Exploiting Hollywood 1980

"Mr. Tom Coleman from Atlantic Distribution Company is more sincere, Richard. We have met with several production companies and distribution companies, and only they have clearly expressed interest in investing."

I met with more than a dozen potential investors in a row. Most of them said very nicely that they would cooperate with Ronald in the future. But when they heard that it was a joint venture, they all put it off.

It’s no wonder that when jointly producing a movie, the sooner it ships, the better the terms will be. Now that the domestic and overseas distributors have been determined, the remaining part can only get a capped fixed income. The small companies in the circle are just thinking about it. It’s not surprising that a guy who suddenly got rich wouldn’t let go.

"Actually, Atlantic is optimistic about you, Ronald. Originally, they wanted to invite you to direct the 'Valley Girl' they are currently filming. However, their financial resources are not very good, and the movies they are currently making take up most of their funds. I have watched the most Take one hundred thousand to invest in your project.”

The agent, Richard, has been accompanying Ronald to meet people during the day and helping Ronald write summaries and prepare materials at night, which is very hard.

"It's pretty good. I think I'm lucky to be able to convince them to invest."

"What will you do with the next funding gap?"

"I have asked Nicita to help with a new script revision project. You know, although the script is not signed, the income is higher than writing the script. I will try to fill the gap by 83 years ago. Then we will see what happens. There were no commercial directing opportunities or people willing to put ads in the film.”

“Happy Thanksgiving holiday.”

"The same to you."

It was almost Thanksgiving every year at the end of November. In his apartment, Ronald reflected on the past events of his entry into the film industry and found that he really had a lot of people to be grateful to.

Roger Corman was the first to give himself a chance to enter the industry, Joe Dante signed himself as a second-team director and obtained union qualifications, Rick Niceta signed his own financial contract as a screenwriter, and Spear supported him on the set. Berg…

No matter what their purpose was when they helped him in the first place, objectively it was a big step forward for his progress in the film industry. When you become successful and famous, you should repay them if you have the opportunity. Of course, those who have trouble with themselves must also "repay" something.

"Ronnie, what are your plans for Thanksgiving? Are you going back to New York?" It was Gale Hurd who called.

"I'm busy raising money and won't go back for the time being. Where are you and Jim?"

"He is still focused on improving the script of 'Terminator'. I have something to ask you. Can you come to the Sunset Club?" Gale reported an address.

"Okay, what is it?"

"My friend is a director for the first time and would like to ask you to provide on-site guidance."

Ronald arrived at this strip club on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood as scheduled. When Gail gave her the address, he felt a little strange.

Today, there is a closed sign at the door of the Sunset Club. It seems that the venue is reserved for movie shooting.

"Hi Ronnie, let me introduce you, this is my good friend Martha Coolidge"

Gale enthusiastically introduced a middle-aged woman to Ronald. She looked about thirty-four or five years old and had a very capable appearance.

"Hi, Martha. Nice to meet you. What kind of movie are you shooting?" Ronald looked around. Only the lighting team was setting up the lights, and the actors hadn't come out yet. He didn't know what kind of movie you were shooting.

"Valley girl," Martha Coolidge replied bluntly.

"Oh, I know this movie. It's a story about a valley girl, right? There seems to be a song with that name, and it's very popular."

Ronald did not expect that Coolidge would direct the same low-budget production that Atlantic had invited him to direct. The director’s circle is really not that big.

"Okay, let's take a look at Martha's directing skills." Gale pulled Ronald aside.

Several actors came out and moved with the camera crew. Ronald laughed when he saw them. They were all old acquaintances.

The leading actor is Coppola's nephew, Nicolas Cage. Supporting actress Michelle Meylink also had a role in "The Kid" as the best friend of Diane Lane's Cherry.

He did not say hello to disturb Director Coolidge, but waited with interest to watch their performance.

"!"

Randy, the male protagonist played by Cage, has a crush on Julie, played by Deborah Foreman.

In the bar, Randy fell in love with Julie immediately and confessed his true feelings to Julie.

Nicholas's performance is very realistic, much like an emotional high school boy who really wants to move forward but is afraid of being rejected by the high school girl he likes.

"This guy's acting skills are really good. Why don't we cast him in 'Night of the Comet'?" Ronald pondered behind the camera.

The male protagonist in "Night of the Comet" in the dreamland has no acting skills and seems very dull when speaking his lines. Cage studied his acting skills in "Fast Pace", and today he seems to be fully capable of playing the leading role.

"Any comments?" Martha Coolidge asked Ronald.

"Very good, very good. I think you directed it very well. This bar scene is a multi-person dialogue scene, and you arranged it very well."

Ronald sincerely admired that there were not many female directors in America. Coolidge's level was very textbook. It seemed that he came from an academic school and was very disciplined.

"Director Ronald said very well, let's do this print again." Martha Coolidge ordered.

