Exploiting Hollywood 1980

"Oh, I see. It's okay, thank you anyway." Ronald hung up.

"Um...and...?" The release manager, Michelle Cannold, looked at Ronald's face and asked cautiously.

Seeing Ronald nod, general manager Eddie, publishing assistant Dolly Bernsteen and others uttered another "Hey" in unison.

But they knew that they couldn't complain about the boss Ronald, and after saying "hey" for a while, they immediately shut up and began to pretend that they didn't care much about the failure.

Ronald has made three calls from the office, to Ned Tanin of Paramount, Weintraub of MGM, and Joseph Farrow, vice president of Twentieth Century Fox.

The three of them were very enthusiastic about Ronald, but when they heard about the mpaa's rating, they all said they couldn't help.

The reason they gave is also very simple. The rating of mpaa is handled by a subordinate rating committee. In order to maintain objectivity, member film companies generally do not interfere with the ratings of copies sent by other film companies.

"Ronald, this will take time. Let's do it in two steps. On the one hand, we will cut out some pictures and then send them for comments. On the other hand, we will find some people who have the right to speak out and speak for you."

Nisita, who has been in the industry the longest, knows that it takes time and very careful detours to influence the rating agencies of MPAA. Ronald's calls were not immediately answered, which is actually quite normal.

"Yes, Rick is right. Even if they want to help you, they can't use their company's relationship to help a film from another company. I'll make an appointment with their secretary to see if I can take a break. Talk to them outside the company." Richard agreed immediately, then went to the next office and started making calls.

"Okay, you can help me make another appointment with them." Ronald nodded.

"Then I will inform Mr. Murch to deal with the low-scoring footage in the first rating opinion, and see if I can modify a version first." General Manager Eddie said that he would also deal with the re-cut.

"Then let's go to contact the rating department of mpaa, talk to them again, and find out more about some being rated as r, whether there are other reasons. Those foul passages written on the documents are not necessarily the real reasons." Issuance Department Two of them also went to their office to contact them to send a comment again.

Ronald sat in his chair and did not speak for a while. He didn't look angry or frustrated, but rather calm.

"However, calm on the outside does not necessarily mean that there is no frustration inside." Nisita was the last person to stay in Ronald's office. He knew that this young client had been smooth sailing, but encountered a minor setback by chance. It is admirable not to show it on the face.

Ronald was nice to his subordinates and never spoke to them condescendingly. Therefore, the employees have always liked this boss very much. The relationship that Ronald sought for this rating was useless. They didn't want to embarrass Ronald, so they chose to pretend they didn't hear these phone calls.

A group of people in the office silently packed up their documents and things, and backed out silently. They tried not to make any noise when they exited. As if afraid of disturbing Ronald, who was meditating behind his desk.

Nisita saw that his subordinates were gone,

He came over and pressed Ronald's shoulders again. "Relax, this is just a temporary retreat. I think you can handle it."

"Close the door and lock it." Ronald said suddenly to Nisita, and then from lying back, he suddenly wanted to lean forward, moving his chair to the writing desk. Then he took out the key from his briefcase, opened a door with a safe at the bottom of the desk, and found something inside.

"Uh, okay." Nisita felt that she still underestimated Ronald's concentration. This guy really doesn't take setbacks as a big deal. The relaxed and natural look just now is definitely not a pretense.

After seeing the door closed, Ronald nodded, motioned Nisita to sit down with his eyes, and then took out a hardcover address book from the drawer, Ronald began to turn it over, and there were no contact information for several people in it.

"I don't want other people to know about this contact, so I just leave you." Ronald found the phone number he needed and started to pick up the phone to dial.

"Hello, is that Wendy? Hello, I'm Ronald, Ronald Lee. We met Mr. Jack Valentine across the Pacific.

Yes, yes, it is the director who shoots breakdance, who first met him in Cannes, the country of hair.

Is Mr. Valenti available? I have business with him... well, thank you, Wendy. "

Ronald wrote down the scheduled meeting time in his notebook, and later tomorrow morning he will go to the American Film Association, or mpaa (; picture ; of america), to meet their president, Jack Valenti .

