Exploiting Hollywood 1980

"I'm sorry for the inconvenience caused by my job change, but I've dealt with it all. Now we can talk about whether I can represent you."

There's something magical about the voice on Rick Nisita's phone that's so relaxing. The two discussed on the phone how Nisita would work together to sign Ronald as a screenwriter's agent.

Ronald insisted on keeping the contract of New York agent Eddie Cohen, and he still left Eddie in charge of short-term directing work such as his commercials. At least in the near future, his focus is still in New York, and he still needs to shoot commercials to earn money and industry reputation, and does not want to end his cooperation with Eddie.

Even if the main focus is on Hollywood in the future, someone in his hometown of New York will still help to handle things. In Ronald's vision, he hopes that Eddie Cohen will be his representative in New York.

Nisita, who was primarily focused on Hollywood, was less interested in representing Ronald's advertising business. The reason he wanted to sign a fledgling screenwriter was simply because CAA president Michael Ovitz required all CAA agents to sign a screenwriter as a client.

Nisita has made considerable achievements in William Morris. After being poached by CAA, he did not want to share a screenwriting client with the original agent. He simply developed one by himself and dealt with Ovitz's KPI. With potential clients like Al Pacino and Christopher Walken in hand, he has no worries about business.

The two sides agreed on the phone that in the future, Ronald's screenwriting contract would be handed over to Nisita's team. If Ronald has the opportunity to direct the film independently in the future, it will also be handled by Nisita.

Team work is the invention of Michael Ovitz, the founder of CAA. For each client, there are several brokers with different levels to form a team to represent them, and the extracted agency fees are also distributed by the team.

The five founding veterans of CAA, who defected from William Morris, are very aware of the power of taking this customer to escape, so they have designed the system from the beginning to prevent other companies from poaching the corner of CAA.

"So that's it? Do you have any questions?" Nisita asked over the phone.

"Mr. Nisita, why did you choose me? Your colleagues at William Morris don't want to sign me" Ronald asked.

"I'm always one step ahead of everyone else, and they just asked director Alan Parker about you, and I asked producer David Da Silva."

"Thank you, Mr. Nisita."

"I'm in Los Angeles to talk to Mr. Michael Ovitz about the new movie contracts of two of my actors. And to help him deal with CAA's top actor,

Sean Connery movies. So this time I went to New York to interview you with two of my colleagues, Richard and Paula. They will be in New York on the morning of XX. "

Ronald took out his notebook and checked: "I'll be busy with the casting of 'Endless Love' that day, so I'm afraid I can't pick them up at the airport."

"It doesn't matter, Paula is a New York girl. I believe a New York girl can handle everything."

...

The red-eye flight landed at JFK Airport in New York. A man and a woman were dressed as professionals and walked out of the waiting hall waiting for a taxi.

"Are we going to the casting studio first to find the young Ronald?" Richard is a newcomer to CAA. He worked in the Mailroom for 6 months and was promoted exceptionally because of his excellent performance. for apprentices. This is the first time he has been sent out to meet a client.

"We'll go to Little Italy next to Broadway to eat authentic pizza, and then we'll go to the casting studio to find him." Paula is a woman in her early 30s. Her ex-husband is the creative proposer and director of the famous Broadway drama "Singing and Dancing Online". Stage design. I am very familiar with New York, and it is a revisit to the old place.

Richard was still a little tender and didn't think about Nisita's intentions, but it's no wonder that this is the young man's first official business trip, so it's understandable to be excited.

"The pizza here is really good. I've never eaten such a good pizza except in Chicago." Richard pushed his glasses, "Paula, why did Nisita sign a budding screenwriter? Does he have any qualities worth paying attention to? "

"Did you know that our CAA started from TV shows?" Paula drank a coke and ate the pizza she used to eat, and she was very happy. While Hollywood is the entertainment center, New York is the center of the universe in other industries.

"Yes, I heard the old man of the company say it. In 1975, the five founders relied on daytime TV dramas to get through the difficult period of starting a business."

"Yes, but our development has encountered a bottleneck. The big-name actors we signed all want to act in movies. And our connections in the film industry are weak." Ovitz promotes the culture of a big family within CAA and encourages agents to interact with each other. Help and support the younger generation. Richard was on the apprentice list. Anyway, he had to learn these sooner or later, so he might as well have a good relationship with him.

"So the way Ovitz thinks is to sign the screenwriter first, use the screenwriter to impress the eight major studios, and then recommend our contracted directors, stars, etc. to enter the project."

"That's why he requires every agent to sign a screenwriter?"

"Yes, Richard, you are very keen. CAA and your apprentices have just passed 40 agents, and we are a team system. A screenwriter will have 3-4 agents in charge, so in fact, we only need a total of Just find more than 10 screenwriters.”

"I see. Thank you for telling me this, Paula." Richard wisely didn't ask the question of why Nisita wanted to sign Ronald, and lowered his head to eat the pizza. of."