Ronald frowned and only nodded in response to Cage and Melink's greetings. Director Coolidge's words were a bit over the top.

He looked back at Gale Hurd.

"It's okay. I'll ask you to chat after the filming. There's a little misunderstanding." Gale smiled and said in Ronald's ear.

During a break from filming the sequence, Ronald and Gale, the Coolidge director, sat together in the trailer. Gale opened two bottles of beer and handed them to Ronald and Coolidge. Then she took one herself and touched them with each other.

"I told you, Martha. Ronald is a very upright man. He will not come to steal your directorship."

"Huh?" Ronald was surprised, where to start.

It turned out that after meeting with Ronald, Tom Coleman, the president of Atlantic Company, said a few words that he regretted not inviting Ronald to direct "Valley Girl".

Somehow this matter spread more and more, and when it came to Martha Coolidge, it turned out that Ronald wanted to replace her and took over the director's job halfway.

She complained to her good friend Gale Hurd that the independent directing opportunity she had finally won was snatched away by a male director.

When Gale heard it was Ronald, he even said it was impossible. So I asked Ronald to come and see the scene to clear up the misunderstanding.

Coolidge was a person of great character, and she may have suffered a lot of gender discrimination in the industry. Directors need to have strong commanding skills, and women must become as tough as men. So she was a little unhappy with Ronald's attitude.

Ronald explained that his new film has been distributed by New World Company, and Atlantic only has a stake in it.

After the misunderstanding was resolved, Coolidge was still a very easy person to communicate with.

The two are also alumni of New York University's Tisch College. Coolidge came from a well-known family. Her grandfather once served as governor of Massachusetts and was also a relative of the former commander-in-chief Coolidge.

"When will you finish filming 'Valley Girl'? I'm looking for Nick to try out for the leading role in my new movie."

"It can be completed by the middle of next month."

"Then there will be a schedule after the Christmas and New Year holidays?" Ronald thought to himself, this is good, and his funds may be able to be solved by then.

"Oh, Nick is good." Coolidge said, "In order to play the role well, he even wrote love poems to the heroine, and he was very involved in the role."

"That's great. When I saw him perform for the first time, I knew he was a very serious actor."

"Sometimes he is too serious. I think he really fell in love with Deborah who played Julie."

"Hahaha... Is Nick also a Methodist?" Ronald didn't expect this to happen, and he was too involved.

"He actually belongs to the German Expressionist school... He uses high-contrast lights, strong shadows, and performances that are divorced from reality to express dark film themes..."

When it came to acting, Ronald wasn't very good at it. He got a kick out of it by listening to Martha Coolidge. Martha had delved into the Method school and studied with several realistic acting teachers.

Expressionism is actually a bit incompatible with Methodism, as it does not pursue realism. Cage was influenced by the early German film "Metropolis" admired by his uncle Coppola, and his acting methods tended to be extreme.

The three cleared up the misunderstanding and walked out of the trailer. It was discovered that Cage was writing poetry to Deborah again.

"Deborah, this is a love poem I wrote for you."

"The poem is called 'America Girl'"

"Hi hi", Nicholas cleared his throat and began to say,

“A beloved lady.

On top of everything else.

It is her home, adorning the soil of my beautiful land.

She is the product of love and fire.

Rules the human heart with divine right. "

"Stop reciting in public, give it to me..." Deborah grabbed Nicolas Cage's poem, took the paper notebook into her arms, and went to the trailer to appreciate it carefully.

"Hahaha..." Ronald couldn't help laughing. This humorous recitation really didn't look like a realistic performance method.

Cage blew a kiss to Deborah, then came over to greet Ronald, "Hi, Ronald. Why are you here?"

"Let me see you in action. When did you finish filming 'Betta' in Oklahoma?"

"last month."

"What movie dates do you have next?"

"My agent Limato is contacting me to audition for a new movie, but it hasn't been decided yet." Cage said, "What, you have a new movie?"

"Yes, a story about comets and zombies, are you interested?" Ronald asked him to come closer, and then whispered his idea to him.

"Oh, oh..." Nicolas Cage put his head in his hands, looking surprised, "Has the God of Drama favored me today? I'll call my agent Limato."

"Don't worry, the film's financing has not been completed yet, I will contact Limato."

"You know, how much I envied Sean Penn when he was in 'Fast Pace'." Cage was very happy, as he was very happy that he could also play a larger role in a blockbuster film.

Cage excitedly pulled up the actors on the set to introduce to Ronald, "Hi Lisa, Mike, this is Ronald Lee, the director of 'Fast Richmond'. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have a union card yet." .God, I’m so happy today.”

"Nice to meet you, I have to go, otherwise Director Coolidge will be unhappy." Ronald shook hands with the actors and said goodbye.

"I'll find Limato." Before leaving, Ronald made a phone call gesture to Cage.

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