Chapter 706 Hollywood-style fake courtesy

   "Ned, would you give the green light to 'Moonlight'?"

   Taking advantage of the fact that his two directorial works are enjoying great success in the box office charts, Ronald decided to put some pressure on Paramount's president, Ned Tanin. Together with his agents Nisita and Richard, he found Tanin on the weekend and had to work overtime to solve this problem.

"Of course, no doubts, no questions, I've always had your back. It's just that there are a lot of old-timers inside Paramount who don't understand what kind of movies a new generation of audiences like to see, before and after 'Top Gun,' either. Are there many people who object?"

   "So, we can sign?"

   "Of course, my contract is ready." Ned Tanin pressed the button on the phone and asked the secretary to bring in the contract. "

  Nisita and Ronald looked at each other, it seems that this strategy is good. If the box office results of the first week of "A Family with an Evil Husband" are officially announced on Monday, Tanning may find a new reason to delay.

"This is yours." Tanin handed the two contracts to Ronald and his agent respectively, "Look, have you selected the heroine yet? If the heroine is among the candidates listed , we can start the project immediately.”

  Ronald took it and flipped to the place marked by the secretary in advance. On it was Ronald's favorite Cher, as well as 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 give the green light to this project?"

   "Of course, based on your box office appeal, these female stars will all be willing. Who would refuse the invitation of a blockbuster director like you, Ronald?" Tanin was giving him a high hat.

  " Cher and Diane Keaton said no, thought Ronald.

When CAA contacted the famous actor who played the young godfather's wife in The Godfather, Ronald thought that with her famous role in Italian movies, Diane Keaton would be able to tell this story about Italian movies. Interested in screenplays of family stories.

   But Diane Keaton quickly got his agent to reject the offer. She said she would love to work with Ronald, but her schedule already includes a movie called "Baby Fever" and a cameo in ex-boyfriend Woody Allen's new project. Can't arrange it on schedule.

  At that time, Ronald still felt very regretful, 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, he found that Diane Keaton's new film will not start shooting until November, and the schedule can actually be arranged.

  This reason for refusing to act is very reasonable. In fact, it is a fake Hollywood star-style courtesy.

   After all, Ronald’s agency is CAA, so it’s easy to find out her real schedule, so that she can reject roles she doesn’t want to play without hurting face, and won’t hurt the face of an unfamiliar popular director like Ronald.

   In contrast, Cher, whose main acting career is as a singer, refused it more directly. She asked her agent to talk about the outline of the script, and she said that she didn't want to play an old widow.

  Although Cher really has other movie projects to start in July, she can use the excuse of not having enough time.

   Ronald came back from the memories, he still had to persuade Tanin to release the contract first, and then go to Cher or talk to other candidates.

   “You know, Ned, it’s a chicken-and-egg problem. As long as you agree to distribute the movie, we can find female stars who are willing to play it.”

"Relax, Ronald, I support you in whatever you want to shoot. 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 can 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 you don't have a single star, it will affect the budget after all. I have the authority to make decisions at Paramount alone, and the upper limit is 10 million US dollars. If you can make up the budget For the rest, I am also willing to give you the contract right away."

"You read the script too, Ned. And I'm directing. I want top-notch female stars, the best crew and equipment, and the movie will be shot in New York on a massive scale, less than fifteen hundred Wan's investment probably won't work..."

   Ronald listened to the other party's wishes and could sign the release contract first, but the maximum investment was 10 million. He began to bargain, put his advantage, box office guarantee.

"Of course, there is no limit to my confidence in you, but I have to be responsible to the board of directors, and deal with those old stubborn in high-level meetings. As long as you can come up with a female star, I am sure to issue you a contract, and Fifteen million budget.

  Of course, if you are willing to take care of the rest of the financing yourself, I can also sign up immediately. "

  Ned looked at Ronald's face, he didn't look very anxious, and he had a bottom line in his heart.

   Although Ronald is the most popular young director this year, he made two blockbuster movies in one go. But if the other party can come up with their own real money to invest, the responsibility they bear will be much smaller.

  It’s really that the subject matter of this movie is very risky, there are no stars, no high-concept appeal, and the box office depends on luck. And Ronald is unwilling to sign a long-term contract with Paramount to bind the next three film contracts, so that even if one fails, he can still pay back by making other commercial films.

   Every director has his limitations.

   Just like the last golden boy director Spielberg discovered in Hollywood. Since his debut, almost every movie has sold well, but he just can't make comedy movies.

Between "ET" and "Close Encounters of the Third Kind", Spielberg also made a comedy movie "1941", with a budget of 35 million, and only got 35 million. million domestic box office.

   The romantic comedy "Moonlight Sultry" is also a genre that Ronald has never tried. Besides, it is the love of middle-aged people. How many movie audiences like to watch the love of middle-aged people?

