Exploiting Hollywood 1980

"Oh, I understand. It's okay, thank you anyway." Ronald hung up the phone.

"Um...again...?" Release manager Michelle Cannold looked at Ronald's face and asked cautiously.

Seeing Ronald nodding, General Manager Eddie, Publishing Assistant Dolly Bernstine and others all said "Hey" in unison.

However, they knew not to complain about their boss Ronald. After saying "Hey" for a while, they immediately stopped talking and began to pretend that they didn't care much about this failure.

Ronald had already made three calls in the office, to Ned Tanen of Paramount, Weintraub of MGM, and Joseph Farrow, vice president of Twentieth Century Fox.

The three of them were very enthusiastic about Ronald, but when they heard that it was about MPAA's rating, they all expressed their helplessness.

The reason they gave is also very simple. MPAA's ratings are handled by its subordinate rating committee. In order to maintain objectivity, member film companies generally do not interfere with the ratings of copies sent by other film companies.

"Ronald, this takes time. Why don't we take a two-step approach? On the one hand, we will edit out some scenes and then submit them for review again. On the other hand, we will find some people who have the right to speak in a roundabout way to come forward and help you speak."

Niceta has been working in the industry for the longest time, and he knows that it takes time and very careful detours to influence the MPAA rating agency. Ronald's call didn't get an immediate response, which was actually quite normal.

"Yes, Rick is right. Even if they want to help you, they can't use their company's connections to help another company's film. I'll make an appointment with their secretary to see if I can do it during the break. Talk to them somewhere outside the company." Richard immediately agreed, then went to the nearby office and started making calls.

"Okay, help me make another appointment with them." Ronald nodded.

"Then I will inform Mr. Murch to deal with the low-scoring shots in the first rating opinion and see if we can modify a version first." General Manager Eddie said that he would also deal with the re-editing matter.

"Then let's contact the MPAA rating department, talk to them again, and find out more about whether there are other reasons for being rated R. The foul paragraphs written on those documents are not necessarily the real reasons." Issuance Department Two people also went to their offices to contact and submit comments again.

Ronald sat in his chair and remained silent for a while. He didn't look angry or frustrated, but rather calm.

"But the calmness on the outside,

It does not necessarily mean that there is no frustration in the heart." Niceta was the last person left in Ronald's office. He knew that this young client had been going smoothly and encountered a minor setback by chance, so he could not show it on his face. , is also very admirable.

Ronald was very kind to his subordinates and never spoke condescendingly to them. Therefore, the employees have always liked this boss. Regarding this rating matter, Ronald's connections were useless. They did not want to make Ronald feel embarrassed, so they chose to pretend that they had not heard these phone calls.

A group of people in the office quietly packed up their files and things and exited quietly. They tried their best to make no noise when exiting. As if he was afraid of disturbing Ronald, who was meditating behind his desk.

Seeing that all his subordinates had left, Niceta came over and held Ronald's shoulders, "Relax, this is just a temporary retreat. I think you can handle it."

"Close the door and lock it." Ronald suddenly spoke to Niceta, and then suddenly changed from lying back to wanting to lean forward, and moved his chair to the desk. Then he took out the key from his briefcase, opened the door of the safe at the bottom of the desk, and found something inside.

"Uh, okay." Niceta felt that she still underestimated Ronald's determination. This guy really didn't take setbacks as a big deal. His ease and naturalness just now seemed like he was definitely not pretending now.

After seeing the door closed, Ronald nodded and motioned for Niceta to sit down with his eyes. Then he took out a hardcover address book from the drawer. Ronald started to flip through it. There were no contact information for several people in it.

"I don't want anyone else to know this contact, so I'm just keeping you." Ronald found the phone number he needed and started to pick up the phone and dial.

"Hello, hello, is this Wendy? Hello, I'm Ronald, Ronald Lee. We met when we accompanied Mr. Jack Valenti to the other side of the Pacific.

Yes, yes, it was the director who filmed break dancing. I first met him at Cannes in my country.

Is Mr. Valenti available? I have something to discuss with him... Well, thank you, Wendy. "

Ronald wrote down the scheduled meeting time in his notebook. Later tomorrow morning, he will go to the American Film Association, also known as MPAA (; picture ; of America), to meet their president, Jack Valenti .

