NOVEL NEXT Exploiting Hollywood 1980.
Chapter 179 You Are on the Front Page of the New York Times
Chapter 179 You Are on the Front Page of the New York Times
"Don't be nervous, Ronald." Eddie resumed his usual tone, "I'll read you a passage..."
"Unknown screenwriter hits big! That's the front page of today's New York Times."
"Hollywood is an overnight fame machine. Now this machine not only produces star actors, but also spreads to behind-the-scenes personnel. In the first summer of the 80s, an unknown screenwriter sold his debut novel 'My Brother's Protector' for 35 U.S. dollars, plus 3% of the box office share..."
"The most unusual thing about this news is that so far, no news about this film has appeared in the newspapers. This reporter asked Frank Price, the rumored president of Columbia Pictures, and his secretary's office gave Unremarkable answer."
"Then turn to the business news page," said agent Eddie. "This is also the strange part of this report. He didn't appear on the entertainment page, but the business news page."
"About this rumor, the most direct evidence comes from Mr. Michael Ovitz, the president of the CAA brokerage company. He confirmed to this newspaper that the transaction does exist and is already being finalized. Columbia will invite quite heavyweight male and female protagonists, perhaps He is an Academy Award winner, but at the current stage of contact, it is not convenient to disclose specific details..."
"Ovitz told this newspaper that CAA has gradually transformed from a television agency to a film business. This cooperation plan is also a good response to Kerkorian's accusations against Columbia's management..."
"If I didn't know that you signed with CAA and wrote the Vietnam War-related script 'My Brother's Protector', I couldn't believe that you sold this script, hahaha..." Eddie laughed on the other end of the phone very happy.
"To be honest, I'm not jealous. Only CAA has Hollywood contacts to facilitate the deal, and after your name spreads, I can also offer a high price for the advertising business. I'm going to take the New York Times to find Calvin Klein. .”
"You help me buy a new New York Times too, I'll keep it in my collection."
"Do you need it? Your name is missing throughout this report."
"what……?"
Ronald suddenly found out about the surprise, and quickly called Ovitz, what happened to the 3% box office share?
"Hello, I'm looking for Mr. Ovitz. I'm Ronald Lee. No appointment, but you tell him I saw the New York Times report...Okay, I'll wait for your call."
Ovitz quickly got word and called back.
After Ovitz answered the phone, he blurted out the first sentence, how do you know?
"Didn't the New York Times report it? Unnamed screenwriter? Why didn't my name be mentioned? Mr. Ovitz."
Ovitz did not answer, but continued to ask, "Who told you?" It seems that he did not expect Ronald to read the business news of the New York Times.
"It was my agent in New York who saw the report and told me that he represented me in the commercial directing business."
"What? Your advertising director business is not represented by CAA? Are you still a director? Have you ever had directing experience? What works have you filmed?"
Ronald was shocked by Ovitz's ability to ask questions, "Mr. Ovitz, I asked you first."
"This is part of the promotion of the film project, because this report is mainly for the capital market, and you and the names of other main creators did not appear, so I didn't tell you. We will release the news on the entertainment media soon, and then your name will also be released. A meeting on the entertainment section of the New York Times."
Ovitz said briefly, "Now it's your turn, have you ever directed?"
"I graduated from high school and worked for Roger Corman's company. I was a second-unit director on an exploitation film. I also did a few commercials in New York. I shot Chewels gum. I'm a second-level member of the directors' union. ..."
"You come to the company quickly, we will sign a director agency agreement with you, isn't your dream to be a film director? CAA is also very short of director clients now."
"Uh, Mr. Ovitz, I'm currently studying editing at Diorama Productions in San Francisco."
"What? Diorama Company, can you connect with Coppola? Our CAA also wants to chat with him."
"I knew him, he didn't know me, and he was out of the company during this time."
"Think about it, Ronald. If you can get a photo with him, it will be very beneficial to your next promotion. Please introduce it. If you can get to know Coppola, your path as a director will be much smoother .”
