Exploiting Hollywood 1980

, Exploitation Hollywood 1980

"Thank you, Jonathan. Thank you very much for allowing the heroine to take an afternoon to come to my place for an audition." Ronald called Jonathan Demme, his senior at the Roger Corman Film School, thanking him for being able to film him. Michelle Pfeiffer, the star of "Married to the Mob," took a few hours out of her filming schedule to audition for Ronald's "Working Girl."

"It's nothing, just a small mutual help between directors." Demi's approach to directing is different from Ronald's, but they both like each other's craftsmanship. "Married to the Gang" was filming in New York, and Ronald could only stay in New York for a short period of time to participate in the New York Film Critics Association awards. For everyone's convenience, he readily agreed.

"Thank you so much. My schedule is too tight recently, so I can only ask you for help. But don't worry, the audition will not take too long. I will have someone arrange the venue and transportation, and the heroine will be released after the audition. go back."

"By the way, you are very busy now running around film critics and industry union awards." Jonathan Demme entered the industry more than ten years earlier than Ronald, and of course he knows what Ronald is busy with now.

"Hey, to be honest, my chances are very small. I mainly fight for the supporting actress and supporting actor. Their performances are really great. It would be a shame if they are not nominated. Besides, if they are nominated or they are lucky enough to win the award, If so, my box office sales will be much better."

"Ha, where did you find so many good actors? I watched 'Moonlight' and thought the supporting actors were very good. Many of the supporting actors gave original performances." Jonathan Demme on Ronald More interested in video quality.

"Hahaha, I found them on Broadway. They all want to enter Hollywood and their acting skills are very good."

"I heard that you gave them a chance..."

Ronald's schedule is gradually becoming more intense. He has to attend all the minor awards in person, so that the judges with voting rights will feel that you value them, and they will have less chance of voting for you in the Oscar nomination voting. There will be a lot more.

In this way, the audition of Tess, the most important heroine of "Working Girl", was reduced to pieces.

Of course, in addition to Ronald's reason, there is another reason, which is that famous female stars appear in many more movies than male stars. Because most female characters have far fewer roles than male characters.

Therefore, the female stars they are looking for who can play Tess are either filming a movie or preparing to join the cast.

In addition to Michelle Pfeiffer, who is currently filming a Jonathan Demme movie, Mel Streep, another acting talent that Julia Taylor finds suitable, is filming a classical film in Australia. Even if I get the audition right, I probably won’t be able to make it in time for filming.

This frustrated both Ronald and Julia Taylor, and Goldberg often called to get information.

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Ronald is also a famous director now and has a certain degree of control over the schedule. And these are matters related to winning prizes that the Hollywood industry will not interfere with. Ronald has not been under too much pressure yet.

However, a courtesy visit was still necessary. Ronald took his agent Richard and casting director Julia Taylor to the Fox Building where "Die Hard" was being filmed.

President Goldberg was waiting for him in his office.

"Hi, Ronald, I didn't expect to see you here. Goldberg's secretary said he had a VIP guest, and it couldn't be you."

Female director Penny Marshall, whom she had just met at the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, was also sitting in the lounge outside the president's office.

"Penny, you go first, we are all directors, there is no VIP, you come before us..." Ronald had seen the fierce side of this female director, and scared his ex-husband Bob Reiner. Dare to meet,

And denounced him as Mr. Eggless. Ronald was also afraid that she would go out and say that he didn't respect other directors, so he quickly greeted Goldberg's female secretary and asked Penny to go first.

"Hahaha, I'm kidding. I don't have anything important to do here this time. The casting has been confirmed, but I heard that you haven't chosen the heroine yet?" Fortunately, Penny has a very good impression of Ronald and likes him. Feminist film.

"Okay, then I'll take the lead, thank you."

The door was opened by the secretary, and Goldberg stood up to lead Ronald and his party. After learning about the arrangements for his audition trip for the leading actress, Goldberg reacted positively, "It's very good. You can just go ahead and do the award-winning stuff. After all, once the nominations come out, you will have more time to focus on it." The project is on."

After a small talk, nearly twenty minutes passed. Ronald saw Goldberg bringing cold coffee, so he took his leave. Penny Marshall was coming later.

After leaving the office, Ronald stopped by the "Die Hard" set above to see if director John McTiernan had made any messy decisions recently.

After Joel Silver learned his lesson, he kept a close eye on the crew. In addition to McTiernan, he often made temporary changes to the script on set. The shooting schedule was not delayed much, although it cost three times the extra overtime pay. In exchange for the time he spent revising the script.

A problem that can be solved with money within the budget is not a big problem. Ronald patted his partner on the shoulder and asked him to keep looking at the director who was about to cause trouble when no one was watching.

In order not to alarm anyone on the crew, Ronald, Richard, and Julia Taylor took the stairs down and changed to the elevator on the floor of the president's office.

