Exploiting Hollywood 1980

   Chapter 388 Vacation

"Hey bro. Your packing party is a bit sloppy." Nicolas Cage, who had been drinking a lot at the big party after filming, tapped Ronald on the shoulder and started babbling, "Not even that one. "

   "Say hello to Limato for me." Ronald handed Cage to Kevin Costner, also under Ed Limato's agent. Limato received a call from Ronald, and after hearing that Cage was drunk, he sent an assistant and a car to pick him up.

   "I will." Costner nodded, and together with his assistant, he helped Cage, who will continue to rehearse for the new play next Monday, out. Before going out, he turned around and said to Ronald, "Thank you, Ronald."

   "What a party", DP Arthur Albert is Latino and loves this kind of party where everyone eats and drinks.

   "It's been a pleasure working with you. I've got a few new assignments, and we can work together again if the opportunity arises. What's your plan next? Will you start editing right away, Ronald?"

"I'll give myself two weeks off, that's my habit. Do something that has nothing to do with the movie and let my brain cool down so I can see the flaws in the movie," Ronald replied. road.

   "Good idea, have you thought about going there for vacation?"

   "I don't know, I might go to Britain to see my girlfriend.."

   Sending everyone off the crew, Ronald gave a small tip to the staff of the party service company who left the cleaning.

   If you shoot a movie alone, there will be no leisurely shooting and editing like the "fast-paced" above. All film-related matters need to be handled by Ronald himself.

  The most urgent thing that jumped out of Ronald's notebook was the episode of the two heroines trying on haute couture in a department store.

   Ronaldo's manager, Nisita, inquired about several record companies, but did not get the exact result. If you don't find this "Girls Just Want to Have Fun (GirlsJustWanttoHaveFun, then you'll have to find another song with similar rhythm and lyrics.

  In addition to the interlude, there is also a soundtrack. Adding the two together, the total cost cannot exceed 8-10% of the total budget, and finding a cheaper composition has become a top priority.

   Ronald has asked Michael Gore, who won the Academy Award for Best Original Song with him on "The Famous". Gore himself was already so expensive that "Night of the Comet" couldn't afford it, and he promised to recommend a composition with a better price/performance ratio.

   In addition to these technical issues, there is the release of the film. The Atlantic's previous film, "Valley Girl," was set for release in April, and "Night of the Comet" will not be marketed and released until some of its funds have been collected from its release.

   A lot of things are waiting for Ronald to deal with, but the first priority is to get a good night's sleep.

   Back at the apartment, Ronald lay down on the bed and started to sleep soundly. Two weeks of intense physical and mental work made him sleep soundly, and he was woken up by the phone ringing at noon the next day.

   "Ronald, Michael Jackson of Epic Records came to you and said he wanted to show you his breakdance." It was CAA's manager Richard calling.

   "Hey? What is he doing with me as a singer? I'm still sleeping."

   "The dance coach you introduced helped him practice a full set of movements and said he wanted to see you."

   "Crazy legs?"

  Ronald rubbed his eyes, got up and took a hot bath to wake himself up completely.

  Richard arrives at the apartment shortly after, driving him to Epic Records' studio in Los Angeles.

   "Any news lately?" Ronald sat in the car, eating the "Burger King" burger brought by Richard, fries, onion rings, and a glass of Pepsi.

   "A lot of things." Richard told Ronald about the entertainment news of the past few weeks while driving.

   "Your friend Cynthia Rhodes is the one who played the dancer in 'Lightning Dance' and was picked by Stallone to play the heroine of 'Dance of the Flying Phoenix'."

   "Huh? I asked Nisita to say hello, doesn't she have such a big influence? Does she have other connections?" Ronald asked, nibbling on the hamburger.

   "According to Nisita, when he accompanied Cynthia to the audition, Stallone's younger brother Frank Stallone saw her and was pursuing Cynthia with all his strength. Frank will also play a supporting role, a musician who is dating the heroine played by Cynthia."

   "Well, okay. What's the news?" Ronald finished eating a hamburger and started eating onion rings again. The script of "Dragon Flying Phoenix Dance" has been changed into a mess, and I have no interest in it at all.

   "The L.A. premiere of Flash Dance is set, and Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer have sent you invitations. It's in April."

   "I'll go." Ronald took a swig of Coke.

   "Your girlfriend Helen called you from the Britannia set and asked me to tell you that she is all right, don't worry."

   "I want to go to the London scout class, but I just don't know when I'll be free."

   "I have asked my colleagues in London to send flowers to Helen on your behalf. If you set a time, I will arrange all air tickets and accommodation."

   "Thank you, Richard."