Ronald imagined a photo of himself standing with Coppola, and it was put on the Hollywood Reporter, Variety, or the New York Times as a picture introducing the talented screenwriter.
"The inheritance of Hollywood's top directors." Ronald has already thought up the text explanation under the picture, and this scene is very exciting.Forget about it, it's just a photo, it's also for my own publicity, so that I can be a director in the future.
"Okay, I'll look for it tomorrow and try to take a photo with him. By the way, what does the 3% box office share mean?"
"That's hype. The share belongs to Jane Fonda, and has nothing to do with your remuneration. Columbia hopes that Jane will use all her strength to perform the role."
"Okay, I understand, Mr. Ovitz. Does the director have any ideas about the script now? How to revise my script? I still need to interview him. I have made a lot of notes here."
"When you return to Los Angeles, I will arrange for you to meet. You remember to tell your main agent Richard the result of meeting Coppola and your itinerary."
"I will, and, for the role of the fool's sister, has the director seen Michelle Pfeiffer's audition photos? What does he think? Mr. Ovitz." Ronald remembered Michelle Pfeiffer's agent Limato's instructions. "
"We haven't reached that stage yet. Let's finalize the modification of your script first. Then you can recommend it to the director yourself." Ovitz hung up the phone.
Early the next morning, Ronald returned to the Sentinel Building.
The editing room was empty, and so was the idea of Walter Murch's presentation.
Ronald could only wander around in the diorama company, trying to meet Francis Coppola, now the number one director in Hollywood. .Moved to the studio.The diorama company invested a lot, and rented a small studio in the Sentinel Building for filming.
But seeing no one there, Ronald checked that the door was unlocked, walked into the studio, fumbled for the switch, closed it and turned on the lights.
In the empty studio, lighting, recording and other equipment were well covered with black cloth, waiting for the master's blessing.
Ronald watched for a while, imagining the scene where he commanded the whole team to shoot the film,
"Recording, turn on!
camera?Full speed ahead!
Snapped,
Start shooting! "
The empty studio was echoed only by himself. Ronald looked at the lights above the center of the stage, and the lighting engineer had to climb over the wooden boards next to him to operate the lights.On the left and right are large electric fans that create various breezes.
Ronald turned off the light again and came out.
As expected of the number one director in Hollywood, such a large space is used as a studio, and it is not usually used, so it is vacant here.A different director would definitely not be able to support such a large rental expense.
Didn't go to Coppola, Ronald found a hotel and booked a flight back to Los Angeles, ready to continue with CAA on the "My Brother's Protector" project.
There is nothing to do at night, Ronald is going to go to the bar he went to when he first arrived in San Francisco. The old man there is quite interesting to brag and chat.
After taking a shower, I turned on the TV and listened to the news while drying my hair.
"Ex-California Governor Continues Campaign Tour, Making Attacks in New York, Alleging Incumbent Commander Begins His Campaign in Tuscumbia, Alabama, Home of the Ku Klux Klan."
"The commander-in-chief is afraid to debate with me because he knows he won't win." The former governor's movie star face appeared on TV, although he was old and handsome, "Even if this debate is held in the Rose Hall, the audience is the federal government Staff, it’s not even Jody Powell who’s asking the question.”
Ronald laughed out loud, the former movie star's mouth is very poisonous, the Rose Hall is the venue for the press conference of the White House, and Jody Powell is the spokesman for the Grand Commander, so the Grand Commander can't argue with him.
This kind of hurting people is really relieved, the Persian hostage crisis is still not resolved, the gas fee has more than doubled from the beginning of the year, and there are often queues.
Turning to a channel, a Cantonese TV series was playing, Ronald looked at the logo, it was KTSF, there are many Chinese in San Francisco, even local Chinese TV stations.
It's a pity that I can't understand Cantonese and there are no subtitles.Ronald looked at it for a while and couldn't understand it. It seemed to be the story of the shipyard Shaodong returning home to inherit the family business.
