Exploiting Hollywood 1980

Rick Nisita signs Francis Coppola.

The news suddenly caused a stir in CAA and brokerage circles. It's true that he's Italian, but Coppola isn't the kind of director who can be signed on the basis of his ethnicity.

The reason why Nisita was able to beat Limato and other competitors and signed Coppola was that he helped Coppola facilitate the release of the new film "The Outer Boy" and Warner Bros.

A Warner president who has just taken office and urgently needs to establish his own professional authority. A great director desperately in need of a blockbuster movie to save his reputation and finances.

A successful broker is one who can grasp the real needs of both parties, and can have the relationship to communicate the needs of both parties with the right people. With this signing, Nisita successfully raised himself to the top five in the CAA Power Rankings.

"Coppola is known for stubbornly sticking to his own opinions, ignoring the opinions of the producers, and often exceeding budgets and deadlines. But often under huge financial pressure, he can produce block-office and critically acclaimed masterpieces.

Last time, the "old love and new love" was because the financial pressure was not big enough, so Francis willfully played according to his own ideas. This time, if he doesn't shoot well, he will face losing his house and vineyard. His wife will not let him go, Italian men listen to their mothers and wives. "

Nisita is in the office, meeting with Paula Wagner, Tom Cruise's agent.

"Tom gave me a list of directors he wanted to work with. Coppola was number one on the list." Paula carefully straightened Nisita's tie knot, then kissed him and sat back down on the seat next to you.

A film project of a famous director can be stuffed into many actors to refresh their resumes, and this time, "The Worldly Urchin" happens to be a group show.

Nisita was very happy and suddenly became the object of all CAA colleagues to please.

"I'll get Tom into the audition fast, but Coppola is Coppola after all."

A director who can shoot "The Godfather" is very authoritative in art, and Nisita can't guarantee that his people can get the roles they want as they wish. Everything depends on Coppola's meaning.

"If there is someone Coppola trusts in art, it would be great to help Tom." Paula knows that although Tom works very hard, his education level is not high, his reading comprehension ability is worrying, and he may not be able to accurately Understand roles.

Coppola is also a person who is very persistent in casting. When he chose Marlon Brando and Al Pacino for the godfather, he would rather risk his own dismissal and insist on them starring.

"So when Ronald comes, you'll be nice to him. I recommend him as a trainee for Coppola, and if Coppola agrees, he'll go through all the casting process."

"Oh, really?"

"Dangdang", after knocking on the door, a young man with a beard and sunglasses walked in.

"Ronald, long time no see, black tea or coffee?" Paula Wagner stepped forward to hug him.

"Black tea, thank you." Ronald took off his sunglasses and walked to the table.

"What's wrong with you? Didn't sleep well?" Nisita noticed that Ronald's eyes were red and bloodshot.

"Yeah, I read the copy again, there are a lot of unsatisfactory places, and I think too much." Ronald held the table, sat down slowly, and grinned.

"I can't sleep and exercise, and my muscles are sore." He took the initiative to explain.

"Be careful, you still have a job here." Nisita looked at Ronald's inner thigh and shook his head secretly.

"Hey, good." Ronald adjusted his sitting position, avoiding the sore part. "What's the job?"

"Last time your comment on 'The Magic Stain' reached the ears of Paramount executives. After they negotiated with director Lou Adler, they agreed to meet with you to see his first cut together, see To see if there is a way to fix it, cut out the ending."

"Here's the script," Nisita put a bound script on the table and slid over.

Ronald caught it with one hand, "Okay, I'll watch it, when will I meet the director?"

"The sooner the better, I said hello to Coppola for you. He has finished financing the new film, and he will interview you and several other candidates next week, choose a trainee, and learn from the group, from audition. start."

"Then I'll watch it now, and you can help me contact Director Lou Adler." Ronald took the script and read it.

The next day Ronald met the director of "Ladies and Gentlemen, The Magical Stain", Lou Adler. Lou Adler actually has some connections with Ronald. In the filming of "Famous in the World", Ronald wanted to come out and add the "Rocky Horror Show" that he supervised the production of.

They watched the director's cut in the Paramount screening room.

The film tells the story of a supermarket saleswoman who turned into the lead singer of a punk band.

Small Town Girl Corinna stars Diane Lane. Corinna's mother tragically passed away, and she worked alone to support herself and her sister. I was interviewed by a reporter in a supermarket, complaining about the economic downturn under the Persian energy crisis, and was fired by the supermarket owner.

Corinna, who was desperate, unexpectedly found that her remarks in an interview were broadcast on a local TV station, which attracted the attention of the public. So she and her sister and cousin (Laura Dern) formed a garage punk band, Magic Stain, to make money by performing.

Because of Corinna's media exposure, the band was picked up by local concert organizers to warm up for a concert by an out-of-date rock band.

Unexpectedly, the musical standards of the three of them were extremely poor. Neither the younger sister nor the cousin knew how to play instruments, and Corinna sang out of tune by herself.

The organizer wanted to replace them. Corinna looked bad, and made the three sisters dye skunk hairstyles, and then continued to express her views on the economy and the situation to the media. Hope to continue to attract media attention.

