Exploiting Hollywood 1980.

Chapter 1470 Diane's New Project
"No, that's not true. Hollywood has a lot of creative ideas. The idea of ​​time looping and being trapped in one day has been around for a long time. The short film 12:01 is not the earliest..."

When Harold Ramis woke up, he was stopped by reporters in front of his house. Jonathan Shipp's plan to sue him has become the latest Hollywood scandal. He, who had just accused Seattle Nightclub of being unqualified, suddenly became the target of accusation again, and the accusation was much more severe.

"But the original author of the novel, Richard Lubov, also expressed his support for the lawsuit and was listed as a joint plaintiff. He also believes that you plagiarized..."

"No comment, no comment..."

Harold Ramis hurriedly ran away and found a phone number to call Columbia, but was told that Columbia would not support him and that whether it was plagiarism would depend on the results of the Screenwriters Guild and the court. Their previous intended distribution agreement was also suspended, and Columbia also "suggested" him that it would be best to settle out of court rather than go to court.

"Very good. The largest collider in America is at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory outside Chicago. Contact them and see if we can take some real shots of the exterior..."

On the other hand, Ronald also appreciated the script of 12:01. With the same theme of time loop, this script involved a mixture of love at first sight, vulgar comedy, action, science fiction, police and gangsters, etc. The plot was closely linked, and the addition of these elements was not abrupt at all.

Ronald saw the latest revised script. The overall story framework was very good, but some dialogues and scenes needed to be rewritten. The film was included in Daydream's green light project, and once the revisions were approved, the project could be launched.

Moreover, the heroine of this movie is a beautiful female doctor who was saved from being assassinated by the villain by the hero who kept going back to the same day, and finally fell in love with the hero. Such a role does not require any acting skills, maybe let Helen take a look.

Playing a female doctor is quite suitable for Helen. She just needs to wear suitable clothes and show her characteristics of a cold beauty.

"Knock knock..." The assistant knocked on the door, "Mr. Lee is here..."

"Hello, Ang, welcome. How's it going? Are you planning to make a Chinese-language film for your new film?" When Ronald saw that it was Ang Lee, he stood up to welcome him and gave him a hug.

"Yeah, I want to bring Hollywood's independent film production system to my hometown. The movies there are very bad this year, and the local market is already very sluggish..."

Ronald nodded. This year, "Jurassic Park" was a global success, not only in Ang Lee's hometown, but also in Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, and East Asia. The film market was like a battering ram from Hollywood.

In almost all markets, Jurassic Park was the number one movie at the box office. Local audiences had never seen such an exciting movie. Suddenly, those local movies were hit by a dimensionality reduction attack. Compared with the big dinosaurs, the box office of flying martial arts movies plummeted and no one watched them anymore.

Even the Jin Yong martial arts films, which have always been popular in Hong Kong, had a big production this year. They found several sexy female stars and paired them with Jet Li, who already has a certain appeal in Hong Kong. However, the film suffered a box office failure and could not even recoup its costs. The second part of the film, which was originally supposed to be two parts, also ended in vain.

The only region in East Asia that was able to hold on was the mainland, because the blockbuster films required the cinema chains’ box office statistics systems to be restructured, which would not be possible until the second half of this year. It was a blessing in disguise that the mainland avoided the heavy blow from the big dinosaur.

When Ang Lee came to his hometown, the film industry had become so decadent that only a few big directors who raised money from overseas would make films. If it weren't for Ang Lee, Edward Yang, Hou Hsiao-hsien and others, most film professionals would be out of work and would either go to make TV series or change careers, and the entire industry would be gone.

Fortunately, these directors were able to obtain investment through overseas box office. Yang and Hou obtained bank guarantee loans through European art theaters, while Ang Lee was much luckier. His two Chinese films were favored by European film festivals, and this time he was nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars. Many people in Hollywood also wanted to invest. It can be said that he is now finally qualified to choose scripts.

"OK, in addition to the subsidy from Director Song, I will invest the remaining budget. What is the name of your third script?" Ronald promised to support Ang Lee. Anyway, the promoter of the first two films and The Wedding Banquet are both mature production models, so the third film will have more stars and a higher budget...

"Eat Drink Man Woman, we Chinese believe that food and sexuality are connected..."

