Exploiting Hollywood 1980.

Chapter 197 The Son of Grease
"Do you remember the movie Grease that came out in 1978?" Nisita asked.

"Of course, Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, in the Broadway musical adaptation."

"They're making a sequel, tentatively titled 'Sons of Grease,' and producer Robert Stigwood needs a writer who understands teens and musicals."

"But Rick, this movie is a huge box office winner, how did the sequel find me?" Ronald was a little bit incredulous.

"Yeah, for a movie with a box office of 1.3 million US dollars in North America, it is said that it is not your turn to write the sequel." Rick Nisita switched the earpiece, "But an unfortunate incident happened, but for you It's lucky."

It turned out that Bronte Woodard, the screenwriter of the original "Grease" film and the hero who adapted the classic Broadway musical into a movie, died suddenly in a Los Angeles hospital two days ago due to acute kidney failure.

Producer Robert Sterwood was in a hurry and was scheduled to shoot in the second half of the year. The film released next year suddenly lost the screenwriter.So I flew from my hometown of London to Los Angeles, looking for agents all over the world, looking for a screenwriter with experience in teenagers and musicals to continue writing.

Ronald, who had experience as a screenwriter for "Famous Around the World", was highly recommended by Ovitz.Robert Sterwood was quite satisfied with Ronald's resume, but he was still a little confused about his age.But after knowing that he is the screenwriter of Jane Fonda's new film, he immediately decided to invite him to Hollywood to discuss.

"Mr. Sternwood will pay for all the travel and accommodation expenses this time. Round trip in business class and stay at the Marriott Hotel. If you're interested, I'll ask the secretary to book tickets for you."

"Of course, I'm definitely interested." Ronald was overjoyed, he was really lucky.Do you have to go to church to fulfill your vows another day?No, this seems to be a Chinese custom.Regardless, Taoist temples, Buddhist temples, churches, all go to worship.

"Well, my secretary will tell you the address of the travel agency where you can pick up the tickets."

"Yeah!" Ronald yelled.

Donna and Diane heard his screams and came out to see what was going on.

Ronald explained the contents of the phone call, "When Aunt Karen comes back, I'll tell her that I'm flying to Los Angeles tomorrow."

"Um, musicals and movies are too corny." Diane Lane stuck out her tongue, indicating that it wasn't her thing.

"Is it old-fashioned?" Ronald asked strangely. "Two years ago, Grease was the first or second at the box office? It's about the same as the box office of the Superman movie. And the soundtrack is selling well. Bee Gees is very popular."

"You already have a generation gap with us." Diane swiped his hand in front of him, indicating that we couldn't go together.

Ronald looked at Donna, the aesthetics of a rebellious girl may not be accurate.

Unexpectedly, Donna also nodded, "It's really old-fashioned. My classmates don't like to watch movies adapted from musicals. It feels normal to watch musicals on Broadway, but it looks very rustic on the screen. The characters often jump up in everyday situations. It's a little awkward."

"In fact, we prefer the 'Fame' written by you. The songs and dances in it are beautiful, but the songs and dances all have a reasonable plot, and the rest of the time is mainly talking." Donna said.

"But that movie didn't do well at the box office..."

"You're an artist, Ronald, don't open your mouth and it's the box office." Diane started complaining again.

"You're right," Ronald raised his hand in surrender to the rebellious girl.

"Ronnie, let's talk." Aunt Karen, who came home, heard Ronald's new job opportunity, called him aside, and chatted.

"I'm so happy for you, Ronnie, that you've achieved so much at such a young age," said Aunt Karen, "but don't forget what I told you, your parents wanted you to go to college Graduation, they have high expectations of you."

"I understand, Aunt Karen. This is a screenwriting assignment. I will go to Los Angeles for a few days, and then I will come back to New York to write a script. There are some college electives for the new semester starting next month. I can choose some less difficult ones."

Ronald is deeply involved in the production process of my brother..., now it should be called "Her Brother's Protector".

In addition to Scorsese's film appreciation class, Ronald also participated in Spike's bootleg movie viewing coterie.