Her remarks and dress attracted the attention of the national media. After being broadcast on TV, she became a nationally well-known rebellious spokesperson, attracting thousands of girls from the bottom who were just as dissatisfied with reality as she was to watch the show.

"Magic Stain" was able to continue with other bands' national tours. In the end, I earned enough money to support myself and my sister's family.

The movie has no ending and no closing subtitles. Ronald looked at the director and almost laughed.

The director's budget for the film was much larger than his own, but the filming was also much worse than his own.

The whole film is full of messy plot and scheduling. In some shots, it is obvious that the lighting is inconsistent, there are many places where the gang is worn, and the actors' performances are not consistent at all.

If Roger Coleman did it, it would have been between $300,000 and $500,000 at most, and it would have done better than him.

Ronald finally let go of his long anxiety and let out a sigh of relief.

Sometimes I don't need to compare myself with top directors all the time, just look at the works of other "normal" directors, and my own shots are not so bad.

"Lu, I don't understand, you did a good job, why isn't there an ending?"

"Ah, Ronald. Do you support my shooting philosophy?"

"I...still support it." Ronald didn't know what the director's philosophy was, but such a noisy and exploitative film was in line with the principle of his own filmmaking, except that it was a waste of money.

"I'm very distressed that my screenwriter is reluctant to sign her name in the film, so she has to change her name to a pseudonym."

"Why?" Ronald thought to himself. Could it be that the filming was too bad?

"She thought the movie needed a 'normal' ending. The Magic Stain was a poor band, the vocals were out of tune, and the musicians couldn't play more than six chords. That kind of music wasn't enough to make it pop, and the band couldn't be successful."

"So in the end, they go back to the town, back to life? You just need to take a few shots and explain the ending of each character." Ronald himself did the same.

"But I didn't shoot those scenes." The director said hesitantly.

"It doesn't matter, you just have to take a still picture and explain it with subtitles."

"Mr. Eisner, the president of Paramount, let me see the movies 'Rock and Roll High School' you participated in, and 'Famous in the World', Ronald." The director took off his glasses and wiped them with his handkerchief, "You shoot Well, I think you should support me."

"Of course I support you." Ronald wasn't quite sure what the director meant.

"Finally, The Magic Stains should be on the charts." The director turned his head to stare at Ronald, wanting to see his first reaction.

"Is this...is this possible?" The out-of-tune band made it to the charts, which is a bit exaggerated.

"Anything can happen in the music world. The Ramones in Rock High School, they're really hot right now, and they're singing out of tune."

"You're the boss, and you're familiar with the music industry. If you think about it carefully, it's not impossible." Ronald thought about it. It's true that Ramones's skills are not very good, but people are popular.

"I just said you'd understand me, Ronald." The director put his arm around his shoulder.

"But we have a problem now, I didn't figure it out when I was shooting, and it was when I was editing that I thought of giving them a hit-and-run ending."

"If you don't have footage, we can call Diane and Laura back to make up."

Ronald felt that the director was hesitant, as if he was embarrassed to say something.

"Yes, yes, can you help me think of an ending?" The director looked at Ronald sincerely, "The biggest problem now is that Diane and Laura have grown a lot, if If you take a supplementary shot, it will obviously not match the previous picture."

"Pfft..." Ronald couldn't help squirting out.

"Sorry, I choked on my tea. Cough..."

Unexpectedly, the root of the problem is here. It has been more than a year since the filming of this movie. Diane has obviously grown a lot taller than when she was filming, and Laura Dern is even more than ten centimeters. The audience can definitely see the difference.

No wonder the director Lou Adler can't finish the shot, maybe he's not too embarrassed to talk about his low-level mistakes, and he doesn't want to follow the screenwriter's wishes, so this is the end.

In addition, he is the owner of the record company, and there are many things, so it has been delayed until now...

"Otherwise, we would postpone the ending story for two years, let the three girls' band become famous, make a MV for music TV, go on TV, and then use this MV as the ending, wouldn't it be more natural?"

Ronald still thought of a way for the director. It would be a pity if the film could not be released because of the director's mistakes.

"That's a way..."

Ronald struck while the iron was hot, "If you're still worried about their height, we can mainly use upside-down shots, which would make the actors look taller and make it harder to tell them apart.

Then have Laura and another girl sit down and play bass, leaving Diane standing and singing guitar, so that the height is more consistent with the original picture.

We are coming up with some of their albums, awards and the like, interspersed and edited into a montage, the audience's attention is distracted, and they won't notice the sudden change in the actor's height. "

Director Lou Adler kept nodding his head, worthy of being a genius that Eisner saw in his eyes, "Don't worry about two things, why don't you come and write and direct this ending scene, Ronald." This directorial job made He's exhausted his passion for movies, so let's go back to the record business.

"I have other things lately..."

"I'll pay you to reshoot at my own expense. It's only $50,000 for one day. Then you help me edit this ending." The director restored the style of the record company boss and threw the money directly at Ronald.

"I really have other things, Mr. Adler."

"Sixty thousand."

"I have to prepare for the interview with Director Coppola..."

"Sixty thousand, plus I owe you a favor."

"Well, just to save the movie."

"Very well, I'll go and sign with your agent."