"They think your audition was very good. There is no need to notify your agent. Let me tell you directly that you have been selected."
Ronald walked out of the audition room and told Demi Moore, who was waiting outside.
"Really?" Demi looked at Ronald with wide eyes, "I was chosen to be that Jules?"
She didn't believe that happiness could fall on her head so easily, and confirmed again, "It's Jules, not an extra, right?"
"Yes, Demi, I know you are very ambitious. You did get a good opportunity. Don't let it go." Ronald confirmed to Demi again. The girl was a little too happy.
"Thank you, thank you!" Demi came up and kissed Ronald several times, then jumped on the motorcycle and was about to start it.
"Puff..." After the starter pedal was stepped on by her leather boots, she only let out two grunts. Demi got out of the car and kicked the tire, "shxt, it's broken again." Then she looked innocently With Ronald.
"Wherever your current home is, I'll take you there." Ronald looked around. There was no public transportation near Universal Studios.
"Where do you live?" Demi asked.
“I’m right here in West Hollywood.”
"Then you take me for a ride. When I get to your house, I can walk back by myself."
Demi Moore, who was sitting in the passenger seat of the Saab 900, let the wind outside the window blow her long hair and glanced at Ronald a few times. This man did not buy a sports car to show off once he became powerful like those actors. Instead, he bought a low-key, high-horsepower car. He was indeed a man who valued substance over fame. Then there will be some substantial returns.
"I'm here, are you sure you can walk back by yourself?" Ronald parked the car in front of his apartment.
"It's not far away, don't worry. Can I get some water? I was so excited just now and a little thirsty." Demi Moore got out of the car and stood at the door, not wanting to leave.
"Come on," Ronald opened the door.
Demi Moore followed in, kicked the door shut with her leather boots, and then hugged Ronald from behind as he went to get water from the refrigerator. She turned Ronald around. She squatted down by herself, found Ronald's belt buckle with both hands, and was about to unbutton it.
"Hey, Demi, don't be like this." Ronald held the belt with both hands. He knew that Demi didn't start the motorcycle on purpose. He came to the apartment as an excuse to follow him to thank himself, but this thank you came too fiercely and quickly. .
"Then what do you want? Come from behind? It's up to you." Demi turned around obediently, started to rub Ronald with her plump buttocks, then flicked her hair, looked back at Ronald, and tongued Rolled it around on the lips.
"Whatever you want, I agree to."
Ronald pulled Demi up and said, "That's not what I meant. This role suits you very well. You are a party girl who works in a large bank. She is open and enthusiastic. She is perfunctory about work and enthusiastic about friends. She has a very similar temperament to you." Like, except, don’t mess it up this time.”
"How do you understand the troubles of our low-level actors?" Demi rolled her eyes at Ronald, opened the refrigerator, and opened a bottle of Coke to drink. I have no capital, only myself. In the last movie, if someone hadn't preempted her, how could she have turned the heroine into a supporting actress. "
It turned out that last time she met British actor Michael Caine because of Ronald, and was introduced to the crew of "It's All Rio's Fault". Originally, her role was to play the daughter of Michael Caine's best friend, and she wanted to have a long-lasting love affair with him in the movie.
Unexpectedly, another actress who originally played Michael Caine's daughter found the right person, and her role was immediately swapped with hers, and the final film was cut to only a few scenes. Even if Demi herself has black hair and looks nothing like father and daughter to the blond Michael Caine, there's nothing we can do about it.
"I like your ambition to pursue your dreams, but I don't like the means you use to achieve your ambition. In addition to relationships, film casting also requires attention to the match between the actor and the role, as well as the chemical reaction between the actors."
"But if you don't give me a chance, how can I show off my acting skills and temperament?" Demi Moore has always had a clear distinction between grudges and grudges. If she has received a favor, she will repay it immediately. She lifted the Coke, and the brown liquid leaked from the corner of her mouth. The foam evaporated on her hot body, boiling and making a sizzling sound.
"Ronnie, I will not let down your kindness, and I will work hard to climb up. As long as you can ensure that my role will not be replaced by others, today, I belong to you."
Demi touched the cold hand of Coke and put it on Ronald's neck. The cold feeling made goosebumps rise on Ronald's neck. Then another fiery body came closer, "Director, will a party animal like Jules take the initiative when he sees a suitable man? Am I good at acting?"
…
"Are you very energetic? Do you have any good ideas for a new script?"
