Exploiting Hollywood 1980

The latest website: Joining the Producer Alliance will be done soon. Ronald commissioned Eddie Cohen, the general manager of Daydream Pictures, to attend the first meeting of negotiations over a videotape dividend.

"Our daydream is the first time to participate in this alliance meeting. I mainly go with my ears." Eddie came back from the meeting, met Ronald and began to report.

"The dominant force in this alliance is still the seven major studios, plus Orion, Carrocco, Heimdell, and De Laurentiis, several mid-sized studios with membership in the MPAA.

They have the main say in the content of the negotiations. President Nick Conte, who was a lawyer, is mainly a candidate for negotiation. He will make a negotiating posture based on the opinions of these members.

Basically, the current attitude of the Producers Union is not to escalate the situation, when there was a two-year strike in the early 1980s. "

"Then do they want to recognize the proportion of the remaining dividends?" After listening to Ronald, he continued to ask about the details of the meeting.

"Actually, from my observations," Eddie took a sip of the coffee Ronald handed him, "the big seven producers are using the remaining dividends to stop the actors and directors' mouths. This dividend is With a fixed small proportion, the payment period is also delayed to more than one year.

For them, after admitting it, they can use this rule to block... stars and directors... hey hey..."

"Blocking the excuse for the star and the director to ask for a separate share ratio?" Ronald's dual identity still made Eddie a little bit unable to convert. So he simply said it himself.

"Yes, that's it. Celebrities are also actors, and the directors who made blockbuster films are also directors. Anyway, in the long run, the trend of giving some surplus to the three major unions is unstoppable. It is better to admit it earlier and let their ordinary actors, and Those stars in their heads bit each other."

"These capitalists... Actually, it's not a big problem to give some points to the actors. Making a movie is a matter of luck. I make a lot of money and give a part to the co-creators. I don't think there is any problem with this.

A lot of actors are famous, or won an Oscar, and they go to make a bunch of bad movies. In fact, there are also reasons why the previous contracts were unreasonable, and they lowered their artistic standards for the sake of money. "

Ronald has been in the line for a long time and has a certain understanding of the Oscar curse. Before becoming famous, actors didn't earn much money, and it was not easy to become popular. It's human nature to hurry up and make more money for bad movies while the audience remembers them.

For example, Stallone, he must also want to make another "Rocky" or "First Blood" such a deep and blockbuster movie in his heart.

But he couldn't stop his wife, Bridget Nelson, from buying a mansion in the most expensive location in Beverly Hills.

And Brigitte Nelson also starred in the sizzling action comedy, the sequel to "Beverly Hills Detective." This movie was abandoned by Stallone, but it was a huge hit.

Stallone, who is of Italian descent, is very upset about this kind of offense to his self-esteem, but his own movie "Flying Over the Top" failed at the box office and was released in four weeks. He had to buy all kinds of expensive jewelry and clothes to maintain his male status in his family.

Entertainment newspapers have almost weekly stories about the new toy the couple has purchased.

If it wasn't for Meinahan Golan, who gave him a salary far exceeding that of ordinary male stars, Stallone himself would have lost his dignity at home.

"It may be ok to distribute one or two movies to the main creators in such a generous way, but even those medium-sized studios produce about ten movies a year. Profits from many of the best-selling movies will be used to subsidize those who are even and losing money."

Eddie is right. The family has a big business, if you open a hole, I am afraid that everyone will want to share the money in the future. Hollywood's already fragile fiscal balance is now poised to be disrupted.

"Yes, but to make money from the movies I invest in, I still have to give a little to the actors, as well as the screenwriters and directors of photography."

"I have no objection to this, we are daydreaming, and now we are trying to make some name in the industry. As long as you don't disclose the size of the dividend."

Eddie is very clear about the current status of Daydream Pictures in the industry. It is a small company that makes low-cost exploitative films. Only with the rumors that actors and main creators make big money can they attract good actors.

"Nick Conte, president of the Producers Union, is very interested in you, and he asked me to bring you a message. If you go to the directors' union party, I hope you can bring a message to their president, Franklin Schaffner. talk."

"Let's talk? I'm not a traitor." Ronald thought that Conte wanted him to privately negotiate with the president of the Directors Guild.

"Traitors are the most hateful. You can't do this kind of thing. When I was a child, I learned that bats are neither birds nor beasts, and both sides will be despised." Ronald frowned against Eddie's idea.

