Exploiting Hollywood 1980

The cast's second day on the road in Chicago was the third weekend of "Fast Richmond High"'s release.

Three hundred additional copies were urgently printed and sent to Texas in the Southwest, Illinois in the Midwest, and the most important markets, New York and New England on the East Coast.

The newly added theaters and regions have kept the "fast-paced" average box office of a single theater at the original level. The cumulative box office in the third week exceeded 10 million, and the two talk shows broadcast nationwide also raised the expectations of young audiences to a new level.

Brooke Shields' praise on Letterman's Late Show has already made many teenagers aware of the film, and tonight's appearance on the Barbie Wyant star show has made Phoebe and Phoebe more popular outside the West Coast. Jennifer's performance on the screen is even more anticipated.

Ronald is in his hotel room, watching the Bobbi Wygant show.

Some controversial dialogue, such as Jennifer mentioning that Brooke Shields also auditioned for the lead role, was deleted. However, the dialogue discussing some "good-looking" scenes between Jennifer and Phoebe was not deleted.

These two newly debuted actresses do not have much bargaining chips in front of the TV station and studio, so they can only make some efforts in the way they answer questions.

Some scenes of Ronald seeing himself were also deleted, leaving only the part where he explains the main idea of ​​the film. However, Bobbi Wygant's show was limited in duration, and Ronald felt that the little old lady was already treating him well, and there were several frontal close-ups.

"This is today's evening paper. What you said in the interview was not published." The PR beauty came in holding a stack of newspapers and spread out a stack for Ronald to read.

"All the film review pages only mentioned the film itself, the two leading ladies, and Sean Penn's performance. Several newspapers also said good things about Ronald. But there was no mention of the distance between the director and Albert. 'Aerial Firefight' description."

"Well, it seems that Roger Ebert's 'prestige' in the Chicago media community is quite high?" When Ronald was interviewed by a group, the words he angrily criticized Ebert were not published in the newspapers.

"Of course, he's a legend in Chicago media circles and won a Pulitzer Prize for film criticism in '75."

Ronald raised his eyebrows, "Then why does he attack me as a sexist? If he can win the Pulitzer Prize, he can't understand that this movie actually supports women's right to be independent, right?"

"Whether it's Ebert or his rival and partner Cisco, they will select the worst film every year. Just like the Golden Raspberry Award that came out last year,

It's really impossible for the worst movie to make the list, the ones that do tend to be the ones that are somewhat well-known. "

"So he picked me?" Ronald pointed to his nose.

"Actually, your movie meets his criteria for selecting bad movies. It's a small production produced by a big studio. Scolding like this won't damage the relationship with the studio, and it can also establish your position as an independent film critic among readers. .”

The PR beauty understands the mentality of these film critics very well, "But this time he saw the wrong person and hit the wall."

Ronald took a sip of coffee, "The so-called ironclad statement is exaggerated. The content of my direct scolding was not published in the newspaper, and Albert's scolding of sexism was written in black and white."

"Actually, you can't say that it wasn't reported in the newspapers. The New York media scolded you for what you said." The publicist took out the remaining newspapers and magazines, this time they were all New York media.

"Is there anything about high school life, especially suburban California high school life, that moviegoers haven't seen yet? Well, maybe there is.

‘Fast-paced Richmond High’ is such a novel and satisfying film. New York audiences will be able to see it in theaters soon.

Unlike the bad reviews he received from his Chicago counterparts, this movie is actually pretty good. The actors' performances are talented and relaxed, all thanks to young director Ronald Lee, who is directing his first theatrical big-screen work. He is a New Yorker. "

Ronald read the film review column of The New York Times, and he was quite satisfied with such praise. I looked at the author column, Janet Maslin (ja maslin).

"Look, this is called quality film criticism. The Pulitzer Prize should be given to her."

"There are many more, take your time and take a look." The PR beauty smiled and put the New York newspapers and magazine film reviews on the table.

"The fast-paced Richmond High film has an attractive, personal cast, a group of young actors who are very easy to like. The director did not try to instill any values ​​​​in the audience through the film, but brought the South California's public schools are on display.

The kids at Richmond High School do go through some rough patches in life. There are unplanned pregnancy and liberal clinics here. Fantasy is shattered by reality, and humiliation must be endured alone.

However, the way it's all presented is not sad, the life the movie presents is sweet and decent. Relatively speaking, we may live in a fast-paced era, but we are not in a hurry. "

This is a film review of the New York Daily News, a newspaper that, while not well-known outside New York, has a circulation in New York that exceeds that of the Times, Post, and Wall Street Journal, and their news is the most popular among local audiences.