"You know Jack Valentine?" Nisita jumped up from her chair when she heard the name.

"Yeah, I accompany him to the other side of the Pacific Ocean, he owes me a small favor, I'll go and talk to him." Ronald winked at Nisita, "Be careful of confidentiality, this is one of my trump cards. ."

...

The Los Angeles headquarters of the Motion Picture Association of America (mpaa) is just off the Hollywood Walk of Fame and not far from Roger Coleman's New World.

Since 1966, Jack Valenti has left the assistant position of Lyndon Johnson's commander-in-chief and joined Hollywood as the president of the industry's self-regulatory organization. This year is in its twentieth year.

During his tenure as president, Valenti did a lot to promote and benefit the industry for mpaa, and was known as the number one salesman in Hollywood.

Jack Valenti's recent goal is to open up other movie markets around the world, especially in that ancient country across the Pacific. Ronald has a very good reputation there, and the delegation that he formed with Gregory Pike last time was highly praised there.

For such a young director who can represent Hollywood and have a good relationship with the overseas film market, Jack Valenti did not hesitate to greet him at the gate.

"Hi Ronald. You're still so vibrant, and seeing young people like you always makes me feel old."

"Ha, Mr. Valenti, I envy your energy. Last time you visited the Great Wall, you climbed faster than me."

Ronald went up and shook hands and hugged Jack Valentine.

The president who has been entrenched in mpaa for 20 years is already 65 years old, and there are no wrinkles on his face. His hair was already gray, and it was meticulously combed.

Valenti is of Italian descent, and he is very enthusiastic about everyone. Nisita told Ronald that if he was not persuaded by the then Universal President to join the Film Association, his qualifications would be more than enough to be a politician.

"This is a picture of the earliest film association, and this man is the famous Hayes, the Hayes of the Hayes Code. At that time the association was also called mppda, the film producers and distributors association.

After the war, the association hired Eric Johnson, the former Secretary of Commerce, and began to change its name to the Film Association (mpaa). This is Secretary Johnson. "

Jack Valenti took Ronald to visit the historical exhibition of mpaa first. Many old photos have a feeling of witnessing history under the explanation of the current president.

"Ha, this is the photo of me being interviewed by reporters when I took office in 1966. At that time, Hollywood was seized by TV dramas, and many practitioners demanded to cancel the rigid terms of the Hayes Code and give creators more freedom. Let them make the movies they want to make.

We switched to a grading system that gave parents full disclosure, films were rated R, and there were places in the world that weren't suitable for minors to watch alone. Then the pg-13 rating was introduced to give more space for some less outrageous shots..."

Ronald kept echoing that the first major thing this president has done since he took office is to loosen Hollywood's bondage, and only after the New Hollywood movement can it appear technically. Otherwise, Roger Coleman's forerunner of the New Hollywood movement, "The Wild Angels," would not have been possible.

There was also no "Easy Rider," which was later recognized as the beginning of the New Hollywood movement, and the "Easy Rider" that reflected the stories of fringe hippies, and the "hermaphrodite" who featured a Depression-era bank robber as the protagonist.

"Thank you, Wendy."

After visiting the history of mpaa and sitting in Jack Valenti's office, after thanking Wendy, the secretary who served the coffee, Jack Valenti looked at Ronald and asked with piercing eyes:

"So, Ronald, what's your business with me? Are you trying to sell movies across the Pacific? There's a quota of 10 a year."

"Haha, no. My movie is not suitable for that. I came because of a new movie shot by my production company. I encountered something in the mpaa rating, so I want to come to you and ask for details."

"Heh..." Jack Valenti laughed dumbly, "I didn't expect you to have opened your own production company and started making your own movies. Is it your own investment? What's it called?"

"dirty dag, a romantic comedy about a Jewish girl who falls in love with a dancer at a resort in the 1960s."

"This kind of thing, you should go through the dissent channel, fill out a form, you can apply for a re-rating." Jack Valenti said so, but still pressed the intercom, "Wendy, please put Rhona The German company... Daydream, the files for the ratings of the Hot Dance of Daydream Productions, sent to my office."

