Exploiting Hollywood 1980.

Chapter 250 Chapter 2 Winning Allies
The apartment that Ronald rented was introduced by Universal. It has two bedrooms and one living room, and the modern appliances are in place.The landlord is a collaborator of Universal. For film workers like Ronald, the rent can be reduced by half, with good quality and low price.

Ronald installed the computer that his cousin and Diane had given him, and connected it to the monitor.After that, apply for a printer from the crew, and then you can start working for Spielberg.But don't worry about it, you can do it yourself at night in the future, the most urgent thing now is to prepare for your own movie.

On the second day, Ronald tidied up a new look, with a hairstyle that was neither long nor short, and paired with Ray-Ban aviator classic sunglasses, he was very handsome.The deliberately unshaved beard made his age increase by at least 5 years in the eyes of others.

This is Ronald's deliberately designed way to make himself more authoritative as a director.People who don't know each other will always speculate on a person's experience and professionalism based on their age, and a beard will make you look a lot more mature.

When I came to the office, there was a copper nameplate of "Fast-paced Richmond High School" hanging on the door.Ronald wiped it with his hands, feeling satisfied.

Use the key to open the office, sit down on your own wooden desk, and wait for the arrival of producer Art Linson and associate producer Amy Heckling.

Lin Sen and Hekelin came to the office almost at the same time. They didn't expect that Ronald was already working at his desk in advance, and he had made a large cup of black tea on the table, steaming.

"Good morning, Art, Amy." Ronald looked up, "I made a time breakdown. Our main task now is to determine the director of photography, art director, and casting director."

Ronald pointed to the whiteboard on the wall behind him, which held three cards with magnets, each with the positions of three important candidates written.

Heklin, who was preempted, looked at the whiteboard and quickly realized, "There is still music selection. The sooner we start, the more time we can leave for copyright negotiations."

"Very good, I read the playlist you left on the table, and I will be in charge of this, Amy. We will hold a meeting with Mr. Azoff with your playlist to determine the difficulty of purchasing the copyright, and then authorize someone to negotiate."

Ronald immediately praised Heikelin's work, then wrote a card for music copyright negotiations, and stuck it to the wall with a magnet.

Ronald is not familiar with rock, pop, etc. He has listened to the music of veteran radio stations for several years, and he has the same taste as Vietnam veterans. They are all 60s songs.The selection tape was recently sent by my cousin Donna, which improved the taste.

"Photography director and art director, Universal has drawn up a list of candidates. Mr. Lin Sen and I will interview with them and select suitable candidates as soon as possible. Do you have any suggestions, Amy?"

Ronald put on a businesslike attitude and asked Hekelin's opinion.She is an associate producer, and in principle, unlike a director, she has the right to participate in interviews and make decisions on these matters.Now that she has chosen the soundtrack to show herself, she needs to give up other aspects.

Heikelin thought about it, but still felt that these candidates were not important, "I have no opinion, after all, you are the director."

"Casting director?" Ronald proposed the most important person arrangement in the early stage.

"I have some candidates here, all from the American Film Institute (AFI)." Heikelin said.

The American Film Academy is the place where Heklin studied and worked after graduating from New York University, and her contacts in Los Angeles are all derived from this.

"Their standards are very good. The small-scale productions of the Film Academy are all actors they have hired. Our films cannot afford too high a cost for casting, so we can let them try."

Heikelin is obviously nervous about casting power.During filming, the director's main job is to guide and inspire the actors' performances.If she can have a certain casting power and let her own person be the protagonist, then there is no doubt that her power base will increase in the crew.

"Mr. Linsen, is there any suitable candidate here at Universal?" Ronald asked the producer Art Linsen noncommittally.

Hearing this, Lin Sen smiled, "Of course, my old partner in the 'Maven and Howard' crew, Don Phillips, he has been working for Universal.

"The three of us make an appointment to meet him?" Ronald asked the opinions of the two, and then said on the whiteboard hanging on the wall

Then he wrote Don Phillips' name on the casting director's card.

