Exploiting Hollywood 1980

"Your Royal Highness, thank you very much for your help. I hope William will be happy because he broke the world record." Ronald had secretly asked Princess Diana to contact the publisher of Guinness World Records, the Guinness Company. It just so happened that Guinness wanted to strengthen the relationship with the royal family, and things went smoothly.

In addition to the world record that Ronald asked them to update, they also gave Diana's eldest son William a record - "the most popular royal baby in the world."

"Ha, William is very happy. When I went to Wetherby to see him, he felt very proud. Besides, you can just call me Diana, or Dai. It really feels strange to be called His Royal Highness by friends."

Diana was very happy. Every time she went to see her sons at Wetherby School, she always had to compete with their father for the children's love. Prince Charles would take his sons to ride horses, while Diana had to use other methods. Stay close to your son.

There is nothing that her husband cannot give her, and she can only do things for her children that normal parents would do to win their love. For example, she was the first princess to participate in the parents' sports meeting of her son's school. She won first place in the mother's race last year and second place this year. The children are all proud of having such a mother.

But there were too few such things, so Ronald contacted Guinness World Records and gave his eldest son his own world record, which helped her win a high score in the war. It's just that the younger son Harry has to feel jealous again...I'll find a way to make it up to him next year.

"Okay, I'll ask you to wear it..."

Princess Diana was very happy chatting on the phone. She liked to communicate with these successful people who worked hard on their own, and didn't like those who only relied on their ancestors... She also asked Ronald about the release time of Ronald's new movie, what new works he has, etc.

Ronald put down the phone after promising that both "Steel Magnolias" and "When Harry Met Sally" would go to London premieres and invite the princess's family to attend.

"It's done, let them send the materials to Fleet Street in London." Ronald signaled the media consultant to launch an attack on Ovitz.

Soon, many serious newspapers in London, as well as more gossip tabloids, obtained news materials about Michael Ovitz, the founder of a Hollywood agency called CAA.

The reason why it was transferred through London was that Ovitz's power in the American entertainment and media circles was too great for such a report to be issued.

CAA's revenue last year exceeded 60 million. With several blockbuster movies this year, it will be even more. In addition, plus the high consulting fees that Sony must pay to him, Ovitz's wealth is expected to grow by more than 1 100 million.

Ordinarily, this amount of money is not top-notch compared to the rich in Hollywood, but CAA can also control the marketing budgets of various film and television dramas and related advertising placement companies in the media. The influence on the media is considerable.

This makes the tabloids in America think about whether they can still receive advertisements if they want to write some gossip about Ovitz and make it sensational.

Serious major newspapers, on the other hand, are subject to the principle of fact. Before publishing such a report about someone who has great influence in the media, they must verify the facts with him or other insiders, which is almost impossible to do.

When Ronald's materials were anonymously released to the domestic media, no one they contacted was willing to be interviewed.

After a round of testing, Ronald was surprised to find that none of the media in America had published any exclusive interviews or in-depth reports about him.

Executives at major studios declined to comment. And those independent producers, such as Ray Stark, Ronald's collaborator in "Steel Magnolias", bluntly told the New York media who wanted to interview him that they had to get approval from CAA before they could make the film. Ovitz was interviewed about the incident.

I don’t know if it’s because Ovitz himself is good at using negative news about celebrities to blackmail them to achieve his own goals, so he himself controls the publication of gossip about himself in the newspapers very strictly.

However, just like the so-called "power" obtained by using the power to blackmail customers or bullying the top executives of major studios with large investment projects, Ovitz's control of the news media is to a large extent. Borrowing other people's money and power.

There is not only one place in the world where there is freedom of the press.

…

"There is some news that interests you in London today, Mr. Rupert." In the office of Rupert, the big boss of Twentieth Century Fox, his secretary held up two copies of London controlled by his News Corporation. The newspaper's special report was delivered to him.

One is from The Times, and the relevant feature is "The most powerful people in Hollywood..." The report used a question and answer to challenge the audience, asking them to guess who is the most feared person in Hollywood across the ocean.

After denying the answers of producers, studios, directors, stars, etc., they gave their own answer, which was Michael Ovitz, the boss of CAA Agency.

"Ovitz's power is realized through his control of Hollywood's scarcest resource: stars. He exploits studios through packaging fees and obtaining high salaries for his stars.

Late last year, his company dominated the Oscars, with Rain Man beating out most of the competition to bring glory to CAA's clients. "

"Ahem, this is a bit exaggerated..." Rupert cleared his throat, a little unhappy. This report elevated the boss of a brokerage company to a high position that he should not have.

"The four CAA package-service films released before the end of last year, 'Rain Man,' 'Twins,' 'Pornographic' and 'Mississippi Burning,' have grossed a combined nearly $380 million, and because of Ovie Thanks to special contracts with these studios, they take most of the profits.

