Exploiting Hollywood 1980

   Chapter 684 Madman and Liar

  Ronald sent Jeremy Thomas away for a night with Minahan Golan.

  Minahan chose the largest cinema and the largest screening room in his newly acquired carnival theater chain, and started the London premiere of the opera film "Othello" directed by Franco Zeffirelli.

   His cannon was not influential enough to invite members of the royal family to the premiere, but the influence of the two main creators in high society was enough to make up for some deficiencies. The audience for the premiere were gentlemen and ladies in casual dresses.

   "Ronald, this is Placido Domingo who plays Othello, and this is Katia Ricciardelli who plays Desdemona."

  Ronald hugged the two costumed protagonists and gave a face-to-face salute.

  Domingo is a Spanish opera tenor, while Ricciardelli is from La Scala in Italy and has worked with Domingo on stage for many years.

   "Hello, it's a pleasure to meet you." Ronald said hello to the two opera singers, and he couldn't help thinking of the Italian opera tenor Pavarotti who presented himself with an award at the Oscar party. These tenors, sopranos, all look very strong.

   "I wish your film success."

   "Ronald!" This time it was the director Zeffirelli who came to hug him. The two old friends hadn't seen each other for a long time, but Zeffirelli was still very enthusiastic.

   "Did Minahan give you enough money? He promised me at the time that he would give you all the creative freedom before I called you. If he cheated, I would trouble him." Ronald joked.

"Don't say it, Ronald. Minahan is the greatest producer I've ever met. No producer has ever completely trusted my artistic judgment. After I made this Othello, I even thought I was I won't be able to make such a good movie again in the future."

  The two walked inside, arm in arm.

"I heard that you were with Brooke? At that time I could see that she had a strong dependence on you." After Zeffirelli quit Hollywood, the news was blocked. The last time he saw Ronald's news was in the newspaper gossip.

   "She concentrates on her studies and may not return to the entertainment industry in the future."

   "That's a pity."

   This "Othello" was shot very strangely. It was filmed in an operatic way. Except for changing the scenery on the stage to a more realistic one, the lens, lighting, and even the rhythm of the entire film were all opera-style.

   is equivalent to putting the entire "Othello" of the Opera House on the screen. This method of shooting has not been seen in Hollywood Ronald.

   But beyond Ronald's own expectations, when he watched this opera film based on Shakespeare's play, listening to Domingo and Ricciardelli's arias, he became very emotional.

   Ronald also hated the actor emotionally when Iago tried to sow discord between Othello and his wife Desdemona.

  When finally Othello suspected his wife had cheated and killed her, Ronald felt very uncomfortable and realized the great tragic power of jealousy.

  In the end, Iago was exposed, Othello knocked him to the ground, and then looked at his wife's body, and when he committed suicide, Ronald couldn't hold back his tears and wanted to shed tears.

   "Oh, I didn't expect this movie to be so powerful, I cried." Ronald took out his handkerchief, wiped his eyes, stood up and hugged director Zeffirelli after the lights came on.

   "Masterpiece, perfect, no wonder you like him so much, it's a delicate work of art."

   "It seems that you are also a man of temperament", Zeffirelli was also moved to tears again by his own movie.

"The art form of opera, people with sensitive nature, like it by nature, and people who are born slow, no matter how hard they study the day after tomorrow, they will not be moved. I know that an artistic genius like you will definitely understand me. uh..."

   "Quack, Franco, please go up and say something to the audience." Minahan came over and invited the director to come on stage.

   "This is a businessman with no nerves." Ronald laughed, and Minahan didn't seem to be moved by the plot at all.

   "Ronald, I'm going to release this film on a small scale in America, and then mainly send it to Europe and Asia, where Zeffirelli is very famous as a famous opera director."

   Ronald glanced at Minahan and then at Zeffirelli, who was very excited on the stage.

"Hey, it seems that Minahan also knows that this kind of slow-paced, although delicate, but lacking in the impact of the picture, the film is no longer liked by mainstream audiences. When he asked Zeffirelli for director, it was nothing more than looking for John Carr. Savity, like Jean-Luc Godard, is trying to elevate his status when he goes to film festivals to sell films.

   Use the films of these outdated famous directors to raise the price of other exploitative films that you shoot. Let those old-fashioned movie buyers know that they are the 'big guys' in Hollywood. "

   But isn't Zeffirelli taking advantage of this madman? Maybe only this kind of madman can give him enough budget and uninterrupted artistic freedom.

   "Wow wow wow..." Ronald also applauded with everyone.

"Ronald, I'm about to start the third episode of Raptors, and the third episode of Vietnam Vanguard, our Ninja series, and the America Ninja series, and now is the time when Cannon Pictures is booming. , do you want to think about it again and shoot Stallone's next movie."

   "I really can't be on the same set with him." Ronald shook his head and refused, "You shoot so many movies at the same time?"

"It's not too much. I have to personally handle the script of the fourth Superman movie. This year, we will start shooting at least 25 movies. We will also acquire more theater chains. In the second half of the year, our Cannon TV network will Networking in America, it will also be a national syndicated broadcast cable network."

