Exploiting Hollywood 1980

After the premiere, Helen and Ronald got together for a day and then returned to New York. She wants to work with several like-minded actresses to co-create the movies she wants to make, all female movies with actresses as the protagonists.

On Monday of the second week, Ronald also got the premiere box office data for "Secret of Success". There are more than 1,300 theaters, and the box office is close to 7.8 million.

Especially in Ronald's hometown of New York, the film set off a viewing craze. White-collar workers in Manhattan lined up to watch the movie in the theater after get off work. Even the New York Times published a particularly positive review.

"Bentley, played by Fox, lived a double life as a mailroom boy and a senior manager. He pretended to be other people's names in the company and did two jobs that best understood the business conditions. This inspired Bentley's true nature. of ingenuity.

Of course, the movie is full of homages to the ’61 Broadway musical How to Succeed in Business Without Trying. "

"Huh?" The more Ronald read, the more wrong he became. Why did it sound like he was accusing Jim Cash and Jack Epps, the screenwriters of "The Secret of Success", of plagiarism? The two men also rewrote a version of the "Top Gun" script. Although not much of the plot they wrote was adopted in the end, it was signed after all.

Ronald called his script assistant at Daydream Pictures and an expert on the history of Hollywood and Broadway theater, David Simkins.

"Didn't you say that this movie was adapted from Spielberg's experience? Why did the New York Times film secretly tease him about plagiarizing a 1961 musical?"

"Because it's really similar. The musical was also about a young man from a small town who came from the countryside and took a shortcut to reach a high position by dating his boss's lover. But when this movie came out, I saw a lot of viewers, but Look at it with an appreciative eye.”

Simkins completed the filming of "Adventures in Babysitting" with him from Toronto, and is now back in the Los Angeles office, continuing to collect and select scripts for Ronald. He has been working in the writers' room and is much more familiar with these old scripts than Ronald.

"Is this screenwriter cheating?" Ronald has been in the industry for a long time and knows that many screenwriters deliberately choose some old movies and dramas, reshape them and pretend to have written them themselves.

It's just that this time it's too close to the original work, which was only twenty-five years old. There are still many film critics who saw the drama at the time. They remember that this time it was exposed, and they didn't know how Universal would handle it.

The ridiculous screenwriter also swore that it was adapted from a true incident when Spielberg pretended to be a staff member and occupied an office at Universal when he was young.

"Judge for yourself,

I have the original script and the 1951 version of the same name here, and I'll have them sent to you. "

Ronald read the original script sent by the errand boy.

Well, maybe Spielberg had a thing for occupying a spare office, and it got adapted into the script. However, the main story of the script, as well as the two main jobs of the protagonist, the mailroom and the senior manager, are very similar to the original version. The plot of the affair with the general manager's lover is also exactly the same. It is indeed plagiarism.

"Something is going to happen." Ronald asked for the phone number of Vincent Canby, a veteran film critic of the New York Times, and called him personally to confirm.

"Ronald, I have said a lot of good things about your movie. Pauline Kael is very optimistic about your future. She thinks you are the person who can revolutionize Hollywood. How about, when will your new movie be released? I want to take a sneak peek."

The New York film critic circle all respects New Yorker film critic Pauline Kael. Vincent Canby, who is more senior than her, is no exception. Both are directors of the New York Film Critics Circle. I heard it was Ronald calling and quickly became familiar with him.

Ronald mentioned the release time of his new film, and also invited the other party to watch the film critics' special session. In addition, I also talked about my interpretation of his evaluation of "the secret of success". Does this imply plagiarism?

"But this movie has nothing to do with you, does it? Are you and Herbert friends?" Vincent Canby was referring to Herbert Ross, the director of The Secret of Success.

"No, no, the heroine Helen Slater is my recommendation. I have read the script of the old musical you mentioned and want to confirm it with you."

"So Helen is yours. I can tell you clearly that this is not the first time those two screenwriters have done this. Your Top Gun is also filled with many scenes from classic western movies."

Well, Ronald was really unfamiliar. He checked with Vincent Canby and found out that many of the passages written by these two people that had been preserved were plagiarized.

This was something that he couldn't completely stay out of. Ronald picked up the phone and called his agent Niceta.

"I have news..."

…

"Nicita said you have important news?" Tom Pollack, the president of Universal, with a slightly squinting eye, specifically asked his secretary to change his schedule to receive Hollywood's youngest blockbuster film director. Nader Lee.