In order to join this small circle, participants must provide a copy of a pirated movie as a vote.Ronald specifically asked Roger Coleman for a letter of authorization, found the Soviet embassy in the United States, and applied for a copy of "Moscow Doesn't Believe in Tears" with English subtitles.

Ronald also specially learned how to show the film, and the copy can be shown to everyone as soon as it arrives.

"Don't lower your demands on yourself, Ronnie." Aunt Karen was quite satisfied after hearing that.

……

The service level of business class is not the same as that of economy class.Ronald drank wine and ate steak, feeling the sincerity of producer Robert Stigwood.

He was even more satisfied when the main agent Richard picked him up at the Marriott Hotel.

"Where are we going to meet Mr. Sternwood tomorrow?" Ronald asked Richard after hanging the suit in the closet.

"Sterwood has a mansion in Hollywood, and he told you to meet him alone tomorrow. We will go to CAA first, Mr. Ovitz wants to see you, and I have some important things to tell you about the meeting."

"Huh?...Okay." Ronald was a little confused, and he had to meet and explain in person.

"Some things must be discussed in person, Ronald." Ovitz was still surrounded by two secretaries, and his schedule was very tight.

"Robert Sterwood, in addition to being the producer of Grease, is also the president of RSO Records. His company's Bee Gees band, which once had six songs, won the top of the charts in 1978. By 1979, Bee Gees Little brother Andy Gibb continued to occupy the top spot for 10 weeks."

"I know him, Mr. Ovitz. I wrote the lyrics for two episodes of 'Fame', which came out on Sterwood's RSO Records."

"You can still write lyrics?" Ovitz was surprised, "Is your lyric writing economic contract also signed with CAA?"

"Actually, I was inspired by the composer Michael Gore. Lyrics are not my major."

"Okay, okay." Ovitz put away the idea of ​​signing all of Ronald's business.

"Since you know his name, I can say it. I want you to come here this time, mainly to tell you some taboos about meeting producers, and Sterwood has a lot of taboos in particular."

"Oh?" Ronald opened his ears.

"Sterwood went against the odds and used John Travolta and the Bee Gees, so he was rewarded handsomely. In other words, he has full say in this sequel.

And he's a gay.He has a number of semi-regular male companions who travel with him.So at no time do you want to offend those male companions.And don't take the initiative to mention his orientation. This kind of behavior was still a crime in Britain more than ten years ago. "

Ronald nodded in understanding.

"In addition to his male partner, he also has many female partners, or his male partner's female partner. You should also not despise these people. Any disrespectful behavior towards them will make you lose this job."

"I got it."

"Also, don't mention any sights and people you saw in his mansion to a third person, understand?" Ovitz knocked on the table for emphasis.

"Is it that exaggerated?" Ronald came out of the office and asked his manager, Richard.

"In our business, you hear a lot of gossip. One is that John Avelson, who won the best director Oscar for 'Rocky,' was supposed to be the director of 'Saturday Night Fever,' which Sternwood produced. .but he tried to jost Wood's boyfriend's girlfriend out, and was fired two weeks before the shoot."

Richard said, "I don't know if this rumor is true or not, but it's better to be careful."

Early the next morning, Richard drove Ronald to Sternwood's mansion.

"Ronald, you are welcome, I have always wanted to see you, and I appreciate your fame."

Sterwood hugged Ronald warmly in his pajamas.He was a tall Briton with a British nose, long hair parted in the middle, and a handsome face who looked more like a rock star than a record label boss if he didn't say anything.

"Ah, I'm just one of the signed screenwriters. The original credit for this movie also belongs to Mr. Christopher Gore."

"You are too humble, which is not a good quality in Hollywood." Sterwood led Ronald to sit on a deck chair under two umbrellas next to the very large swimming pool, picked up the cigar next to his seat and smoked ,
"Christopher is one of us. He told me the whole story and the parts you revised. I always feel that the rules of the Screenwriters Guild are very unfair. Sometimes the importance of one page of the script exceeds the rest. part."

"Thank you, Mr. Sternwood, why did you come to me?" Ronald ignored the playful men and women in the swimming pool next to him, and listened intently to Sternwood's words.

