Exploitation Hollywood 1980

Ronald opened the note. There were three people on it asking him to call him back.

After asking about the hotel's long-distance phone rates, Ronald quickly ran up the stairs, entered his room and started dialing.

The first one was his main agent Richard Lovett. He left a message saying that he had great news and would call back immediately. Could it be that his script had already been sold?

"Ronald, you are going to become famous soon. Columbia has bought your script and it is expected to start filming next year and be released in the summer of 1982."

"I……"

Ronald recalled the scene when he came to Los Angeles with the script, as if it was yesterday. Was it sold? After signing an agent, the script was easily bought by a major studio? CAA's ability

So strong?

Although Ovitz took him to several major studios to promote the script last time, Ronald did not expect that it would be completed at the speed of light in just a few days.

"Hey, Ronald, are you still there?"

Ronald came back to his senses and quickly asked Richard:

"What is the total budget for the shooting? Jane Fonda is the heroine, right? Has anyone decided who will play the role of Platoon Leader and Idiot? Where is the director?" Ronald held the phone receiver in one hand and went to open the small freezer, his hands trembling slightly with excitement.

.

He quickly clamped the microphone around his neck, opened the freezer with both hands, and took out a can of Coca-Cola.

"Take your time, Ronald. I can't answer so many questions at once." Richard on the other side of the phone must have been very excited, and he spoke with excitement.

"Colombia invested 10 million, Jane Fonda's IPC invested 2 million, and the total budget is 12 million. The leading actor has not yet been determined. I heard that the candidates include Jack Nicholson and Stallone.

The choice of director is Jane's old partner, James Bridges."

"Who will play the fool?" Ronald asked impatiently.

"Relax, Ronald. The movie is still in the early stages of preparation. Idiot may invite several young actors to star. It is still in the rumor stage.

I heard that Jane Fonda admired Timothy Hutton, who played the young man in 'Ordinary People'. However, things are very variable at this stage. Except for Jane Fonda, everyone else can change."

"Okay, I'm just too excited. Do they have any comments on the script? Do they need me to modify it?"

"Yes, Columbia's president Frank Price directly made a lot of modifications to your script. After you return to Los Angeles, we will discuss the modification plan."

"That's great!" Ronald got excited and broke the ring of the can. The Coke was still in the can and couldn't be poured out. He didn't care, and immediately turned around to open the small freezer and took another bottle to drink.

Got up.

"So why don't you ask how much your script sold for?"

"How much did it cost?" Ronald stopped drinking Coke when he heard this.

"Three hundred and fifty thousand dollars, thirty fuxcking fifty thousand dollars."

"What? Isn't this in line with the market price? Did you count the wrong digits?" Ronald calmed down quickly when he heard this ridiculously high number. None of Walter Mersey's scripts had such a high price.

He thought Richard was telling the wrong number, adding an extra zero.

"Today is your lucky day, Ronald. After being sued by Las Vegas tycoon Kerkorian for a hostile takeover, Columbia needs a high-profile movie to fight back. Jane Fonda is guaranteed $2 million

According to the contract, even if Colombia no longer wants her to star in this movie, she still has to pay her."

"So President Mr. Price doesn't care about money. He just wants to build momentum in the media and let everyone know who has the final say at Columbia Pictures now."

"In addition, Mr. Ovitz asked me to tell you not to tell anyone about this news at this stage until he and Columbia Pictures announce the news in the media first. He and Mr. Price are now focusing on project establishment and marketing.

After all this is over, I will talk to you about specific script improvements and casting."

"I understand, I won't tell anyone."

"Whenever you come to Los Angeles, you can get the check. Give me a call before you come, and I will pick you up at the airport. This is also my first business deal as an agent. Let's celebrate."

After hanging up the phone, Ronald happily danced the disco in the room. Excited, he jumped on the bed and jumped a few times. "Now, I would like to introduce the winner of the Oscar for Best Screenplay, Ronald...Lee!"

"Hey, hey, it's all because of me that I can win this award..." Ronald found that there were still two phone calls to be returned on the note in his hand. He jumped out of bed and continued to dial Aunt Karen. She said it was important.

Things need to be discussed.

"Auntie, it's already past 9 pm at your place. What's going on?"

"Ronnie, you did a good job. Now Diane Lane is here."

"What's the matter? What's coming to your door and I haven't done anything?"

"Are you telling Diane that for a 15-year-old single girl like her to rent an apartment in Manhattan, it's best to rent an apartment in Midtown?"

"Yes, she has a lot of savings from filming, but in those rent-controlled apartments in the upper city, the owners vote that it is impossible for a single minor to move in."

"Then have you ever said that if you don't have enough cash, you can consider sharing a house with other girls?"

"I did say it, but Diane... no, she won't want to rent the apartment where you and Donna live, right?"

"exactly……"

"This..." Ronald thought for a while, "Aunt, I don't object to her being a frequent guest, but Diane is not an ordinary girl, she is a child star who has been on the cover of Time Magazine. She may bring a lot of media attention.

of."