Who asked his agent to talk about the seriousness of the matter on the phone?

"This is a film review written by Vincent Canby." Ronald turned to the page and secretly highlighted the plagiarism, marking it with a marker.

"Here's the original script and," then two thick books, "I checked with Vincent Canby. He was cautious about not naming it directly."

Tom Pollack looked at it and covered his face with one hand, "Shxt, this musical was adapted into a movie in 1967, produced by United Artists. I remember seeing the top ten box office hits over the years, and I was impressed by this name. The review department Those people are all dog eaters..."

"Hey, let the person in charge of script review come to my office later." Pollack picked up the phone and briefly explained to his secretary.

"Thank you, Ronald. I owe you a favor. What do you want?" Pollack's squinting eyes looked three meters away from Ronald, and his good eye looked directly at him.

Ronald felt a little embarrassed, but he couldn't express his ridicule for other people's physical disabilities.

"I just think this matter is very serious, so I came to have a special interview with you. I have nothing to exchange with you, I just hope that Helen will not be affected, and my friend Michael (J. Fox)"

"I will remember it. Don't worry, Universal's public relations department is quite powerful. I will keep the film critics in a tacit understanding. I will add these two little bastards to the blacklist and then notify all other studios.

By the way, you are also a member of the Producers Alliance now, right? I went to the last meeting with your general manager Eddie Cohen, and it's time to share these blacklists with you. I'll have someone bring you a copy, please keep it confidential. "

"Thank you then."

Ronald stood up to leave. Tom Pollack always worked like a clock and didn't want to waste more of his time.

On the way back, Ronald flipped through the blacklist shared in the industry. He really felt that this exchange was very rich, and his good intentions were indeed rewarded.

In the past ten years in Hollywood, many screenwriters, directors, and artists with bad deeds have been listed on this list. Of course, the names of all the big-name celebrities have not been seen, so there must be another version with a higher level of confidentiality.

But these ordinary dishonest, plagiarized, and arrogant names can be regarded as a very important weapon for small companies to avoid losses.

"These producers, they won't give it to me unless I ask them for it." General Manager Eddie had vaguely heard of such a blacklist, but when he attended the Producers Alliance several times, no one took the initiative. prompt him.

"Keep it well and make a copy. Don't read it unless you are a senior manager." After Ronald ordered, he directly placed a copy in the safe of his apartment.

"Secret of Success" officially topped the box office list on Monday night after all movie box office statistics were released.

"Blind Date", which was released before and after him, was relegated to a distant second place and only took in $4 million at the box office.

This romantic comedy stars the most popular comedy star in the TV series, Bruce Willis, and the sexy porn star Kim Basinger, who is famous for her "9 and a half weeks" fame. It’s still far from the “secret of success”.

Ronald went to see it and felt that his acting skills were exaggerated and had a strong TV drama style. Kim Basinger was not able to boost the movie's box office. After all, she didn't take off her clothes in this movie.

After that, there is "Lethal Weapon" which has been released for more than a month. The male protagonist is also another Australian male star who had a relationship with Ronald, Mel Gibson.

This kind of movie that combines action with comedy elements is now very popular. In particular, Danny Glover, who plays Mel Gibson's partner in the film, has the style of a comedy master from the silent film era, and can make people laugh with his body language.

After that, there is "Raising Arizona", which Nicolas Cage previously filmed. This is a very strange movie that also performed well at the box office.

Finally, there is "Platoon", which has been in theaters for 5 months and is still strong at the box office. It has great ambitions to replicate last year's "Top Gun" and become a box office hit.

In short, in the first half of the year, the box office in North America relied on these blockbuster movies to support the scene.

Tom Pollack's measures are effective. Over the next few days, Ronald noticed that there was no longer any hint of plagiarism in the film reviews for "Secret of Success."

The movie lived up to expectations and achieved an average of $5,700 per museum. It continues to make great progress in the middle of the week and is about to win the box office championship again.

Two well-known film critics from the Chicago Film Critics Circle also reviewed this movie on a TV show:

"The secret of success seems to be trapped in some kind of time machine, as if the script has been in the drawer of Universal executives since the 1950s and no one has bothered to update it. Starring Michael J. Fox, and Helen Hunt, are the only Two highlights.