"Do you know Jack Valenti?" Niceta jumped up from her chair when she heard the name.

"Yeah, I accompanied him to the other side of the Pacific. He owes me a small favor. I'll go and talk to him." Ronald winked at Niceta, "Keep it secret. This is one of my trump cards." .”

…

The headquarters office of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) in Los Angeles is not far from the Hollywood Walk of Fame and not far from the new world founded by Roger Corman.

Since 1966, Jack Valenti has left his position as an assistant to President Lyndon Johnson and joined Hollywood as the president of this industry self-regulatory organization. This year is already the 20th year.

During his tenure as president, Valenti did a lot to promote MPAA and benefit the development of the industry, and was known as the number one salesman in Hollywood.

Jack Valenti's latest goal is to open up other film markets around the world, especially the ancient country on the other side of the Pacific. Ronald's reputation there is very good, and the last delegation he formed with Gregory Pike was highly praised there.

For such a young director who could represent Hollywood and establish good relations with the overseas film market, Jack Valenti would not hesitate to greet him at the gate in person.

"Hi, Ronald. You are still so energetic. Seeing a young man like you always makes me feel old."

"Ha, Mr. Valenti, I envy your energy. Last time you visited the Great Wall, you climbed faster than me."

Ronald went up and shook Jack Valenti's hand and hugged him.

This CEO, who has been in MPAA for 20 years, is 65 years old, and there are no wrinkles on his face. Her hair was already gray, and it was combed meticulously and properly.

Valenti is of Italian origin and is very enthusiastic towards everyone. Niceta told Ronald that if he had not been persuaded by the then Universal President to join the Motion Picture Association, his qualifications would be more than enough to be a politician.

"This is a photo of the earliest Motion Picture Association. This man is the famous Hayes, the Hayes of the Hays Code. At that time, the association was also called the MPPDA, the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors Association.

After the war, the association hired former Secretary of Commerce Eric Johnson and changed its name to the Motion Picture Association (MPAA). This is Secretary Johnson. "

Jack Valenti took Ronald to visit the historical display of MPAA first. Many old photos, explained by the current president, gave him a feeling of witnessing history.

"Ha, this is the photo of me accepting a reporter's interview when I took office in 1966. At that time, Hollywood was occupied by TV series and a large number of markets were occupied. Many practitioners demanded that the rigid provisions of the Hays Code be abolished to give creators greater freedom. Let them make the movies they want to make.

We have instead adopted a rating system that gives parents full information disclosure. Movies are rated R in areas where they are not suitable for minors to watch alone. Then the PG-13 rating was introduced, giving more room for less outrageous shots..."

Ronald kept echoing that the first major thing this president did after taking office was to loosen the grip on Hollywood. Only then did the New Hollywood movement become technically possible. Otherwise, Roger Corman's "The Wild Angels," the forerunner of the New Hollywood movement, would never have been released.

There would be no "Easy Rider", which was later recognized as the beginning of the New Hollywood movement, reflecting the stories of hippies on the fringes, and "The Big Guys", which featured bank robbers from the Great Depression.

"Thanks, Wendy."

After visiting the history of MPAA, he sat in Jack Valenti's office and thanked his secretary Wendy for the coffee. Jack Valenti looked at Ronald and asked with bright eyes:

"So, Ronald, why did you come to me? Do you want to sell movies across the Pacific? There is a quota of 10 movies per year."

"Haha, no. My movie is not suitable there. I'm here because a new movie shot by my production company encountered some problems with the MPAA rating, so I wanted to come to you to ask for details."

"Haha..." Jack Valenti laughed dumbly, "I didn't expect you to have opened your own production company and started shooting your own movies. Is it your own investment? What is it called?"

"Dirty Dag, a romantic comedy about a Jewish girl who falls in love with a dancer at a resort in the 1960s."

"For this kind of thing, you should go through the objection channel and fill out a form to apply for re-rating." Jack Valenti said this, but still pressed the intercom, "Wendy, please send Rona German company...Daydream, please send the documents for Daydream Productions' Dirty Dancing rating to my office."

"What do you want? Ronald. We are old acquaintances. You can be honest with me and I will help wherever you can. But you want me to change the rating from R to PG-13. That won't do. .

