"We are willing, we are willing to pay to make a movie, as long as you are willing, we can't ask for it..." Capcom's president Kenzo Tsujimoto loudly asked Ronald on the other side of the transoceanic phone call to make the game into a movie.
Movie.
The response from Capcom was unexpectedly strong. The sales of their Street Fighter II are the most popular arcade games in history. Since the beginning of this year, more than 60,000 arcade machines have been sold around the world, and the number of pirated copies may be several times that
The amount of this.
According to statistics, the coin volume of arcade machines has exceeded 300 million U.S. dollars. In addition, there are sales on various platforms. Nintendo's latest home game console platform Super Nintendo has sold more than 3 million U.S. dollars, and Sega's old-fashioned
Sixteen-bit machines have also sold for more than half a million yuan. Coupled with the floppy disks of various computer models, this game is simply a money-making machine.
Ronald was very happy. As a shareholder, he never expected that such a fighting game could actually make so much money. When the game was first released last year, it was not very popular. Later, a magazine reported on the fighting style.
, which became very popular.
Looking at it this way, when Capcom releases its annual report at the end of the year, won’t his shares still be worth a lot of money?
"Okay, okay, how much are you willing to pay?" When Ronald heard that Capcom had made so much money for him, it was easy to talk to him. If the other party offered ten million US dollars, half of the production costs would be solved, right?
Although no one in Hollywood is willing to do this, which allows them to publish the rights for free and fund the filming, but it doesn't prevent them from asking. What if the other party doesn't understand?
"We are willing to pay four billion yen..." Kenzo Tsujimoto gritted his teeth and said a number. If Hollywood didn't like it, he would have no choice but to go out and ask Ronald San, the shareholder, for help. I heard that the latest
Terminator 2, which was released in Japan, cost more than 10 billion yen.
"Four billion yen..." Ronald calculated in his mind, it was close to 40 million US dollars... "Tsujimoto-san, if you have any requests, just ask..."
"Requests, what else can we make?" Kenzo Tsujimoto suddenly felt as if he had gone astray, "We only have two requests. The role of Coulee from the US military must be played by Jean-Claude Van Damme, and the role of Takashi from Japan must be used.
Starring actors…”
"Ah, Jean-Claude Van Damme is quite expensive. His salary is over five million US dollars. Are you sure? What, he is very popular in Japan? Why? Because an American is very good at karate? He
He's from the country of Mao, forget it, if you insist so much, I'll go ask..."
Ronald also felt that he seemed to have gone astray. There may be no talents in Japan to shoot commercial films, and their ideas are still limited to the model of twenty years ago.
In fact, these two requests were nothing compared to Hollywood producers. Ronald immediately agreed, and the two parties roughly agreed to release the film in 1993, and also made Capcom one of the producers...
Kenzo Tsujimoto immediately sent someone to Los Angeles to discuss the script and casting with Ronald.
"Isn't this the idea?" Ronald proudly thanked his daydreaming colleagues, "Medium-sized production is risky, so let the Japanese invest..."
"Really..." The employees in Daydream were speechless when they saw that their boss could get a budget of 40 million US dollars with just one phone call. How could they do this kind of thing without Ronald's connections?
arrive?
Ronald also thinks this is just a coincidence, but it is a revelation. There are indeed many unimagined markets that are worth trying. For example, the production companies in Europe also want to use the production capabilities of Hollywood to promote their own stars.
, also want to make money in the market of America.
You can invite Hollywood to invest. You can discuss any requirements you have. There is nothing you can’t discuss...
For a while, everyone's minds were open, and they were all thinking about where to find rich producers, or rich people who could afford to pay the advance payment in advance to find money.
…
Having opened up a new production route, Ronald didn't care about the remaining details and let the daydream people handle it. He turned around and started working on the "Sugar-coated Trap" project.
"Jerry, how are you considering your guest appearance?"
"I, do you really think I can do it? I've never acted before."
Jerry Weintraub was played by Ronald when he dreamed about this movie. Weintraub plays a stupid rich man who does side business. He has a bit of a gangster in him.
Temperament, after all, I made my first fortune from touring with Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra, so I can't do it without a little bit of charlatanism.
Moreover, Weintraub has a kind of stupid and innocent temperament that is unique to the bottom self-made rich people in America that is both annoying and kind to the American people. The people at the bottom are jealous of his money, but also feel that this guy's temperament is similar to that of his friends.