"Hey? Is there such an article? Why can't I remember." Eddie raised his eyebrows, "I didn't ask you to be the middleman for the negotiation between the two sides in private. It was really a sentence."

"Oh? What?"

"Conte hopes that the directors' union can start negotiations with the producers' union as soon as possible.

The cooperation agreement between the Producers Union and the three major artist unions is due to expire next year. If we can talk earlier, everyone will have more room.

Conte said, this sentence you can say in front of members, it will avoid suspicion. "

"That's okay," Ronald nodded, speaking in such an upright manner, but it was a matter of both sides.

Anyway, there are not many directors and producers in Hollywood who have both identities. He is younger than Spielberg, so he should be running errands.

...

"Because both parties are members, I will not participate in your closed-door meeting. I am just helping the Producers Union to express an attitude that they hope to start negotiations as soon as possible."

A few days later, Ronald found a high-end hair-haired restaurant to entertain the old directors who came to the directors' union meeting.

This restaurant is of good quality, the food is delicious and the wine is imported from Bordeaux. More importantly, the waiters here are all dressed in dresses and bow ties, and the decoration is also very old-school. Just for the nostalgia of these old men.

"You're very good, Ronald. If you were born in our time, you might have made a good apprentice."

An old director took out a napkin and wiped the food off his body.

"Don't brag, the movies you directed are not as good as the box office of a movie for young people."

"Can that be the same? It's all Nixon's abolition of the gold standard. Our box office at that time, if inflation is included, is actually not bad now."

"That's right, plus inflation, the films I watched back then were better at the box office than they are now. After all, there were no TV dramas at that time." Ronald flattered a few old men.

"You are not only like a director in the golden age, but you also act like a director." The old man put on his dentures, "Didn't you date Brooke Shields before? We did it with popular female stars back then."

"You old man, stop bragging in front of young people."

"How am I bragging? Me and Grace Kelly, hey hey hey..."

"Which director of Grace here hasn't slept? On the set...that is, she is strict and doesn't publicize very much. Unlike Katharine Hepburn, who likes to use the most vulgar swearing at directors who have an affair with her."

Ronald was sweating when he heard this. These are all ancient secrets. I don't know how much is true and how much is bragging.

"Speaking of which, who was the best girl at that time?"

Several old men thought about it for a long time and couldn't argue. Some people said that it was John Ford. When he was not shooting movies, he always changed female partners.

Some people think it was Lubitsch, who also sang every night while filming, and finally died of a heart attack in the woman's bed.

"Billy, who are you talking about?" a director asked an old man who was sitting at the table, not participating in the discussion. He was wearing a plaid suit with a scarlet kerchief on his chest and tortoise glasses, and was slowly tasting red wine.

"Who else, Orson?"

"Hey... it's really him." Everyone was amazed. The deceased Orson Welles was not only posted by Rita Hayworth, the sexy woman in Hollywood at the time, but also had a deep love and righteousness. Cut his long hair to play a role for Orson Welles to return to Hollywood. It also offended the studio.

None of the directors discussed above has such a beautiful woman who sacrificed her acting career for him.

"Billy, you're actually not bad. Audrey will be here after marrying you. You still have so many beautiful women outside, and she's dead on you."

"Yeah, yeah, you're amazing too." The old men began to tease the old man named Billy.

"Mr. Wilder, do you have any secrets for this hand? Can you teach it?" When Ronald heard it, the man who had photographed classic business cards such as "Peachy Apartment", "Passionate Like Fire" and "Sunset Boulevard" Director Billy Wilder has that kind of ability. Quickly half flattering, half seriously asking him.

"It's actually very simple. Audrey is a smart woman. It's my luck that I met him."

Ronald nodded. Does that mean his wife doesn't mind?

"Also, you'd better find those tricks or stand-ins, not popular stars."

Well, that means don't let the status of the lover make the wife feel threatened. This old man has a set of theories, and he doesn't know whether it is reliable or not.

"Of course, the most important thing is not to let them know of each other's existence." Billy Wilder slowly said his most important secret.

"Hahaha..." Ronald picked up the glass and toasted everyone. This is good, how can it be so easy to do.

The old men are very satisfied. The level of today's banquets can be so-so as to be comparable to those of those years.

