Exploiting Hollywood 1980

Hollywood is a vanity fair for handsome men and women, and a place for artists to realize their dreams, but in the final analysis, it is a business field.

When the first batch of studios avoided Edison's film patents and came from New York to California's Hollywood to pioneer, at that time the studios most valued photographers. Any photographer who can shoot shots that others can't, can sell a lot of money.

Knowledge spread quickly, and by the time all photographers had mastered the method of photography, screenwriting began to become the most important money-making asset. A large number of screenwriters who could not get ahead on Broadway poured into Hollywood and began to shoot some short plays with stories.

When the famous director David Griffiths innovatively used close-up shots and editing techniques, he began to connect the short plays with unique ideas to tell an hour-long story. At this time, the director who can manage everyone's work has become the most important object of Hollywood.

But when Griffiths made "Parties and Dissidents," which cost a record $400,000 in 1916 and flopped at the box office, all studio bosses understood that this business was like every other.

It is all about figuring out the preferences of the market, then formulating a budget according to the market, inviting stars, directors, photographers, screenwriters, and launching it into the market as a product.

Beginning in the twenties, the producer began to become the most powerful person on a crew. From then on, the success of a producer is considered by Hollywood to be the most reliable success.

Therefore, Ronald's "A Wicked Husband" as the producer showed his ferocious fangs in the second week, and after the box office rose against the trend, everyone began to look at Ronald differently.

The Zac Trio director, who is famous for dense language, was used to transform and shoot a comedy film with a focus on the plot.

The actors used are second- and third-tier supporting roles, as well as outdated actresses. Kneading these featureless people together suddenly became a dark horse at the box office. This ability to discover potential, untapped markets, the ability to find a bunch of cheap actors and turn a high-quality touch into gold, has everyone excited.

From David O. Selznick, the producer of "Gone with the Wind" in ancient times, to Robert Evans, the producer of "Chinatown" and "Urban Cowboy" in the New Hollywood era, who commented on the box office with double box office, there are one or two producers with a particularly keen sense of smell every time, who can see through the fog of the market and directly reach the hearts of the audience.

Their success has a characteristic. They don't repeat the successful movie types very often, and they can reach the balance between good reviews and box office sales many times. Any script, if they see it with their eyes, may become a hotly discussed blockbuster that year.

The resumes of Ronald's previous film co-producers such as "Lightning Dance" were also dug out.

Everyone suddenly discovered that Ronald was not only the director of blockbuster films, but also had done a lot of production work. All of a sudden, they felt that he might become the next "Golden Boy" of Hollywood.

Just like the previous old golden boy, Robert Redford, regardless of whether he is an actor, a director, or a producer, the ceiling is the ceiling when he makes a move.

Therefore, the volume of calls received by two people suddenly increased rapidly.

The first was Ronald's script assistant, David Simkins. He suddenly received a lot of high-quality movie scripts, and wanted Ronald to see if they could reach a production agreement.

The other was Ronald's main manager at CAA, Nisita. Suddenly, the senior leaders of the seven major studios began to call him personally, asking to meet Ronald to "discuss the project." No matter what the subject matter is, no matter what actor is used, there is only one requirement, that he should be the producer besides the director.

Of course, the first one to find was Touchstone Pictures, the distributor of "A Family with an Evil Husband", Disney's subsidiary.

Compared with others, their mood is actually not so excited. Because Eisner understood that Ronald didn't really care too much about the production work. He just looked at the blueprint of the director team and slightly interfered with the casting of male and female supporting roles.

However, isn't a smart producer just seeing the potential for cooperation between the main creators?

"We are very satisfied with the unexpected box office results of this kind of live-action film with small and medium production costs. Next, we will invest more in this type of film, Ronald. Whatever project you have, whether you direct it yourself or find another director, we will give priority to release it."

Eisner promised Ronald on the phone.

"I happen to have a project here, and I will submit it to Mr. Katzenberg." Ronald asked Eddie to prepare the "Dirty Dancing" project information, and made an appointment to submit it to Touchstone Films

"Very well, I will ask myself."

Then there was Paramount's Ned Tanin, who personally interviewed Ronald.

"Aha, Ronald, very good, very good, have you saved the box office rankings in the newspaper that day? I prepared this for you, keep it well."

Tanin came over and gave Ronald a gift, which was the top three newspaper pages of the day's box office rankings, framed in a photo frame.

"Haha, thanks. My family will love it."

"How about your new project?"

"I signed a contract with MGM." Ronald's "Moonlight Sultry" has chosen Weintraub, who has more trust in himself.

"I'm not talking about that. I heard that you also bought the production rights of a movie? Have you considered releasing it in Paramount?"