Package the contract so that they take 5% of the studio's gross pre-tax revenue from box office, video, and TV broadcasts. It's like a tax paid to CAA, regardless of how your costs fluctuate. Before people, CAA takes 5% first. "

"Ahem... Bah..." Rupert spat. He immediately called his secretary and called the group's CFO to confirm that Ovitz's arrogant share-sharing terms were true. Many times, 20th Century Fox needs help from CAA and can only pay these fees.

For several movies co-produced with other independent producers, such as Ronald, Spielberg, Joel Silver and others, Fox will enjoy much better conditions in terms of the proportion and order of sharing. Fairer.

The stakes are high for publishers, and they deserve better terms, too. Rather than cutting away the 5% risk-free most essential piece of cheese like Ovitz did.

"Humph..." Rupert muttered dissatisfiedly. This report had to be published by The Times. He picked up another copy of the Sun. Under the girl on page three, a huge headline held up the majestic photo of the girl.

"New Guinness World Record for the person with the most copyrights to their own photos in the world..."

"Hey, interesting." Rupert coughed twice more, and he guessed the thoughts of the person who provided the news material, "Interesting young man."

…

Ronald was in his apartment, waiting for the news to come out from London. His big words have come out, but Ovitz is not someone he can manipulate casually, otherwise he would not be what he is now.

Various Jewish friends called him again, and Ovitz now took a different approach, saying that he used a large number of non-Jewish actors in the movie "Dirty Dancing", which reflected the important life of Jews, which was a kind of criticism of Jews. Traditional blasphemy.

Moreover, the heroine baby falls in love with an Irish low-class gigolo. This kind of male-female pairing makes young people cheer, but makes the elderly feel dissatisfied.

Gradually, there began to be more ill intentions towards Ronald, including some actors who were not selected for roles by him and began to join the team of spreading rumors.

The most enthusiastic one here is Sarah Jessica Parker, who lost to Jennifer Gray and didn't win the role of Baby. She said her loss was due to her nose being too "Jewish" in appearance, and she lost to Gray, whose Jewish nose was not that obvious.

This sounds much more credible than Ronald Paiyu. Gradually, some project partners in the circle also vaguely expressed their intention to suspend cooperation with Ronald.

Although it is not obviously anti-Semitic, such discrimination against the typical appearance of Jews makes the Jews in the circle feel even worse. Everyone wants to get a better role.

Many Jewish actors refuse to admit it, and they know in their hearts that the appearance of their ethnic group is indeed not good-looking. If a director like Ronald becomes powerful, the opportunities will shrink sharply. It would be better if a Jew like Ovitz takes power. Take more care of the Jews.

"Wade, I'm making a commercial film, not a Jewish documentary. What I want is handsome men and beautiful women. Do you understand handsome men and beautiful women? They are not willing to use Jewish beauties like Claudia Wells. .”

Ronald was furious as he listened to Richard's report. I make movies to seek money and awards, not to please the Jews. A woman with an ugly face like Sarah Jessica Parker wouldn't even be an extra if she wasn't an orthodox Jew.

I don’t know who came up with this trick. Such half-truths and half-false rumors are much more effective than sensational rumors.

No one believed that Ronald was anti-Semitic. But to say that Ronald didn’t like using Jewish actors is not wrong at first glance. Compared with the film projects packaged by CAA, the proportion of Jewish actors in his films is much lower.

However, that ratio is what the entertainment industry should have! Compared with the proportion of Jews in the total population of America, the number of Jews in the entertainment industry is really abnormal. Even if you add the racial talents of Jews, it is impossible.

But the Jews didn't think so. They only saw that their opportunities were greatly reduced under Ronald's rule.

"If you were better-looking, you wouldn't be like this..." To put it bluntly, movies are also a commodity. What's the big difference from chewing gum or Coca-Cola? Ronald felt that he was really wronged. The audience loves to see beautiful women, but your ethnic group does not have them.

For so many years, the most beautiful and most accepted female star by the audience is actually Barbra Streisand... And Claudia Wells, who is most suitable for the big screen in Back to the Future, has been deprived of her Jewish identity by you ...I was reduced to working as the distribution manager.

"Hello..." Richard answered the call. After listening to a few words, he turned to Ronald seriously, "It's Rupert from Fox and News Corporation..."

"Hello, Mr. Rupert, this is Ronald." Ronald signaled everyone to be quiet, took a deep breath, and picked up the receiver.

"Ronald, did you do this?" Rupert said straight to the point on the other end of the phone.

"What are you referring to?"

"Hey, it's you as expected. The materials you prepared are very good. I just discovered that in the past two years, he has eaten up too much profit from the film and television departments. I will support your strategy, you can go ahead with it.

When you publish Ovitz's Guinness World Records in the newspaper, the serious media in New York will also be interested..." Rupert smiled and reassured Ronald, asking him to help him expose Ovitz, the biggest black hand in Hollywood. .

"Can you ensure follow-up coverage by serious media?" Ronald was overjoyed. With Rupert's help, it was an added layer of insurance.

"You have my promise, kid." Rupert said and hung up.