"This year's Oscar nominations are coming out soon. It is not convenient for us to nominate your Top Gun. Will there be a new movie next year? If it's not so much selling popcorn, we can vote for you and let your agent run it. It's possible to get the to the Best Director nomination."

Billy Wilder was a very clear old man. After he finished eating, he quietly chatted with Ronald about Oscar.

"Next year, I will have a film with MGM called 'Moonlight Sultry'. It's a drama. It's about a middle-aged love story. Maybe it suits Oscar's taste?" Ronald also lowered his voice and quietly Ask the elders for advice.

"Spicy Dance" didn't have the help of major studios, and it was also a commercial film for the box office, which might not suit Oscar's taste.

"Oscar nominations need to be voted on by people from the same union. We old men like to watch old-fashioned dramas, and you may be able to secure a nomination if you make the agent work hard.

In this business, it takes just one nomination to convince producers and other star actors. "

Ronald quickly expressed his thanks. Dropped Billy Wilder in a limousine in person to his house in Beverly Hills.

"The Guard is Here"

"You're very interesting. You can call me if you have something in the future." Billy Wilder was satisfied with the respect shown by Ronald. He lacks the respect of the producers right now.

Ronald feels that this method is good, and he can learn a lot of skills from the old directors.

He then found Franklin Schaffner, the new president of the Directors Guild, and said he could sponsor more union activities in the future.

...

A few days later, the nominations for the fifty-ninth Oscars were officially announced.

The importance that TV stations attach to the Oscars is incomparable to the perfunctory treatment of the Golden Globes.

Even the nomination list was announced, and there were TV broadcasts.

"Best Picture nominations, field platoons, the Hannah sisters, a room with a view, the children of God who fell out of favor..."

Ronald and Nisita and Richard, two agents, sat together in CAA's offices to see the nominations announced.

"How many nominations are there for these films? It's very concentrated?"

"There are eight nominations in the field, and they are all five awards." Richard took a table to record.

"Oliver Stone, Woody Allen, and David Lynch who directed Blue Velvet."

"How can this old pervert be nominated?" Ronald said it was not too bad to be nominated for best director for a film that purely reacted to the wickedness of humanity and the large-scale nude scenes of his girlfriend, Insabella Rossellini. understand.

"Critics love his mysteries," Nisita explained why. Some film critics are not only qualified to vote, but also drive the aesthetic trend in the circle.

"Best Actor for Paul Newman for Money, William Hurt for Children of God, and James Wood for El Salvador."

"Are both Oliver Stone films getting major nominations?" Ronald was deeply envious, and he wrote and directed the film that reflected the war in El Salvador.

"Best actress nominees are Sissy Spacek, Jane Fonda, Katherine Turner, whom Peggy Sue is getting married, and Sigourney Weaver for the Alien sequel, and the last nominee is Mary Matlin as the deaf girl..."

"The competition for the best actress this year is fierce... Two have won the actress, and two have won the nomination."

Ronald is happy for his friend Cameron, whose film has finally received a nomination for five major awards (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Actor/Actress).

But it's my turn to be miserable. There are only two movie theme songs, Top Gun's "Take My Breath" and "Longwei Kid 2"'s "Glory of Love", which won two nominations. .

As for other films that I have participated in, Crocodile Dundee won the best original screenplay, and the others were unsuccessful, even the makeup, special effects, editing, these technical awards were not nominated.

"Paula..." Nisita was calling his wife, and her client Tom Cruise didn't do well either.

Needless to say, the male protagonist of "Top Gun", those members of the Actors Guild, it is impossible to vote for a young fresh meat who is playing volleyball shirtless on the beach and arguing in the bathroom wearing a bath towel.

Even his high hopes, "The Color of Money" co-starring with Paul Newman, didn't get the best supporting actor nomination.

This is an insurance measure that he negotiated with agents such as Paula. In order to increase the probability of nomination, instead of selecting the male lead, he chose a supporting male role with less competition.

The results of it? It was really bad luck that I met two actors from "Field Platoon", Tom Bellinger and Willem Dafoe, who were nominated for Best Supporting Actor, a double bang.

Tom Bellinger, in particular, was one of the candidates for the leading role in "Top Gun," ditching popcorn to play a brash sergeant in the Vietnam War. Sure enough, he got the expected nomination for the award.

In this project, there are also British actor Michael Caine, who played "Hannah Sisters", and Dennis Hope, the supporting role in the basketball movie "Hot Coach Lawn Soldiers".

