Exploiting Hollywood 1980

"Over 100 million viewers? Oh, that's unimaginable."

"Yeah, the last episode of 'Hospital,' is the all-time top-rated TV show of all time... He beat last year's NFL Super Bowl, 'Roots,' and the year before that, 'The Grudge,' this one." The record may be hard to break. CBS's advertising fee is $450,000 per thirty seconds."

Eddie, Ronald's agent and partner in New York, said with excitement, "The new version of Burger King's commercial, the Sarah Michelle Gellar version, was on the show, and I heard Darcy Maguire say The effect is very good.”

"Hey, listen Eddie, I'm sorry that I didn't take on the Burger King advertising business, but it would have put me at unnecessary legal risk..."

"No, no, it's okay, it's really okay. I'm not complaining that you didn't take over the business, but I think we should continue to develop in the advertising and music video business. You are already well-known in this industry. When you don't make movies, Sometimes, if we have a suitable script, we should shoot some. In fact, this will not hinder your film business, and it may even bring you some unexpected opportunities."

"You know what? I think you're right." Ronald thought for a while and thought Eddie's idea was good. This kind of short-term and quick project can not only make some quick money, but also train his own team. Maybe in the future It will come in handy.

After seeing Eddie off, Ronald went to see Diane Lane and tell her his recommendation.

"Huh? I thought you wanted me to play the rock star in that unnamed movie. I told Bert."

Diane was shocked when she heard what Ronald said.

"Why do you think so?" Ronald was also surprised.

"Don...of course I'm just guessing," Diane said, writing two scripts. "Why? Why do you want me to play the mermaid? Does the mermaid have a better ending? The rock star didn't end up with the person he loved most. Walk together?"

"Well, what you say makes sense. Our American audience likes heroes and beauties to be together in the end, and we don't want them to end up with losers. In addition, I think this movie is more demanding on acting, and the male lead must be Who is it?"

"Tom Hanks, if I agree, I will go back and audition with him." Diane said.

"I auditioned for him, and his acting skills are really good. He's really good at comedy and romance." Ronald thought of the performance of the thin actor in the dream, which was far better than the performance of the unknown heroine. .

"All right,

I called Bert and I think you have a point. The plot of that movie about a female rock singer always felt weird. The director told me on the phone that the plot was not important, but the atmosphere and costumes were important. He had been preparing for it for a long time. "

"Oh yeah?" Ronald thought to himself, wondering who the idiot was who said such stupid things. How can any movie not pay attention to the story and plot, but put the atmosphere first? There may be some films that are not capable enough when shooting, and the stories are just not outstanding.

"Ronald, my dad wants to talk to you." Diane handed Bert's phone.

"Hi, Burt."

"Ronald, we need to talk. I finally persuaded Diane to take on the untitled project. You can't mess with me."

"Uh, why? Burt, I really think a mermaid is more suitable for her."

"I can't explain it on the phone, so I'll come and talk to you."

"Ronald, I have a comprehensive plan for Diane's career. You know, the most difficult step for a female child star is to change from a child star to a girl. This step is very difficult, but Diane has already acted in two movies in a row. Coppola's feature film has crossed the biggest hurdle.

Her performance, as you have seen, is enough to convince the audience and Hollywood that Diane is already a grown-up girl. "

Bert soon came to Diane's apartment and looked at his daughter lovingly. He picked up the coffee in his hand and chatted with Ronald about his plans for his daughter. He must convince his daughter with reason, especially Ronald in front of him. If he agrees with his point of view, Diane will be more convinced.

"Without a doubt." Ronald turned to look at Diane. Diane, who had a ponytail and was dressed like a college student, was listening carefully to their discussion.

"But if you want to advance in Hollywood, you can't just rely on movies like this from big directors. After your acting skills are passed, what Hollywood needs more is a successful commercial blockbuster, just like Natalie Wood's "Without a Cause" which was recognized for her acting skills. After Rebellion, we still need a box office hit, West Side Story.”

"I think the business prospects of Mermaid are not bad?" Ronald looked at the two scripts on the table and was a little confused as to why Bert liked that movie.

Bert could see that Ronald was confused, "You don't know Walter Hill, do you? He is the producer and director of this project. Last year, his "48 Hours" was sweeping away competitors in theaters and may eventually exceed 70 million. box office. It also made the leading actor Eddie Murphy, a black actor, famous in one fell swoop.

Eddie Murphy may star in the 'Beverly Hills Cop' movie that Stallone rejected this year. He is a very sought-after director in Hollywood right now. "

"Well..." Ronald felt a little underestimated. He was also a director with a box office of 40 million.

"Did you choose the movie for Diane based on the director? But I don't think this Mermaid will do well at the box office."

"You must be kidding, hahaha." Burt laughed.

"Ron Howard got his start in Roger Corman's exploitation films. His films don't have much dramatic conflict, and there's room for his acting to shine... Well, I'm not talking about you, Ronald."

Diane quickly poked her dad in the back when she saw that Burt had revealed what the Hollywood upper class and New York theater circles really thought about directors like Ronald who made exploitation films.

"It doesn't matter, I know what they think of me. I just think that the movie box office is not only determined by the actors' performances and drama conflicts, but also other important reasons." Ronald saw everyone talking and said. He did not shy away from talking about his own opinions.

"Ronald, I really don't mean to look down on exploitation films, but to be officially recognized by Hollywood, it must be this kind of blockbuster film. Walter Hill is a director who has already proven himself with his previous films. He has made several hits in a row. In fact, you We are only one or two successful movies away from him."

