Exploiting Hollywood 1980

"Tom Cruise hopes to see the complete script before considering whether to star." Jerry Bruckheimer received a response from Tom Cruise in London.

"Damn it, this movie is just an aerial version of a western cowboy movie. Why do we need a complete script?" Don Simpson completely disagreed that a script was needed to make a movie.

"The script that Gubel made before is quite complete, but can it be used? Who would read the story about an aerial photographer? The hero's profession must be cool. He already shoots fighter jets, so why not a story about a fighter pilot? ?”

Don Simpson's role in the duo is the one who pursues his dreams and comes up with wild ideas. In his opinion, it is enough for a movie to have a male protagonist, a fighter jet, a beautiful woman, and then some one-on-one combat where the hero kills the bad guys.

"That's true, but we must find a star to star in the role. Since Tom Cruise demands it, we must either satisfy him or choose someone else."

Bruckheimer is the more pragmatic of the two. How Simpson's good ideas were turned into feasible projects, how to sign stars, and how to get studios to agree to invest money were all implemented by him in a down-to-earth manner.

"What backup plan do we have? Where was Matthew Modine that we were talking about when Eisner was still here?" Simpson asked.

"Him? He can't. I read the records at the time, and he said that the movie was too pro-military and that he wanted to star in an anti-war movie."

"Anti-war, anti-my ass..." Don Simpson uttered a curse word. An actor like this still wants to play the leading role in a major commercial production?

"That leaves the cliche ones, Emilio Estevez, who's hot right now. Matthew Brodick, whose father just died and he can go back to movies. And then there's Tom ·Hanks, he is also very handsome..."

"Hormones, hormones!" Don Simpson shouted. We want a male protagonist with overflowing hormones.

"Sean Penn? Or Van Kilmer?" Bruckheimer thought of two more.

"Not handsome enough." Don Simpson thought of something else, "Where's the director? Why did Ronald go to the East Coast? I remember that he has a good relationship with Tom Cruise. If I sign him as the director, I can convince him Cruise is more certain."

"Yes, he is also a very good screenwriter. You can work with him to improve the script."

"Well, good. We always have to sign one first,

Then use his name to sign other people. Cruise's agent protected him like a little cock. This time his salary will probably not be less than 800,000. "

The two made a new offer to Paula Wagner. Word came back that Tom Cruise was interested in the story itself. If the producers had hired Ronald Lee to direct, he would have been more interested.

"This Paula is so annoying. She never gives up and gives us a definite yes."

"Why did he specifically add the condition of naming Ronald? Do you understand?" Bruckheimer keenly felt that there seemed to be a story in it.

"I don't know. Let's go to New York. It seems that this time we have to start with the director's contract to start with the first brick."

"Okay, I understand. I will stick to Tom Cruise as the leading actor. To be honest, he is the most suitable for this movie. Without CAA arrangements, he is also my first choice."

"Very good, I'm going to make this fighter jet movie the first packaged project for Paula and I, and we're going to get all the main creators." Niceta said after learning that Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer After going to New York, I quickly called Ronald to discuss the caliber of both sides.

"When are you going back to Los Angeles?"

"I'm going to stay here for a while. Jane Fonda asked me to talk about business matters. She also wants to visit my factory."

After hanging up the phone, Ronald took the fishing rod and ran to fish in the small river in the town of Toteville at the southern end of Staten Island.

Things in business are sometimes like fishing. Don't disturb the big fish by making random moves. Just wait quietly in the right place.

Ronald unexpectedly received a call from Jane Fonda the day before yesterday. After not seeing each other for a few years, this female star did not maintain a high frequency of filming. Instead, she closed the studio of herself and her partner, and signed a long-term exclusive contract with Warner. Her current attitude towards accepting films is purely based on interest.

The reason why she can do this is that Jane Fonda made a huge amount of money from her fitness videos. Starting in 1981, her video tape, priced at $59.95, occupied the top spot on the sales charts for forty-one weeks and second place for seventy-five weeks.