"What do you want? Ronald. We are old acquaintances. You can confess to me. Wherever you can help, I will help. But you want me to change my rating from r to pg-13. .

I'm just a manager hired by mpaa to hold the position of president, responsible to all Hollywood practitioners, film producers, distributors, theater owners, and moviegoers across the country. I have to be fair.

I can only tell you where and what modifications to make to maximize your chances of getting the rating you want. "

As soon as Jack Valenti opened his mouth, he was worthy of being a sales master known as the number one salesman in Hollywood. Every word he said was watertight, and it made the other party feel good, as if Valenti was on his side and was the one who considered himself the most.

"Fair, I just want a fair treatment, nothing else." Ronald heard the other party talking about fairness and quickly answered.

"Oh?" Just at this time, secretary Wendy brought in the documents of Hot Body Dance. Jack Valenti looked at Ronald with confidence and thought that he was rated r, but he was just being treated unfairly. made a little suspicious. He took out his reading glasses and began to read the document carefully.

"You made the daughter of a Jewish surgeon in New York fall in love with a poor Irish dancer...hahaha." Jack Valenti laughed, and he couldn't hold back when he saw the synopsis.

"I think Hollywood directors and actors always have their own creative freedom, our First Amendment..."

"Don't say it, I just want to see the expressions on the faces of those Jews." Jack Valentine didn't want to hear Ronald's age and grandchildren preach the First Amendment.

"Mr. Valenti, you can look at those graded opinions, backside nudity, a little kissing, and some dance presentations, isn't that very normal pg-13 stuff in Hollywood? Some big studios, You can even get pg..."

Jack Valenti used his hand to stop Ronald from continuing to talk about the unfairness of the rating, "I will let people watch this movie again." He also felt that the rating of r was a bit too much, it seemed that those Jews were still quietly mpaa Manipulate hands and feet.

"Why did you come and tell me about this kind of thing. Your distributor should handle it for you, which distributor did you find? Ambassador Pictures? Or Orion? They are still newcomers in America, I will let them People care."

"Uh... no, this is my daydream self-released movie."

"What?" Jack Valenti raised his head and glanced at Ronald in surprise, and quickly turned the document to the introduction on the first page. Sure enough, there was no Big Seven or any medium-sized company that had undertaken Ronald's distribution business. .

No wonder this young man is coming to complain, the distribution business is very risky, the introduction seems to be a movie for teenagers, and it is rated R. The new daydream company may even find a movie theater that is willing to show it. Fewer than a few.

"Mr. Valenti, I don't want to compare with the big seven released movies, like you said, the mid-sized distribution companies, like Orion, Ambassador Pictures, will not suffer such unfair treatment, what I want is also Just a relatively fair treatment."

"Tuk Tuk..." Jack Valenti tapped his fingers on the table several times.

"Ronald, we are good friends, you have helped me in Cannes and there, and provided me with a good weight for the market opening agreement negotiations that I was conducting at the time. So I will be honest with you and put all the The factors that affect the rating of your new film are all spread out on the table.”

"Thank you, Mr. Valenti."

"That's it, this year, three medium-sized production and distribution companies have just joined mpaa and become full members of the Film Association.

They are the Ambassador Films I just mentioned, Orion Films, and a De Laurentiis Films. Before they become members, they are all subject to strict scrutiny on the ratings, after three to five years..."

Before Valenti could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Ronald, who raised the tone and volume, and scolded Valenti loudly:

"What is this? The American Film Society, who would rather favor that Neapolitan Dino de Laurentiis than give me a fair deal for this American company?"

"What's wrong with Naples?" Jack Valenti's anger at Ronald is a little unclear. So, does he discriminate against Italians? Nope? When I chatted with Coppola, he had a lot of praise for Ronald.

"Dino is a villain. He found someone to expose my private life and exposed my ex-girlfriend in the newspaper, which had a very bad impact. Several of them had boyfriends at the time or were married."

"Oh", Valenti understood the source of the young man's anger, it was a personal grudge, "Ronald, let's not talk about Dino, I'm just explaining the rating process to you, you can listen to me patiently. ?"

"Of course, I'm sorry, Mr. Valenti. Please go on." Ronald immediately stopped his anger and changed into a sincere look of obeying teachings.

