"Kevin, hello." Early the next morning, as notified by Goldberg, "Working Girl" screenwriter Kevin Wade came to the apartment on Fifth Avenue to visit Ronald.
He had also discussed the script in depth with another director Mike Nichols. It is every screenwriter's dream to have the opportunity to put his play on the screen. However, Nichols' negotiations with Fox have now reached an impasse.
.Reality chipped away at his enthusiasm bit by bit.
Now that another famous director is also interested in the script, Kevin Wade feels full of energy again.
"Hello, Ronald, uh, I mean Mr. Li. I like your film works very much." Ronald is younger than Kevin Wade imagined. He is a little worried that this director is not as good as Mike.
Nichols is known for making high-concept commercial films, and his script is a sophisticated drama.
"Call me Ronald. Let me guess, Kevin, do you have Broadway experience?" Ronald smiled and asked the other party to sit down, then picked up the breakfast menu in the building, "I haven't had breakfast yet, you
If you don’t mind, would you like to eat some with me? The omelette and bacon here are very good.”
"Just coffee, yes, I did write a stage play script, which was shown Off-Broadway in 1981, and then was adapted into a screenplay in 1985. Of course, the box office cannot compare with your movie.
In addition, I previously worked as a screenwriter for New York independent film producer Mark Rapaport and wrote two movie scripts for him."
Kevin Wade is over 40 years old, but he is still a little nervous in front of Ronald. This time his script will definitely become a big production. What a screenwriter needs most in the industry is a movie that the audience is familiar with.
"No wonder, your script always reminds me of Broadway, with its compact plot. How did you come up with this story? I always feel that this story was written with a profound insight into the female secretaries who work on Wall Street.
"Ronald still admires screenwriter Wade.
"You may not know that I lived on Staten Island before I went to Hollywood. I take a boat to Manhattan every week, and on the boat I see many female secretaries who work in Manhattan and rent houses on Staten Island. They
It’s true, as you wrote, that I miss expensive high heels, so I wear sneakers to work and change them when I get to the office.”
"Aha, that's it." Kyle Wade suddenly realized that no wonder Ronald would be interested in his script. He recalled the scene at that time, and then slowly told the source of his inspiration:
"At that time, I had just written a successful screenplay and finally didn't have to skip the subway. I spent a lot of time riding my bicycle around New York... I was working as a bartender, and there was an abandoned street behind the bar.
By road, I would get on in the village and go down to Battery Park.
There I would see the Staten Island Ferry coming by, working girls in sneakers getting off the ferry, and then stopping to put on high heels... I was like writing a story about a low-level working girl who was struggling on Wall Street...
"
It turned out that Kevin Wade's inspiration also came from the detail of the secretary changing shoes. He immediately thought that the protagonist of the new script should be a young office girl who works in New York, but is not familiar with the world of people here -
-Due to her mother's illness, she never went to college, nor was she born in an upper-city family. She relied on the money she saved from working as a secretary to attend night school and complete business courses.
Wade finished writing the script and submitted it to several places, but the producers felt that it should be carried by a TV series rather than a movie.
Until this year, his script was recommended to Mike Nichols by 20th Century Fox.
After talking with Wade, Nichols prepared to undergo major surgery on the script, and then used this to ask for more casting rights and co-production conditions from his company. For this reason, he and 20th Century Fox
The script was shelved and now it's finally in Ronald's hands.
"To be honest, how far do you think this script is from being able to be made into a movie?" Kevin Wade actually didn't have many other requirements. His core demands were two points:
First, start filming as soon as possible so that he can become famous. Second, he can guarantee that he will be the only screenwriter candidate to sign his name on the script.
"I think some details still need more improvement."
"Oh, I don't know what aspects." Kevin Wade was a little disappointed. These directors used the script to be improved as an excuse to let themselves or their friends add additional signatures to the script. He wanted to hear Ronald's thoughts.
"First of all, the merger and acquisition story, I think is a bit too simplistic. What we filmed is a real business war film, and we need this merger and acquisition story to have the final twist so that people who really work on Wall Street can't find the obvious reasons.
flaw."
"Well, this is indeed my weakness. Before I became a screenwriter, I was a bartender... I read the Wall Street Journal for a long time, and the story of Japan's Sony Corporation acquiring Columbia Records last year gave me inspiration.
I thought if US-funded Colombia wanted to resist the acquisition, what could it do? At that time, there was a report in the Wall Street Journal saying that legislation was needed to protect American media companies from being acquired by Japanese capital, which gave me inspiration..."