Continue to change to another station, it is an advertisement, "Thompson Waterproof Coating." The soundtrack of the advertisement is very pleasant, Ronald stopped to finish watching the advertisement.
"Who'll Stop The Rain" Ronald remembers this song. When Aunt Karen attended the Veteran's Day party, he played the music of this song. Many veterans like this band's songs. There is also a song "Fortunate Son ’ They liked it too, mocking the senator’s son for not having to go to Vietnam.
"It's been raining for as long as I can remember.
Mysterious clouds are pouring down from the sky, bewildering. "
Ronald also hummed a few words. The name of this song is "Who Will Stop This Heavy Rain", and it is really appropriate for the commercial with waterproof paint.
"Good men throughout the ages have endeavored to find the sun
I'm still wondering, who will stop this rain? "
The singer in the commercial was still singing, and Ronald suddenly felt something was wrong. Why is this voice so familiar?
……
"So you're really the lead singer of Credence Clearwater Revival (CCR), John Fogerty?" Ronald found the man again in the bar, wearing a blue plaid shirt, jeans, and Martin boots. Uncle.
"Is there any good in being John Fogerty? I can't even sing my own songs now."
"I often hear your songs on Veteran Radio, but I don't have a record player, so I haven't bought your records, and I haven't seen you. Just now I saw an advertisement for waterproof paint on the TV station, and I heard your voice. Remember."
"I understand you. I am also from an ordinary family. Records are very expensive. My brother and I have to save a long time to buy one."
"So you were really cheated out of money by your boss Saul, and you can't even sing the songs you wrote?"
"Why would I lie to you? Saul Zaentz, a name you should know if you're really in the movie business, who produced Leaps Over the Cuckoo's Nest with Kirk Douglas' son, Got the grand slam of the Oscars. The money for that shoot was scammed from me."
"And he bought the other two bastards in my band, signed a deal, bought the copyright of my songs for a very low price, in addition to waterproof paint, he also licensed rainproof tires, a lot of crap ads are used My song, this is a distortion of the original meaning of the song..." John Fogerty began to curse the liar boss again.
"Hey John, you're bragging again. Stop kidding, if you're John Fogerty from CCR, why don't you sing us Who'll Stop The Rain?"
Several regular customers in the bar started joking with John again.
"You old bastards, I'm not stupid when I sing CCR songs at bar commercials and have to pay Sol."
"We're buying you and your friend a drink." The regulars were regulars at the bar and often joked with John Fogerty.
"Come on, sing a song? No one will say it. The bartender brought an acoustic guitar to John."
"I don't sing, you are abetting crime, you let the boy Ronald sing."
Ronald took over the acoustic guitar and began to sing the song "Who'll Stop The Rain?", three lyrics, a few simple G chords, C chords, D chords, Em chords, it is not difficult to sing .
"No, no, no, the interlude here, you need to change D, Am, C, and change it on a quarter beat." John Fogarty also taught Ronald a few hands to make the accompaniment more pleasant.
"There is only one acoustic guitar, but three rhythms must be created, one is the rhythm of strumming, the second is the rhythm of changing chords, and the other is the rhythm of the melody of the song." John taught on the spot, let The bar patrons had a great time.
As expected of a master teaching, Ronald came to feel that an acoustic guitar seemed to play three rhythms of bass, drums, and melody, and he also felt that the accompaniment was much better.
"A rhythm is doomed to be monotonous. You have some talent as an artist. You should also pay attention to the combination of speed and slowness for a good melody." John Fogarty is very satisfied with Ronald's interpretation of the song. It has been a long time since he heard someone singing himself in a bar Wrote the song, "Next Beer I Please."
"Dangdangdang..." the bartender rang the copper bell on the counter, "The next round of beer is free, thanks John!"
"The combination of fast and slow rhythms, the narrative rhythm of movies mentioned by Walter Murch, is actually the same thing, right? The rhythm of the story, the rhythm of the characters, and the rhythm of the conflict must be matched to make it look good." Ronald was surprised by the rhythm of the movie. I have some insights.
