Exploiting Hollywood 1980

"The first way is to buy a batch of popular music copyrights at the top of the charts and use them directly as the soundtrack of 'Son of Grease' to attract fans.

The second way is to persuade the original two protagonists, John Travolta, and Olivia Newton-John, to continue to play the main supporting roles in the sequel, rather than just cameo appearances. attract their fans.

As long as we can do any one of the two, this sequel can stand on the qualified line, and if we can do both, it may explode. "

The next day, Ronald found his agent, Rick Nisita. Tell him your choreographer's opinions and your own observations on the script. Hearing that Ronald had found a screenwriting idea, Ovitz was also very satisfied with his efficiency and listened to Ronald's briefing with Nisita.

"There's nothing wrong with the first, Andy Gibb is a popular singer, and since he debuted with I Just Want To Be Your Everything, Robert Sterwood has wanted him He's a part-time actor, and his three eldest brothers, the Bee Gees, give him a lot of song support."

Ovitz and Nisita have no objection to the first.

The second rule..."

The two whispered, and Nisita replied:

"John Travolta was already a hit, and he started looking for a transformation, not wanting to play musicals again and appearing on the big screen as an American dancer.

As for the heroine Olivia Newton-John, her new film "Xian Le Du" is not doing well at the box office and reviews, we can try to raise it with Paramount. "Having knocked on the table, Nisita decided to propose the heroine first.

Ovitz is already considering whether to recommend directors and actors to Paramount, "You're doing a great job, Ronald. We'll pass your writing on to Paramount and Sterwood. As they finalize the songs and After participating in the star, we will go to interview again to get the contract."

"You stay in Los Angeles for two more days, and I expect to hear back soon."

Ronald, who walked out of the president's office, let out a long breath. Now that you decide to write a script, you must do the best you can.

"Ronald, it's you!"

An unexpected voice stopped Ronald in the lounge area.

"Meinahan?" Ronald thought of the owner of the voice, as if it was the Israeli filmmaker Minahan Golan, who was about to jump off the building after a failed Canadian movie.

turn around,

Sure enough, it was Meinahan and his cousin Yoram.

"Why are you here?"

"We came to see Mr. Ovitz, why are you here?" Minahan asked.

"I'm a contract screenwriter of CAA, this time to talk about some script projects." Ronald nodded and wanted to leave.

Minahan quickly exchanged glances with his cousin, maybe he had to rely on him for the breakthrough?

"Ronald, we haven't thanked you for your help in Canada, why don't we go to our Cannon Films office? Let's have a lunch together." Minahan invited.

"You don't want to see Mr. Ovitz?"

"Hahaha, he's a busy man. We didn't make an appointment this time. We'll try our luck. If I meet you, let's go to the office to chat first." The two took Ronald and went out.

"Okay, let me speak to the agent." Ronald went to say goodbye to Richard.

"Do you think he can help us?" Yoram asked Minahan.

"Who knows, Ovitz rejected our request, and he hasn't seen us for the past two days. Why don't you ask Ronald, he gave us the idea, maybe he can do anything."

Ronald, who walked out of the office, got into the car of the two Israeli brothers, turned a corner, and soon arrived at the office of Cannon Films.

This is an old office building, open the door of the company, it is the front desk, and there is a logo of another company on it.

"We just took over this office, and all the furniture is left over from the previous tenant. We don't spend money on these places, all the money will go into the filming of the movie." Minahan said without changing his face.

There are also two desks in the corridor, which seem to be the seats of the screenwriter. The two screenwriters were typing on a crackling typewriter, and two pagoda-patterned cardboard boxes were on the table, apparently calling for Chinese takeout before they could eat it.

Walking into Minahan and Yoram's office, two opposite desks take up most of the space, along with two corner sofas and a small table as a place to entertain guests.

"This is our office, where Yoram and I are discussing the company's film projects." Minahan pointed to various movie posters on the wall, "This is our 'Lemonade' shot in Israel, breaking all Israeli box office record, we were able to come to America to continue our movie dream."

Ronald nodded. The two of them still made big movies. Not the kind of pure layman who messes around. And this entrepreneurial spirit also makes Ronald feel very friendly, there is not much hierarchy, and the employees are very motivated.

"So why are you looking for Mr. Ovitz? Can I help?" Ronald simply pointed out the unspoken subtext of the Israeli brothers.

"We," the two brothers looked at each other, and Minahan said, "We remember the advice you gave in Montreal. When we came back, we asked United Art and MGM to discuss the issue of the release of Cannon Pictures. But their president was only interested in Thinking about the editing of 'Heaven's Gate'."

"What about MGM?"

"After being acquired by Kerkorian for a 40% stake, MGM has greatly reduced film production output. They now do not have their own distribution channels, but use United Arts' distribution channels."

