Ovitz immediately picked up the phone and called Ronald's main agent, Rick Niceta. He wanted to confirm whether Ronald was in Washington, D.C., on the day of the inauguration ceremony.
"He is in New York...wait, let me check,...well, he has almost left for Park City, Utah." Niceta checked Ronald's itinerary and said to Ovitz.
"What is he doing there? Listen, I want to meet with him about the Oscar nomination. You tell me his next trip. I want to meet with him as soon as possible."
"He went to the Sundance Film Festival organized by Robert Redford. You forgot, in addition to being a director, he is also an investor and producer of independent films." The corner of Niceta's mouth raised, and now his
The client has also reached a position where Ovitz must coordinate his position before the Oscars.
"The movie he invested in, 'Sid's Gang,' was an entry. He will stay there for two days, and then go to Palm Springs to participate in another film festival...a Chinese-language movie...and then go to Los Angeles. If you want
he……"
"You can help me make an appointment with Ronald. I can go to Palm Springs to meet him." Ovitz decided to meet in Palm Springs. There are many quiet places there where he can meet and chat with Ronald without disturbing anyone.
.
"Okay, I'll confirm the specific time with him as soon as possible."
"It would be great if I went to the East Coast earlier. I happen to be going to Washington DC and can talk to Ronald there." Ovitz pretended to be regretful. His busy schedule is well known to everyone at CAA.
"DC? There are no flights there. You have to drive there from Virginia. It's very inconvenient for Ronald to get there from New York. You might as well meet in Palm Springs."
"That's it, tell my secretary when you have a specific time." Ovitz put down the phone. It seemed that there was a high possibility that Ronald would not be in Washington DC on the day of the inauguration ceremony. He still felt uneasy and called Mary.
The secretary who has followed him for the longest time said, "Ronald Lee is at the Sundance Film Festival and asked our people to interview him..."
On the other side, Niceta also hung up the phone and called Richard.
"Ovitz has an appointment with Ronald. Are you with him? Ask him if he is free in Palm Springs for me?"
"He has to meet Director Huang from China, and there are no other business arrangements..." Richard looked at the schedule, "What does he want to talk about? Do I have anything to say to Ronald?"
"When it comes to coordinating Oscar nominations, you follow our plan and talk to Ronald and see what he thinks. Well... Ovitz also mentioned Washington DC. I don't understand what it means. You repeat it to Ronald.
De...maybe he has some plans that we don't know about."
…
"Ronald?" Richard found Ronald who was dining in the restaurant. He was eating and reading a thick paperback novel. Diane tilted her head next to him and wanted to get closer to read the book.
The content of this novel.
"Richard, would you like to have something to eat with us? No? Let's have a cup of Mormon Starbucks...waiter..." Seeing that it was his agent, Ronald pulled out a chair for him to sit down.
"Michael Ovitz wants to meet you. Can you make time to meet with him when you get to Palm Springs?" Richard took a sip of this Diet Coke and coffee extract soda drink, Utah 70%
They are all Mormons, and this religion actually prohibits coffee!
Therefore, young people who want to drink coffee (young people who cannot drink coffee in America are really miserable) can only satisfy themselves by adding espresso liquid to Coke in disguise.
"Okay, I originally just wanted to have a good chat with Director Huang, and you can help me arrange it." Ronald still held the novel in his hand.
"How is this book?" Richard completed his task and came over to care about the novels Ronald read. Since the rights to adapt several novels were stolen, he has attached great importance to collecting best-selling novels and often reads them on the road.
"Horror..." Ronald closed the novel and handed it to Diane, "Do you want to read it?" The cover of the book read, "Love in the Time of Cholera," the new work of Nobel Prize winner Marquez.
". Seeing that Diane was interested, he handed the book over.
"Is this book bad?" Richard asked innocently, looking at the big Nobel Prize winner on the cover.
"I mean, a movie adaptation would be too scary. The main scene depicts the sex scene of a former lover who is over 60 years old. Who would want to watch this kind of movie?"
Diane heard this and quickly put down the book she was holding. She felt that since Ronald said that, he must be right.
"Okay, I'm going to call Rick (Nisita) back." Richard stopped disturbing Ronald. He stood up and turned back, "Rick said Ovitz mentioned whether you went to DC, maybe
What message does he want to convey to you..."
…
Robert Redford's Sundance Film Festival is named after the "Sundance Kid" he played in his famous film "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid". I don't know why, but Redford attaches great importance to this independent film.
film festival.
He tried his best to do everything himself, and there were only twenty people working for the entire film festival. The creators were all equal, and everyone, regardless of their fame, sat together to discuss the pure art of filmmaking.