(End of this chapter)
"Don't be nervous, Ronald." Eddie resumed his usual tone, "I'll read you a passage..."
"Unknown screenwriter hits big! That's the front page of today's New York Times."
"Hollywood is an overnight fame machine. Now this machine not only produces star actors, but also spreads to behind-the-scenes personnel. In the first summer of the 80s, an unknown screenwriter sold his debut novel 'My Brother's Protector' for 35 U.S. dollars, plus 3% of the box office share..."
"The most unusual thing about this news is that so far, no news about this film has appeared in the newspapers. This reporter asked Frank Price, the rumored president of Columbia Pictures, and his secretary's office gave Unremarkable answer."
"Then turn to the business news page," said agent Eddie. "This is also the strange part of this report. He didn't appear on the entertainment page, but the business news page."
"About this rumor, the most direct evidence comes from Mr. Michael Ovitz, the president of the CAA brokerage company. He confirmed to this newspaper that the transaction does exist and is already being finalized. Columbia will invite quite heavyweight male and female protagonists, perhaps He is an Academy Award winner, but at the current stage of contact, it is not convenient to disclose specific details..."
"Ovitz told this newspaper that CAA has gradually transformed from a television agency to a film business. This cooperation plan is also a good response to Kerkorian's accusations against Columbia's management..."
"If I didn't know that you signed with CAA and wrote the Vietnam War-related script 'My Brother's Protector', I couldn't believe that you sold this script, hahaha..." Eddie laughed on the other end of the phone very happy.
"To be honest, I'm not jealous. Only CAA has Hollywood contacts to facilitate the deal, and after your name spreads, I can also offer a high price for the advertising business. I'm going to take the New York Times to find Calvin Klein. .”
"You help me buy a new New York Times too, I'll keep it in my collection."
"Do you need it? Your name is missing throughout this report."
"what……?"
Ronald suddenly found out about the surprise, and quickly called Ovitz, what happened to the 3% box office share?
"Hello, I'm looking for Mr. Ovitz. I'm Ronald Lee. No appointment, but you tell him I saw the New York Times report...Okay, I'll wait for your call."
Ovitz quickly got word and called back.
After Ovitz answered the phone, he blurted out the first sentence, how do you know?
"Didn't the New York Times report it? Unnamed screenwriter? Why didn't my name be mentioned? Mr. Ovitz."
Ovitz did not answer, but continued to ask, "Who told you?" It seems that he did not expect Ronald to read the business news of the New York Times.
"It was my agent in New York who saw the report and told me that he represented me in the commercial directing business."
"What? Your advertising director business is not represented by CAA? Are you still a director? Have you ever had directing experience? What works have you filmed?"
Ronald was shocked by Ovitz's ability to ask questions, "Mr. Ovitz, I asked you first."
"This is part of the promotion of the film project, because this report is mainly for the capital market, and you and the names of other main creators did not appear, so I didn't tell you. We will release the news on the entertainment media soon, and then your name will also be released. A meeting on the entertainment section of the New York Times."
Ovitz said briefly, "Now it's your turn, have you ever directed?"
"I graduated from high school and worked for Roger Corman's company. I was a second-unit director on an exploitation film. I also did a few commercials in New York. I shot Chewels gum. I'm a second-level member of the directors' union. ..."
"You come to the company quickly, we will sign a director agency agreement with you, isn't your dream to be a film director? CAA is also very short of director clients now."
"Uh, Mr. Ovitz, I'm currently studying editing at Diorama Productions in San Francisco."
"What? Diorama Company, can you connect with Coppola? Our CAA also wants to chat with him."
"I knew him, he didn't know me, and he was out of the company during this time."
"Think about it, Ronald. If you can get a photo with him, it will be very beneficial to your next promotion. Please introduce it. If you can get to know Coppola, your path as a director will be much smoother .”
