"Ned, would you give the green light to 'Moonlight'?"
Taking advantage of the success of his two directorial works on the box office charts, Ronald decided to put some pressure on Paramount's president, Ned Tanin. Together with his agents Niceta and Richard, he spent the weekend
I found Taning and had to work overtime to solve this problem.
"Of course, there is no doubt, no problem. I have always supported you. It's just that there are a lot of old diehards inside Paramount. They don't understand what kind of movies the new generation of audiences like to watch. Before and after the filming of 'Top Gun,'
Are there many objections?"
"So, we can sign the contract?"
"Of course, my contract is ready." Ned Tanin pressed the button on the phone and asked the secretary to bring the contract in. "
Niceta and Ronald looked at each other, and it seemed that this strategy was good. If the first-week box office results of "The Evil Husband" are officially announced on Monday, Tanin might be able to find new reasons to delay.
"This is yours." Tanin handed the two contracts to Ronald and his agent respectively. "Look, have you chosen the heroine? If the heroine is among the candidates listed,
We can start the project right away.”
Ronald took it and turned to the place marked by the secretary in advance. On it were the names of Cher, Ronald's favorite, and the names of Sally Field, Diane Keaton and others proposed by CAA.
Frowning slightly, Ronald asked, "So you want me to decide on the heroine first and then greenlight the project?"
"Of course, with your box office appeal, these female stars will be willing. Who would refuse an invitation from a blockbuster director like you, Ronald?" Tanin was giving him a high hat.
"Cher and Diane Keaton said no," Ronald thought to himself.
When caa contacted this famous actress who played the young godfather's wife in The Godfather, Ronald thought that due to her famous role in Italian movies, Diane Keaton would be interested in this movie, which is also about Italians.
Interested in family story scripts.
But Diane Keaton quickly asked her agent to reject the invitation. She said that she wanted to work with Ronald, but on her schedule, she had already accepted a movie "Baby Fever" and had to work with her ex-boyfriend.
I have a cameo role in Dee Allen's new project. I couldn't accommodate it due to schedule.
At that time, Ronald felt very sorry and wanted to lobby Keaton through CAA or Coppola's relationship. After all, Ronald thought she was the best candidate besides Cher. But after the agent came back from the inquiry, he found that Diane...
Keaton's new film won't start shooting until November, so the schedule can actually be arranged.
This reason for refusing to appear is very reasonable. In fact, it is a fake politeness like a Hollywood star.
After all, Ronald's agency is CAA, so it's easy to find her real schedule, so that she can reject roles she doesn't want to play without hurting her face, and without hurting the face of an unfamiliar popular director like Ronald.
In contrast, Cher, whose main acting career is as a singer, was more direct in her rejection. She asked her agent to tell her the outline of the script, and then she said she didn't want to play an old widow.
Although Cher does have other film projects to start shooting in July, she can use the excuse of insufficient schedule.
Ronald came back from his memories, and he still had to convince Tanin to give him a publishing contract first, and then talk to Cher or other candidates.
"You know, Ned, it's a chicken-and-egg situation. As long as you agree to distribute the movie, it won't be hard for us to find a female star willing to star in it."
"Relax, Ronald, I will support you in whatever you want to make. But this movie must have a star to support the scene. If you can convince a male star to play the role of Ronnie, I will pass it right away."
Ning took his time and poured a glass of wine for the box office director himself.
"Although I will support your decision even if there is no star, it will affect the budget after all. My authority to make decisions alone at Paramount is capped at 10 million US dollars. If you can make up the budget
For the remaining part, I am also willing to give you a contract right away."
"You've read the script, Ned. And I'm going to direct it. I want top-notch female stars to star, the best crew and equipment, and the movie needs to be shot on a large scale in New York, with less than fifteen hundred dollars.
I’m afraid an investment of 10,000 yuan won’t work…”
Ronald listened to the other party's wishes and could sign a distribution contract first, but the maximum investment was 10 million. He began to bargain, showing off his own advantages, and guaranteed box office.
"Of course, my confidence in you has no limit, but I have to be responsible to the board of directors and deal with those old stubborns at high-level meetings. As long as you can come up with a female star, I will be sure to issue you a contract and
A budget of 15 million.
Of course, if you are willing to be responsible for the remaining financing, I can sign the contract immediately."
Ned looked at Ronald's face, he didn't look very anxious, and he felt confident.
Although Ronald is the most popular young director this year and has made two blockbuster movies at once. But if the other party can invest his own real money, he will bear much less responsibility.
In fact, the subject matter of this movie is very risky. It has no stars and no high-concept appeal. The box office performance depends on luck. And Ronald is unwilling to sign a long-term contract with Paramount to bind the next three films. In this way
Even if one film fails, he can still make money by making other commercial films.
Every director has his limitations.
Just like Spielberg, the last golden boy director discovered by Hollywood. Since his debut, almost every movie has been a hit, but he just can't make comedy movies.
In the time between "ET" and "Close Encounters of the Third Kind", Spielberg also made a comedy movie "1941" with a budget of 35 million, but only received 35 million
million in domestic box office.
