Exploiting Hollywood 1980

"Honey, I want to be honest with Jane about what's going on between us. I love you and I've never felt this way before, Susan."

"No, don't do that. I don't want to ruin your family, Jerry. As long as I can be with you all the time, I'll be satisfied."

"In this way, for this 'Longwei Boy', I will appoint you as the on-site coordinator of the crew. When I am not on the crew, you have to tell me everything that happens on the set."

"I will. It's like a dream to me. I never imagined that I would be working for a man who is so intelligent, or in the film industry."

Jerry Weintraub and his secretary Susan Akins returned to Los Angeles from their weekend getaway in Palm Springs. The two talked sweetly in the office and settled the next work arrangements for "Long Wei Boy".

"Mr. Weintraub, Ronald Lee and his agent will come to visit you in the morning. Their appointment time is coming soon." Susan's secretary position was replaced by the original front desk lady. She knocked on the door and came in to announce.

"Invite them in when they arrive."

After a while, Ronald and Niceta, who had just arrived in the office, were welcomed in by the secretary.

"Hi, Ronald," said Weintraub, in good spirits after a relaxing weekend away, and offered Ronald a hug.

"Honey, find some coffee." Weintraub turned around and asked red-haired Susan Akins to prepare the coffee, and then kissed Susan on the mouth.

Ronald noticed all this, and he and Weintraub chatted about recent changes in the film industry. Susan brought a tray from outside with three cups of coffee on it.

"Ronald, Rick", Susan quickly served coffee to the two guests, followed by sugar cubes and milk for them to mix themselves.

"Jerry", when it came to the third cup, Susan added a cube of sugar to this cup, stirred it with a spoon, and handed it to Weintraub.

"I came today to ask Mr. Weintraub about the progress of the project. I have several young actor friends and a friend who is an expert in karate and Chinese martial arts. I would like to know if there is a chance to participate in 'Longwei'." Kid's project production."

Ronald used the pretext he had discussed to make his request and inquired about the other party's progress.

"Actually, you just need to call me for this kind of thing." Weintraub was very satisfied with Ronald's respect for him. "I just appointed Susan as the on-site coordinator of the crew. For these things, you can do it next time." Contact her directly for auditions and your friend’s work, and she will arrange them directly.”

"Thank you, Mr. Weintraub. Thank you, Miss Akins." Ronald turned to look at Susan, an ordinary-looking secretary.

"So, how is the casting process going? When can filming start?" Ronald looked back and continued to inquire about the news.

"We are a little stuck on the choice of the protagonist." Weintraub also admitted to Ronald, the screenwriter, "Avelson has his own ideas about Master Miyagi. In my opinion, this casting is definitely not good."

"Oh, who is it?" Ronald heard that Avelson had made a choice for Master Miyagi, and wanted to know who it was.

"That's Arnold." Weintraub put down his coffee. "That Japanese actor who makes jokes in sitcoms. How can such a person play a karate master?"

"Which Arnold?" Ronald didn't know what was going on. He looked at Niceta and shook his head when he saw him.

"That's the Japanese actor Pat Morita, who plays the supporting role of Arnold in the sitcom 'Happydays.'" Susan Akins knew that Weintraub was talking about the character's name and not the actor. Name, explained on the side.

Seeing that Ronald still didn't grasp his idea, Weintraub simply stood up, took a videotape and put it into the video recorder.

A short Japanese actor with a clean shaven chin and a mustache appeared on the TV. He spoke very articulately and introduced himself to the camera.

"My name is Pat. Pat Morita. I used to play Arnold on the sitcom 'Happy Days'..."

"What do you think? Is he suitable to play Master Miyagi?"

Ronald thought for a while, "There's not much problem with his appearance, and it fits the description in the script of not being amazing. But his lines are too American. Master Miyagi is a first-generation immigrant, so it's impossible for him to be like this." His fluent English skills are not in line with the character's personality. I don't know if he can play..."

"That's right, that's the problem." Weintraub was very happy to hear that Ronald supported his idea.

"He plays a sitcom. Although Master Miyagi is humorous, he is not a clown? I don't know why Avelson insists on using him. But as long as I am the producer of this movie, I will never Let him star."

Weintraub got into a conversation and told Ronald a lot about the crew's preparations. Avelson invited his old partners from the filming of "Rocky", the director of photography, and the assistant director to join the crew.

Several actors from the villain "Cobra" dojo who fight against the protagonist Danny have also been confirmed, and they are all second-generation stars.

The most famous of them is Chad McQueen, the son of the late tough guy actor Steve McQueen and his first wife.

