Exploiting Hollywood 1980

"Ronnie, Mr. Bannon took me to visit all the brokerages, brokers, and investment companies on Wall Street." Donna called Ronald at night, and her voice sounded very excited on the phone.

"Have you decided? Which company will you choose as an intern?" Ronald signaled the small man opposite to stop first, picked up the phone and chatted with Donna first.

"I'll go to Goldman Sachs first, and then Morgan Stanley. I'll go to brokerages and investment funds after it's over. But I just came back from Renaissance in Long Island, and I had a very speculative chat with the founder, Mr. Simmons. I think his investment philosophy is the most interesting.

However, Mr. Bannon said that to invest, you still need to know different companies and investment styles, and only by comparing can you find your own strengths. "

"Ah, that's good, Mr. Bannon's arrangement is very appropriate, you must ask him a lot..."

Chatted with Donna about his work schedule. It is a very happy thing to be able to apply what you have learned and find a job that interests you when you graduate from university.

The investment company that Donna found had a very strange name called "Renaissance Technology Company". Their founder, Simmons, was a mathematician. When investing, you also use formulas to hedge bets, rather than using gossip or analyzing company financial statements.

"Go ahead, Detective Mike Parker."

Ronald hung up, and across from him was Detective Frank McPeak, whom he had used in New York. He wore a pair of small round glasses, and his eyes were full of shrewd eyes. His hair was a little balder than the last time Ronald saw him, and he simply shaved it short, instead of combing the surrounding hair to the center.

"James Simmons founded Renaissance Technology in 1982. He once won the highest award of the American Mathematical Society for the Chen-Simons form, a mathematical expression form of differential geometry, discovered in cooperation with Chinese mathematicians. Swald Veblen Award.

This mathematical form has a good application in the most cutting-edge physics fields, such as gauge field theory and Yang-Mills theory.

However, James Simmons felt that his mathematical talent was much lower than that of his partner Chern Shiing-shen, and it was difficult for him to win the Fields Medal and leave his name in the history of mathematics.

So he left academia and dabbled in investing. He is a graduate of MIT, and he teaches at his alma mater, Harvard, Stony Brook and other universities, so many Ivy League school boards use the money from the school fund to invest part of his fund.

He also stays away from the hustle and bustle of Wall Street, and concentrates on investing in mathematics and physics equations on Long Island. Most of the researchers he recruits are top students majoring in mathematics and physics. "

Frank McPeak spread out the investigation materials he wrote, and talked to Ronald about the key points. When his cousin goes to this company, she should be able to play well, and she is not afraid of falling into the fast lane that has to be paid for on Wall Street in Manhattan.

"Very well, thank you, Detective Frank McPeak. As usual." Ronald handed over a large envelope.

Frank McPeak picked it up, weighed it, and put it in his bag. "It's still the old rule. We haven't met. We only have one copy of the materials. Remember to destroy them. To be honest, I appreciate your protection of your family. If you do the investigation in advance, there will be no problems."

Ronald got up and sent him out. The agent Nisita and Daydream's general manager Eddie walked in from the outer room of Daydream's chairman's office.

"Is it done?"

"Yes, well, I can go to Cannes with peace of mind."

The two caring people closest to Ronald in their careers knew that Ronald had to deal with the privacy of his family, so they waited outside to see him finish before coming in.

"The production factory in Columbia has agreed to the original soundtrack of Dirty Dancing. Let us start work first and make 100,000 copies."

Eddie first reported on the production of the record.

"Mr. Dario is very helpful." Ronald looked at the progress report.

"Yes, if he hadn't found an opportunity to speak in front of MJ, we don't know when we would have waited."

Columbia Records, the largest factory in New Jersey, did not start work during this period, waiting for the final completion of MJ's new record.

Michael Jackson, as the most powerful money-making machine in the recording industry, all resources must revolve around him.

The best lyrics, composition, arrangement, harmony, and backup dance are all occupied by him. When he makes the last small modification to the music, he can immediately record it in the best recording studio.

You don't know when the greatest genius will burst into inspiration. The best way is to leave everyone empty and wait for him.

Even with the new record that has not yet been finalized, the factory will be idling to ensure that after MJ is finally finished, the motor can be fully started to produce immediately.

Only MJ himself knows how far he is from that perfect state.

His manager, Dario, is one of the few people who can communicate with him about record production. After asking a question for Ronald, MJ said that this week the factory can first record Ronald's new film.

With the guarantee of the king of pop, Ronald's new film "Dirty Dancing" can at least stock up on a batch of goods before the filming starts, and then adjust according to the sales speed.