"Ronald, the 'Sid Sisters' you brought this year is very unique. It is an unprecedented teen movie." Robert Redford was very satisfied with Ronald who came to attend the film festival in person. Such a small independent film
Film festivals need such influential people to come.
"Is there any hope of winning the prize?" Ronald half-joked.
"This is a matter decided by the judges, but this year there is also a film 'Sex·Lies·Video' that also received good reviews from the judges." Redford told the truth to avoid giving Ronald incorrect expectations in case he didn't get it.
unhappy.
"Is it Harvey Weinstein's new movie? I heard him say he was filming it when I went to Cannes last time."
"Yes, it's that one, and it's a very unique movie. It's completely different from the type of movies that Hollywood likes to make the most."
Ronald rubbed his nose. This means that the movies I make are all genre movies. If you don’t make money by making genre movies, how can you have money to invest in such movies?
While the two were talking, a reckless man with a thick neck rushed over and said hello to Ronald.
"Hi, Ronald, it's great to see you here. Do you have any new films to send to Cannes this year? No? What a pity. We should vigorously promote Hollywood films in Cannes. Not only Chinese people can make them.
Special movie coming.”
"Yeah...yeah..." Ronald said perfunctorily. He recognized the person as Miramax's Harvey Weinstein. This guy didn't have much money, but he made a lot of noise. I'm afraid this movie
He is risking his fortune, so he is very nervous whether Ronald will compete with him for awards at the film festival.
He was very happy to hear that Ronald had no film to send to Cannes this year. He quickly invited Ronald and Redford to attend the Independent Filmmakers Salon organized by him.
This year, not only various producers who have not attracted investment from major studios gathered in Park City. Even the author of the novel Ronald read, García Márquez, was also in Park City to participate in the film festival.
…
"No, One Hundred Years of Solitude will not be put on the screen. Neither will Hollywood. Before I die, no one should think about it."
Harvey Weinstein respected Marquez very much, and he wanted to get the rights to adapt the other man's masterpiece "One Hundred Years of Solitude". But unexpectedly, Marquez vetoed it without saying a word.
"But, you have already had seven novels adapted into movies?" Harvey wondered, is he not sincere enough? "This is director Ronald, and he also particularly likes movie adaptations of famous novels. We
Everyone in the industry knows that he is searching for novels everywhere, and I think if you are willing to adapt it, Ronald will be very interested...right?"
"I think we should respect the author's opinion..." Ronald ignored this. Marquez was too pretentious, so why not adapt it? Aren't there already seven movies?
"It's very difficult to meet a straightforward person like you in Hollywood..." Unexpectedly, Marquez was very fond of Ronald's answer, "People here said when they saw me, I wanted to adapt One Hundred Years of Solitude.
I wonder what they have the ability to adapt this movie well? People who have no feelings for America cannot make this movie well..."
"Yeah, if you don't have feelings for Latin America, who would make a movie like this where it's obvious that you're going to lose money?" Ronald laughed and said nothing. The Colombian writer's masterpiece is very difficult to adapt, and the plot may be read from a novel.
It's very good to watch, but the audience will definitely not buy it when the movie is made. Just the same names will make all the audiences faint.
"What about 'Love in the Time of Cholera'?" Harvey still refused to give up and asked about Marquez's second most famous film.
"Pfft..." Diane heard the name of the novel next to her and remembered Ronald's comments about the sixty-year-old couple's sex scene, and couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"Hey... I saw the banner opposite, a poster of John Cassavetes. I remember that he often came to my house to play when I was a child." Diane knew she had made a mistake and quickly made up an excuse. This year's Saint
Dance, there's a tribute review of the films of New York filmmaker John Cassavetes.
Diane's father, Bert, was John Cassavetes's partner at the time, and he also held Diane as a baby. The two were best friends who broke into the New York independent film industry, and they also opened an acting training company together.
"It turns out to be a retrospective of Cassavetes. Sorry, I want to accompany Diane to remember my old friend. Cassavetes is also my idol in making movies." Ronald took advantage of the opportunity to stand up and supported Diane's lower back.
, the two of them walked to the screening room, where one of John Cassavetes' masterpieces, "Glory," was about to be screened.
"No wonder Ronald understands the hearts of us Americans so well. John Cassavetes used our American methods to make movies. He worked as an actor for a while, saved some money, and then continued to make more movies. We Americans are all like this.
What matters is art, not box office..."
Marquez was still praising Ronald endlessly, which made Harvey Weinstein uncomfortable. After all, he had been flattering him for so long, but he could not win as much respect as Ronald's nonchalant attitude.
"The movie was shot in our apartment at the time..." Diane said to Ronald.
