Exploiting Hollywood 1980

"Don't be nervous, Ronald." Eddie returned to his normal tone, "I'll read you a passage..."

"Unknown screenwriter hits big! That's the front-page article in today's New York Times."

"Hollywood is a dream machine that creates overnight success. Now this machine not only produces stars and actors, but also spreads to people behind the scenes. In the first summer of the 1980s, an unknown screenwriter sold his debut film 'My Brother's Keeper' $350,000, plus 3% box office share..."

"The most unusual thing about this news is that so far, there has not been any news about this movie in the newspapers. This reporter asked the rumored Columbia Pictures President Frank Price to confirm, and his secretary's office gave Give a no comment answer.”

"Let's move to the business news section," agent Eddie said. "This is also the strange part of this report. He does not appear in the entertainment section, but in the business news section."

"Regarding this rumor, the most direct evidence comes from Mr. Michael Ovitz, the president of caa agency. He confirmed to this newspaper that the deal does exist and is already being finalized. Colombia will invite quite heavyweight male and female protagonists, maybe He is an Academy Award winner, but at the current contact stage, it is not convenient to disclose specific details..."

"Ovitz told this newspaper that CAA has gradually transformed from an agency focusing on television business to film business. This cooperation plan is also a good response to Kerkorian's accusations against Colombia's management..."

"If I hadn't known that you were signed to CAA and had written the Vietnam War-related script 'My Brother's Protector,' I wouldn't have believed that you sold this script, hahaha..." Eddie laughed on the other end of the phone. Very happy.

"To be honest, I'm not jealous. Only CAA has the connections in Hollywood to facilitate the deal. And after your name spreads, I can offer high prices for advertising business. I'm going to take the New York Times to find Calvin Klein." .”

"You buy me a new copy of the New York Times too, and I'll keep it for my collection."

"Do you need it? Your name is not in this report."

"ah……?"

Ronald suddenly found out about the surprise and quickly called Ovitz. What was going on with the 3% box office share?

"Hello, I'm looking for Mr. Ovitz. I'm Ronald Lee. I haven't made an appointment, but you can tell him that I saw the New York Times report...Okay, I'll wait for your call back."

Ovitz quickly got the news and called back.

After Ovitz answered the phone,

The first sentence you blurted out, how did you know?

"Didn't the New York Times report it? An unknown screenwriter? Why didn't my name be mentioned? Mr. Ovitz."

Ovitz did not answer, but continued to ask, "Who told you?" It seemed that he did not expect Ronald to read the business news of the New York Times.

"My agent in New York told me after seeing the report. He represents my advertising directing business."

"What? Your advertising directing business is not represented by CAA? Are you still a director? Do you have any directing experience? What works have you filmed?"

Ronald was shocked by Ovitz's ability to twist questions, "Mr. Ovitz, I asked you first."

"This is part of the promotion of the film project. Because this report is mainly for the capital market, and your name and that of other creators did not appear, we did not tell you. We will publish the news in the entertainment media soon, and then your name will also be Would have been in the entertainment section of the New York Times.”

Ovitz said briefly, "Now it's your turn. Have you ever been a director?"

"I graduated from high school and worked in Roger Corman's company. I was a second-unit director on an exploitation film. I also filmed a few commercials in New York. I filmed Chewels chewing gum. I am a second-level member of the Directors Guild. …”

"Hurry up and come to the company. We will sign a director agency agreement with you. Isn't your dream to be a film director? CAA is also in short supply of director clients right now."

"Uh, Mr. Ovitz, I'm studying editing at Peep Show Productions in San Francisco."

"What? Peep Show Company, can you get on line with Coppola? Our CAA also wants to talk to him."

"I know him, he doesn't know me, and he was not in the company during this time."

"Think of it, Ronald. If you can get a photo with him, it will be very beneficial to your next promotion. Please introduce me. If you can get to know Coppola, your path as a director will be much smoother. .”