.
In Ronald's opinion, as long as Weintraub can let go of this kind of role, there is no problem at all in playing his true character.
So can Weintraub let go?
Of course he could. When he was pursuing the singer Jane Morgan, when they met her husband for the first time in a hotel, he dared to call her down to court her.
"Don't look at the camera, Jerry, just pretend that this big guy doesn't exist." Ronald asked Weintraub to come over for an audition. He was a little nervous, so he didn't perform well the first time.
"Aren't you looking at the camera?"
"Hey, yes, just talk to me, think of me as the fledgling director back then, and show your discerning eye for people. When you talk to me, just look at me. When talking to Julia, just look at him.
, forget the camera, just say how you speak in life."
Ronald knew the limitations of such amateur actors, and he also knew that their realism when playing their true colors was astonishing.
"Look, isn't it very stylish?"
Afterward, Ronald and Weintraub watched footage of the audition and talked with him about other collaborations.
"I didn't expect that I acted so well. You said, Ronald, do I have some acting talent?" Weintraub has recovered from the bankruptcy crisis, and now he has returned to his previous confident state.
.
"You entered the industry too late. If you want to be a professional actor, you need a lot of training. You don't have that time. But let me tell you, many movies in Hollywood now need supporting roles for unscrupulous rich men. You must be specialized in playing this kind of role.
Very good. Some professional supporting actors, without your life experience and business experience, can't perform that kind of expressive expression."
"Hey, I will put your words on my actor resume." Weintraub has been in the business world for many years. Of course he heard what Ronald meant by teasing, and he also joked back. The two of them joked.
Having become friends over the years, Weintraub is very grateful to Ronald for helping him when he was in trouble...
"By the way, how are the preparations for your new Longwei Boy?" Ronald recalled the last time Weintraub said that he would make a "New Longwei Boy" with a girl as the protagonist.
"I've found a script and a director, are you interested in chatting with him?" Weintraub smiled as if he meant something else.
"Okay, I'm quite interested." Ronald is still very emotional about the movie he shot in his early years. It would be a good thing if he could continue this series now.
"I asked them to come over..." Weintraub made a phone call happily, "You can come over..." It turned out that he had asked the director to wait outside, and as soon as Ronald relented, he would let them come to see him.
.
"This is Christopher Kane, this is Ronald." Weintraub introduced to Ronald the director he was planning. This Christopher Kane actually entered the industry a little earlier than Ronald, in 77 or 77 years.
Started to be a director.
But his ability was not good enough, and none of the movies he shot one after another became a hit. Until 1988, "Young Guns", a movie he shot with many young actors, sold for 10 million yuan.
The production cost was only 50 million yuan at the box office, and it gained some fame.
However, in front of Ronald, Christopher Kane was still a nobody. He had a flattering smile on his face and wanted Ronald to recognize him, so that his family would be safe.
"If you don't mind, let me ask, why don't you continue directing the second episode of Young Guns?"
Ronald looked at the director who was much older than him. Young Guns was actually a follow-up western film. It had captured a part of the market by starring all young male stars.
, making a sequel to this kind of movie is equivalent to making money.
If Christopher Kane was just the director, that would be fine, but when he introduced himself, he also said that he participated in the production of the movie, which made Ronald confused. If you don't pick up money when you have the opportunity, it's a waste of money.
Is he crazy? Or is this person exaggerating his role in the movie? That is tantamount to blatant lying...
Although bragging is not a big mistake in Hollywood, for Ronald to be able to brag such lies that can be easily exposed, it makes people worry about this person's IQ and moral standards.
"I don't want to speak ill of others, but many people in Hollywood know about it. In fact, several leading actors boycotted me and refused to let me direct the second film."
"Oh?", Ronald felt that this made sense. This movie stars old acquaintances, Emilio Estevez, Kiefer Sutherland, Charlie Sheen, Dermot Mo
Ronnie and other young stars played some big robbers in the Western era. Jack Palance, who won the last Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, also played a big bad guy in Western movies.
It’s no wonder. Emilio Estevez, who plays Billy the Kid, and Kiefer Sutherland, who plays Doc Scurlock, are both economical. They are sure of the power of the second part.
I want to take it into my own hands.
If this happened to a director who was not so strong and calculating, he would probably be boycotted by the bad guys on and off the screen.
