NOVEL NEXT Exploiting Hollywood 1980.
Chapter 187 Going to America to Release Movies
Chapter 187 Going to America to Release Movies
Ronald looked at the figure and weight of the opponent, and estimated that if he really jumped, he would definitely not be able to hold him back, and he might have to take him down with him.
Looking at the crowd downstairs, Ronald tentatively asked, "Minahan, why are you doing this, can you talk to me?"
"who are you?"
Minahan Golan glanced back and said without interest, "You don't understand the pain of the artist. My film failed and was hated by the audience, just like Van Gogh's paintings were not understood by the people at that time."
As he spoke, he burst into tears.
Standing on the balcony of his room, Ronald looked at the fat man in his 50s who was crying very sadly, thinking that he jumped off the building because he lost money investing in the movie.Is it crying over artistic failure?
But even if this kind of movie will hit the streets, he can't tell, his artistic ability is really hard to describe.
"My name is Ronald. I moved the film for you yesterday. You also gave me two movie tickets. I also went to see your movie. It's not that bad."
Minahan Golan wiped away tears with his chubby hands, "You don't need to comfort me, I was humiliated by the audience at the scene, this is a nightmare."
"Um, I'm actually a filmmaker, here's my badge, you see. I'm a buyer for New World Corporation, and I promise the movie isn't that bad."
Ronald shook his badge at the other party.
"Really, then will you buy the publishing rights of America?" Minahan looked back.
I'm not stupid, Ronald thought to himself, "No, my company is famous for importing art films, and this kind of commercial films are not within the scope of my company's introduction."
Fearing that the other party would not believe it, Ronald added, "My boss, Roger Coleman, is a well-known film distributor in America. He has introduced Akira Kurosawa from Japan and Ingmar Bergman from Sweden. For his works, his distribution channels are cinemas that release art films.”
"You work for Mr. Roger Coleman?" Minahan Golan looked back at Ronald again, "Well, I believe you really have a good taste, what do you think is good about my movies ?”
"I think the Alfie and Bibi names you've given your lead and heroine are good," said Ronald, beginning to pick on the movie's only good points.
"And the line 'sell first and then make' is also very interesting."
"You really have a vision, that was all changed by me, it wasn't in the original script."
"Yeah, yeah, it's rare to hear such a business philosophy line in a movie."
"Then tell me, why don't the audience like my movies?" Minahan Golan looked outside again.
At this time, the door of his room was opened, and his cousin Yoram and the hotel staff rushed in.
"Minahan, have you forgotten our dream? We came to Hollywood from Tel Aviv to win an Oscar. The movie this time is not good, we have another time, don't be discouraged."
"I haven't forgotten, you're right, Yoram." Minahan Golan finally got down from the railing. The two fat men hugged each other and cried bitterly, saying a lot in a language that Ronald couldn't understand. talk.Ronald probably speaks the language of Israel, with a high-pitched voice, speaking normally and arguing.
"Then what, who can sign the check for me?" The manager of the theater looked at them anxiously, and compensated the repair cost of the screen.
"I'll sign for you, how much is it?" The little fat man Yoram took out the check book, signed the number required by the manager, and finally signed Minahan Golan's name, and handed it to the other party.
"Here, it's signed in Minahan's name." The manager took a look at the check and found that the signature was wrong.
"That's right, both of us brothers can sign checks in each other's names, you just take it, and the bank will cash it." The fat man Minahan said to the manager.
The theater manager hesitated to accept the check.
The staff of the organizing committee who came together said to Minahan Golan, "The organizing committee of the film festival thinks that this film is not suitable for the awards selected by the audience. We would like to ask for your opinions."
Minahan waved his hand, indicating that he would not participate in the audience award selection.
The members of the organizing committee also comforted him, "Mr. Golan, just like what Yoram said, the success or failure of a movie does not affect the evaluation of the main creators. Remember to collect copies."
Seeing that Minahan's mood had basically returned to normal, everyone left after saying a few words of comfort.
Minahan Golan pulled Ronald who came to watch the fun and refused to let him go, and introduced to his cousin, "Yoram, this is Ronald, he works for Mr. Roger Coleman in America .”
Ronald and Little Fatty Yoram said hello, and the two exchanged business cards.Fatty's full name is Yoram Globus (Yoram Globus), the son of Uncle Menahem Golan.
