Exploiting Hollywood 1980

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The apartment that Ronald rented was introduced by Universal. It was a two-bedroom, one-living room with modern appliances in place. The landlord is a collaborator of Universal, and for a film worker like Ronald, the rent can be half cheaper, and the price is good.

Ronald installed the computer that his cousin and Diane had sent him and connected the monitor. Then apply for a printer to the crew, and you can start working for Spielberg. But don't worry about it, you can do it yourself at night in the future. The most important thing now is to prepare your own movie.

The next day, Ronald packed up a new, neither long nor short hairstyle, paired with the classic Ray-Ban aviator sunglasses, very handsome. The deliberately unshaven beard made him look at least 5 years older.

This is a way Ronald deliberately designed to give himself more authority as a director. People who don't know always use their age to infer a person's experience and professional level, and a beard will make them look more mature.

When I came to the office, there was a bronze nameplate of "Fast-paced Richmond High School" hanging on the door. Ronald wiped it with his hand, satisfied.

Use the key to open the office, take a seat at your own wooden desk, and wait for the arrival of Producer Art Linson and Associate Producer Amy Hecklen.

Lin Sen and Hecklin came to the office at almost the same time. They didn't expect Ronald to work at the desk ahead of time, and made a big cup of black tea on the table, which was steaming hot.

"Good morning, Art, Amy." Ronald looked up, I did a time breakdown, our main task now, is to determine the director of photography, art director, and casting director.

Ronald pointed to the whiteboard on the wall behind him, on which magnets were used to hold three cards with the positions of three important candidates written on them.

Hecklin, who was preempted, looked at the whiteboard and quickly responded, "There is also music selection. The sooner we start, the more time we can leave for copyright negotiations."

"Very good, I looked at the playlist you left on the table, and you are responsible for this, Amy. We will take your playlist and have a meeting with Mr. Azov to determine the difficulty of purchasing the copyright, and then authorize a person to negotiate."

Ronald immediately complimented Hecklin for his work, then wrote a card about the music rights negotiation and attached it to the wall with a magnet.

Ronald is not familiar with rock, pop, etc. He has listened to the music of the veteran radio station for several years, and has the same taste as the veteran of the Vietnam War. It is all songs from the 1960s. A selection of tapes sent by my cousin Donna only recently improved my taste.

"Director of photography and art direction, Warner has drawn up some shortlists, and Mr. Linson and I will be interviewing them as soon as possible. Do you have any suggestions, Amy?"

Ronald, in a businesslike manner, asked for Heckling's opinion. She is an associate producer, and in principle, unlike the director, who has the right to participate in interviews and decisions on these matters. Now that she chose to show herself in the soundtrack, other aspects need to be given up.

Hecklin thought about it for a while, but still felt that these candidates were not important, "I have no opinion, after all, you are the director."

"Casting director?" Ronald proposed the most important person arrangement in the early stage.

"I have some candidates here, all from the American Film Institute (AFI)," Hecklin said.

The American Film School is where Hecklin studied and worked after graduating from New York University. Her contacts in Los Angeles all came from this.

"Their standard is very good. The small productions of the film school are all actors they find. Our films can't afford the high cost of casting, so they can try it."

Heckling is clearly more nervous about casting power. During filming, the director's main job is to guide and inspire the actors' performances. If she can have a certain casting power and make her own person the protagonist, then there is no doubt that her power base will rise in the crew.

"Mr. Linson, does Universal have any suitable candidates here?" Ronald asked the producer Art Linson noncommittally.

hear this,

Linson smiled, "Of course, my old co-star on 'Mavin and Howard', Don Phillips, he's been working for Universal.

"Are the three of us meeting him?" Ronald asked the two of them for their opinions, and then wrote to the whiteboard hanging on the wall.

Then he put Don Phillips' name on the casting director's card.

Amy Hecklein glanced at Lin Sen and did not speak again.

