Exploiting Hollywood 1980

"Annette..." Ronald came to Annette Bening's apartment and brought a bottle of red wine from Joel Silver as a door-to-door gift.

"Ha...here we come", Benin, wearing a pale green apron, came out to open the door. "I'm glad you came, I made something delicious." Then he kissed Ronald's mouth lightly.

"My favorite Bordeaux red wine." Benin looked at the red wine and put it on the table. "You watch TV first, I'll be ready soon."

"Okay, you're busy first." Ronald felt very comfortable and sat on the sofa. This kind of conversation was very similar to the feeling between acquainted friends and lovers, although Ronald had only met Annette Bening once.

Seen from the back, Annette Bening has a very thin waist, a white round-neck T-shirt that is loosely packed into black trousers. The aura of the front covered by the apron kept coming out as she walked into the kitchen twisting her back.

Ronald turned on the TV, and the local TV station Channel 5 was reporting entertainment news.

"Following the final offer made by the Producers Union in early March, yesterday the Producers Union made a 'final final offer. At this stage, trade union members need to unite even more when negotiations are about to produce a breakthrough..."

"Now you know you've been subdued?" Ronald looked at the negotiator who looked like a magic stick on TV, feeling amused in his heart. The Producers Union held an emergency meeting the day before yesterday, and added some concessions to the final offer last time. The new settlement agreement was voted through with the approval of the majority of representatives.

In addition to tens of millions of dollars to the screenwriters union as compensation for the previous three years, two terms have also been softened. The first is to agree to a unified regulation that any film and television program broadcast on the TV station for more than one hour will automatically receive the remaining dividends.

In fact, the TV station owners are most upset about this one. They complain that some programs have poor ratings. If those programs are determined to enter the dividend pool based on time instead of ratings, they will have to pay for a pile of garbage.

But in the producer union, the voice of the TV station is a minority. Although they are rich and powerful, in terms of votes, a large number of small and medium-sized production companies still occupy the majority of voting rights. In addition, the most uncomfortable screenwriter strike is the TV production department that has the greatest demand for scripts.

Therefore, there is no doubt about this article, and it was passed.

The second article was proposed by the screenwriters union, and screenwriters should have the right to negotiate on the selection of actors and directors for certain projects. This one was opposed by most of the producers. Many small producers were established by directors like Ronald, and they didn't want any screenwriters to dictate their casting.

But the president of the alliance, Nick Counter, came up with an additional clause, that is, the producer has more power to determine the number of signed screenwriters for the crew. In other words, the producer can have greater power to decide the authorship of other people than the original screenwriter (who must be signed by law), such as script doctors and modifiers.

In other words, after giving the screenwriter some unclear power, the producer is given more power to decide who can sign the script. In this way, the pros and cons, experienced producers know how to play the game here, so that the screenwriter's power to influence the casting on paper is invalidated.

As long as the two clauses are bundled,

It must be passed together, so it is okay to agree to the whimsical powers of the Screenwriters Guild.

If there is a screenwriter whose influence is so great that the director and producer cannot check and balance, then in most cases he is also a strong best-selling author, or a Broadway playwright. of.

The strike has been going on for a long time, many screenwriters have no income, their savings are almost exhausted, and the relief from the union is almost gone. Soon Hollywood actors will hold a charity auction to renew the lives of screenwriters.

Ronald watched the TV with a smile, thinking that the strike would end soon, and now he had to hurry up and finalize the script of "Steel Magnolia".

Ronald contacted Shirley McLean and Olympia Dukakis, two actresses, who had no new films after the strike, and it happened that Ronald brought this blockbuster film with female characters, and they were very happy to say Can participate.

Of course, the most important thing is to get the heroine. Ronald listened to some opinions from his agent, Nisita, and now the most appealing Hollywood female stars are Michelle Pfeiffer and Sean Yang. Exclude the crazy Sean Young, it's time to ask Michelle Pfeiffer to come out and make a movie directed by herself.

"Okay, we can eat."

Just thinking about having the opportunity to direct Michelle Pfeiffer, to fulfill a wish of the year, and to show Hollywood that Pfeiffer is not just an attractive and pretty face. Annette Bening came out with some plates.

"What are you thinking?" Bening set the plate, "This is the dish I made when I was a chef on a yacht... I have wanted to cook a table for my beloved since I was a child." Bening took off his apron and sat down. Beside Ronald, with his arms around Ronald, a wave of heat suddenly came through the thin trousers and T-shirt.