Amy Heklin glanced at Lin Sen, but didn't speak again.

Seeing that the two had no objections, Ronald stood up, "Since there is no other opinion, let's proceed accordingly. I'll go see the candidates for the director of photography and art director. Mr. Lin Sen will contact Mr. Phillips, the casting director, and Amy Discuss music rights negotiations with Mr. Azoff, see you tomorrow morning."

After speaking, Ronald put on his baseball cap, said hello, and went out.

Ronald and his old employer in New York, Julia Taylor, inquired that this Phillips had also worked and studied with the founder Marion Dolotti in the casting studio in New York.Julia called him, and Tang would cooperate with him in the casting, at least he would not deliberately favor Heikelin.

Soon, the candidate for the casting director was determined to be Don Phillips.

After the casting director was selected, the casting notifications began to be sent to the major agencies in Hollywood and New York through Universal Company. With such a large demand for young actors, after the "famous world", there are still very few movies that can reach this level. kind of scale.

And even better than "Fame," this "fast pace" has no requirements for actors singing, or ballet, all of a sudden, all the economic people are looking for Ronald and Don Phillips.

The first one to call, of course, was Nisita from CAA.

He asked Ronald to give CAA enough places, and it is best for CAA to hire all the main actors.

"I can't do this, Rick. Hekleen is still fighting against me on the set. I need to at least ensure that the actors and characters are in harmony with each other and are suitable candidates. If you have anyone's client here, you can transfer the information, except Lapke's client, let him go to Hekelin to hand over the information.

In the same situation, I would certainly give priority to CAA's clients.

Would Tom Cruise want to play it?Of course I welcome it. "

After a while, Paula Wagner called, "Ronald, I appreciate your invitation to Tom, who has taken over the medium-sized production of "Lost Virginity" of Embassy Pictures with an investment of 700 million. Actor."

"Have you conveyed my message to Tom?"

"Ronald, the fast pace is a group show..."

"Youth Comedy"

"It's a youth comedy. There are three leading actors and one supporting role. Which one do you decide for Tom to play?"

"As long as he comes, he can be chosen first." Ronald hoped that Tom Cruise would play, handsome guys always attract a lot of box office.

"He is the leading actor in Lost Virginity, and he plays in every scene."

"Well, you tell him that I've looked for him and let him make up his own mind, or I'll talk to him myself." Ronald felt that he had to fight for it.

"Well, Ronald, you're a tough guy."

Tom Cruise called in the evening and personally apologized to Ronald for turning down the play.After reading the script of Lost Virginity, he felt that it was very suitable for his play, and he had already agreed to it.

"An actor who played the sergeant with me in 'Lights Out' is very suitable for teenage comedy. Do you want to try it? He is also a client of CAA." Tom also recommended a candidate on the phone.

"Who?"

"Sean Penn."

Ronald knew him. At that time, "Endless Love" almost chose him as the leading actor, but he was given up because his height did not match Brooke Shields.

After checking the road number with Nisita, Sean Penn was not Lapke's client, so he asked Nisita to send the information and invite him to attend the interview.

a potential ally.

The second person to hear the news was Ed Limato, WMA's Italian agent.

"Hi Ronald, congratulations. Just turned 21 theater film director."

"Thank you, do you want to recommend actors to me?"

"Yes, but I mainly want to thank you on behalf of Pfeiffer. She has passed the second round of interviews. The director Patricia Birch admires her very much. Every time she is in the back row or the corner position, Birch puts She picked it out."

"Why?" Ronald became curious. It is said that Birch would give her a good audition position for the candidate he recommended, or even interview alone.

"Pfeiffer knew that you were the screenwriter, and she guessed that you were recommending her. She felt grateful and embarrassed, so she hid in the corner of the back row."

It may be this kind of beauty that can still be maintained in embarrassment, so that director Birch took a fancy to it.Ronald laughed, "I haven't called Birch, everything is her decision. Stop fanning the flames, Ed."

"Well, I understand that you don't want others to use your name. I'm here this time to recommend a strong foreign aid to you."

"What do you mean?"