Ang Lee talked about the content of the script and James Schamus's brilliant revision, which made the father lose his sense of taste after losing the love between man and woman...

"It's a trilogy now. Did you enjoy filming it?"

Ronald was in his office, flipping through the scripts of the film. All three films were shot with the same theme, that of an oriental patriarchal father whose authority collapsed in modern society and whose personal personality was asserted...

Moreover, the father roles in all three films are played by the same actor, Lang Xiong, which is a standard feature of auteur film directors. The trilogy finishes filming some things in the author's personal life, and then he can move on to filming more complex and diverse themes.

Judging from the quality of these three films, if Eat Drink Man Woman can also win awards, it can be said to be the debut trilogy of a great director.

"It almost said everything I wanted to say about the Oriental family, the love between father and son, the love between father and daughter, the father and his son and daughter-in-law, the father and his son who did not follow the traditional path, the father's own love..."

Ang Lee counted on his fingers, these first two films were not only great to make, but also won awards, had box office success, and were recognized by his own father. This is more than just a word that can be summed up as great.

"Okay, after the filming, we'll send it back to Hollywood for editing. James can then plan a new movie for you. This time you have to try mainstream Hollywood movies, English movies, big studios, typical Hollywood themes..."

"Well, after I finish filming Eat Drink Man Woman, it will be time..."

Ang Lee is about to start preparing for a new film. He plans to move many of Hollywood's equipment, work processes, and some behind-the-scenes talents that are not available in his hometown to his hometown, so as to contribute to the film industry.

After seeing off Ang Lee, Ronald and Diane attended a party hosted by Michael Douglas in the evening. Although Douglas himself did not have any movies that needed PR this year, the party he hosted was still one of the most important social occasions during the Hollywood awards season.

"Yes, this movie is the one I am most satisfied with. It combines the important stars of Chinese-language movies... Yes, the fact that I was able to make this movie has a lot to do with my experience in America for several years..."

At the party, a familiar figure became the center of attention of a small circle. It was Kaige Chen, the director of this year's Oscar-nominated Best Foreign Language Film, Farewell My Concubine.

"Cage, you've been in Hollywood for so long, why don't you make English films?" These people in Hollywood couldn't pronounce Kaige Chen's name, so some people pronounced it as Cage... It seemed that Kaige Chen could understand it too.

"I am in America, mainly in New York. Unfortunately, a Chinese artist like me is not welcome there. My wife is also leaving me. I have nothing to do every day, so I have to teach New Yorkers how to use chopsticks..."

Kaige is a good speaker and has the narcissistic traits common among artists. His status as a Palme d'Or winner, coupled with his "miserable" life, has won the admiration of some Hollywood people.

"Cage, that's how Hollywood is. Now they have to actively pursue you... Oh... Ronald, you are here. Let me introduce you..." The owner Michael Douglas also came over to communicate with him, and then when he saw Ronald, he fulfilled his duties as the owner.

"Mr. Chen, the winner of the Palme d'Or, needs no introduction. His face is his business card. We met in China and had a chat..." Ronald shook hands with Kaige. "How does it feel to win the Palme d'Or? Is it the feeling of studying hard for ten years but becoming famous overnight?"

"Mr. Luo is not only a famous director, but also an expert on Chinese culture. His knowledge of classical culture is comparable to that of our university professors..." Kaige is now a worldly-wise man. Since the beginning of last year, he has been busy all year, constantly attending various film festivals with this movie called "Farewell, My Love".

In addition to winning the Golden Palm Double Yolk Award at Cannes, he also participated in the Polish International Film Festival, the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland, the Asia Pacific Film Festival, Italy, Nantes, the Japan Grand Prix, the Japan Daily Film Awards, and the Korea Blue Dragon Film Awards...

I have already learned how to talk to the producer.

"He is still an evil capitalist, a newly minted billionaire, and the youngest tycoon from the entertainment industry on the Forbes Rich List..." Michael Douglas would never miss the opportunity and immediately introduced Ronald's latest identity to the genius from China.

"Ha, don't mention it. I'm also a member of the Directors Guild and an old friend of the Chinese film industry, Kaige, right?" Ronald laughed.

