"Ronald, hahaha, I didn't expect you to still remember me... Did you see the performance I entered into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year? Those two traitors from CCR, I didn't let them play... Hahaha..."
John Fogerty heard that Ronald wanted the rights to his old CCR songs to be used in a new movie, and he immediately called him.
As soon as Ronald heard his voice, he felt that Fogarty was no longer as cynical as he used to be, and his words were full of the pleasure of revenge.
A few years ago, his brother, the band's rhythm guitarist Tom Fogarty, unfortunately passed away due to an infection caused by a blood transfusion during surgery. At that time, the other two members of the band, bassist Cook and drummer Clifford, also
Came to attend the funeral.
But later, major conflicts emerged between them.
Saul Zaenz, the man who defrauded John Fogarty of his song rights and then deposited the recording income into a small bank related to his family, went bankrupt and liquidated, which was equivalent to a bloodbath for John Fogerty.
The reason why he was able to successfully sign a contract to buy out the ownership of all the band's old songs was because the two band members were dissatisfied that John Fogerty took over all the writing, composing, and singing work by himself.
After taking a sum of money from Zaenz, he sold the copyright privately.
After years of fighting, John Fogarty finally made some progress in the battle to get his copyright back. Although for commercial use, you only need to sign a contract with Saul Zaenz's record company, but John Fogerty
Fogerty expressed his dissatisfaction when he appeared on a talk show the year before last.
His famous song "Who Will Stop the Rain" was sold at a low price to be used as an advertising song for a company that produces waterproof roof paint.
This talk show was broadcast to a large audience, and the interview clips afterwards were also broadcast on some news interview programs as gossip about a past pop band.
This interview was seen by a general manager of the jeans company Wrangler who used CCR's famous anti-war song "Fortunate Son". He used it as a song because he liked this song and John Fogerty at the time.
Advertising songs.
Although he had signed a usage agreement with Saul Zaenz, his record company, and distribution company, the lyrics, music, and original singer John Fogerty were not satisfied, and it still made him feel a little inappropriate.
After doing market research, talk shows and interviews, it was found that more people sympathized with John Fogerty's experience, so Wrangler immediately changed the advertising song. Their reason was to respect the original author.
This incident caused some discussion in the media, and also revealed some very dirty things that Saul Zaenz did in his early years. He used various means to deceive John Fogerty and let him deposit money at interest rates.
The local bank in San Francisco, which is relatively high-end, will go bankrupt again and can only get the minimum savings insurance... After the incident was exposed, they bribed other members of the band to sign a contract to sell the copyright at a low price while John Fogarty was away.
Contracts, etc.
Although Saul Zaenz has produced two Oscar-winning films in Hollywood (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and Mozart), many people didn't know about his various dark histories in the recording industry.
People in the circle are scared.
Saul Zaenz is a typical black-hearted boss with talent but no morals. Although his actions are legal in law, if this kind of thing is brought up and discussed, the huge CCR fans at that time will automatically
Put him on the cross of moral judgment.
Soon, his connections in Hollywood were no longer popular, and no one wanted to work with him in new films. To make matters worse, CCR was a rock band that was as famous as the Beatles at the time, and many artists who are now doing well are
, including many popular singers, all grew up listening to John Fogerty's songs.
For example, the blue-collar rock star Bruce Springsteen took action angrily after watching the interview. He has a relatively large influence in the rock world and directly served as the introducer for John Fogerty to enter the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...
…announced his selection himself on television.
After the formal ceremony, and the live performance of the selection, it was also Bruce Springsteen's band, with John Fogerty playing bass and drums, and Springsteen himself playing rhythm guitar.
At this performance, the other two living members of CCR did not get the chance to perform. Moreover, during the live performance, John Fogerty did not pay Saul Zaenz any copyright as required by the contract.
cost.
To a certain extent, it can be said that the traditional conservative blue-collar white fan group collectively gave Saul Zaenz, a foreigner, a huge middle finger.
After this, it can be said that John Fogerty gained the sympathy of the public, and he began to think of ways to use legal means and media pressure to get his copyright back.
Ronald didn't know this section, but he knew John Fogarty personally. In order to avoid trouble, he found Fogarty himself and asked for his permission to use his copyright in "Forrest Gump".
This is equivalent to the second copyright purchaser after Wrangler Jeans to ignore the copyright ownership of Saul Zaenz and deal directly with the original creator John Fogarty. By doing this, Ronald is equivalent to helping John in the media
·A big favor for Fogarty...
