Exploiting Hollywood 1980.

Chapter 200 An Unexpected Acquaintance

"The first way is to buy a batch of copyrights of popular music that top the charts and directly use it as the soundtrack of 'Sons of Grease' to attract fans.

The second way is to persuade the original two protagonists, John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, to continue to play main supporting roles in the sequel, rather than just cameo appearances.Engage their fans.

As long as we can do any one of the two, this sequel can stand on the qualifying line, and if we can do both, it may be a big hit. "

The next day, Ronald approached his agent, Rick Nisita.Tell him the choreographer's opinion and your own observations on the script.Hearing that Ronald has found a screenwriting idea, Ovitz was also very satisfied with his efficiency, and listened to Ronald's briefing with Nisita.

"There's nothing wrong with the first one. Andy Gibb is already a popular singer. Since his debut with the song I Just Want To Be Your Everything, Robert Sterwood has always wanted him Part-time actor, and his three big brothers, the Bee Gees, can also provide him with a lot of song support."

Ovitz and Nisita have no objection to the first.

The second one..."

The two whispered to each other, and Nisita replied:

"John Travolta has become popular, and he began to seek transformation, he was unwilling to act in musicals, and appeared on the big screen as an American gigolo.

As for lead actress Olivia Newton-John, whose new film 'Xanadu' did poorly at the box office and critically, we can try to bring that up to Paramount. Knocking on the table, Nisita decided to propose the heroine first.

Ovitz is already considering whether to recommend a director and actors to Paramount, "You are doing a very good job, Ronald. We will pass your scriptwriting opinions to Paramount and Sterwood. Wait for them to finalize the songs and actors to use. After participating in the star, we will go to an interview and get the contract."

"You stay in Los Angeles for another two days, and I expect an official reply soon."

Ronald, who walked out of the president's office, let out a sigh of relief.Now that you decide to write a script, you must do the best within your ability.

"Ronald, it's you!"

An unexpected voice called Ronald from the rest area.

"Minahan?" Ronald remembered the owner of the voice. It seemed to be the Israeli filmmaker Minahan Golan, who was about to jump off a building after a failed film in Canada.

Turning around, it really was Minahan and his cousin Yoram.

"Why are you here?"

"We came to see Mr. Ovitz, why are you here?" Minahan asked.

"I'm a signed screenwriter of CAA, and I'm here to talk about some script projects." Ronald nodded and wanted to leave.

Minahan quickly exchanged glances with his cousin, maybe the breakthrough depends on him?
"Ronald, we haven't thanked you for your help in Canada. Why don't you come to our Cannon Films office? Let's have lunch together." Minahan invited.

"Aren't you going to see Mr. Ovitz?"

"Hahaha, he's a busy man. We didn't make an appointment this time, just try our luck. If we meet you, let's go to the office and talk first." The two pulled Ronald and walked out.

"Okay, let me talk to my agent." Ronald went to say goodbye to Richard.

"Do you think he can help us?" Yoram asked Minahan.

"Who knows, Ovitz rejected our request straight away, and he hasn't seen us for the past two days. Why don't you ask Ronald, he gave us this idea, maybe he has some solutions."

Ronald walked out of the office, got into the car of the two Israeli brothers, turned a corner, and soon arrived at the office of Cannon Pictures.

This is an old office building. When you open the door of the company, you will see the front desk, and there is a logo of another company on it.

"We just took over this office, and all the furniture is left by the previous tenants. We don't spend money on these places, and all the money will be invested in the filming of the movie." Minahan talked without changing his expression.

There are also two desks in the corridor, which seem to be the screenwriter's seats.Two screenwriters were typing on crackling typewriters, and two pagoda-patterned cardboard boxes were placed on the table. It seemed that the Chinese takeaway hadn't had time to eat yet.

Walking into the office of Minahan and Yoram, two desks facing each other take up most of the space, and there are two corner sofas and a small table as a place for entertaining guests.

"This is our office, where Yoram and I are discussing the company's film projects." Minahan pointed to various movie posters on the wall, "This is the 'Lemonade' we filmed in Israel, which broke all the records in Israel. box office record, we were able to come to America to continue our movie dreams."

Ronald nodded, and the two of them had made big-selling movies.It's not the kind of pure layman who messes around.And this kind of entrepreneurial spirit also makes Ronald feel very kind, there are not too many levels, and the employees are very motivated.

"So why are you looking for Mr. Ovitz? Can I help you?" Ronald simply pointed out the subtext that the Israeli brothers didn't say.

"We", the two brothers looked at each other, and it was still Minahan who said, "We remember the advice you gave in Montreal. After we come back, we will talk to United Artists and MGM about the distribution contract of Cannon Pictures. But their president is only thinking about it. Thinking about editing 'Heaven's Gate'."

"What about MGM?"

"After MGM was acquired by Kerkorian for 40% of the shares, it has greatly reduced the output of film production. They now do not have their own distribution channels, but use United Artists' distribution channels."

