nightcrawler in los angeles

Chapter 90 Rush into Hollywood with the Godfather 2
[On the influence of gangsters in Hollywood]

If this topic is moved to the major film schools, this topic will definitely be written by the major directors who have been working in Hollywood for many years!

So Bolton "invited" a producer named Jay Wolpert from Hollywood as soon as Tausi left.

Jay Wolpert, who is 43 years old this year, is certainly not the kind of ordinary person on the street who stops people and lets you read my script.

He is a TV producer for Paramount Studios, and in private, Jay Wolpert often helps some film studios adapt scripts to earn some private money.

Although many people have never heard of his name.

But the TV series "Dragon and Tiger Boys" that was just released in the United States recently started filming under his auspices, and Johnny Depp, who became famous because of this film, really planted a seed in the hearts of American girls.

Jay Wolpert looked nervously at the visiting room of the Los Angeles County prison.

The two prison guards standing at the door made Jay Wolpert feel like he was in a den of thieves. After all, there is no prison visiting room in the United States that allows prisoners to visit at 7 o'clock in the evening.

"Hey, don't be nervous, this time you are just here to share some knowledge you know with an old friend of mine." An old policeman stood at the door of the visiting room and comforted Jay Wolbert.

"Oh! My God! If it wasn't for the generous consulting fee you gave me this time, I would suspect that I was kidnapped here."

"Next time, if I shoot a crime-themed TV series, I definitely won't ask you to be the technical director."

The old policeman smiled nonchalantly when he heard Jay Wolpert's accusation and replied: "No, no, no, I have already seen it on the set, you people who work for capitalists have no right to speak, only them What is said, you have to do what, don't you?"

While the two of them were chatting with each other, Bolton walked in from the outside.

"Long time no see, Portgas! How are you? I heard from Jeffrey that you have been transferred to the Public Relations Department of the Federal Administration!"

Portgas Bonu shook hands with Bolton slightly restrained after seeing Bolton coming out: "Hahaha, I have been busy all day today, if Jeffrey hadn't told me that you have something to do, I would have Neither will come."

Bolton, who walked into the visiting room, lit a cigarette and was about to pass one to Jay, a producer from a big factory, but Jay Wolpert just helped his glasses frame nervously and explained: "Oh! God, after seeing you, I finally understand why the director of the Public Relations Department of the Federal General Administration came here in person."

"Wow, I'm glad there are still people in Los Angeles who can remember me." Bolton tilted his head indifferently, indicating that he had already sat in prison.

"I don't know why you paid me $10000 to consult." Jay Wolpert looked nervous, his legs kept shaking on and off the table, and the sweat on his forehead seemed like he didn't want money. It stopped dripping on the table.

"Don't be nervous, I just want to know something about Hollywood theaters."

As soon as Jay Wolpert heard this, countless "gangster money laundering" schemes popped up in his mind. After all, Hollywood is a place where it is legal as long as you pay taxes. No one cares where your money comes from. As long as you Willing to invest money in your director or producer.

When the movie you made with money is released, it can be supervised through the accounts of major theaters and the fund account of the American Film Association, and your money will be laundered.

Although many thoughts flashed in his mind, Jay Wolbert couldn't say it, he was afraid that if he said it, he wouldn't be able to get out of the prison.

"Now there are actually only a few theater chain companies in the United States, and the theater distribution business has just started to flourish in the past few years."

"In 1901, the most popular theater in the United States was the Nickel Theater, and there were nearly 5000 theaters at the peak."

"Later, in 1943, because of the popularization of automobiles, there was another theater chain called drive-in theaters, but because of the emergence of television, more than 5000 movie theaters in the United States closed down overnight, until the emergence of Hollywood and the madness of capital With the influx, the cinema has slowly shifted from a private space to a public space."

"Up to now, there are only eight film distribution companies on the main promotion and distribution fronts of all film companies, and those independent theaters are basically negligible."

Bolton saw Jay Wolpert finish these words, and Bolton asked directly: "Oh? Has the concept of drive-in theaters existed so early?"

"That's right! It's ridiculous to say that."

"As early as 1989, watching movies was actually regarded as entertainment for the poor, but after 1960, with the development of the American commercial body, many movie theaters were located on the top floors of shopping malls."

"Movie tickets have also changed from 5 cents a piece at the beginning to 19.9 dollars a piece now! If you want to eat popcorn, it may be more expensive."

Bolton just nodded at Jay Wolpert's words and didn't presume to express his opinion.

Seeing that Bolton was in deep thought, Jay Wolpert wisely picked up the water glass in his hand and drank carefully.

"Do you know how many drive-in theaters there are in Los Angeles so far?"

As soon as Jay Wolpert heard Bolton's question, he immediately became energetic: "Oh, if you ask about other things, I don't know. If you ask about this, I still know something. Do you know about MGM?"

"He is the kind of company that can only produce its own films but has no distribution channels. Sometimes some B-grade films in his hands have to rely on independent theaters or drive-in theaters to recover costs."

"I remember that not long ago a romance film named [Romantic Beauty] was not favored by all distribution companies, so they united nearly 1700 drive-in theaters in Los Angeles to show this film, and the film was only withdrawn $170 million at the box office!"

As soon as Bolton heard this, he understood a lot, but he still had one last question.

"Why can't drive-in cinemas compete with United Cinemas?"

"Would you pay $10 for a good burger without the meat if you could get a good meat burger for $8?"

"The drive-in theater is too restrictive. It can't make customers enjoy watching movies, but the United Cinemas can."

"Then, if my ticket price is lowered, then this matter can be implemented?"

Jay Wolpert nodded in agreement when he heard Bolton's words: "Of course, if your parking lot is big enough and the curtain is big enough!"

(End of this chapter)