.

"Why, you don't believe it? Stallone's new film 'Leaping the Peak' is definitely his best work after the first drop of blood, with a profound subject matter, the relationship between father and son, the difficulty of single blue-collar workers in America, And the high-spirited spirit of the arm wrestling contest.

  I absolutely believe that this is the best character Stallone has created since Rocky in 1976. "

  This film is not only Cannon's most important work in the first half of 1987, but also directed by Menahan Golan himself, so his box office expectations are also high.

   "But the American people like to watch boxing, who wants to watch the **** arm wrestling?" Ronald complained in his heart, he shook his head, and the smile on the corner of his mouth betrayed his inner thoughts that he was not optimistic about this movie at all.

  As a director, Ronald couldn't even imagine how to make this arm wrestling scene look good? Boxing can also be beaten, defended, counterattacked, and a series of routines can be shot. Arm wrestling, slap, two seconds to decide the outcome, without even a single twist.

   "Why, do you think your romantic film can beat my directing work?" Minahan is the chairman of a multinational corporation, but he is most equivalent to a film director.

   Seeing Ronald's smile, he became competitive in his heart.

   "I bet you, how about seeing the box office results of our two movies?"

   Ronald didn't expect Minahan to be so persistent. He didn't seem to have much interest in running a company, and instead turned all his interests to his favorite business, movies.

   "Hehe, I have my judgment, what do you want to bet on?" Ronald just laughed, his judgment on the taste of American audiences was definitely better than that of Minahan.

   "If you lose, our two films have a higher box office in the first weekend, and my film is higher, then you have to accept an interview and say good things about my film." Minahan stated his conditions.

"This…"

   Ronald didn't expect Minahan to put forward this condition. He had various unpleasant pasts with Stallone, and it was really hard for him to say good things about his movie.

   "Why, you dare not?"

   "What's wrong with me?" Ronald blurted out, "But I won't say good things about Stallone. Even if I lose, it seems unlikely to me, and I can only say that your directing skills are extraordinary."

"Okay, what do you want when you win?" Minahan knew that Ronald and Stallone didn't deal with each other. It would be good to have him touting his directing ability. Maybe he could accumulate some industry recognition, maybe he could get a Oscar nominations for best director?

   "Me?" Ronald didn't think about what he wanted, and just wanted the other party to tout his movie.

   "By the way, did Cannon spend a lot of money at the Cannes Film Festival, and there are many opportunities?"

   Ronald suddenly remembered that Minahan said just now that in order to arouse domestic intentions in European film festivals, only the three major film festivals, especially the Cannes awards, can have influence.

   "Yes, what, you have a movie you want to go to Cannes?"

   "Yes, are you willing to have a movie appearance?"

   "What's the matter, I promise." Minahan came over and shook hands with Ronald, and the two agreed that the bet was established.

   "You want to be in the main competition at Cannes, it's too late. This year's film selection is almost over. Either you are in the secondary competition, but you are a big director and it's not appropriate for a small one.

  Should I discuss with the organizers to have your movie 'Beautiful' premiere at Cannes? It's definitely going to be in the newspapers, and it must be good for your marketing to send it back to America. "

   "Premier? Then bet on the premiere." Ronald calculated that the Palme d'Or in Cannes would be covered by domestic reports, but it was impossible for any other competition unit to arouse interest.

   It would be nice to have a premiere in Cannes. At least it's a very good news point. At that time, the hair country and the domestic TV media may also be able to report it.

   "However, it's not 'Beautiful', it's the musical 'Dancing Hot Body' that I directed. It was produced by my own company, and I needed some exposure."

"That's no problem," Minahan was still very comfortable with Ronald, his old friend, "Since it's your own movie, even if you lose the bet, I can give you this chance, but you have to pay for it yourself. Premiere spots."

   "Deal!" Ronald shook hands with Minahan again, confirming the additional conditions.

  …

   Back at the hotel, Ronald called his agent Richard, "Can you help me find reports on the Cannonball and EMI mergers? I want to know what's going on.

   In addition, there is Stallone's new film, those film critics' film reviews, if possible, help me find me too. "

   Ronald did not hear anything outside the window during filming. It was common for him to work more than ten hours a day, seven days a week. After filming and returning to normal life, I often don't know anything about the news that happened during filming.

   The next day, Ronald waited for Richard on time.

  Richard brought Ronald the Wall Street Journal analysis. Wall Street analysts agree that this is a key step in Cannonball's internationalization. Optimistic about the future of Cannon.

   There is only one analyst who pointed out that Cannon made more than 40 movies last year, and initiated the acquisition of theater chains, acquisition of TV stations, and construction of office buildings. If the box office is not good this year, there will be a big problem with cash flow.

   EMI's mergers and acquisitions actually solved the hidden dangers brought about by the rapid development of Cannon Films to some extent. However, the details of the merger and acquisition terms are not yet clear, and the Ministry of Culture of the hair country government has yet to see the views on the merger.

"Their overseas distribution channels have been strengthened again." Ronald saw the analysis article that Cannon has owned cinema shares in six or seven countries in continental Europe through mergers and acquisitions, and has made great advertisements in Cannes year after year, every time at the Cannes Film Festival. , has become the home of the cannon.

   "Yeah, if your movie needs to be distributed overseas, you might as well cooperate with them. With so many theater chains, the demand for good movies is actually very hungry." Richard reminded.

"Well, I know." Ronald thinks this idea makes sense. Overseas issuance is more troublesome, the payment cycle is longer, and many countries do not cooperate for a long time. I really don't know the integrity of the opponent, and there is a high probability of encountering a liar. event.

   "Huh? No way?"

   Ronald turned to the film review section at the back, "Is this a published newspaper?"

In the film review edition of the Chicago Sun newspaper two days ago, it was not the film review of Stallone's new film, but Roger Ebert's criticism of Minahan Golan, the chairman and chief director of Cannon Films, who had no shame. touted.

   "No studio in the world today—and I'm not talking about any of the Hollywood 'Big Seven'—is more adventurous than Cannon to make serious, marginalized films.

   He is Hollywood's only old-school producer and director in this box-office, materialistic era.

  Making a movie is a noble cause, not just for box office. He also represented America's conscience in the past, especially the America Puritan values ​​that those small town youths once represented.

   Loyalty, hard-working, kind, considerate of others, and often rewarded at the end of the movie.

   Unexpectedly, today, a foreigner is still sticking to the tradition of Hollywood. "

   "Hehehe..." Richard laughed out loud, "This year, the Chicago Film Critics Association can go to Cannes to hold its annual work conference, and also take a vacation in Paris. All expenses will be reimbursed by Cannon's affiliates."

   "This guy is really working hard in order to buy and tout."

   Ronald sighed, he didn't expect Roger Albert's conscience to be sold so cheaply. In fact, you can also test the effect of sponsoring vacations on these greedy film critics with your own hot dance.