"So what are you going to do?" Ronald went around looking for water to drink. This Cannon Films was still a start-up company. The secretary was too shy, and the important guests of the boss didn't even have a cup of coffee.

Yoram hurriedly went out to pour water, and Minahan said eagerly, "We made initial contact with MGM, and they can use the distribution channels shared with United Arts, but they don't know us and are unwilling to serve a family without Endorsements from companies that have released films in America. They need us to show proof, or find someone willing to vouch for our status as a producer…”

After listening for a long time, Ronald understood that it was the old problem of entering the industry again.

Minahan and Yoram are Israelis who had just acquired a small Hollywood studio, and MGM was reluctant to take the risk of signing a distribution deal before America released a movie.

But there is no distributor to buy "Apple", and Minahan is not willing to make a small-scale distribution by himself, which will make the box office of the bad "Apple" even worse, and there will be no distributors willing to represent their films in the future. So much so that their American film journey ended before it even started.

So the brothers have been going to Ovitz, hoping that he can serve as a recommender, so that the top management of MGM will increase some confidence in the Israelis.

But your "apples" are so bad, Ovitz certainly doesn't want to ruin his reputation.

As if reading a new voice from Ronald's heart, Yoram, who came back with a bottle of mineral water, said, "Actually, MGM doesn't care about the quality of our movies. They don't have many movies for distribution. , United Art’s distribution channels are also idling now, as long as there are movies, it’s always good.”

"But MGM's executives are reluctant to take risks. They are now undergoing changes at the upper levels. No one wants to become a source of wrongdoing because they signed up for our distribution business, and become a reason for others to attack in the high-level reshuffle. "

Ronald wanted to understand the key point. In fact, the executives of MGM didn't want to take the blame, but they were also jealous of the income of the publishing business. I want to find a formal certifier, so that the decision to sign the contract can be formalized, and I can't make mistakes.

"There's nothing I can do, I'm just an ordinary customer of CAA, and I can't influence Mr. Ovitz's judgment."

"No, we want you to be the referrer," Yoram said.

"Me? Cough cough..." Ronald was amused by Yoram's words and choked.

"Did you misunderstand me?"

"We've come to Hollywood to find out, you're a famous screenwriter who wrote Jane Fonda's script and was on the front page of the New York Times."

"No-name screenwriter is a big hit!" Minahan repeated the then title in a heavy Israeli accent.

"You haven't read the entire report, have you? There's no name for me there." Ronald didn't want to mention the script again, and briefly said that Jane Fonda was the project leader.

"So it is." The two Israeli brothers looked at each other and sat down in disappointment.

"But why don't you find a lawyer to prove your strength?" Ronald asked when he saw the frustration of the two.

"We have also tried the proof materials given by lawyers, but they are unwilling to confirm our release results in Israel, and they discriminate against us a lot." Yoram replied.

"Those lawyers who serve Hollywood don't know that Israel still has the film industry, and they don't want to know more about our distribution performance in Israel. They always feel that no one in Hollywood will be able to auction movies." Minahan Also very uncomfortable.

"Thank you, Ronald, let's think about it."

Didn't you say it's time for lunch? Ronald complained in his heart.

"I do know Mitch Canter, the former MGM corporate lawyer, who is now leaving MGM and returning to practice at the law firm. Maybe he'll be interested in you guys."

"Really?" Minahan grabbed the phone on the desk and took it to the sofa. "You can call him here."

Ronald looked at them both without speaking.

Yoram, who has been working in distribution and sales, understands the commercial exchange of interests better than Meinahan, who focuses on filmmaking.

"Ronald, who do you want to be in Hollywood in the future? Is there anything we can do at Cannonball Pictures?"

"I want to be a director."

"That's no problem. Come to us, we, Cannonball Pictures, lack talents who can direct English-language films." Minahan took the conversation and thumped his chest.

"Okay," Ronald actually didn't trust the two Israelis, but it didn't take much of his favor, he just introduced the business to Lawyer Mitch.

So Ronald dialed the number on Mickey Kanter's business card and talked about Cannonball's thoughts.

Mitch Kantor welcomed the simplicity of the business and the high fees. After communicating with Meinahan on the phone, let them go to the office tomorrow, provide materials, and let him contact the MGM distribution manager.

Minahan put down the phone and hugged Yoram happily, "We did it, we did it. Once we have a firm foothold in Hollywood, the next thing is to make an Oscar-winning movie! We can go to the awards show next year. ."

"Oh my god." Ronald covered his face, defeated by the optimism of the two.

"Ha! It's half past twelve." Minahan thought Ronald was hungry and ran out of the office quickly.

From outside the door came Minahan's high Hebrew voice, and the screenwriter's much smaller defense. After a while, Minahan took a pagoda-patterned lunch box, took chopsticks, and placed it in front of Ronald, "Here, this is Chinese food, it's very delicious."