These are all old actors who have been famous in the film industry since the 1960s. Tom Cruise competed, but did not get the nomination.

"Tom was frustrated... He said he was going to continue working with the famous director."

Nisita told Ronald about the situation over there. After learning that he was not nominated for an Oscar again, Tom Cruise seemed to be a little gaffe, a little hysterical and screaming at home.

Fortunately, his girlfriend, Mimi Rogers, was there, soothed him immediately, and audited him with a Scientology Auditor until he calmed down.

"Is this nomination so important to him?" Ronald was a little puzzled. Tom Cruise didn't need Oscar's affirmation, and he was also the next-generation head male star.

"It's very important to him, and he needs an award." Nisita knew what Cruise was thinking. The impact of dyslexia on him, in fact, technically, with Cruise's status, can already be solved by hiring professionals.

More importantly, in terms of psychology, he is particularly eager for the outside world, especially professionals, to affirm his acting skills.

Ronald was not too obsessed with awards. Anyway, he made exploitative films, so he didn't give up hope at the beginning.

...

"Tom, Tom... can you say a word about losing the Oscar nomination?"

"I have nothing to say, the judges have their own standards." Tom Cruise was with his girlfriend Mimi, coming out of Scientology's technology center.

Mimi said that there are more professional Scientology executives who will audit him so that he can understand the real reason for losing the Oscar. Sure enough, after the hypnosis and counseling of David Miscavige, the successor appointed by the founder, Cruise has become much calmer.

"Tom Bellinger said he was nominated because his film Field Platoon was anti-war and your Top Gun was pro-military. What do you think about that?"

This question irritated Cruise again and gained real profits, but lost the award.

Tom Cruise turned to look at the reporter and took off his sunglasses, "I'm also anti-war!"

"Ah..." The reporters found that Cruise seemed to have a deep heart for this award.

"Tom, what do you mean, do you regret being in Ronald's Top Gun and want to be in Oliver Stone's Field Platoon?"

"No, I didn't say that. As an individual, I am anti-war."

"Then will you still do movies supporting the military in the future? Like Top Gun sequels?"

"No, no, I have always supported the anti-war position. This movie is about heroes, not support for war..."

Seeing that Tom was provoked and a little angry, Mimi Rogers quickly came up and pulled Tom into the car.

"Tom Cruise says he's not going to shoot a Top Gun sequel because of anti-war reasons...CBS Los Angeles has you covered."

The next day, Ronald was watching TV at home when he accidentally found out that the media was reporting that Cruise had unexpectedly stated that he would not be participating in the Top Gun sequel.

"Does he regret it and wants to be in an anti-war movie like the Oscar-nominated field platoon?" Chris Columbus, a young director who was visiting Ronald, bluntly pointed out to Ronald. Ruth's tendencies.

"It can't be so simple to analyze, the field platoon is actually a very complex story, adapted from the background of Oliver Stone's own experience in Vietnam.

It's hard to say that this is an anti-war or pro-military movie. There are villains like Sergeant Barnes played by Bellinger in the US military, and Sergeant Elias played by Willem Dafoe with a sense of justice. nice guy.

Besides, who doesn't want to win an Oscar? "

Ronald was trying to excuse Cruise, but he was actually a little grumpy in his heart. What is this? Although he can't nominate him for best actor, he has star status that actors like Bellinger could never get in their dreams, and the favor of thousands of fans.

It's hard to say whether Bellinger would want to trade with Cruise if he had the chance.

bell bell bell...

The phone rang.

"Ronald? I'm Tom, I'm calling you to say sorry, I wanted to come by myself, but Mimi said that it's not convenient for me to go out right now, and it would be more troublesome if the reporter saw me.

In that interview, when I was in a bad mood, the reporter chased after me and asked, and I blurted out. It doesn't mean anything else.

Mimi said that I still need to go to Scientology's technical center for more audits, so that these alien creatures... In short, the negative emotions are resolved. When things calm down, I will come to the door and apologize to you. "

Ronald felt a lot more comfortable, and Cruise still respected himself.

"It doesn't matter, you are a big star now, and you are very busy. We have a chance to go to Paula and Rick and talk again."

"Okay, now Mr. Michael Ovitz wants me to star in a movie. He said that there is a good chance of being nominated for an Oscar. I have explained to him that my first choice is you to be the director."