The romantic comedy "Moonlight" is a genre that Ronald has never tried before. Moreover, it is about the love of middle-aged people. How many moviegoers like to watch the love of middle-aged people?
I don't want to be the executive producer of the only movie on the blockbuster director's resume that suffered a big loss.
On the contrary, if Ronald took the money himself or found stars to participate in the film, he would have many excuses to explain the failure, such as the poor cooperation between the stars and the director.
If you have a hit director and a star, isn't it just luck and God's will that the box office performance is not good in the end? The most important thing is to make your own decisions and not leave anything to be criticized.
Just like Universal's Frank Price, what's the use of having such a good eye for reading scripts? As long as he passes the green light of Lucas' "Howard the Duck" in black and white, this notoriety will always be with him - George
The man behind Lucas' only failed film.
"How about we consider some alternatives for a while? I know Sally Field well, and I can make an appointment for you to see if we can spark something?"
"Okay, I'll put it on hold for a while. Just help me make an appointment with Ms. Field. I'll also discuss this project with several other studios."
Ronald was not very happy, and his words were soft but hard at the same time.
"Yes, you should find a few more studios. Maybe there are colleagues who have the power to give you the budget you need." Tanin seemed oblivious and politely sent Ronald and his group away.
"This is a Hollywood-style false politeness," Nicita exchanged with Ronald in the car. "I'm afraid Tanin saw the poor reviews and box office results of your project 'The Evil Husband', so he backed down.
Already."
"Fake politeness?" Ronald seemed to understand.
"They won't say no to a director like you who is a hit-maker. But they will list various objective difficulties. If you can solve one, they will raise new difficulties."
Chad smiled and explained to Ronald in Hollywood terms. Their agent was the most familiar with this kind of thing.
"Hey... let's go find Weintraub." Thinking of "The Evil Husband" who was a nominal producer, Ronald felt that he was so unlucky that the poor box office had also affected the financing of his new project.
Okay, I still have to pay attention when choosing movies in the future. If you haven’t dreamed of it, try to be cautious.
"How is the new project going? When can I invest?" Back home, Douglas Jr., a friend from the wrestling team, called and asked Ronald if the signing of Paramount was completed.
He wants to invest a lot of cash in Hollywood. If he can get a high return, the annuity allocated to him in the family trust next year will be even larger, and the share he will inherit in the future will be larger.
Ronald explained the other party's attitude, and then asked Douglas Jr. to wait for a while until he finished meeting with Weintraub from MGM.
Douglas Jr. is more down-to-earth, "If Paramount has this attitude, I guess other companies won't give you too many conditions. If you really want to shoot, then go ahead and I can figure out a way to solve the rest."
"
"Thank you, but it's not to this level yet. If necessary, I will talk to you. I'm sure I can ask you to help me with something worth one or two million."
By Monday, the weekend movie box office numbers have been released.
As expected, "The Evil Husband" only took in 5.2 million at the box office in 1110 theaters. This film with relatively average results can be considered average, but it was produced by Ronald Lee and Jerry...
Directed by Zac Trio, it's really not good enough.
It seems that not every director is like George Lucas or Spielberg, who can control different types of movies. In addition to being a director, he can also be a good producer.
"boom!"
On the golf course, Ronald tried to hit the ball on the fairway for the first time, and he hit the ball very far with brute force.
"As a beginner, you did a really good job." Weintraub adjusted his sunglasses and hit the ball. Phew... He didn't hit it as far as Ronald.
"Look at me," Susan Akins walked to the women's tee shot several yards in front, and boom...a tee shot was high and floating.
"The box office of the second part of The Mighty Kid dropped by nearly 25% in the second week. I am very satisfied. Ronald Cinemascore's estimate is very accurate. For ordinary sequel movies, even if there is Harrison Ford's "The Treasure Hunt"
Strange Soldiers also had a box office drop of nearly 30% in its second week."
Weintraub held his lover Susan's waist, and the two kissed.
"I'm not like those professional managers and executives. I am a rich man myself, Ronald. For your new film 'Moonlight', I plan to have MGM distribute the project, and the Star Foundation will cooperate with the production funds.
My private production company will provide the remaining part of the 15 million budget. Then the company will meet all your requirements."
"Thank you, Mr. Weintraub." Ronald followed and walked towards the landing point.
"Call me Jerry, Ronald. I will never forget your vision in choosing Noriyuki Morita to play Mr. Miyagi. I trust your judgment that this will be a good movie.
But I also have a request."
"Please tell me," Ronald thought, even if you want your lover Susan to play a supporting role, I am going to agree to it.
"MGM still needs some time to integrate internally. I plan to suspend all production projects to review the project accounts of the past three years. Therefore, your new film will not be launched until three months later."
"That's not a big deal. I still need to use the production and distribution contract you generously provided to persuade female stars to participate. Do you have any suitable people to recommend?"
"I'm not going to recommend, I'm going to trust your vision. I believe you have a better grasp of casting. I only provide money and schedule. As long as you complete the shooting within the budget and on time, I will not interfere at all. - I believe it.
That's not a problem for you." Weintraub found his ball, placed a tee on the ground, and was eager to hit the ball.
"I'm so lucky to have an executive producer like you. Well...good shot..." Ronald went up and flattered me.