Wade had to admit that he really couldn't read those companies' annual reports. He relied on reading newspaper reports to use his imagination.
"It doesn't matter. I know many investment managers on Wall Street. I can find a consultant for you. If you have any professional questions, just ask him. Of course, it's up to you to grasp the specific plot."
"Huh? I thought you would find a screenwriter who can write about business wars to rewrite it..." Kevin Wade did not expect that Ronald did not use the common excuse in Hollywood to change his script, but instead asked a rare
A consultant allowed himself to complete the short version. It is rare to see such a director.
Ronald smiled and shook his head, "This is very difficult. I am also a screenwriter myself. Your script is very tight. If you change it to another person, you will lose the rhythm of the script."
"Is there anything else that needs improvement?" Kevin Wade took out a pen and paper and began to record. This is a director who really understands the script. I am lucky to meet him. The balance in his heart has changed from Ni
Coles is slightly offset.
Although Mike Nichols is an Oscar winner for Best Director, and Ronald is just a commercial film director, respect is something that a screenwriter can hardly get from a director.
"Also, I think Tess's immediate boss, the manager of the investment company, could be replaced by a woman?" Ronald put forward another opinion of his own.
"Ding dong... Sir, your breakfast has arrived."
"I'll open the door." Ronald stood up first to open the door and asked the waiter to push the dining cart in. He also handed a $20 tip to the waiter, and then said to Wade, "Come on, try it.
Don’t you really need some coffee here?”
"Thank you." Kevin Wade took the slice of bread from Ronald, put two slices of bacon on the plate, picked up the knife and fork and started eating.
Wade frowned, but he decided to tell his true thoughts and chatted with Ronald. It felt like he was chatting about creation with other screenwriters in a cafe. Although deep down, Wade knew that he and Ronald
The other party is not equal, but this equal and casual attitude makes him very useful.
"I set up a male boss because of some female power considerations..." Wade hurriedly finished his breakfast, took a sip of coffee, and organized his words.
"What you said is very interesting, please continue..." Ronald made a gesture.
“In America, women are always assigned the role of raising children at home. Although their abilities and talents are not necessarily inferior to their male colleagues.
And Tess is a girl from a lower-middle-class background. Her family cannot afford college tuition, so she has to work part-time to attend night school.
…”
"So, you want Tess to be a spokesperson for class and gender? Focus the dramatic conflict on how she breaks through herself and finds her dreams in America?"
"Yes, that's what I think. The audience will like such a motivated and good girl."
"That's why I think it might be a better idea to change her boss to a woman."
Ronald stopped for coffee and chatted with Kevin Wade.
"You see, in addition to female secretaries like Tess, there are actually some women who have reached high-level positions in Wall Street companies. They come from good families, are well-educated, are likely to study abroad, and their spouses are all
Those rich kids who graduated from Ivy League schools.
But what makes them inferior to Tess is their talent and their continuous efforts to strive upward!"
Ronald talked about his thoughts. Although it is a film that reflects women's struggles in the workplace, perhaps the best way is to set up a opposite of Tess, and make another woman who has a family background and a love life that Tess dreams of.
, to be her boss as a secretary. In this way, the audience can immediately feel what Tess will look like after her inner dream is realized. Then the plot of her desperate attempt to contact Jack Traynor pretending to be a manager will be more reasonable and have more plots.
Dramatic conflict.
"What you say makes sense, but is this the whole reason?" Kevin Wade thought for a while, and what Ronald said was reasonable. Maybe there were some things. Movies and stage plays had different requirements for scripts.
Having a female character who is a mirror image of Tess might be the best choice for the movie.
"I won't hide it from you, because this is also convenient for setting up a plot of two women competing for a husband. Tess and his boss, we might as well call her Catherine for now, both fell in love with Jack Traynor. Catherine also wanted to catch him
Traynor, a blue chip stock, allows him to propose to himself, which is beneficial in the commercial film market. The target audience of our film is urban people, and they will want to see a plot like this in the film."
"You're right." Kevin Wade covered his head and thought for a long time. He felt that Ronald was right. Movies are not novels after all. A scheming middle-aged male boss is indeed not as jealous as two beautiful female stars.
, and compete with each other in career development, which looks good.
"Then we'll call her Catherine. What do you think of Tess's name? Do you need to change it?" Kevin Wade suddenly asked a question.
"Huh?" Ronald was suspicious. This sentence seemed to have a profound meaning. "Tess...Tess."