"The copy of Dirty Dancing has been sent to Paris in advance, Richard will go over there to give you a front stop. When you get there, just let the cannon man help you determine the date and time of the premiere, and the rest will be done, Richard I will take care of it for you." Nisita handed Ronald a first-class ticket.

"Michelle Cannold, the release manager of Daydream, has already flown to Hair Country with his assistants. After the premiere is successful, we can try to find a buyer in Europe who is willing to buy it." Eddie He also gave Ronald the contact information of the hotel where Michelle Cannold stayed.

"Ha, thank you, I feel that you have taken care of me so well."

Ronald got up and left. Some small things in Los Angeles have been dealt with. Nisita and Eddie can handle other things. If they need to decide by themselves, they can also use telegrams and long-distance calls.

It's also time to go to the 40th Cannes Film Festival with Minahan Golan.

"Bud, let's go." Back home, little Bud had already packed his luggage and was waiting for him. His girlfriend, Lucy, had come to Los Angeles to live with him in a small apartment five minutes away.

"Lucy, long time no see." Ronald hugged Little Bard's fiancée. She has now found a front desk job and is doing well in a computer company. She has a fixed income and can leave work on time.

"I carefully put your dresses and suits into a large suitcase. When you register, you only need to take this suitcase with you." Lucy studied secretariality, and Ronald's luggage was handled by her. .

"Thank you, Lucy. Little Bud, let's go."

...

"Ronald, quack...you're here, I've been waiting for you for a long time."

Minahan Golan wore a dirty blue tracksuit, sweatpants, and sneakers, and waited for Ronald at the airport.

Ronald hugged him, then took out his sunglasses from his pocket and put them on. He was wearing an Armani navy blue jacket and light gray trousers. Standing with Minahan was as inconsistent as he wanted with.

"Where's Yoram?" Ronald turned his head, but he didn't see his cousin Yoram who was inseparable from him.

"He's going to Paris first, where we still have a new theater ribbon-cutting ceremony to be held, so he's busy going there first. I'll wait for you to go with me."

"Oh, well," Ronald found the registration counter with an Israeli dressed like a fruit seller.

The two asked for seats together and started chatting on the plane.

"This time, we have a lot of momentum in Cannes, and there are several films doing large-scale promotion activities there."

"Is it the fourth Superman movie, or the Masters of the Universe?" Ronald knew that Minahan had been talking about two sci-fi masterpieces.

The previous one was the latest sequel to Superman, and Clark Kent's opponent this time is all the nuclear weapons in the world. The latter one is an adaptation of the famous cartoon "Cosmic Giant Seaman". Although Seaman's authorization is not obtained, the story is very similar at first glance.

"Quack..." Minahan ordered a glass of red wine and drank it to hide his embarrassment, "The post-production of the special effects took longer than expected, so we won't be premiering in Cannes this time."

Ronald glanced at him suspiciously, Minahan's behavior today was a bit abnormal. Originally, when he saw me, he would always chatter about his movie ideas, but today he seemed to be very quiet, even if he asked him, he just chatted lightly, and then returned to the grand occasion of this year's Cannes Film Festival.

"This year marks the 40th anniversary of Cannes. The Chinese government and the organizing committee intend to expand their influence. They will also present a Lifetime Achievement Award to the British actor, Sir Alec Guinness. There is also the special director of the Chinese Film Festival who passed away unfortunately. Rufer, this time also presents the award to his widow, Fanny Adante."

"Oh, so grand," Ronald knew that Sir Alec Guinness was the actor who played Mr. Obi-Wan in the "Star Wars" trilogy. And Truffaut is the only new wave director in China who insists on both art and box office.

In order to promote commercial films, he also participated in Spielberg's "Close Encounters of the Third Kind", and most of his works are artistically and commercially successful.

Compared with Godard, another leader of the new wave who fell out with him, he only made some short films that didn't make sense, which made the audience and actors puzzled and didn't know where they were going.

Sadly, he died of brain cancer. After Hair Country, there were no directors who insisted on making commercial films.

Without Minahan's wordy words, Ronald also felt that there was nothing to talk about, and soon fell asleep.

Ronald felt a little uncomfortable even in first class on a long transoceanic flight. He also felt that his face was swollen in his sleep, and his toes and fingers were a little swollen and numb.

"Do you want to know the secret to rejuvenation after a long flight? When you arrive at the hotel, take off your shoes and socks, put your bare feet on the carpet, let your toes, like making a fist, close them up, repeat several times, and soon It’s back to normal.”