Ronald is organizing auditions in the casting studio. The actors who came this time are much stronger than the last time in the circle.

Deborah Wenger is not amazing, but her eyes are very understanding, as if she can talk to people with glasses. Polaroid took a snapshot of her, and the glasses are so bright, no wonder the director of "Midnight Cowboy" must try to ensure her performance. These glasses, with close-ups, are so catchy on the big screen.

"Princess Leia" Carrie Fisher came to New York to audition for a TV interview on CBS6's "The Empire Strikes Back."

She did not have the princess hairstyle that everyone expected, but had long shawl hair, less decisiveness of the princess, but more gentle femininity. Before several assistants gossip about Fisher on the set of Star Wars is very bold and slept with all the male actors. With a casual glance, there is a glamorous brilliance, which is similar to the character of the movie's protagonist Jade.

Looking at the strength of these candidates, Ronald felt that his recommendation of Michelle Pfeiffer was a bit underwhelming. In particular, she looked a little timid, holding the large bottle of vegetable juice handed to her by the manager who looked like a husband and wife, drinking it in small sips, frowning from time to time.

"This vegetable juice is very good for you to keep reminding, keep your skin clear, and resist cigarettes, alcohol and drug addiction. You have to drink it every day." The wife-like agent comforted Michelle Pfeiffer.

"Don't be afraid, I observe that none of your competitors are vegetarians, and you are very hopeful." The husband also began to criticize other actresses.

Ronald couldn't help laughing when he heard it, "Michelle, it's you next, you come with me alone, go to the entrance of the audition room and wait." The agent who looked like his wife put a large bottle of vegetable juice in her hand. As soon as it was delivered, Michelle Pfeiffer took it, with a heavy look, his hands sank, and he slowly followed Ronald in.

Walking through the long aisle to the front of the audition room, Michelle Pfeiffer looked even more unconfident, walking slower and slower holding the vegetable juice, her face shrunk into a ball, looking very painful.

"What's the matter with you? Michelle, cheer up. You performed very well in the last audition. Play naturally. You are the top six in the Miss California pageant. Be confident."

It's okay not to say it. After saying this, Michelle Pfeiffer seemed to cry.

"I... I... spend all my money on these all-green vegetables and fruits. If I don't get selected this time... No one on the TV station will give me a new role... I'll..." Michelle Er did not have the strength to speak, and looked in the direction of the lounge intermittently.

Ronald followed Michelle Pfeiffer's gaze. It was a Burger King fast food he had bought before, and he hadn't had time to eat it.

"Take a bite. I haven't touched it yet. I see that you are very hungry. Taking a bite can restore your energy."

Michelle Pfeiffer looked at Ronald and heard the words for him to eat, and for a moment there was no room for anything other than beef burgers in his mind. After a few steps and one step, he jumped over, opened the wrapping paper, and ate.

Ronald poured her a glass of warm water and handed it over, "Don't worry, eat slowly, why do you want to look like you haven't eaten for a day?"

Michelle drank the water and swallowed the last piece of beef, "My two agents wouldn't let me eat meat, saying it would help me quit smoking and drinking, you know, I was with the pageant girls before. ..." said a little embarrassed.

The voice of director Zeffirelli in the "next" audition room remembered that the last audition had ended and began to call Michel in.

"Let her hair down and be more natural." Ronald helped her put down her braided hair and led her into the audition room.

"Hello, Michelle," director Zeffirelli, executive producer Peter Guber, and casting director Julia Taylor greeted her above.

"Good morning to you. My name is Michelle Pfeiffer."

"Ronald will take a snapshot of you first, and then we'll start auditioning."

Ronald picked up the Polaroid camera and pointed it at Michelle Pfeiffer's sexy face, which was slightly like a cat's face.

"Here..." Ronald pointed to the corner of his mouth, made a mouth shape at Michelle Pfeiffer, and silently reminded her that the hamburger just now was too rushed.

Michelle Pfeiffer understood, with a flush of red on her face, and then she stuck out her tongue, poking the corners of her mouth, and wiping out the food residue.

"Meow, the men in the audition room couldn't help but dub her in their hearts. This action is too sexy."

...

"Very good, we will notify your agent of the audition results." Michelle Pfeiffer, who had finished the audition, thanked everyone, and then Ronald walked out with her.

"I think they like you so much that even director Zeffirelli is swallowing." Ronald whispered to Michelle that she had a good chance.

"Miss Brooke Shields down here," Ronald called again. "Hello, Brooke. Hello, Terry."

"Hey, who asked you to give Michelle a beef burger." Michelle Pfeiffer's male agent rushed up and pushed Ronald, trying to reason with him.

"First of all, you are her agents, not her guardians. Michelle is free to eat what she wants. Second, this matter has nothing to do with me. Don't do anything to me."

"You evil person, you actually tricked her into eating beef. Only when she is full can she have the strength to audition." The man came up and punched Ronald.

Ronald dodged, then twisted his arm and pinned him to the ground, "Do you want to call the police? Michelle?"