Compared with the low production cost, Jane Fonda can get a lot of share from copyright and sales income. The producer of the TV series "The Family" also bought out her original video tape manufacturer for US$3 million and took over the production and distribution, boosting sales to a new level.

Jane Fonda had money to support her favorite cause, the California Donkey Party, and opened an aerobics center in Beverly Hills, Hollywood. The side business also includes selling peripheral products of video tapes, the largest of which is the rtkd leg warmers produced by Ronald.

This time she came to Staten Island to inspect factory operations, hoping to invest in the acquisition of Ronald's entire leg warmer business and completely incorporate it into her fitness industry empire.

Aunt Karen was very happy to meet Jane. She very much hoped that Ronald could make the past script into a movie and let Jane Fonda play the role of the veteran's wife again. This time her role should be very loyal to the veteran and completely in line with traditional values. That kind of thing.

Jane Fonda had somewhat forgotten the content of the script that Ronald had written. She met the manager of the factory. Ronald's aunt was a fan of her movie. She also felt very happy. She had seen the production line, quality inspection link, and warehouse link. I have made up my mind to buy the entire factory.

Ronald and Jane Fonda were responsible for finalizing only two important details. Whether the original employees will continue to work in the factory, and how much the original shareholders will receive.

"All employees can continue to work in the factory. However, I will move the factory to Southern California closer to Hollywood within two years. I can accept any employee family who is willing to move. They are all rare veterans.

As for the acquisition price, after Ronald produced an income statement showing an annual profit of US$200,000, Jane Fonda proposed an acquisition price of US$2.2 million.

The signing ceremony was held in the factory after the signing ceremony. The two shareholders, Theresa Kate and David and his wife, received more than 400,000 US dollars in acquisition funds and were smiling from ear to ear.

They will continue to work as sales representatives in Jane Fonda's factory. The retail store in Manhattan will continue to be operated by the couple. It is not within the scope of this acquisition and can continue to retail after Jane Fonda's acquisition. products, and enjoy the promotional slogan of "world-renowned authentic leg warmers". .

The movie star would not discuss the details of the acquisition in detail. Ronald's lawyer, Miss Lindsay Dole, led her colleagues in the firm to happily discuss the details of the acquisition with Jane Fonda's lawyers. This kind of acquisition business is very profitable.

Aunt Karen is finally done with her hard work and can return to Staten Island to concentrate on the charity work of the Veterans Association. Several of her friends, such as little Bud's mother and family, received some free shares and were able to buy houses in Toteville this time.

"It's really a very beautiful house." After the acquisition, Jane Fonda was retained by Ronald and continued to visit Staten Island. The scenery here is pleasant and has a strong colonial architectural style.

Ronald worked as a tour guide for Jane Fonda, visiting the island's scenery.

“This is the house where the wedding was held at the beginning of ‘The Godfather’. Ronald drove Jane Fonda with him, and it was still the location of the classic movie.

"This was the home of Paul Newman and his wife Joanne Woodward. It is the most famous former residence of film industry celebrities on our island."

After forcing Jane Fonda around, Ronald invited her back to taste the biscuits baked by her aunt as a parting gift to her.

"Ronnie, your agent has brought someone to find you."

Ronald parked the car and felt relieved to see his aunt talking to him at the door.

He could hardly think of any reason to ask Jane Fonda to stay any longer. If the female star was retained again, he might doubt whether he wanted to pursue her as a married woman.

"Ronnie," Niceta appeared in the doorway with Richard, "Ms. Fonda."

Next to them were Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer, who came to discuss a new film contract with Ronald.

Jane Fonda greeted them and went to talk to Aunt Karen about cookie-making secrets.

"What, are you and Jane talking about a new movie again?" Jerry Bruckheimer and Don Simpson exchanged glances, and Bruckheimer stepped forward to ask.