   "Twenty-five?" Ronald glanced at Minahan, thinking this man is crazy? Acquiring theater chains and setting up TV networks are very expensive business practices. More than 20 films are shot in a year, and even if one movie costs 2 million on average, it still requires a budget of 50 million.

   His current pre-sale business can cover all shooting budgets?

   Madman!

But having said that, he has 300 million in cash and a bridge loan from European banks. This madman is about to break into the circle of top Hollywood production companies. Anyway, next he wants to set up his own distribution network and even acquire America's theater chain, I wouldn't be surprised.

   "I'll give you all the artistic decision-making power, how about it? Think about it, if you don't want to make a film with Stallone, then we'll change a star.

  You don't have to worry about the big production, I will interfere with you. Now who in Hollywood doesn't know that your vision is the best?

   Even the outdated director John Cassavetes, I promised him not to interfere in his artistic decisions, not to interfere.

  His movie is two hours long. I thought it was too long, so I asked him to shorten it by 15 minutes to facilitate distribution. He agreed, and on Monday, the final version that Cassavetes got back was extended by half an hour and became a two-and-a-half-hour feature film.

   He has his reasons, and this is the best presentation of this movie, so I promise him.

   I'm also investing in a Faye Dunaway and Mickey Rourke movie, they're all big stars..."

   Ronald looked at Minahan who was talking eloquently, and felt more and more that this was a madman. Before, he was just trapped by the situation and had no way to show his crazy side.

   Even the most important power of the production company, the length of the film, is given up. This is equivalent to letting the director play as he pleases. From the producer's point of view, this is a very bad decision.

However, this may be all mutual use. A movie starring Mickey Rourke, who became popular because of "Love You for Nine and a Half Weeks", can force him to sell three American Ninjas, or Vietnam War. Pioneer's follow-up exploitative film, maybe it's summed up, the madman still makes a lot of money?

   Saying goodbye to old friends, Ronald flew back to New York alone.

  "This is for you, this is for Donna", Ronald took a scarf made of high-grade Kashmiri cashmere and gave it to Diane.

  Diane Lane was in New York during this time, and "The Demon in Chinatown" was about to be released, and she was hiding in New York waiting for the premiere.

   When this movie is released, if it can have some influence, Diane's agent will receive the script again, and she is looking forward to it. When I heard that Ronald was back, I came to Staten Island alone to see him.

  "I have a gift for you too", Diane took a small box and handed it to Ronald.

  Ronald took it apart, and it turned out to be the latest version of WordStar's software.

   "Hahaha, you still know what I need." Ronald recalled that the first software he used to write scripts and texts on the computer was given to him by Diane and Donna.

   "Hee hee..." Di An made a lot of money from Dongying's commercials. In addition, the yen has appreciated all the way since it signed the Plaza Agreement last year. Now she has earned 50% more for no reason. Clothing and jewelry can be bought again, and hair stylists, body shape teachers, and acting teachers can be hired again. , and some money to send Ronald a little gift.

   "Thank you, you don't do that healthy dietary supplement, right?" Ronald asked Diane. The two knew each other when she was very young, and it was not awkward to ask some intimate questions.

   "It's alright, I've stopped working on that United Scientific Corporation product. I've also returned the rest of the goods, which is a little bit of cost recovery.

   But they don't seem to be liars, there are people who really make a lot of money selling their products. do you know? They have now hired William Shatner, who plays Captain Kirk, to be their spokesperson. "

   Diane turned on the TV and tuned to the direct sales channel, which happened to be playing an advertisement for United Scientific Corporation.

  A fat face of William Shatner, who happens to be promoting nutritional supplements from United Scientific Corporation.

   "Since the history of human beings, plants have provided us with the nutrients we need and beneficial trace elements for a long time, which is an important difference between us humans and other animals.

   I strongly recommend that you start using the United Scientific Dietary Supplements extracted from various plants, including pumpkins, apples, oats... vegan, is the healthiest way of life.

  You can buy a lot and sell it to friends who have the same idea as you, and then use this healthy food to make a reasonable income for yourself, while promoting our idea of ​​healthy living.

   Of course, if you only buy a little and eat it yourself, it doesn’t matter, remember to tell your friends and relatives that after taking this dietary supplement, you will be full of energy and feel less sick.

   No matter how much or how little you buy, you can implement our concept of healthy living.

   United Scientific Corporation, your healthy living concept meal companion. "

   "So Captain Kirk said, don't ask you to buy a lot. Those who have money can buy products worth thousands of dollars for sale, and those who have no money can just buy a little for their own use, as long as they don't forget to promote the idea.

  If it wasn't for me, I really wouldn't be able to sell things... well, I would be able to sell and I wouldn't do it. I just want to retake some roles now, and it's good to be an actor and support myself. "

  Diane saw Ronald frowning and his face was not very good-looking, and quickly promised that he would not do this again. If you don't get the role, the money you earn from Dongying will support you through the next year.

   "No, I didn't mean to accuse you, I didn't mean that. But this William Shatner speaks like a producer I know in London."

   Sure enough, these people talk in the same way, no matter how much money they spend, we welcome them, we just promote our own ideas (culture). It seems that these liars all talk in a similar way, and I feel right.

   (end of this chapter)