Chapter 463: The more celebrities participating in the production, the better
No one can answer Ovitz's question. The special contract signed by Spielberg has become a secret known to everyone in CAA.
This kind of brokerage firm is actually very similar to law firms and accounting firms, that is, each person is actually a small brokerage firm, and everyone gets together to temporarily cooperate for certain benefits.
It's not like a factory, where workers can't produce without the machine.
The reason why Ovitz has been so vocal within CAA before is that he can provide more casting opportunities for young agents and help their clients get higher salaries, which means that agents can get higher salaries.
of commission.
It's just that the studio hated Ovitz's packaging agreement. Before, he monopolized nearly half of the Hollywood stars, and everyone dared not speak out. Now that the contracts signed by several directors have been leaked, everyone knows how much more Ovitz has.
Most of them are paper tigers.
The production company established by Tom Cruise himself has become a touchstone. Can it bypass Ovitz and deal directly with his star agents? If CAA is not of the same mind, then they will have to deal with ordinary
Brokerage firms are no different.
Other celebrities also regard this matter as a touchstone. Although CAA can package new projects for some outdated old stars, and can also put some second-tier stars in package contracts to strongly improve their ranks, but the first-tier stars
Celebrities don’t like the packing method very much.
The reason is actually very simple. The quality of casting directly affects the overall quality of the film. The reason why the previous United Artists, later Orion, and now Daydream were able to win consecutive Oscar awards and box office success is,
The key point is because they respect the director's creative dominance.
This method can select the most suitable candidate, not the most obedient actor from CAA. Of course, this method will also cause the quality of the entire film to depend on the director's ability and integrity, and there will be more failures than successes.
CAA's packaging method can only produce 80% movies, but it will not fail. From a commercial perspective, CAA's method may be better at ensuring return on investment, but this is not what A-list stars want.
What I want is to go to a higher level and leave my mark in film history.
The new Cruise/Wagner Pictures desperately needed a distribution contract from a major studio. Ovitz also used many personal connections to sabotage this cooperation.
Of course, A-list stars need big productions, and it is impossible for medium-sized companies like Big Production Daydream to do a good job in releasing the peak season schedules. Only large studios can afford the investment and risk of booking a schedule a year in advance during those times.
.
For a time, both Paula Wagner and Ovitz appeared on the meeting lists of presidents and CEOs of major studios, waiting to see who would win.
This matter was a civil war between two Jews, and most of the top executives of major studios were also Jews. Ronald could not get involved, but there were many people who came to him for information.
…
"Really? Really set up your own production company and can directly cooperate with big studios?" Kevin Costner's eyes were full of desire for money.
If his production company had directly formed joint ventures with major studios for the two previous films "JFK" and "Dances with Wolves", the profit from the film's dividends would have been many times greater than it is now.
"You can try to negotiate first. Let me tell you, this kind of thing depends on how much chips you have."
"How do you say that?" Costner avoided the black female star next to him and discussed key things with Ronald in a low voice. He knew that what Ronald was going to tell him might be a secret worth tens of millions of dollars.
"Do you know why studios would like the director's production studio to participate in the investment of the film and share the profits with them?"
"I've always wanted to know..." Although Kevin Costner won the Oscar for Best Director, he is actually an actor by profession. When talking about some of the director's secrets, he was confused.
"Because no one in this industry knows why a movie is a hit..." Ronald told him the biggest secret in Hollywood in a low voice.
Because no one knows why a movie is a hit, studios can't mass-produce hits.
Unlike Coca-Cola, if you figure out a formula, you can make thousands of cans of Coke. Movies are a mass entertainment product. You can find a formula with great difficulty, but you can only sell it once. It is impossible to remake the original movie.
Many times, there are still people willing to watch.
The only formula that can continue to be successful, the way to continue to make blockbuster movies, is to make sequels. But the original stars in the sequels will definitely take advantage of the situation to increase their prices, and no one will be able to maintain the original profits.
Therefore, the best way for those studio executives is to find some alternative equations to try to improve their success rate.