Ronald imagined a photo of himself standing with Coppola, and it was put on the Hollywood Reporter, Variety, or the New York Times as a picture introducing the talented screenwriter.
"The inheritance of Hollywood's top directors." Ronald has already thought up the text explanation under the picture, and this scene is very exciting.Forget about it, it's just a photo, it's also for my own publicity, so that I can be a director in the future.
"Okay, I'll look for it tomorrow and try to take a photo with him. By the way, what does the 3% box office share mean?"
"That's hype. The share belongs to Jane Fonda, and has nothing to do with your remuneration. Columbia hopes that Jane will use all her strength to perform the role."
"Okay, I understand, Mr. Ovitz. Does the director have any ideas about the script now? How to revise my script? I still need to interview him. I have made a lot of notes here."
"When you return to Los Angeles, I will arrange for you to meet. You remember to tell your main agent Richard the result of meeting Coppola and your itinerary."
"I will, and, for the role of the fool's sister, has the director seen Michelle Pfeiffer's audition photos? What does he think? Mr. Ovitz." Ronald remembered Michelle Pfeiffer's agent Limato's instructions. "
"We haven't reached that stage yet. Let's finalize the modification of your script first. Then you can recommend it to the director yourself." Ovitz hung up the phone.
Early the next morning, Ronald returned to the Sentinel Building.
The editing room was empty, and so was the idea of Walter Murch's presentation.
Ronald could only wander around in the diorama company, trying to meet Francis Coppola, now the number one director in Hollywood. .Moved to the studio.The diorama company invested a lot, and rented a small studio in the Sentinel Building for filming.
But seeing no one there, Ronald checked that the door was unlocked, walked into the studio, fumbled for the switch, closed it and turned on the lights.
In the empty studio, lighting, recording and other equipment were well covered with black cloth, waiting for the master's blessing.
Ronald watched for a while, imagining the scene where he commanded the whole team to shoot the film,
"Recording, turn on!
camera?Full speed ahead!
Snapped,
Start shooting! "
The empty studio was echoed only by himself. Ronald looked at the lights above the center of the stage, and the lighting engineer had to climb over the wooden boards next to him to operate the lights.On the left and right are large electric fans that create various breezes.
Ronald turned off the light again and came out.
As expected of the number one director in Hollywood, such a large space is used as a studio, and it is not usually used, so it is vacant here.A different director would definitely not be able to support such a large rental expense.
Didn't go to Coppola, Ronald found a hotel and booked a flight back to Los Angeles, ready to continue with CAA on the "My Brother's Protector" project.
There is nothing to do at night, Ronald is going to go to the bar he went to when he first arrived in San Francisco. The old man there is quite interesting to brag and chat.
After taking a shower, I turned on the TV and listened to the news while drying my hair.
"Ex-California Governor Continues Campaign Tour, Making Attacks in New York, Alleging Incumbent Commander Begins His Campaign in Tuscumbia, Alabama, Home of the Ku Klux Klan."
"The commander-in-chief is afraid to debate with me because he knows he won't win." The former governor's movie star face appeared on TV, although he was old and handsome, "Even if this debate is held in the Rose Hall, the audience is the federal government Staff, it’s not even Jody Powell who’s asking the question.”
Ronald laughed out loud, the former movie star's mouth is very poisonous, the Rose Hall is the venue for the press conference of the White House, and Jody Powell is the spokesman for the Grand Commander, so the Grand Commander can't argue with him.
This kind of hurting people is really relieved, the Persian hostage crisis is still not resolved, the gas fee has more than doubled from the beginning of the year, and there are often queues.
Turning to a channel, a Cantonese TV series was playing, Ronald looked at the logo, it was KTSF, there are many Chinese in San Francisco, even local Chinese TV stations.
It's a pity that I can't understand Cantonese and there are no subtitles.Ronald looked at it for a while and couldn't understand it. It seemed to be the story of the shipyard Shaodong returning home to inherit the family business.
Continue to change to another station, it is an advertisement, "Thompson Waterproof Coating." The soundtrack of the advertisement is very pleasant, Ronald stopped to finish watching the advertisement.