"I want this to be on the news... I hope you can do me a favor..." John Fogerty said his thoughts on the phone.
"Of course, there is no problem. I have been preparing for a new movie recently, so I probably only have time to accept text interviews from the media. My colleagues can only do TV appearances..."
"Hi, Ronald, I thank you very much. I would really appreciate it if you agreed..." John Fogerty didn't expect Ronald to agree so readily, and he was quite touched.
"John, I haven't forgotten the guitar chords you taught me in San Francisco. Besides, this thing is very excessive. Like you, I hate unscrupulous businessmen like Saul Zaenz. I am very
It’s hard to imagine that an American businessman would do something like this, and let a genius like you waste so much time for a little profit (which is certainly not small in fact)? We could have heard more about your new works and your live performances
performance……"
To be honest, Ronald is quite disgusted with this kind of person. John Fogerty is not a singer who will be exhausted after two pop songs. He is a great talent who has continuously produced several top-charting albums.
At that time, he was the soul of the only local band that could rival The Beatles in rankings and sales.
"Damn Polish Jew..." John Fogarty used a sentence that Ronald could not express clearly to end the conversation.
"Hey, wait a minute, let me say a few words to this heroic knight, Ronald? I am Bruce Springsteen, I heard it just now..."
Ronald did not expect that next to Fogerty was Bruce Springsteen, who had helped him a lot. He had just finished his global tour and returned to America to talk to his soul mentor Fogerty.
Bruce Springsteen also hates Saul Zaenz very much. He is like Fogerty's better little cousin, taking over everything that happened to his down-and-out brother, and treating Rona
De praised for a while...
Finally, Bruce Springsteen suddenly remembered something, "By the way, I seem to have received an invitation to score one of your movies before. Now I just finished my tour, and I just have time now..."
…
"Jonathan, Bruce Springsteen agreed. He just finished his tour and saw the plot of Philadelphia Story. He was very moved and wanted to do it himself. Can you give him some clips from the movie for reference.
That's right, he also said that he wants to learn how to create film scores, so you have to give him some specific requirements. I'll give you his agent's phone number, and you can talk to him yourself..."
"Oh, he said he could give it a try, but he couldn't guarantee it. I've been waiting for several months and I've almost given up hope. This is your help, right? It's none of your business? Whatever you say is fine, anyway, this movie
The movie suits his songs very well.
That's right, I don't have any requirements. It's best if the song is something that can be played in stores. OK, I'll write down his manager's phone number first.
This is really exciting..."
Jonathan Demme, the director of "Philadelphia Story", has nearly completed the post-editing and mixing. This sudden good news makes him very excited. The film was shot in the ancient city of Philadelphia, and was shot by Bruce Smith.
Princeton's style as a blue-collar singer fits the movie's theme of an ancient country encountering new torn apart.
As long as the tempo is slightly slower and coupled with his magnetic voice, it is always very exciting. When the time comes to join forces, maybe the audience can resonate and repeat the mutual marketing of songs and movies that Ronald is best at.
situation.
Speaking of Ronald, he really has a vast network of connections. Things that he couldn't handle on his own were suddenly solved as soon as he stepped in...
…
"Tom, we have a big problem..."
Ronald figured out the theme song for "Philadelphia Story". Bruce Springsteen has the temperament of an artist. When he meets the right person, he works very efficiently. It is estimated that he will be able to release a demo soon.
But there was another big problem with the accent of "Forrest Gump" actor Michael Connor Humphreys.
After all, little Michael is not a professional child actor. He can perform naturally in other places, but as Tom Hanks said, when it comes to reducing the southern accent, Michael Connor Humphries has a problem.
A huge difficulty for amateur actors.
This guy has never left his hometown in Mississippi since he was a child. People there all talk like this. It makes it difficult for him to correct it in a short time. The accent teacher assigned to him can't do anything about it.
Generally speaking, accent correction is only for adult actors. They already have the basis for changing their accents, and some key pointers can get twice the result with half the effort. But for young actors who have only been exposed to one accent in their lives, it will be difficult for them to do so.
Understand what went wrong.
Just like Schwarzenegger's thick Austrian accent can never be corrected, people who have not been exposed to multiple accents will have a problem, that is, they are insensitive to certain sounds in their accents. Accent teachers have tried many times to make them
Michael Connor Humphreys tried unsuccessfully to remove the G at the end of the very strong word.