"Then let's go take a look..." Ronald looked at the plot on the poster. A gangster accountant was visited by gangsters to seek revenge. They asked his son to take shelter in the house of Glory, a female killer in the neighborhood. In the end, the female killer
The two of them broke through the siege and became best friends. Glory killed all the gang killers and depended on each other for their lives.
"Director Ronald? I'm a reporter from Star Weekly. Can I interview you here?" A reporter came over to interview Ronald while Diane was buying tickets.
"Huh? When did I become an object of interest to you readers?" Ronald knew that Star Weekly was a tabloid and always reported on celebrity scandals.
"Our audience loved your Dirty Dancing. In last month's vote, it ranked first as the audience's favorite video."
"Okay, I'm here to watch the movie. The interview shouldn't be too long." Ronald had no objection to the media that ranked movies based on box office.
"Okay, director Ronald, are you satisfied with the current box office performance of Working Girl? Are you confident of getting an Oscar nomination?"
"I am very satisfied. Our guests in every place are all successful secretaries, so the audience is very satisfied... As for the Oscars, I am confident that my film will be liked by them, but I respect the votes of the judges.
As a result, whether I was nominated or not..."
"Okay, may I ask Director Ronald, what works by other directors do you like?"
"I like the films of Lucas, Spielberg, and Scorsese. As for previous directors, I prefer John Ford and Frank Capra."
"It's a personal question, Ronald? Who do you support in the leadership vote, Ronald? What's your favorite NFL football team?"
"I voted. I hope our country will elect a leader who can lead the people to move forward." Ronald dealt with this kind of problem easily. "As for which team I like, when I was a kid, I played for the San Francisco 49ers.
Fans now support their hometown Giants."
"Did you go to Washington to attend the inauguration ceremony of the new commander-in-chief? Which team will you support in the upcoming Super Bowl? Will you go to the scene to support it?" The reporter's eyes showed curiosity.
"Like everyone else, I watched the inauguration ceremony on TV..." Ronald smiled awkwardly, "As for the Super Bowl, I might still watch it at home. The two teams I support are forced to recruit due to strikes.
The temporary players played, so they were eliminated from the playoffs very early. I am dissatisfied with this strike behavior that ignores the audience..."
Ronald said jokingly, thinking that your questions were really broad, and then stopped the reporter from continuing the interview with his gesture, "That's it, my movie is about to start."
"Thank you, Ronald. Thank you for accepting our interview." When the reporter got the answer he wanted, he hurried to the hotel, "Hey, where is the fax machine? I have an important document to fax to Los Angeles... um
,CAA Building, collected by Mr. Michael Ovitz..."
…
After spending two days in Park City, "Sid Sisters" received unprecedented acclaim from the live audience. But film critics didn't like the movie very much. They generally believed that Ronald asked the director to change the bright ending, which ruined the movie.
It affects the overall mood of the movie. It is better to follow the original work, be cruel to the end, and let the heroine be killed by a bomb.
Ronald dismissed such layman's words. With the original ending like this, can the MPAA give it an R rating? Can it be released in America? It is a movie that reflects the cruel youth life, and it must be given some light.
Otherwise, if the teenagers who went to see the movie were completely disappointed, how could they recommend it to their friends?
Diane did not return to Los Angeles with him. She brought various posters from the film festival to pay tribute to Cassavetes who unfortunately passed away, and videotapes of his films at the retrospective, and wanted to go home to be with her father, Bert Diane.
He hopes to bring back the respect of his father's old friend from the audience and industry insiders, and to share rare and warm moments with his father as an adult.
Ronald's business jet took Diane back to New York, and he took a commercial flight directly to Palm Springs International Airport.
In Palm Springs in winter, the planes are full of wealthy people from all over the world who come to vacation. There are ski resorts and hot springs... But starting from this year, Palm Springs' specialties include singer Mayor Sonny Bono, and
The newly opened Palm Springs International Film Festival.
"Director Huang!"
"Director Luo!"
At the airport, Ronald happened to meet Director Huang, whom Xu Jiahui knew. She was also invited by Daydream this time, and brought her old film "Human, Ghost, Love" from two years ago to participate in the first "Palm Springs"
Screening at the International Film Festival.
"Call Ronaldinho... hahaha", Ronald happily asked Director Huang to get in the car, and the group went to a high-end hot spring hotel in Palm Springs. It was all arranged by Daydream Pictures.
Last year, "Human, Ghost, Love" also participated in the Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival and won the best film. The so-called export to domestic sales was actually re-released in Chinese theaters. At last year's Golden Rooster Awards, Director Huang himself won the best film.