Seeing that there was no objection between the two, Ronald stood up, "Since there is no other opinion, then we will proceed as is, I will go to see the candidates for the director of photography and art director, Mr. Lin Sen contacted the casting director Mr. Phillips, Amy Discuss music rights negotiations with Mr. Azov and see you tomorrow morning."

After speaking, Ronald put on his baseball cap, said hello, and went out.

Ronald approached his old New York employer, Julia Taylor, who Phillips had also worked with founder Marion Dolotti in a casting studio in New York. Julia called him, and Don would cooperate with him in the casting, at least not deliberately favoring Hecklen.

Soon, the casting director was selected as Don Phillips.

Immediately after the casting director was identified, casting notices began to be sent to major brokerage companies in Hollywood and New York through Universal. With such a large demand for teenage actors, after becoming famous all over the world, few films could achieve this level. kind of scale.

And even better than "Famous Around the World", this "fast tempo" has no requirements for actors' singing, or ballet. All the time, all the economic people are looking for Ronald and Don Phillips.

The first to call was, of course, Nisita from CAA.

He asked Ronald to give CAA enough places, preferably CAA to cover all the main actors.

"I can't do this, Rick. Heckling is still fighting against me on the set. I need to at least make sure that the actors and characters are in harmony and are the right people. You have anyone's client here, you can transfer the information, except Rapke's client, let him go to Hecklen to hand over the information.

In the same situation, I would certainly give preference to CAA's clients.

Would Tom Cruise want to play it? Of course I welcome. "

After a while, Paula Wagner called, "Ronald, I appreciate your invitation to Tom, who has taken over 'Losing Your Virginity' from Embassy Pictures and invested 7 million in a mid-scale production. hero."

"Did you and Tom convey what I meant?"

"Ronald, fast pace is a group show..."

"Youth Comedy"

"It's a youth comedy, with three male leading roles and one supporting role. Which one do you decide for Tom to play?"

"As long as he comes, you can choose first." Ronald hopes that Tom Cruise will participate in the role, and handsome guys can always attract a lot of box office.

"The Story of Losing Zhenzhen is the big male lead, and there are his scenes in every scene."

"Okay, you tell him that I have approached him and let him make his own decision, or I'll tell him myself." Ronald felt that he had to fight for it.

"Well, Ronald, you're a tough guy."

Tom Cruise called at night, apologized to Ronald in person, and turned down the play. He read the script of Losing Zhenji and felt that it was very suitable for his play style, and he had already agreed to that.

"An actor who played Sergeant with me in 'Lights Out' is very suitable for teen comedy. Do you want to try it, he is also a client of CAA." Tom also recommended a person on the phone.

"Who?"

"Sean Penn."

Ronald knew about him. At that time, "Endless Love" almost chose him as the male lead, but he could be given up because his height did not match Brooke Shields.

After checking with Nisita, Sean Penn was not one of Rapke's clients, so he asked Nisita to pass the information and invite him for an interview.

a potential ally.

The second person to know the news was WMA's Italian-born agent Ed Limato.

"Hi Ronald, congratulations. Theatrical director who just turned 21."

"Thank you, do you want to recommend actors to me too?"

"Yes, but I'm mainly thanking you on behalf of Pfeiffer, she has passed the second round of interviews. Director Patricia Birch admires her, and every time she is in the back row or in the corner, Birch puts it. She picked it out."

"Why?" Ronald became curious, and according to the candidate he recommended, Birch would give her a good audition position, or even interview alone.

"Pfeiffer knew that you were the screenwriter, and she guessed that you were recommending her. I felt grateful and embarrassed, so I hid in the corner of the back row."

It may be this kind of embarrassment that can maintain a beautiful quality, which makes director Birch fancy. Ronald laughed. "I didn't call Birch, it's all her decision. You don't stir up the flames, Ed."

"Well, I understand, you don't want others to use your name. I'm here to recommend a strong foreign aid to you."