This strange movie is difficult to classify. From sitcom to farce, from sex farce to business war plot, only the performances of the two leading actors can calmly lead the audience through the inherent flaws of the script and through countless quicksand traps. Reach the climax of the ending. "

"Scoff..." Ronald turned off the remote control. Roger Ebert was a very shrewd person and did not dare to deal with the daughter of PBS general manager Gerald Slater, the syndicated station where he broadcast his own TV film review program. Even if you show a little dissatisfaction, you have to be careful to say nice things.

"Ronald, Mr. Bannon is here." Little Bud knocked on the door and came in to inform Ronald.

"Ask him to wait a moment, I'll be out right away."

Ronald put on a simple coat and went out to see Bannon and a luxury car parked at the door.

"MJ's manager Dario called. He is free to see us tonight." Ronald thanked Bannon who opened the door for him and got into the right side of the back seat.

Bannon turned from the back to the left side of the car and got in. "I put the copy in the back and let's set off."

Ronald skillfully took out a bottle of Coke from the freezer, handed it to Bannon, and the two started drinking.

Bannon was also the first to use a limousine to transport a rough copy of the new film “’t Buy Me Love.” As a Wall Street banker, he has always paid attention to this kind of pomp and circumstance.

"As for your cousin Donna, I have already written a letter of recommendation. If you are looking for a screen fund, just write one from the person involved. I will send it to the president of the company in Long Island together with her resume.

That guy is a mathematician, different from us, a very technical talent. But I can still talk to him and have dealings with him. I'll give him a call. "

"Thank you then." Seeing how concerned Bannon was about his affairs, Ronald knew that Donna's wish would probably come true.

"Do you think MJ will like our sample? What price will he give us?" Bannon turned around and began to test Rona on whether MJ would agree to grant the copyright to the Beatles' songs and the naming rights to the movie. The influence of virtue before him.

"It's hard to say, artists' ideas are complicated. But I saw the sample, and the ending is very good. Artists are also a group of people who are easily moved. They might be able to get a good price, such as a heavy discount. "

Ronald didn't know how much face Michael Jackson could give him, so he didn't say enough. It’s different now than when Ronald shot him the “Captain Yoon” short film a few years ago.

MJ's current record sales have broken the single record record of any singer in history. Now in the music industry, MJ is in a state of getting everything he wants. With the new album about to be released, I was able to spare more than an hour to watch the film because it was in the name of an old friend.

"Oh, really? I rarely deal with musicians. I wish us good luck." Bannon mumbled and sat in the back seat and stopped talking.

"Ronald, please sit down. Have you brought all the copies?"

MJ’s manager Dario, with a bald head, came out to personally greet Ronald and Bannon.

"It's all on the cart." Ronald pointed to Bannon pushing a cart behind him, which contained a set of rough-cut copies of "Love Is Not For Sale."

"Where is MJ?" Arriving at the screening room, Ronald looked at the empty hall, with only a few backing dancers sitting sparsely in the back.

"He is very busy now, and there are many things for him to confirm for the new album. Columbia has high hopes for the new album. He will come over after he finishes talking."

"Okay." Ronald sat down, and Bannon personally moved the copy into the screening room at the back.

The three of them waited in the private screening room for more than two hours. Bannon had already drank three large cups of Americano coffee, and Ronald started to shake his legs out of boredom.

"Tonight looks like it's going to be a long night." Bannon looked at Ronald with less respect than before. In front of the biggest pop star in America right now, everyone is pretty much the same and has to wait. Looking at this posture, maybe Ronald doesn't have much face to sell to MJ.

"Ronald, you're here, have you watched the MV of my new song?"

More than half an hour later, a slender and gentle male voice finally appeared in the screening hall.

Dario rushed forward and led MJ the way.

"Very good, very good. Who directed it? The image style is very good." Ronald stepped forward and hugged MJ.

"John Landis, he works for me now." Michael Jackson said with a smile.

Ronald was stunned. He hadn't heard this name for a long time. The director who caused an accident and beheaded actor Vic Morrow paid a huge amount of compensation to Morrow's family and two other Asian children.

His skills are actually very good, and now MJ is getting a good deal by asking him to direct the MV.

"Let's get started." MJ habitually gave orders gently after sitting down.

Ronald looked at Bannon, who immediately ran to the screening room and started showing the movie himself.

The one-hour and twenty-minute movie quickly comes to an end because there is no song authorization. At the end, Amanda Peterson and Patrick Dempsey are riding on the lawnmower, thinking about driving away, while kissing passionately. , without a soundtrack.

