Exploiting Hollywood 1980

   Chapter 548 The Magic of the Olympics

   "So Eric is really going to be replaced?" Helen Slater asked during dinner with Ronald.

   "It's not up to me to decide. The producer of 'Back to the Future' is Spielberg, and he will generally weigh the pros and cons of switching and not switching."

   "But I always think his acting is very good. His acting is not superficial. Every reaction is from the inside out. Just because it doesn't fit the temperament of the movie, did you change him?"

  Ronald forked a deep-fried shrimp cake into his mouth, the juice oozing from the deep-fried golden crispy skin, the delicious taste mixed with the deep-fried aroma, as if it was about to explode on the tongue.

   "Here's a piece of this shrimp cake." Ronald advised Helen to eat more. After suffering from anorexia, Helen was always cautious. But she should be able to try a little of this kind of food.

   "Well, it tastes very good. I remember eating this flavor when I was a child in Manhattan. The chef of this Greek cuisine is very good." Helen really praised it after she tried it.

"Actually, a movie is like a well-cooked dish. The ingredients, techniques, the chef's craftsmanship, and the speed at which it is delivered to our table all determine the final taste." Ronald took a sip of white wine and pointed to the dish vegetable.

   "If you replace the shrimp here with fish, the elastic feeling will be gone. This dish may still be delicious, but it is no longer so delicious."

   "I see what you mean, but Stoltz shouldn't pay for it. If he can meet the right character, like the last 'Mask'..."

  Ronald continued to eat, which was not easy for him to answer. It's true that this character has problems when it comes to casting, and Eric Stoltz shouldn't be cast. But Zemeckis may have been under schedule pressure and couldn't wait for his favorite Michael J. Fox, so he compromised.

   Seems like a lesson worth thinking about. This kind of big investment movie (Back to the Future has a budget of more than 15 million), when there is no suitable actor, I would rather postpone or cancel it, rather than compromise, making it difficult to ride a tiger.

   "You asked me to follow you, what's the matter?" Helen finished eating, wiped her mouth with a napkin, and tilted her head to ask Ronald.

   "I promised Gerald, so I'll go see Minahan at Cannon with you tonight."

   "Cannon? A breakdance company?" Helen felt that the exploitative film didn't require any acting skills, as long as the person was beautiful. However, her good upbringing prevented her from saying it directly, "Thank you Ronnie, in fact, my father is also for my acting career, you don't have to help me find it like this. After these things, I understand that there are not so many opportunities in the entertainment industry. Yes, I can understand."

   "This time it's not an exploitative film, it's a new film directed by Andrei Goncharovsky. Screenplay by Akira Kurosawa." Ronald finished the last piece of food and wiped his mouth. "You should have heard of him, his last film went to Venice for the film festival 'Maria's Lovers'."

  Helen raised her eyebrows, it would be very interesting to work with such a director.

  …

   The next day Ronald took Helen to the Cannon. Helen went to interview Konchalovsky first, and Ronald was here to chat with Minahan.

   "This week's 'Break Dance' box office has suddenly increased significantly."

   "Why?" Ronald is a little strange, how can "Break Dance", which has been on the air for so long, grow?

   "Why, why?" Minahan stood up and circled twice, "Ronald, it's all because of you! Quack."

  Meinahan suddenly came over and hugged Ronald, and kissed him three times from left to right. "The video of your interview at the opening ceremony has been broadcast all over the world. In addition to America's box office, which has increased by 30%, it has come back to life. And in many countries abroad, we are also asked to increase copies."

   "Is it so powerful?" Ronald was also surprised. Although he was looking forward to the popularity of the Olympic opening ceremony, the movie that was about to be released suddenly became popular again, which he did not expect.

   "Let your accountant come, our domestic box office has exceeded 57 million, and if the popularity continues, there is hope that it will hit 100 million." Yoram walked in from the outside and interjected.

   "I'll call him right now." When Ronald heard the box office numbers, his energy changed immediately. If you can have a movie that exceeds 100 million yuan, then your worth and right to speak in the industry will be different, right?

   But who knows, the charm of the movie is that no one knows why it will be a hit, or why it won’t. In the two new films, he has put more energy and effort into the "Longwei Kid", and it still looks like more than 5 million per weekend. Although it didn't decrease much, it didn't look like it broke 100 million at all, just slowly rubbing up on the box office chart.

   Of course, a large part of the box office of "Break Dance" did not make the list, because the "Hollywood Report" and other entertainment industry newspapers only count the box office of movies released by the seven major studios. And "Break Dance" switched to Cannon's own distribution company after its first six weeks of release at MGM.

   Outsiders only know that the box office of "Break Dance" stopped at the figure of more than 40 million. Only insiders were surprised by the still high number of filming in the second round cinemas in various places.

   "Ronald, I've arrived at the Los Angeles airport and I'm on my way to the cannon. Well, we'll meet you later." Ronald's personal accountant, Lawrence Wang, heard the call and immediately took a night flight to Los Angeles.

   He also did not expect that the film project Ronald participated in would break through the 57 million box office in America. In this way, the client he serves brings him more profit than all the others put together.