Sure enough, in the second film, the two leading actors not only boycotted the director, but also excluded Estevez's brother Charlie Sheen and the other leading actor Dermot Mulroney. They replaced him with a New Zealander
The directors rewrote the script according to their ideas.
However, the result was not very good. Emilio Estevez and Kiefer Sutherland's control of the movie was still very exaggerated. With the production cost rising significantly, the box office was not as good as the first one. Well done.
A series of movies can only be cut in half.
Next, Ronald listened to the director Christopher Kane, describing his preparations for the "New Dragon Boy", the female Dragon Boy, and where Master Miyagi could create the same character as Daniel
Different conflicts, how to show a female student getting rid of bullying and psychological fear by learning karate, etc.
Ronald nodded frequently after listening to this. This understanding shows that Christopher Kane still has two skills. At least he is qualified to shoot a sequel to such a commercial film. Besides, his character does not seem to be strong, and Wintraw
Bu looks at it, it will be easier to cooperate with him in the future.
"Jerry said that you are the most suitable candidate. I didn't believe it before talking to you, but your opinions completely show that Jerry knows people well... If you have anything to do during the preparations, just contact Jerry directly. I will
I will be filming my own movie next, so I will be quite busy, but if there is anything that cannot be resolved, you can call my agent."
When Ronald said this, he showed that as the owner of the copyright of the Longwei Kid series, he agreed to this project. Jerry Weintraub was the happiest.
"Ronald, when I chose a genius like you to direct Long Wei Boy, doesn't it mean that I have a good vision? Is there any doubt about this? Christopher is definitely also very suitable. I see a kind of sympathy in you all.
With the understanding and familiarity with Eastern culture, we will definitely be able to make a good sequel."
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! "Hahaha...", Ronald likes to hear others praising his genius and nodding his head repeatedly. He likes Eastern culture and is really interested in shooting such Eastern themes.
The movie was of great help.
"I...I actually have something to do right now, and I want to get your permission." Christopher Kane looked like an honest man, hesitating and not knowing what he wanted to say.
With the permission of Ronald and Weintraub, he told them that he had two children and wanted to play a cameo role in the movie.
"It doesn't matter. As long as they can be on camera, it's not a problem. Children can actually choose whoever they want... don't you think Jerry can also make a cameo?" Ronald smiled, he is indeed a very candid director.
"Hahaha" Weintraub laughed again.
"No, they are all adults..."
Christopher Kane repeatedly explained that his second son, Dean, who was already twenty-six years old, was originally a good player in college football and was drafted by the NFL's Buffalo Bills. However, during pre-game training, he unfortunately injured his knee and his career was ruined.
I was desperate, so I entered Hollywood to try my luck.
His daughter Crisinda Kane is not yet twenty years old and does not have the potential to be a star, but she also wants to enter the film and television industry, maybe as a supporting role.
"Huh?" Ronald was a little suspicious. You look only in your forties, how come you have a second son who is twenty-six?
"He was adopted by me, a child from my wife's previous marriage..." Christopher Kane is used to this, and people often have this question. His wife, Sharon Thomas, is an actor, and his first two children
His father is the son of Tanaka, a Japanese-American soldier. Many people have doubts about the appearance of his two sons.
"Ah... that's okay. I'll let Jerry make the decision when the time comes..." Ronald winked at Weintraub. If it was an unimportant supporting role, it wouldn't be impossible to let him bring his family into the industry.
Not only does this guy help other people raise their children, but he is probably also interested in Eastern culture, and it was his wife who took care of him. He is really a very sincere person.
"They are nearby. I'll call them and ask them to come and take a look at you..." Christopher Kane also did this trick and asked his two children to wait nearby.
"Hello, this is my daughter Crisinda, and this is my son Dean. This is the great director, Ronald..."
Daughter Crisinda was very excited to say hello to Ronald, but son Dean was a little cold and looked a little hostile in his eyes.
"What do you think, Jerry?" Ronald looked at the looks of the two of them, and had to say that their mother's genes were still very strong, and they both had good looks, especially Dean, who had a bit of a Hollywood star background.
"I think it's good, especially Dean. He can play the main villain. He has the foundation of a rugby player and there will definitely be no problem with action scenes..."
Ronald also nodded with satisfaction. Indeed, Weintraub was similar to him in that he liked to take advantage. Director Kane could also buy one and get two free, which was a bargain.
It was his son Dean who always looked at him a little strangely, as if he had stolen his girlfriend.