Hollywood starts with a broker

Chapter 25 Samuel Goldwyn Jr.

New York, Manhattan.

Aaron Anderson arranged for Nicole Kidman and director David Lynch to meet, so she could audition with Nicolas Cage for "Wild at Heart."

25-year-old Nicolas Cage had a low-budget black comedy horror film, "Vampire's Kiss," released last month, and his full-throttle performance in it attracted David Lynch.

Nicole Kidman's performance in the thriller "Dead Calm" also caught David Lynch's attention.

Of course, Aaron Anderson's recommendation of Nicole Kidman to the head of PolyGram Filmed Entertainment was also an important reason, after all, the main source of funding for "Wild at Heart" was PolyGram.

In addition to French television station Canal +, and North American distributor Samuel Goldwyn Films also contributed some funds, preparing a budget of 10 million US dollars for David Lynch's "Wild at Heart."

"Aaron, don't worry, David has seen Nicole's performance in the movie "Dead Calm", there's no problem!"

In PolyGram's American office, film executive Michael Kuhn said to Aaron with a smile.

Aaron nodded and looked at him, "PolyGram is going to produce its own movies too, right?"

"Yes, PolyGram Filmed Entertainment just acquired 49% of the shares of British studio Working Title Films, and it is indeed going to produce its own works;"

"As you know, the British film market is completely monopolized by Hollywood, and our works can't compare with Hollywood projects."

Michael Kuhn said, handing Aaron a glass of wine.

Obviously, PolyGram is aiming at American independent films, after all, the cost is low, isn't it?

And this year, "Sex, Lies, and Videotape" became the first American independent film to win an award at a top international film festival.

Aaron Anderson's vision has attracted the attention of many European filmmakers.

Aaron walked to the window, "Although independent films appeared very early, Hollywood's mainstream attitude towards independent films has always been condescending;"

"For the mainstream, independent films are just street stalls!"

"Michael, it won't be long before independent films become a big business, and shrewd Hollywood studios will package and launch their mainstream films in the form of independent films."

The streets are crowded and bustling. Now, New York City, as the heart of the world, has unlimited opportunities and challenges.

Michael Kuhn smiled, "PolyGram needs to make a name for itself first, and showing its face at international film festivals is very necessary."

Los Angeles on the west coast of the United States is the center of the film industry, well-known, while New York on the east coast is the center of independent films.

Who would have thought that New York was originally the birthplace of American films? At the beginning of this century, those Jews ran from New York to the west coast to establish Hollywood in order to escape Edison's film monopoly!

"Aaron, you are more suitable to be a film producer than an agent."

"Is that so? Hollywood also has the profession of manager." Aaron shook his head, but the manager's job is to be tied to the artists, and Aaron has no interest in spending too much time for a few artists.

"What is your opinion on "Wild at Heart"?"

"Let's go to the film festival. This kind of highly artistic work is more in line with the mainstream in Europe!"

"Well, same as my idea," Michael Kuhn also thought so.

"Director Steven Soderbergh, has he had any new projects recently?"

Aaron shook his head, "His debut work "Sex, Lies, and Videotape" will be released next month in August;"

"Let's talk about it after it's released. He doesn't have any new ideas now."

Then, Aaron smiled, "In the future, we may be able to cooperate soon!"

"Oh, Aaron, do you have a script you like?"

"Well, I will send you the proposal when the time comes," it is more difficult for Aaron to get investment in Hollywood, and the goal must be Europe and Japan.

In the evening, Aaron and Nicole Kidman returned to the hotel together. Judging from her expression, the audition should have gone well.

"Is that Nicolas Cage really director Coppola's nephew?"

Nicole Kidman sat on the sofa and asked with some doubts.

"Is that fake? How can someone from a famous family be the same as ordinary people if they can show their face in various movies at a young age?"

"Well, his performance is very good, and it's very comfortable to act in a scene with him!"

"The performance is very good?"

Aaron smiled, that's Nicolas Cage, he appeared in various film and television works when he was in his teens, and he was already the protagonist of the movie when he was 19 years old.

So what if he changed his last name? Doesn't anyone know that he is Francis Coppola's nephew?

Even he himself said that he was able to get those roles mainly because of his identity effect.

However, Nicolas Cage's acting skills are indeed good, and he has been honing his acting skills in art films!

Aaron leaned on the sofa, "You are only 22 years old, you are still very young, it is very necessary to hone your acting skills in this kind of art film;"

"When the time is right, I will arrange for you to take on some commercial films. Awards are important, but Hollywood always looks at the box office!"

"Well, I know," Nicole Kidman moved closer to Aaron, "Let's go to rest..."

In July, the competition in the summer檔 is still fierce.

Warner Bros.' "Batman" is far ahead, surpassing Paramount's sequel "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade"!

At the same time, Aaron also took advantage of the production of "Wild at Heart" to talk to Samuel Goldwyn Jr., the person in charge of distributor Samuel Goldwyn Films, about the distribution of "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles";

After the film was completed, producer Thomas K. Gray gave Aaron a rough cut copy, so that Aaron could take the copy to promote it.

In a small conference room, Samuel Goldwyn Jr. rubbed his eyes, "Is the scene in "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" a bit violent?"

"It's originally an R-rated work. The sharp and simple action scenes are the biggest selling point of the movie. There are quite a few audiences for this kind of movie," Aaron explained.

"But the film's set is cheap, and the costumes and props are also a bit simple. "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" is a cheap B-level action film."

Samuel Goldwyn Jr. looked at Aaron, "Perhaps the video tape market is its good home!"

Aaron shook his head, "It is definitely not possible to directly release video tapes, it is necessary to enter the theater."

"3 million US dollars, I want the North American distribution rights of "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles", including theaters, video tapes and TV broadcasts."

Aaron smiled, "Impossible, we are very confident in this "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles", and the movie cost 13.5 million US dollars to produce;"

"To buy out the North American distribution rights, the price must be at least 7 million US dollars..."