Exploiting Hollywood 1980

“The first way is to purchase the copyrights of a batch of popular music at the top of the charts and directly use it as the soundtrack of ‘Son of Grease’ to attract fans.

The second way is to convince the two protagonists of the original work, John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, to continue to play major supporting roles in the sequel instead of just making guest appearances. Engage their fans.

As long as we can do either of the two, this sequel will be on the qualified line. If we can do both, it may become a hit. "

The next day, Ronald approached his agent, Rick Niceta. Convey the choreographer's opinions and your own observations on the script to him. Hearing that Ronald had found ideas for screenwriting, Ovitz was also very satisfied with his efficiency and listened to Ronald's briefing with Niceta.

"There's nothing wrong with the first one. Andy Gibb is a popular singer. Ever since he debuted with the song "I just want to be your everything", Robert Sturwood has always wanted him to sing. He is a part-time actor, and the Bee Gees band formed by his three eldest brothers can also provide him with a lot of song support."

Ovitz and Niceta had no objection to the first.

The second one..."

The two of them whispered to each other, and Niceta replied:

"John Travolta has become famous. He began to seek a transformation. He was unwilling to appear in musicals and appeared on the big screen as an American gigolo.

As for leading actress Olivia Newton-John, her new film ‘Xanadu’ didn’t do well at the box office and with reviews, so we could try to raise the issue with Paramount. "Knocking on the table, Niceta decided to propose the heroine to participate first.

Ovitz was already considering whether to recommend directors and actors to Paramount. "You did a great job, Ronald. We will forward your screenwriting comments to Paramount and Sternwood. Wait until they finalize the songs and After the stars join the cast, we will have another interview to finalize the contract."

"If you stay in Los Angeles for another two days, I expect there will be an official response soon."

Ronald let out a sigh of relief as he walked out of the president's office. Since you have decided to write a script, you must do the best you can within your capabilities.

"Ronald, it's you!"

An unexpected voice stopped Ronald in the lounge area.

"Minahan?" Ronald thought of the owner of the voice, who seemed to be the Israeli filmmaker Minahan Golan, who had failed in his Canadian film and was about to jump off a building.

Turning around, it was indeed Minahan and his cousin Yoram.

"Why are you here?"

"We're here to see Mr. Ovitz, why are you here?" Minahan asked.

"I'm a contracted screenwriter with CAA. This time I'm here to talk about some script projects." Ronald nodded and wanted to leave.

Minahan quickly exchanged glances with his cousin. Maybe the breakthrough depends on him?

"Ronald, we haven't thanked you for your help in Canada. Why don't you come to our office at Cannon Pictures? Let's have lunch together." Minahan invited out.

"Don't you want to see Mr. Ovitz?"

"Hahaha, he is a busy man. We didn't make an appointment this time, just to try our luck. If we meet you, let's go to the office to chat first." The two of them pulled Ronald and walked out.

"Okay, let me talk to the agent." Ronald went to say goodbye to Richard.

"Do you think he can help us?" Yoram asked Minahan.

"Who knows, Ovitz flatly rejected our request and didn't see us for the past two days. Why not ask Ronald? He was the one who gave us this idea. Maybe he has some idea."

Ronald walked out of the office, got into the car of the two Israeli brothers, turned a corner, and soon arrived at the office of Cannon Pictures.

This is an old office building. Open the door of the company and you will see the front desk. There is a logo of another company on it.

"We just took over this office, and all the furniture was left behind by the previous tenant. We don't spend money on these places, all the money will be invested in the filming of the movie." Minahan kept his expression straight and talked eloquently.

There were also two desks placed in the corridor, which seemed to be the screenwriter's seats. Two screenwriters were typing on the clattering typewriters. Two paper boxes with pagoda patterns were placed on the table. It seemed that they had ordered Chinese takeout before they had time to eat.

Walking into Minahan and Yoram's office, two desks facing each other take up most of the space, as well as two corner sofas and a small table as a place to entertain guests.

"This is our office, where Yoram and I discuss the company's film projects." Minahan pointed to various movie posters on the wall, "This is 'Lemonade' that we shot in Israel, breaking all the Israeli box office record, we can come to America to continue our movie dream."

Ronald nodded, the two of them had made big-selling movies. Not the kind of pure amateur who messes around. Moreover, this entrepreneurial spirit also made Ronald feel very friendly. There were not too many hierarchies and the employees were very motivated.

"So why are you looking for Mr. Ovitz? How can I help?" Ronald simply pointed out the unspoken subtext of the Israeli brothers.

"We", the two brothers looked at each other, and it was Minahan who spoke, "we remembered the advice you gave in Montreal, and when we came back, we approached United Artists and MGM to discuss the distribution contract of Cannon Pictures. But their president only wanted to Thinking about the editing issues on 'Heaven's Gate'."

"What about MGM?"

"After MGM was acquired by Kerkorian and held 40% of its shares, it has significantly reduced its film production output. They now do not have their own distribution channels, but use United Artists' distribution channels."