"Oh, Shxt! Why do I encounter so many ghost things when I make a movie?"

As soon as he reached the elevator lobby, Ronald found Penny Marshall lighting a cigarette there and smoking heavily in front of the ventilation window.

"What's wrong, Penny? Is everything okay?"

Ronald went over to say hello.

"Oh, Ronald, it seems that I have to take back the boast I just made to you. I have encountered a big problem this time. Robert, a coward, actually quit a week before rehearsals. He didn't even have the courage to directly Tell me face to face, this one has no balls."

"Robert De Niro?" Julia Taylor went over and took Penny Marshall's arm.

Everyone in the casting director circle knows that Robert De Niro is such an actor. He often regrets repeatedly before agreeing to act. He is an actor who is very afraid that he will not perform well.

Sometimes this tension helps the performance, and other times it makes the performance worse. What's even more troublesome is that De Niro himself can't tell the difference between the two.

Ronald decided to stay and chat with Penny Marshall. Richard, who was next to him, had already told Ronald the specific background of this woman. Not only did she have a background in TV dramas, but she was also a screenwriter and a director. , and what’s even more interesting is that several brothers and sisters in her family are all working in the film industry.

"What are you going to do, Penny?" Ronald saw that Penny was just irritable and not too alarmed, so he asked directly.

"I probably got some extension time, and I have to reorganize the casting. The male lead has been changed, and the female lead has to re-audition to see the chemical reaction. Damn it, in order to cooperate with this damn Italian, don't mind, I am Italy I hired a dozen actresses to accompany him.

After all, it's hard to find an actress who can play an adult man who falls in love with a 13-year-old kid inside. "

"No, that's really embarrassing." Ronald also scratched his head. Less than a month before filming started, he suddenly couldn't play the leading role. Isn't this a joke? He secretly made a mental note to add De Niro to his blacklist.

"I don't even know where to choose the right one. This movie is a story about a child suddenly growing up. Adult actors need to be able to play the innocence of children... Maybe I should go to London and try."

Ronald looked into Julia Taylor's eyes and knew what she was thinking, and then said, "Why don't you ask Ms. Julia Taylor for her opinion? She is the best casting director I have ever worked with, but you can't talk to me." Grab it...hahaha."

"Really? Do you have a suitable candidate? I won't compete with you for her, Ronald. I just want her to recommend some male protagonists, and she will be the casting director for my new film."

Julia Taylor's style is to only recommend one actor, and then if the director is not satisfied, he will recommend a second one. When she saw this, she immediately named someone...

"Do you still remember the movie 'Mermaid' a few years ago? Tom Hanks, who played the leading role, was very suitable. Although he played a New York pier kid, between him and the mermaid, it seemed that he He’s the one who believes in fairy tales more.”

"Ha..." Of course Ronald remembered that Diane Lane didn't get a role in the movie because of her father's interference. Diane gave up the role that catapulted Daryl Hannah to fame in favor of the mediocre "Streets of Rage."

"Ha, I should have thought of him. The worst I can do is change the age at which the male protagonist becomes older..."

Penny Marshall also remembers watching Tom Hanks perform.

"What do you think, Ronald?"

"I think he's very good. In fact, I invited him to audition for my first movie. If it weren't for schedule issues, I think I would have chosen him." Ronald told the truth.

"Ahem..." Ronald suddenly felt Richard kicking his leg gently.

He covered it up with a cough and leaned back, only to hear Richard whisper two words behind him, "The heroine, Diane."

"I just don't know if it's presumptuous. I may have an actress here, who may be suitable for what you said, the feeling of falling in love with a man who is as pure as a child at heart."

"who?"

"Diane Lane."

"Ha, it's her," Julia Taylor echoed with a smile beside her. "I heard that the mermaid originally wanted to hire her. She had just finished filming The Naughty Girl at that time. She is indeed more suitable for such a woman with a rich heart. character. Maybe she is more suitable to work with Tom Hanks."

"You know what? When I'm done, I have to thank you very much. Now I have to ask my assistant to contact the actors quickly. I will have the assistant call you to sign the contract, Julia."

…

"Thank you, Richard." After Ronald returned to the CAA office, he specially thanked his agent Richard. If he hadn't been familiar with the situation in Hollywood and then fully aware of his own situation, Diane might have missed another opportunity today.

Although Richard was not Diane's agent, Ronald decided to reward this loyal agent himself. According to the share that Diane's agent deserves if she successfully gets the role, Ronald will ask Daydream to write him a check for consulting work.

"Who funded him in that action movie?" Ronald turned to ask Niceta about the details of Steve Seagel's new movie that offended him at the premiere of "Empire of the Sun."

"It was invested and distributed by Warner Bros., but..." Niceta hesitated.