However, Master Miyagi's difficult childbirth left the two protagonists Danny and the main villain Ali's ex-boyfriend Johnny uncertain. Because they need to audition with Master Miyagi to determine whether there is a chemical reaction.

To be honest, Ronald didn't know why Avildsen chose Pat Morita. However, experience told him that the director's observations were generally more reliable than those of the producer, not to mention Avildsen, who had won the Oscar for Best Director. Maybe he saw something that he didn't see, the characteristics of Morita?

But he couldn't say this directly to Weintraub. Ronald still remembered what Avildsen said himself, that in order to convince the producer, they must package their ideas as their own. Although Avildsen himself didn't handle it very well.

Ronald and Niceta got up and said goodbye after chatting for a while. Weintraub and Avildsen had some conflicts over casting, but their relationship was still harmonious and they didn't get to the point where they couldn't cooperate.

For a Jewish tycoon like Weintraub, Niceta thought the best strategy was to make him feel that you didn't play tricks to deceive him. Or just play a bigger trick, and after deceiving him, he still thinks what you said makes sense, and cooperating with you is the right choice. So this time, Ronald didn't mention his replacement.

The two returned to the CAA office a little disappointed. This matter still needs to be considered in the long run. Depending on the stalemate in casting, there may be a turning point in the future.

"Ring, ring, ring..."

A phone rang, and Nicita picked up the phone.

"Hmm? Hmm... OK, he's in Los Angeles, so he can..."

After putting down the phone, Nicita looked Ronald up and down, "When did you become good friends with Ned Tanin?"

"Who? Ned Tanin?"

Ronald was also surprised. He remembered that this former vice president of Universal had to resign during the filming of "Fast and Furious Richmond High School" because he first embarrassed himself, then supported himself in the struggle for office politics, and finally remained neutral when voting.

"No? I haven't seen him for a long time."

"Anyway, he called to invite you to visit his new office and said he wanted to talk to you about the new film and listen to your opinions."

"What does he want to see me about?" Ronald was puzzled, "Is there any personnel change in Bad Ball?"

The next day, Ronald and Nicita came to the Universal Studios as scheduled.

After Ned Tanin resigned from his position as vice president of Universal, he opened his own production company. His office is still inside the Universal Studios, in a bungalow. It was the same simple office where Ronald filmed "Fast and Furious".

Ned Tanin was very enthusiastic about Ronald and took him around.

Ronald already knew the reason why Tanin was suddenly enthusiastic about him. Yesterday Universal announced the new president in charge of the film department, Frank Price, the former president of Columbia.

Although he failed in the battle with the Coca-Cola gang and was kicked out of Columbia Pictures. But Frank Price's level is clear to the industry. He is the only senior executive of the production company who personally reads the script and can make practical suggestions.

Sidney Sheinberg, who secretly colluded with Spielberg and cast "ET Aliens" from Columbia, has been promoted to CEO of the parent company CA. He knows this old rival very well.

Columbia's profit last year, the 5% share of "ET Aliens" that Price got, alone, has exceeded the total of all other production films. So after Price left, he was immediately recruited to Universal to serve as the president of film business.

As soon as Price took office, Ned Tanin immediately wanted to establish a good relationship with him. Because his production company had several films that were about to be shot, and the distribution contracts were all in the hands of Universal.

At Price, Tanin heard the name of Ronald Lee again. His new screenwriting work was approved by Columbia. Although he didn't know who could make a hit movie, Frank Price knew.

Tanin immediately got CAA's phone number and got acquainted with Ronald first. Even if the two had no chance to cooperate for the time being, he was a young director favored by President Price, and it would not hurt to get close to him and do some social activities.

"This is the office of the first director I signed. Like you, he is also a screenwriter and used to be a creative copywriter in an advertising company.

I like his screenwriting talent, but he has never directed a movie independently. I dare not let him directly direct the movie he wants to direct, so I let him practice with another exploitation film he wrote that has more commercial potential."

Tanning pushed the door, "John, are you there?"

"Come in," a gentle voice came from the office.

Ronald followed into the office and saw a fat screenwriter wearing a pair of big black-framed glasses. In his office, "Wham!'s hit song Young Guns" was playing.

Seeing Tanning come in, he quickly turned down the volume of the stereo.

"John, let me introduce you, this is Ronald, he is also a young talent. You must have seen the movies he directed..."

"Hello, I'm Ronald, screenwriter and director." Ronald went up and shook hands with John. This man looked about ten years older than himself, but in his behavior, including playing pop music loudly in the office, his mentality was as young as himself.

"Hello," John adjusted his glasses, "I'm John Hughes. I'm a screenwriter, and now I'm directing for the first time."