Exploiting Hollywood 1980

Ronald took the standard film distribution contract drafted by Roger Corman, returned to the CAA's office, and began to fax it to Lindsay Dole, a personal lawyer in New York.

In the early years of the 1980s, cheap Japanese fax machines began to enter the American market. Sending faxes no longer requires bulky, expensive Xerox machines. Lindsay Dole's small law firm also bought a small Japanese fax machine.

"Squeak..." Lindsay Dole stood guard by the fax machine. The thermal paper was slowly printing out Ronald's contract line by line under the roller of the small fax machine.

"Hey! Ronald, pages five and twenty-nine,... try again, I'm hanging up." Japanese fax machines are cheap, but they often print unclearly in some places. Some key legal clauses may differ by one word, and may have completely opposite meanings, so caution must be exercised.

"Hey, Ronald, is this Roger Corman from Hollywood? Why are there no traps in his contract? I've read it several times and you can sign it. Some of the terms seem strict, but they are actually applicable to you too. Protect.

It's not like a Hollywood contract, it's like a wholesale contract between a food company and a supermarket channel. "Lindsay Dole called Ronald a few hours later.

"Hahaha, he is not actually from Hollywood. Although he is also filming in Hollywood..." Ronald explained Coleman's background to Lindsay.

Corman and the big studios have to share the box office with various investors in the end, and the contracts are always different from the battle of wits and courage between the parties. When he makes a film, he always sells the film first to get an advance before making it. With such a small investment, fast shooting, and quick turnaround model of multiple shots, credibility is more important.

"Very good, then there is no problem. But this is the first movie you have produced. Are you setting up a new corporate entity to operate it? This can isolate the investment in the movie from your personal and other assets? "

"Okay, I will go back to New York recently and I will entrust you to handle it. I need to attract investment first, and there is still a lot of money left."

After hanging up the phone, Ronald started asking his agent Richard to take stock of the small and medium-sized production companies he could negotiate with.

"I remember this Atlantic company once asked me to film a film?" Ronald asked Richard, pointing to a company in the information.

"They are now fully engaged in the production of 'Valley Girl', which they wanted to invite you to direct last time. I am afraid that small companies do not have more financial resources to release two movies at the same time."

Atlantic Company is also a company that does its own theatrical distribution. Ronald still asked Richard to help him find out what Atlantic Company meant.

This time Ronald found New World to distribute the new film, and Atlantic could also take a share if interested.

"What about the two Israelis? Don't you ask them to vote for you?" Richard asked.

Ronald knew that he was talking about Minahan and Yoram, so he nodded and said, "They have already expressed their intention to invest in my film project."

"They don't have any real connections in Hollywood. You have helped them a lot, and it's time for them to repay you."

"I'll visit them."

Call Minahan to make an appointment, and Ronald will come to visit.

"Ronald, how long has it been since you came to see me? How about taking a look at our new office?" Minahan showed his growing beer belly and took Ronald to visit his newly expanded office.

Based on the original rented offices, Cannon Pictures expanded several rooms, and those employees who originally worked in the corridors finally moved into formal offices.

"It's very nice here. Are these all your new movies?" Ronald looked at the various movie posters posted on both sides of the corridor, some of which he had never heard of.

"Hey, some are produced by us, and some are distributed overseas by us." Minahan pointed to a poster on the wall and said, "This is the Japanese ninja movie we just released, "Enter the Tiger" ninja), which did well at the overseas box office. "

It turned out to be a B-level exploitation film that copied Bruce Lee's "Enter the Dragon" in name and content.

"This is the sequel to the best action movie of the seventies, and we have the original actor, Charles Bronson." The best action movie? Ronald took a look and saw that it was a sequel to Death Wish.

"It seems that your company's operations are going very smoothly. How is Brooke Shields' Sahara?" Ronald felt that he had underestimated Minahan's ability. With so many movies produced and distributed, it seems that he has made a lot of money. He is no longer the first timer who wanted to jump off the building because of the failure of Apple.

"In January next year, we will start shooting in the Negev Desert in Israel. It is still very hot there, and January will be the coolest time in the desert. Then you can also come and watch this movie that is aiming to win the Oscar in 1984. Blockbusters.”

"Then I'll wait and see." Ronald said and handed over his "Night of the Comet" script. He had expressed his feelings to Minahan on the phone.

"Hmm... um... this place is very good, it's too slow here, the pace here can be speeded up." Minahan looked at it and found fault. His voice was not quiet, which made Ronald, who was sitting next to him, frown a little.

"Ronald, although your ideas about Valley Girl and Zombie War after the meteorite disaster are extraordinary, and I have seen good designs in various scenes, your script has a major flaw. It is difficult for such a script to attract investment. People are close and dependable.

Maybe you don't care about the box office and want to entertain yourself and make the movie you want, but I still suggest you make some changes. "

"Oh? What is it?" Ronald did not expect that Minahan would give him a straightforward negative evaluation.

