Exploiting Hollywood 1980.

Chapter 211 Stealing from David Lynch?
"What conditions?" Ronald's tone softened.

Manager Rick Nisita was holding the phone some distance from his ear to avoid the spout of profanity when suddenly his voice became barely audible.

He covered the earpiece to his ears, leaned his upper body back in the chair, changed a comfortable position, and then slowed down his speech, trying to make his voice sound as magnetic as possible.

"Universal's president, Thom Mount, is also very dissatisfied with Timothy Hutton's threats. He is not yet Hollywood's golden boy, but a golden boy candidate who dictates film projects.

But now he is very likely to get a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.Universal needs him for financing.You know, Ronald, those bankers only recognize Oscar nominees.

He appreciates your script, and it just so happens that Universal's other project, "Fast-paced Richmond High School" also needs a screenwriter to revise the script, and Mount promised to have you..."

"Hi!"

Ronald laughed angrily, "I was already helping the novel author Cameron Crowe to revise the script. Are you using what I already have in exchange for me giving up the screenwriter for the Grease sequel?"

"No, no, listen to me, Ronald...don't hang up." Nisita straightened her body again and quickly denied the exchange.

"I put forward your expectations to Tom Mount. You hope to participate in film shooting and learn to be a director. So Mount promised that you can participate in the entire shooting process as a director assistant or producer assistant."

Ronald was silent for a moment, thinking about the validity of this commitment and how much it could accelerate his dream of becoming a director.

"Are you still there, Ronald? I think it's worth considering Mount's proposal. You'll be paid the same, instead of revising the script for 'fast-paced Richmond High School' and stepping down from writing the Grease sequel...  "Nisita began to chatter into the microphone.

"The law in Hollywood is very simple. Whoever gets the money has the right to speak. The bankers saw that Jane Fonda was willing to play, so it was easy to get a loan of 800 million, and she could get a guaranteed salary of 200 million. .

Timothy Hutton was in the limelight, and "Ordinary People" were well-received and popular. The banker was willing to mortgage a loan of 300 million for him, and Universal could approve the project. "

"Then who is the banker looking for in this 'fast-paced Richmond High School'?" Ronald asked, "Why can I guarantee a foothold in this new crew? Or she didn't like me either. I changed the script in the end, but there was still no room for participation."

"Haha, this is the wonderful part of this plan, Ronald." Nisita finally relaxed, and Ronald has already begun to seriously consider giving up the sequel of Grease, so that Ronald will not agree to revise the contract and quarrel with the president of Universal Stiff trouble.

Nisita continued: "Universal is valuing the director for this film. They have invited the new director David Lynch to direct this youth film. Director Lynch proposed to read the completed script before making a decision. Whether to sign a contract."

"It's not that the studio bigwigs don't understand the rules of art creation, Ronald. Sometimes they are forced to. Stars will offer to modify the script to make it fit their image, but they are the guarantee of the box office, bank Investors have to see a star's signature before agreeing to financing.

But from time to time, they will also have an opportunity to let the creative staff create movies in full accordance with the laws of art.For example, your teacher Scorsese's "Raging Bull" is like this.

This requires stars willing to sacrifice their image for the overall artistic effect of the movie, such as Robert De Niro, who gained 60 pounds to play the boxing champion.It also needs the director himself to be recognized by producers and bankers, such as Scorsese who has filmed "Taxi Driver".

David Lynch is such an up-and-coming director. His new work "The Elephant Man" has received very positive reviews from the critics after it was released. It is hoped that he will wrestle with your teacher Scorsese in the awards season next year.

Lynch is an art-oriented director. You don't have to worry about him modifying the script because of some stars. As long as your script satisfies him, he will faithfully make it into a movie. "

Ronald was a little moved, "Of course I have the confidence to write a script that satisfies him, but can he guarantee to be faithful to the original intention, not change the script blindly, and allow me to participate in the entire shooting process?"

Nisita covered the microphone with her hand and couldn't help laughing.Young people often like to accept challenges. Let them choose in the direction you expect, and sometimes just challenge their self-esteem in the field they are good at.

