Exploiting Hollywood 1980

"How do you rank the three movies?" Roger Corman was sitting in the president's office, discussing the three movies he liked with Ronald, who had returned from Montreal. "

"My thought is that 'God Is Crazy' has the highest market potential in the American market, if the protests can be resolved. Next is 'Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears,' which was nominated for an Academy Award and has the potential to be picked up in arthouses. Some box office. Finally, there is the Japanese film 'Call of the Mountains'. The cultural differences between this film and America are too great."

"So this is your recommendation ranking?" Coleman asked after reading the plot synopses of the three movies written by Ronald and the market analysis.

"Yeah, I think 'God Is Crazy' is worth the risk."

"Do you know America International Pictures (Ameribsp;)? Ronald." Roger Corman said an unrelated name.

"Um, I seem to have seen this name in the titles of old New World movies." Ronald recalled that when he was studying editing at New World Productions, he had watched many video tapes of movies shot by New World over the years.

"Yes, AIP was one of the few low-cost film distributors in America at the time. It was my long-term partner. Before founding New World Productions, most of the films I produced and directed were distributed by them." Roger A look of nostalgia appeared on Coleman's face.

"I used to make a lot of money for AIP, until their president Samuel Arkoff modified my movie 'The Trip' without my consent, and I was angry and established my own New World Distribution Company, involved in the distribution business. As a director, I don’t want anyone to take action on my film, do you understand?”

Ronald nodded, he felt the same as his script was revised.

"But after all, AIP was once the strongest film distribution company outside of the five major studios with their own distribution channels. Who knew that they were rumored to be bankrupt last year, and this year they were just acquired by FilmWays."

Ronald was a little confused as to why Roger Corman was suddenly talking about these old events.

"Alkov once invented the Alkov formula, which is very famous in the American film industry. Using this formula to make low-cost exploitation films always fails. The vast majority of films can make money."

Ronald adjusted his sitting posture. He felt that what Coleman was telling him would be very important principles. So I took out my pen and prepared to record.

"It's actually easy to remember.

No special memorization is required. Just remember Alkov's name. "Coleman indicated that he didn't need to remember it specifically.

The six letters of Arkoff each represent the characteristics of a blockbuster movie.

A action scene (exciting, exciting, dramatic)

Revolutionary (novel, controversial themes or ideas)

Killing (a certain degree of violence)

Oratory Speech (impressive lines)

Fantasy (an exaggerated fantasy that fits the audience’s imagination)

Sexy (moderately sexy content for teenage audiences)

"As long as I follow this formula and make low-budget exploitation films for teenagers, I have never failed." Roger Corman waved his hands. "My only failed directorial project, 'The Invaders,' violated this formula." Most of the Six Principles.”

"Alkov is the inventor of this principle. Doesn't he understand this? Why is he still bankrupt?" Roger Coleman did not want Ronald to answer, so he gave the answer himself:

"Because he no longer wants to be called a B-movie tycoon and wants to invest in large-scale productions. This is a risk. Large-scale movies are a big risk. After several failures, the company has reached its current situation."

"We are not one of the eight major studios and do not have the strength to take too many risks. In the past few months, I invested 2 million US dollars in filming 'Battle of the Stars', and most of the cost was recouped because of the pre-sale revenue. If you want to gain a foothold in Hollywood If so, Ronald, remember one principle, don’t lose money.”

Ronald understood that there was a big risk in "God Is Crazy" after all. New World could not ensure that the film would be released smoothly in America, so it was better not to do it.

“So we can try ‘Moscow Doesn’t Believe in Tears’?”

"Of course, it's a gamble without cost." Roger Corman chuckled a few times. "The Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film is just a matter of winning more and winning less."

"Dangdang..." With a knock on the door, Coleman's wife Julie walked in, "Hi, Ronald, nice to meet you." Then she turned to her husband Roger and tapped her watch:

"Roger, you promised me to buy that toy for the children. Don't forget it."

Coleman was a little reluctant, "Don't we already have a tape recorder at home? Why do we need to buy another one for each child?"

"Roger, this is love for the child, not your business." Julie was unhappy.

"Okay, okay, I'll go shopping with you, one for each of us." Coleman is still a good father and husband in front of his wife and children.

"What kind of toy is it?" Ronald didn't understand.

"It's a small tape recorder made by a Japanese company. You can wear it on your body and listen to tape music with headphones. It's very popular among teenagers now." Julie said with a smile.

"Is that so?" Ronald thought of his cousin Donna. It is estimated that among teenagers, one of these toys can become a social queen. When you have money, buy one for your cousin as a gift to Canada.

"By the way, there's also Diane Lane who lives with her cousin. I need to buy two more."

Ronald said goodbye and went to CAA to meet his agent.

Julie looked at Ronald's back and said to her husband Roger, "Do you value Ronald very much? I rarely see you spending time with young people."

