Exploiting Hollywood 1980

With the script of "Dirty Dancing" and the production display board, Ronald, his agent Niceta, and his assistant David Simkins went to Disney Company to meet with Katzenberg, the deputy director in charge of production.

Simkins first took out four display boards, then took out the aluminum alloy brackets to support the four display board shelves. He took out the first display board and placed it on the stand. I stepped back and looked at it. There were portraits of the two protagonists on it, with their bodies in a mambo dance pose.

Ronald and Katzenberg exchanged greetings and hugs, and the two chatted for a while about Eisner's situation.

Seeing that Simkins had installed four display boards, Ronald took out the script and handed it to Katzenberg and a female executive he brought.

Katzenberg flipped through the synopsis of the script.

The female executive first saw the hand-drawn mambo dance postures of the male and female protagonists on the display board, pushed up her glasses, and then lowered her head to read the script.

"This is a dream in the hearts of all young women in America..."

Ronald has a line that introduces the core of the entire "Dirty Dancing".

The time of the executives of the seven major studios is precious. If you can arouse their interest from the beginning, things will be easier to handle later.

"The story takes place during the Kennedy administration. Girls from middle-class families were mobilized to join the Peace Corps..."

Ronald looked at the four display boards and began to introduce the selling points of the movie.

The more he talked, the more something was wrong. The reaction of the two audience members was not as he expected.

Katzenberg's brows furrowed. He didn't look at the display board or Ronald. Instead, he held the script and began to struggle with the cover with his hands, turning the pages one by one and then putting them down again.

The female executive was engrossed in looking at the portraits of the two protagonists dancing the mambo on the display board. Her eyes were engrossed, as if she was recalling memories of her youth, and she didn't pay attention to what Ronald was saying.

An experienced producer selling his or her film project will stop and figure out the situation when faced with this situation.

However, Ronald didn't have a lot of production experience, so he still introduced all the content according to the prepared script.

"Ronald, have you ever thought about it? I'm afraid the target market for this movie won't be very broad. There aren't many teenagers in the first place. This movie is shot exclusively from a female perspective. I'm afraid it will be difficult for me to schedule it.

For the same movie, if it targets male and female teenagers, the estimated box office will be twice that of this movie, so we will definitely give priority to that movie. "

"This..." Ronald was choked by Katzenberg's frankness, "But I am very confident in the quality of this movie."

"Of course, we also have great confidence in you. Will you be the director?"

"I want to try my hand at the role of producer. This film will be directed by other directors first."

"Hi...cough..." Katzenberg turned around with difficulty, "We have a lot of confidence in you, but if you weren't directing it, we would have to look at this project from a business perspective, right? "

"Please say..." Ronald gestured for Katzenberg to continue.

"For the same movie, we all have to invest in the budget for promotion and distribution. Nowadays, the cost of movie promotion and distribution is getting more and more expensive, and it is close to or exceeding the production cost of the movie.

If we have two choices at the same time, one movie is for young men aged 16-21 who watch movies significantly more frequently, and the other is for young women of the same age who watch movies significantly less frequently each year. , which one will you choose? "

"Well...then what?" Ronald felt that what the other party said made sense, but his posture and body shape always made Ronald uncomfortable.

The actor's training made Ronald more sensitive to other people's body language than before.

Katzenberg seemed to have something to hide.

"If you are the director, then we will be very interested in considering distribution. If you are looking for another director, we will hope to invest in a film that has a better chance of being a hit before he has proven himself.

Apart from this one, do you have any other scripts? "

"Other scripts?" Ronald looked back and saw his assistant David Simkins who was hesitant to speak but eager to try.

"There is a script written by my assistant David. It's about a nanny's adventures while babysitting. If you're interested, we can discuss it."

Ronald simply asked David to take out his own script and handed it to Katzenberg.

"Uh-huh..." Katzenberg took it and turned it over.

He turned it over faster and faster, and then handed it to the female executive next to him.

"If it were this movie, we would be very interested in distributing it and investing in it. Have you decided who will direct it?"

"Are you so interested?"

"Yes, this is the script you are interested in. And its target audience is teenage males, which is the easiest part of the movie audience to find now. The plot is suitable, the director is not difficult, and there is no need for stars to star. The idea of ​​​​a small-to-medium-budget live-action youth film is very suitable for our touchstone, and I have no reason to object."

Katzenberg said with a smile.

"Uh... Okay then." Ronald didn't know that this "Adventures of Nanny" would be more in line with Touchstone's taste.

Now that you’re all here, let’s talk about the project for this movie.

"Your positioning is very accurate. It is closely related to the daily life of teenagers, making it easier for them to integrate into the plot. And in ordinary life, adventures occur. To be honest, the quality of the script written by your assistant is good.

I believe that in your hands, this will be a good quality teen movie. Do you have a director in mind now? "

Several participants chatted smoothly about "Adventures in Babysitting," and Katzenberg simply asked Ronald if he had any director recommendations.

"The selection hasn't started yet, but I can ask." Ronald said honestly. Several of his friends from New York University were not talented enough to direct such films.

Spike Lee wanted to make black-themed movies. Kathryn Bigelow is interested in feminist films, and she has little interest in commercial films that purely satisfy adolescent fantasies. Of course, if the script and investment are ready, they may also be willing to make a commercial film first to become famous.

"If you haven't decided on a candidate, I have a list here, which is a list of potential director candidates compiled by Disney in the past few years. We have been constantly adding to it in recent years."

Katzenberg took out a piece of paper that was folded and opened repeatedly from his notebook and handed it to Ronald.

"Ha, I know this list." Ronald has long known this list of Disney directors. They are all industry elites who have worked as screenwriters, editors, art directors, etc. If they are willing, they are most likely to change careers. Director's list.

His own teacher in editing, Walter Murch, was the new director Disney discovered from this list.

"Well... I'm familiar with two of them here, why not invite them to come and chat?"

Ronald found two familiar names on the list.

One is the writer of "Fast Richmond High," Cameron Crowe. The other is Chris Columbus, the screenwriter of several teen films produced by Spielberg.

"Then it's up to you to contact them. If they are willing, we can discuss the project establishment in detail." Katzenberg stood up to end the meeting.

Ronald glanced at Niceta and when he nodded, he agreed to the arrangement. The other party's time is precious, and I am very satisfied that I was able to achieve the image this time.

After standing up to say goodbye, the last female executive shook hands with Ronald and said, "I really like the script of Dirty Dancing. Please make it happen."

"I will."

Ronald frowned and walked out of the office.

David Simkins was so happy that he started dancing in the corridor and kept shouting yes.

"Go call your wife, but it's not time to celebrate yet. Once the distribution contract is signed, you can almost pop the champagne." Niceta said congratulations to Simkins.

After sending him away, Niceta came back and walked to the Mercedes-Benz with Ronald. The two opened the door and sat in the back seat.

"I feel like they have some unspeakable opinions about 'Dirty Dancing' and they don't seem to want to produce and distribute the film."

"Why? I also have a feeling. I can't explain what's wrong. Why do you think so?"

"Years of experience as an agent. Next time we go to meet other studios, we can test them out like this."

"You really think so? Okay." Ronald heard Niceta explain the reason for his speculation, "I'm going to attend the premiere of Jim Cameron's new movie soon. Then I can ask the distributor of Alien 2, People from 20th Century Fox, they are not our main promotion target, just to test whether the reason you guessed is correct."

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