At this point, Ronald had to make a decision. Seeing that Michael Connor Humphreys couldn't get rid of his accent when the movie started, should he recast the role or persuade Tom Hanks to adopt some southern accent?
How about playing Forrest Gump?
Anyway, Ronald has already spoken out before. If Tom Hanks has some decision-making power on how to play Forrest Gump, it is not easy to force him to give up his idea.
Ronald took a roundabout way and tried to persuade him to spend more time with Michael, the actor of Little Forrest Gump, and let him think of ways to eliminate those typical characteristics of Mississippi pronunciation.
…
"My dad makes oils and fats, and oils can be used to make many products, such as lipsticks..." On the TV, little Michael shook his head and talked about his father's occupation.
Tom Hanks is knowledgeable. He is also optimistic about the potential of Michael Connor Humphries to play Little Forrest. As a "collaborator", he is also very anxious about this and immediately agreed to Ronald's request.
I stayed with little Michael and his mother for two days, constantly trying to teach him to speak in various ways.
This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! But things went counterproductive. Perhaps due to nervousness, Michael Connor Humphreys lost even the progress he had made with his accent teacher. He was not only
His accent has returned to his comfort zone, and sometimes when he is nervous, his head tends to shake, and he shakes his big head while talking.
On the third day, Tom Hanks couldn't help it anymore. He took some videotapes of little Michael talking and came to Ronald's house to discuss it with him.
"I was watching these videos last night, and I suddenly realized that instead of letting him learn to speak standard American English, let me learn his accent and expression..."
"Are you sure?" Ronald thought to himself. He is indeed a good and dedicated actor, and he figured out the way I wanted him to do it so quickly.
"Yes, Ronald, I tried it today, see if I can learn from it..."
As he spoke, Hanks cleared his throat, and then began to shake his head gently, "My dad makes grease. Fat can be used to make many products, such as lipstick..."
"Huh?" Ronald didn't expect that Tom Hanks's ability to imitate was so good. Not only did his accent become sixty-six percent similar, but wasn't that kind of head-and-shaking movement a clear sign of mental retardation?
There is also the figure of little Michael that is typical of country folk, with his neck straight as if there is a ruler holding it on his back, and the look of Forrest Gump, who is stubborn, kind, and knows that he is not very intelligent, as if
Suddenly fell in love with Hanks.
"Good guy, this approach is indeed correct..." Ronald high-fived and praised, "Diane, Diane, come and see your old partner..." He quickly asked Diane to come with him and let him watch too.
Watch this wonderful performance...
"Oh, this is the role in your new film?" Diane glanced at Ronald and regretted a little, "That's what being a director's wife is like, there are no good roles that you can't get, only those who put out fires can...
…”
"Oh no, Diane, I was wrong..." Ronald knew that Diane was addicted to acting. With such a wonderful performance, how much did he want to appear in the movie himself?
"Ding dong..."
Fortunately, the doorbell rang in time, and someone came to rescue Ronald. Ronald opened the door, and it was Jonathan Demi and his wife Joan who came to visit.
"Bruce Springsteen's theme song demo was sent, you have to listen to this..." Demi anxiously asked Ronald to listen to the interlude as soon as he walked in. "Tom, are you here? It just so happens that it's Philadelphia.
The theme song of the story..."
"Oh? I'll listen too..." Hanks also became interested.
The tape was put into the Sony player, and after a burst of white noise, the music started playing.
"Dong...dongdong...dongdong..."
A soothing and powerful drumbeat sounded, and Bruce Springsteen's steel-like voice sang the faint sadness...
"I'm physically and mentally exhausted and can't express my feelings.
Even he couldn't recognize his own appearance.
In the reflection of a window, I saw a strange face,
Oh, man, will you let me fade away on the streets of Philadelphia?
No angel came to greet me,
Just you and me, my friends."
There are only three sections of the song, and at the end, the sonorous and powerful drum beat at the beginning fades away, as if it heralds the passing of the protagonist Andy...
"Why……"
Ronald, Diane, Demi, and Hanks all burst into tears when they heard it. This song is very touching, and it is well integrated with the plot of the Philadelphia story. It is really moving...
"When will an ensemble version be released? Ronald, this song must be won no matter what..." Jonathan Demi felt that he was lucky. This song could at least bring the movie to a higher level...
"Well, let me see what I can do...Artists are not easy to push..."