"But what? I'm not trying to mess with him. I just think why would anyone invest in a B-level action movie at this point in time? Is this kind of low-cost action movie starting to gain the audience's love again?"

"Okay", Niceta came closer, as if she was afraid of being overheard, "Actually, this project is run by Michael Ovitz himself. Except that he is not named, he is the actual producer of the project, and it can also be a hit in the end. Get the biggest share.”

"I remember there is a law that your agent cannot directly serve as a producer, right?"

"That's why, in essence, he's certainly not a producer in name."

Well, Ronald sat back, the Jews were truly second to none in their ability to exploit loopholes in the law. If it was a project arranged by Ovitz himself, then he really couldn't mess with it. Of course, Ronald was not the kind of person who didn't care at all after being offended for no reason.

"Is this movie really worth investing in? Or is it just a way for Ovitz to repay the Aikido coach?" Ronald couldn't understand why Ovitz would invest in such a movie. Today's action movies are getting bigger and bigger in budget. Can such a small production make money?

"If you are interested, you can go and see the set? They will start filming soon. Ovitz must be very happy for you to go."

"If you have a chance, you can go and take a look." Ronald touched his chin. Facing Steve Siegel, who had served as the bodyguard of two big shots, Stallone and Ovitz, he had to get a powerful-looking bodyguard to support the scene. Just fine.

"What about movies about children? I think there are more and more movies about children. Is it my misunderstanding?" Ronald asked about children's movies again.

"No, your intuition has always been great. I did some research and found out that major studios are now looking for movie scripts with children, even babies, as the theme."

Niceta took a document to Ronald, "Look, movies with children as protagonists have always been successful at the box office. They have the power of family entertainment. A small audience needs at least one parent to accompany them. But because of this It’s difficult to make movies, and Hollywood always thought it was Spielberg’s patent.”

Ronald nodded. The power of "ET aliens" is still unmatched by anyone.

"However, after the appearance of this movie, this stereotype was overturned. Spielberg is no longer the patent monopoly who can make blockbuster children's films..."

"What movie is it?" Ronald took a movie poster, which showed three men surrounding a naked baby boy who was peeing on the clothes of the middle man.

"Three Dads and One Baby." Ronald saw the title and recognized the middle-aged actor who was peed on as the famous TV actor Tom Selleck.

"Leonard Nimoyin", Ronald's eyes moved up to the director's name, "This is the one I know..."

"Yes, it's the alien Spock in Interstellar Voyage..." Niceta said with a smile. This is the reaction of everyone who just saw the name of this movie director.

Although Leonard Nimoyin has directed several "Star Voyage" movies, this is his first time directing a movie with a different theme. It is still recognized as a very difficult children's movie.

"This movie has already exceeded 25 million at the box office just two weeks after its release." Niceta said softly again.

"Huh..." Ronald frowned, "Coupled with the upcoming Christmas season, it's easy for this movie to break over 100 million. It's still a family-friendly movie that makes a lot of money..."

"This Leonard Nimoyin, hasn't he ever filmed children's subjects before?" Ronald knocked on the table.

"It has nothing to do with him. The reason why people don't think Leonard Nimoyin is the second genius in children's movies to be a box office hit is for a very simple reason. This movie was bought a few years ago. It is a remake of the copyrighted film of the same name.

That movie also had a good box office success in China. "

"Uh-huh..." Ronald understood. This meant that two movies, with different languages, different actors, and different directors, both achieved box office success. Excluding all factors, it was because the scripts were well written.

Sure enough, in this industry, no one knows what is reliable.

"Moreover, if you have watched this movie, you will find that it is not actually an orthodox children's movie, and it is not as difficult to shoot as Spielberg's movies." Niceta took something from the drawer of her desk. He handed over a copy of the original video tape of the country.

"I don't understand French, so let's watch the English remake first." Ronald picked up the video tape and put it in his bag.

I see……

After coming out of the cinema, Ronald understood what Niceta meant.

Baby films are indeed different from children's films. The expressions of babies are very simple. As long as through editing, these expressions can be expanded into completely different meanings through up and down shots. In fact, filming infant actors is much less difficult than filming teenagers.

As for Penny Marshall's new film "Grown Up," a major part of the plot involves adult actors portraying the mentality of children. The child actors only have dozens of shots before and after.

Her ex-husband Bob Lennar's "The Princess Bride" has a similar structure. From the framework of a grandfather telling stories to his children, it actually performs an anti-traditional princess and prince story core.

These are all opportunistic so-called children's films that attract children to watch but do not rely on the performances of child actors.

Hollywood, the business machine, has still found various ways to avoid the important and the light and bypass the monopoly supply of children's film wizards like Spielberg.

Ronald figured it out, so he called Daydream's assistant and asked him to try to collect movie scripts from both directions, opportunistic movies that told stories from the perspective of children, or baby movies.