Exploiting Hollywood 1980.

Chapter 374 I Don't Like You

"Mr. John Muto, my idea was to make 'Night of the Comet' a post-apocalyptic zombie movie with a rom-com vibe. The two heroines are valley girls looking for romantic love, and they are in the comet. In the future, the spirit of modern civilization has not been abandoned..."

"Rom-com and zombie exploitation? Sounds like a comic book."

"It's almost like that. Another name of this movie may give you some inspiration, it's called 'Comets, Girls, and Zombies'" Ronald continued to explain his thoughts on the overall visual style of the movie with a smile.

"This is really easy to understand. The comet is the dark red that destroys the world, the girl is the bright color, and the zombie is the grayish brown." Muto took out a disc full of colors, and pointed out several colors to Luo. Nader looks.

"That's true, that's what I want."

Muto was introduced to Ronald art director by Cameron and Gail. He played the role of art director in "Dust Out of the Galaxy", and worked with Cameron, who was the special effects director, and Gail, the associate producer. tacit agreement.

Ronald fell in love with this handsome artist after meeting him. The two had similar ideas, and the salary requirements were not high. Ronald decided to sign a contract with him after two chats.

"When will our scouting start? The most important scene is the empty city. Do you use a studio to set up the scene, or do you shoot it?" another middle-aged handsome guy asked Ronald.

Arthur Albert was Ronald's director of photography.Unlike art direction, which is relatively cheap, a good photography director, especially one with experience in special effects, is not cheap.

Ronald searched around, and finally his agent, Nisita, recommended him a suitable price.

Arthur Albert was born in Venezuela. He has been making small-budget Spanish-language exploitation films. He has experience shooting zombies and sci-fi themes. He has just entered the English-language film market, so he is not expensive and has experience. .

Ronald liked Arthur's hardworking spirit better. Although this guy was born in Venezuela, he actually came from a good family background, received English education, and had no problem communicating.

"That's the biggest unanswered question, and I won't be able to tell you until I meet the new CEO of the distribution company today."

Ronald shook hands and said goodbye to the two crew members who were in place in the early stage. The handover process of the new world has not yet been completed, and the salaries of the two were paid in advance by themselves.

This afternoon I went to have a meeting with the new CEO of New World. If they have enough additional investment, they will use a better performance method. If there is no additional investment, they have to find a way to clear up the relationship with the Los Angeles police and close the road for a real shot.

Nisita has promised to help if necessary.However, the budget is limited, and only important shots can be selected for shooting.The result of the final film depends on the result of the meeting with the new CEO.

Ronald sent off the two crew members and returned to CAA's office.Nisita agreed to lend Ronald his office to meet important people.Although Nisita couldn't invest in himself due to brokerage laws, he was very helpful in other ways.

"Hey, look who's here? Are you going to jump from William Morris to CAA?" Rick Nisita stood up and greeted his Italian colleague, WMA's senior manager Ed Limato.

"Don't talk nonsense, I'm here to find Ronald, is it convenient to talk?" Limato waved his hand like a fly, making Nisita disappear so that he could talk to Ronald.

"This is Nisita's office, Ed." Ronald laughed loudly, "Tell me, there is nothing I can't let Nisita hear."

"Well, it's about Nick. He's been cast by the director of Paramount's 'Racing with the Moon' for one of the lead roles alongside Sean Penn and Elizabeth McGovern. , rehearsals are scheduled to start at the end of February, and filming will start in March, will your film be in time?"

"Is that so? It should be in time. My filming only takes two weeks, plus pre-rehearsals, and it can end in mid-February. There may be some reshoots." Seeing that it was the schedule of the leading actor Nicolas Cage, Ronald took Take out the notebook and calculate it. It may take a day and a half for reshooting after the film is completed.

"That's okay, a day off?"

"Well, Nick has a lot of scripts now?"

"Yeah, he's going to do 'Birdy' after that, directed by Alan Parker...how come you don't like him?" Limato noted Ronald's discomfort at hearing Alan Parker's name .

"I have a bit of a problem with him."

"Then I will sign Nick. He is afraid that your schedule will conflict here."

"It won't delay his new film."

"Okay, now that it's settled, I'll leave now. Stay with Kid Nisita for just one more minute, and there will be one more person spreading rumors that I want to quit CAA." Limato hurried away again.

"Let's go too. I don't know how the new CEO of New World will be. It won't hurt to go early."

The biggest change of New World is that a new signboard was erected at the door, which said "New World Production". It seems that the new boss did not maintain Coleman's low-key style.

The new CEO works in the original Roger Coleman's office.Ronald and Nisita waited outside the door for a while before being invited into the office by the blond female secretary.

"Mr. Remy, Mr. Ronald Lee, the director of 'Night of the Comet' has arrived.

"Come in."

