Exploiting Hollywood 1980

   Chapter 111 Club 54

  RSA's full name is Ridley Scott & Associates (RidleyScottAssociates). His bosses and founders were Ridley and Tony of the Scott brothers.

  RSA has recruited a group of British film and television production talents. Famous film directors include the Scott brothers and Alan Parker. But now Ridley Scott and his brother Tony are still busy with big projects, adapting the sci-fi masterpiece "Dune" into a movie. Alan Parker is busy in the post-production of "Famous".

   happened to be the director of the New York branch, and only Hugh Hudson was free. He was a second-team director for Alan Parker's last film, The Midnight Express.

Dan, the creative director of BBDO, hired Hugh Hudson to make a Chewels chewing gum commercial, and confronted Ronald, "What we want to highlight is that the fruit-filled flavor in Chewels chewing gum will make you forget it is Sugar-free gum. It tastes as good as sugary gum."

Hugh Hudson has a mess of hair, a bit like a rock star, "It's not difficult, but is it necessary to shoot such a big advertisement for this new product?" The budget is not low.

   "Yes, I have to beat Darcy Maguire's idea." Dan pointed to it, "That old guy would rather promote Darcy because a woman can't threaten his position."

   "As long as the budget is sufficient, anything can be said."

  …

  The American Ballet Company, which has ended its San Francisco tour, is heading to Los Angeles. Ronald behaved well this time, and called directly to the director Makarova.

   "Ms. Natalia Makarova, I'm Ronald. Ronald Lee, Antonia's friend."

   "Hi, Ronald, hello." Makarova answered the phone in a happy tone, "Our schedule is very tight, Antonia is still rehearsing, do you have anything? I can tell her."

   Ronald knew in his heart that this was to stop the two of them from talking. Many times couples have not seen or spoken for a long time, and the relationship will gradually fade.

   "No, I don't have anything special. It's just that I haven't heard Tonya's voice for a long time. I want to have a word with her."

   Hearing that Makarova was still trying to persuade him to hurry, Ronald simply pointed it out:

"I didn't mean to persuade Donia to give up her ballet career, it's just that you didn't let us talk for a long time. I want to make it clear whether this is Donia's own wish. If she is sure to put her career first, we are fine. friend.

   There is no need to make any drama, let's not be friends, what do you say? Ms. Natalia Makarova? After all, this is free America, and everyone has the freedom to choose. "

   Makarova was silent for a while, "Well, you're a different guy, I'm sure you won't say anything against Antonia. I'll go to her, and you can say it yourself."

   After a while, Antonia answered the phone, "Hi, Ronnie. Nice to hear from you."

   "Me too, Donia. How's your life at the ballet? Are you happy?"

   "I like the dance group very much. I also have the opportunity to dance during the tour, but the time is very busy. Apart from practicing, playing, studying, and then traveling and resting..." Antonia stopped and did not speak.

It was Ronald who broke the silence, "I'm so happy for you, that you've found a career you're gifted with and love. You'll have to remember to come back to New York next year, and the world-famous premiere. It's time for Aunt Karen and Donna will be there too."

   "Ronald, we..." Antonia's voice was obviously sad, and she was speechless.

   "Of course we are still friends, very good friends. Don't forget our promise, I also want to be the patron of your dance troupe." Ronald pretended to be lighthearted and made an old joke.

  Antonia laughed twice, then stopped. The two talked about everyday things, and finally the telephone receiver turned to Makarova.

   "Ronald, our tour is over in half a year, and Antonia will go back to the American Ballet School's graduation ceremony. You will meet then."

   "Thank you, Ms. Makarova, for taking care of Donya for me."

  …

   Ronald hung up the phone, very sad. Walking alone on the streets of New York, wandering aimlessly.

   He saw a small shop, bought a pack of Lucky cigarettes that he didn't usually smoke, lit one with a match and started smoking.

   Strolled to New York University's Diese Institute, Ronald saw many classmates and acquaintances. Everyone greeted him, and some people invited him to join a party. Ronald refused. He walked into the warehouse where the photographic equipment was kept, and silently looked at the equipment.

   "It's you, Ronald, are you here to borrow photography equipment too?"

   Ronald looked back and saw that it was Sheldon Jackson Lee, his black classmate in the last classic movie appreciation class.

   "Hello, Sheldon. I'm just here to see what equipment is available."

   "Call me Spike, that's the nickname my mom gave me, and my friends call me Spike."

   "Okay, Spike, have you found money for your movie?" Ronald remembered that he wanted to make a short film and was looking for money.

   "Yes, the Black Equality Foundation in New York gave me some money, although it's not enough, I'm going to shoot it first, and I'll talk about it later when I get more money."

