NOVEL NEXT Exploiting Hollywood 1980.
Chapter 183 Take a Vacation
Chapter 183 Take a Vacation
The next morning Ovitz took Ronald to a mansion where Columbia Pictures president Frank Price lived.
It used to belong to Dinah Shore, the pop diva of the 40s. After the year-end romance between Dinah and Burt Reynolds, 20 years his junior, she wanted to make the house full of their memories sold.
In the 70s, Dina Shore started her talk show career on a TV station and transformed into a talk show host. Frank Price happened to be the president of the TV station at that time, and took over the building that used to receive Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, etc. The mansion of a superstar.
Ronald was sitting on the sofa in the large living room. This very large and luxuriously decorated residence made him feel a little bit confused.
"Ronald, I hear you're not happy with the contract?" Frank Presby looked relaxed in his office, wearing loose clothing, and he looked not like the president of a major eight film studio, but a neighbor Kind uncle.
"My contract does not include the right of first refusal to amend, Mr. Price," Ronald came back to his senses, "In this case, the 12-month option purchase agreement does not make my rights well protected."
"Well, I understand what you mean." Price sat down on the sofa and crossed his legs, "So what do you want to do?"
"I don't know the opinion of director Bridges. In fact, I have already made some revisions to the script to improve Jane Fonda's role."
Ovitz did not expect that Ronald did not ask for full payment immediately, but brought the topic back to the script.He hastened to make amends: "In fact, Ronald is based on your revised suggestions..."
"Why not let Ronald speak for himself?" Price laughed.
"Actually, I didn't fully adopt your revision suggestion, Mr. Price." Ronald took out his script revision ideas and handed it to Price.
Price quickly skimmed through the few pages of the outline documenting the idea of the revision, "That's interesting, you changed Jane's character to be a widow helping a disabled soldier in a veterans' hospital after her husband died in Vietnam, which is very reminiscent. Reminds her of her role in 'The Return of Glory'."
"Yes, it was my intention to make the audience think that this was an unofficial sequel to 'Homecoming.'"
"It's a very good idea. If they weren't free now, the president of United Artists would have called me to protest." Price smiled.
"So I'm not out yet, am I?" Ronald said, he still wanted to struggle, he couldn't give up without fighting for it.
Frank Price smiled, "Ronald, I really like the script you wrote, especially the plots and dialogues in Famous World. I checked with the producer Da Silva."
Ronald knew that Mr. President had more to say.
"But screenwriting is an art that accumulates in life. The life of teenagers you wrote is very good, but the love of middle-aged Vietnam veterans you wrote is not convincing enough."
"Director Bridges and I have discussed some revisions to the script, and I basically agree with him. The proportion of Jane needs to be increased, and your treatment of the fool is too symbolic, symbolic, and he is too like a myth. The role in the film. Bridges will take a more realistic approach to this role."
"But Mr. Price, the idiot is the intersection of several plot lines..." Ronald suddenly realized that Mr. President was not a script editor, so he came to discuss the script with him.Price is relatively unassuming as a president, but this does not mean that he is free to discuss such details with a small screenwriter of his own. He is here to inform himself of the result.
Ronald disagreed with Bridges' handling, he didn't see the real core of the script, the fool is a symbolic character...
"But this probably has nothing to do with me. If the director has his own ideas for revision, maybe I should sell the script and leave, which will be more beneficial to the film." Ronald accepted the reality and satisfied Ovitz.
"Frank, Ronald has done a good job of his part, since we are not going to let him continue to revise the script, then..."
Price waved his hand, "Of course, I will order the people below to re-draft the contract and buy your script."
"Don't feel frustrated, Ronald. Take your salary, enjoy the joy of overnight fame, take a long vacation, and find a girl to enjoy life."
"If you have a new script writing plan, I suggest you start with a teenager script. Teenagers are a short period of time. After you get older, you will forget a lot of your thoughts at that time. Today's young people can easily accumulate through part-time jobs. Movie money, but Hollywood screenwriters are so old they've forgotten what they thought when they were young, and you're young enough."
"You've written a new script that Michael can come to me, and I'll always find time to read it."
Ronald thanked Price, knowing his talk time was over, and sat down on a different sofa.
"Michael, it's your Rosh Hashanah..."
"I will go to the synagogue with my family on Jewish New Year's Eve, and I will follow your call anytime during the rest of the time..."
Within a few days, Ronald got his own check from the producer of Columbia Pictures.After depositing it into the checking account of the bank, Ronald wrote a check for $3.5 to CAA for Richard who sent him here, and how to distribute it among several brokers was not his concern.
