Exploiting Hollywood 1980

Three months passed quickly.

This day is May 12. At the Los Astor Plaza Theater on Broadway Street in New York City, a large "Top Gun" billboard was installed on the top of the theater's foyer. All people passing by the busiest Broadway Street will see this billboard.

In Times Square, Paramount also placed sky-high advertisements, and many Manhattan theaters and restaurants also put up posters.

All of this cost Paramount millions of dollars in budget just to increase the audience for the opening of "Top Gun."

The main character on the poster is Kelly McGillis, standing behind with her arms around a seated Tom Cruise. The title of "Top Gun" below, and the words Ronald Lee's work are also prominent.

Cruise's height was a problem, and Paramount's marketing department took a long time to select this photo that cleverly disguised the fact that the heroine was taller.

Kelly McGillis has curly blond hair that looks exactly like the one on the poster, and her hair has grown longer. McGillis stood under his own large poster, holding Ronald's arm in front of the foyer, where the two were welcoming celebrities from all walks of life.

"Tom," Ronald went over to celebrate by shaking hands with Tom Cruise, who was the first to arrive.

Cruise wore an Italian-style outfit today. Under the gray suit was a Japanese-style printed silk shirt.

"A lot of celebrities are here today, it seems we will be very popular." Cruise looked around, and some photographers were taking photos.

"No problem, there will be a lot of coverage tomorrow."

"I know, Cher..." Cruise whispered in Ronald's ear. He also took the opportunity this time to go on a date with his girlfriend Cher.

"Xue'er is already inside." Ronald also said in his ear. Paula Wagner specially said hello, and Cher was even more anxious than Cruise and entered the cinema long in advance.

"Thank you." Cruise turned around and raised his hands to greet the fans, then went up to sign a few autographs, took a few photos for the photographers, and then happily walked into the theater.

Ronald was wearing a dark blue suit with a white shirt, clean and neat. It was in perfect contrast to McGillis' white coat and dark shirt.

McGillis and Ronald smiled at each other. The good news continues. During this time, American audiences have regained their interest in movies like "Top Gun" in which they fight Soviet Union pilots in air combat.

Over the past few months, the Challenger accident has been a rollercoaster of ups and downs. The Accident Investigation Board wanted to shirk responsibility and concluded that the explosion was an accident. They also wanted to silence the engineers who pointed out before launch that the real cause of the accident, the failure of the booster O-ring seal at low temperatures.

Unexpectedly, the engineer secretly found Nobel Prize winner Feynman. At a press conference in February, physicist Richard Feynman, who was regarded by the outside world as a window-dresser brought in by the investigative committee, gave other committee members and NASA a sudden blow.

He was sitting at the edge of the rostrum at the press conference, holding an O-ring sealing material for the space shuttle booster in his hand. After asking for a glass of ice water, he used a pair of pliers to clamp the sealing material, and then removed the material. Soak in it.

After waiting for more than ten minutes, when the reporter finally asked Feynman politely about his views on the cause of the accident, everyone thought he would say something ambiguous.

Unexpectedly, Feynman took the sealing ring material out of the ice water and opened the clamp. The material designed to rebound to seal the booster cannot rebound for dozens of seconds in a low-temperature environment. There was no way to perform the designed function of sealing the booster fuel leakage, which eventually caused the fuel to leak into the external fuel storage tank, causing a big explosion.

Everyone saw on TV the scene when the material was removed from the pliers. The white sealing material did not rebound. Public opinion was in an uproar, and NASA was immediately questioned for forcing the Challenger launch in sub-zero temperatures in order to complete the scheduled number of launches and keep funding, regardless of the risks to the astronauts.

The commander-in-chief ordered a thorough investigation into NASA's responsibility, and during this period, space shuttle launches were suspended.

This dramatic scene was beyond everyone's expectations. However, what is even more surprising is that the American people have more trust in the country.

Feynman's experiment on television proved from another perspective that America is a free country. Someone made a mistake, someone pointed it out, someone corrected it and moved on.

Compared with the nuclear power plant accident that occurred in Solvay Union last month, the contrast is too clear, and it is exactly in line with the views of most American people on the two countries.

A country is transparent and has free media. Another country is opaque and the government wants to cover up a huge accident.

If the monsoon had not blown Chernobyl's radioactive materials to the Nordic countries of Sweden and Norway, where they were detected by scientists, the Soviet Union might not have planned to disclose the actual explosion of Unit 4.

People's confidence in the country was restored, which made Ronald and the two producers very happy. The Soviet Union's nuclear accident caused panic in other countries in the world, and the fear of the Soviet Union's powerful force has returned. This month's TV has been full of reports on the horror of nuclear power plant explosions.

Paramount conducted two subsequent test screenings, and audiences responded favorably to a renewed interest in beating up Alliance MiGs on screen.