The next day, Ronald and Minahan had brunch at the famous My Little Chef restaurant in Hollywood.
"No... I don't have any new ideas. It's just that I have regained some energy through my recent vacation and exercise." Yesterday, Demi repaid him with flattery. The two stayed up very late, and Demi's voice became hoarse in the end. It was very useful to him.
Ronald opened the napkin, put it down, and started eating the chicken salad. "This is recommended by the famous director Orson Welles. You should try it too."
"Hey..." Minahan put down his knife and fork and sighed after hearing this. "Our efforts to invite famous directors have not been successful. Many people immediately rejected Cannon Pictures as soon as they heard about it. The first film is always difficult. Yes, just like the 'Break Dance' you filmed for us, after its success, good commercial scripts have begun to be actively submitted."
Minahan took out a script from his bag, put it on the table and pushed it to Ronald, "Look, does this movie have box office potential?"
"How did this script get to you?" Ronald took the script and looked at it. It said "Runaway Train" on it. It is the screenplay work of Japanese film master Akira Kurosawa.
"What? You've read it, aren't you interested?" Minahan was a little disappointed. He originally wanted to surprise Ronald by buying the script from Akira Kurosawa's son at his own expense.
"I have to warn you, this movie is not easy to make."
Ronald quickly flipped through the script and found that there were a lot of internal and external shots of trains throughout the play. The last scene turned out to be a shot of a train speeding toward a cave tunnel in a vast snowfield and then exploding inside.
Thinking about trying to achieve the effect Kurosawa expected, Ronald felt his scalp numb. In addition to helicopter aerial panoramic shots, there are also a lot of shots involving exploding trains and running trains. Repeatedly starting a train to shoot on the plains with several feet of snow was a killer.
"Don't be afraid, I have raised 10 million US dollars to make this big production."
"Mr. Golan, your call." The waiter came over and called Minahan, and he stood up to answer it.
Ronald ordered another plate of chicken salad and ate it. Minahan seems to be more cautious now. Ten million is considered a big-budget project. His arrogance back then when he spent huge sums of money to hire Brooke Shields to film "Sahara" seems to have been eroded by the reality of Hollywood.
"I'm sorry, Andre. There are only a limited number of movies produced by the Big Seven every year. You might as well ask those independent producers. As long as someone invests, I can help you find a distribution contract." On the table in the corner, two people The middle-aged people stood up and hugged each other to say goodbye.
"Well, I originally thought that in the free world, I could always make the movies I wanted to make, but I didn't expect that without the National Film Commission, there would be capitalists in Hollywood censoring the creative freedom of our artists." One of the tall men, carrying a He wears glasses and speaks with a Russian accent.
"Andre", Ronald called the latter's name. It turned out to be Andrei Konchalovsky, a famous director who defected from the Soviet Union.
"Ronald!" Konchalovsky was very happy to see Ronald. "Do you mind if I sit for a while?" He pulled out his chair and sat at Ronald's table.
"Thank you for your recommendation. My film 'Maria's Lovers' was appreciated by the president of Cannon Pictures and can be exhibited at the Venice Film Festival."
"That's great. I'm here to have dinner with Minahan today." Ronald motioned to the waiter to bring another set of tableware.
"Who was that just now?" Ronald asked the man who was chatting with Konchalovsky just now. The man had a squint in one eye and looked a bit like a mentally retarded person. But judging from Konchalovsky's attitude towards him, it seems that he is in a high position.
"It's Tom Pollack, a famous lawyer and broker in Hollywood. He once helped Lucas negotiate the contract for the last two Star Wars movies."
"It turns out it's him," Ronald said. The reason why George Lucas became the richest director is because he signed an unprecedented sharing contract with 20th Century Fox. Lucasfilm first took the income and then shared it with Fox. In this way, Fox became a jobber for Lucas.
"No luck?" Ronald asked the other party.
"He promised to help, but now the production budgets of major studios are very tight. The film I hope to shoot requires actors with acting skills, so I can only cooperate with them."
"Is this your new script?" Konchalovsky saw "Runaway Train" on the table. "Can I take a look?"
"Excuse me," Ronald gestured to him, "This is a script acquired by Minahan, and the original author is Akira Kurosawa."
"Commercial film?" Konchalovsky saw the synopsis of the plot, "But Tom Pollack also advised me that I must first make a commercial film that will sell well, and then consider my own creative direction."