"What do you mean?"

"It's rumored that Tom Mount's girlfriend wants to take back the directorship."

"Uh, okay." Ronald didn't expect this kind of news to spread so quickly, because these agents were talking too much.

"What's your choice?"

"I know you need to establish your authority on the set, and I'll find a way to get Francis Coppola on set and give you a stage? He happens to be in Los Angeles."

Um? Ronald, who was said to be the center, was surprised. It seems that I am not the only one who knows this trick.

"As far as I know, Coppola's brokerage contract is not with you." Ronald replied, Limato's statement was a bit of a brag.

"I'm not bragging, although Francis's contract is not with me, but it may be soon." Limato said, "I signed his eldest brother's son, Nicolas. We Italians are family-oriented, as long as you If I can give him a big role, I can bring Francis."

"Send his information to the casting director, and I will give him a chance under the same conditions."

"What, isn't Coppola enough to impress you?"

"I'll make sure the characters and actors fit first, Ed, and I'll take care of the rest." Ronald hung up the phone.

"This guy, it looks like someone else is helping him." Limato took out the audition photo labeled "Nicholas Coppola" and handed it to the assistant in an envelope, "Please send it to Director Ronald Lee. one serving.

There are two potential backers.

Ronald straightened his beard in the mirror, the beard growing so fast that it often needed trimming.

The next person I went out to meet was one of the most important supporters, Cameron Crowe, the original author of the novel. As a writer, if he can get him to participate in the casting meeting, when he needs to support his decision, it is 2:1. Even if Art Linsen supports Hecklen, he has room to maneuver.

Cameron Crowe lives with his girlfriend Nancy Wilson, one of the lead singers and phrasal writers for the rock band Heart. Crow met Nancy when she was a reporter for Rolling Stone magazine, and the two quickly fell in love.

Ronald spoke to Cameron Crowe that he needed his support in casting. Moreover, the other party is also interested in filming and can learn and watch from the crew throughout the whole process.

"I can support you, but I don't want the characters in my novel to be unsuitable because of the power struggle, Ronald." Cameron Crowe hesitated, but put forward his own conditions.

"Of course, this is also my idea. The fit of the character and the actor's temperament is the most important guarantee for the success of a film. I have worked in a casting studio in New York, and I know this very well. It's just that when the conditions are balanced, you can support me."

Cameron Crowe and his girlfriend looked at each other and were about to speak.

Ronald saw their eyes and looked at Nancy Wilson. She's a blond sweetheart with big, photogenic eyes and perfectly straight white teeth.

"Nancy, I think you look very good. Can you play a cameo role on the set?"

"Me? I can't act in movies." Nancy was a little interested.

"You don't have to act, just be yourself. Cameron will give you a role, a role that is very similar to you."

"Which role?" Cameron was also interested.

"It was when Brad put on a pirate outfit to deliver meals and laughed at his beauties in the sports car next to him."

"That's a lot like you, Nancy," Cameron said with a smile.

The character in the script is a big beauty, driving a roadster, seeing Brad's strange pirate outfit, parked parallel to his food truck, and looking up and down. At first Brad thought it was a beautiful woman who admired him, but he almost got the wrong idea.

Such a role, played by a girlfriend, is not too difficult. Cameron Crowe looked at Nancy a little, so he happily agreed.

The third ally, a very solid candidate.

At the same time, Amy Hecklein was not idle either.

"I see that Ronald has been very busy these two days, and he didn't bother me. He seems to be very confident that he can make the film well."

"Have you communicated with Azov about the music? It's a decent showing."

"I've found someone to negotiate the rights, but I also have to have my own people in casting."

"Which role did you like? What actor? Honey."

"The heroine Stacey, and my best friend Linda, these two characters, I read the script, are the axis of the whole film. All people and things are radiated from her car."

"Choose me who you think is suitable, preferably the children of well-known actors, so that I can arrange easily."