Ronald imagined a photo of himself and Coppola standing together, being put in The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, or the New York Times, as a picture introducing the talented screenwriter.

"The inheritance of Hollywood's top directors." Ronald has already thought of the text explanation below the picture. This scene is very exciting. No matter what, it’s just a photo. This is also for my own publicity, so that I can become a director in the future.

"Okay, I'll look for him tomorrow and try to take a photo with him. By the way, what does the 3% box office share mean?"

"That's hype. The share belongs to Jane Fonda and has nothing to do with your remuneration. Columbia hopes that Jane will give her best to perform the role."

"Okay, I understand, Mr. Ovitz. Does the director have any ideas about the script now? How to modify my script? I still need to interview him. I have taken a lot of notes here."

"When you return to Los Angeles, I will arrange a meeting for you. Remember to tell your main agent Richard the results of your meeting with Coppola and your schedule."

"I will. Also, for the role of the fool's sister, has the director seen Michelle Pfeiffer's audition photos? What does he think? Mr. Ovitz." Ronald thought of Michelle Pfeiffer's agent Limato's instructions. "

"We haven't reached that stage yet. Let's finalize the revision of your script first. Then you can also recommend it to the director yourself." Ovitz hung up the phone.

Early the next morning, Ronald returned to the Sentinel Building.

The editing room was deserted, and the idea of ​​having Walter Mersey introduce the film was abandoned.

Ronald could only wander around the peepshow company, trying to meet the current Hollywood director, Francis Coppola. . Went to the studio. The Peep Show Company invested heavily and rented a small studio in the Sentinel Building for filming.

But he didn't see anyone there. Ronald checked that the door was unlocked, walked into the studio, fumbled to find the switch, closed it and turned on the lights.

In the empty studio, lighting, recording and other equipment were well covered with black cloth, waiting for the master's visit.

Ronald watched for a while and imagined the scene in which he directed the entire team to film.

“Recording, turn on!

camera? Full speed ahead!

Snapped,

Start shooting! "

There was only his own echo in the empty studio. Ronald looked at the lights above the center of the stage. The lighting engineer had to climb over the wooden board next to him to operate the lights. On the left and right are large electric fans that create various breezes.

Ronald turned off the lights again and walked out.

As worthy of being the number one director in Hollywood, such a large space is used as a studio and is not used at ordinary times, so it is left vacant here. Another director would definitely not be able to support such a large rental expense.

Without getting to Coppola, Ronald found a hotel and booked a flight back to Los Angeles, preparing to continue working on the "My Brother's Keeper" project with CAA.

There was nothing to do in the evening, so Ronald was going to go to the bar he had visited the day he arrived in San Francisco. The guys there were quite interesting to brag about and chat with.

After taking a shower, I turned on the TV and listened to the news while drying my hair.

"The former California governor continued his campaign and made offensive remarks in New York, pointing out that the current governor started his campaign in Tuscumbia, Alabama, the birthplace of Ku Klux."

"The commander-in-chief didn't dare debate with me because he knew he wouldn't win." The former governor's movie-star face appeared on TV. Although he was old, he was still very handsome. "Even if this debate was held in the Rose Hall, the audience would be the federal government. Employees, even if the question is from Jody Powell.”

Ronald burst into laughter. The former movie star has a very vicious mouth. The Rose Hall is the venue for the White House press conference. Jody Powell is the President's press secretary. Even so, the President cannot defend him.

This kind of harm really relieves people's anger. The Persian hostage crisis has not yet been resolved. The cost of gasoline has more than doubled from the beginning of the year, and we often have to queue up.

Turning to a channel, a Cantonese TV series was playing. Ronald looked at the station logo. It was ktsf. There are many Chinese Americans in San Francisco, and even local Chinese TV stations have them.

Unfortunately, I can’t understand Cantonese and there are no subtitles. Ronald looked at it for a while and couldn't understand it. It seemed to be a story about the young owner of the shipyard returning home to inherit the family business.

