Exploiting Hollywood 1980

LATEST WEBSITE: "Honey, I want to confess to Jane. I love you, I've never felt this way, Susan."

"No, don't do that. I don't want to ruin your family, Jerry. I'll be content as long as I can be with you all the time."

"In this way, for this 'Longwei Kid', I will appoint you as the on-set coordinator of the crew. When I am not on the crew, you must tell me everything that happens on the set."

"I will, it's like a dream for me, I never imagined that it would be working for a man full of wisdom, or the film industry."

Jerry Weintraub and secretary Susan Atkins returned to Los Angeles from their weekend getaway in Palm Springs. The two sweetly settled down the next work arrangement of "Longwei Kid" in the office.

"Mr. Weintraub, Ronald Lee and his agent, will come to visit you in the morning. Their appointment is coming up soon." Susan's secretary was replaced by the former front desk lady. She knocked on the door and came in to announce.

"If you arrive, invite them in."

After a while, Ronald and Nisita, who had just arrived at the office, were greeted by the secretary.

"Hi Ronald," Weintraub, in good spirits after a relaxing weekend off, hugged Ronald.

"Get some coffee, honey." Weintraub turned to let the red-haired Susan Atkins prepare the coffee, and then kissed Susan on the mouth.

Ronald took notice, and he chatted with Weintraub about the recent changes in the movie world. Susan brought a plate from the outside with three cups of coffee on it.

"Ronald, Rick," Susan quickly brought coffee to the two guests, followed by sugar cubes and milk for them to make up.

"Jerry," at the third cup, Susan added a cube of sugar to the cup, stirred it with a spoon, and handed it to Weintraub.

"I came today to ask Mr. Weintraub about the progress of the project. I have several young actor friends, and a friend who is an expert in karate and Chinese martial arts, wondering if there is a chance to participate in 'Long Wei' Kid's Project Production."

Ronald put forward his own request under the pretext that was negotiated, and checked the progress of the other party by the way.

"This kind of thing, in fact, you just need to give me a call." Weintraub is very satisfied with Ronald's respect for himself, "I just appointed Susan as the scene coordinator of the crew,

These things, the next time you contact her directly. Audition and work with your friend, she will arrange it directly. "

"Thank you, Mr. Weintraub. Thank you, Miss Akins." Ronald turned to look at Susan, an ordinary-looking secretary.

"So, how's the casting of the cast? When can filming start?" Ronald retracted his gaze and continued to listen for news.

"We're a bit stuck when it comes to the protagonist." Weintraub did not shy away from Ronald, the screenwriter. "Evilson has his own ideas about Master Miyagi. In my opinion, this casting is absolutely not good."

"Oh, who is it?" Ronald heard that Evelson had already made a choice for Master Miyagi, and wanted to know who it was.

"It's that Arnold," Weintraub put down his coffee. "How can a Japanese actor who makes a gag in a sitcom play a karate master?"

"Which Arnold?" Ronald didn't know why, looked at Nisita and shook his head when he saw him.

"It's Japanese-American actor Pat Morita, who played the supporting role of Arnold on the sitcom 'happy days'." Susan Atkins knew that Weintraub was talking about the character's name. Not the actor's name, explained next to it.

Seeing that Ronald still couldn't grasp his thoughts, Weintraub simply stood up, took a videotape and put it into the VCR.

A short Japanese actor appeared on the TV, with a shaved chin and a moustache, very articulate, and introduced himself to the camera.

"My name is Pat. Pat Morita. Played Arnold on the sitcom 'Happy Hour' before..."

"What do you think? Is he suitable to play Master Miyagi?"

Ronald thought for a while, "The appearance is not a big problem, it fits the unremarkable description in the script. However, his lines are too American. Master Miyagi is a first-generation immigrant, there is no way this is possible. The fluent English level does not match the character's character, I don't know if he can play..."

"That's right, that's the problem." Weintraub was very happy to hear that Ronald supported his idea.

"He's in a sitcom. Mr. Miyagi is humorous, but he's not a clown? I don't know why Evelson insists on using him. But as long as I'm still the producer of this movie, I'm definitely not going to Let him act."

Weintraub started talking, and he told Ronald a lot about the preparations of the crew. Evelson recruited his old partner, director of photography, and assistant director for the filming of "Rocky" to the crew.

Several actors in the villain "Cobra" dojo who played against the protagonist Danny have also been identified, all of whom are the second generation of stars.

One of the most famous is the son of the late tough-guy actor Steve McQueen and his first wife, Chad McQueen.

