Exploiting Hollywood 1980

Jackie is a rough guy on the surface, but he is actually very smart on the inside. He saw the benefits of Ronald's new cutting tape.

Although this product does not make much money, it does have an advantage. With this kind of editing tape, after editing and copying, the editing interface is only one-sixteenth of the original tape, and can be directly previewed to the audience.

In Hong Kong, where the pace of filmmaking is very fast, this is an excellent invention, so that film producers can save the time and cost of making a new copy, and release it for trial screening after the editing is completed.

As the exclusive distributor of the new editing tape in Hong Kong, Jackie can sell it to the bosses who invest in the film business, which is a big favor.

Panavision's cameras are equipment that can only be used in large-scale productions, and Jackie can be a big favor to directors and producers who are full of creativity and aiming for large-scale productions.

Although Ronald supplied the items, wasn't it a matter of his words to rent them out in his studio in Xiangjiang and decide whether to give them to whom?

So he readily agreed to Ronald, and in all the movies that used Panavision cameras and new editing tapes, they would put the name of Daydream Pictures on the subtitles, which was also Panavision's side. Required by the lease contract.

With two good things in hand, including the lightning machine that seemed to be of little use, Jackie also agreed to Ronald to put two of them at his place for people who need them to borrow.

Ronald, who has made several deals and expanded his business to the East Asian continent, is also very satisfied. As a film market, there is a lot to learn. I have already extended my tentacles into Japan and Hong Kong, the two largest box office markets in East Asia.

Next, relying on these two bases, we can slowly penetrate it. It's hard to say about the movie. Who knows how big it can develop in the future?

Next, Ronald completed the task of attending the marketing promotion required by "Top Gun" and returned to Los Angeles.

And Tom Cruise will continue to travel to India and Singapore. This movie is the key to him becoming a big star. At that time, the contract was a bit harsh, and he was the lead in many trips as a big star and audience. Interact and give local media an entertainment headline.

Ronald had just recovered from the jet lag, and in a blink of an eye it was the weekend again.

"Top Gun" continued its strong performance at the box office midweek.

Both Paramount and CAA have seen this abnormal phenomenon,

Treat Ronald even more cautiously.

Even Ned Tanin, who wanted to use the unused stunt shots in "Top Gun", specially invited Ronald to come and apologize to him alone in the office, hoping that he would not mind and continue to cooperate with Paramount.

Anyway, no outsiders saw it. Tanin kept his posture very low and said a lot of soft words. In the end, Ronald couldn't bear to see the CEO of a major studio treating him so grovelingly to someone who was his junior, so he let him go with a slap in the face.

In order to calm Ronald down, Ned Tanin personally sent him downstairs, and then let Ronald sit in the back seat of his car. He himself got into the cab and acted as the driver to deliver him to CAA.

"Now everyone at Paramount knows your importance."

In the CAA office, Niceta smiled happily when she saw Ned Tanin acting as the driver.

This statement not only let everyone at Paramount know the importance of Ronald, but also let CAA's agents know Paramount's view of Ronald.

"I don't know why Tanin is so humble. In fact, I would rather he respect my creative freedom instead of reminding everyone in this way."

"It's not up to him." Niceta understood Tanin's intentions very well.

"Top Gun" has had two uncharacteristic box-office increases, and the new week's decline continues at a rate that's barely noticeable to the naked eye.

This shows one thing, "Top Gun" has become a phenomenal movie.

Many missing viewers of "The Sound of Music" and middle-aged couples who usually don't go to the cinema once every two or three years also know that there is such an air combat movie this time. They must go to the cinema to see the Tomcat beat up the MiG. .

Every two or three years, there will be a movie like this. I don’t know why, but the world is working together, and all the limitations are very good to it, and it is in the best position. Box office can no longer be inferred from rules of thumb.

For example, "Rocky" ten years ago, and "E.T." five years ago, both had the magic power to break through all the rules and dominate the box office. It can compete with new films from a month or even a few months for the box office championship.

"So do you forgive Tanin?" Niceta also wanted to hear Ronald's thoughts on whether to continue cooperating with Paramount for the new film.

"I just promised him to go to the premiere of Paramount's new film to support him. As for my new film, I still have to look at the conditions of the film studio."

"Very good, you already have the mentality of a successful Hollywood person." Niceta said happily.

…

Another Paramount masterpiece for teenagers, "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" is about to premiere.