Ronald picked up the coffee and took another sip as a cover-up. His mind started to spin rapidly. Why did Kevin Wade give the heroine Mingming Tess? He must have some kind of deep meaning, otherwise he wouldn't be in the final scene.
Give yourself a small test at a critical moment.
Now I am at the stage where I need Kevin Wade to vote for me, rather than wanting to bring back Mike Nichols. If I can express his thoughts, it will undoubtedly greatly increase the weight on my side.
.
Tess, this name is still very familiar. When Ronald was working as a portrait photographer in Los Angeles, he took portraits of the German actress Natasha Kinski. And Natasha Kinski could
She became a star because she starred in the film adaptation of the famous novel "Tess" directed by Polanski.
The name Teresa is usually nicknamed Terri, or Tracy, and rarely abbreviated to Tess. Kevin Wade undoubtedly wanted to borrow the name from the movie "Tess".
Some background in "Tess of the D'Urbervilles".
Thinking of this, Ronald smiled and said, "You can't change it. If you change it, then he won't be Tess in the Promised Land. In nineteenth-century Britain, no matter how hard Tess worked or had talent, she couldn't rise to the next level.
In twentieth-century New York, everyone can achieve their dreams through hard work..."
"Hahaha..." Kevin Wade laughed. Ronald was indeed not the kind of director who only made exploitation films. He was quite familiar with the essence of these classical literature and classical dramas, and saw through the fact that he named the protagonist Moss.
The deep meaning of silk.
"Did I pass the test?" Ronald laughed.
"One hundred percent", Wade did not deny the trick he had played, "Then did I pass your test? You just asked me how I came up with the inspiration for writing such a script..."
It turns out that Ronald also hid a small hook in his previous question. He felt that the script of "Working Girl" was really good, and he had actually investigated Kevin Wade's background information through his agent.
Why does such a person who makes money as a bartender and sticks to his dream know anything about Wall Street mergers and acquisitions? Ronald was a little suspicious that Wade plagiarized a certain script that described Wall Street mergers and acquisitions in detail, then added some romantic elements and rewritten it as
It looks like this now.
If this is really the case, although there is no problem with copyright registration now, after the filming and release, someone will definitely come out and say that their movie is plagiarized. The legal prosecution that will inevitably be filed and the subsequent damage to your reputation will be very troublesome.
"Of course you pass it 100%," Ronald said. "In fact, this plot can be used in Tess's final twist. She, not her boss Catherine, came up with this idea to prevent mergers and acquisitions, and clarified it to the big boss of the multinational company.
The answer. In the end, we relied on this to turn Tess around and defeat Catherine who stole her idea."
"Damn, that's a great idea, I'm jealous that you came up with it." Kevin Wade quickly jotted down in his notebook, "You're not going to have Jack Traynor end up siding with Tess instead of
Doesn't it betray Tess like that in my script? Do you want Jack and Tess to get married? Isn't that too tacky?"
Kevin Wade thought that if the situation were reversed, then Jack Traynor, the handsome boy between the two women, could actually stand firmly on Tess's side and have a happy ending.
"Audiences like happy endings, Kevin, and of course, you have the final say on the script."
"Well... let's do what you want." Kevin Wade nodded. With such respect, he was satisfied. After all, Ronald is a commercial film director, and it is normal to pursue box office.
"That's it for now. My new movie 'Moonlight' will premiere this weekend. You will come, right?" Ronald stood up and said goodbye to Kevin Wade, and invited him to attend the premiere by the way, "Then
The film’s screenwriter, John Stanley Shanley, was also a Broadway screenwriter.”
"I will definitely be there." Kevin Wade accepted the invitation from Ronald. He became interested when he heard it and wanted to see if Ronald's ability to adapt Broadway plays into movies would satisfy him.
satisfy.
"Hi, Theresa, long time no see." After seeing off Wade, Ronald waited for his partner in the leg warmer business, Theresa Kate. She has gained a lot of weight now and is very pretty.
A feeling of happiness. Her husband David loves her very much, and their son has gone to kindergarten.
"Ronald, I'm so glad to meet you." Since Theresa's leg warmer company was sold to Jane Fonda, she only visited retail stores in Manhattan and lived a very leisurely life.
"Why did you specially invite me here? I was planning to visit you at your aunt's house when you go to Staten Island." The two of them exchanged greetings, and Teresa even showed Ronald a photo of her son to admire.
Finally, he asked Ronald about the reason for inviting him here.