"So what are you going to do?" Ronald looked around for water. This Cannon Films was still a start-up, the secretary was too clueless, and the boss's important guests didn't even have a cup of coffee.

Yoram hurriedly went out to pour water, and Minahan said eagerly, "We made preliminary contact with MGM, they can use the distribution channel shared with United Artists, but they don't know us, and they don't want to help a company that doesn't have Endorsement from the company that released the film in America. They need proof from us, or find someone who will vouch for us as a producer..."

After listening for a long time, Ronald understood that it was the old problem of entering the industry again.

Minahan and Yoram were Israelis who had just bought a small Hollywood studio, and MGM was unwilling to risk a distribution deal without releasing the film in America.

But there are no distributors to buy "Apple", and Minahan is unwilling to do small-scale distribution on his own, which will make the box office of the bad film "Apple" even worse, and no distributor will be willing to represent their films in the future.So much so that their American movie journey ended before it even started.

So the two brothers have been begging Ovitz, hoping that he can serve as a recommender, so that MGM's top management can increase some confidence in the Israelis.

But the "apple" of the two of you is so bad, Ovitz certainly doesn't want to ruin his reputation.

It seemed that a new voice was read from Ronald's heart, and Yoram, who came back with a bottle of mineral water, said, "Actually, MGM doesn't care about the quality of our movies. They don't have many movies to distribute." , United Artists’ distribution channels are also idling now, as long as there are movies, it’s always good.”

"However, MGM's top management is unwilling to take risks. They are undergoing changes at the top right now. No one wants to become an excuse for doing wrong things and become a reason for others' attacks in the high-level reshuffle just because they signed our distribution business. "

Ronald wanted to understand the key point. In fact, the executives of MGM didn't want to take the blame, but they were greedy for the income of the distribution business.I want to find a formal certifier, so that the decision to sign the release contract is formal, and there is no mistake.

"I can't do anything, I'm just an ordinary client of CAA, and I can't influence Mr. Ovitz's judgment."

"No, we want you to be the recommender," Yoram said.

"Me? Cough..." Ronald was amused by Yoram's statement, and choked on his saliva.

"Did you misunderstand me?"

"We have been in Hollywood to inquire. You are the famous screenwriter who wrote the script for Jane Fonda, and you were on the front page of the New York Times."

"Big success by unknown screenwriter!" Minahan repeated the headline at the time in a thick Israeli accent.

"You haven't read the whole report, have you? My name is not there." Ronald didn't want to mention the script again, and simply said that Jane Fonda was the project leader.

"So that's how it is." The two Israeli brothers looked at each other and sat down disappointed.

"But why don't you find a lawyer to prove your strength?" Ronald asked seeing the frustrated look of the two.

"We also tried to ask lawyers to provide proof materials, but they were unwilling to confirm our distribution results in Israel, and they also discriminated against us a lot." Yoram replied.

"Those lawyers who work for Hollywood don't know that there is a film industry in Israel, and they don't want to know more about our distribution performance in Israel. They always feel that no one can auction blockbuster movies after leaving Hollywood." Minahan Also very uncomfortable.

"Thank you, Ronald, let's think of a way."

Didn't you agree to have lunch?Ronald complained in his heart.

"I do know Mitch Kanter, the former MGM corporate lawyer. He has now left MGM and returned to practice in a law firm. Maybe he will be interested in you."

"Really?" Minahan grabbed the phone on the desk and took it to the sofa. "You can call him here."

Ronald looked at them both without speaking.

Yoram has been engaged in distribution and sales work, and understands the exchange of commercial interests better than Minahan, who focuses on film production.

"Ronald, who do you want to be in Hollywood? Is there anything we at Cannon Pictures can do to help?"

"I want to be a director."

"That's no problem, come to us, Cannon Films lacks talents who can direct English-language films." Minahan took the conversation and slapped his chest loudly.

"Okay", Ronald actually doesn't trust these two Israelis, but this matter is not too human-intensive, and he just introduces business to Lawyer Mitch normally.

So Ronald dialed the number on Mitch Kanter's business card and told Cannon Pictures what he thought.

Mitch Kanter welcomes this simple business that can charge high fees.After communicating with Minahan on the phone, let them go to the office tomorrow to provide materials, and he will contact the MGM distribution manager.

Minahan put down the phone and hugged Yoram happily, "We did it, we did it. We have a firm foothold in Hollywood, and the next one is to make a film that can win an Oscar! Next year we can go to the awards show .”

"Oh my god." Ronald covered his face, defeated by the optimism of the two.

"Ha! It's already 12:30." Minahan thought that Ronald was hungry, and ran out of the office quickly.

Outside the door came Minahan's high-pitched Hebrew voice, and the screenwriter's much smaller voice of justification.After a while, Minahan took a pagoda-patterned lunch box, took chopsticks, and put it in front of Ronald, "Here, this is Chinese food, it's very delicious."

(End of this chapter)