"Like clenching a fist?" Ronald seemed to be dreaming of some movie, a character was teaching himself how to adapt to long-distance flights.

"Haha, I know it sounds incredible, right? I've been doing this for nine years, trust me, it's better than drinking hot coffee and taking a hot shower."

"Mr. Li, Mr. Li..."

"Uh...huh?" Ronald was awakened by the flight attendant's cry, and the images and sounds in the dream disappeared.

"We are about to land at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport, please open the sunshade of the porthole..."

"Mr. Golan..."

Ronald rubbed his eyes and curled his toes into a fist. He still remembered the plot in the dream, tried it a few times wearing slippers, and it seemed to work well.

When the two got off the plane, Minahan looked around and found his cousin Yoram talking with the leaders of the Cannon Hair Country Branch. They seem to be waiting for some star to arrive.

"Yoram, Yoram, who do you think is coming, Quack?" Minahan hurried up and called Yoram to meet Ronald.

"Aha, Ronald. We haven't seen each other for a long time. How long will you stay in Paris this time?" Yoram was waiting for other publishers, but seeing his cousin Minahan invited Ronald, He hurried over to say hello to a group of hair country executives who surrounded him.

"I'll transfer directly to Cannes, will Minahan stay here?" Ronald turned to look at Minahan.

"Quack, I'll be in Paris for a few days, and we'll see you in Cannes. Yoram will make arrangements for the premiere of Dirty Dancing."

"Yes, yes, this is really a masterpiece. You shoot a dance film, which is the best in the world in this era. I have already rented the screening hall and prepared the marketing for the premiere in Cannes. We will go to Cannes, and then we will have a good chat."

Yoram's waistline tends to catch up with Minahan's. After the EMI Group acquired Cannon, he was even more appreciated by the EMI executives. Now most of the matters in Paris and Cannes have been decided by Yoram.

"Okay, I'm going to transfer." Ronald chatted with Yoram for a few words, then said goodbye to Minahan, and took his luggage to the transfer channel.

Many people around were transiting to Cannes, and the aisle was a little crowded. Ronald once again felt the attraction of the Cannes Film Festival to all European filmmakers.

"Ronald, Ronald..." It seemed that someone was calling Ronald's name.

"Ronald turned his head and looked a few times, but he didn't see anyone, and he was surrounded by the flow of people, so he continued to walk forward.

"Ronald...", a thin figure called him with a wave from behind. Seeing that Ronald didn't see him, he couldn't help being a little discouraged.

After a hard time finding an English-speaking American, he was eager to have someone to talk to on his trip to Cannes.

"Shenjingbing, Shenjingbing, Ronald, I am Shenjingbing."

In desperation, he called out the Chinese he had learned in Xujiahui.

Ronald couldn't help being surprised when he heard Chinese. Who is this? Loudly calling itself Deep Well Ice in Paris.

"It's me, John Malkovich."

Ronald finally discovered the actor he knew while filming Spielberg's "Empire of the Sun." He played an American businessman in that movie and learned a few words of Pidgin Chinese.

Sure enough, the effect of yelling at your own deep well ice in Paris is excellent.

"How about it, I haven't forgotten my Chinese yet, do you remember me as soon as you hear it?"

Markovich is much thinner than when he was in Xujiahui. His hair is a little thinner and combed a lot from one side.

"Yes, it is very conspicuous in the crowd. There are very few people in Xujiahui who call themselves Shenjingbing as bravely as you."

The two worked together and boarded the plane to Cannes.

"Do you also have a movie screened in Cannes this time?"

"The 'Glass Menagerie' I starred in will compete for the Palme d'Or."

"The Glass Menagerie? Is it Tennessee Williams' masterpiece?" Ronald had heard this script, which was a classic on Broadway.

"Yes, it's been adapted into a film for the second time, this time with Joanna Woodward as the mother Amanda and Karen Allan as the older sister Laura."

This story is about a small southern town where two siblings and their mother depend on each other for life. With no money and poor health, Amanda can only do odd jobs to earn money. Her older sister is disabled, so she relies on her younger brother Tom to earn money to support the family.

The mother wanted to sell her sister Amanda, and her brother's friend Jim came to visit. The mother arranged for him to go on a blind date with her sister, but unexpectedly he was her sister's classmate. In the end, Jim confessed that he was engaged, and Tom said he would leave the house to go outside.

Ronald found that the two leading actresses are big-name movie stars, and Joanna Woodward is the wife of Paul Newman, the Oscar queen. Karen Allen played the lead actress in the first Raiders of the Lost Ark and is also a commercial celebrity.