Screenwriter and supporting actor Li Baotian also won Best Supporting Actor.
"I haven't seen you for a long time, but you're still in such good spirits!" After checking in, they went to the hotel lounge to chat. Director Huang looked at Ronald and Helen Slater, who came here specially to get together, and showed an enigmatic smile.
"Does Director Huang have any new projects? Last time I went to Cannes, I met Director Kaige from your capital."
"Hey, I can't compare with them. Our Xujiahui Film Factory's production capacity has been reduced a lot. As a result, when I come to America this time, I have to bring old films with me, and I don't want to." Director Huang sighed.
Ronald asked quickly. It turns out that in the past two years, China's film market has been severely impacted by pirated video halls from various places. A large number of Hollywood copies have flowed into the mainland through Xiangjiang. The box office loss of movies has been serious.
Many young talents in film studios have also imitated Hollywood's Corman-style films and made many exploitation films. Instead of selling them to the head office, they have used pirated Hollywood video tape distribution channels to sell their own genuine video tapes.
hall.
Therefore, on the big screen in cinemas, the number of high-quality productions in the past two years has dropped significantly compared to previous years.
Director Huang also has this trouble. It has become very difficult to make the movie he wants to make with the actors and behind-the-scenes technicians as well as before. A large number of actresses go abroad, and only a top star like Director Xie can make it possible.
A good movie or two.
"I admire Director Huang's talent and talent very much. If you don't have the opportunity in Xujiahui, you might as well come to Hollywood and I will invest in your movie." Ronald cherishes Director Huang's talent. If such a talent does not make movies,
The golden time of creation is wasted.
"Me? I don't understand English, so I'm afraid I won't be able to cooperate with your technology?" Director Huang's eyes were full of eagerness to try, but she spoke out the objective difficulties first.
"It doesn't matter. I now have a big production worth more than 10 million yuan, which is made by a director from Xiangjiang. Films are an international language. You can do it too, Director Huang. I asked Xiao Yan to be your assistant. He is now
She speaks English very well.”
This chapter is not finished yet, please click the next page to continue reading the exciting content! Ronald said nonchalantly, "You can also consider whether to make a Sino-US joint venture movie with Chinese characters and American characters. That way
The project is approved now, and it will be released in both places next summer."
"Hahaha..." Of course Director Huang knew that things were not that simple. The matter of co-production of the movie had to be reported to the superior. But with Ronald's help, he really should consider writing a Chinese-American script.
"Is this Director Huang very good?" Seeing how much Ronald valued him, Helen felt curious in her heart.
"You will know after watching her "Human, Ghost, Love". In my opinion, many so-called female film masters, psychological film masters, or directors with strong personal styles in Hollywood are not as good as her..."
Helen didn't believe it a little, but since Ronald praised it so much, she followed him to the film festival screening.
"Ugh..." Helen Slater watched the movie with the subtitles, and she didn't know how much of the content she understood, but just like that, the movie made her cry.
"The protagonist Qiu Yun seems to be the portrayal of our actress." Helen held Ronald's arm. This movie was shot in a very rare way. The protagonist Qiu Yun cannot be separated from career and love, and can only be with herself.
The protagonist played by Zhong Kui is a ghost who catches ghosts. Zhong Kui is able to communicate her inner anguish. In fact, it is a mutual communication between her and her own subconscious.
In the end, Zhong Kui sang Qiu Yun's best song "Zhong Kui marries his sister" and wanted to marry himself off. Being able to film the character's inner activities and make people understand is a very extraordinary performance technique.
"Yeah, I don't know how this scene of dialogue with my inner subconscious was filmed?" Ronald watched carefully this time and discovered something extraordinary. There was no reflection on the black background behind Zhong Kui.
The audience easily realized that this was an illusory image, even though they knew little about Peking Opera facial makeup.
"Hua Hua Hua..." Many of the audience at the scene were professional women who were on vacation. Seeing such a movie, they all felt it was very exciting. If they watched this movie, they would have a lot of feelings.
"How did you shoot that Zhong Kui who was completely black with no reflection at all?" Ronald waited for Director Huang to finish being interviewed by the media, and then anxiously went up to ask about the technical details.
"I had the entire studio covered with black velvet. As soon as my production director used cheap velvet, I refused to shoot. It took three days before he agreed to change it."
"Such a good skill, this little money is nothing." Ronald understood the value of such a small skill. Ordinary velvet will have a weak reflection, and this expression of dialogue with the inner subconscious will be destroyed. Huang
The director is right to be so persistent, all the money is spent on the screen.
"When you bring the script, I will definitely give you enough budget. You can shoot whatever you want..." Ronald confirmed the booking of the new film with Director Huang again.