“’t Buy Me Love…”

A very typical black male voice began to sing the song "Love Is Not For Sale" by the Beatles. The scene added harmonies to the end of the film.

Ronald looked at Michael Jackson singing softly in the darkness. There were tears in his eyes, which could be seen clearly under the reflection of the screen.

"'t Buy Me Love...", the backup dancers and harmony groups in the back also began to sing along with MJ's a cappella and began to join in.

"Oh oh..." After MJ finished singing, subtitles began to appear on the screen.

Ronald knew that things would go well, "You sang so well, I think it's even more moving than the original song."

"Oh, Ronald, you excited me." MJ calmed down and said calmly.

"You know? When I was a child, I was in the Ja 5 choir with my father and several brothers, performing on TV and in live performances across the country. Every time I went to bed at night, my eldest brother would bring some beautiful girls back. .

I was very humble at that time, and I always wanted to get such innocence as in the movie, without any other love mixed in.

Love should not be a commodity. "MJ sat in the darkness and said to himself in a very soft voice.

"Pa..." The light in the hall was turned on.

"So, you agree?" Ronald looked at MJ under the bright light, sitting there in black clothes.

Ronald wanted to strike while the iron was hot and get the authorization done.

"Of course, of course, you are the best, Ronald. Your movies always make me feel moved and passionate."

"You are a talented artist, and it is amazing to be able to move you. But I am not the director of this movie."

"Hey, I know, you don't want to be anonymous. Movies are like songs. From the paw prints, you can tell that the tiger has been there. The eyes of the heroine are full of hope. It must be your handiwork, right? ?”

"Well...that's it." Ronald thought to himself, he saved Amanda Peterson from Tom Mount's tiger's jaws, so her eyes could maintain this light.

"Mr. Jackson, Mr. Dario, do you agree to license the Beatles' song to us for this movie? I don't know what the price will be? We hope that it will be used as the opening and closing interludes, and as the name of the movie... "

Bannon came up again, he was more anxious than Ronald.

"Dario, what is the lowest transfer fee for the song copyright I bought?" MJ asked his manager Dario.

"Minimum? According to the requirements of the union, the minimum is fifteen thousand US dollars for the film insert and another fifteen thousand US dollars for the title. But that is usually for fledgling singers..."

"That's it, Ronald is my friend, he made me feel the original passion and innocence tonight..." MJ said and finalized.

…

"Are you satisfied? This is the lowest price."

Back in the limousine, Ronald handed the signed authorization agreement to Bannon.

Bannon took it carefully, and then looked at Ronald several times.

"This person is unfathomable. MJ originally asked for one million for the song rights, but he sold it to us for fifteen thousand, with the naming rights for the movie."

Ronald glanced at Bannon's expression and knew that the other party had misunderstood that his relationship with MJ had reached the point where he could freely give away song copyrights.

In fact, Ronald didn't know why MJ was so moved by this ordinary teenage romantic comedy. Could it be that he also had trouble picking up girls when he was a child?

That said, it's quite possible. The star of the Ja 5 chorus at that time was his eldest brother Jackie.

"Your extra production costs should be put to good use. Use it to buy some film critics for marketing, or put in more TV advertisements. It will be very effective."

Ronald knew that Bannon's psychological price was almost one-third of the asking price. He had prepared between 200,000 and 300,000 US dollars to purchase the song copyright. Unexpectedly, not even a tenth of it was used.

"I will personally fly back to New York and take Donna to visit the New York Stock Exchange, and investment banks such as Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley,... and all large-scale securities firms on Wall Street, all of which have had major projects in the past two years. The broker..." Bannon changed the topic and said something completely unrelated.

"When working on Wall Street, connections are also very important. Donna may not be suitable for the working environment there, but I still need to get to know those important people after I introduce her to her.

After that, I will personally send her to Renaissance Investment Company of Professor Simons on Long Island. The Roy Lin Columbia Fund he manages mainly makes fund investments for some Ivy League universities.

Donna can intern wherever she wants, and I will ensure that she uses her professional abilities to find a job as a research assistant at the Roy Lin Columbia Foundation. "

"I don't know what to say except thank you." Ronald could only say thank you. Donna is one of his closest relatives.

"It's okay. It's an honor for me to be able to do something for you." Bannon felt that he had been bumping around in Hollywood for more than a year, and it was only now that he was convinced that he had found the destined person who could lead him to success.

Please remember the first domain name of this book: . :