"Of course, Director Ronald is a very nostalgic person. Before I came here, many old friends asked me to say hello to you." Kaige also sent greetings to Ronald on behalf of Director Xie, who shared the Golden Bear Award with Ang Lee in Berlin. Director Xie often talks about Ronald's help in Berlin.

"Cage is a lucky man..." Someone in the back of the crowd said sourly.

"It's Kaige. For an important director nominated for an Oscar, pronouncing his name correctly is basic respect and courtesy..." Ronald snorted and immediately supported Kaige.

“kai-ge…kai-ke…kai-che” For a moment, everyone present felt that what Ronald said was right, and immediately began to practice pronouncing the name of this Chinese director.

"Kai-ge, am I pronouncing it right?" An actress came up to director Kaige and spoke coquettishly to him with her bright eyes. Didn't he say that his wife was leaving him? And with Ronald's support, she should hurry up and try to build a relationship with him. Maybe she would be the heroine of the next movie.
"You're right... If you're interested in Chinese culture, I can teach you privately." Kaige also felt proud that the blonde girl had to practice calling her name.

"By the way, Kaige, the copyright of your movie in America..."

"Oh, my producer sold the American distribution rights in Cannes. I heard that Harvey is a distributor who likes to support independent films? I'm not sure about the details. You know, I don't know much about business..."

"You'd better start learning right away, start by finding an agent and a lawyer... You're going to need them..."

As soon as Ronald heard the name Harvey Weinstein, he knew Kaige Chen and the others had fallen into a trap. It was not easy for him to speak out and expose the scam, and they also needed to step on all the traps as quickly as possible.

"Ronald, can you let me steal your good friend Kai-Che for a while? I have a project that I want to work with him on..." Mel Gibson also came over and asked Kaige to talk privately about his own project.

Mel Gibson is also a commercial film star who is eager to make a breakthrough in awards. He was moved by the delicate expression of male and female emotions in Farewell My Concubine. Wouldn't it be great if Kaige could transplant the directorial skills there to his own Hollywood projects?
"What do you think? Will your friend win the Best Foreign Language Film award? Just like your other friend Yimo..." Michael Douglas asked Ronald, wiping his sweat secretly. These Chinese names are really hard to pronounce.

"I didn't feel anything this time, but Kaige went to too many film festivals and participated in too many award ceremonies..."

"Hey..." Michael Douglas laughed. The Oscars also have to save face. If it is just participating in Cannes, one of the three major film festivals, then it is not without precedent for the Palme d'Or winner to also win the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.

But why do you want to participate in the Polish, Locarno, Nantes, and Korean Blue Dragon Awards? When the Oscars give you the Best Foreign Language Film, and the news reports that the Oscars Best Foreign Language Film is as important as these...

"I'm afraid I can't do what you want, Mr. Gibson. Before the awards ceremony, I have to go back to my country to deal with some mundane matters..."

“Oh, really…”

Ronald smiled slightly. Kaige was a man who thought highly of himself. Apart from this party, he had little interest in Oscar PR. America was not Europe. The more you acted like you didn't care about the award, the more people would give it to you.

Harvey Weinstein, who is responsible for the American distribution of Farewell My Concubine, is another profiteer. He would never consider investing in Kaige's Oscars PR. It seems that this time the Best Foreign Language Film...

"Dear, I heard a piece of news. I heard that your company is going to start the project for the script of 12:01?"

Later in the party, Diane suddenly came over and hugged Ronald's arm.

There were also some female celebrities at the party. When they heard that Ronald was planning to launch a science fiction film project, they all went to Diane to inquire about it.

"It is very likely that this is the case. This movie also received high marks in the Daydream script department. Do you want to play the heroine? The heroine is a female doctor who was shot several times. In the end, she escaped the disaster with the help of the hero's special ability..."

"Female doctor?" Diane frowned. It seemed that she was not thinking the same thing as she thought. "Didn't they say there would be a love scene?"

"Yes, it's romantic and novel, a standard feature of science fiction films." Ronald spoke the truth. It was best not to lie to an actress like Diane who had been in Hollywood for more than a decade.

"Are you interested? I can ask them to send you the script," Ronald said, and then lowered his voice, "However, this is not the script I prepared for you. I wanted to give you a surprise. I'll tell you in detail when I get back..."

"Why, is there a script suitable for me?"

"Yes, it's my friend's project. He wants you and Tom Hanks to play a couple again..."