"No, I only spend time on people with potential." Roger Corman replied, "He will soon taste the ruthlessness of Hollywood. After all, it is not the time when I started my business and can shoot for forty-five thousand dollars. It's time for a movie.

After he failed several attempts at being a director, the new world would become his choice. Young people always aim high, especially a young man who has just sold a script for a sky-high price. "

"Richard, do you know where I can buy a portable recorder from Sony? It's that thing called a Walkman." Ronald sat on the sofa at CAA and asked his agent Richard.

"I don't know, what is this? Isn't it available in electronics stores or department stores?"

"I visited several stores and they were all sold out."

"Let me help you ask." Richard stood up and went to make phone calls to help customers buy some in-demand goods, which is also an indispensable job for a qualified agent.

"Hi, Ronald. Long time no see." Niceta, wearing a thin suit, came over to say hello. "I just talked with Director Bridges' agent, Rapke. Director Bridges performed a major surgery on your script. He brought the role of Jane to the center..."

"Stop, stop, I don't want to discuss this script anymore. This is no longer the scope of my work." Ronald shouted stop quickly. It felt terrible to have to discuss the script after it was changed randomly by others, just like his girlfriend getting married to another man. , as if I have to attend a wedding.

Ronald secretly vowed that in the future, once he has a position, he will never let others blindly change his script.

"Well, I've been helping you contact some script rewriting jobs recently. Generally speaking, the remuneration for rewriting scripts is higher than those for selling scripts." Niceta changed the topic and talked about how he was looking for a new script for Ronald. Work stuff.

"Of course, ordinary scripts can't sell for your high price. Tens of thousands of dollars is already considered high. The script revision work I'm looking for for you is usually in the range of thirty to fifty thousand dollars."

"What type of script is it?"

"Your script writing mainly focuses on Vietnam War themes, youth themes, group dramas, and musicals. We plan to use these labels to help you sell to studios. I don't know which theme you like more?" Niceta happened to I want to talk to Ronald about future positioning.

"Let's get rid of the Vietnam War first. I went to the Montreal Film Festival and watched some good movies that really reflected the lives of middle-aged people. I found that I still can't quite grasp the love mentality of middle-aged people."

"Okay, Niceta, take note of Ronald's request."

"I am willing to accept other script types and revision work, but I need to read the script first, at least the outline of the script, before making further contact."

"Of course, this is a normal request. Unless Spielberg or George Lucas wants you to change the script." Niceta made a little joke.

Ronald smiled. By limiting his creative direction to a certain range, he could accumulate more experience and help himself write a complete script.

It just so happened that the theme of teen movies was making a comeback, and I was the right age. I had just graduated from high school, and I could still remember some of the psychology of high school students. Coupled with the Arkoff film formula taught by Roger Corman, Ronald is still very confident in himself.

"Get your check ready, Ronald." Richard, the main agent, ran over excitedly. "My friend will deliver it to your door in a minute."

"Is this it?" Ronald picked up a small recorder about the size of a palm and took a closer look. There is a yellow button on the blue metal body.

Richard's scalper friend opened the fuselage, put in the latest tape of the band "Air Supply", and motioned for Ronald to put on the yellow headphones.

"I was lying in bed alone with my head on the phone

Thinking of you until it hurts

I know you're hurt too, but what else can we do?

Tortured and torn apart

…”

The clear and high-pitched sound of the Australian band's new song "All Out of Love" came through. Ronald glanced at the Walkman in surprise, as if he felt like he was actually there.

“This is stereo,” the other person said, pointing to a ‘Stereo’ logo on the cover of the Walkman.”

"There are two headphone jacks here," the other party continued to explain the function, "You know among teenagers, the recorder is not only a tool for listening to music, but also a social tool. So you can plug in two headphones here and share them with good friends. .”

Ronald's eyes were opened. Japanese product design is really interesting. I always consider the details carefully, and the same goes for the Sony TV I bought. The color reproduction is more vivid than those made in America or West Germany.

"Then what is this yellow button for?" Ronald pointed to a bright yellow button above.

"This is the call button." The other party motioned to Ronald to put on the earphones. Then he took out another earphone and plugged it into the earphone hole B. He pressed the yellow button and kept pressing, "Hey, hey, when the two of us are listening to music, You can listen and talk at the same time.”

"Very good, I want two, no, three. How much is the total?" Ronald decided to buy one himself, so that he could use it to isolate himself from outside interference while writing.

"The market price is 160 US dollars. I have it in stock here, and it costs 180 US dollars per unit."

Ronald took out his checkbook, signed a check and handed it over.

"This machine uses three AA batteries, I will give you a set as a gift." The scalper happily took the check and left. Checks issued by CAA customers generally do not bounce.

"What's this?"

Ovitz, the president of CAA, happened to walk by and saw Ronald holding a machine and listening happily with headphones.

"Walkman, a Japanese product that is in short supply right now. Ronald wanted to give it as a gift, so I asked my friend to deliver it."

"Call your friend back and we'll purchase a batch as well. Many customers' children will need it."

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