They suddenly came to play a dull Broadway adaptation of the drama, is this intended to hit the awards?

"Joanna Woodward is back?" Ronald knew that this actress had stopped filming much since the 1980s.

"Guess who the director is?" Malkovich winked at Ronald.

"not?"

"Yes, her husband, Paul Newman."

"Oh", Ronald said, no wonder, Paul Newman got his wish and finally won the Oscar winner, and now he is finally on an equal footing with his wife in terms of artistic achievements. Now it’s time for those accomplished actors to switch careers and become directors.

Two people were in the crowd, squeezing in. Small planes are not as roomy as transoceanic flights.

"Are you filming in Paris? What movie?" Ronald talked to Malkovich one after another. The two were just casual friends in Xujiahui, but in this place where most people speak French, the two English speakers naturally became close.

"Miles from Home, and Richard Gere."

Malkovich said.

"Oh, that must be a good movie."

The two found their seats, put down their luggage and sat down. Suddenly, an angry, disheveled man sat in their row.

"Ronald, hi, I didn't expect you to come to Cannes."

"Nick?" Ronald recognized Nicolas Cage, "Why is your hairstyle back to the one in Moonlight Sultry?"

"My film will be here, 'Raising Arizona'..." Cage looked at John Malkovich.

"John, this is Nick, Nick, John."

"We have met." The three English speakers adjusted their seats and sat together.

"Raising Arizona" is still showing in North America. This time, the director and producer brought the leading actor Cage to Cannes, also wanting to catch the heat and sell copies in Europe. This movie by the Coen Brothers is about a prisoner played by Cage, who marries a policewoman played by Holly Hunter, and later robs a tycoon's son to raise him as his own child.

Ronald laughed dumbfounded after hearing this, Minahan is still a little level. Before Hollywood, Cannes, the best market for international copies, was discovered. Nowadays, many Hollywood movies that were not considered very popular in Cannes are desperately showing here, participating in competitions, and trying to sell copies in the trading market.

My "Dirty Dancing" is still in Cannes to find some marketing hotspots before it is released. Cage's "Raising Arizona" is currently being screened, and I want to come to Cannes to sell copies.

The three of them chatted for a while on the plane and fell into a deep sleep. When they opened their eyes, the plane was about to land.

After John Malkovich got off the plane, he said goodbye to Ronald and Cage, hurried to the public phone, picked up the phone card of Maoguo, inserted it, and started dialing.

Ronald felt that this person acted a little strangely, so after saying goodbye to him, he and Cage went to wait for the luggage.

"Glenn... I just arrived in Cannes" Markovic saw Ronald leaving to pick up his luggage, immediately pressed the last phone number, and then began to whisper over there, he was a little henpecked, every time he arrived Call his wife Glenn everywhere.

"Ronald? We were a long time ago."

"So, will your film be selected for the Palme d'Or? Or the Critics' Award?" Ronald waited bored by the luggage carousel, and then chatted with Cage. Cage resumed the attire of the angry youth, as if he was attracting the attention of the people around him.

"None, our films can only participate in the screening."

"It doesn't matter. Movie buyers don't watch these things. In fact, awards and audience potential are two different things." Ronald has experience in Cannes. Last time "Breakdance" could only be screened in a booth outside the venue. Movies are selling much better.

"Ronald, is that you?"

Attracted by Ronald and Cage chatting in English, another American also came to stop Ronald.

"Jonathan?" Ronald took off his sunglasses and greeted him with a hug.

This is Ronald's brother, Jonathan Demme, a graduate of Roger Corman Film University.

"Hi, I brought Shot Lulu to the screening."

"Ha, it seems that none of our films are eligible to participate in the competition." Ronald laughed out loud.

"Shotgun Lulu" was released in America late last year, and Orion doesn't know how to market this strange blend of romance, thriller, action, and gangster genres.

As a result, it was released within four weeks and only got 8 million box office.

"Now we, the three Musketeers of Hollywood, are living together."

Ronald pointed at the two of them and said, "Your movie has already been released, your movie is being released, and mine hasn't been released yet. Hollywood's marketing is not easy now, and low-budget movies are here to get some coverage. heat."

"Hahaha..." The two also laughed bitterly.

The films made by American filmmakers, whether it is a slow-paced feature film or a fast-paced high-concept commercial film, must consider the box office and be based on the preferences of the audience.

In this Cannes where the chairman of the jury is dictatorial, regardless of the audience's reaction, they only watch a few of the judges' preferences, and their movies are niche.

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