Then there's Mitch Kantor's legal fees.
With just over 30 left, Ronald hasn't figured out how to spend it.Thinking of going back to New York to discuss with his accountant Lawrence, he seems to know a lot about investing.
"The Hollywood Reporter and Daily Variety have reported that your script has sold for a sky-high price. If you hadn't called today, I wouldn't have known if it was the Ronald Lee I knew." Assistant to the president of New World Productions Gail laughed on the phone.
"I'm still in Los Angeles, are you and Cameron free? I have to find a friend to share the joy." Ronald said.
"He's still planning to escape from New York. Wait a minute...it's Ronald...OK. Ronald, it's Mr. Coleman. He wants to talk to you."
"Ronald, the rental fee of High School of Rock in New York has reached the second 100 million. Here is a check for you. Although it is a little less than the script you sold, it is also the income from your business vision. Remember to come and get it." Coleman also joked about Ronald.
"I will. Are you here today, Mr. Coleman. I have some questions for you."
Seeing the small red and white building of New World Productions, Ronald felt that something hadn't changed, and it was still the low-key company that didn't want to put on the company's name brand.
"Mr. Coleman, this is what happened. Maybe I was lucky and won the lottery."
"Luck is also a part of success. The first film I produced was a patchwork of tens of thousands of dollars borrowed. It happened that a distributor approached me and offered to buy it out at a price higher than the cost. I immediately bought it out. It paid off. If the first film didn’t find a distributor three months later, my advance wouldn’t be enough to cover the film.”
Roger Coleman still likes to talk about business more than art. Maybe there are too many people talking about art in the film industry, but too few people talking about business.Every time Coleman and Ronald chat, they focus on the business operation of the movie.
"Frank Price, the president of Columbia, thought I was too young to write adult stories, and suggested that I write a play for teenage audiences. Do you think this kind of script has a market prospect, Mr. Coleman?"
"It depends on the budget of the producer. New World has a lot of teen-oriented exploitation films, but recently the market is looking for high-budget films like Spielberg. There are fewer and fewer low-budget teen films."
"But why can't teen movies rely on plot to win? This kind of movie doesn't need a big budget?"
"Yes, many people have tried this idea. The problem is that there are no teenage actors who have passed the acting skills in Hollywood. The leading role of Romeo and Juliet has to be auditioned nationally. Hollywood used to use adult actors to play teenage roles, like Judy in the Wizard of Oz. Actors like Garland are hard to come by."
Roger Coleman took the $[-] check from Gale and handed it to Ronald after reading it. "Your second payment."
"Actually, the rental fee for the copy of the second phase is lower, reaching a rental fee of 100 million US dollars. Mr. Coleman, you should give me more bonuses." Ronald said jokingly.
I have been in the industry for a long time, and I know more about film distribution.It can be said that it is a miracle that a movie with a relatively low rental fee like Rock High can reach the second 200 million rentals in New York State, and the promotion effect of the PBS channel film review program is also indispensable.
Roger Coleman didn't take it as a joke, "It is true that I should give you more, but a contract is a contract, and we have to respect him. Why don't you go to a film festival instead of me to see what foreign art films are worth buying, Me, Julie and the kids happen to be celebrating Rosh Hashanah.
"Foreign...art film? Isn't it an exploitation film?" Ronald thought he heard it wrong.
"Where do you get an exploitation film screening at a film festival?"
"I didn't know you had an art house distribution business."
"Yes, many people don't know. Fellini from Italy, Ingmar Bergman from Sweden, and Akira Kurosawa from Japan, their new films are all released in the United States by New World."
"Mr. Coleman's personal appreciation taste is completely different from the movies he made." Gail, assistant to the president, chimed in.
It turns out that these foreign art films have traditionally been played in theaters that specialize in art films. Roger Corman not only set foot in art theater distribution, but also developed a new market.
Introduced art films to drive-in theaters frequented by teenage audiences, and to small-town theaters, second-tier theaters in big cities.Today's American teenagers are still willing to learn about exotic scenery and culture, and they are also willing to watch movies with subtitles.
"Where is the film festival held?" Ronald asked with interest, "Cannes is over now, right?"
"It's the Montreal Film Festival. It's a new one. It's just in Canada. The travel expenses and hotels are also very cheap." Roger Coleman said with a smile.
"I have to think about it." It's not a big film festival, Ronald was a little hesitant.Pfeiffer's agent, Limato, told him that Pfeiffer will soon finish the filming of Charlie Chen and come back.
"Okay, I'll keep the chance for you until the weekend." Roger Coleman managed to grab a free labor force.
