"I'm sorry for the inconvenience in communication caused by my job change, but I have dealt with it all. Now we can talk about whether I can represent you."
There's something magical and relaxing about Rick Niceta's voice on the phone. The two discussed on the phone how Niceta could work together by signing Ronald as a screenwriter's agent.
Ronald insisted on retaining the contract with New York agent Eddie Cohen, and his short-term directing work such as commercials was still left to Eddie. At least in the near future, his focus is still on New York, and he still needs to earn money and reputation in the industry by shooting commercials, and he does not want to end his cooperation with Eddie.
Even if he mainly focuses on Hollywood in the future, he still needs someone to help handle things in his hometown of New York. In Ronald's vision, he hopes that Eddie Cohen will be his representative in New York.
Niceta mainly focused on Hollywood, and was originally not very interested in the advertising business of representing Ronald. The reason why he wanted to sign a fledgling screenwriter was simply because Michael Ovitz, the president of CAA, required all agents of CAA to sign a screenwriter as a client.
Niceta had already made considerable achievements at William Morris. After being hired by CAA, he did not want to share a screenwriting client with his original agent, so he simply developed one himself to cope with Ovitz's KPI. With potential clients like Al Pacino and Christopher Walken in hand, he doesn't have to worry about business.
The two parties agreed on the phone that Ronald's screenwriting contract would be handled by Niceta's team from now on. If Ronald has the opportunity to direct a film independently in the future, it will be handled by Niceta.
Team work is the invention of Michael Ovitz, the founder of CAA. Each client is represented by a team of several brokers at different levels, and the agency fees extracted are also distributed by the team.
The five founders of CAA who betrayed William Morris were well aware of the power of taking this customer away, so they designed the system from the beginning to prevent other companies from poaching CAA's corner.
"That's it? Do you have any questions?" Niceta asked on the phone.
"Mr. Niceta, why did you choose me? Your colleagues at William Morris didn't want to sign me," Ronald asked.
"I always go one step further than others. They just asked the director Alan Parker about you, and I asked the producer David DaSilva."
"Thank you, Mr. Niceta."
"I have to talk to Mr. Michael Ovitz in Los Angeles about the new movie contracts of two of my actors. I also have to assist him in handling the movie of Sean Connery, the leading actor of CAA. So this time I went to New York and Your interviews are with two of my colleagues, Richard and Paula. They will arrive in New York on the morning of xx."
Ronald took out his notebook and checked: "I will be busy with the casting of 'Endless Love' that day, so I'm afraid I won't be able to pick them up at the airport."
"It doesn't matter. Paula is a New York girl. I believe a New York girl can take care of everything."
…
The red-eye flight landed at New York's JFK Airport. A man and a woman, who looked like professionals, walked out of the terminal and waited for a taxi.
"Should we go to the casting studio first to find that young Ronald?" Richard is a newcomer to CAA. He has worked in the mailroom for 6 months. Because of his excellent work performance, he was promoted exceptionally. for apprentices. This was his first time being sent out to meet a client.
"We first went to Little Italy next to Broadway to eat authentic pizza, and then we went to the casting studio to find him." Paula is a woman in her early 30s. Her ex-husband is the creative proposer and creator of the famous Broadway show "On the Line" Stage design. I am very familiar with New York and it is like revisiting the old place.
Richard was still a little naive and didn't figure out Niceta's intentions, but it was no wonder, this was the young man's first official business trip, so it was understandable that he would be excited.
"The pizza here is really good. Except for Chicago, I have never had such good pizza." Richard pushed up his glasses, "Paula, why would Niceta sign a fledgling screenwriter? Are there any qualities he deserves to pay attention to? "
"Did you know that our CAA started with TV programs?" Paula drank a sip of Coke and ate the pizza she used to eat, feeling very happy. Although Hollywood is the center of entertainment, from the perspective of other industries, New York is the center of the universe.
"Yes, I heard it from the elders of the company. In 1975, the five founders relied on daytime TV series to get through the difficult period of starting a business."
"Yes, but our development has encountered a bottleneck. The big-name actors we signed all want to act in movies. But our connections in the film industry are weak." Ovitz promotes a big family culture within CAA and encourages agents to communicate with each other. Help and support the younger generations. Richard is on the apprenticeship list. He has to learn these things sooner or later anyway, so why not tell him to make a good relationship.
"So Ovitz's idea is to first sign the screenwriter, use the screenwriter to impress the eight major studios, and then recommend our contracted directors, stars, etc. to enter the project."
"Is that why he requires every agent to sign a screenwriter?"
"Yes, Richard, you are very keen. CAA plus you apprentices have just over 40 agents. We are a team system. One screenwriter will have 3-4 agents in charge, so in fact we only need a total of Just find more than 10 screenwriters."
"I understand. Thank you for telling me this, Paula." Richard wisely did not ask any more questions about why Niceta signed Ronald, and lowered his head to eat the pizza. "It turns out that he is just like me, just to make up the numbers. of."
Ronald is organizing auditions in the casting studio. The actors who come this time are much stronger than the ones with connections in the industry last time.