Paramount was encouraged by the results of the test screenings and specially approved this grand opening ceremony. Ronald used up all his contacts at once and invited all the stars and friends he knew in the industry to come to "Top Gun". New York premiere.

If all goes well, it can spark a huge amount of discussion in the media a week before the official opening.

"We're covering the premiere of Paramount's new film 'Top Gun' on Broadway in New York..."

A cable television host was still broadcasting entertainment news to the theater door.

“We’re seeing ‘Flashdance’ star Jennifer Beals, appearing alongside her Yale classmate, former child star and Academy Award nominee Jodie Foster.

Waving to fans across the street, Jodie Foster showed up alongside Jennifer Beals. They look close and are a pair of good sisters.

"Jennifer, Judy! This is Kelly, Kelly, Judy and Jennifer." Ronald stepped forward to welcome them and introduced McGillis and them to each other.

The three beauties hugged happily, and then placed themselves on both sides of Ronald, allowing the photographer to take pictures. This is a reporter managed by Paramount. All photos will be reviewed by Paramount first and then released to the media as appropriate.

McGillis and Jodie Foster were on both sides of Ronald. They looked at each other secretly, as if conveying some secret signal.

Jennifer Beals and Jodie Foster took photos and entered the theater hand in hand.

"Spike! Katherine!"

Those who arrived early were some not-so-famous insiders. Ronald stepped forward to say hello to two friends from NYU circles.

McGillis didn't recognize them, so she and Ronald whispered a few words and went into the theater.

"How are you doing?" Ronald hadn't communicated with them for a long time. This time, he was also using all the connections he could to get the box office results for the opening. The two of them were somewhat unknown in the college film circles in New York. We can mobilize some college students majoring in film and drama to support us.

"It's not bad, man, it's not bad."

Spike Lee's graduation work won some small awards from the African American Foundation, and also won the Outstanding Graduation Work Award from New York University. With this award, he also received investment in his first commercial feature film, which is currently in production.

"I'm still looking for opportunities."

Kathryn Bigelow didn't fare so well. Her movie didn't make any waves, and there are no new movies to be made now. As a female director, there are not many opportunities in this male-dominated industry.

"Let's talk when I'm done." Ronald had an idea. He could win over such a high-quality director with good cost performance.

"What opportunity is it?" Bigelow immediately became interested.

"Ronnie!"

Another batch of stars came over again.

It is director Cameron, producer Gale Hurd, and actress Sigourney Weaver of the "Alien 2" crew.

"Let me introduce to you, these two are my good friends, Jimmy and Gale. These are the talented directors I met at New York University, Spike Lee and Kathryn Bigelow."

Several directors and producers began to chat together.

"Hello, Ronald. Congratulations on your new film, I'm Sigourney."

"Ha, Lieutenant Ripley needs no introduction." Ronald recognized the middle-aged actress who played the alien-fighting character in the Alien series.

Cameron always likes to have such a strong heroine in his movies. He seems to have a special interest in this kind of women, and his wife Gail is also a strong woman type.

"If I have the chance, I really hope to make a movie with you."

"Arnold! Long time no see."

Next came Cameron's former "Terminator" actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and with him came New York socialite and niece of the Kennedy family, Maria Shriver.

"Hello, Ronald. I'm looking forward to your new movie." Schwarzenegger winked at Ronald.

"Welcome, is this your beautiful wife, Ms. Shriver? I have watched your show."

"Hello, Director Ronald."

Maria Shriver is a television reporter.

Ronald knew what Schwarzenegger meant. He had a passionate relationship with Danish actor Brigitte Nielsen before, and after dating Maria Shriver, he used scheming to dump Nielsen to Stallone. So Ronald didn't mention Stallone and Nelson.

Paramount also extended invitations to newlywed Stallone and Bridget Nielsen, but neither of them had any intention of attending.

Shriver recently wanted to use his family's influence to enter the film industry, and he also wanted to chat more with Ronald. However, new stars came one after another, so I had to ask my husband to ask Ronald for a business card so that we could contact him later.

"Helen, Betty, Danny!"

The next ones came over were the three leading actors from the cast of "The Evil Husband".

Helen Slater's home is in New York. Bette Midler and Danny DeVito both acted on Broadway and in Hollywood and also had residences in New York.

They finished filming "The Evil Husband" and came over to support producer Ronald.

"Ronnie", Helen hugged Ronald hard. Her acting career has taken off. After all, "The Evil Husband" is the work of the famous director Jerry Zucker.

"Congratulations, you're on your way." Bette Midler and Danny DeVito, two veteran actors, were very uneasy. There were some problems during the filming of "The Evil Husband". Neither of them was happy. Knowing whether their performances were too childish or not, the Zack trio's directing style was so superficial that they all felt their film acting careers were going to suffer.