"It's all spread, and Tom Mount's girlfriend wants to take back the directorship."

"Um, alright." Ronald didn't expect this kind of news to spread so quickly, it's all these agents talking too much.

"Who do you choose?"

"I know you need to establish your own authority on the set. I'll find a way to find Francis Coppola. How about going to the set to give you a platform? He happens to be in Los Angeles."

Um?Ronald, who was talking about the central matter, was surprised. It seems that I am not the only one who knows this trick.

"As far as I know, Coppola's brokerage contract is not with you." Ronald replied, Limato's statement is a bit bragging.

"I'm not bragging. Although Francis' contract is not with me, it may be soon." Limato said, "I signed his eldest brother's son, Nicholas. We Italians pay attention to family, as long as you If I can give him a big role, I can bring Francis in."

"Send his information to the casting director, and I will give him a chance under the same conditions."

"Why, isn't Coppola enough to impress you?"

"I first need to ensure the fit between the role and the actor, Ed, and I will take care of the rest." Ronald hung up the phone.

"This guy, it seems that other people are helping him." Limato took out the audition photo marked "Nicholas Coppola", put it in an envelope and handed it to the assistant, "Please send it to Director Ronald Lee one serving.

There are two votes of potential supporters.

Ronald tidied up his beard in front of the mirror. The beard grew too fast and often needed to be trimmed.

The next person I went out to meet was the most important supporter, Cameron Crowe, the original author of the novel.As the author, if he can get him to participate in the casting meeting, and when he needs to support his decision, it will be 2:1. Even if Art Linsen supports Heikelin, he still has room for maneuver.

Cameron Crowe lives with his girlfriend Nancy Wilson, one of the lead singers and songwriters of the rock band Heart.Crowe met Nancy when he was a reporter for "Rolling Stone" magazine, and the two quickly fell in love.

Ronald raised the idea that he needed his support in the casting to Cameron Crowe.And the other party is also interested in filming, so they can learn from the crew and watch the whole process.

"I can support you, but I don't want the characters in my novel to choose inappropriate candidates because of power struggles, Ronald." Cameron Crowe hesitated again and again, but still put forward his own conditions.

"Of course, this is also my idea. The fit of character and actor's temperament is the most important guarantee for the success of a film. I have worked in a casting studio in New York and know these things well. It's just that when the conditions of all parties are balanced, you can support me."

Cameron Crowe and his girlfriend looked at each other and were about to speak.

Seeing their stares, Ronald couldn't help but look at Nancy Wilson.She is a sweetheart with blonde hair, big photogenic eyes, and perfect white teeth.

"Nancy, I think you look very good, can you come to the crew to play a guest role?"

"Me? I don't know how to act in movies." Nancy was a little interested.

"You don't need to act, just be yourself. Cameron will tell you a character, a character very similar to you."

"Which character?" Cameron also became interested.

"It's Brad laughing at his beauties in the sports car next door while he's putting on his pirate suit and delivering meals."

"That's very much like you, Nancy." Cameron said with a smile.

In the script, the character is a beautiful woman who drives a convertible sports car and sees Brad in his strange pirate outfit, parked in the parallel position of his food delivery truck, and looks up and down.At first, Brad thought it was a beautiful woman admiring him, but he almost got it wrong.

Such a role is not too difficult for a girlfriend to play. Cameron Crowe looked at Nancy a little bit, so he happily agreed.

The third ally is a very strong candidate.

Meanwhile, Amy Hekleen was not idle.

"I see that Ronald has been very busy these two days, and he didn't bother me. He seems very confident that he can make a good movie."

"Have you communicated with Azoff about the music? This is an appropriate feat to show your face."

"I've found someone to negotiate the rights to, but I'm also going to have my own people in the casting."

"Which character do you fancy? What actor? Honey."

"The heroine Stacy and best friend Linda, these two characters, after I read through the script, are the axis of the whole film, and all the people and things emanate from them."

"Give me the person you think is suitable, preferably the children of well-known actors, so that I can arrange it easily."

(End of this chapter)