Moving on to another channel, there was an advertisement, "Thompson Waterproof Coating." The soundtrack of the advertisement was very nice, and Ronald stopped to read the advertisement.

"who'll; the rain" Ronald remembered this song. When Aunt Karen attended the Veteran's Day party, she played the music of this song. Many veterans like the songs of this band, and there is also a song "fortunate son" "They also liked it, mocking the senator's son for not having to go to war in Vietnam.

“It’s been raining for as long as I can remember.

Mysterious clouds pour down from the sky, confusing people. "

Ronald also hummed a few lines. The name of the song is "Who Will Stop This Heavy Rain", and it is really appropriate to be paired with an advertisement for waterproof paint.

"Good people throughout the ages have tried to find the sun

I am still curious, who will stop this rain? "

The singer in the commercial was still singing, but Ronald suddenly felt something was wrong. Why was this voice so familiar?

…

"So you are really the lead singer of Creedence Clearwater Revival (ccr), John Fogerty?" Ronald found the man in the bar again wearing a blue plaid shirt, jeans, and Martin boots. uncle.

"What's the benefit of pretending to be John Fogerty? I can't even sing my own songs now."

"I often hear your songs on Veterans Radio, but I don't have a record player, so I haven't bought your records or seen you. Just now I saw an advertisement for waterproof coating on the TV station, and I heard your voice. Think about it."

"I understand you. I also come from an ordinary family. Records are very expensive. My brother and I have to save money for a long time to buy one."

"So you were really defrauded of money by your boss Sol, and you can't even sing the songs you wrote?"

"Why would I lie to you? Saul Zaentz, if you are really involved in the film industry, you should know this name. He produced 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' with Kirk Douglas' son, It won an Oscar. The money for that shoot was defrauded from me."

"And he bribed the other two bastards in my band, signed an agreement, and bought the copyright to my songs at a very low price. In addition to waterproof coatings, he also authorized rainproof tires, which are used in a lot of garbage advertisements. My song, it's a distortion..." John Fogerty started calling out the liar boss again.

"Hey, John, you're bragging again. Don't lie to the kids. If you are really John Fogarty from CCR, why don't you sing us a song about who'll; the rain?"

Several regular patrons in the bar started joking with John again.

"You old bastards, I sang CCR songs at a bar commercial and had to pay Sol. I'm not stupid."

"We'll buy you and your friends a drink." Those regular customers were regulars at the bar and often joked with John Fogarty.

"Come on, let's sing a song? No one will tell, the bartender held an acoustic guitar in front of John."

"I won't sing. You are abetting a crime. You let young man Ronald sing."

Ronald took over the acoustic guitar and began to sing the song "who'll; the rain?". It had three lyrics and a few simple *****, em chords, and it was not difficult to sing.

"No, no, no, the interlude here needs to change d, am, c, and change it on the quarter beat rhythm." John Fogarty also taught Ronald a few tricks to make the accompaniment more pleasant.

"There is only one acoustic guitar, but we still need to create three rhythms, one is the rhythm of strumming, the second is the rhythm of changing chords, and the third is the rhythm of the progression of the song melody." John taught on the spot, allowing The bar patrons were enjoying themselves.

As expected of a master teaching, Ronald felt that an acoustic guitar seemed to play three rhythms: bass, drums, and melody. He also felt that the accompaniment sounded much better.

"A rhythm is destined to be monotonous. If you have some talent as an artist, you should also pay attention to the matching of speed and slowness for a good melody." John Fogarty was very satisfied with Ronald's interpretation of the song. It had been a long time since he heard someone singing himself live in a bar. Wrote the song, "Next Round of Beers on Me."

"Dang, dang, dang..." the bartender rang the brass bell on the bar, "The next round of beer is free, thank you John!"

"The rhythm of fast and slow rhythms. Walter Mersey said that the rhythm of film narrative is actually the same thing, right? The rhythm of the story, the rhythm of the characters, and the rhythm of the conflict must be matched to make it look good." Ronald was unexpectedly interested in the rhythm of the film. Got some insights.

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