"No, she came to buy my other businesses," Ronald denied. "My first screenplay, 'My Brother's Keeper,' was bought by Frank Price and Jane Fonda was invited to star. Yes, if it is finally filmed, maybe my career history will be very different."

"What about this script now?"

"It's probably still in Columbia's script library. Maybe Mr. Price will be interested in taking him to Universal?" Ronald shrugged pretending to be relaxed and asked the two producers to go into the living room to discuss in detail.

Both producers frowned, thinking that if Ronald was actually going to make his own screenplay, "My Brother's Keeper," with Jane Fonda, they would be even more passive in their casting.

"I am very willing to direct such a film, and my aunt also supports me. You must know that she is a widow of the Vietnam War. Without her approval, I will not make it." Ronald listened to the two producers When a person comes, he immediately expresses his attitude.

"I think the leading actor in this movie must be Tom Cruise. I don't say this because he and I have the same agent, nor because we have been close friends for a long time.

But he is indeed the best choice for such a hormone-filled movie. Of course, if you have a better candidate, I am open to it. Among the existing stars, he is undoubtedly the most suitable. "

"My remuneration? Just talk to Niceta and Richard. I only ask for treatment commensurate with my status in the industry, appropriate remuneration, and sharing terms consistent with my status. After all, such a Paramount movie The big-budget movies will have important reference value for my future director’s salary. Without profit sharing, I won’t be able to raise prices in the future.”

The two producers heard this with a mixture of sadness and joy. Fortunately, Ronald agreed to direct, and in his words he also revealed that he would use his influence to persuade Tom Cruise to sign the contract. Sadly, I seemed to have no room for bargaining, so I had no choice but to sign a contract with my agent for this popular commercial film director at the market price.

After explaining the matter, Ronald sent Jane Fonda to the airport with a large bag of freshly baked cookies and cooking tips from her aunt.

"It seems your aunt was sorry that I didn't do 'My Brother's Keeper.'" Jane Fonda said in the car.

"Yes, she is a fan of yours and has always felt that you and Robert Redford are the perfect screen couple. What will be the story of your next movie?" Ronald asked.

"Well, I'm going back to Canada right away to star in a nun-themed movie, 'Daughter of God.'"

"Nun?" Ronald said he was surprised. Didn’t Jane Fonda always stand on the left side of the Donkey Party? How could such a religiously conservative film be made?

"One of the heroines is the unlucky Meg Tilly. If she hadn't sprained her ankle before filming started, she would have been better off playing the heroine of 'Mozart'."

"Oh..." Ronald laughed. It turns out to be a movie about old acquaintances. It seems that Meg Tilly's husband, after Disney's son-in-law Ron Miller lost power, did not have much impact on his established path of pushing his wife to the top.

"Meg just gave birth to a lovely daughter, and it's very hard to return to the screen now. Fortunately, she plays a mother, so she doesn't need to invest too much in her performance."

Ronald listened to the plot for a while. The nun played by Meg had an unexpected pregnancy and insisted that the dead child was the result of a virgin conception. The psychiatrist played by Fonda went to uncover the truth.

It turns out it’s still a conflict between liberal and conservative religious values.

Ronald sent Jane Fonda away and returned to his home in Staten Island.

The two producers and agents have initially negotiated a fixed salary of US$600,000, plus a 1.5% domestic profit share, and Ronald is ranked ahead of everyone else.

"It's so annoying, I don't like this feeling." Don Simpson said unhappily, shaking his head.

"He also promised to improve the script for us, so that if we send it to the Navy for review, it will save a lot of trouble." Bruckheimer advised his partner to relax.

Ronald came back and saw Niceta indicating that he had signed the contract according to the agreed terms. So I happily poured red wine from Coppola Winery to the two producers, took out several plates of salami, and served cookies baked by my aunt.

"By the way, how do you plan to shoot the fighter jets? Are you going to use model special effects, or are you going to rent them from the Navy?"

"This time we come, we also have to submit the script to the Pentagon, hoping to get approval to go to the Pacific Fleet to shoot real scenes."

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