"This Ronald, his acting skills are also good." Jack Valentine suddenly felt a sense of sympathy.

"Grading is a very complex process, and our experts have written instructions, but the rules are always behind the artist's boundless imagination.

A senior California judge once said, I don't know how to clearly judge those movie scenes to be X-rated, but let me see it and I will know.

Do you understand what I mean? "

"I understand, please continue, Mr. Valenti." Ronald looked very humble.

"For a newly established production company, the mpaa rating committee must have a process of mutual understanding. After three to five years, the number of films sent by the new company has accumulated to dozens, then we can establish some mutual understanding. We can also put it into the fast lane of ratings, and some of the pictures are for artistic storytelling, not purely sensory stimulation, teach bad children, you understand?"

"Yes, I know."

"So when it comes to rating the first few films of a new company, our committee experts are a little bit stricter, because trust hasn't been built yet."

"I understand what you said, but I think, which rating a movie is suitable for, it should ultimately be viewed from the audience's point of view. These shots, Mr. Valenti, you can also adjust them, they are all for the plot narrative and emotions. Mobilization, where we don't have any, is for stimulation's sake.

Moreover, at the end of the film, it is a very positive attitude towards life. Love and life, you have to decide by yourself, and bear the consequences of your decision.

Can't this kind of film teach our current teenage audience a little bit?

In conclusion, I think it is very inappropriate for Hot Body Dance to be rated R. "

"Why not?" Jack Valenti wanted to laugh when he heard Ronald's angry look.

"I can point to a similar movie, the maximum overdrive by De Laurentiis, where the horrific footage, as if it was intended to be offensive to the audience, and the actors being stabbed with blades during filming Eyes lead to blindness. This kind of violent film is rated R, can two young men and women dance and hug and kiss on the same level?”

Jack Valenti wanted to stop Ronald. He didn't want to discuss specific cases, but Ronald couldn't hold back the speed of Ronald's angry words, like a burst of machine guns.

"And that blue velvet, also produced by De Laurentiis, is so offensive to America, no, the common values ​​of mankind, it is also rated R-rated? Could it be that the ten-second-long frontal nudity of kidnapping, rape and imprisonment, Also under the beautiful first love of young men and women, the flash of bare back is the same as the kiss scene that is enough? What kind of values ​​can you teach the audience who watched these two films?"

"I can see that you have a good sense of justice, Ronald." Jack Valentine said.

"Uh..." Ronald scolded vigorously, scolding several enemies who had personal grudges, and suddenly he was a little stunned when he heard this sentence. He's not himself an idealist like Henry Fonda, nor a defender of America's spirit like John Wayne, and it's not about money after all.

"Um...yes, I love our country. My grandfathers, great-grandfathers, died on the European battlefields of both world wars for America and world peace. They were fighter pilots.

So I cherish my current life very much. If I can get away with a little success, I must promote the values ​​of self-reliance, self-improvement, and let my grandfather and great-grandfather sacrifice their lives to protect things that are worthy of their efforts. "

Ronald took the cold coffee and drank it. It was a bit far-fetched to ask him to move his ancestors out to endorse him, and his forehead was sweating.

"Did your grandfather die in a fighter jet on the battlefield of World War II?" Jack Valentine didn't seem to find Ronald's far-fetched, but asked about Ronald's grandfather.

"Ah...oh...yes, my grandfather, James Lee, flew P47 fighter jets to escort the bomber groups that bombed the German-occupied areas of Europe, and his last mission was to cover the return of the bombers, and one person attracted the Germans. The fighter jet ended up missing over the Atlantic."

Jack Valenti did not speak, and was silent for a long time.

He got up and took out a bottle of fine whiskey and two glasses from the wine cabinet. Poured a glass for Ronald.

The two drank whiskey, and Jack Valenti said slowly, "I also served in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II. I flew a b-25 bomber and carried out more than 50 bombings. Task.

I've been in the situation with your grandfather several times. I did have fighter pilots on missions out there, risking their lives to keep us out of the fucking Germans' planes. "

Jack Valenti hadn't talked about the past for a long time. He told some adventures and heroic stories of the year, and the two had a few drinks.