"Of course I have thought about this, but Diane said that she has passed her time now, and no one would recognize her when walking on the street without wearing sunglasses. Besides, she has grown a lot taller and fatter now.

Not as thin as before in the movie."

"Aunt, please don't mention the word "fat" in front of actresses." Ronald quickly warned, "And if she lives in the family apartment, we have a certain responsibility to take care of her. After all, I know Bert.

Responsible for her family."

This chapter is not finished yet, please click the next page to continue reading the exciting content! "This is what Bert promised. Diane threatened him that if he didn't let her live here, she would live in that playboy Christopher Atkin.

Go to Si’s house.”

"What?" Ronald remembered the attitude of the leading actor in the movie "Blue Lagoon" towards Diane at the party, "It doesn't matter, she must be scaring her father."

"Bert and Diane are still at home now. I asked him to talk to you." Aunt Karen put the phone down, and there was a sound on the receiver. After a while, someone picked it up.

"Ronald, this is Bert."

"Burt, what do you think of Diane? Is she angry with you? Talk to her."

"Ronald, I beg you to let Diane stay with you for a while. I will visit her every day. I promise that she will not cause any trouble to you and your family."

"This is not a problem. When she came to tutor before, my aunt and Donna liked her very much, but how could it..."

"Listen, Ronald, just think I owe you this once." Burt lowered his voice, "Diane is very determined this time. If I don't agree, she will live in another apartment. I can't stop it.

She has declared her independence and is legally an adult."

"Oh God" Ronald knew that this little girl was very smart and had planned everything. A child star like America who had his own income could declare his independence in advance with the help of a lawyer.

"So what are you going to do?"

"I will visit her often and let her live in your house for a while. I will slowly persuade her to go back. She will take the high school entrance exam immediately. She wants to live an ordinary high school life."

"Okay, give the phone to Aunt Karen."

Ronald discussed with Aunt Karen and agreed to allow Diane Lane to live temporarily in the new house. However, he had to negotiate terms with Diane first, not to leave at will, and to keep in touch with Bert frequently.

"Ronald, don't worry, I just want to live the life of an ordinary girl. There will be no acting practice, no auditions, and I won't argue with my dad over casting. After I am admitted to high school, I will return to normal. If not

You, Bert, can't let me live in someone else's home, so I can only ask Karen for help."

"I know that you have a charm that makes everyone love you. I believe you will not let us down, Diane." Ronald finally said a few words to Diane Lane and hung up the phone.

"Yeah, your cousin agreed." Diane and Donna hugged each other cheeringly.

"This bedroom is yours, but you can't party too late." Donna gave up a bedroom to Diane.

"Don't worry, let me make a few calls and find someone to celebrate first."

…

There was another call back to Michelle Pfeiffer. She said she missed him and wanted to talk. Ronald was very happy. This was the first time Michelle took the initiative to leave him a message saying she missed him.

"Hi, Michelle. I'm Ronald. I'm so happy today. Guess what happened? Uh-huh...uh-huh..." Ronald made a few kissing movements through the receiver.

Ronald dialed Pfeiffer's number and couldn't wait to share his happiness with her.

"Listen, Ronald. It's me, Limato." On the other end of the phone was Michelle Pfeiffer's agent.

"Uh..." Ronald stopped awkwardly, "Hello, Ed. I didn't know you were here."

"I asked Michelle to call you. Your script has been bought by Columbia. Can you use your influence to help Miss Pfeiffer win the supporting role of the idiot sister?"

"How do you know? I just received a call from my agent telling me the news. He said that the project is still in the preparation stage and the confidentiality is very high."

"There are no secrets in the brokerage business, Ronald. She told him, and he told her, I have my network."

"Okay. I haven't contacted the producer yet. I heard that Colombia paid a big price. But to be honest, I don't understand how to use my so-called influence to get Michelle this role.

If you have any ideas, let me know. You know, I've heard people say before that once a script is sold, the writer is out of the game.

The real star of this project is Jane Fonda, and not many people know me."

"I understand that Ovitz seems to be preparing for a big move this time. You will be influential in the future, and Hollywood will know you."

Limato seemed to have heard some news and seemed very confident, "You might as well stay in San Francisco for a while and try to meet Francis Coppola once the news comes out and borrow his momentum."

"Hell, it was Ovitz who should have taught you these. Just call him and ask him." Limato handed the receiver to Michelle Pfeiffer, and Pfeiffer motioned for her to talk to Ronald more.

, turned around and left the room.

"Michelle..." Ronald called.

"Ronnie..." The agent taught her how to please Ronald to get a role in a big production, "I miss you so much. You are not in Los Angeles, and I feel a little lonely."

"I may stay for another week or two, dear. I still have some editing issues to consult with the masters here, and I can go back to Los Angeles soon."

"Well, I will be filming on the set of Detective Charlie Chan soon. You can still see me if you come back early. By the way, did you see me on the Johnny Carson Tonight Show? Although it was only three minutes, but

People have already recognized me on the street."

"Yes, I saw it, you were so beautiful on the show..."