"I thought it over and felt that Universal was sincere, Ronald. Lynch's 'Elephant Man' was also based on a novel about a man with a deformed skull who performed a freak show in a circus and was later killed by a A story of a kind surgeon who saves the life.

Critics have said that the movie is very true to the spirit of the original book.You know what, Ronald.Lynch, who had directed only one feature film before, was making a living repairing people's roofs before producers approached him.The president of Universal, Mr. Mount, is a man of insight and talent, and he gave the green light to the project.

All you lack is experience, Ronald.In this movie, the positions of assistant director and assistant producer are yours to take.If you continue to learn the art of directing from Lynch, maybe you will find someone who appreciates you next time. "

"I've got to think about it, Rick. In Hollywood, lip service is worthless."

"Of course, the relevant clauses will be written into the contract. Do you prefer to choose the director's assistant or the producer's assistant?"

To Nisita's surprise, Ronald was more inclined to be a producer's assistant.The reason he gave is also very simple. The director's assistant is very busy on the set, while the producer's assistant just checks the shooting progress every day, and has a lot of time to observe the director's method.

"I went to coordinate, the actual producer of this film is Art Linson (Art Linson), he himself has a strong interest in directing, and wants to learn directing skills by observing Lynch's shooting.

You will have a common language.I will find a way to arrange for you to meet, and ask him to arrange as little work as possible for you, and focus on studying on set. said Rick Nisita.

"Your main task now is to come up with the script, so that David Lynch can see the script earlier and finalize this matter earlier."

"I will, don't worry." Ronald put down the phone.

A director's assistant is a position very closely related to the director, and is usually designated by the director.All positions on the set with the word director, such as the first assistant director and the second assistant director, are positions where the director has more power to decide who to choose.

Instead of asking the studio to get the job for you, be an observer.In fact, it doesn’t matter what job title you have, as long as you can stay on the set and watch the director make every decision, and then have the right to see the daily dailies and review the consequences of the director’s decisions.

Ronald believes that he can learn a short version of the director's ability that he urgently needs from it, how to train actors.

Aunt Karen watched the preoccupied Ronald come out and asked what happened.

Ronald briefly said that he suffered a setback in his screenwriting work and would lose the opportunity to work on the "Grease" sequel, and that his agent may compensate the scriptwriting revision work for another film.

"Don't worry, Ronnie," said Aunt Karen, hugging him. "Whatever you choose, we'll support you, and we'll always be proud of you, Ronnie."

"Thank you, Aunt." Ronald sat down, and the TV debate was over.

He felt that he still needed to think about this matter carefully, and then ask his main agent, Richard Lovett, for his opinion.

CAA's policy of multiple brokers also resulted in each broker being able to contact themselves independently, and they independently negotiated business for Ronald, and sometimes they themselves had differences, depending on which broker the client trusted more.

Rick Nisita, who has a more intense relationship with a major studio than he has multiple clients.Ronald believed more in Richard Lovett, who had only one client of his own.His interests are highly aligned with his own.

"Don't worry, Ronnie." Aunt asked Donna to pull a VHS tape from the VCR. "I recorded them all, and you can take them back to watch the debate and decide which candidate to vote for yourself. The first presidential vote in my life is exciting. I also participated in President Kennedy's Peace Corps. "

Ronald took the video tape and thought, "Don't watch it, I will vote for whoever supports tax cuts. The tax in the film and television industry is too high. But in this way, the governor of California who was born as a movie actor will be elected. Give the film industry some preferential policies?"

"ABC TV conducted a sample telephone survey during the debate. More than two-thirds of the viewers believed that the former California governor won the debate. Especially in solving the Persian hostage crisis, lowering inflation, and cutting taxes. On issues such as social security, he has gained an overwhelming advantage. The commander-in-chief's advantages on issues such as social security are not as obvious as expected."

The results of a telephone sample survey were printed on the screen.

"I really want to cut taxes. I have to take a good look at it when I go back." Ronald looked at the video tape in his hand.

(End of this chapter)