Exploiting Hollywood 1980.

Chapter 243 Patricia Birch Wants to Work With You
The days of waiting were tense and boring. Ronald called back to the university, canceled all his summer electives, and concentrated on staying in Los Angeles, waiting for the judgment of fate.

Soon Nisita found him again. For a couple of days, he concentrated on searching for news in the world, but found nothing. Except for Tom Mount, no one seemed to have heard the news of what would happen within two weeks.

But this day Nisita brought another piece of good news.

"Remember Patricia Birch, the choreographer of the original Grease musical and movie? Paramount and Sternwood decided she would take over the directorship of Grease 2, and she was the first to think of you and wants you to go Do the revision work of the script."

Hey?
Ronald's mind went back to this little woman in her late twenties.At that time, when "Grease 50" was still called "Son of Grease", in order to learn the script writing of musical dramas, I visited her once, and got the selfless help from the other party, and learned how to organically nest singing and dancing with other plots together.

"Okay, I'd like to see her." Although Ronald made up his mind that he must become a director this time and was not interested in screenwriting work, Burch repaid his favor for helping him, and spent an hour or two with her. It is necessary to meet and talk about the script.

"Hi, Ronald. Nice to see you again. Let's work together. You'll be in charge of script revisions and songwriting. I'll choreograph the dances and pick the music. Let's have a blast."

Patricia Birch's energy was so high that she was no longer as breathless as she was at home.

With the success of "unprecedented and unprecedented flying all over the sky", the Zac brothers decided to take a break and shirk directing Grease 2.Paramount found a lot of directors, and finally used the original choreographer Birch, who has a deep understanding of musicals.

Speaking of which, like herself, she was also a director for the first time.

Patricia Birch’s voice was still so resonant. She told Ronald that she had read all the versions of the script, and it was better to abandon the version that Hutton had randomly modified and use the original version of Ronald’s script.

After the script was rejected by Hutton at the time, Ronald signed a supplementary agreement not to allow Hutton's crew to use his own script.But since Birch is fancy, there is no problem for him to use it for her.

"If Paramount buys the script back, then it will pay for the previous revisions of the script, including the two versions I modified. You can delete, modify and revise the script based on my script."

"But you have signed a supplementary agreement, and latecomers cannot use your plot and dialogue. If you can, I want you to sign to waive this right." Birch said.

Ronald glanced at Nisita.

"Paramount will pay for your script development," Nisita added.

"I'm fine, you tell them to give the papers to Rick, and I'll sign it."

"Great," Burch was delighted. "Mr. Sternwood and I both liked your scripts, and he even planned to shoot Grease 2 first, and then put your earlier version of 'Sons of Grease', That is, it is later in time, telling the anti-war version of the 60s, as a script reserve for Grease 3.

Come on, Ronald, let's have a blast. "

"I could sell the script to Paramount, but I have my own directing project..." Ronald explained.

"You really don't think about it? Paramount and Mr. Sterwood will put in a combined budget of $1200 million. Your project is only $300 million. I've been on quite a few films, and under-budget means that in many places There must be a compromise.

Costumes have to be second-hand used by others, sets have to be selected from other crews that have not been dismantled after filming, and there are various wages and benefits.

When I communicated with you last time, I felt that you are very good at script writing. After reading your scripts, I found that you also have a good command of musical drama scripts.

You come to help me polish the script, and I will give you the treatment of an assistant director, and then when Grease 3 or Grease 4 comes, you will be able to act as an independent director.

That is a big production with a cost of more than 1000 million.How is it, Ronald? "

Ronald was very happy that Burch could give him this opportunity, but he decided to pay attention to being a director, "Thank you for your invitation, Patricia, but please understand the persistence of a young man."

Moreover, the script of Grease 2 has neither the male and female protagonists from the upper part, nor the polished script of the original musical to accumulate word-of-mouth. It is hard to say whether it will be successful at the box office.It's not like "fast-paced Richmond High School", and a commemorative video was released 15 years after it was released.

Ronald stood by his choice and apologized to Birch.

"Okay, Ronald. I know it's hard to say no to directing. I wanted you to help me.

Now that John Travolta, and Olivia Newton-John, have both declined to play the sequel, I have to start from scratch with the right actors.

By the way, how about your ex-girlfriend?Called Antonia, she danced very well in Grease 1, let her try the heroine Stephanie?I've seen her in Fame, she can act, she's perfect for the role. "

"She went to the New York City Ballet to realize her ballet dream, and she may be touring there now." Ronald said with a smile, but Antonia came from a poor family in Little Italy, and her background was somewhat similar to Stephanie's. The script also arranged for her to work at a gas station.

