Jammed and Joyful June 2
June 1978
San Fernando
California
At Newgate Mansion
Robert Newgate (MC's Uncle) POV
This June was a tight schedule. With films, games, comics, papers and politics have made me feel hectic and tired.
The games 'Tron' and 'Pac-Man' were hit;
The films 'Tron', 'Halloween' and 'Grease' were hit;
The paper producing company will start the work in July;
The submission of the rating system will be approved next day;
All the companies are now rise,
Especially IL&M, it developed a new system for special effects, and with that I can work with others and gain useful and important contacts in film industry;
GALAXY Games are having my Nephew's project and working in creating them;
Newgate Productions are also using my Nephew's works and decision;
A lot of workload, but it was eventful, truly eventful.
All of this success will never be without my Nephew's (Edward) involvement.
His ideas and suggestions are what making this possible.
His productivity is increasing, I won't be able to help if he keeps on introducing his new works.
So, I have to increase the scale.
I have noticed that Edward is preparing a plan for the film, based on the book 'Rambo: First Blood'. Not only that, he is also enquiring about music industry and songs.
I still don't understand, what is going in this little head.
Though, he is going to school, I know he is already learning advanced stuff. So, I talked to the school management and made them leave him alone in the class if he is not disturbing others.
I thought he will find new friends. Alas! He is drawing in his class or napping if he gets bored.
I had to send extra money to avoid the trouble in school.
Today, the meeting with the 20th Century Fox went well. The preparations for the film 'Alien' was undergoing well. The sequel of 'Star Wars' will be co-produced with them.
The Paramount's negotiation will also be completed in next week or two.
Universal is asking for a co-production, but Newgate productions is working at full capacity.
The films 'Alien' co-produced with Fox; 'Superman' with Warner Bros; 'Up in Smoke' with Stigwood; now 'Star Wars' sequel with Fox; 'Arthur' and the adaption of 'Rambo: First Blood' will be produced on our own.
With such a schedule, I am feeling stressful and somewhat happy.
It seems like next year, I will have to co-produce a film with Universal because they have been coming and asking for a co-production, and I said that I will give them one next year for sure.
I have learnt a painful lesson of not sharing profits if you are not strong enough. So, I will share the profits until I become one of the players who moves the pieces.
Now, Steve Gordon has presented me with 'Arthur' script and my Nephew approved it for film adaption. With this script, I can have a co-production with the Universal Pictures.
Another problem gone with this co-production. But the root still remains.
I need to make the Newgate Productions another behemoth standing with the other big studios.
I have been observing the film production studios that are not doing well so that, I can acquire them.
The United Artists is now in dire states because their three senior executives left the studio and formed their own studio Orion Pictures Corporation with the support of Warner Bros.
Their parent company Transamerica is considering selling the studio and its library for a good price. Transamerica is now going through the financial problems and the UA is needing more money to maintain its operations.
Not only that, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) is also struggling financially. Kirk Kerkorian is also selling off the MGM's old collections, props and other ancillary like music studio etc.
American International Pictures/Productions (AIP) is also struggling and was facing financial pressures. Because of their low cost and low risk approach, along with big studios occupying more and more theatres, it put more pressure on many small studios. This AIP also have television network. They are now looking for other studios to approach and acquire their company.
My sources say that Filmways was trying to acquire them. They want the AIP library and AITV to merge with their Filmways company.
Among UA, MGM and AIP; I am more inclined to acquire the AIP. They have film library, TV channel network and theatre chain. It also has international sources, so that it can acquire some films and screen them.
When Newgate Productions can merge with these, it will have more reach and foundation.
I have also looked into the animation industry for acquiring animation studio.
Among them DePatie-Freleng Enterprises (DFE) which now is peak with 'Pink Panther' franchise and Jay Ward Productions receiving the Inkpot Award. Not to mention Disney's animation studio and Hanna-Barbara Studio, because of them, the small animation studios outsource their work to Japanese animation studios like Toei Animation and Mad House.
I have decided to look for the animation studios that have their iconic characters like 'Tom and Jerry', 'Pink Panther', 'Woody the Woodpecker' etc…
Then I found Bagdasarian Productions is now going through the trouble times because the creator of 'Alvin and Chipmunks' was dead in 1972. From then on, his son Ross is taking care of the studio. The studio is now facing financial pressure and I think now is the best time to acquire a stake in them.
After acquiring them wholly, I will have IL&M to make separate division for animation and merge with Bagdasarian to form a whole new studio.
With IL&M's computer animation and Bagdasarian traditional animation techniques, I am they will create a best visual feast for eyes.