   When Ronald received the call, he was already chatting with Minahan in Cannon's office.

"But I heard from Helen yesterday that Andrei appreciates her understanding of acting, and I thought Andrei would choose her." Ronald heard Minahan say that Andrei Konchalovsky didn't I like Helen and don't want Helen to star in the heroine of "Runaway Train". I'm also surprised.

   This is nothing more than a tense plot and a large-scale exploitation film. Helen's body, this kind of face, isn't it just right to be a vase? I also didn't expect her to have very deep acting skills, a female mechanic who was hijacked on a train by two escaped prisoners. This role does not need much acting skills.

   "If you want Helen to play, then we'll let Helen play." Minahan also disagreed with Konchalovsky's idea of ​​rejecting Helen Slater. This old man still thinks he is a character. He dares to refuse Ronald's girlfriend who helped him the most, not his ex-girlfriend?

   "Don't say that, let's hear what his reasons are."

"Ronald, to be honest, do you think Helen is beautiful?" Konchalovsky was called to Cannon Films. After he understood that Minahan asked him to explain why he didn't want Helen, he felt the hair loss. brain, asked.

   "Of course it's beautiful", Ronald was inexplicable. Among the women he has dated with, Helen has the highest appearance. "Do I see people as having aesthetic preferences? What do you think, Minahan?"

  Sometimes, some people have a preference for women of a certain appearance and think they are the most beautiful. This is normal. Like Spielberg's fiancée, Amy Irving. Many people don't think she is a top beauty, but Spielberg likes her and calls her a peerless beauty.

  Ronald has always felt that his aesthetics are closer to the public. I wonder if he is not clear about his own problems and is a bit biased?

   "Is there anything Helen is not beautiful? Blonde, blue eyes, long legs and slender waist, and a good figure." Minahan was also puzzled, Konchalovsky, what kind of beauty do you want, are you satisfied?

   "No, it's because she's so pretty."

   "Huh?" Ronald waited for his next words.

"The character is a train mechanic who is occasionally held hostage by two fugitives. She wears a dirty mechanic outfit throughout the film, so what I need is someone who can be both very beautiful and retractable, The kind of beauty that turns into a normal girl. Do you understand?"

   Konchalovsky looked at Ronald. He knew that Ronald, who was also the director, should understand what he meant.

   "Hush..." Ronald pouted, this statement is quite reasonable. A beauty of Helen's level is very beautiful even in a torn T-shirt. She doesn't have the kind of ability to put the edge into the body and show the approachable side.

   "However, if he doesn't want to, won't the favor he owes Gerald fail again?" Ronald hesitated again whether to use his influence to force Konchalovsky to agree.

"If you insist on using Helen, then I won't shoot." Konchalovsky originally left the league because of artistic constraints. Seeing Ronald's expression, he immediately took out his nuclear weapons, or listen to me , or you can ask Gao Ming.

"Ronald," Minahan pulled Ronald aside, "If you want Helen to change a movie, I'll keep him. If you insist on making Helen the heroine, I'll fire him, but you Gotta take it."

   "Me? How can I do a snow train scene?" Ronald quickly refused, because he thought it was too difficult and he couldn't do it.

"But what other good scripts do you have here? Aren't they all plagiarized scripts from First Drop of Blood II?" Ronald knew that Helen had to arrange a reasonable movie. He had no choice but to turn around. Hopefully Back to the Future will keep Stoltz so that Helen can also stay to play Jennifer.

   Called Helen's father Gerald, and Ronald informed him of the situation.

Gerald is very reasonable, "I know that Hollywood is no better than the TV industry, there are not so many opportunities, I won't put pressure on you, anyway, just remember this matter, Helen's 'Supergirl' won't be released until the end of the year. , you just don't let her have no movies to shoot."

   "It's still quite stressful." Ronald hung up the phone and asked Helen to start filming the second movie before and after the release of "Supergirl", and he still had to hurry up. Go back and ask Spielberg's decision.

  Ronald ended his business here, pulled accountant Lawrence, and the two went to dinner.

   "When are you going back to New York?" The two found a Guangzhou restaurant in Chinatown. The side dishes here are well-fried and suit their tastes.

"I will stay here for a while. This time China sent a delegation to participate in the Olympic Games. Chinatown in New York is very excited. My street guild also entrusted me to come to Los Angeles to cheer for the delegation and support the delegation. They brought some money with them."

   "Money? Is their delegation short of money?"

   "Yeah, it costs US dollars to eat and live here. I heard that their foreign exchange is relatively tight, and many athletes can't eat well."

   "How does this work?" Ronald took out his checkbook, "How much have you donated? I'll donate one too, so that they can eat well before they can participate in the competition and get good grades."

   "Okay, thank you. I knew Ronald you had a good impression of China."

   "Thank you to the Chinese and overseas Chinese in New York's Chinatown, thank you for your help, and I thank you on behalf of the Olympic delegation."

  The leader of the Olympic delegation, in Chinatown in Los Angeles, accepted the donation brought by Lawrence, and said on the spot that he would strive to achieve good results and honor the overseas Chinese.

