Exploiting Hollywood 1980

Remember for a second【】

"Cindy Lauper (), a female singer born in 1953, was the lead singer of the Blue Angels. After the Blue Angels disbanded, Portrait Records just signed her, ready to release her first solo debut this year. album 'She is so different'.

I was surprised after receiving your inquiry. My client's song hasn't hit the radio charts yet, and hasn't been officially released yet, why would you know? "

A lawyer in a handmade suit with a half bald head, Elliot Hoffman, talks about Ronald in a café about the song "Girls just want some fun (girlsjustj's company is Epic Records, and my client Cindy's company is Portrait Records, a subsidiary of Epic Records. On behalf of my client, I'm here to talk to you about this licensing."

Lawyer Hoffman's beard is very similar to the protagonist of the detective novel "Polo", and it is also the style with upturned sharp corners on both sides. When drinking coffee, you have to be very careful not to let the coffee stick to the beard.

"Polo" Hoffman wrote a number on the paper and pushed it across the table, "This is our offer."

The agent, Nisita, who was sitting next to Ronald, helped pick up the note from the table, frowned, and handed it to Ronald.

Then he helped Ronald bargain and said, "This figure is too high. Generally speaking, the total price of the interlude and soundtrack will not exceed 10% of the total shooting budget of the film. Your price, my client is sure Can't take it. I think we'll just have to find other songs."

Hoffman stroked his beard and said nothing.

Ronald saw him sneaking a sideways glance at himself, knowing that the other party was actually trying to sell it, he thought about it and said, "Mr. Hoffman, this movie of mine is a small production, but I really want to use this song. Songs for interludes.

I can't really afford the price, but I think my movie release, later on, can also be used to market Cindy's new song. I once wrote lyrics for the theme song and episode of "Famous in the World", and I know very well that after the song is promoted by the movie, it will have a very strong role in promoting sales, which is a win-win situation. "

"You are right, win-win. But Cindy's new song will in turn have a marketing effect on the release of the movie, so what you say about promotion is actually a two-way street." Hoffman responded.

"I don't deny that you are right, so we should join forces and cooperate with the release of the movie and the time when the song hits the charts, so that both the single and the movie can benefit from it." Ronald continued to lobby the other party to reduce the price.

"You know, young director. In the past year, the most important exposure of many singles has been transferred from radio to television, especially the twenty-four-hour music TV.

And I did some research, and the first MV "Magic Stain Band" that caused a sensation and had a plot was directed by you. "

Having said this, Hoffman stopped talking, his eyes looked at Ronald with piercing eyes through the small circular lenses.

"Mr. Hoffman, you might as well make it clearer. Is there anything I can do for you?"

"So, if you could give Cindy Lauper this new song and direct a music video, the song could be licensed to the movie for free, and then I would convince Portrait Records that the single and the movie's marketing would work with each other. , play a lot in the same schedule to achieve better results for both sides."

"Please let me discuss with the broker."

Ronald and Nisita avoided Hoffman and whispered.

"My client can provide you with directing services in exchange for licensing the song," Nisita said. "We need to see the budget for the shoot, the script, and the contract."

"Not only the director, but also the editing. Finally, a music video video that can be played on the stage is made."

"Acceptable." Nisita and Ronald discussed a few more words and agreed to the request. Anyway, the shooting of the mv was relatively simple, Ronald just changed his mind and made a short short film.

"Plus the script and casting choices."

"You must be joking, Mr. Hoffman. I'd rather go directly to someone at the record label to buy a license."

Ronald was angry, because he was sure he wanted this song, and he was desperately picking wool. A movie's interlude can be the icing on the cake, but the quality itself is fundamental. Otherwise, what script should I write, and a 90-minute MV with a song will be a hit?

Simply replace the song, or find a way to find a new singer, buy the cover copyright and sing it again, and take a cut.

Seeing Ronald standing up and posing to go, Hoffman quickly pressed Ronald's hand with one hand.

"Wait, Mr. Director."

"In this way, I will arrange for you to meet Cindy. She is not easy, and I have no way to propose this method. I hope to give her some career help. This girl only needs a chance."

"Well, Mr. Hoffman, I hope we can all be frank. If you have any ideas, you can talk about it and stop making such excessive demands."

Hoffman waved his hand, indicating that he would not ask for more, and he told Ronald about Cindy Lauper.