"I'm going to make a movie based on your time as a secretary in Manhattan, and I'm asking you to be a consultant on the movie."
"Oh?...What do you want me to do?" Teresa was very happy that she still had the opportunity to participate in a movie. It was still a movie based on herself.
Ronald briefly introduced the plot of the movie, "I'm worried that those Hollywood actors won't be able to play Wall Street secretaries. You are very smart and capable. So I want you to help the actresses as a consultant. It is best to guide them to understand
All aspects of being a Wall Street secretary. I will find an opportunity for the actress who plays Tess to go to a Wall Street financial company as an intern, and you can help introduce them to some of the rules and regulations on Wall Street."
After speaking, Ronald looked at Teresa. He hoped to have an insider to increase the credibility of the film. There was no more suitable candidate than Teresa.
"So, Tess finally defeated her boss and became the manager, right?" Theresa did not agree immediately, but asked about Tess's ending.
"Yes, she finally got the unscrupulous female boss fired, became the manager herself, and even stole her boyfriend..."
"Okay, I promise you!" Theresa Kate is very happy that her dream that she could not fulfill back then may still be realized in the movie.
Afterwards, Ronald called Steve Bannon, his partner in making money in Japan, and asked for help.
When Bannon heard that he was going to send Catherine and Tess, Jack Traynor, who played Jack Traynor, went to Wall Street as an intern to learn how financial elites speak and behave, so he agreed immediately.
"So, you will make our image more positive, right?" Bannon complained on the phone at the end. "In the movie 'Wall Street' that was just released, the banker Gekko played by Michael Douglas can be so evil.
Bud, played by Charlie Sheen, an upright young man who escaped the scandal but exposed the violation, was prosecuted and sentenced.
Even if we were really that bad, Oliver Stone wouldn't have to film it like this, right? Besides, the current New York Attorney General Rudy is selfless. He is preparing to chase Milken. I don't think it will be that easy.
Escaped."
"Don't worry, when I make movies, I always get rid of bad bankers, and in the end, the good bankers win." Ronald laughed. Hollywood is actually not afraid of portraying people in any industry as evil.
As long as the good guys stand up and defeat the bad guys, doesn't it reflect the positive image of the industry?
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! But that Milken, isn't he the bond king who helped Minahan Golan raise 400 million? How come he is now being used by Rudy, who helped him deal with the New York mafia back then?
Party prosecutors launched an investigation?
"Okay, then I'm relieved. By the way, can I play a role in the movie?" Bannon said again.
"How about you just play a small role, playing the boss of Tess's first company?" Ronald thought it would be good to have a real banker play a small role.
"Okay, it's settled. I'll find you the best banker in the industry as a consultant for the film crew." After receiving the promise, Bannon hung up the phone happily. He initially joined Hollywood, and his love for movies
There are relationships.
The busy morning passed quickly, and it was time for lunch. The last person to accompany Ronald was his cousin Donna.
"You want to make a movie about Wall Street?" Donna tilted her head and looked at Ronald.
"Yes, I want to film it. Do you remember Teresa from the leg warmer shop? The script I want to film is based on a secretary like her."
"Oh, really? I didn't expect that." Donna looked at Ronald, "So there are many female characters?"
"Yes, but the protagonist is not suitable for Diane. Tess will be an ordinary-looking female secretary who has not made a breakthrough at the age of thirty. If she were five years older, maybe she would be suitable." Ronald also wanted to support him.
Looks like Diane, but the difference in age and appearance cannot necessarily be made up by makeup.
It was difficult for Ronald to imagine Diane Lane or Helen Slate acting ugly. They lacked the experience of being frustrated by life and having no future.
"It's okay to play a supporting role, right?" Donna was not satisfied, "You don't object to me telling her... um... right?"
"Of course I don't object. I originally wanted to find Paula... her new agent and let her come for an audition. If I could eventually direct this movie."
"That's pretty much it..." Donna raised her glass and clinked it with Ronald with a smile.
"Would you like to have dinner with me tonight? I don't have anyone to eat with in New York." Ronald called the waiter to pay the bill. Helen had already started to prepare for her movie, and there was no one to hang out with in New York.
Donna stood up and wrinkled her nose. "I have a date tonight, you can find someone yourself."
"Oh, well...your poor brother will have to find someone on his own."
Ronald thought to himself that after all, Donna was an elite office worker. She was so beautiful and had a good job. She must be pursued by many young bankers. He wondered what kind of person her future husband would be.