"He promised to help. Keep an eye on James Wells of the Daily News. I don't care what the reason is. They will reprint it as soon as possible...and then add the materials we added."

Ronald ordered media consultant Michael Gray to push the Daily News to work. With the Times and Sun reports, Ronald was still worried that the American media would be coerced by Ovitz not to reprint it, or that they could not find a suitable interviewee to verify the facts.

Therefore, he discussed the order of operations with Michael Gray and Richard. At the beginning, we couldn't immediately expose Ovitz, who used his power to suppress others in Hollywood, but we had to start with a seemingly harmless piece of gossip.

Next, we are waiting for the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post, the three most influential and serious media outlets on the East Coast, to take the opportunity to launch an attack.

To be sure, he would next give Paramount's Ned Tannen, Fox's Leonard Goldberg, and Columbia's Frank Price, three top producers with whom he had a good time working together, The studio president called and asked them to prepare for interviews with some of America's biggest serious media outlets.

"Hello? Ned?" Ronald first called Ned Tannan, who helped him set up the "Top Gun" project.

"Accept an interview? Why do you think I would challenge Ovitz, who is now in the limelight? I am no longer the president of Universal and Paramount. My production company also needs their nod to lend big stars. Sorry , Ronald." Ned Tannan, who was also Jewish, was unwilling to help.

"What if you hope to become the president of the Seventh Group again?"

"Wait a minute, what you said is..."

Sure enough, the biggest characteristic of the Jews is their verbal unity. As long as there is a price that can make their hearts beat, a purse containing thirty silver coins can make them do anything.

Among the three old friends who have worked together, only Frank Price, who is also white, is more honest. He bought Ronald's first script at a high price, which was half-coerced by Ovitz. In addition, he had broken with the Jews in the industry and attacked Sid Sheinberg with a fist. Ronald was the most enthusiastic about being able to avenge Ovitz and help him.

Just when everything was ready and waiting to be launched, Ovitz sent Ron Meyer, one of the founders of CAA, to persuade Ronald to reconcile.

"Ronald, I'm really here to send a message to Michael, and it's also for you." Meyer was dressed more like a middle-class man, not as domineering as Ovitz, which made what he said more convincing.

"This is the current situation of Jews in this industry. I will not lie to you and say that you will not face any serious consequences. Although the industry will not label you as an anti-Semite, many Jews have doubts about you. , is inevitable.

And you, Richard, you, Niceta, and Wagner, I know all your intentions. Ronald and Cruise will always be your customers and no one can take them away from you. But have you decided to leave CAA? William Morris and ICM don't have the comprehensive advantages we do now. There are some things you don't feel when you are involved in them, but outside of this environment, you can understand why CAA is the greatest agency company in Hollywood. "

"Let me say, Mr. Meyer. You are right. There are some things that you don't feel are unfair deep down, but when you jump out, you will know who is exploiting you for a long time." Ronald met Meyer He really wanted to make a deal, so he smiled and said to him:

"Let me give you an example. You and Ovitz left William Morris and founded CAA with three other agents, but you were an equal share of the equity among the five of you. Why does Ovitz now have absolute control? , and you still keep it the same and don’t grow much?”

"Huh?" Ron Meyer didn't expect Ronald to turn around and imply that he was the person who was exploited the most by Ovitz. There was a faint hint that he would betray him at the critical moment and get rid of Ovitz together. "

But as the old saying goes, you can't plan a rebellion in advance. Ron Meyer adjusted his glasses, "I think my purpose of coming here has failed, but I see your sincerity. Maybe we can talk about something next time you come here. Next, you have to prepare for Ovitz's anger. ”

"He has to be prepared to face our anger." Ronald sent Meyer away and turned back to his agent Richard, who was looking at him.

“Why does Michael Ovitz, the person who owns the most copyrights for his photos in the world, care so much about not having his photos published in the media?”

Early the next morning, New York's Daily News reprinted the Sun's news on its important page, telling about several new world records set by Guinness. Apart from the one about Prince William, the one that the audience is most interested in is the boss of the Hollywood CAA company, Ovitz.

Why would a person want to ban the news media from publishing his or her own photos, so much so that he would buy the copyright to any photo of himself taken by a photojournalist? Unless there is something he wants to hide from the public, right?

Most viewers will reflexively think of this when they see this news.

The last American celebrity to do this was Michael Milken, who became extremely wealthy by issuing junk bonds. Now he is being pursued by New York prosecutor Rudy and is being prosecuted and on trial.

"When Ovitz was young, he attended Birmingham High School in the San Fernando Valley and served as the president of the student body. One of his classmates is facing a maximum sentence of twenty years in prison for tax evasion, insider trading, stock price manipulation and other crimes. The Junk Bond King of Prosecutions, Michael Milken.”

"Good guy, no wonder they are so sneaky. They all came from a high school... This middle school is a place where real devils gather. Their principal must have deviated from the Lord's teachings." An old lady who bought the Daily News quickly said Draw a cross on your chest to ward off evil spirits.