It turns out that this female singer has been out for a long time, but she has been imitating other famous singers to sing, or hanging out in the band. She has been rebellious since she was a child. Her mother is Italian. After her parents divorced, she couldn't stand the domestic violence of her stepfather. She ran away from home before finishing high school. Been singing in bars and clubs everywhere to support myself.

Hoffman became her lawyer after Cindy Lauper quit the band to go solo and signed with Portrait Records. After seeing it a few times

^0^ Remember one second【】

Conquered by her unique and high-pitched voice, she decided that she would become a singer. Decided to invest in her and bet on her future.

The record company didn't take Cindy Lauper too seriously, giving only a total budget of $35,000. With that kind of money, you can probably just find a random director, let Cindy Lauper dance and lip-sync indoors, and then call it a day.

In order to gain greater exposure for the single, Hoffman even used his own personal resources to find the producer of the comedy talk show "Saturday Night Live (snl)" who was also his client, and rented it for free. Shooting and editing equipment, used for mv shooting.

Later, he heard Ronald come to talk about copyright. After a little understanding, he knew that Ronald Lee was the director who created the trend of mv with a plot. He immediately decided to talk about it in person, hoping to use copyright authorization in exchange for Ronald Nader's services.

Only then did the two sides meet and negotiate. Hoffman wanted to repeat his old tricks and get Ronald to direct the music video for the song for free.

Just seeing Ronald's promise so readily, lawyer Hoffman's occupational disease attacked, and he wanted to extract more value, which annoyed Ronald.

"Well, I can provide directing and editing services. You can handle other actors, equipment, and staff. I also require you to be present during the shooting. If there is a shortage of resources, you can handle it on the spot. This is my final bid."

Ronald felt that he could use his personal abilities in exchange for authorization, so that he could squeeze out a little money and make the special effects part better. Although he suffered a bit, but for the final effect of the movie, he didn't care about these small things. account.

"That's great, I'll call Cindy and tell her the good news."

"where is she?"

"She's in New York."

"Ah? Then I have to go to New York to shoot?"

"You said yes, Ronald. And Cindy Lauper wrote her creative idea for the video, a story that happened in New York." Hoffman paid for the coffee and pulled some coins out of his wallet. Do a tip.

"It's okay, I'll go back to New York for my two-week vacation." Ronald turned to Nisita and said, "Please help me and Mr. Hoffman discuss the details, two days of shooting, plus editing, I have the ultimate responsibility for art."

A few days later, Ronald, who signed on to shoot the video for "Girls Just Want Some Fun", returned to his hometown of New York.

Hoffman had already returned to New York in advance, and he sent a luxury car to the airport to pick Ronald to talk to Cindy Lauper about the shooting of the video.

At Hoffman's office, Ronald finally met the song's lead singer, Cindy Lauper.

Cindy Lauper is not very tall, but she is definitely instantly recognizable in a crowd. The fiery red and orange hair, like the tail feathers of a rooster, grows haphazardly, and instead looks vibrant.

And the clothes she wears are also very gorgeous and weird, which makes Ronald feel that she is not wearing clothes, but an impressionist painting.

"Miss Lauper, this is Ronald."

"Just call me Cindy, Cindi, not Cindy"

Cindy Lauper herself is not as neurotic as her appearance. She has been singing in bars since she was a child, so she can handle all kinds of people with ease.

In front of Ronald, she also put away the carefully crafted eccentric image, but revealed the essence of the singer, in fact, she is quite a smart person.

"I heard Mr. Hoffman say, do you have a certain creative idea for your music video?"

"Yes, Ronald. This song was actually written by a male singer in 1979, and it's what a man said to a woman. After I took over, I reworked the lyrics to say it from a girl's point of view, girl They should definitely have the same opportunities as men, and they should have all the opportunities that men have."

"So, this is a girl's ridicule and shouting at the lesser opportunities for women in society?" Ronald re-read the lyrics again, and it is true that the creator's own ideas are more accurate.

"Yes, you are also high school students. When boys come home late, parents usually don't say anything, but when girls come home late, their parents will be very anxious, and even scold them and ground them..."

"This is because New York is a dangerous place, right? With such poor security, which responsible parent is more careless?" Ronald complained about the other party's peculiar angle.

"But for this song, the girl coming home late, or staying home all night, driving her parents crazy is really a good angle to cut into the story."

Dear, this chapter is over, I wish you a happy reading! ^0^