Some people like to make a certain type of film. For example, Universal previously produced a series of youth films. However, not every film of this type can be a hit, and the tastes of the audience are constantly changing.
Some people like to rely on one or two successful directors and constantly let them shoot the genre films they are best at. For example, Universal's Sheinberg must tie Spielberg to shoot science fiction films.
Others like to tie up with celebrities. For example, MGM has always used the superstar tactic. Big stars will always sell well, but they may not necessarily make money.
The most brilliant one may be Michael Eisner when he was at Paramount. His tactic was to take credit for the work of his subordinates. He himself could not identify which movies would be successful, but a group of producers under him were experts at it.
Just give them the autonomy to choose projects.
If Kevin Costner wants to take control of the project, he can only take the star-binding route. That is to create his own star brand and let him occupy the first position among the protagonists of a certain type of movie. As long as there is such a big production
, the first candidate is him.
This chapter is not over, please click on the next page to continue reading! And what suits him best is undoubtedly the old-school image of traditional Hollywood, who is quick to act but slow to speak. At first glance, you can feel reassured and know that the protagonist is here.
That kind of role. Of course, his image is more subtle. Unlike Jimmy Stewart, the original spokesperson for this type of role, Costner's image is mixed with a lot of ideas that agree with the former commander-in-chief Ronald Sr.
The color of centrism.
So, with such a role and such a script, Costner is in a very advantageous position when a major studio comes to negotiate with him. If he agrees, it will be a major production in Hollywood. If he does not agree, it will be a major production in Hollywood.
The studio can only find alternatives that are one level less influential, which means it can only cut costs and make a medium-sized production.
With this irreplaceable monopoly, you have a bargaining chip. You can gain a very advantageous position in negotiations with studios.
It turned out that Kevin Costner only had some vague intuitive understanding. As soon as Ronald said this, he was like an enlightenment. He patted Ronald hard on the shoulder and said, "This is your first time."
It pointed out the direction for my future for the second time... Hahaha, I will never forget it..."
The first time he mentioned it was when he was selected by Ronald to star in the small science fiction production "Night of the Comet".
"Hahaha, people need friends in Hollywood..." Ronald also laughed. This is not a kindness, but he needs more stars to stand up like Tom Cruise and break Ovitz's
Monopoly, directly linked to the studio. The more such stars there are, the less effective Ovitz’s packaging strategy will be. Although there are too many Jews in Hollywood, as long as everyone has their own project company, then differentiation of interests will
They will also be able to better fight for their own interests.
"What are you talking about, are you so happy?" The black female celebrity next to her heard their laughter and came over quickly.
"Ha, let me introduce to you, this is the great director, my leader, Director Ronald Lee. This is Whitney Houston, who came to audition with me for the heroine of my new film today..."
"Ha, I've heard your song, it's very nice." Ronald looked at the black singer and looked at her carefully, saying that her appearance is really suitable for filming a movie.
In fact, the facial lines of ordinary singers are not very good, otherwise they will definitely take the acting route. For example, Madonna, who only wants to be an actress, has a gap in her front teeth, which is actually only suitable for diagonal shots from a certain angle.
You can still find a bit of Marilyn Monroe's charm, but from another perspective, she is an ordinary Italian girl.
There are also things that cannot be done at any angle. For example, Paula Abado, who is currently popular, is now older and her weight has increased dramatically due to uncontrolled eating. No matter how she is photographed, she looks like an aunt.
Whitney Houston's body shape is very similar to that of a movie actor, and the lines on the left and right sides of her face can be taken into beautiful close-ups. She is one of the black stars who is more in line with white people's aesthetics. She won't lose most of the audience even if she plays a heroine.
.
"What? How about it? Can I be a movie star like Madonna?" Whitney Houston saw Ronald looking at herself, straightened her waist, half-turned her body, and her most attractive buttocks also
Showed it.
"Of course, you are more suitable for this role than Barbra Streisand..."
Ronald still didn't forget to make fun of the Jewish star.