(End of this chapter)
The next morning Ovitz took Ronald to a mansion where Columbia Pictures president Frank Price lived.
It used to belong to Dinah Shore, the pop diva of the 40s. After the year-end romance between Dinah and Burt Reynolds, 20 years his junior, she wanted to make the house full of their memories sold.
In the 70s, Dina Shore started her talk show career on a TV station and transformed into a talk show host. Frank Price happened to be the president of the TV station at that time, and took over the building that used to receive Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, etc. The mansion of a superstar.
Ronald was sitting on the sofa in the large living room. This very large and luxuriously decorated residence made him feel a little bit confused.
"Ronald, I hear you're not happy with the contract?" Frank Presby looked relaxed in his office, wearing loose clothing, and he looked not like the president of a major eight film studio, but a neighbor Kind uncle.
"My contract does not include the right of first refusal to amend, Mr. Price," Ronald came back to his senses, "In this case, the 12-month option purchase agreement does not make my rights well protected."
"Well, I understand what you mean." Price sat down on the sofa and crossed his legs, "So what do you want to do?"
"I don't know the opinion of director Bridges. In fact, I have already made some revisions to the script to improve Jane Fonda's role."
Ovitz did not expect that Ronald did not ask for full payment immediately, but brought the topic back to the script.He hastened to make amends: "In fact, Ronald is based on your revised suggestions..."
"Why not let Ronald speak for himself?" Price laughed.
"Actually, I didn't fully adopt your revision suggestion, Mr. Price." Ronald took out his script revision ideas and handed it to Price.
Price quickly skimmed through the few pages of the outline documenting the idea of the revision, "That's interesting, you changed Jane's character to be a widow helping a disabled soldier in a veterans' hospital after her husband died in Vietnam, which is very reminiscent. Reminds her of her role in 'The Return of Glory'."
"Yes, it was my intention to make the audience think that this was an unofficial sequel to 'Homecoming.'"
"It's a very good idea. If they weren't free now, the president of United Artists would have called me to protest." Price smiled.
"So I'm not out yet, am I?" Ronald said, he still wanted to struggle, he couldn't give up without fighting for it.
Frank Price smiled, "Ronald, I really like the script you wrote, especially the plots and dialogues in Famous World. I checked with the producer Da Silva."
Ronald knew that Mr. President had more to say.
"But screenwriting is an art that accumulates in life. The life of teenagers you wrote is very good, but the love of middle-aged Vietnam veterans you wrote is not convincing enough."
"Director Bridges and I have discussed some revisions to the script, and I basically agree with him. The proportion of Jane needs to be increased, and your treatment of the fool is too symbolic, symbolic, and he is too like a myth. The role in the film. Bridges will take a more realistic approach to this role."
"But Mr. Price, the idiot is the intersection of several plot lines..." Ronald suddenly realized that Mr. President was not a script editor, so he came to discuss the script with him.Price is relatively unassuming as a president, but this does not mean that he is free to discuss such details with a small screenwriter of his own. He is here to inform himself of the result.
Ronald disagreed with Bridges' handling, he didn't see the real core of the script, the fool is a symbolic character...
"But this probably has nothing to do with me. If the director has his own ideas for revision, maybe I should sell the script and leave, which will be more beneficial to the film." Ronald accepted the reality and satisfied Ovitz.
"Frank, Ronald has done a good job of his part, since we are not going to let him continue to revise the script, then..."
Price waved his hand, "Of course, I will order the people below to re-draft the contract and buy your script."
"Don't feel frustrated, Ronald. Take your salary, enjoy the joy of overnight fame, take a long vacation, and find a girl to enjoy life."
"If you have a new script writing plan, I suggest you start with a teenager script. Teenagers are a short period of time. After you get older, you will forget a lot of your thoughts at that time. Today's young people can easily accumulate through part-time jobs. Movie money, but Hollywood screenwriters are so old they've forgotten what they thought when they were young, and you're young enough."
"You've written a new script that Michael can come to me, and I'll always find time to read it."
Ronald thanked Price, knowing his talk time was over, and sat down on a different sofa.
"Michael, it's your Rosh Hashanah..."
"I will go to the synagogue with my family on Jewish New Year's Eve, and I will follow your call anytime during the rest of the time..."
Within a few days, Ronald got his own check from the producer of Columbia Pictures.After depositing it into the checking account of the bank, Ronald wrote a check for $3.5 to CAA for Richard who sent him here, and how to distribute it among several brokers was not his concern.
Then there's Mitch Kantor's legal fees.