"Who'll Stop The Rain" Ronald remembers this song. When Aunt Karen attended the Veteran's Day party, he played the music of this song. Many veterans like this band's songs. There is also a song "Fortunate Son ’ They liked it too, mocking the senator’s son for not having to go to Vietnam.
"It's been raining for as long as I can remember.
Mysterious clouds are pouring down from the sky, bewildering. "
Ronald also hummed a few words. The name of this song is "Who Will Stop This Heavy Rain", and it is really appropriate for the commercial with waterproof paint.
"Good men throughout the ages have endeavored to find the sun
I'm still wondering, who will stop this rain? "
The singer in the commercial was still singing, and Ronald suddenly felt something was wrong. Why is this voice so familiar?
……
"So you're really the lead singer of Credence Clearwater Revival (CCR), John Fogerty?" Ronald found the man again in the bar, wearing a blue plaid shirt, jeans, and Martin boots. Uncle.
"Is there any good in being John Fogerty? I can't even sing my own songs now."
"I often hear your songs on Veteran Radio, but I don't have a record player, so I haven't bought your records, and I haven't seen you. Just now I saw an advertisement for waterproof paint on the TV station, and I heard your voice. Remember."
"I understand you. I am also from an ordinary family. Records are very expensive. My brother and I have to save a long time to buy one."
"So you were really cheated out of money by your boss Saul, and you can't even sing the songs you wrote?"
"Why would I lie to you? Saul Zaentz, a name you should know if you're really in the movie business, who produced Leaps Over the Cuckoo's Nest with Kirk Douglas' son, Got the grand slam of the Oscars. The money for that shoot was scammed from me."
"And he bought the other two bastards in my band, signed a deal, bought the copyright of my songs for a very low price, in addition to waterproof paint, he also licensed rainproof tires, a lot of crap ads are used My song, this is a distortion of the original meaning of the song..." John Fogerty began to curse the liar boss again.
"Hey John, you're bragging again. Stop kidding, if you're John Fogerty from CCR, why don't you sing us Who'll Stop The Rain?"
Several regular customers in the bar started joking with John again.
"You old bastards, I'm not stupid when I sing CCR songs at bar commercials and have to pay Sol."
"We're buying you and your friend a drink." The regulars were regulars at the bar and often joked with John Fogerty.
"Come on, sing a song? No one will say it. The bartender brought an acoustic guitar to John."
"I don't sing, you are abetting crime, you let the boy Ronald sing."
Ronald took over the acoustic guitar and began to sing the song "Who'll Stop The Rain?", three lyrics, a few simple G chords, C chords, D chords, Em chords, it is not difficult to sing .
"No, no, no, the interlude here, you need to change D, Am, C, and change it on a quarter beat." John Fogarty also taught Ronald a few hands to make the accompaniment more pleasant.
"There is only one acoustic guitar, but three rhythms must be created, one is the rhythm of strumming, the second is the rhythm of changing chords, and the other is the rhythm of the melody of the song." John taught on the spot, let The bar patrons had a great time.
As expected of a master teaching, Ronald came to feel that an acoustic guitar seemed to play three rhythms of bass, drums, and melody, and he also felt that the accompaniment was much better.
"A rhythm is doomed to be monotonous. You have some talent as an artist. You should also pay attention to the combination of speed and slowness for a good melody." John Fogarty is very satisfied with Ronald's interpretation of the song. It has been a long time since he heard someone singing himself in a bar Wrote the song, "Next Beer I Please."
"Dangdangdang..." the bartender rang the copper bell on the counter, "The next round of beer is free, thanks John!"
"The combination of fast and slow rhythms, the narrative rhythm of movies mentioned by Walter Murch, is actually the same thing, right? The rhythm of the story, the rhythm of the characters, and the rhythm of the conflict must be matched to make it look good." Ronald was surprised by the rhythm of the movie. I have some insights.
(End of this chapter)
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