"You really worked as a cook on a ship? That's amazing." Ronald looked at the British bone china on the table, which was shining brightly and looked very good. But the food inside is...

Although Bening speaks well, the role of a good wife and mother is also very appetizing to Ronald. But the dishes on these plates let her reveal the truth.

Slightly overcooked scrambled eggs, oatmeal toast, tomato sandwiches, and a big bowl of green salad with Kraft's classic American salad dressing.

Although it is understandable that an actor's expertise is not in cooking skills, but after bragging about his cooking skills for a long time in advance, he made a table of simple American meals for breakfast or lunch, which still made Ronald almost overwhelmed.

"Of course, I was only fourteen years old, and a friend took me to learn to dive. In order to make money for diving lessons, I worked as a cook on a fishing yacht. It cost ten dollars a trip, and the third time I became a cook." Chef, in addition to these, I can also grill meat and fry steaks. Later, I got a diving instructor and took pictures, and I went to college after earning money, and became my favorite career as an actor.”

"Try the vegetable salad I made, the old fishermen on those boats said it was delicious." Bening made a piece with a fork and fed it to Ronald.

"Well, do you have olive oil?" Ronald was not too impressed with this strong salad dressing, and he remembered the way Nora Ephron ate it.

"Yes", Bening twisted in Ronald's arms, and then went to get olive oil.

"Well, it tastes better this way." Ronald added some olive oil, which really dilutes the taste of the salad dressing, and it still has a little fragrance.

"When I was in college, I was interested in drama, but there were no good drama clubs in public universities. It took me longer to gain a firm foothold on Broadway."

Annette Bening said something about her struggle history, and Ronald felt the same way. This woman is very sophisticated and always finds Ronald's emotional resonance.

"I don't know what project you are preparing now?" Bening asked casually while stroking Ronald's face with his fingers in his arms.

"A story about a southern woman..." Ronald said slowly after seeing Bening's eyes light up, "There is no suitable role for you."

"Oh?" Bening raised his head, then smiled, "What kind of show is it?"

"It's the 'Steel Magnolia' that's playing on Broadway right now, a 'Virgin', and four 'Mothers'." Ronald didn't mention the rest of the "slut" types, but Bening understood what he meant.

"Hehehe..." Sure enough, Annette Bening understood, her eyes turned seductive, and she touched Ronald's waist invitingly with one hand.

"There is a shortage of scripts in Hollywood now, do you have any favorite characters?" Ronald looked at Bening's mature temptation, which was different from what he had experienced before. Hearts are melting.

"I like Broadway dramas, but I'm not very good at comedies." Bening felt that it was best for him to start from the movies adapted from Broadway and make a name for himself. After all, you are not young anymore, and you can't make mistakes in every step. As she spoke, she stroked Ronald's shirt slowly.

"Which one do you particularly like?" Ronald burst into enthusiasm after being teased, helping this beautiful woman, in fact, was also discovering talents for Hollywood.

"You Know 'Dangerous Liaisons'?" Annette Bening Finally Says Which Movie She Wants To Be In.

"I convinced Alan (Rickman) to come to Hollywood..." Ronald kissed Bening.

"Hahaha...you tickled me..." Bening smiled happily, and now he finally had hope of becoming famous.

"I can't guarantee anything, but you can go and meet my agent, Nisita, who belongs to CAA, and should be able to arrange an audition for you, and the rest is up to you."

"Honey... um..." Benin catered "hardly".

...

"Woo..." The Ferrari stopped at the entrance of the hotel where Ronald was staying, and he stretched himself. The interest of mature women came, and it was crazy.

"Mr. Li, Ms. Nora Ephron is waiting for you." The hotel lobby manager saw Ronald coming in and immediately informed him.

"Nora, why are you here? Let's go to the bar to talk?" Ronald saw Nora Ephron sitting on the sofa opposite. She also has a suitcase, as if she just got off the plane.

"Ronald, is it true that the strike is about to end? Our movie will start casting soon. If the strike ends, it will not be a shortage of scripts, but a shortage of stars. I discussed it with Rob. I'll meet you in Los Angeles right now, and he's going to talk Billy Crystal."