The two had just completed the post-production on the studio in West Berlin, and they came to the Montreal Film Festival excitedly, hoping to enter the American market after becoming famous, but they were hit in the head during the screening.
When Minahan came out of the bathroom after washing his face, the fat man had returned to normal and started chatting with his cousin Yoram.
In front of Ronald, the two began to discuss something in English with a strong accent.Coupled with colorful body language and higher and higher volume, it seems that there is a quarrel.
But Ronald didn't understand a word.
After finally waiting for the two to stop, Ronald offered to leave in embarrassment, but was grabbed by Minahan.
"Ronald, Yoram and I were discussing where to treat you to dinner, do you have any suggestions?"
After half an hour, the three sat in the Schwartz smoked meat restaurant and chatted.
"So how did you know Mr. Roger Coleman?" Ronald knew that both of them were descendants of Polish Jews who immigrated to Israel, and brought them here after asking them if they had no dietary restrictions.
"It was because I was Mr. Coleman's studio assistant that I fell in love with the film industry, and I went back to Israel to start a film company." Minahan Golan said, "Can Mr. Coleman really not distribute our films?"
"You know Mr. Coleman's style, Minahan." Ronald smiled.
"Hahaha, yes." Minahan Golan laughed himself.
"We really had high hopes for this movie. We bought a film company in America last year called Cannon Pictures, just to break into the American market. You know, movies made in foreign countries go into America. It’s hard, and once it’s released in American theaters, other English-speaking markets will open up for us.”
"Oh? So your goal is to only show it in America?" Ronald heard the overtones. Did Golan want to persuade overseas theaters and TV stations to buy their movies through the release? "
"No, that's not it." Golan denied.
"The Cannon Films we acquired actually have distribution capabilities in America. Our dream is to get real Oscars, best picture, best director, best actor and actress, and best screenwriter. Not Best foreign-language film of a comforting nature."
It turned out to be a person with a dream.
"Yes, in fact, Operation Thunderbolt (Operation Thunderbolt), which we produced and released in 1978, has already been nominated for an Oscar for best foreign language film." Little Fatty Yoram added.
"Have you watched it?" Seeing Ronald shaking his head, the fat man Minahan told him the plot.
Operation Thunderbolt is based on the real event that Israeli special forces raided Embed Airport in Uganda in 1976 and rescued the hostages on board the plane.
The hostages were safely rescued throughout the operation, and only Netanyahu, the captain of the special forces in Israel, was shot by a stray bullet and died unfortunately.
This was the first time Ronald had heard of this rescue operation. It would be great if America also had this kind of special forces, and the Persian hostages would not have been rescued until now.
"We have released in the UK, China, Germany, and Spain. America was only released last year. We realized that with the strength of Cannon Pictures, it is impossible to get a large-scale release. America's theaters mainly show airspace. The files have been booked by the eight major studios one year in advance. So we hope to make a name for ourselves at the film festival, and then negotiate with the eight major studios for distribution."
Minahan Golan talked about his plan, "Unfortunately..." He sighed helplessly.
"Isn't the filming cost of your film low?" Ronald asked tentatively. He wanted to learn more about the film distribution market and financing methods for filming, so as to prepare for his own filming in the future.
"Yes, we found a tax rebate in West Berlin, and got $800 million invested by companies there, plus $200 million invested by our own Cannon Films, a total of 1000 million..."
Minahan Golan was not worried that Ronald would steal his unique secrets, and told him about the preferential policies for filming provided by the West German government.In order to encourage cultural undertakings, it competed with East Germany.In addition to setting up the West Berlin Film Festival, the West German government also encouraged companies to invest in the film industry.
All companies that invest in the film industry can obtain a large amount of tax exemption from the government.However, this kind of tax exemption is only given after the film is released, and the interim time span must be settled by a bank bridge loan.
The unique competitive advantage of Minahan Golan is that they have a good cooperative relationship with Slavenburg's Bank (Slavenburg's Bank) in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and can obtain low-interest bridge loans.
Although this bank has recently been exposed by the media for money laundering by the underworld, they have a very good relationship with Credit Lyonnais, which recently acquired half of the shares of Slavenburg Bank. to future financing operations.
"It turned out to be like this, thank you for telling me this." Ronald thanked the two brothers.
"I heard that you are still a screenwriter?" Minahan Golan and Yoram Globus glanced at each other, "I don't know if any of your works have been made into a movie?"