"This project? It's a small investment. Paramount rarely releases it."

"Nothing, as long as it is recommended by you, we can give priority to evaluation. Small productions can also invest more, can't they? You can also find stars to participate in it." Tanin didn't want to lose this movie.

"Tsk, you didn't say it earlier. I've already talked to Disney's Touchstone. Then, if they're not interested, I'll bring you the script again?" Ronald said this deliberately, intending to show his face.

"Ah, that's, that's, it's you who cooperate with the wicked husband." Ned Tanning drank his coffee to cover it up. This kind of genius producer Miaozi's project was submitted to Touchstone, how could they still release it? You might as well think of other ways.

"What other scripts do you have here? Don't forget about Paramount. Speaking of which, your first film as a co-producer is Paramount's 'Lightning Dance'."

"I don't have a new script for the time being, but my script assistant David said that there are quite a few excellent scripts submitted to Daydream. I have new ideas, so I must contact you first."

It's almost beat, and it doesn't have to be too stiff with the head of Paramount.

Ronald felt that maintaining a good relationship with several distributors and maintaining a healthy competitive situation would be beneficial to his future production business.

This trick was learned by him and Spielberg.

"You... you can... I really got it wrong. Your production and negotiation skills are even more amazing than your directing skills." Ned Tanin drank his coffee again.

"I don't actually do much work. Jerry Zucker is the leader of this film project." Ronald said truthfully.

"Humility is a virtue, and that's what I like about you." Ned Tannin couldn't believe it.

"I like working with you the most, Ronald. From your earliest "fast-paced Richmond High School", you are a good director who respects producers and distributors. Our requirements for directors are actually very simple. Finish the film on time, with quality, and within budget.

It seems that you have had the heart of a producer since then. We are actually very tolerant of directors. Look at Back to the Future director Zemeckis. He changed the name of the villain to mine because he was dissatisfied with my evaluation. In fact, I am not angry at all.

To be able to leave a footprint in this milestone movie, I'm not really old-fashioned, am I?

Don't worry, as long as it is the project you brought, I will definitely ask it in person and give priority to it. "

In fact, Ned Tanin didn't do anything to help Ronald in a timely manner. In this situation, he can only lower his figure and say good things, hoping that he can get one or two good projects.

Actions speak louder than all sweet words.

Universal's new president, squint-eyed Tom Pollack, had a different strategy, and he took action first.

"Ronald, the heroine of 'Secrets of Success' has a problem, we caught Christy McNichol abusing drugs, she's mentally unstable and has a psychiatric record.

So we're switching roles, and the director, Herbert Ross, and I both agree that Helen Slater did the best job in the audition, so please put in a few nice words and let Helen come to the rescue. "

This made Ronald very emotional. Tom Pollack's wrist was very high. The problem of Christie McNichol, before choosing her, the director and the producer may not have known about it. This is a relatively common problem in Hollywood.

And use this to get rid of her, and asked Ronald's person, Helen Slater, to replace her as the heroine, and said that Ronald would help persuade, this is a gift to the door and thank him for the trial.

Without saying a word, Ronald also has to accept his affection, and it is also necessary to cooperate with Universal for any future projects.

The trick is old, but useful.

Helen rushed to Ronald's house, "Ronnie, Ronnie, Ronnie, Ronnie..." When they met, they hugged his face and kissed him.

"I'm so happy, it was you who helped me snatch the heroine secretly, right? Uh...uh..."

"Can you play this role well?" Ronald looked into the beauty's eyes and asked solemnly.

"I...I'm not sure. I've always wanted to play this role, and I read the script. But since last time, I've always felt that my acting skills have a big problem. Of course, I've practiced with Helen Hunt recently, and I've improved a lot.

I can't say that I can do the best, but I will try my best. "

"I'm relieved when you say that." Ronald knew that Helen's acting skills couldn't improve overnight, as long as he was self-aware and knew the direction of his efforts, he wouldn't spoil the whole movie, then there would be no big problem. Anyway, for this role, being young and beautiful is the most important thing.

"Then there is only one thing left..."

"What's the matter?" Helen stared at Ronald with wide eyes.

"You had a kiss scene with Michael Fox..."

"Hee hee hee, I get it. There is a gap in height between me and him, and I will use various methods to make up for it. It must be borrowed by then. Don't worry."

"Really? How to borrow a seat?"

"That's it." Helen kissed Ronald's mouth with a big kiss, and it was shot from an oblique rear angle, which looked exactly the same as the real kiss.

"Uh...uh...this is not a borrowing." Helen was hugged by Ronald, and her lips slowly moved together.

"Well... it's still comfortable to kiss."

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