   "It's okay, the broker should handle these things for you."

   "Any news?"

"That's all that matters to you, and there are some big industry events. Columbia's president, Frank Price, lost his fight at the top, let go of last year's biggest box office moneymaker 'ET Alien', and was sent by his new owner, Coca-Cola. of executives collectively demand their resignation, which may be announced in Colombia in the near future.”

   "Huh? Where will he go?"

"I don't know, industry rumors say that 20th Century Fox is the most likely. They fired Shirley Lansing and are in need of a male president. By the way, Lansing officially rejected Paramount's invitation and started a production company by himself. ." Richard reported a number of major personnel changes in the industry.

"Hmmm...I think about it, that's right. Shirley Lansing's 'Full Body' has been handed over to the new producer. I heard that they will go to the original director Herbert Ross."

   "At that time, the planning of the two films was about the same time. I had already filmed them here, and they had not yet decided on the director."

   "That's the way the big studios work, it's hard to wait for the green light."

   Ronald finished his hamburger, Richard finished the news, and the two drove to the rehearsal room of Epic Records.

  In the rehearsal hall, the thin black singer Michael Jackson on the stage was talking to Crazy Legs, as if they were arguing about something.

   "Hey, this dance is our rebellion against capitalism, why can't we do those traditional dance moves? With these fighting lyrics? This is the tradition of black people using music to rebel against these white masters."

   "Listen, my friend. That dance step was meant to go with Billie Jean on my new album, are you blaming my music?"

   "Hey, MJ, here comes the Ronald you're looking for." A man who looked like an agent came to the stage and whispered a few words to MJ.

   "Ronald, please come in."

   Ronald walked into the rehearsal hall and said hello to Michael Jackson and Crazy Legs.

   "Hi Ronald, I'm glad you can come", MJ smiled and showed a sincere smile, "Music? I'll dance it for Ronald to see."

  Michael Jackson performed his choreography for Ronald.

   "She told me her name was BillieJean because she caused a stir

   Everyone's heads are turned and their eyes are dreaming of being that she"

  Billy King's music played, and Ronald watched MJ dance on stage. With a white T-shirt and a black top hat, Ronald suddenly felt a little familiar.

   This choreography is very familiar. It seems that the one that I can dance is like this. Did I learn it from MJ in my previous life?

   "What do you think?" MJ stopped with the music and asked Ronald on stage.

   "Okay!" Ronald and Richard both applauded, although they were also spacewalkers, it was obvious that MJ danced much better and more powerfully than himself.

   "Your dance will definitely cause a sensation." Ronald said sincerely, "That move is great, but it seems that you can do something more powerful?"

   "You like it? Ha, good, you like it." MJ jumped down and held Ronald's hand, "Crazy legs don't like the classic moves of my seniors that I changed too much..."

  Ronald raised his hands, indicating that he didn't understand at all, "I don't understand this at all, I just think it fits this song very well."

   "Very good, then I'll change to a new dance coach, you won't be unhappy, right?"

   Ronald glanced at Crazy Leg, "Of course not, I've only worked with him on the same crew."

   "Okay, I've made movies before..."

   After chatting about movies and songs, Ronald saw that the man beside MJ kept raising his hand to signal his watch. Knowing that MJ was busy, he took the opportunity to say goodbye.

   "Okay, you must come to the Motown Memorial Concert."

   Ronald said goodbye to him and went to the gate with Richard.

   It's a bit strange to come here today, so MJ asked him to watch the dance? Maybe the crazy leg was introduced by himself, and MJ had to notify himself first if he wanted to replace him? Are black people so particular about things?

"I told you, your album is an epoch-making work, what you need now is to make a name for yourself at the Motown 25th anniversary concert, the MV can be postponed, and we will arrange the most famous movies. The director is here to take charge, not an exploitative director like him." The agent-like man whispered to MJ.

   "Well, I just think the movies he made are interesting. Brooke also mentioned his name to me." MJ spread his hands.

   "I brought you two breakdance talents from Los Angeles. You are a star, and a star does not need to learn dance steps from anyone, and no one can be your teacher."

   "Okay, some new music." MJ didn't comment on his arrangement and started talking to his dance group. After a day of rehearsing the Billy King dance, he wanted a change.

   "When the day's work is over

   Oh girls, they want to have some fun”

   The dance troupe changed a record and started dancing to the new music.

   "Huh?" Ronald, who walked to the door, heard the singing from the loudspeaker. It was the high-pitched female voice in the dream, and it was the same song.

   He turned back and walked back, "Whose song is this? Who is the girl singing?"

   (end of this chapter)