To say that Kevin Costner was preparing for the next movie, it was actually written for Barbra Streisand and Steve McQueen. When Lawrence Kasdan wrote it, he was targeting this
It's best if two celebrities play the lead roles. One is a singer and the other is a tough guy.
In 1975, the script of this movie sold for 20,000 US dollars. But maybe because it was too cheap, the two stars, Barbara and Steve, didn't like it and went to make other movies.
By 1987, the movie was recommended to Diana Ross and Ryan O'Neal, who was also a singer and a tough guy.
This time, Lawrence Kasdan was invited to direct by himself. Just when the project was going smoothly, the marriage of Diana Ross and her first husband, Robert Ellis Silberstein, came to an end.
Diana Ross, exhausted by her divorce, withdrew from the project, which also caused the film to be shelved.
Because of the special nature of the script, no one was interested except singers and tough guys. The script was shelved until 1985. By this time, Kasdan was no longer interested in directing the film, but the script was
A tough guy and a singer took their fancy, it was Whitney Houston and Clint Eastwood in front of them.
Who knew that the script was shelved again because of Eastwood, and Huston's career as a movie star was interrupted.
Until recently, Kevin Costner, this new generation of Western tough guy, once again picked up the script, so the previous candidate Whitney Houston was naturally invited to audition.
"Bye..." After the audition, Whitney Houston asked her assistant to bring two of her CDs, signed them and gave them to Ronald and Costner.
Ronald took it in his hand and saw that it was a single of her new song "Tonight I'm Your Baby". In addition to her signature, there was also the song title written in marker.
This popular black singer actually understands the rules of the entertainment industry very well. Costner has the control over the project, and he actually has a great say in which female singer is chosen to play. And Ronald is a director that Costner respects.
She needs to win over her better.
"I think she's pretty good. This movie was written by Kasdan in imitation of Akira Kurosawa's Yojimbo, and it happens to be my favorite Kurosawa work. With such a Japanese-style female singer, is it a perfect fit?
"
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! Kevin Costner seems to like the appearance of this female singer. When the two auditioned, they did have some chemistry. Anyway, the focus of this script is the tough guy and the
The conflicts and love brought about by the respective identities of singers. They are both top-notch in their respective categories, so it is not surprising that they have a chemical reaction.
"You shouldn't ask me this question, Kevin, you are the star leading the project..." Ronald replied with a smile. He had just taught Costner how to use his star as a bargaining chip to take the initiative in negotiations...
"I mean, do you want to direct this movie?" Costner expressed his thoughts.
"Why? Don't you direct it yourself?" Ronald felt strange. With Kevin Costner's directorial skills, it can be said that it is not difficult to make such a typical commercial film. At least it is much simpler than Dances with Wolves.
.
"I just feel that I still have a lot to learn from the master..." Costner's words have a certain degree of sincerity. After he unexpectedly won the best director, he still felt this while working with Oliver Stone.
Regarding the gap between myself and top directors, I have new feelings when I think of Ronald's experience of directing me.
Oliver Stone's films all have a strong personal temperament. A typical commercial film director like Ronald may be more suitable for his own study.
"E on, I don't have the best director statuette yet?" Ronald felt unhappy. Although these words were meant to flatter him, it was a bit strange coming from Costner's mouth. And Costner was a serious person.
When directing, he is quite persistent. If he were to direct him, who would he listen to in the end?
Ronald would rather direct a bigger star like Tom Cruise than direct Costner. Stars who have been directors always have more ideas...
"I have other projects in hand. Can't you just find a qualified director in the industry? It's not up to you to decide how to shoot it?" Ronald thought for a while and rejected Costner.
"I need you to steer me at the critical moment, Ronald. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been able to shoot those key parts of Dances with Wolves..." Costner still felt a little guilty about his overall grasp.
of.
"Otherwise, can you also invest part of it? Neither of you and I will be named directors, but you have to help me come up with ideas at critical moments..."
Kevin Costner, on the other hand, is a little unsure about new forms of cooperation with studios. He wants to use Ronald's reputation to gain more benefits for himself.
"That's no problem. I'm very optimistic about any movie starring you."