"Do you have a heroine candidate?" Ronald ordered a glass of orange juice, drank it in one gulp, and then asked for another glass, explaining embarrassingly, "It's easy to get dehydrated in California in spring..."

"Hmph..." Nora Ephron sniffed a few times, "The most suitable candidate is Michelle Pfeiffer."

"It's her again? Why?" Ronald was a little overwhelmed, the concentration of female stars was even more terrifying than that of male stars. Although there are more female stars than male stars, at a certain moment, Hollywood will only think of two or three candidates for the heroine.

"This is a very literary young woman, and Pfeiffer's appearance of being soft on the outside and strong on the inside is the most suitable." Nora Ephron looked at Ronald suspiciously, "Do you have any other suitable candidates?"

"Hmm..." Ronald thought for a long time, and it is true that Pfeiffer is more suitable for this kind of literary heroine.

"How about Helen Slater?" Ronald thought for a while. This kind of character is young and full of fantasies about life learned from books, as if Helen is closer to the character around him.

"Her?" Nora Ephron thought for a while, "She lacks a kind of enthusiasm that makes people feel real. Although the heroine is naive, she is full of expectations for romance. Helen is a cold beauty."

Ronald touched his lips, isn't childish the right type? I was about to ask Diane if she thought about whether it was suitable. She acted in that kind of literary and artistic style. I have never seen her act before.

"Let her try the mirror?" Nora Ephron felt uncomfortable and refuted Ronald's face.

"I'm going to call Limato, Michelle Pfeiffer's agent. If she's interested, we'll be the publisher. You're right, we have to act first."

...

Pfeiffer's agent, Limato, called soon after and made an appointment to visit Ronald. The two exchanged pleasantries and sat down again.

"I have two scripts here, both of which are very suitable for Pfeiffer. Would you like to see which one is more suitable for her? She is also willing to act in it." Ronald cut to the point.

"Ah, the Broadway adaptation of Steel Magnolia, I know that show, it's a good fit for Pfeiffer. This one is also good, obviously New York style script."

Limato is now in front of Ronald, and he must pay attention to his skills when he refute the opponent's face. He first praised Ronald's vision, and was still thinking about how to refuse.

"The two scripts are very suitable for Pfeiffer. Let's see, which one is more suitable for her? ... Well, or which one she would like to play in?"

Ronald noticed that Limato's face was not very good, thinking that he had spoken abruptly, and Pfeiffer is also a popular star now, and she would accept any drama. Limato probably didn't have that much of an influence on her anymore either.

Limato shook his hands and was startled when he heard Ronald's polite words. He suddenly figured it out. For a director like Ronald, it’s better to say everything clearly. He always overlaps with the fledgling screenwriter seven or eight years ago. For a person of this status, don’t deceive him. best strategy.

"I think Pfeiffer will definitely like it. She always wants to cooperate with you once. But now, you may need to arrange a schedule. She has recently planned to take another Broadway adaptation of the film, and it may be very urgent. "

"Did someone get there first?" Ronald sighed. He was still inexperienced. Looking at others, as soon as he saw the troubles in the trade union, he immediately started.

“It’s not like that either, it started long before the writers union renegotiated, and you know there’s an exemption for the scripts that are already in the works. That’s why off-Broadway scripts are so popular.”

"Okay, let's watch it again. Can you show Pfeiffer the script? Let's talk about it sometime."

"Of course." Limato respectfully accepted the script and put it in his briefcase.

"What movie did she take?" Ronald asked casually, to estimate Michelle Pfeiffer's schedule, if it was an action movie, it would take a long time to shoot.

"Do you know 'Dangerous Liaisons'? The play that came to tour in London's West End was performed in New York last year and was well received." Limato explained immediately, fearing that Ronald didn't know about this kind of classical drama.

"Alan Rickman was hired by me to play Die Hard." Ronald waved his hand. He had made too many commercial films, so everyone thought that he was ignorant and didn't understand Broadway.

"Then I don't worry. You know that the period film will take longer to shoot. Michelle and I will have a chat. She will definitely like your script..." Limato patted his briefcase and stood up.

"Don't forget to arrange an interview with us." Ronald stood up and shook hands with him to say goodbye.

"It seems that everyone has acted quickly, and we have to step up the release of the videotape in Daydream. It is best to go on the market before the end of the strike, and don't pay too much attention to those production costs." Ronald sent Limato away, and hurriedly Daydream's videotape department called.