Sterwood is also more satisfied with his self-control, "You have to help me Ronald, I am in a predicament."

Industry leaders spoke more directly. It turns out that "Grease" is in cooperation with Paramount, Sterwood is in charge of production, and Alan Carr of Paramount is in charge of marketing and opening up film distribution channels.

After Grease was released and sold well, Paramount immediately signed a contract with Sterwood, agreeing that if there is a satisfactory script within three years, Paramount is willing to invest 1200 million US dollars to shoot a sequel, which will double the production cost. in the original film.

However, the original screenwriter Bronte Woodard has not submitted the final script. On the 2nd of this month, Bronte was sent to the hospital by his family for emergency treatment, and died of acute kidney failure in the hospital the next day.Sternwood sent for the script, but found nothing but a pile of whiskey bottles.

Frustrated, Sterwood immediately consulted with Alan Carr. Paramount learned that there was no script, and hoped to give up the contract and postpone the filming of this sequel.

Sterwood is unwilling to give up the opportunity to shake this cash cow, and promises to come up with a satisfactory script within two months, and finish filming in the last two months of this year to catch up with next year's summer vacation.

"I'm going to cast Andy Gibb, the younger brother of the Bee Gees, as the leading man in the sequel, Sons of Grease, as a second John Travolta.

John Travolta and Olivia Newton—John also promised me that they would come back as guest stars, and then tell a story about their children's youth 10 years after the original. "

$1200 million production cost, with two guest stars?Ronald feels that expectations for this sequel can be set a little higher.

"You know? When I went to Paramount to talk about finding a screenwriter to finish the script, their production president, Mr. Katzenberg, was very impressed with you and recommended you to me. He told me that you were the one who wrote the script. Jane Fonda wrote the screenplay that made it to the New York Times.

When we made a request to Ovitz later, he also recommended you immediately.I'm sure you won't let me down, will you? "

Sterwood, while drinking, smoking cigars, and chatting with the men and women in the swimming pool from time to time.

"There is a starring role. May I ask Mr. Sterwood, did the previous screenwriter leave a plot outline?" Ronald was more cautious and wanted to know more about the situation.

"No, there's nothing left of this unfortunate man. Just a story I came up with, a decade or so after the Grease story, their kids were old enough to be in high school, just in time for the boom of the hippies, the Tough Guys ( Children of T-Bird and Pink Lady, sing rock and roll against the war."

Ronald knew that the Tough Guys and the Pink Lady were the names of the high school gangs that John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John played.

"Then is the director sure?"

"No, the director of the original film, Randall Kleiser, shot Blue Lagoon at a time when Hollywood was hot and had no intention of directing the next sequel. We're still looking."

"If John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John can participate and keep the style of the original film, I am willing to try my best." Ronald thought twice, and he was moved by the vacancy of director, so he asked the other party Expressed his willingness to take over the script.

"That's great, you can ask for anything else."

"I would like to talk to the original film's main creators, especially the choreographer. The way musicals are shot is very different from other films, and my script needs to be adjusted for this."

"Very good," Sterwood stood up and slammed the water volleyball back from the pool. "You didn't disappoint me. I'll arrange for you to talk to the choreographer. Hollywood musicals, half The success of the show is on the choreographer's head."

"Did you know? Olivia Newton-John's new film, 'Xanadu' starring her and veteran musical star Gene Kelly, didn't do well at the box office.

It is because Universal spent 2000 million investment, but used that old foolish part-time choreographer Gene Kelly to bring over the boring choreography of the 50s. After the release, the box office was very unsatisfactory. "

"Then I'll wait and choreograph..."

"Patricia Birch, I'll arrange for her to meet with you."

After talking about the business, Sterwood stood up from the sun chair, "Have a good time with us?"

"I'd better go to Mr. Ovitz from CAA first, and make some preparations for the Son of Grease." Ronald thought about Ovitz's advice, and declined the invitation.

"Well, there will be opportunities in the future." Sterwood took off his pajamas, wearing only a pair of swimming shorts, stepped onto the diving board, jumped into the water, and the men and women cheered.

(End of this chapter)