Chapter 25 Samuel Goldwyn Jr.
July 1989
New York, Manhattan.
Aaron Anderson took Nicole Kidman to meet with director David Lynch and others and asked her to audition for "Wild at Heart" with Nicolas Cage.
The 25-year-old Nicolas Cage had a low-cost black comedy horror film "Vampire's Kiss" released last month, and his full-powered performance in it attracted David Lynch, and Nicole Kidman's performance in the thriller "Over the Horizon" also made David Lynch pay attention to him.
Of course, Aaron Anderson recommended Nicole Kidman to the head of PolyGram Films, which was also an important reason. After all, the main source of funds for "Wild at Heart" was PolyGram, plus the French Canal+ TV station and the North American distributor Samuel Goldwyn Films also contributed part of the funds, preparing $10 million for the filming cost of David Lynch's "Wild at Heart".
"Don't worry, Aaron. David has seen Nicole's performance in the movie Over the Horizon. There's nothing wrong with it!"
Michael Kuhn, the head of film at PolyGram in the United States, said to Aaron with a smile.
Aaron nodded and looked at him, "PolyGram is also going to make its own movies, right?"
"Yes, PolyGram Films has just acquired 49% of the shares of Studio Pictures in the UK, and it is indeed going to make its own works;"
"You also know that the British film market is completely monopolized by Hollywood. Our works can't compare with Hollywood projects."
Michael Kuhn said, handing Aaron a glass of wine.
Obviously, PolyGram is targeting American independent films. After all, the cost is low, right?
This year, Sex, lies, and videotape became the first American independent film to win the world's top film festival award, Aaron Anderson's vision has attracted the attention of many European filmmakers.
Aaron walked to the window. "Although independent films have appeared a long time ago, the mainstream Hollywood has always been condescending to them. "
"For the mainstream, independent films are nothing more than street stalls!"
"Michael, it won't be long before independent films become big business, and savvy Hollywood film producers will package and launch their mainstream films in the form of independent films."
The streets are crowded with people. Now, New York City, as the heart of the world, has unlimited opportunities and challenges.
Michael Kuhn smiled and said, "PolyGram needs to make a name for itself first. It is necessary to show up at international film festivals."
Los Angeles on the west coast of the United States is the center of the film industry, and it is well-known, while New York on the east coast is the center of independent films.
Have you ever thought that New York is the birthplace of American films. In the early 21st century, those Jews ran from New York to the west coast to establish Hollywood in order to escape Edison's film monopoly!
[Thomas Edison attempted to monopolize the early film industry in the United States through patent lawsuits and by forming the Motion Picture Patents Company(MPPC).This trust, which included several major film companies, aimed to control the industry by licensing equipment and raw film stock and restricting production and exhibition. However, the government eventually found this trust to be an unfair monopoly and dissolved it in 1915]
"Aaron, you are more suitable to be a film producer, not an agent."
"Really? There is also the profession of manager in Hollywood." Aaron shook his head, but managers are tied to artists, and Aaron is not interested in spending too much time on a few artists.
"What do you think of "Wild at Heart"?"
"Let's go to the film festival. This kind of literary and artistic work is more mainstream in Europe!"
"Yeah, it's what I mean," Michael Kuhn thought so.
"Director Steven Soderbergh, does he have any new projects recently?"
Aaron shook his head, "His debut film 'Sex, Lies, and Videotape' will be released next month in August;" "
Let's talk about it after it is released. He doesn't have any new ideas now."
Then, Aaron smiled, "In the future, we may be able to cooperate soon!"
"Oh, Aaron, do you have a good script?"
"Well, I'll send you the plan when the time comes," Aaron found it difficult to attract investment in Hollywood, and his target was Europe and Japan.
In the evening, Aaron and Nicole Kidman returned to the hotel together. Judging from each other's expressions, the audition should have gone well.
"Is that Nicolas Cage really the nephew of Director Coppola?"
Nicole Kidman sat on the sofa and asked with some doubt.
"How can it be false? He can appear in various movies at such a young age. How can people from a famous family be the same as ordinary people?"
"Well, his performance is very good, and he feels comfortable playing opposite roles!"
"The performance is very good?"
Aaron smiled. That's Nicolas Cage. He appeared in various film and television works when he was a teenager, and he had already played the leading role in a movie when he was 19.
So what if he changed his last name? Don't people know that he is the nephew of Francis Coppola?
Nicolas Kim Coppola, that's his real name.
Even he himself said that he was able to get those roles mainly because of his identity effect.
However, Nicolas Cage's acting skills are indeed good, and he has been honing his acting skills in art films!
Aaron leaned on the sofa, "You are only 22 years old, still very young, it is necessary to hone your acting skills in this kind of art film;"
"When the time is right, I will arrange for you to take some commercial films. Awards are important, but Hollywood always looks at the box office!"
"Well, I know," Nicole Kidman came to Aaron, "Let's go to rest..."
July's summer blockbuster battle raged on. Warner Bros.' "Batman" was ruthlessly clawing screen time away from Paramount's "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade." Amidst this high-stakes competition, Aaron seized the opportunity presented by "Wild at Heart's" production to connect with Samuel Goldwyn II, the head of the venerable distribution company.
Following the film's wrap, producer Thomas Ruger had provided Aaron with a rough cut, a tangible asset for his promotional efforts.
In the muted light of a small screening room, Samuel Goldwyn II rubbed his tired eyes, the images of teenage mutant turtles flashing in his mind. "Isn't the violence in 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'… a bit much?"
"It's rooted in the source material, which was always intended for a more mature audience," Aaron countered, his voice calm and persuasive. "The raw, energetic action is a key part of its appeal. There's a significant market for this kind of film."
Goldwyn II remained skeptical, his gaze lingering on the low-budget aesthetic of the rough cut. "The production design looks… economical. The costumes, the sets… it has the feel of a low-tier action flick. Perhaps the home video market would be a more suitable avenue."
Aaron shook his head firmly. "A direct-to-video release would be a mistake. A theatrical run is essential to build awareness and credibility."
Goldwyn II leaned forward, his expression shrewd. "Three million dollars. I'll offer you three million dollars for the North American distribution rights – theatrical, video, and television."
A wry smile touched Aaron's lips. "Impossible, Samuel. We have immense faith in 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.' The production budget alone was $13.5 million."
He paused, letting the number sink in. "Securing the North American distribution rights will require a significantly larger investment. We're talking closer to… seven million."
END OF THE CHAPTER....