"I'm interested in one of the scripts, but it may not be suitable for me..." The next day, Ronald dialed Eisner's phone in the CAA office.
"You picked out the script so quickly? That's great." Before Ronald could finish speaking, Eisner immediately started to praise him happily, "I knew you were a very efficient director. What did you like?
department?"
"The Wicked Husband is a comedy," Ronald replied.
"Very good, the comedy is very good. Your debut film 'Fast Tempo' has very good comedy elements..."
"No, Mr. Eisner, do you just believe me so much?" Ronald thought of his dream last night and realized that in his subconscious, he didn't believe he could make a good comedy.
I believe you, why don’t you? You have made so many low- to medium-low-cost movies, which one do you have experience in before? No problem, as long as you are ready, I can ask Katzenberg to start project negotiations at any time."
"Why is Eisner so confident in me?" Ronald put down the phone and asked the agents Niceta and Richard sitting opposite.
Ronald felt something was very wrong. When did the conversation about the script become like this? It was so difficult to win a film director, but now it seems that Eisner wants to beg him in turn.
"Why not? As he said, your movies all involve different types and categories. There are youth exploitation films, science fiction films, musicals, action films, and the new 'Top Gun'
, it’s hard for me to classify, air combat movies or sports movies?
In short, you are a director who is good at understanding the psychology of the audience and knows what they like to watch. So maybe comedy is also suitable for you? There is no reason to think that you can't make comedy, although the performance requirements are different from other types of films...
…”
Niceta said a lot of good things. In short, you can do it. Hollywood has confidence in you. You want to make Shakespeare? Well, directors of the new era have the courage to challenge themselves and make classics of this generation. You want to make gangster movies? Very
Great, gangster movies have finally waited for Coppola, the new generation of savior.
"What do you think?" Ronald looked at Richard, who was still looking down at the script. He might be able to give him some enlightening opinions.
"I have no opinion. You have proven your strength many times and can handle movies of various types and budgets. I think after your new movie is released, there will be people here queuing up to send you scripts. I'm just a
Lucky agent, I can't give you any advice on project selection. In short, as long as it's your decision, I think it's fine."
"If you decide to shoot this part, I still have some actors to choose from..." As she said, Niceta took out a stack of audition resumes from the drawer, "They are all clients of my people under CAA.
, it’s up to you to choose.”
"It's better to let it go first, I haven't completely decided yet."
"That's good. You already have the characteristics of a calm director. You won't take on a project just because you are inspired by a certain script on impulse, but will consider the overall profitability of the project. In addition, Top Gun's trial run in Chicago
The screening was also very successful. Audiences in the three largest cities gave you an A rating. Ned Tanin began to prepare a marketing plan, and I will invite you to come and review the details when the time comes."
It seems that the excellent reviews from the test screenings of "Top Gun" also had a big impact on his agent.
Ronald figured it out. Everyone was doing it for profit. Eisner, probably because of the pressure from the screen fund, was trying to please himself and get a movie launched as soon as possible. The agent, on the other hand, wanted to get more packaged projects, so they were a little bit
Follow your own words too much.
"Come on, Rick, Richard. I've known you since I was an unknown screenwriter, and I know comedy isn't that easy."
"Generally speaking, comedy directors and comedians are a specialized category." Niceta couldn't help but admire Ronald when he saw that he still stayed awake after receiving the project guarantee from Touchstone Pictures.
Many directors and actors can be modest and cautious when they achieve professional success, but once they are given the power to produce, they often overestimate their abilities. Many famous directors and actors are because of their concurrent roles
The producer lost a lot of money and was unable to recover for many years.
Niceta told the truth, "Comedy has special requirements for performance. If you don't specialize in comedy, it is easy for the audience to find it not funny."
"Indeed, directing skills is the short version where I have the greatest ability as a director." Ronald couldn't help but think of the embarrassing scene in his dream. He was able to continuously shoot successful and successful movies, and it was thanks to the finished film in his dream that he pointed out for himself
You have to choose the actors and performance style, otherwise you may not be able to make consecutive blockbuster movies.
"Can you find me an acting coach? I want the best one. I'm quite busy now, so it's best not to have such a rigid class schedule. Also, don't find someone with a method like Lee Strasberg."
"Well, no problem." Richard carefully wrote down Ronald's request in his notebook. "The one that best meets your requirements is probably Messner's acting training camp, which happens to be opening classes in North Hollywood this year. I'll give it to you.
Go and ask on the phone."
"Okay." Ronald was not very familiar with acting coaches, so he relied on his agent's recommendation. "Also, I still want to find a script reading assistant."