I am just a manager hired by MPAA to serve as president. I am responsible for all Hollywood practitioners, film producers, distributors, theater owners, and movie audiences across the country. I have to keep it fair.

I can only tell you where and what changes you can make to maximize your chances of getting the rating you want. "

When Jack Valenti opens his mouth, he is worthy of being known as the number one salesman in Hollywood. Everything he said was impeccable and made the other person feel good, as if Valenti was on his side and the person who cared about him most.

"Fairness, I just want a fair treatment, nothing else." Ronald heard the other party talking about fairness and quickly answered.

"Oh?" Just at this time, secretary Wendy sent in the documents for Dirty Dancing. Jack Valenti looked at Ronald's confident expression, thinking that he was rated R and was just being treated unfairly. Made me a little suspicious. He took out his reading glasses and began to read the documents carefully.

"You made a Jewish surgeon's daughter in New York fall in love with a poor Irish dancer... Hahaha." Jack Valenti laughed. He saw the synopsis of the plot and couldn't hold back.

"I think Hollywood directors and actors always have their own creative freedom, our First Amendment..."

"Stop talking, I just want to see the expressions on those Jewish faces." Jack Valenti didn't want to hear Ronald, a young man about the same age as his own grandchildren, preach about the First Amendment.

"Mr. Valenti, you can take a look at the ratings. Back nudity, a small amount of kissing, and some dancing. Isn't this very normal PG-13 content in Hollywood? Some major studios, You can even get pg..."

Jack Valenti used his hand to stop Ronald from continuing to talk about the unfairness of the rating, "I will let people watch this movie again." He also felt that the R rating was a bit excessive. It seemed that those Jews were still quietly mpaa Doing tricks on the ground.

"Why are you talking to me about this kind of thing? Your distributor should handle it for you. Which distributor did you find? Ambassador Pictures? Or Orion? They are still new in America. I will let you know. People care about it.”

"Uh... no, this is a movie that my daydream self-distributes."

"What?" Jack Valenti raised his head and stared at Ronald in surprise, and quickly turned the document to the introduction on the first page. Sure enough, on it, neither the Big Seven nor any medium-sized company undertook Ronald's publishing business. .

No wonder this young man is coming to complain. The distribution business is very risky. From the introduction, it seems that it is a movie for teenagers, and it is rated R. The newbie Daydream Company may even find movie theaters willing to show it. Less than a few.

"Mr. Valenti, I don't want to compare with the movies distributed by the seven major distribution companies. As you said, medium-sized distribution companies, such as Orion and Ambassador Pictures, will not suffer such unfair treatment. What I ask for is also Just a relatively fair treatment.”

"Tuk tuk..." Jack Valenti tapped his fingers on the table several times.

"Ronald, we are good friends. You helped me both in Cannes and over there, and provided me with good weight in the negotiations on the market opening agreement. So I will be honest with you and put everything into perspective." The factors that affect the rating of your new film are all spread out on the table."

"Thank you, Mr. Valenti."

"That's right, this year, three medium-sized production and distribution companies have just joined MPAA and become full members of the Film Association.

They are Ambassador Pictures, Orion Pictures, which I just mentioned, and De Laurentiis Pictures. Before they become members, they have all undergone strict review in terms of ratings, and after three to five years..."

Before Valenti could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Ronald. Ronald raised his tone and volume, and loudly accused Valenti:

"What does this mean? The American Film Association would rather favor that Neapolitan Dino De Laurentiis than give me, an American company, a fair treatment?"

"What's wrong with Naples?" Jack Valenti was a little confused about Ronald's anger. Could he be discriminating against Italians? Nope? When I chatted with Coppola, he was very complimentary of Ronald.

"Dino is a villain. He found someone to expose my private life and exposed my ex-girlfriends in the newspaper, which caused a very bad impact. Some of them had boyfriends at the time or were already married."

"Oh," Valenti understood the source of the young man's anger. It was a personal grudge. "Ronald, we're not talking about Dino. I'm just explaining the rating process to you. Can you please listen to me patiently?" ?"

"Of course, I'm sorry, Mr. Valenti. Please continue." Ronald immediately lost his anger and turned into a sincere and obedient person.