"The recently released film is famous all over the world, and it has my signature."
"I saw that movie, it was distributed by MGM."
Minahan probed further, "Although you are young, you know the American film market very well, and you are an artist. Do you have any suggestions for us to enter the American film distribution market?"
"Suggestion?" Ronald was stunned. What advice can he give?Just manipulated the midnight screening of High School of Rock, and made some money and this time the opportunity to participate in the film festival.
But he changed his mind and said, "I heard that United Artists and MGM have encountered some business difficulties recently, and their film production business has been suspended. You might as well try to talk to them first. I don't have any movies to release, yes Movies from other companies should be quite eager."
"That's it. I knew Ronald that you are a perceptive young man." Minahan and Yoram were very happy. They were still outsiders to Hollywood, and they were indeed not very well-informed about some rumors in the industry.
"I kind of want to know how you got the position of the opening film?" Ronald also asked the two for advice, "Isn't it difficult to get the opening film of this kind of A-level film festival?"
Minahan smiled, "Don't be fooled by the meaning of A-level, he just said that this film festival has awards. Moreover, the Montreal Film Festival is newly established and faces a lot of competition.
A film selected in one A-level film festival cannot be selected in another film festival.Participation is by way of screening only. "
"So that's how it is." Ronald nodded, remembering the participating films on the promotional materials of the film festival. Sure enough, there were not many English-language films participating.I also saw an Japanese film, an Italian film, and a Russian film. Sure enough, the A-level film festival is not so easy to organize.
"So these are just screenings, not competitions, right?" Ronald picked up a flyer for the film festival and asked Minahan for advice.
"Of course, Hitchcock just passed away, and here is a tribute to his film." Yoram said, pointing to a row of film names written in French.
After the three of them finished their dinner, Minahan Golan called the waiter to signal for the bill.
"By the way, why are you two cousins, but have different surnames?" Ronald suddenly remembered that one of the two brothers was named Golan and the other was named Globes. Cousins should have the same last name. "Is it a stage name?" ?”
"No, I changed my surname to Golan." Minahan paid for the meal and left a few banknotes as a tip.
"I was a fighter pilot in the Israeli Air Force and fought in 48 years of war, so I changed Globos's last name to Golan and used Golan Heights as my last name."
(End of this chapter)
Ronald looked at the figure and weight of the opponent, and estimated that if he really jumped, he would definitely not be able to hold him back, and he might have to take him down with him.
Looking at the crowd downstairs, Ronald tentatively asked, "Minahan, why are you doing this, can you talk to me?"
"who are you?"
Minahan Golan glanced back and said without interest, "You don't understand the pain of the artist. My film failed and was hated by the audience, just like Van Gogh's paintings were not understood by the people at that time."
As he spoke, he burst into tears.
Standing on the balcony of his room, Ronald looked at the fat man in his 50s who was crying very sadly, thinking that he jumped off the building because he lost money investing in the movie.Is it crying over artistic failure?
But even if this kind of movie will hit the streets, he can't tell, his artistic ability is really hard to describe.
"My name is Ronald. I moved the film for you yesterday. You also gave me two movie tickets. I also went to see your movie. It's not that bad."
Minahan Golan wiped away tears with his chubby hands, "You don't need to comfort me, I was humiliated by the audience at the scene, this is a nightmare."
"Um, I'm actually a filmmaker, here's my badge, you see. I'm a buyer for New World Corporation, and I promise the movie isn't that bad."
Ronald shook his badge at the other party.
"Really, then will you buy the publishing rights of America?" Minahan looked back.
I'm not stupid, Ronald thought to himself, "No, my company is famous for importing art films, and this kind of commercial films are not within the scope of my company's introduction."
Fearing that the other party would not believe it, Ronald added, "My boss, Roger Coleman, is a well-known film distributor in America. He has introduced Akira Kurosawa from Japan and Ingmar Bergman from Sweden. For his works, his distribution channels are cinemas that release art films.”
"You work for Mr. Roger Coleman?" Minahan Golan looked back at Ronald again, "Well, I believe you really have a good taste, what do you think is good about my movies ?”
"I think the Alfie and Bibi names you've given your lead and heroine are good," said Ronald, beginning to pick on the movie's only good points.
"And the line 'sell first and then make' is also very interesting."
"You really have a vision, that was all changed by me, it wasn't in the original script."