A familiar name, a familiar voice.

Ronald looked up to see a tall figure sitting in a back chair with his back to them, and Remy turned the chair around to face Ronald.

"Ronald, we meet again."

"Hehe, hello, Mr. Remy."

Ronald sat down carelessly, crossing his legs.He could tell from the voice that this was the former Vice President of Universal, Robert Remy.This is the man who accused himself of being immoral and immoral during a screening of "fast-paced Richmond High."

"Will the young people in America be okay if they grow up watching this kind of movie?" These are his exact words.And Raimi is in the same camp as Tom Mount, voting against a "fast-paced" release.

The flesh-faced, squint-eyed Robert Remy is a common Hollywood creature.Most of them are leaders in the sales department, and they look like bulldozers no matter how they look or how they behave.He always exploits and squeezes his subordinates non-stop, and humbles his clients, only seeking to sell movies.

When Ronald saw that he was the CEO hired by New World, he knew in his heart that the production of "Night of the Comet" would be in trouble.Since he came, he settled down and simply sat on the chair with his legs crossed, looking at Remy nonchalantly.

"Calm down, if it doesn't work, I'll find another publisher for you, don't start arguing here." Manager Nisita was also stunned, and then warned in Ronald's ear.

He knew that this client had a good level of wrestling, and with a leader like Remy who often threatened his subordinates physically, it was fine not to fight.

Robert Remy squinted his eyes and looked at Ronald with hatred in his heart.Tom Mount failed in the films of Spielberg and Ronald, and was cleared out of Universal, implicating himself as a die-hard supporter.

Mount was protected by a golden parachute and got good conditions to leave Universal.

I have only been in Universal for a year, but I don't have such good resignation conditions.After going around and around in a small-budget film company for more than ten years, I didn't expect to be kicked out immediately when I joined a big company as an executive for the first time.Here is the "credit" of the young director.

"I've read your script, and there are serious problems, so I hope you make some changes, and then New World will discuss the shooting process with you."

Remy took a baseball bat from a nearby bookshelf, held one end in his right hand, and smacked his left hand with the other, accompaniment to his words.

"What's the problem?" Ronald asked casually, looking at the furnishings in the room. This Remy's taste is much worse than Coleman's. He bought a lot of leather furniture in the originally simple and tidy office. , It doesn't match the original modest interior decoration at all.

"There is a problem with values. Young people in America cannot grow up watching these anti-government ideological propaganda, and these X-rated borderlines must be revised. I will not repeat Universal's mistakes."

Seeing Ronald's nonchalant expression, Remy felt even more annoyed.How could this young man not respect an industry expert like himself?Think you can be lawless by making a blockbuster movie?
"Universal's mistake?" Ronald sneered, "Or your mistake?"

Robert Remy was heartbroken, and this young man was still irritating, "Don't play tricks, kid. Universal is disregarding the public's perception for the sake of a short-term box office performance. Under my management, this kind of thing will not happen in New World, What we want to do is a more socially responsible movie.

If your film can be modified in the following places, with my consent, then I will agree to grant funding to shoot.

First, we can no longer have pornographic fringes. Shinsegae is a medium-sized production company, and the rating agency MPAA does not have the same influence as Universal. Otherwise, it will be difficult for us to pass the rating. release results.

Second, in the end, the only remaining government research institute in America cannot be a big villain. The movie is not only box office, but also in line with the spirit of America. I don't like this kind of plot setting..."

"Hey, I don't like this kind of plot...plot...setup!"

Ronald still didn't care, and while digging his ears with his fingers, he and Nisita quietly imitated and laughed at Remy's way of speaking.

"Bang... bang... bang" Remy finally exploded with anger, and knocked his baseball bat against the table.

"Did you hear what I said clearly? I ask you to re-edit the script and stop shooting until I agree."

"Hey, let's be frank, Robert." Ronald stood up. He was about the same height as Remy, walked to the desk, stared into Remy's eyes, and said word by word.

"You don't like me, and I don't like you either. Put away those nonsense and lies, if you don't want to watch my movie, then change another producer to take charge. I signed a contract with New World."

"Son, you haven't seen the real dangers of Hollywood. You might as well ask your lawyer to come and see what he tells you. In short, I won't give you the green light for such a movie."

Ronald snatched the baseball bat from Remy's hand, "It's good, I like your frankness."

"Let's go, Nisita." Ronald ignored the stunned Remy, and told his agent to leave together. Before going out, he threw the baseball bat at the door, "Didn't your mother teach you not to hit the table with a baseball bat?" ?Will knock your desktop out of the hole."

"Let's go find Roger Coleman and see what he has to say." Ronald closed the door smoothly, blocking Remy's yelling inside, "Damn it, call the furniture supplier, they There are pits on the table top."

(End of this chapter)