It was also a film released by Paramount and the fourth teen film directed by an acquaintance, John Hughes, but Ronald went to the premiere anyway.

This is the first time John Hughes has directed a film without his teenage muse, Molly Ringwald.

Because Molly no longer wanted to repeat her role as a young girl, she played the same role in three consecutive movies written or directed by Hughes: "Sixteen Candles", "The Breakfast Club" and "Pretty in Pink". , a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl, after self-awakening and becoming a couple with the boy she likes, completed the first major change in her life.

Without a long-term contract to tie up Molly Ringwald, John Hughes's plan to make a teen movie based on real teenage actors also fell by the wayside. "Spring is not a day for reading" in this film, and he also had to use over-age actors.

24-year-old Matthew Brodick plays the male protagonist high school student, 29-year-old Alan Lark plays the second male classmate, 21-year-old Charlie Sheen plays the supporting actor, and 25-year-old Jennifer Gray plays the male protagonist's sister.

They are all over-age actors who have passed puberty. Only the male protagonist's girlfriend is played by 19-year-old Mia Sara, but her role is not important.

When Ronald arrived at the scene, several leading actors and Molly Ringwald were chatting.

"I really don't understand how Jean-Luc Godard directed King Lear with his character lying on a big rock by the sea. I asked him if my character was asleep or dead. . He just looked at me like this, as if the question I asked was very stupid. Pfft..."

Molly Ringwald took a deep breath and blew out her red bangs. This hairstyle became popular in America and was even featured on the cover of Time Magazine last month. The photo was accompanied by a line of headlines: "She's really cool." sweet!"

Although the two surrounding actresses, Mia Sara and Jennifer Gray, have also starred in several Hollywood movies, they are obviously very envious and jealous of such a popular star as Molly Ringwald.

Although he was complaining, he was secretly showing off that he could be selected into the crew by Jean-Luc Godard, one of the three outstanding figures of the New Wave, to shoot a modern version of "King Lear", and he told it in such an intimate tone. Godard's guidance of her performance made several bystanders feel uncomfortable.

"John Hughes asked you to make your debut in commercial films, which were well-received and well-received. Now you go to Europe to act in artistic films. Why are you taking all the good things?"

"Ronald, you're here!"

Jennifer Gray, a classmate in the acting class, saw the hot new director walk into the break room. This is a director with better box office success than John Hughes. Instead of envying Molly Ringwald's good fortune, why not try your luck here?

Suddenly, everyone who had been surrounding Ringwald came to surround Ronald, wanting to hear his views on art.

"Ronald, what do you think of Godard's directing method?"

Molly Ringwald was completely disappointed in Godard and wanted to hear Ronald's advice.

"Among the three great men of the Chinese New Wave, my favorite is Truffaut. He does not reject Hollywood commercial films and has also appeared in Spielberg's 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind.' Perhaps if he were still alive, he would be like me. A commercial film director who reeks of copper speaks."

"Hahaha……"

Everyone was thoroughly amused by Ronald's "humor". It seemed that his comedy performance was even funnier than that of Bill Murray, the most popular comedian in recent times.

Molly Ringwald pouted, this director is indeed as he mocked himself, he is not very proficient in art.

The few chatted for a while, and Ronald took the opportunity to call Jennifer Gray, "I heard that your father is a famous dancer. Can you dance?"

The "Dirty Dancing" star in my dream was this classmate in the acting class, and I happened to ask her about her dancing skills.

"Actually, I can't..." Gray smiled. She did not inherit her father's dance career, "But I can learn..."

She suddenly figured it out. Ronald wouldn't ask her whether she could dance for no reason. Was it because he had a role?

"No need to learn, I just asked casually." Ronald smiled and dismissed Gray's idea. In the dream movie, the heroine played by Gray, the baby, obviously danced at a beginner's level, and she was in the script. It matches his image. It would be bad if he learned to dance now.

"What role did Ronald ask you to play?" Matthew Brodick, who plays the male protagonist in "Spring Is Not a Day to Read," then pulled Jennifer Gray over to chat.

Although in the movie, Gray played his sister, in private, Brodick disliked Mia Sara, who played his girlfriend, and became a couple with her.

"He just asked me if I knew how to dance, and then said there was no need to learn it."

Gray recited the conversation between himself and Ronald verbatim and asked her boyfriend what to do.