"What do you want?" Richard smiled. It seems that reading scripts is indeed a hard job. Otherwise, among Hollywood executives, Frank Price of Universal would not be the only one who insists on reading it himself.
Ronald had lingering fears about last night's dream. It might have been caused by reading too many scripts and putting too much pressure on himself. He had never felt like this before. He pointed out his requirements for his assistant one by one.
"It is best to be someone who has worked as a screenwriter in the industry and has experience in writing movie scripts. I don't require a fast speed or a KPI of how many books to read per week. I only require a sense of responsibility and a certain ability to identify."
Richard wrote them down one by one, "This requirement is a bit high. Someone with such experience will not be satisfied with being an assistant who reads scripts."
"If the script I write satisfies me, I can also consider recommending it to Touchstone, or I can invest in small productions." Ronald couldn't help but think of himself, when he was in the New World, he also gave it to Roger Corman.
I started by reading scripts.
"Then there are many candidates, let me help you choose."
…
After leaving the office, he went to the karate dojo of Master Miyagi's stand-in, Daryl Vidal, to practice for a while. The two chatted about the preparations for the sequel of Dragon King. The sequel will probably tell the story of Master Miyagi's return to Ryukyu.
Story, when the time comes, Vidal will have to film the fighting scenes.
Ronald would always have an uncomfortable feeling every time he edited the film and waited for it to be released. The life in the movie was so colorful, but real life was very boring and dull. It always took him some time to adapt to this ordinary life.
syndrome.
Many Hollywood stars spend their days drinking and drinking when they are not filming, and they may not be able to bear the boring and ordinary life.
Thinking of his fear of directing comedies and training actors' acting skills, Ronald couldn't help but get on his motorcycle and go to Cameron's house to talk to him. Only Cameron, who is also a young director, could have this kind of worry.
Only then can we talk.
"They are sexist!" Gale was angrily angry at Cameron. When he saw Ronald knocking on the door and coming in, he changed his face and said, "Here you go, Ronnie, I'll order you a pizza."
Takeout and some beer.”
"What's wrong? Gale seems unhappy?"
"Are you here?" Cameron was very happy to see his old friend coming. "Gail was targeted by Fox's boss, saying that she could not play a real producer role, so in 'Alien 2' she might only be able to play a producer role.
Named Producer.”
"The one who discriminated against Shirley Lansing?" This has become an industry joke.
"Not only him, but it turns out that Paramount's chairman of the board, Barry Diller, didn't believe that Gale could confront me as a director on the set." Cameron pointed to his nose.
It turns out that the crux is here, the producer must dare to fight with the director on the set. Sometimes in order to get a good performance, the director will not hesitate to shoot multiple times, which is not surprising if the schedule is delayed. The producer must stand up and say no at this time
.
Maybe Barry Diller felt that Gale was Cameron's wife and would not get angry with her husband on the set.
"They really don't understand Gail. If anyone can face you on the set, it must be Gail." Ronald had experienced Jim's "grace" on the set.
"Can you repeat this statement in front of Fox executives?" Gale came in with a few cans of beer and happened to hear Ronald's last sentence.
"Of course, I'm very willing to endorse you." Ronald knew what Gale meant, and he wanted to use his influence in the industry to prove to Fox executives that Gale could be a qualified producer and control the situation.
Mellon.
"Humph, you are still a friend enough." Gale also opened a can of beer and clinked glasses with Ronald.
"By the way, you said you came here..." Cameron asked.
"That's right, I saw a very good script, and I think it has a good chance of being filmed, but it's a comedy, and I'm not sure about comedy at all." Ronald expressed his troubles.
"Indeed, do you know why there are comedy directors and comedians, but there are no tragedy directors and tragedians?" Gale asked Ronald.
"I really don't know." Ronald thought, and that was indeed the case.
"Because comedies require special rhythms and special acting skills. Anyway, their acting skills are different from those of ordinary actors. It turns out that in the New World, Roger never invested in pure comedies."
"Do you remember that Jerry Zucker?" Cameron also asked.
"Remember", Ronald still remembered that when filming Rock 'n' Roll High School, Zach was busy filming his own movie, and that's when he got the opportunity to be a second unit director and join the union."
"Roger is unwilling to invest in his scripts. This is also the reason. Comedy is very difficult to predict the box office, so studios like to follow successful comedy directors or comedians. If it is really funny, the cost of comedy is actually not high.
, it’s just the dialogue between a few characters, and the box office is no worse than a blockbuster movie." Gale concluded.
"How about I go ask Zach and his trio for advice?" Ronald thought.