"Yeah, yeah, it's rare to hear such a business philosophy line in a movie."
"Then tell me, why don't the audience like my movies?" Minahan Golan looked outside again.
At this time, the door of his room was opened, and his cousin Yoram and the hotel staff rushed in.
"Minahan, have you forgotten our dream? We came to Hollywood from Tel Aviv to win an Oscar. The movie this time is not good, we have another time, don't be discouraged."
"I haven't forgotten, you're right, Yoram." Minahan Golan finally got down from the railing. The two fat men hugged each other and cried bitterly, saying a lot in a language that Ronald couldn't understand. talk.Ronald probably speaks the language of Israel, with a high-pitched voice, speaking normally and arguing.
"Then what, who can sign the check for me?" The manager of the theater looked at them anxiously, and compensated the repair cost of the screen.
"I'll sign for you, how much is it?" The little fat man Yoram took out the check book, signed the number required by the manager, and finally signed Minahan Golan's name, and handed it to the other party.
"Here, it's signed in Minahan's name." The manager took a look at the check and found that the signature was wrong.
"That's right, both of us brothers can sign checks in each other's names, you just take it, and the bank will cash it." The fat man Minahan said to the manager.
The theater manager hesitated to accept the check.
The staff of the organizing committee who came together said to Minahan Golan, "The organizing committee of the film festival thinks that this film is not suitable for the awards selected by the audience. We would like to ask for your opinions."
Minahan waved his hand, indicating that he would not participate in the audience award selection.
The members of the organizing committee also comforted him, "Mr. Golan, just like what Yoram said, the success or failure of a movie does not affect the evaluation of the main creators. Remember to collect copies."
Seeing that Minahan's mood had basically returned to normal, everyone left after saying a few words of comfort.
Minahan Golan pulled Ronald who came to watch the fun and refused to let him go, and introduced to his cousin, "Yoram, this is Ronald, he works for Mr. Roger Coleman in America .”
Ronald and Little Fatty Yoram said hello, and the two exchanged business cards.Fatty's full name is Yoram Globus (Yoram Globus), the son of Uncle Menahem Golan.
The two had just completed the post-production on the studio in West Berlin, and they came to the Montreal Film Festival excitedly, hoping to enter the American market after becoming famous, but they were hit in the head during the screening.
When Minahan came out of the bathroom after washing his face, the fat man had returned to normal and started chatting with his cousin Yoram.
In front of Ronald, the two began to discuss something in English with a strong accent.Coupled with colorful body language and higher and higher volume, it seems that there is a quarrel.
But Ronald didn't understand a word.
After finally waiting for the two to stop, Ronald offered to leave in embarrassment, but was grabbed by Minahan.
"Ronald, Yoram and I were discussing where to treat you to dinner, do you have any suggestions?"
After half an hour, the three sat in the Schwartz smoked meat restaurant and chatted.
"So how did you know Mr. Roger Coleman?" Ronald knew that both of them were descendants of Polish Jews who immigrated to Israel, and brought them here after asking them if they had no dietary restrictions.
"It was because I was Mr. Coleman's studio assistant that I fell in love with the film industry, and I went back to Israel to start a film company." Minahan Golan said, "Can Mr. Coleman really not distribute our films?"
"You know Mr. Coleman's style, Minahan." Ronald smiled.
"Hahaha, yes." Minahan Golan laughed himself.
"We really had high hopes for this movie. We bought a film company in America last year called Cannon Pictures, just to break into the American market. You know, movies made in foreign countries go into America. It’s hard, and once it’s released in American theaters, other English-speaking markets will open up for us.”
"Oh? So your goal is to only show it in America?" Ronald heard the overtones. Did Golan want to persuade overseas theaters and TV stations to buy their movies through the release? "
"No, that's not it." Golan denied.
"The Cannon Films we acquired actually have distribution capabilities in America. Our dream is to get real Oscars, best picture, best director, best actor and actress, and best screenwriter. Not Best foreign-language film of a comforting nature."
It turned out to be a person with a dream.
"Yes, in fact, Operation Thunderbolt (Operation Thunderbolt), which we produced and released in 1978, has already been nominated for an Oscar for best foreign language film." Little Fatty Yoram added.
"Have you watched it?" Seeing Ronald shaking his head, the fat man Minahan told him the plot.
Operation Thunderbolt is based on the real event that Israeli special forces raided Embed Airport in Uganda in 1976 and rescued the hostages on board the plane.