"This Ronald, his acting skills are also good." Jack Valenti suddenly felt sympathy for each other.

“Rating is a very complex process and our experts have written guidelines, but the rules are always behind the endless imagination of the artist.

A senior judge in California once said, I don't know how to clearly judge whether those movie scenes are X-rated, but let me see it and I will know it.

Do you understand what I mean? "

"I understand, please continue, Mr. Valenti." Ronald looked very humble.

"For a newly established production company, the MPAA rating committee must have a mutual understanding process. After three to five years, when the new company has accumulated dozens of movies sent by it, we will be able to establish some mutual understanding. With trust, we can also let it enter the fast lane of rating. Some pictures are for artistic storytelling, rather than simple sensory stimulation to teach bad children, do you understand?"

"Yes, I know."

"So when rating the first few films of the new company, our committee experts will inevitably be a little more strict because trust has not yet been established."

"I understand what you said, but I think the appropriate rating for a movie should ultimately be viewed from the audience's perspective. Mr. Valenti, you can also watch these shots, all for the sake of plot narrative and emotion. Mobilization, we don't have anywhere, is excitement for the sake of excitement.

Moreover, at the end of the movie, it is a very positive attitude towards life. Love and life must be decided by yourself, and you must bear the consequences of your decision.

Couldn’t this kind of movie teach our current young audiences some lessons?

In short, I think it is very inappropriate for Dirty Dancing to be rated R. "

"How inappropriate?" Jack Valenti wanted to laugh a little when he heard Ronald's angry look.

"I can point to a similar film, Maximum Overdrive by De Laurentiis, where the horror scenes seemed like a deliberate offense to the audience, and the actors were stabbed with razor blades during filming. The eyes cause blindness. This kind of movie that resorts to violence is only rated R. Can two young men and women dancing, hugging and kissing be compared with this?"

Jack Valenti wanted to stop Ronald. He didn't want to discuss the specific case, but Ronald's angry words came at a rapid pace, like a machine gun blast.

"And that movie Blue Velvet, also produced by De Laurentiis, was so offensive to America, no, to the common values ​​of mankind, that it was also rated R? Could it be that the ten-second frontal nudity of kidnapping, rape and imprisonment, Is it also the same as the fleeting back exposure of young men and women during their beautiful first love, and the kissing scene that is just enough? What kind of value lessons can you give to the audience who watch these two movies?"

"I can see that you have a sense of justice, Ronald." Jack Valenti said.

"Uh..." Ronald cursed vigorously and scolded several enemies who had personal grudges. When he suddenly heard this sentence, he felt a little embarrassed. He himself is not an idealist like Henry Fonda, nor is he a defender of the American spirit like John Wayne. In the final analysis, it is not just about money.

"Well... yes, I like our country. My grandfather and great-grandfather all sacrificed their lives on the European battlefields of the two world wars for America and world peace. They were all fighter pilots.

So I cherish my current life very much. If I can be lucky enough to have a little success, I must promote the values ​​of self-reliance and self-improvement, so that the things that my grandfather and great-grandfather sacrificed their lives to protect are worth their efforts. "

Ronald took the cold coffee and drank it in one gulp. This time, out of desperation, he asked him to bring out his ancestors to endorse himself. It was a bit far-fetched, and his forehead was sweating.

"Your grandfather died flying a fighter jet on the battlefield of World War II?" Jack Valenti didn't seem to notice Ronald's far-fetchedness, but instead asked about Ronald's grandfather.

"Ah...oh...yes, my grandfather James Lee flew a P47 fighter jet to escort the bomber groups that bombed the German-occupied areas in Europe. On his last mission, in order to cover the return of the bombers, a man attracted the Germans. The fighter jet was lost over the Atlantic Ocean."

Jack Valenti said nothing and was silent for a long time.

He stood up and took out a bottle of fine whiskey and two glasses from the wine cabinet. Pour Ronald a drink.

The two of them drank whiskey before Jack Valenti said slowly, "I also served in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. I flew a B-25 bomber and carried out more than 50 bombing missions." Task.

I have encountered your grandfather's situation several times. When I was on a mission, there were indeed fighter pilots who risked their lives to help us block the damn German planes. "

Jack Valenti hadn't talked about the past for a long time. He told some adventures and heroic stories from those years, and the two drank a few glasses of wine.

