“The first way is to purchase the copyrights of a batch of popular music at the top of the charts and directly use it as the soundtrack of ‘Son of Grease’ to attract fans.
The second way is to persuade the two protagonists of the original work, John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, to continue to play major supporting roles in the sequel instead of just making cameo appearances to attract their fans.
As long as we can achieve either of the two, this sequel will be on the qualified line, and if we can achieve both, it may become a hit."
The next day, Ronald found his agent, Rick Niceta, and told him the choreographer's opinions and his observations on the script. I heard that Ronald had found an idea for the script, and Ovitz was very satisfied with his work.
Efficiently, listened to Ronald's briefing with Niceta.
"There is no problem with the first one. Andy Gibb is a popular singer. Ever since he debuted with the song "I Just Want To Be Your Everything", Robert Sturwood has always wanted him to
He is a part-time actor, and the Bee Gees band formed by his three eldest brothers can also provide him with a lot of song support."
Ovitz and Niceta had no objection to the first point.
The second one..."
The two of them whispered to each other, and Niceta replied:
"John Travolta has become famous. He began to seek a transformation. He was unwilling to appear in musicals anymore and appeared on the big screen as an American gigolo.
As for the heroine Olivia Newton-John, her new film 'Xanadu' did not perform well at the box office and in reviews. We can try to propose it to Paramount." Knocking on the table, Niceta decided to propose first.
The heroine participated.
Ovitz was already considering whether to recommend directors and actors to Paramount, "You did a great job, Ronald. We will forward your screenwriting opinions to Paramount and Sternwood. Wait until they finalize the songs and
After the stars join the cast, we will have another interview to finalize the contract."
"If you stay in Los Angeles for another two days, I expect there will be a formal response soon."
Ronald let out a sigh of relief as he walked out of the CEO's office. Since he decided to write a script, he must do the best he can within his capabilities.
"Ronald, it's you!"
An unexpected voice stopped Ronald in the lounge area.
"Minahan?" Ronald thought of the owner of the voice, who seemed to be the Israeli filmmaker Minahan Golan, who had failed in his Canadian film and was about to jump off a building.
Turning around, it turned out to be Minahan and his cousin Yoram.
"Why are you here?"
"We came to see Mr. Ovitz, why are you here?" Minahan asked.
"I'm a contracted screenwriter with CAA. This time I'm here to talk about some script projects." Ronald nodded and wanted to leave.
Minahan quickly exchanged glances with his cousin. Maybe the breakthrough depends on him?
"Ronald, we haven't thanked you for your help in Canada. Why don't you come to our office at Cannon Pictures? Let's have lunch together." Minahan invited out.
"Don't you want to see Mr. Ovitz?"
"Hahaha, he is a busy man. We didn't make an appointment this time, just to try our luck. If we meet you, let's go to the office to chat first." The two of them pulled Ronald and walked out.
"Okay, let me talk to the agent." Ronald went to say goodbye to Richard.
"Do you think he can help us?" Yoram asked Minahan.
"Who knows, Ovitz flatly rejected our request and didn't see us for the past two days. Why not ask Ronald? He was the one who gave us this idea. Maybe he has some ideas."
Ronald walked out of the office, got into the car of the two Israeli brothers, turned a corner, and soon arrived at the office of Cannon Pictures.
This is an old office building. Open the door of the company and you will see the front desk. There is a logo of another company on it.
"We just took over this office, and all the furniture was left behind by the previous tenant. We don't spend money on these places, and all the money will be invested in the filming of the movie." Minahan kept his expression straight as he talked.
There are also two desks in the corridor, which seem to be the screenwriters' seats. The two screenwriters are typing on the clattering typewriters. Two pagoda-shaped paper boxes are placed on the table. It seems that the Chinese takeout has not yet been ordered.
There's still time to eat.
Walking into Minahan and Yoram's office, two desks opposite each other take up most of the space, as well as two corner sofas and a small table as a place for entertaining guests.
"This is our office, where Yoram and I discuss the company's film projects." Minahan pointed to the various movie posters on the wall, "This is 'Lemonade' that we shot in Israel, breaking all the movies in Israel."
With the box office record, we can come to America to continue our movie dream."
Ronald nodded. The two of them have made big-selling movies. They are not just amateurs who mess around. Moreover, this entrepreneurial spirit also makes Ronald feel very friendly. There are not too many hierarchies, and the employees
Also very motivated.
"So why are you looking for Mr. Ovitz? How can I help?" Ronald simply pointed out the unspoken subtext of the Israeli brothers.
"We", the two brothers looked at each other, and it was Minahan who spoke, "we remembered the advice you gave in Montreal, and when we came back, we approached United Artists and MGM to discuss the distribution contract of Cannon Pictures. But their president only wanted to
Thinking about 'Heaven's Gate' editing issues."
“What about MGM?”
"After MGM was acquired by Kerkorian and held 40% of its shares, it has significantly reduced its film production output. They now do not have their own distribution channels, but use United Artists' distribution channels."