"Well, I hope you're right. We all hope Diane succeeds. Personally, I'm more optimistic about another movie."

Seeing what Ronald said, Bert looked at his daughter, thought about it again, and still felt that he needed to convince Ronald with reason, so he told a secret.

"Actually, you are right. The box office of a movie is difficult to predict. The reason why I don't advocate that Diane should play the role of Mermaid is actually another very important reason. Warren Beatty is preparing a movie with the same mermaid theme. Universal is willing to distribute his movie.

You know, Disney is only a small company, and they have not made any achievements in live-action movies. Producers often use them as their last choice, and Disney is not picky. As long as they are willing to cooperate with them, they are willing to give the green light.

You know how scary car crash movies are, and I didn’t want Diane’s first female lead movie to have to go head-to-head with Warren Beatty. "

"That's right." Ronald stopped arguing and said in his heart that it was a pity that his relationship with Disney's president Ron Miller was very bad due to the instigation of Meg Tilly's husband Zinnemann, otherwise he would have financed the filming. How can a movie have so many twists and turns?

"Well, you are Diane's father." Ronald thought for a while and replied, feeling a little confused. The thing he dreamed about last night shouldn't be Warren Beatty's project, right? Warren Beatty generally directed and acted, and his reputation as a philanderer...

"Ronald, please tell me your secret." After seeing Bert off, Diane grabbed Ronald who was going out together and said she still had something to ask him.

"What's the secret?"

"It's the secret of auditioning. I heard from Donna that you have a secret. After Helen Slater listened to your secret and followed it, she defeated so many girls and got the role of Superwoman. You won't favor one over another, no. tell me?"

Diane took Ronald's arm and patted it a few times, "Come on, tell me the secret, I really want to play this role. There is another candidate for Walter Hill, and she is also auditioning for the mermaid. candidate, I must defeat her.”

"Ah..." Ronald didn't know whether to laugh or cry when he heard that Donna actually said that she had the secret to auditioning. This cousin is very smart, but sometimes she tends to overdo it and imagine that her cousin is too powerful. If there was a secret, I would have used it in project financing long ago.

"Actually, there is no secret. I asked Helen to wear a Supergirl costume for the audition. Aunt Karen also changed her cape. I think if the actors dress up like the characters during the audition, on the one hand, they can give the director a The imagination of the character in the finished film also shows your determination to get the role.

An actor who really wanted to play the character, and an actor who treated the role as just another ordinary character in another ordinary movie. If I were a director, I would also like the former. "

"Huh? What you said makes sense. Why didn't I think of it before?" Diane said suddenly.

"Then you think it would be better for me to imitate the singer's dress? Huh? Huh?" Diane began to pat Ronald's arm again.

"Hey...I'm not familiar with this. The one you played in The Dirt last time looked good." Ronald took his arm back from Diane's hand and touched it.

"Okay, okay, I think so too. Can I wear it for you? I always like rock music, and it's really great to be able to play a female rock star this time." Diane was very happy.

"Didn't I watch it when I was reshooting the ending scene of The Dirt Band? I still have to finish editing the music video. When you come to Los Angeles, I'll visit your crew." Ronald was about to leave.

"This untitled project of yours will be filmed in Hollywood, right?"

"Yes, I heard that the studio will be used to shoot the streets of Chicago." Seeing that Ronald was in a hurry to leave, Diane got up to see him off.

"By the way, someone gave me two tickets to the Motown 25th Anniversary Concert. If you are in Los Angeles then, go too." Ronald heard Diane say that he likes rock and roll, and thought of the two tickets given by MJ. Concert tickets.

"Okay, okay, I'll call you when I go to the Los Angeles premiere of 'The Kid'. Don't forget to come."

…

A few days later, Walter Hill met Diane Lane at a hotel for an audition. The lower body is fiery red pants and the upper body is a black jacket.

"Oh, you look very rock and roll."

"How about it? Mr. Hill, do I look like a rock star?"

"Very good, very good. I will ask someone to redesign your costume according to the color and style of this costume."

"Oh yeah? Do you mean I passed?"

"Of course, I still need you to shoot some audition scenes with the leading actor to see the chemical reaction. But after seeing you, I think that's about it."

Walter Hill praised this appearance and devotion in front of Diane and Bert.

"Yeah, Ronald's secret seems to be very effective." Diane hugged Bert and kept patting his arm.

"Did you decide to use Diane Lane?" producer Joel Silver asked director Walter Hill.

"Whatever, Coppola has used her as the heroine twice, we just need to ride on his coattails. His 'The Kid' will be released soon, isn't our use of Diane equivalent to free advertising? ?” Walter Hill took out a package of “goodies” and shared them with Joel.

"What you said makes sense. Let's call Daryl Hannah's agent and tell her to give up on her."

…

"Huh? Okay, okay, I understand." Ron Howard learned on the phone that Diane Lane had decided to star in another movie. He was a little disappointed. As the heroine of Coppola's film, Diane could bring some newspaper space to "Mermaid," a middling production.

"Call Daryl Hannah and tell her to come audition with Tom Hanks." I had no choice but to use my second choice. Moreover, Daryl Hannah is tall and strong, so when paired with Hanks, she actually can't act like a weak mermaid.

Fortunately, she has long blond hair, which is more convenient than Diane's short dark red hair.

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