"I'll write a script when I get back..."
"Director Huang, can you tell me more stories about Peking Opera?" Helen liked the movie "Humans, Ghosts and Love" very much and kept holding Director Huang, wanting to hear more stories about her making movies.
Ronald gave the translation to Helen, who seemed to be very interested in many things happening across the Pacific.
"Mr. Ovitz..." Ronald himself returned to the hotel and met with Ovitz, the boss of CAA, at the appointed time.
"Call me Michael, Ronald, hahaha..." Ovitz has a loyal and honest face. People who are not familiar with him will think that this is a very honest agent who relies on his treatment of clients and producers.
The reputation that the factory has built up over a long period of time has enabled it to achieve its current status.
"Rick said you want to coordinate with me on the Oscar nomination PR?" Ronald was very familiar with this person and would not be deceived by his appearance, so he mentioned the substantive content immediately.
"Yes, now that the Oscar nominations have reached the most critical moment, I don't want people within CAA to invest resources in killing each other... Therefore, I will have an interview with all important clients who are interested in competing for this year's Oscars."
Ovitz explained his thoughts. For projects promoted by CAA, projects filmed by stars and directors signed by CAA, it is best for everyone to have an understanding of each other's ambitions for these awards, otherwise they will be pitted against their own people, and resources will be allocated.
The gain outweighs the loss.
The awards that are more important to CAA's clients are the so-called Big Five, Best Actor and Actor, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Picture. Ovitz understands Ronald's thoughts. Last year's nomination was a stepping stone. This year's
The young director has more expectations for the Best Director.
As for other awards, the nominations for Best Screenplay include original and adapted categories, and the competition is not fierce. It is not a big problem for "Working Girl" to win one. For the actor award, "Working Girl" mainly competes for the nominations of leading actress and supporting actress.
This is exactly the same as CAA's highlight this year, "Rain Man".
Ronald was also satisfied with this arrangement. Harrison Ford's role as a male vase had a very low chance of being nominated. The heroine of Rain Man did not have an important role, so it was a win-win situation for everyone.
After talking about this, Ovitz was about to go back to Los Angeles. He finally confirmed his intention to compete for the nomination with Ronald, "By the way, I heard that you are going to have a big fight at the Golden Globe Awards?"
Ovitz asked before leaving.
"Yes, for the box office..." Ronald had nothing to hide about this. The Golden Globe Award was bought anyway.
"Be careful, the Golden Globe is easy to get, but it may come with some gifts you don't want..." Ovitz winked, shook hands with Ronald and left.
"What gift I don't want..." Ronald felt that Ovitz always liked to show off his words, and it was annoying if he didn't make things clear.
…
"Are we going to slow down the public relations for the nomination?" Michael Gray, a public relations consultant who also came to Palm Springs, came over to discuss with Ronald. After hearing Ovitz's ideas, he asked if it was necessary to follow Ovitz's agreement.
Make adjustments.
"What do you think?" Ronald asked him in turn.
"Just do it. I don't believe he can keep his promise. Besides, what he said didn't really promise anything. They were just words of principle. The nominations for the acting award and the director award were all voted by the labor union. We,
It doesn’t go beyond the normal scope of Oscar public relations.”
"I'll do it as you say. However, let's not be too obvious in the three awards: Actress, Supporting Actress and Director." Ronald instructed.
"Understood, we will send postcards to remind actors, especially actresses, that this is a rare film in Hollywood that challenges the male power structure.
As for the Directors Guild, I will send you a daydream letter about re-releasing their videos. By the way, remind them that you are also competing for Best Director this year."
"Very good..." Ronald was very satisfied with Michael Gray's endless public relations plans.
"By the way, the selection results of the Sundance Film Festival came out today." Michael Gray remembered the news and reported to Ronald.
"result?"
"Sex, Lies, and Videos won the Audience Award. The Sid Sisters didn't win. The Jury Award went to 'True Love.'"
"What kind of movie is that?" Ronald wondered.
"Mr. Redford, and his company greatly appreciate the film."
"Well..." Ronald understood that many of the awards at these film festivals are for box office services. With awards, you can sell at higher prices and attract more mainstream distributors, directors and starring actors.
There may also be offers from larger budget production companies - such as Robert Redford's Sundance Productions.
I hope that the next Golden Globe Awards can also give the same blessing to "Working Girl", allowing more viewers to enter the cinema and appreciate the performance of the Golden Globe Award-winning actress.
If you have better luck and get nominated for an Oscar or even win an award, then there will be more possibilities. After the awards are announced, it is not unprecedented for it to be released in mainstream theaters for the second time.