"So what are you going to do?" Ronald looked for water everywhere. This Cannon Pictures was still a start-up, the secretary was so indifferent, and the boss's important guest didn't even have a cup of coffee.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! Yoram quickly went out to pour water. Minahan said with a longing look, "We have made preliminary contact with MGM, and they can use Helian
Artshare’s distribution channel, but they don’t know us and are unwilling to endorse a company that has not distributed films in America. They need us to provide proof, or find someone willing to guarantee our status as a producer..."
After listening for a long time, Ronald understood that it was the old problem of entering the industry again.
Minahan and Yoram, both Israelis, had just acquired a small Hollywood production company, and MGM was unwilling to take the risk of signing a distribution agreement before releasing the film in America.
But there are no distributors to buy "Apple", and Minahan is unwilling to distribute it on a small scale. This will make the box office of the bad movie "Apple" even worse. In the future, no distributor will be willing to represent their films. So that they
My movie trip to America ended before it even started.
So the two brothers kept asking Ovitz, hoping that he could serve as a recommender so that MGM executives would have more confidence in the Israelis.
But if your "apples" are so bad, Ovitz definitely doesn't want to ruin his reputation.
As if reading a new voice from Ronald's heart, Yoram came back with a bottle of mineral water and spoke, "Actually, MGM doesn't care about the quality of our movies. They don't have many movies for distribution.
, United Artists’ distribution channels are also idle now, as long as there are movies, it is always good.”
"But MGM's top management is unwilling to take risks. They are currently undergoing changes in their top management. No one wants to become a source of wrongdoing by signing up for our distribution business and become a reason for others to attack in the high-level reshuffle.
"
Ronald figured out the key. In fact, MGM executives didn't want to take the blame, but they were greedy for the income from the distribution business. They wanted to find a formal certifier to make the decision to sign the distribution contract formal and unambiguous.
.
"There's nothing I can do. I'm just an ordinary client of CAA and I can't influence Mr. Ovitz's judgment."
"No, we want you to be the recommender." Yoram said.
"Me? Ahem..." Ronald was amused by Yoram's statement and choked on his saliva.
"Do you have any misunderstanding about me?"
"We have all inquired about you when we came to Hollywood. You are a famous screenwriter who wrote the script for Jane Fonda, and you were also on the front page of the New York Times."
"Unknown screenwriter succeeds!" Minahan said in a thick Israeli accent as the headline at the time.
"You haven't read the whole report, have you? My name is not there." Ronald did not want to mention the script again, and simply said that Jane Fonda was the leader of the project.
"So that's it." The two Israeli brothers looked at each other and sat down a little disappointed.
"But why don't you find a lawyer to prove your strength?" Ronald asked, seeing the frustrated looks of the two of them.
"We also tried to ask lawyers to provide supporting documents, but they were unwilling to confirm our distribution results in Israel, and they also discriminated against us quite a bit," Yoram replied.
"Those lawyers who serve Hollywood don't even know that there is a film industry in Israel, and they are not willing to understand our distribution performance in Israel in depth. They always feel that no one can auction blockbuster movies outside of Hollywood." Minahan
It's also very uncomfortable.
"Thank you, Ronald, we'll think of something else."
Didn't we agree to have lunch? Ronald complained in his mind.
"I do know Mickey Kanter, the former corporate lawyer of MGM. He has now left MGM and returned to practice in a law firm. Maybe he will be interested in you."
"Really?" Minahan grabbed the phone on the desk and brought it to the sofa. "You can call him here."
Ronald looked at them and said nothing.
Yoram has been engaged in distribution and sales, and he understands the exchange of commercial interests better than Minahan, who focuses on film production.
"Ronald, who do you want to be in Hollywood in the future? Is there anything we at Cannon Pictures can do to help?"
"I want to be a director."
"That's no problem. Come to us. We at Cannon Pictures lack talents who can direct English-language films." Minahan took over and clapped his chest.
"Okay." Ronald actually didn't trust these two Israelis, but this matter didn't cost much favor. He just introduced the business to Lawyer Mickey as usual.
So Ronald called the number on Mickey Kanter's business card and told Cannon Pictures what they wanted.
Mickey Kanter welcomed this kind of business that was simple and could charge high fees. After communicating with Minahan on the phone, he asked them to go to the office tomorrow and provide materials, and he would contact the MGM distribution manager.
Minahan put down the phone and hugged Yoram happily, "We did it, we did it. We have established a foothold in Hollywood, and the next one is to make a movie that can win an Oscar! We can go to the awards show next year
.”
"Oh my god." Ronald covered his face, defeated by the optimism of the two.
"Ha! It's already half past twelve." Minahan thought Ronald was hungry and ran out of the office quickly.
Minahan's high-pitched Hebrew voice came from outside the door, and the screenwriter's much smaller defensive voice came from outside. After a while, Minahan took a lunch box with a pagoda pattern, picked up the chopsticks, and placed it in front of Ronald.