Deborah Winger is not stunning, but her eyes are very understanding, as if she can talk to people with her glasses. Polaroids captured her snapshots, and her glasses were extremely bright. No wonder the director of "Midnight Cowboy" had to protect her performance. Such glasses with close-ups would be so arresting on the big screen.
"Princess Leia" Carrie Fisher came to New York to participate in the audition for CBS6's "The Empire Strikes Back" TV interview.
She did not have the princess hairstyle that everyone expected, but had her hair shawl-length. She lacked the decisiveness of a princess, but had a bit more gentle femininity. Several assistants were gossiping that Fisher was very unrestrained on the Star Wars set and slept with all the male actors. Every time he turned his eyes, there was a flash of glamour, which was similar to the character of Jade, the protagonist of the movie.
Looking at the strength of these candidates, Ronald felt that the Michelle Pfeiffer he recommended was a bit lacking. In particular, she looked a little timid, holding a large bottle of vegetable juice handed to her by two husband-and-wife agents, sipping it in small sips, frowning from time to time.
"This vegetable juice is very good for you to remind you, keep your skin smooth, and resist addiction to cigarettes, alcohol and drugs. You have to drink it every day." The agent who looked like a wife was comforting Michelle Pfeiffer.
"Don't be afraid. I noticed that none of your competitors are vegetarians. You are very promising." The husband also began to criticize other actresses.
Ronald almost couldn't hold back his laughter when he heard this, "Michelle, this is you next. Come with me alone and wait at the door of the audition room first." The agent who looked like a wife put a large bottle of vegetable juice into her hand. As soon as it was handed over, Michelle Pfeiffer took it with a heavy look, lowered her hands, and slowly followed Ronald in.
Walking through the long aisle to the front of the audition room, Michelle Pfeiffer looked even less confident. She walked slower and slower while holding the vegetable juice, her face curled up, looking very painful.
"What's wrong with you? Michelle, cheer up. You performed very well in the last audition. You acted naturally. You were among the top six in the Miss California pageant. Be more confident."
It's okay not to say it. After saying this, Michelle Pfeiffer seemed to cry.
"I...I...all spent my money on buying these all-green vegetables and fruits. If I don't get selected this time,...no one from the TV station will give me a new role...I will..." Michelle I didn't have much energy to speak, so I looked in the direction of the lounge intermittently.
Ronald followed Michelle Pfeiffer's eyes and saw a Burger King fast food he had bought before and hadn't had a chance to eat.
"Take a bite. I haven't moved yet. I see you are very hungry. A bite will restore your energy."
Michelle Pfeiffer looked at Ronald and heard the words asking him to eat. For a moment, there was no room for anything else except beef burgers in her mind. He jumped over in a few steps, opened the wrapping paper and started eating.
Ronald poured her a glass of warm water and handed it to her, "Don't be anxious, eat slowly. Why do you look like you haven't eaten all day?"
Michelle drank the water and swallowed the last piece of beef, "My two agents didn't let me eat meat, saying that it would help me quit smoking and drinking. You know, I had sex with beauty pageant girls before. ..." He said a little embarrassed.
The voice of director Zeffirelli in the "Next" audition room remembered him, and he began to call Michelle in after the review of the previous audition.
"Let your hair down, make it more natural." Ronald helped her put down her tied hair and led her into the audition room.
"Hello, Michelle," director Zeffirelli, executive producer Peter Guber, and casting director Julia Taylor greeted her from above.
"Good morning you all. I'm Michelle Pfeiffer."
"Ronald will take a snapshot of you first, and then we'll start auditioning."
Ronald picked up the Polaroid camera and pointed it at Michelle Pfeiffer's sexy face, which was slightly like a cat's face and very childish. The 22-year-old Michelle looked very convincing as a 16-year-old.
"Here..." Ronald pointed to the corner of his mouth and made a mouth gesture to Michelle Pfeiffer, silently reminding her that she had eaten the burger too quickly.
Michelle Pfeiffer understood, and a blush rose on her face. Then she stuck out her tongue, added the corners of her mouth, and wiped out the food residue.
"Meow, the men in the audition room couldn't help dubbing her in their hearts. This action is so sexy."
…
"Very good, we will notify your agent of the audition results." Michelle Pfeiffer finished the audition, thanked everyone, and then Ronald accompanied her out.
"I think they like you very much. Even the director Zeffirelli is swallowing his saliva." Ronald quietly told Michelle that she had a good chance.
"This is Miss Brooke Shields," Ronald called again, "Hello, Brooke. Hello, Terry."
"Hey, who asked you to give Michelle a beef burger?" Michelle Pfeiffer's male agent rushed up and pushed Ronald, trying to argue with him.
"First of all, you are her agents, not guardians. Michelle is free to eat whatever she wants. Secondly, this matter has nothing to do with me, so don't do anything to me."
"You are an evil person. You actually tricked her into eating beef. Only when she was full did she have the strength to audition." As he said this, the man came up and punched Ronald.
Ronald dodged, twisted his arm, and pinned him to the ground. "Do you want to call the police? Michelle?"
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