"Mr. Valenti, please help me, I'm just shooting a story that everyone moved, and I don't have any bad intentions. If there are any reasonable requirements in the rating of such a film, we can continue to revise it, but we can't spoil the whole film. The tone and narrative of the film…”

Seeing that the emotional card was effective, Ronald hurriedly took advantage of the heat to strike the iron.

Jack Valenti raised his hand to stop Ronald from discussing the details. "Have your release manager revise a new version according to the rating comments and send it back."

"Mr. Valenti, I want to ask. If we cut out that bare back shot as requested by mpaa, what is the probability of getting a pg-13 on the rating?"

"If you prune according to the requirements of the association, some things can be arranged." Jack Valenti was still dripping.

"Thank you then, Mr. Valenti." Ronald hurriedly poured a glass of wine and toasted Jack Valenti.

"I'm also here for the American audience to be able to enjoy your new work, Ronald."

Jack Valenti took a sip happily, "By the way, look at the introduction, this is the past of jfk?"

"Yes, it's the story of when jfk was still the commander-in-chief and was not assassinated. At that time, everyone was full of ideals and hopes for the future. Apollo landing on the moon, Cuban missile crisis..."

"Well...you may not know, I was in Dallas when jfk was assassinated, and I was on Air Force One when Lyndon Johnson finally declared his inauguration in the presence of Mrs. Jacqueline Kennedy. , next to the two of them..."

...

The two chatted a little more about the past, and Ronald wanted to leave.

"Ronald, we are friends. Friends need to help each other. Just in time, I have something to help you with."

"What? I will do my best."

"Very well, you are going to the other side of the Pacific with me."

"Huh?" Ronald didn't expect Jack Valentine to make this request.

"Over there, there are still great doubts about opening up the film market. They hope to continue to communicate with us and be able to introduce new technical equipment. On the other hand, they want to ensure dominance."

Ronald nodded. The ambitions of big and small countries are different, and that country belongs to the country with the foundation of ambition.

"Specifically, how can I help you?"

"I heard you have a lighting equipment factory there, exporting equipment to America?"

"Yes, with a machine that simulates the effect of lightning, the kind of long-arc halogen lamps that only they and the Solver Alliance can produce."

"If you can come with me as a representative of the American Film Association, the equipment manufacturer. Give them a world-class certification, and we will have a lot of initiative in negotiating with them. Always import equipment from America, it will bruise Their self-esteem. If there's one device we have to import into them, it's reciprocity between friends."

Ronald counted the days, so he nodded and agreed, "Yes, but I can't stay for too long."

"Very good, as long as you stay with me and finish the exchange meeting with them, you can leave. It won't last more than a week"

"No problem, I can also go to Xujiahui to meet old friends, it seems that Spielberg is also shooting a new movie there."

...

"Ronald, the rating committee of mpaa, took the initiative to call us and asked us to send a second rating as soon as possible after modifying a few shots."

When going to work on Monday, the distribution manager Michelle Cannold received a call from mpaa. He was a little disbelieving. There is such a thing, mpaa offered to provide revisions and urged the second application.

"Very well, Michelle, you discuss with Mr. Walter Murch. After he says it's ok, you can submit it. I will be going abroad for a while, and I will contact my agent if I have anything."

"What a mysterious young man." Release manager Michelle Cannold put down the phone and chatted with Dolly Burnsteen about the dramatic development of the ratings.

"I heard it," Dolly Burnsteen looked at no one left and right, and whispered to her boss Cannold in a low voice, "I heard a rumor that our boss Ronald, and the White House His first couple are related. His 'Top Gun' was also praised by the Grand Commander himself."

"So that's how it is... No wonder."

The staff of Daydream Pictures, from the general manager to the clerks below, were surprised by this weird treatment. Amelica is like that, a competent boss that employees admire and feel proud to be in a good company with potential.

It's just all kinds of rumors about Ronald's background that tend to spread in the company.

At this time, Ronald had already boarded the plane to the other side of the Pacific Ocean, and together with Jack Valenti, came to another continent to open up the Hollywood market.

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