"Ronald, nice to see you."
"Nice to meet you, Jane."
Ronald came to Los Angeles again, and now he was in Jane Fonda's big house in Hollywood. After a few months, nothing had changed here, except that during the day, it was not filled with party guests.
Jane wore yoga clothes, a sweater around her waist, and a headband in her hair. It seemed that she had just finished exercising. The super star is very busy. This time he specially invited Ronald to his home for a talk. He didn’t know what to say to him.
"I just came back from Squam Lake in New Hampshire and just finished filming 'On Golden Pond'. Catherine forced me to do the jumping into the lake by myself without a stunt double, which was a challenge for me." Jane Fonda first talked about the filming. gossip.
Ronald had no interest in joining in, but his agent Niceta, who accompanied him, was very supportive, as if he was a movie fan who laughed out loud after hearing some interesting stories about Katharine Hepburn and Henry Fonda's filming.
"I'm sorry that Director Bridges decided to rewrite the script. I was working very hard during this period and didn't have time to think about 'My Brother's Keeper'..."
"It should be called 'her brother's protector' now." Ronald said with a smile.
Jane Fonda heard the complaint in Ronald's words and smiled. In fact, this kind of thing happens a lot in Hollywood, and young screenwriters have not yet realized the cruelty of this industry.
"Rick, please leave Ronald and I alone for a few words."
Agent Rick Niceta stood up, tapped Ronald on the shoulder, and walked out of the room, leaving Ronald alone with Jane Fonda.
"Ronald, when this happened, I was filming on location on Golden Pond. I bought this script specially for my father and invited Katharine Hepburn to star together. Henry's body has grown at a speed that can be seen by everyone this year. In decline, the academy has begun considering ways for him to receive a lifetime achievement award.
It's the consolation prize given to movie stars who have never won an Oscar, when... they are physically able to attend.
But I am not willing to give in. Henry deserves an Oscar. This is why I devoted myself to filming. I hope to win an Oscar for him. This is his regret.
Can you understand me? Ronald? "
Ronald did not expect Jane Fonda to say such a thing to him. At New York University, the first old movie he watched was "The Grapes of Wrath" starring Henry Fonda. Thinking that the handsome boy back then was now old, Ronald couldn't hate Jane anymore.
He nodded, "I understand you, Jane. In fact, you don't owe me anything for this matter. I got the money. I was also featured in the New York Times. My subsequent screenwriting business and advertising shooting business also benefited from it. The prestige this script brought me.”
"No, but you lost the most precious opportunity to become famous." Jane Fonda stood up, "I am an actor, my brother is also an actor, and my father is also an actor. I understand the pursuit of artists. If I could use that $350,000 in exchange for the opportunity to direct a movie, I think you would agree without hesitation."
Ronald said nothing. Of course, who wouldn’t want to be able to direct a big production for a big studio in his debut film.
"I was very busy on the set. The filming schedule was very tight, and it was also interrupted by the strike. It was still over budget. I was focused on filming. When Bridges called me, I thought he was just asking for your script. Modify some details.
As for other little tricks, I don’t know who did it, and I have no interest in investigating. Hollywood is full of struggles every day, and if you're not used to it, you might as well focus on being a screenwriter. "
Ronald understood what Jane Fonda meant, and there was nothing to complain about at this point. Jane was able to specially invite him to explain the situation, which was considered a model of principles among Hollywood movie stars. So he said, "I understand that you were filming and didn't know the specifics. This matter is in the past tense."
"Good boy, I'm really looking forward to watching your directorial work." Jane smiled and took something from the side.
"This is a photo of me, for my fans. I heard that your aunt asked you to write this script and appointed me to star in it. You can't appear on the subtitles. She will be very disappointed. I will give you one. Give her a signed photo so that she can relieve her regrets."
Ronald couldn't help but laugh. It would be funny if Jane knew that Aunt Karen hated the returning military wife she played. "Well, she will be happy...her name is Karen."
“To Karen,
Your friend Jane Fonda. "
Jane signed the photo with a quick-drying pen and put it in an envelope. "I still have to continue exercising, the homework of an actress."
Jane turned on the record player, a burst of music played, and several technicians poked their heads out of the room. Start setting up lights and TV cameras.
"This is?"
"I was going to make a video about doing aerobics at home. Now the studio alliance is in a lawsuit with the Japanese manufacturer. The movie can't be made into a video for sale, so they came up with some other content and started selling it."
"The yoga mat is right there..."
Ronald saw that Jane Fonda's schedule was really tight, so he took the signed photo and left.
Niceta greeted him into the BMW, "We will meet Mr. Robert Sturwood again in the afternoon. He has reached some new consensus with Universal to see what his thoughts are on the sequel to 'Grease'."
Robert Stewart met them in his pajamas.
This middle-aged handsome guy's daily job now is to enjoy life and take care of his business.
"Andy Gibb disappoints me. His three brothers in the Bee Gees band are all restrained, but he is lost in the glamor of Hollywood."
Ronald knew that what Sterwood was talking about was that Andy was sent to a rehabilitation center for drug abuse, but surrounded by a room full of handsome boys and beauties, it seemed a bit funny for Sterwood to say this.
Unaware of Ronald's attitude, Sterwood continued, "Sheinberg from Universal did me a big favor. He bought the entire project after Paramount withdrew. So he had a say in the protagonist.
But this is actually a good thing. Well, are you right? Ronald. "
The air conditioner in the mansion was turned on very loudly, and a handsome man in cool clothes served Sternwood a cocktail. Another beauty also gave Ronald and Niceta a drink each.