The hostages were safely rescued throughout the operation, and only Netanyahu, the captain of the special forces in Israel, was shot by a stray bullet and died unfortunately.
This was the first time Ronald had heard of this rescue operation. It would be great if America also had this kind of special forces, and the Persian hostages would not have been rescued until now.
"We have released in the UK, China, Germany, and Spain. America was only released last year. We realized that with the strength of Cannon Pictures, it is impossible to get a large-scale release. America's theaters mainly show airspace. The files have been booked by the eight major studios one year in advance. So we hope to make a name for ourselves at the film festival, and then negotiate with the eight major studios for distribution."
Minahan Golan talked about his plan, "Unfortunately..." He sighed helplessly.
"Isn't the filming cost of your film low?" Ronald asked tentatively. He wanted to learn more about the film distribution market and financing methods for filming, so as to prepare for his own filming in the future.
"Yes, we found a tax rebate in West Berlin, and got $800 million invested by companies there, plus $200 million invested by our own Cannon Films, a total of 1000 million..."
Minahan Golan was not worried that Ronald would steal his unique secrets, and told him about the preferential policies for filming provided by the West German government.In order to encourage cultural undertakings, it competed with East Germany.In addition to setting up the West Berlin Film Festival, the West German government also encouraged companies to invest in the film industry.
All companies that invest in the film industry can obtain a large amount of tax exemption from the government.However, this kind of tax exemption is only given after the film is released, and the interim time span must be settled by a bank bridge loan.
The unique competitive advantage of Minahan Golan is that they have a good cooperative relationship with Slavenburg's Bank (Slavenburg's Bank) in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and can obtain low-interest bridge loans.
Although this bank has recently been exposed by the media for money laundering by the underworld, they have a very good relationship with Credit Lyonnais, which recently acquired half of the shares of Slavenburg Bank. to future financing operations.
"It turned out to be like this, thank you for telling me this." Ronald thanked the two brothers.
"I heard that you are still a screenwriter?" Minahan Golan and Yoram Globus glanced at each other, "I don't know if any of your works have been made into a movie?"
"The recently released film is famous all over the world, and it has my signature."
"I saw that movie, it was distributed by MGM."
Minahan probed further, "Although you are young, you know the American film market very well, and you are an artist. Do you have any suggestions for us to enter the American film distribution market?"
"Suggestion?" Ronald was stunned. What advice can he give?Just manipulated the midnight screening of High School of Rock, and made some money and this time the opportunity to participate in the film festival.
But he changed his mind and said, "I heard that United Artists and MGM have encountered some business difficulties recently, and their film production business has been suspended. You might as well try to talk to them first. I don't have any movies to release, yes Movies from other companies should be quite eager."
"That's it. I knew Ronald that you are a perceptive young man." Minahan and Yoram were very happy. They were still outsiders to Hollywood, and they were indeed not very well-informed about some rumors in the industry.
"I kind of want to know how you got the position of the opening film?" Ronald also asked the two for advice, "Isn't it difficult to get the opening film of this kind of A-level film festival?"
Minahan smiled, "Don't be fooled by the meaning of A-level, he just said that this film festival has awards. Moreover, the Montreal Film Festival is newly established and faces a lot of competition.
A film selected in one A-level film festival cannot be selected in another film festival.Participation is by way of screening only. "
"So that's how it is." Ronald nodded, remembering the participating films on the promotional materials of the film festival. Sure enough, there were not many English-language films participating.I also saw an Japanese film, an Italian film, and a Russian film. Sure enough, the A-level film festival is not so easy to organize.
"So these are just screenings, not competitions, right?" Ronald picked up a flyer for the film festival and asked Minahan for advice.
"Of course, Hitchcock just passed away, and here is a tribute to his film." Yoram said, pointing to a row of film names written in French.
After the three of them finished their dinner, Minahan Golan called the waiter to signal for the bill.
"By the way, why are you two cousins, but have different surnames?" Ronald suddenly remembered that one of the two brothers was named Golan and the other was named Globes. Cousins should have the same last name. "Is it a stage name?" ?”
"No, I changed my surname to Golan." Minahan paid for the meal and left a few banknotes as a tip.
"I was a fighter pilot in the Israeli Air Force and fought in 48 years of war, so I changed Globos's last name to Golan and used Golan Heights as my last name."
(End of this chapter)
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