Thinking about it makes me excited because my Nephew's works will give them more content to make and Newgate family will be officially stepping into animations with this.
I am sure Edward will be happy with this animation studio.
Now for comic company, I have searched and found Charlton Comics which has a wide variety of genres including crime, sci-fi, western, horror, war, romance, superhero and talking animals. Most of these genre titles went on hiatus during Jan to Aug 1977 and much of the new talent took opportunity to move on to Marvel and DC. Because of this, the Charlton comics facing decline in sales, with aging presses and not having resources they are struggling.
I have decided to buy the Charlton comics because of their current situation, it is valued less than million dollars.
Not only that, I have also made sure to hire more talents. Because my Nephew's works seems a bit like Japanese manga and American Comic mix. These talents will be from Disney and Japanese.
In the music industry, that Edward has been researching, I have decided to wait until he gives me his proposal. Afterall, I don't want to have conflict with his ideas and upset him.
This June has been me dealing with big studios and overseeing the company productions, along with researching the things my nephew wanted.
In July, I will have the Animation studio; Comic company; a film production company with theatre chain, TV network, their library and crews.
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Steve Gordon POV
Paramount Pictures rejected my 'Arthur' script because of me asking for directing this film.
The studio executives have decided to stop the project. I have been searching for other studios for the investment in my project.
With my friend's connection, I was given a chance to meet and present my proposal to the Newgate Productions.
Now-a-days, Newgate Productions is on rise because of their films which are successes. With them earning multiple times the investment, many people are flocking for their investment.
I was given a chance after using my connections.
In an hour, I will be able to meet with Robert Newgate, who will give a verdict of whether he can invest or not.
When I reached to the Newgate Productions, I was notified that my meeting him was rescheduled and I can meet next week or today evening.
I was disappointed but I needed this opportunity. So, I decided to meet him in the evening.
At Evening.
As I reached their mansion, I saw that Robert was also coming back to his home.
I was received by him and then was told to give him a summary of his proposal.
When I was saying him my story and how I will direct the shots, he seemed to be convinced. So, he said that we will have a conversation tomorrow on the budget and complete the deal.
Next Day.
The meeting was successful and the deal was done with a total budget of $7 million of which $6 million is for overall production, from casting to post-production and another $1 million will be kept for advertising.
And an Assistant producer from the Newgate Productions will oversee the project.
I was happy that my script will be directed by me and started to work with them.
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Ross Bagdasarian Jr. POV
After my father Ross Sr. died, the Bagdasarian productions was in shambles. The people were not working properly. They are cutting corners and I was having problems in making them work.
As a child, I worked with father in editing and coordinating the sound tracks and falsetto voice-overs of Chipmunks.
After I grown, I was also admitted to California bar as an attorney in 1975.
Because of this, I started to work hard in removing the tumours in the company. After I have removed them, now I am facing the external problems no money.
No money to develop the company. No money to pay the salaries. No money to pay the debts.
At this time, I was only able to go through this is because of my love Janice Karman.
Both her parent are psychologists. She has played a role of Bunny in 1975 film 'Switchblade Sisters' and hank in 1976 'Slumber Party 57'.
We met accidentally and we fell in love together.
Janice has been trying her best in everything and that was what she has been teaching me.
With her support, I was able to solve the internal and some external problems.
I hope we will be able to solve the problems altogether. She has been with me when I was down and I am thankful to God for making me meet such a woman.
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At Paramount Pictures
Michael Eisner POV
I feel regret allowing the Newgate productions to invest in 'Grease' film. At first, this film was with Stigwood productions, and we will be able to get distribution. But Newgate invested and they have taken a large share of profits.
When Stigwood productions approached to invest, I wanted to invest in such a promising film but the company executives don't want. Now they must be regretting in letting go of the film.
We have another film 'Up in Smoke' that was also a co-production with Newgate Productions. I have a feeling that this will also be a hit like 'Grease'.
That Newgate have such good luck in choosing the scripts for the adaptions. I hope Paramount will have another co-production if possible.
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Jim Henson POV
I wanted have 'The Muppets' to be on large screen. So, I have been searching for an investor to invest in the project.
After a long time, ITC has agreed to finance the film. So, I took my team and went to UK and filmed. The team filmed and tested how the characters would appear in real-world locations during the first few days of June 1978.
The camera tests and filmed scenes were carefully taken. Now all I have to do is show them and ask ITC for investment.
I hope they will invest, if not I have to look for other investors.
With that, I boarded the flight.
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