"Mr. Valenti, please help me. I just want to film a story that touches everyone. I don't have any bad intentions. For such a movie, if there are any reasonable requirements in terms of ratings, we can continue to modify it, but we cannot destroy the entire film." The style and narrative of the movie..."

Seeing that the emotional card was working, Ronald quickly struck while the iron was hot.

Jack Valenti raised his hand to stop Ronald from continuing to discuss the details, "Ask your distribution manager to revise a new version according to the ratings opinions and send it back."

"Mr. Valenti, I want to ask. If we cut out the exposed back shot as required by the MPAA, what is the chance of getting a pg-13 rating?"

"If you prune according to the association's requirements, some things can be arranged." Jack Valenti was still spotless.

"Thank you then, Mr. Valenti." Ronald quickly helped pour a glass of wine and raised his glass to Jack Valenti.

"I also want the American audience to appreciate your new work Ronald."

Jack Valenti happily took a sip and said, "By the way, look at the introduction. Is this a past event from the JFK days?"

"Yes, it is the story of when JFK was still the commander-in-chief and was not assassinated. At that time, everyone was full of ideals and hopes for the future. The Apollo moon landing, the Cuban Missile Crisis..."

"Well... you may not know that I was in Dallas when JFK was assassinated, and I was on Air Force One when Lyndon Johnson announced his inauguration as commander-in-chief in the presence of Mrs. Jacqueline Kennedy. , next to the two of them..."

…

The two chatted some more about past events, and Ronald wanted to leave.

"Ronald, we are friends, and friends should help each other. It just so happens that I have something here that I need your help with."

"What is it? I will try my best."

"Very well, you want to go to the other side of the Pacific with me."

"Huh?" Ronald didn't expect Jack Valenti to make this request.

"Over there, there are still great doubts about opening up the film market. They hope to continue to communicate with us and introduce new technical equipment. On the other hand, they also hope to ensure their dominance."

Ronald nodded. The ambitions of big countries and small countries are different. The country over there belongs to the country with the foundation of ambition.

"Specifically, how can I help you?"

"I heard that you have a lighting equipment factory there and export equipment to America?"

"Yes, with a machine that simulates lightning effects, that kind of long-arc halogen lamp, only they and the Suville Alliance can produce it."

"If you can go with me as a representative of the American Film Association and equipment manufacturers. Give them a world-leading level certification, our negotiations with them will be much more proactive. Always importing equipment from America will be frustrating. Their egos. If there's one device we have to import from them, it's mutual benefit between friends."

Ronald counted the days and nodded in agreement, "Yes, but I can't stay too long."

"Very good, you just need to stay with me and finish the exchange meeting with them, and then you can leave. It won't take more than a week."

"No problem, I can also go to Xujiahui to meet old friends. It seems that Spielberg is also filming a new movie there."

…

"Ronald, the MPAA rating committee, took the initiative to call us and asked us to modify a few shots and send them for a second rating as soon as possible."

When he was at work on Monday, the issuance manager Michelle Cannold received a call from the MPAA. He was a little unconvinced that there was such a thing. The MPAA took the initiative to provide revision opinions and urged the application to be submitted a second time.

"Very good, Michelle, you discuss it with Mr. Walter Murch. Once he says it's OK, you can submit it. I'm going to go abroad for a while. If you have any questions, please contact my agent."

"What a mysterious young man." Distribution manager Michelle Cannold put down the phone and chatted with Dolly Bernstine about the dramatic development in ratings.

"I heard," Dolly Bernstine looked at no one around, and quietly lowered her voice to her boss Cannold, "I heard a rumor that our boss, Ronald, and the White House The first couple are related. His 'Top Gun' was personally praised by the commander-in-chief."

"So that's how it is...no wonder."

The staff of Daydream Pictures, from the general manager to the clerks below, were all surprised by this weird treatment. America is like this. A capable boss will be admired by his employees and feel proud that he has joined a good company with potential.

All kinds of rumors about Ronald's background tend to spread in the company.

At this time, Ronald had already boarded a plane to the other side of the Pacific, and together with Jack Valenti, they once again came to another continent in order to open up the Hollywood market.

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