"So what are you going to do?" Ronald looked for water everywhere. This Cannon Pictures was still a start-up, the secretary was so indifferent, and the boss's important guests didn't even get a cup of coffee.

Yoram hurriedly went out to get water. Minahan said with a longing look, "We have made preliminary contact with MGM. They can use the distribution channel shared with United Artists, but they don't know us and are not willing to pay for a company without Endorsement from companies that have distributed films in America. They need us to come up with proof or find someone willing to vouch for our status as producers..."

After listening for a long time, Ronald understood that it was the old problem of entering the industry again.

Minahan and Yoram, both Israelis, had just acquired a small Hollywood production company, and MGM was unwilling to take the risk of signing a distribution deal without releasing the film in America.

But no distributor bought "Apple", and Minahan was unwilling to distribute it on a small scale. This would make the box office of the bad movie "Apple" even worse, and no distributor would be willing to represent their film in the future. So much so that their American film journey ended before it even began.

Therefore, the two brothers have been begging Ovitz, hoping that he can serve as a recommender so that MGM executives will have more confidence in the Israelis.

But if your "apples" are so bad, Ovitz definitely doesn't want to ruin his reputation.

As if reading a new voice from Ronald's heart, Yoram came back with a bottle of mineral water and spoke, "Actually, MGM doesn't care about the quality of our movies. They don't have many movies for distribution. , United Artists’ distribution channels are also idle now, as long as there are movies, it is always good.”

"But MGM's top management is unwilling to take risks. They are currently undergoing changes in their top management. No one wants to become a source of wrongdoing by signing up for our distribution business and become a reason for others to attack in the high-level reshuffle. "

Ronald figured out the key. In fact, MGM executives didn't want to take the blame, but they were greedy for the income from the distribution business. I want to find a formal certifier to make the decision to sign the contract formal and unmistakable.

"I can't do anything. I'm just an ordinary customer of CAA. I can't influence Mr. Ovitz's judgment."

"No, we want you to be the recommender." Yoram said.

"Me? Ahem..." Ronald was amused by Yoram's statement and choked on his saliva.

"Do you have any misunderstanding about me?"

"We have all inquired about you when we came to Hollywood. You are a famous screenwriter who wrote the script for Jane Fonda, and you were also on the front page of the New York Times."

"Unknown screenwriter succeeds!" Minahan said in a thick Israeli accent.

"You haven't read the whole report, have you? My name is not there." Ronald did not want to mention the script again, and simply said that Jane Fonda was the leader of the project.

"So that's it." The two Israeli brothers looked at each other and sat down a little disappointed.

"But why don't you find a lawyer to prove your strength?" Ronald asked, seeing the frustrated looks of the two of them.

"We also tried to ask lawyers to provide supporting materials, but they were unwilling to confirm our distribution results in Israel, and they also discriminated against us." Yoram replied.

"Those lawyers who serve Hollywood don't even know that there is a film industry in Israel, and they are not willing to understand our distribution performance in Israel in depth. They always feel that no one can auction blockbuster movies outside of Hollywood." Minahan Very uncomfortable too.

"Thank you, Ronald, we'll think of something else."

Didn't we agree to have lunch? Ronald complained in his mind.

"I do know Mitch Kanter, the former MGM corporate lawyer. He has now left MGM and returned to practice in a law firm. Maybe he will be interested in you."

"Really?" Minahan grabbed the phone on the desk and brought it to the sofa. "You can call him here."

Ronald looked at them and said nothing.

Yoram has been working in distribution and sales, and he understands the exchange of commercial interests better than Minahan, who focuses on film production.

"Ronald, who do you want to be in Hollywood in the future? Is there anything we at Cannon Pictures can do to help?"

"I want to be a director."

"That's no problem. Come to us. We at Cannon Pictures lack talents who can direct English-language films." Minahan took over and smacked his chest.

"Okay." Ronald actually didn't trust these two Israelis, but this matter didn't cost much favor. He just introduced the business to Lawyer Mickey as usual.

So Ronald called the number on Mickey Kanter's business card and told Cannon Pictures what he wanted.

Mickey Kanter welcomes this kind of business that is simple and can charge high fees. After communicating with Minahan on the phone, he asked them to go to the office tomorrow and provide materials, and he would contact the MGM distribution manager.

Minahan put down the phone and hugged Yoram happily, "We did it, we did it. We have established a foothold in Hollywood, and the next one is to make a movie that can win an Oscar! We can go to the awards show next year .”

"Oh my God." Ronald facepalmed, defeated by the optimism of the two.

"Ha! It's already half past twelve." Minahan thought Ronald was hungry and ran out of the office quickly.

Minahan's high-pitched Hebrew voice and the screenwriter's much smaller defensive voice came from outside the door. After a while, Minahan took a lunch box with a pagoda pattern, took the chopsticks, and placed it in front of Ronald. "Here, this is Chinese food. It's very delicious."

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