With just over 30 left, Ronald hasn't figured out how to spend it.Thinking of going back to New York to discuss with his accountant Lawrence, he seems to know a lot about investing.
"The Hollywood Reporter and Daily Variety have reported that your script has sold for a sky-high price. If you hadn't called today, I wouldn't have known if it was the Ronald Lee I knew." Assistant to the president of New World Productions Gail laughed on the phone.
"I'm still in Los Angeles, are you and Cameron free? I have to find a friend to share the joy." Ronald said.
"He's still planning to escape from New York. Wait a minute...it's Ronald...OK. Ronald, it's Mr. Coleman. He wants to talk to you."
"Ronald, the rental fee of High School of Rock in New York has reached the second 100 million. Here is a check for you. Although it is a little less than the script you sold, it is also the income from your business vision. Remember to come and get it." Coleman also joked about Ronald.
"I will. Are you here today, Mr. Coleman. I have some questions for you."
Seeing the small red and white building of New World Productions, Ronald felt that something hadn't changed, and it was still the low-key company that didn't want to put on the company's name brand.
"Mr. Coleman, this is what happened. Maybe I was lucky and won the lottery."
"Luck is also a part of success. The first film I produced was a patchwork of tens of thousands of dollars borrowed. It happened that a distributor approached me and offered to buy it out at a price higher than the cost. I immediately bought it out. It paid off. If the first film didn’t find a distributor three months later, my advance wouldn’t be enough to cover the film.”
Roger Coleman still likes to talk about business more than art. Maybe there are too many people talking about art in the film industry, but too few people talking about business.Every time Coleman and Ronald chat, they focus on the business operation of the movie.
"Frank Price, the president of Columbia, thought I was too young to write adult stories, and suggested that I write a play for teenage audiences. Do you think this kind of script has a market prospect, Mr. Coleman?"
"It depends on the budget of the producer. New World has a lot of teen-oriented exploitation films, but recently the market is looking for high-budget films like Spielberg. There are fewer and fewer low-budget teen films."
"But why can't teen movies rely on plot to win? This kind of movie doesn't need a big budget?"
"Yes, many people have tried this idea. The problem is that there are no teenage actors who have passed the acting skills in Hollywood. The leading role of Romeo and Juliet has to be auditioned nationally. Hollywood used to use adult actors to play teenage roles, like Judy in the Wizard of Oz. Actors like Garland are hard to come by."
Roger Coleman took the $[-] check from Gale and handed it to Ronald after reading it. "Your second payment."
"Actually, the rental fee for the copy of the second phase is lower, reaching a rental fee of 100 million US dollars. Mr. Coleman, you should give me more bonuses." Ronald said jokingly.
I have been in the industry for a long time, and I know more about film distribution.It can be said that it is a miracle that a movie with a relatively low rental fee like Rock High can reach the second 200 million rentals in New York State, and the promotion effect of the PBS channel film review program is also indispensable.
Roger Coleman didn't take it as a joke, "It is true that I should give you more, but a contract is a contract, and we have to respect him. Why don't you go to a film festival instead of me to see what foreign art films are worth buying, Me, Julie and the kids happen to be celebrating Rosh Hashanah.
"Foreign...art film? Isn't it an exploitation film?" Ronald thought he heard it wrong.
"Where do you get an exploitation film screening at a film festival?"
"I didn't know you had an art house distribution business."
"Yes, many people don't know. Fellini from Italy, Ingmar Bergman from Sweden, and Akira Kurosawa from Japan, their new films are all released in the United States by New World."
"Mr. Coleman's personal appreciation taste is completely different from the movies he made." Gail, assistant to the president, chimed in.
It turns out that these foreign art films have traditionally been played in theaters that specialize in art films. Roger Corman not only set foot in art theater distribution, but also developed a new market.
Introduced art films to drive-in theaters frequented by teenage audiences, and to small-town theaters, second-tier theaters in big cities.Today's American teenagers are still willing to learn about exotic scenery and culture, and they are also willing to watch movies with subtitles.
"Where is the film festival held?" Ronald asked with interest, "Cannes is over now, right?"
"It's the Montreal Film Festival. It's a new one. It's just in Canada. The travel expenses and hotels are also very cheap." Roger Coleman said with a smile.
"I have to think about it." It's not a big film festival, Ronald was a little hesitant.Pfeiffer's agent, Limato, told him that Pfeiffer will soon finish the filming of Charlie Chen and come back.
"Okay, I'll keep the chance for you until the weekend." Roger Coleman managed to grab a free labor force.
(End of this chapter)
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