"I'll try to contact her." Birch refused to give up.

"The difficulty in musicals lies in finding the right actors. Many people think that dancing in musicals comes first, but that's not true at all. Being able to perform in front of the camera is the real criterion for casting actors in musicals and movies.

You did a great job with the character of Stephanie, who is conflicted.As the leader of the Pink Girl, she has status in the school social circle, but in reality she is just a poor kid working at a gas station.

She falls in love with the biker who comes to rescue her on a motorcycle with a helmet on, and Michael, who helps her with her Shakespeare homework, unaware that they are actually alone.

This kind of entanglement and wandering emotions is difficult to play well. I need an actress who can look beautiful on camera even when I am embarrassed. "

Pretty when awkward, Ronald thinks of Michelle Pfeiffer.When I was writing the script, I just broke up with her. Did you subconsciously add some of Pfeiffer's appearance and personality to the role of Stephanie when I wrote the role of Stephanie?

"Do you have any suitable candidates in mind?" Birch keenly noticed a little smile on the corner of Ronald's mouth, as if thinking of someone.

"No, no, casting can't be done in one go. I can recommend casting studios in New York to you. They are very professional."

"Come on, don't lie to me Ronald, your expression just now is exactly the same as when you said Antonia, is she also your ex-girlfriend?"

Birch grabbed Ronald's hand, "Whether Grease 2 will be successful or not depends largely on the casting of the hero and heroine. Are you willing to let your script fail? Tell me who she is..."

Ronald was dumbfounded by Burch, so he took out his notebook, found the phone number of agent Ed Limato, copied it on a piece of paper and handed it to Patricia Burch.

"You know Limato, William Morris' agent? He had a client named Michelle Pfeiffer, and he was in a commercial for Lux soap..."

"Her dancing is not as good as Antonia's. It was also because of this that she lost the role of the famous ballet student, but her acting skills are not... Forget it, you can see for yourself. I shouldn't talk too much." Ronald shook his head, It's actually none of your business.

"Also, it's best not to tell Limato that he got the information from me. I don't want to have anything to do with his client."

"Hi, Ronald, it's me, Ed. Ed Limato." Unexpectedly, that night, Limato found the room number of the hotel where Ronald was staying and called.

"Hi, Ed, long time no see", Ronald thought to himself, is Birch's mouth so loose?

"I'm very grateful for your recommendation to Pfeiffer. In fact, she hasn't had any film opportunities recently. Grease 2 is already the best audition opportunity she has participated in in the past six months."

"You probably made a mistake, Ed. It has nothing to do with me." Ronald sat on the sofa drinking black tea and replied casually.

"Don't take me for a fool, Ronald. I've been in this business for over 20 years.

Grease 2 reboot, Patricia Birch is the director, I submitted an audition application for Pfeiffer, I called several times but there was no response, today Birch personally called Pfeiffer to audition, and said a new version of the script Christine Stephanie's character is similar to hers.

I asked around, and the new version of the script was written by you..."

"Well, I told Burch Pfeiffer. But whether she can be selected depends on her." These agents are really pervasive, and they can restore things to the same extent in a few clicks.

"Ronald. We're friends, and Pfeiffer is like my child. I... I appreciate your taking care of her, but I... I can't..."

"What are you trying to say?" Ronald listened to him hesitantly.

"Although you were once a couple, I would not encourage her to do immoral things for casting. You know, she just married her boyfriend and is on her honeymoon."

"Oh, that's good. Congratulations to her." Ronald wondered if Pfeiffer was in a hurry to get married so soon?It seemed that she really wanted to have someone by her side.

"Wait a minute, what is immoral?" Ronald said to Limato, "Why is it immoral for me to recommend her for an audition?"

"You just said 'it depends on her whether she can be chosen or not?', are you implying something...?" Limato asked cautiously on the other end of the phone.

Limato is a rare old-fashioned agent. Although he will not prevent his actresses from exchanging roles for roles, he will not actively seek such opportunities for clients.He treats every client as family and wants them to be satisfied in both career and life.

"Fxck You, why do you think so?" Ronald laughed, he is not the producer or director who holds the casting power.

Oh...Maybe Limato misunderstood, thinking that he is also the screenwriter and has a good relationship with the director Birch, which really has some influence on the casting.

"Look, I'm not on Grease 2, Birch just bought the rights to my script. She did ask me to be on the set, but I said no, I have another film to direct.