"You guys go in first, I have to wait for the important guests here." Ronald whispered to Helen quietly.

"Okay, I'll go in first." Helen looked at the reporters outside. She hadn't been watched by so many people for a long time. She took the opportunity to pose for photographers to take pictures.

"John!"

"Ronald!"

Ronald welcomed a new group of stars, John Hughes, and the actors of two new films he directed and produced.

"Pretty in Pink" was the movie that Ronald proposed as an inspiration. The heroine is Molly Ringwald, and the two people beside her are Jon Cryer who plays a friend, and Andrew McCarthy who plays a crush. Andrew originally appeared in Ronald's Burger King commercial.

"Congratulations, Ronald." John Hughes, still wearing the same big frame glasses, came up to congratulate Ronald first.

"Congratulations to you too. When will your Pink Family be released?"

"The test screening went poorly. I may have to change the ending."

"I told you..."

Ronald smiled.

The plot I proposed at the time was two women chasing one man. American audiences can accept a girl next door falling in love with her childhood sweetheart, but they can't accept a beautiful woman failing to pursue a handsome guy and instead marrying a 'friend' boy next door.

John Hughes messed up the story in order to continue to flatter his muse Molly Ringwald. In the end, he didn't even direct it himself, leaving it to Howard Deutsch, who was the assistant director when he was filming "The Breakfast Club."

“Let me introduce to you, these are the two leading actors of my director’s ‘Spring Is Not a Reading Day’.

Behind Hughes are two more young actors. The man is Matthew Brodick, the protagonist of the "War Games" that made Ronald buy a computer and connected to the Internet. The woman has worked with Tom Cruise. Mia Sara in a fantasy film 'Legend'.

"Hello, hello" Ronald was busy shaking hands and hugging the five young actors.

Mia Sara is very beautiful, with black hair. I don’t know if she is of Italian or Chinese descent.

"Hello, Ronald, I like your movies very much." Mia Sara was still very innocent. She wanted to chat for a few words out of her love for Ronald's movies.

"I also loved your collaboration with Tom on 'Legendary'"

There was little opportunity for in-depth conversation in the foyer, as Ronald continued to receive bigger celebrities who were arriving one after another.

"The next thing is...is..." The TV host did not recognize the next couple of celebrities who came over.

"Paul, Linda!"

Here came Paul Hogan, who was wearing a crocodile leather jacket, and his girlfriend Linda Kozlowski. They fell in love on the set of "Crocodile Dundee" and became a couple in real life.

"Howdy!"

Hogan still speaks with an Australian accent. Their movie "Crocodile Dundee" has been released in Australia and broke local box office records, so he wanted to come to Hollywood to promote it.

"This is my business card. Let's talk in depth in two days."

Ronald knew what Hogan and Linda were thinking from his agent and welcomed them in first.

"Next up is the Oscar winner for Best Supporting Actress, Goldie Hawn, and her boyfriend Kurt Russell."

The host finally recognized the next star.

Ronald chatted with the two of them for a while. The production of "The Monster in Chinatown" has been completed, and Diane's scenes have been retained. It will premiere in two months. Goldie Hawn and Russell were going to collaborate on a movie next, and they also wanted to see if Ronald was interested in directing it.

"Here's the Oscar nominee for Best Screenplay, Oliver Stone."

"Oliver," Ronald hugged him.

Stone's new Vietnam War film has been shot in Southeast Asia. Behind are two actors, Willem Dafoe and Charlie Sheen.

Ronald looked at Charlie Sheen and laughed again, remembering the "Top Gun" spoof movie in his dream.

Charlie Sheen also laughed. He used Ronald to prevent his brother Emilio from having any new opportunities. Now he is directing and starring in a new movie with his girlfriend Demi.

Many people from the "Platoon" crew came to cheer, including Willem Dafoe, Tom Bellinger, who almost played "Top Gun", and Johnny Depp, an actor dressed in a feminine and weird costume, and his girlfriend.

This actress looked a bit like an old-school Hollywood movie star, and her eyebrows were very similar to those of female stars from the golden age. Ronald took a second look.

"Let me show you my new tattoo." Johnny Depp saw Ronald's gaze and quickly showed his new tattoo to his girlfriend.

"Sherilyn Fenn?" The girlfriend saw the tattoo, realized it was her name, and sweetly hugged Depp's arm and went in.

"Next is star William Hurt and his co-star Mary Matlin in the new film 'Children of God'." The TV reporter continued.

"Welcome, William" Ronald stepped forward for a hug.

"Hello, Ronald. I just heard Kathryn Turner talk about you and she had nothing but praise for you."

"Hahaha, I also like your performance very much."