However, the dystocia of Master Miyagi left the two protagonists Danny and the main villain Ali's ex-boyfriend Johnny unsure. Because they need to audition with Master Miyagi to see if there is chemistry.

To be honest, Ronald didn't know why Ivelson had a crush on Pat Morita. However, experience tells him that the director's observation is generally more reliable than that of the producer, not to mention Evelson, who has won the Oscar for best director. Maybe he saw something he didn't see, what about Morita's qualities?

But this can't be said directly to Weintraub. Ronald remembers what Evelson himself said. To convince the producers, they must package their own ideas as their own. Although Evelson himself did not handle it very well.

Ronald and Nisita got up and said goodbye after chatting for a while. Weintraub and Evelson had some casting conflicts, but the relationship between the two was still harmonious, and there was no trouble to the point that they could not cooperate.

For a Jewish tycoon like Weintraub, Nisita thinks the best strategy is to make him think you're not playing tricks on him. Or simply play a bigger trick. After deceiving him, he still thinks what you said is reasonable, and it is the right choice to cooperate with you. So this time, Ronald didn't mention what he was replacing.

The two returned to the caa office with a bit of disappointment. This matter still needs to be discussed in the long run, depending on the stalemate on the casting, and there may be a turning point in the future.

"Ring, bell, bell..."

There was a burst of phone ringing, and Nisita grabbed the phone.

"Huh? Um... well, he's in Los Angeles, can..."

Nisita, who put down the phone, looked Ronald up and down, left and right, "When did you and Ned Tanen become good friends?"

"Who? Ned Tanin?"

Ronald was also taken aback. He remembered this while filming "Fast-Paced Richmond High School", first embarrassing himself, then fighting to support himself for office politics, and finally remaining neutral when he voted. Former Global Vice President who resigned.

"No? I haven't seen him for a long time."

"Anyway, he called and invited you to visit his new office, and said he wanted to talk to you about the new film and listen to your opinion."

"What does he have to do with me?" Ronald asked inexplicably. "Is there a personnel change in the bad ball?"

The next day, Ronald and Nisita came to Universal Studios by appointment.

After Ned Tanin resigned from the position of Universal Vice President, he opened his own production company. His office is still inside the Universal Studios, a bungalow. It was those humble offices when Ronald shot "Fast Pace."

Ned Tanin was very enthusiastic about Ronald and took him around.

Ronald already knew the reason for Tanin's sudden enthusiasm for him. Yesterday Universal announced the new president of the film division, Frank Price, the former president of Columbia.

Although lost in the fight with the Coca-Cola gang, he was kicked out of the Colombian film. But Frank Price's level is well known in the industry. He's the only studio executive who has read the script himself and can offer actual opinions.

Sidney Simberg, who secretly joined Spielberg and cast "et aliens" from Colombia, has been promoted to CEO of the parent company mca. He knows this old opponent very well.

Columbia's profits last year, including the 5 percent share of "et Aliens," which Price bounced off, were more than all the other films made combined. So after Price left, he immediately dug him to Universal as the president in charge of the film business.

As soon as Price took office, Ned Tanning was about to make a good relationship. Because of his production company, the distribution contracts for the upcoming films are all in Universal's hands.

At Price, Tanin heard Ronald Lee's name again. His new screenwriting work has been launched in Colombia again. Although he doesn't know who can make a blockbuster movie, Frank Price does.

Taning immediately called caa and got to know Ronald first. Even if the two had no chance to cooperate for the time being, he was a young director favored by President Price, and there was no harm in approaching him to do some social activities.

"This is the office of the first director I signed. Like you, he was also a screenwriter. He used to be a creative copywriter in an advertising agency.

I like his screenwriting talent, but he has never directed a movie independently. I dare not let him go directly to direct the movie he wants to direct, so let him practice with another exploitative film that has more commercial potential. Practice hands. "

Tanin pushed them, "John, are you there?"

"Come in." A gentle voice came from the office.

Ronald followed into the office and saw a chubby screenwriter wearing a pair of large black-rimmed glasses. In his office, "Wham's hit song" was playing. people (young guns).

Seeing Tanin walk in, he quickly turned down the volume of the speaker.

"John, let me introduce you, this is Ronald, and he is also a young genius. You must have seen the movies he directed..."

"Hello, I'm Ronald, the writer and director." Ronald went up and shook hands with John. The man looked about ten years older than him, but in his demeanor, including playing loud pop music in the office, he was as young as himself.

"Hello," John adjusted his glasses, "I'm John Hughes. The screenwriter of the film, this is the first time I'm a director."

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