"The director has a lot of ideas. We don't know what the role is now. It would be bad if you ask more. Then I will ask my agent to help you find out what projects Ronald is working on recently. Have you ever practiced before? Ballet, you can also get familiar with it again, just in case."

"Well, I will listen to you."

Jennifer Gray was no longer dating Michael J. Fox. He was apparently attracted to the actress who played his girlfriend in the TV series "Ties". He had no hope, and Brodick happened to extend an olive branch.

John Hughes's male and female protagonists are both popular, and it would be nice to fall in love with him. Moreover, Brodick is a Jew of the same ethnicity and is also very handsome.

"John," Ronald had already gone over to greet John Hughes at this time.

"Ronald, welcome. This is my partner, Howard Deutsch," Hughes welcomed him, and then introduced a tall friend next to him who was the man he met earlier this year. The director of "Pretty in Pink" and Hughes's partner and friend.

"You're right. Before Pretty in Pink was released, during the test screening, the audience was very dissatisfied with the ending of Andy, played by Molly Ringwald, who fell in love with the neighbor as a child. I finally asked Howard to recall the already The leading actor, Andrew McCarthy, who went to film other movies, came back to reshoot a different ending."

Hughes complained about the poor box office of "Pretty in Pink", which was less than 40 million and did not meet his expectations. He was a little confused whether it was the ending or the director Howard Deutsch's skill that was behind him.

"I told you... that ending is not in line with America's audience values." Ronald laughed. If this story were reversed, it would be a girl. After dressing up, the ugly duckling turned into a white swan and fell in love with him. With the male lead, that’s pretty much it.

"Who says it isn't? I should listen to you."

John Hughes is similar to Ronald, producing an average of two to three movies a year, all of which are hits. So now, except for Ronald, whose box office performance is better than his own, he and others have a sense of arrogance.

After chatting for a while, everyone entered the screening room and started watching "Spring Is Not a Day for Reading", which was filmed in Hughes' hometown of Chicago.

"Hahaha……"

The audience's laughter and applause showed that after Hughes's last movie failed to meet expectations at the box office, the movies he directed were still able to reach the average level of Hughes' youth movies.

Ronald applauded too. Hughes no longer insisted on casting, requiring real teenage actors to play teenage characters, but instead adopted a different directing approach.

This "Spring is not a day for reading" is all the dreams of a high school boy. He has a beautiful girlfriend and a very loyal buddy. He teased the teacher and the principal, pretended to be sick to deceive his parents, and skipped school to hang out in Chicago with his girlfriend and buddy.

In the end, before breaking out of the gang, he returned home and completely failed his sister and the principal who came to catch him for lying.

This kind of daydream is probably something every American high school boy has had, and Hughes does a good job of connecting it together and showing all the sights worth seeing in his hometown of Chicago.

However, John Hughes had a habit that Ronald didn't like very much. He had the male protagonist break the space of the film many times and give an inner monologue directly to the audience.

This technique is very entertaining and not to Ronald's taste. The audience sometimes gets upset at that time. However, the other parts are so exciting that they outweigh this minor flaw.

After saying goodbye to several familiar actors and saying some kind words about Hughes to reporters, Ronald took his leave and went home.

John Hughes, who stayed behind, was not too immersed in the success of the new film. He also discussed the issues of the new film with his friend Howard Deutsch.

"John, this movie is like the negative of 'Pretty in Pink'. It transforms the story of one woman and two men into one man and two women. We have the experience last time, and casting is very important. I think if we can't If you find a leading role like Molly Ringwald, you might as well not make it.”

"Pretty in Pink" is Howard Deutsch's debut film. The film did not reach the average box office level of Hughes' works, and he wanted to make a comeback with his new film. Ringwald refused to repeat the role again, and Deutch felt his prospects were in doubt.

"You think so?" Hughes was not as humble in front of Howard Deutsch as he was in front of Ronald.

"Yeah, that's what I thought."

"Okay then, don't take pictures."

"What do you mean, John? Do you want to write a new script to film?" Howard Deutsch still didn't understand the situation.

"Don't take pictures anymore. You're fired."

John Hughes was already angry about the failure of the box office and the departure of his muse Lynward. Howard Deutsch also said this. The anger that he had suppressed at the box office just now exploded again in front of Ronald. come out.

－－－－－－Digression－－－－－

There is only one chapter today

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