Hurt and Turner, who had co-starred in the erotic thriller "Body Heat" a few years ago, are friends. Just a while ago, Ronald went to the set of Coppola's "Peggy Sue Getting Married". Kathryn Turner hated the acting skills of the leading actor Nicolas Cage, and the two were very wrong. Ronald After talking to Cage for a few words, he improved in the later period.

So Turner had a good impression of Ronald.

"Ronald, he is a very good director..." William Hurt explained in sign language to Mary Matlin next to him.

"I've seen his movies and I like him very much." Mary Matlin replied in sign language.

"Children of God" is a film about deaf-mute people. The heroine Marie Matlin is a real deaf-mute person. William Hurt learned sign language in order to act well in movies. He and Marie Matlin also fell in love over the show and are now dating.

"Tom Hanks, and Rita Wilson, and John Candy..."

"Hello," said the trio, who had just co-starred in "Volunteer."

"Noriyuki Morita and Ralph Marzio, Elizabeth Sue..."

"Hey, it'll be up to you in two months." This is Ronald's direct lineage.

"Isabella Rossellini, and director David Lynch..."

"Hello, Isabella, hello, Director Lynch." This is the mistress, uh, the former mistress and her new boyfriend.

"Michael Douglas, Kathryn Turner..."

"Hello...Hello..." The two co-produced "The Jewel of the Nile", the sequel to "Emerald".

"Jane Fonda..."

"Jane, nice to meet you..."

"Ronnie, good job."

The next stars are getting bigger and bigger. The host was happy and could announce their names effortlessly.

Ronald stood at the door for more than half an hour, smiling with a stiff face. The arrival of these celebrities was equivalent to bringing him free news coverage. In tomorrow's entertainment edition, these celebrity trends will occupy at least two or three pages of reports.

The movie's opening box office is driven entirely by the marketing resources invested by the distribution company and the stars who attend the premiere. Then it depends on the reputation. It's much better to make a Sleeping Beauty-style movie if it's powerful enough to start shooting.

On the one hand, these stars look at Ronald's face, and on the other hand, Paramount has given them a lot of support. Many people who don't live in New York came to attend the premiere, which is very honorable.

"Ronald, congratulations!"

The last two most important ones to come are Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, the two major directors who dominated the top-grossing film series in the 1980s.

"George, Steven, Ronald, look over here!"

The photographer shouted to the three people.

Ronald stood to the left of the two directors, stepped back slightly, put on a smile, and posed for them.

"Please come in, I'm glad you can come and support me, thank you!"

"Steven said your new movie is very interesting, and I'll come and watch it too." Lucas said with a smile as he walked away. He had gained a little weight after the divorce and was in a good mood. "My new movie will be released soon. You will also want to watch it by then." come."

"Thank you, thank you, definitely." When Ronald saw the two heavyweights, of course he accompanied them personally and entered the theater with them.

"Have you contacted them there? What did they say?" In the theater, Spielberg came over and whispered to Ronald.

"I conveyed your intention to them. In principle, they agree with any crew that goes there to shoot scenes, but they have to hire some professionals from their factory. The level is very good, and the wages are not expensive."

"Very well, I'll ask Catherine to follow up."

Spielberg purchased Ballard's adaptation rights and prepared to shoot a new film in the mysterious East. Ronald helped contact the film studio in Xujiahui. They reported that they were very welcoming to Hollywood visitors, but required the hiring of local technicians and payment in U.S. dollars.

After letting the bosses sit down, Ronald quietly walked to a seat next to the aisle.

"Ronnie", it was Aunt Karen who held his hand and gently comforted Ronald, who was a little nervous.

The premiere was held in New York for marketing reasons by Paramount. The film was easier to market on the West Coast, but the East Coast needed more exposure.

It just so happened that this arrangement made it convenient for Ronald to go home to see his aunt.

"I hope the audience doesn't hate it too much," Ronald whispered to his aunt.

The film is edited at a fast pace, breaking the traditional narrative rhythm of Hollywood. Many storylines are not fully shown, and it is up to the audience to make up their own minds.

And unlike the previous films that reflected the Vietnam War, "Top Gun" did not "reflect" on the Vietnam War at all. The entire film showed the power of naval pilots. It was only in the conversation between the Lone Ranger and the top gun flight instructor "Viper" that some of the unfair treatment suffered by the Lone Ranger's father during the Vietnam War was touched upon.

Ronald didn't know what viewers his aunt's age would think of his head-on handling of the war.

After the host's brief speech, the movie was quickly shown.

"When... when..." The bells from the "Top Gun" theme song rang again.

Hundreds of spectators who paid a lot of money to come in sat behind the stars and watched the premiere of "Top Gun" together.

－－－－－－Digression－－－－－

Two chapters combined into one

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