   "Is this Ronald Lee also an overseas Chinese?" The team leader asked Lawrence when he saw that there was a check in his name.

"Ah, no, although his surname is Li, he is actually a foreigner and a film director. However, he has always supported us Chinese Americans in America, and made a lot of efforts and help for the unfair treatment we have suffered here." Lawrence explained why Ronald wanted to donate.

   "He said he liked your team and the results you've achieved. He heard that you didn't eat well, so he specifically asked me to spend the money on the athletes' meals."

   "Please rest assured this foreign friend, we will definitely use his concern as the driving force and strive to create good results."

   Ronald's money, in addition to inviting all the players and coaches of the national team to a feast, there is also a surplus. After discussing with the team leaders, they decided to open a small kitchen for a few teams with the hope of winning good results, and let the women's volleyball team and gymnastics team come to the restaurant in Chinatown for extra meals the next day.

"This is a foreign film director. Seeing your spirits at the opening ceremony, he likes it very much. He specially donated it to our women's volleyball team so that you can improve your meals. Think about it, if he knew that you lost one to three. How disappointed can it be to give Team USA in the group stage?"

The coach of the women's volleyball team is a very dignified man, "Next, after eating, we have to practice more at night. The team leader asked me if I could make it to the final. If I can make it to the final, he will give the foreign friend a ticket. If you can't do it, say it earlier, and we won't be ashamed if we don't eat his food."

   "Why can't we? We must enter the finals." The main attacker slapped the table with a punch.

   "Okay, think about it, we will also send some gifts to foreign friends and overseas Chinese. I will discuss with the team leader first."

  The coach left first, leaving all the meals specially prepared by the restaurant to the team members.

   "What gift are we returning?" Several team members discussed.

   "Write him a letter."

   "Not this time, this foreign friend is a foreigner, not an overseas Chinese. I can't understand it." The setter was more careful.

   "Then we don't have anything to give?"

   "How about, give him some of that drink?"

   "Alright, it tastes like orange water. I think it tastes better than the cola put out by the organizing committee. It tastes like Chinese medicine."

   "Thank you, thank them for me." Ronald didn't expect to get a gift in return, some cans of drinks, a reply letter from a team member asking someone to translate, and two tickets to the women's volleyball final.

"Thank you Director Li for your love and support for us. We will definitely repay your kindness with our achievements. China is a country with a long history and a vast land and resources. I hope you will have the opportunity to come to film and promote our country's beautiful mountains and rivers, and friendly people. people."

   Ronald directly read the letter in Chinese.

   "It's interesting, it looks like I have to go to China in the future." Ronald put away the letter and went out to attend the "Back to the Future" crew meeting.

   Before leaving, he took out the box of cans, opened a bottle, and drank it.

"The orange water tastes good, it's pretty good, it's a bit like a sports energy drink like Gatorade." Ronald felt a familiar taste, he put the can in his hand, and the green pattern on it surrounded a Portrait of a discus thrower.

   "Jianlibao?" The name of the drink is written in Chinese.

  …

   "Frank, do you think I should go to the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games?" MJ, after a day of practice in the Los Angeles studio, asked his new agent, Frank DiRio.

   "I think it's up to you to decide whether you go or not. Not only are you a great artist, I've worked for a lot of artists who don't have the same business intuition as you."

   "But Quincy said that my current position is not suitable for attending the closing ceremony. If I want to participate, I should also go to the opening ceremony."

   "Didn't he disapprove of you going to the opening ceremony to perform 'Beatit' at the time?"

   "Yeah", Michael Jackson actually regretted it a bit. The ratings for the opening ceremony were very unexpected, with about one-third of American households watching the live broadcast or later replays.

   Ronald said in an interview that if only MJ would perform, it hurt him deeply. Why can't the hottest pop star appear at the hottest Olympic opening ceremony?

   "I don't know what his reason is, but it is true that you shouldn't miss such a top exposure opportunity. Fortunately, your song is still playing at the opening ceremony." Di Rio continued to add fuel to it.

  "Hmm", MJ regretted it even more. The cameo appearance in Ronald's "Breakdance" did not make many people question the originality of his breakdance, but made him take advantage of the breakdance sweeping the United States, and record sales began to grow again.

"We should really have a good relationship with a director who is good at pop culture. You can also let him direct your other singles. The song he directed 'Girls Just Want to Have Fun' has already won seven nominations for the newly established MTV Music Awards. . Next year's Grammys..."

   "Well", MJ was even more unhappy when she thought of Quincy Jones arbitrarily looking for John Landis to direct his single MV. This veteran producer's production skills are really great, but he likes to make his own decisions about other aspects of himself.

"It turns out that the CEO of Polygon, Guber, didn't want you to authorize the name of the single to make a movie? Why don't we give it to him and invite Ronald to make it. He is especially good at this kind of drama with music and dance. ."

   "Well, I'll leave this matter to you to handle it", MJ finally found an aspect that he can control, and maybe he can make a cameo appearance in the movie again.

   (end of this chapter)