This is a kind of normal for students to make movies. How much money and how much film to shoot, if you can find more money with the film that you shoot, you will make the movie into a full-length film. If you can't get the money, it will be cut into a short film and submitted. Graduated.

   "That's great, what are you going to shoot?"

"I'm going to shoot a black barber shop, where customers of all skin colors come and go, and everyone discusses issues of racial equality. But the protagonist barber was also coerced by gangsters, forced to sell underground lottery tickets, and eventually died. I want to show the kind of black community. Even if you work hard, it's hard to get out of the atmosphere of that place..."

  Spike begins to ramble about his cinematic ideals, and Ronald doesn't want to listen to it at all, just using his mouth as a white noise generator.

   "Will you help me? I know you have Hollywood experience."

   "Of course, Spike, of course." Ronald replied casually.

"That's great, I knew you were different from those Hollywood second-generations as soon as I saw you. You didn't discriminate against us black people, and treated us equally. They always pretended to care about black people's equal rights, but in fact they always regarded us as lacking in IQ. race."

   Ronald was no longer interested in listening to the tirade and interrupted Spike Lee's sermon: "Do you know there is a fun place to relax? Spike?"

"What? Want to meet some girls?" Spike laughed. "I know Club 54 is on fire right now, but I can't go with you, I'll be treated as gay. You have to find a girl to go with. It's up to you. Looks will not be rejected."

   "Club 54? What is that place?"

"It's a disco club on the edge of Hell's Kitchen, a lot of celebrities go, and a lot of good stuff. It's at 254 West 54th Street in midtown Manhattan, and there's a long line out the door, you won't get it wrong. Remember. Take a girl and drive with you."

  Thanks to Spike, Ronald began to wonder what female friends he had, and called Madonna anyway.

   "Madonna, I'm Ronald, remember?"

"Hi Ronald, so happy to hear your voice, I thought you forgot about me." Madonna seemed happy on the phone, "I just got a band from a European tour and just had nowhere to go. , do you want to have dinner together?"

   "Forget about you? How come, I want to find a girlfriend to go to Club 54 with you, do you want to go?"

   "Club 54! It's great, I want to go so much, would you like to take me there? Great."

   Madonna's volume suddenly increased, Ronald took the phone away from his ear, and waited for the other party to finish his emotion.

   "Which regular do you know there? Grace Jones? Or Tina Turner?"

   Ronald said in his heart that I didn't know a single one, "Why do I need to know someone to get in?"

   "You don't know? Then we have to go to the door to try our luck. Have you driven a car? There is a better chance of having a car."

  Ronald had a question mark on his forehead, but it was difficult to ask in detail on the phone, "Okay, I'll pick you up, do you want to finish dinner together? Madonna?"

   "Dinner? No, what is there for dinner at Club 54? Let's go quickly. It will be more difficult to get in if you go late."

   Ronald drove to Madonna's house, picked up the girl, and drove to the location of Club 54.

   Along the way, Madonna was still chattering about how many singers, movie stars, and celebrities will appear in the 54 club. If she can catch a few, she will be able to enter the record circle and release films.

   said Ronald was a little doubtful that he had found the wrong person and came to the wrong place. I just want to find a place to relax, how come I feel like a Vanity Fair.

   Arrived at the door of the 54 club, and saw a large group of people blocked at the door, a tall doorman, from time to time, let one or two in. Those who went in were happy, those who didn't go in were dejected, but they continued to wait at the door. I hope a celebrity will take a fancy to them and bring them in together.

Ronald just stopped the car when Madonna jumped down, "Howie! Howie Montag! It's me, Madonna, last time I came with Mick Jagger, you remember me ?"

  The janitor named Howie Montogger saw her and shook his head, "Who are you with today?"

   Madonna pointed to Ronald, who just got off the bus. I came with him, Ronald Lee. He is the director of the Hollywood production crew "Famous Around the World".

  Howey looked at Ronald, "I haven't heard of it, you can only be candidates for ordinary couples" and pointed to a group of people lining up next to him.

   Ronald had no choice but to line up behind Madonna. After a while, another pair of young men and women came. Howe, the janitor, began to let people go.

   "You, you, you, Madonna, and you..." He pointed to Madonna, and the boy in the pair later, you can go in.

   "What about me?" Ronald and the girl in the back pair called out at the same time.

   "I'm sorry." Howie shrugged, not letting them in.

   Madonna happily hugged Howie and kissed him, rushed in, and said to Ronald, "Honey, let's meet again next time!"

   The boy who was named also rushed in. The girl behind was so angry that she stomped her feet, "Howard, what are you going to do if you just leave me like this and let me take the subway at night?"

   Ronald turned his head, a tall young girl with brown hair: "It's not safe to take the subway here in Hell's Kitchen at night. If you want, I can drive you back first."

   (end of this chapter)