"That's true, Hollywood is a place that pays attention to making money. If you have a blockbuster movie, then the studio will have much looser requirements for you. In Hollywood, everyone has to prove themselves." Ronald laughed.
"It just so happens that among the young directors in Hollywood right now, you are the best at making commercial films. I still have to learn how to make commercial films from you."
Konchalovsky also realized that the freedom of Hollywood is based on the premise of making money. No one is willing to invest in art films that only make money.
"I wouldn't dare," Ronald denied quickly. "When I was at New York University, I looked to your Uncle Vanya to learn how to think about screenwriting and directing."
"But the mechanism of Hollywood is to make movies for ordinary audiences." Konchalovsky looked at the script in his hand, and the more he read, the more fun he got. "Although this movie has many scenes that please the audience on the surface, the core is still the ultimate humanistic care.”
Ronald pouted, these Russians can see humanistic care in everything.
"What kind of humanistic care?" Minahan came back after answering the phone and heard the last sentence of Konchalovsky's evaluation of Akira Kurosawa's script.
"Minahan, Andre, you already know each other." Ronald gently kicked Minahan under the table. This is a national treasure director of the Soviet Union.
Minahan understood what Ronald meant, but he couldn't believe it, "Andre, are you really willing to direct this commercial film?"
"The script written by Akira Kurosawa cannot be so superficial. These two prisoners who escaped on the train are symbols of the evil of human nature, but the warden they faced tried every possible means to kill them. This is part of the system. of evil.
Akira Kurosawa is probably exploring the ultimate question of life: which one is more evil, the evil brought about by human animality or the evil of the system? "
Minahan's eyes lit up. He didn't know what kind of magic Ronald had cast on Konchalovsky, but he was actually willing to consider directing a commercial film. Isn't my plan to become a famous director very promising?
"Andre, I can guarantee that if you are willing to direct, I can fully support it. In addition to the budget of 10 million US dollars, I can also not interfere with your shooting."
"Really?" Konchalovsky has been rejected many times. Ronald's words just now made him determined to prove himself with a commercial film first.
"To be honest, you are the most courageous Hollywood producer I have ever seen. Even when you were there, the Secretary-General of the National Film Commission never supported a director's creation like this."
"Quack..." Minahan was very happy to be flattered by the seemingly honest Russian guy. I immediately decided to discuss filming "Runaway Train" with him.
The filming scene of the snow train that Ronald feared was not that difficult in Konchalovsky's opinion. There are often several meters of snow on the land of the Soviet Union, but the director there did not film it the same way.
"Ronald, you have to help me. This is my first time directing a commercial film like this in Hollywood. Regarding casting, I'm afraid I need to hear your opinion. What kind of actors do American audiences like to tell this story?" Story, I need your input.”
Konchalovsky, who had reached a preliminary impression with Minahan, also saw Ronald's status with Minahan. To bring him along.
"It seems that you are learning quickly. Hollywood is actually very cruel. If your movie is not a hit, it will be difficult for a producer to invest in you next time. Even Minahan, his tolerance for artists is based on the ability to bring him Come and think about more business.”
Ronald also admires Konchalovsky, a veteran, for his ability to quickly adapt to the Hollywood system.
"I understand, and that's why I hope you can help me. I still have a lot to learn about Hollywood's commercial film model."
…
"Ronald, you have to help me, help me keep an eye on Konchalovsky." Minahan then also found Ronald. I really can't understand the true level of a director like Andre. Can you help me go and see his specific shooting? Also, you have to help me with the casting. I'm worried that he will choose some actors that the audience won't like. "
"If that's the case, you can also be the producer yourself?"
"Hey, you know me. In fact, I invest in famous directors to improve the company's quality. In the overseas market, when others hear that I can hire big-name directors, we will become a big company in Hollywood.
If we, Cannon, want to hire a director with status, we can only compromise on art and let them shoot according to their own ideas. If I serve as the producer, it is obvious that I do not trust him. You are the director and can speak better than me. "
"Okay." Since both parties were interested, Ronald decided to do them a favor and attend two casting meetings before filming started, and then go visit the cast after filming started. In fact, both parties have unnecessary worries, but who makes Ronald the person they both trust?
"Okay then, I'll add your name to the list of producers."
"Okay, let me take a vacation now. I have been very busy in the past year."
Ronald, who was still on vacation, suddenly received a good news call from his agent Niceta this morning.
"Ronald, the commander-in-chief wants to summon you."
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