"Look at this." The PR beauty selected a magazine, turned to the movie review page, and handed it to Ronald.

"not bad.

Not bad at all. It may fall into the general category of teen exploitation films, but it doesn't have the aggression of an exploitation film.

Young local director Ronald Lee, making his film debut, has a light hand on both the actors and the story.

The movie shows the lives of male and female students in a public high school in a relaxed atmosphere. The story could take place in California, New York, or any public high school in America.

If the film has a theme, it's that of sexual embarrassment, but there's no big crisis.

There is a friendship between two girls. Jennifer Jason Leigh's teenage Stacey longs to learn about sex, and Phoebe Cates's valley girl Linda shares everything she knows, including lies.

Sean Penn plays surfer Spicoli, the most affable goofy kid we can all imagine. Pan did a great job, the role was not big, but he acted like a star.

There are also Robert Romanus, Judge Reinhold, and the familiar Uncle Martian Ray Walston.

For all these good performances, we have young director Ronald Lee to thank. From the casting to the acting, and the swimming pool scene, I can say here that he shot it very well, and you can see the director's taste.

This may be the influence that New York gave him, or New York University. I learned that director Ronald was a native and student of New York's proud Martin Scorsese. "

"This magazine has the best writing!" Ronald happily put away several film reviews.

"Of course, that was written by Pauline Kael of The New Yorker."

"Is it her?" Ronald turned to the author page, and it turned out to be New York's most famous film critic Pauline Kael. When I was in school at New York University, her film review collection "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" was a required extracurricular reading for students.

“Roger Ebert was able to gain a foothold in the film critic circle back then because Pauline Kael gave his films high praise, so this time after Pauline’s praise comes out, Ebert will probably not continue to criticize. " said the PR beauty.

"Including Bobbi Wygant's film review, and also praise you more. They are all Ebert's predecessors. Roger Ebert knows that he barked at the wrong tree this time, and he and Sisko will host it tonight A disguised apology for his film review on a film review TV show."

"Okay", Ronald knew that he didn't have that much energy yet and asked Albert to "apologise directly". In fact, based on his knowledge, if he were a well-known director like Spielberg, he would not give a negative review at all.

At night, local time in Chicago, Ronald turned on the TV and watched the "Sisko and Albert Film Review Show" broadcast nationally by PBS syndicate.

"Roger, I heard that you were very dissatisfied with the movie 'Fast-paced Richmond High' that was released before? And you gave it a one-star movie review in the newspaper?" Sisko mentioned after talking about the new movie. Something fast-paced.

"Oh, it's that teen exploitation movie. I might have been too harsh on the director."

"We have several letters here from viewers expressing dissatisfaction with your comments," Sisko opened the letter and read.

"Roger, I don't think your assessment of 'Up' is fair, I think it's more real and nicer than Up. It's not as obscene as you say, and we high school students love watching it. In fact, it's better than you The praised 'Animal House' is much more tasteful.

Here is another one:

I am a single mother raising a high school daughter by myself. Fast pace is not my type, and I don’t have my favorite celebrities. I watched it with my daughter, but I thought he was much better than the one star you gave him.

It gave my daughter and I something to talk about for the first time. I think this is the first movie to acknowledge that today's high school students also have mature thoughts and the ability to think independently. "

What do you think of the audience’s opinions? Roger? "

Sisko smiled evilly and said that Roger was both his competitor in newspaper film reviews and his partner in TV shows. It was rare to see him fail so badly.

"I respect the opinions of these viewers, but 'Fast Times' is not the type of movie I personally like. Of course I could be wrong. I once gave 'The Godfather Part II' a low score, but then I still put it on It's on my list of favorite movies from the seventies.

This shows that I am not a complacent person, I can also learn. Maybe in a few years, I'll enjoy this movie more, too. "

"You pass." Ronald muttered and turned off the TV.

"Tomorrow we are going to your hometown, New York City. You will become the darling of the media there." The PR beauty said to Ronald with a smile.

The next day, the crew arrived at Chicago O'Hare International Airport and were preparing to fly to New York.

When she arrived at the airport and was waiting to check in her luggage, the PR beauty called the global headquarters and then came over to see Ronald, seemingly very excited.

"Ronald, yesterday's box office statistics are out. The East Coast box office exploded, and the total box office has exceeded 13 million. You are going to be famous, you are all going to be famous."

"Really? That's great." Jennifer Jason Leigh and Phoebe Cates both exclaimed with joy.

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