"Are you Timothy Hutton? Mr. Sternwood," Ronald asked.
"You, you are very business-savvy." Sterwood pointed to Ronald's nose and said to agent Niceta, "Rick, you signed a very promising client."
"Of course, Ronald is my first screenwriting client, and he is the best." Niceta raised her cocktail and expressed full agreement. It was completely impossible to tell that he signed the contract casually to circumvent Ovitz's screenwriting first strategy. Down Ronald.
"Timothy will be the next golden boy in Hollywood. We are very lucky." Sterwood drank the cocktail in one gulp. "His agent is giving him activities everywhere, and Timothy is also attending parties everywhere. Next year There will definitely be an award for him at the Golden Globe Awards, and the Oscars are also preparing to nominate him for Best Supporting Actor. I think he is very hopeful."
"Isn't he the protagonist?" Ronald asked doubtfully, "Isn't the story in Ordinary People about how a man reconciled with his parents after losing his brother unexpectedly on a sailing boat?"
Sterwood put on a big cigar, pointed at Niceta, and asked Niceta to explain.
"Oscars are not just about acting, Ronald. Next year's Oscar nominations are very fierce, including Robert De Niro, the leading actor in Scorsese's 'Raging Bull'. Although United Artists has no money for public relations, But De Niro's Italian identity has led Italians in Hollywood to publicize for him, including Sly and Stallone.
There is also veteran British Shakespearean actor Peter O'Toole, who has been nominated for Best Actor for the fifth time.
Other competitors include Jack Lemmon and Robert Duvall. Even if Timothy Hutton is nominated, he has no chance of winning. It would be better to switch to Best Supporting Actor, where his chances are much greater. "
"Will the famous Barry Miller also be nominated?" Ronald thought of the actor in "Famous" who was slapped by director Alan Parker and unexpectedly performed a good crying scene. . He also wanted to date the director's girl, Maureen Tiffey.
"Things are also bad at MGM. I heard they've been reduced to distributing movies for two Israelis." Sterwood took over.
"With no one doing public relations for Barry Miller, he may not even get a Golden Globe nomination, let alone an Oscar."
Ronald was silent.
There is an old saying circulating in Hollywood, "It's not what you know, but who you know." The recent events that happened to him and Barry Miller allowed Ronald to clearly understand the meaning of this sentence. .
"Is it really hopeless to be nominated for an Oscar after becoming famous all over the world?" After a moment of silence, Ronald asked this question. To be honest, I still fantasized about getting nominated for this movie, and then some investors would be willing to try their luck on me.
"There is no hope for Best Picture and Director. It is also impossible to win acting awards." Sternwood denied the possibility of winning the award for being famous all over the world.
"There is hope for Best Original Song. That producer Da Silva is jumping up and down to publicize his future Latin star, Irene Cara. Her singing career is booming, and she is always on TV. Play her 'fame' song."
"Your screenwriting award...well, there are several strong competitors. If you are particularly lucky...maybe there is hope."
Ronald shook his head. His luck was best used at the most critical moment. Rather than winning Best Original Song, he hopes his screenwriter will be shortlisted.
"In short, those scenes about the Vietnam War, demonstrations, and debates will be deleted." Sterwood returned to the topic.
"The overall temperament of the script is still that of the 1950s, the upbeat atmosphere of the post-war golden age. It captures optimism, low unemployment, and plenty of jobs. A blue-collar job can afford a house and support a wife, children, and a large family. This was America's golden age, and it's an era that people now miss in this recession."
Ronald nodded. Universal hopes to make a musical with a similar temperament to the original "Grease". The successful formula should not be changed. It is the 1950s, old-fashioned singing and dancing, young people, and the love between male and female protagonists who belong to different gangs.
"Finish it as soon as possible, Ronald." Niceta sent Ronald back to CAA. "Timothy Hutton's agent also proposed that he want to see the revised script."
"I know." Ronald frowned, why would anyone want to make comments on the script. Why don't you give advice on how to place the camera, how to arrange the director's arrangements, and how to raise the recording pole? Instead, you just talk to the screenwriter.
Do they think they can type and read scripts, so they have the illusion that they can also write scripts?
"Ronald, there is another script revision offer here. Do you want to take a look?" The main agent Richard was waiting for him in the office. When he saw him and Niceta coming back, he handed over a document.
"Revised? Where is the original screenwriter?"
"It is an adaptation of a youth drama. The original screenwriter is the author of the original work. Universal promised to distribute their movie, but the producers were not satisfied with the script. They thought it was well written, but the author was not very good at writing scripts and wanted to find someone Modified by veterans.”
Ronald frowned and refused to accept the document.
I also felt that the screenwriter was not good enough and wanted to intervene myself. If you don’t know how to write it yourself, just ask a screenwriter to change it according to their wishes. How sad the original author is.
"I don't want to take it. Why don't they discuss it with the author? I always feel that the author's writing is not good and the screenwriter should get more respect."
Richard rubbed his hands and said, "Ronald, the film company is very optimistic about your fame, so it agreed. This is also the first offer I have found for you. Take a look."
"Okay." Ronald likes Richard as an agent. Unlike other agents who have other interests, Ronald always stands on his side.
"But I have a condition."
"You said." Richard was very happy.
"I want to meet with the author. I will only be willing if he agrees for me to join and modify his 'baby'. I don't want what happened to me to happen to other screenwriters."
"That's no problem. The production company has talked with the author. The author also feels that his script writing skills are insufficient. He took the initiative. I will arrange for you to meet."
"Okay." Ronald lowered his head and glanced at the summary of the script. This script has a very long and strange name:
"fast times at ridgemont high"
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