The matter of Pfeiffer's audition for Stephanie is just a random word from me, and I don't want to care about it in the future. Your audition results have nothing to do with me. "

"Which movie is the director working for?" Limato ignored the others, only heard this key piece of information, and immediately asked on the phone.

Ronald said nothing.

"Ronald, we are friends, right? Although Pfeiffer didn't go on with you, I didn't exert any bad influence on her." Limato heard that Ronald had the opportunity to direct so soon, and he felt Also very anxious to win opportunities for clients.

"You are a genius, Ronald. I admit that I didn't discover your genius before. This may be the biggest mistake of my career. But the success of a movie requires not only one genius, but also the joint efforts of different geniuses, isn't it ?"

Now that the film market is sluggish, many of Limato's clients are out of work.There's been a lot of debate about whether movies are going to die, and some clients are considering a career in television.There are also those in the industry who want to bring back the 50D movies of the 3s and save the weary box office.

"I can only say that it is a small production, I am afraid it is not suitable for your client."

"Small production, which company is it? Warner Bros.? Fox? Paramount? Universal?"

"Um, don't guess."

"Universal, right? Universal? I heard they're preparing a youth movie based on a novel."

"I don't want to discuss it any more."

"Well, let's not discuss this issue." Limato agreed to change the subject.

"To tell you a funny thing, a beautiful young woman walked into the WMA office by herself today, trying to find an agent to represent her business.

This woman named Amy Heklin actually claimed that whoever signs a contract with her can get the first commission for free.She said that she would definitely get her first directing contract, as long as she signed with her within 2 weeks, she would be able to pick up a client.

Do you think this is a very interesting thing? If she said that she got an actor contract, I think someone would try their luck, but a 27-year-old beauty said that she was a director...

Hahaha. "

"Ed, your level of telling jokes is not very good." Ronald was not interested in listening to gossip about the brokerage industry.

"That's it, you don't want Pfeiffer to audition under my banner. She wants to live a life with people and stay in Los Angeles as her actress. I respect her choice and continue like this without disturbing each other's lives. "

"This is Hollywood. Everyone knows everyone. You will meet sooner or later. I will talk to you again. I was optimistic about your screenwriting ability back then. You will definitely become a good director." Limato hung up after finishing speaking. phone.

Ronald also hung up the receiver, turned around and poured a glass of whiskey to taste slowly.Things are unpredictable, Limato is right, Hollywood is a small circle.I didn't expect that I would soon reach the position that could determine the fate of an actor like Pfeiffer.

Do you want to continue to be kind to others in the future?Or use the power in your hands to do something?
Ronald sat down and drank slowly no ice dry whiskey.

wrong!Ronald jumped up from the sofa in shock.Why did Limato specifically emphasize the time of 2 weeks?
The story Limato had told him was his tip-off!

It took 2 weeks to find an agent to sign a contract, beautiful woman, everything was right.She was Tom Mount's secret candidate.It was inconvenient for him to make a decision on the candidate, so he delayed the decision of the director for two weeks.

This woman named Amy Heklin didn't even have an agent, but she was sure that she could get the director's qualification.There must be a strong background for sure.

Limato was paying back the favor he had given Pfeiffer for recommending auditions.But it was inconvenient for him to directly tell himself the private thoughts of Universal CEO, so he hinted at himself by telling jokes.

The information I left with that bastard Tom Mount may... no, it will definitely be leaked to Heklein, and I will be discarded like a lemon that has been squeezed dry after 2 weeks.

Ronald immediately called his agent, Nisita, to tell him the news he had heard.

"Shxt, how dare the bastard Mount do this to our CAA. Does he think he is really a tycoon after being interviewed by Time Magazine? This bastard who climbed up by licking XX.

Looks like we're going to use our trump card early, Ronald.

I'm going to ask Mr. Ovitz to contact Paramount right now and get you an in-house preview of Spielberg's new film, 'The Lost Ark of the Covenant', produced by Lucas, and then we'll...

We need to get rid of the history with Tom Mount once and for all. "

"Okay, I'll trust you again, Rick. This thing is disgusting, and this time you CAA will let me get what I want, right?"

Nisita, who hung up the phone, said to Paula Wagner in her arms, "If you let him down again this time, Ronald will definitely fire me. And my long-term efforts to win Spielberg may also be defeated." All failed.

Help me get my clothes, Paula, I'll see Mr. Ovitz right away. "

(End of this chapter)