"Star! Your script lacks stars. Your shooting plan only requires 1.5 million. How can you hire stars with such a small amount of money? We should invest at least 15 million so that we can hire someone like Brooke Shields. A star will play the heroine. Do you have a choice for the male lead?"

"Well, Minahan, I'm afraid I can't make it into a big production. I took the script and went to a circle of big studios, but they didn't have confidence in me to do a big production..." He doubled it ten times as soon as he opened his mouth, Ronald I think Minahan is a bit unreliable.

"I have confidence in you, Ronald. How about I invest in this movie? This year my funds are mainly filming 'Sahara' starring Brooke Shields. When it comes out and my funds are abundant, I will invest in you." This science fiction masterpiece.

One thousand and fifty... not at least 20 million investment. Let's go to Europe to find investors, and then select the best actors. At the 1984 Oscars, we'll let Brooke Shields win the Best Actress Award. At the 1985 Oscars, we'll get you a Best Director, at least a nomination... Hahaha... "

Ronald took out his handkerchief and wiped the sweat from his head. He said he would shoot again in 1984, so you don’t have money now.

"I have found a distributor who is willing to distribute my movie. So I came here to see if you are interested in investing in it." Gu

"How many?"

"New World is willing to invest half a million yuan."

“They do domestic distribution?”

Ronald nodded.

"Hollywood is the holy land of movies. It's really unfortunate that no one has spent hundreds of thousands to make movies for artists like you. I don't know why they still say they have the largest movie base in the world. Every year, those actors and directors can make up to two movies. Months, then golf, tennis, vacation, waste!

They should invest more in directors like you who are capable and have box-office guarantees. Those actors, Stallone, why are they taking such a long break? You should make more movies, stop them from picking up girls and drinking at the beach all the time, and make more movies. "

Ronald wanted to say—you're right. But Hollywood doesn’t have the confidence to invest in itself. It sounds so plausible, but I wonder how much I can invest in myself? Is there one hundred thousand?

"Give me the overseas distribution package, and I am willing to invest 300,000... The domestic income will be as usual." Minahan stated his conditions.

"Thank you, Minahan, I didn't expect..." Ronald was really moved now. Overseas issuance generally requires one country to sell, and overseas market returns are generally not as large as domestic ones.

Minahan did not dislike his small production and immediately allocated an investment of 300,000 in proportion. Now I only have 500,000 to 700,000 to start the project.

"You are my true friend!" Ronald stood up and hugged Minahan.

"But I have a condition." Minahan said after separation, raising three fingers.

"Please tell me..." Usually investors will always put some conditions, such as inserting a girlfriend as a supporting role or something.

"You go to Cannes with me next year and help me watch the movies. I know you found a lot of good movies in Montreal."

"no problem."

"Also, you are coming to attend the press conference for the filming of 'Sahara'. I need some friends in Hollywood..."

"That's okay too."

"You will have a chance in the future and you will direct a movie about my cannon."

"This...I can't promise you, but if the opportunity is right, I will."

"Hahaha...Okay! Bahba bah..." Minahan followed the custom of Eastern Europeans and kissed Ronald three times on the left and right sides of his face.

"Come on, let me show you our newly released movies. They are all good movies. Let Yoram draft an agreement for you."

…

After faxing the Minahan Cannon agreement to Lawyer Lindsay, Ronald continued to work with Richard to identify about ten of the most promising production companies to invest in, and planned to make phone calls to make appointments and visit them one by one.

However, after Ronald returned to his apartment, his first call was not to the producer, but to his high school classmate and wrestling teammate, Staten Island landowner Douglas Hanson III.

"Doug, how are you doing in New York?"

"Hey Ronnie, are you coming back for Christmas?"

After exchanging pleasantries, Ronald asked, "How was the last Kathryn Bigelow movie you raised money for?"

"Forget it, Bigelow's movie still hasn't found a distributor willing to release it. All my money is stuck and I haven't gotten it back."

"Ahem, that's really unfortunate."

"Ronnie, are you looking for me for something? Do you want to make a movie and need money?" Little Douglas was very sensitive and heard the implicit meaning in his good friend's words.

"I have found publishers, domestic and overseas, but they are still a little short of the budget. I originally wanted to ask you...since your investment has not been recovered yet..."

"I invest. You are my best friend in the film industry. If I don't invest, who will you invest in? I don't want to go back to Staten Island to be a landlord. My interest is in the film and television entertainment industry. I have the opportunity to be led by a director worth 40 million." Entering the industry is what I want."

"Thanks, Doug."

"But I don't have much money. I only have one hundred thousand to invest in movies. I can send you a check now."

"Wait until I return to New York. I will also register a film production company. Then we will talk about buying shares. I will give you the best conditions."

"My check is waiting for you at any time." Douglas hung up the phone, "Haha, I finally don't have to go back to Staten Island. Ronald's movie will definitely be successful, and I can show my grandpa some achievements."

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