  I don't want to be the executive producer of the only film that suffered a big loss in the director's resume.

   On the contrary, if Ronald took the money himself or found a star to participate in the performance, he would have many excuses to explain the failure, such as the star and the director did not cooperate well.

  There are blockbuster directors and stars, so if the box office is not good, isn’t it luck and providence? The most important thing is to make your own decision and not leave any excuses for being criticized.

  Like Universal's Frank Price, what's the use of having such a good eye for scripts? That notoriety would live with him—the man behind George Lucas's only flop—as long as he got the green light on Lucas's "Howard the Duck," on paper.

   "Why don't we think about it for a while? Is there any alternative? I know Sally Field well. Let me make an appointment for you to see if there is any spark?"

   "Okay, I'll hold off for a while, you can help me make an appointment with Ms. Field, and I have to discuss this project with several other studios."

   Ronald was not very happy, and his words were soft and hard.

   "Sure, I should find a few more studios, maybe there are peers who have the power to give you the budget you need." Tanin seemed to be unaware, and politely sent Ronald and his party away.

"This is a Hollywood-style fake courtesy," Nisita communicated with Ronald in the car, "I'm afraid Tanin saw the bad reviews and box office results of your project 'A Bad Man', so he flinched." gone."

   "Fake courtesy?" Ronald seemed to understand.

"They won't say any words of rejection to a director who has been selling continuously like you. But they will list all kinds of difficulties in objective conditions. If you can solve one, they will raise new difficulties." Chad smiled and explained to Ronald the Hollywood words. Their agents are most familiar with this kind of thing.

"Hey... let's go and find Weintraub." Thinking of the name producer's "A Bad Husband", the poor box office also affected his new project financing, Ronald felt that he was too unlucky In the future, you still need to pay attention to the selection of films, and try to be cautious if you have not dreamed about it.

   "How about the new project? When can I invest?" Back home, Douglas Jr., a friend from the wrestling team, called and asked if Ronald Paramount's signing was complete.

  He wants to invest a lot of cash in Hollywood. If he can get a high return, then the annuity allocated to him in the family trust next year will be even more, and the share he will inherit in the future will also be larger.

  Ronald explained the attitude of the other party, and then asked Douglas Jr. to wait for a while, and he would talk after he met Weintraub of MGM.

Douglas Jr. was more down-to-earth, "If Paramount has this attitude, it is estimated that the other companies will not give you too many conditions. If you really want to make a film, then do it, and I can find a way to solve the rest. "

   "Thank you, but it hasn't reached this level yet. If necessary, I will talk to you. I am sure to ask you for help for a matter of one or two million."

   By Monday, the movie box office for the weekend has been released.

   As expected, "A Family with an Evil Husband" only got a box office of 5.2 million in 1,100 theaters. This relatively average film can be regarded as quite satisfactory, but it is not enough to watch it, produced by Ronald Lee and directed by the trio of Jerry Zucker.

   It seems that not every director is George Lucas, and Spielberg, who can control different types of movies, except directors can also be good producers.

"boom!"

   On the golf course, Ronald tried to play on the fairway for the first time, and he hit the ball far with brute force with a tee shot.

   "As a beginner, you did a really good job." Weintraub adjusted his sunglasses, and it was also a tee shot. Pfft... He didn't hit as far as Ronald.

   "Look at me," Susan Eakins walked to the women's tee a few yards ahead and bang...a drive high and floating.

"The box office of the second movie of Longwei Boys dropped by nearly 25% in the second week. I am very satisfied, Ronald. CinemaScore estimates are very accurate. The average sequel movie, even with Harrison Ford's Treasure Hunting In the second week, the box office also dropped by nearly 30%."

   Weintraub held his lover Susan's waist, and the two kissed.

"I'm not like those professional managers and executives. I'm a rich man myself, Ronald. Your new film 'Moonlight', I plan to let MGM distribute this project, and the Star Fund will match the production funds. In the 15 million budget, my private production company will provide the insufficient part. Then the company will cooperate with all your requirements."

   "Thank you, Mr. Weintraub." Ronald followed and walked towards the landing point.

   "Call me Jerry, Ronald. I'll never forget the way you chose Morita Noryuki to play Miyagi-san. I trust your judgment. It's going to 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'm going to agree to you.

   "MGM still needs some time to integrate. I plan to suspend all production projects and check the project accounts for the past three years. So your new film will have to wait three months before it can be launched."

   "That's nothing. I still have 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 that you have a better grasp of casting, I only provide money and schedule, as long as you are within budget and finish shooting on time, I will not interfere at all.—I believe this No problem for you." Weintraub found his ball, put a tee on the ground, and was eager to hit the ball.

   "I'm so lucky to have an executive producer like you. Well... strike..." Ronald went up and flattered.

   "However, can Susan be named as a co-producer?"

   "Eh...that's fine."

  (end of this chapter)