Exploiting Hollywood 1980

The second important supporting actor confirmed is Ross Castorini, who plays Cher's Loretta's mother.

Compared to Loretta's casualness and her father Cosmo's cunning, mother Ross is the backbone of the Castorini family.

After she married Cosmo, she became a typical good Italian wife who always took the greatest responsibility for the family. On the one hand, he took care of the grandfather who lived with them, and on the other hand, he gave his daughter the best support. After Loretta's husband died unexpectedly, he always wanted to leave the house to his poor daughter.

In addition to being responsible, he is also very smart. She was the first family member to notice that her daughter had fallen in love with someone else, and she was also the first to find out that her husband had an affair outside the home.

However, for the sake of this big Italian family, she has been patient and has not revealed her husband's love.

After discovering that her husband went to the opera with his lover without her, Rose was filled with confusion. During the meal, she met Perry, a university professor with whom she had a good rapport.

After enjoying some intelligent conversation and the company of a man of high social status, she sent Perry away and returned to the family alone without destroying the family's morals.

This character is the key figure that connects all the stories together. If her performance is not credible, the structure of the story will fall apart.

The first person Julia Taylor recommended was an unsuccessful Broadway actor, Olympia Dukakis.

"She's not Italian, right?" Ronald read the resume behind the other person's photo, and then handed it to screenwriter Shanley.

"No, she is of Greek origin. One good thing is that you don't have to worry about her familiarity with the atmosphere of a big Italian family. Greeks are also famous for their big families." Julia Taylor knocked on the table.

"Oh, she played the role in 'The Wild One' in 1974, which was earlier than you entered the industry." Screenwriter Shanley exclaimed as he studied Dukakis' resume line by line.

"Then why hasn't she become popular after so many years in Hollywood?" Ronald also came up to take a look.

Julia Taylor pointed to her face and then made a ball on her chest.

"She has a face that is too mature, and her figure is not the type that Hollywood likes. So although she has always been loved by film critics, she has no leading role to play. When there are no film and television dramas, she still stays in New York for a long time. Her husband is also a Broadway actor. The two of them were acting part-time on Broadway.”

"John and Mary?\

,"Shanley seemed to have discovered some great secret again, "Is it the romantic movie starring Dustin Hoffman and Mia Farrow? She is about the same age as Dustin, right? She can play Dustin." Ting’s mother?”

"She was only 38 years old at that time, so she could play the mother of 32-year-old Dustin Hoffman?" Ronald secretly calculated that when filming "John and Mary" in 1969, the two of them Age gap.

"It seems that she is a professional mother. I am more interested. You must let her try." Ronald was interested, and Julia Taylor happily called Dukakis and asked her to come quickly.

…

"I'm Greek, not Italian."

Olympia Dukakis has an ordinary face, but he looks like the intelligent type.

Ronald asked her to film the audition footage and was very satisfied with her appearance. After chatting with her about the role again, I have to admit that Julia Taylor’s taste in selecting actors is much better than mine.

Dukakis not only has an outstanding appearance, but also has a lot in common with the character of Ross in terms of personality and inner nature.

"It doesn't matter, Cher, who plays your daughter, is of Armenian descent. And our screenwriter Mr. Shanley said that after a little age, everyone is of Italian descent."

"Ha ha ha ha……"

Olympia Dukakis put the back of his hand to his mouth and laughed.

Ronald was even more satisfied with this action. It was a gesture used by women with old-fashioned education to cover their mouths when they smiled. It fits perfectly with Rose's background in the script.

"If you are willing to come, I will not audition other actors. Julia highly recommends you, and after seeing it, I think she is right. You are a perfect match for this role."

"Interesting, I gotta say, I never thought you were such a director, Ronald."

Olympia Dukakis couldn't help but remember that when she was talking to her husband about this opportunity at home, she still had doubts about Ronald.

After all, he is a director who started out in music videos and low-cost exploitation films. Although it is very successful commercially and the blockbuster "Top Gun" is still in theaters, it is about to win the box office championship of the year.

But after all, he is a serious dramatic actor, and Dukakis doesn't really want to play the kind of role in a popcorn movie.

Her husband was a Croatian immigrant. After marrying Dukakis, the two couldn't afford a house in Manhattan and settled in New Jersey.

After her husband learned that the call was from Julia Taylor, he still urged her to audition.

"Julia was Woody Allen's casting director, and she wouldn't recommend a bad role for no reason. And I hear Ronald is on good terms with Marty Scorsese, and he won't be a forever By a director who makes exploitation films.”

"But..." Dukakis continued to shirk. She still found the Broadway role enjoyable.

"Dear, our eldest daughter Christina will go to college next year. Do you really have the heart to use a credit card to pay her tuition? Even if we use our credit cards to pay for her tuition next year. The senior next year will Where is the son Peter? And the third child Stephen..."

"Oh... stop talking, I will sell my soul once." Olympia Dukakis and her husband are both good actors pursuing acting skills, but in this era, their income is not enough. Their income, after paying off their mortgage, is just enough to raise their three children.

Today's college tuition is expensive, and the two of them really have more than they can afford to face three grown-up children.

This time Julia Taylor said that Ronald's movie had a small budget, but the script had very high requirements for supporting actors, and the price Ronald gave seemed very generous for a supporting actor. Julia knew that Dukakis was the most suitable candidate, and also knew that she was short of money, so she specifically asked her to be the first to audition.

The couple had a deep relationship. For the sake of the future of their children, Olympia Dukakis made a decision that went against her own career pursuits. She wanted to succumb to the magic of money and act in an exploitation film.

I didn't expect Ronald to think so highly of himself when selecting people. This method of selecting actors based on temperament and first impression is similar to those directors on Broadway who pursue the highest level of acting skills.

Dukakis suddenly felt that the salary of tens of thousands of yuan was not so profitable that it made people feel sorry for the god of acting.

"I thought you were a typical Hollywood director..."

"Hahaha, Hollywood directors are very strict, you have to hurry up. You should know Julie Boisso, right? Yes, she plays your sister, and she will also serve as the accent coach of the crew. I hope to see it as soon as possible You speak a fluent Brooklyn Italian accent.”

…

Next to be confirmed is the role of the father, Cosmo Castorini. Ronald looked at Julia Taylor.

"Vincent Gardenia, this time is a real Italian actor. He previously starred on Broadway in 'The Prisoner of Second Avenue' and won the Tony Award for Best Actor."

Tyler placed a photo on the table and handed it to Ronald.

"Hahaha, I hired you. It's really the best decision I've made so far in this movie."

Ronald laughed out loud when he saw the person in the photo.

This casting is fantastic.

Vincent Gardenia has a particularly interesting face. At first glance, he looks honest and honest, but the smile that appears slightly is a little more cunning.

When you see him, you will be reminded of the owner of the hardware store in the community. He looks reliable, but when selling you things, he often sells you things that look good but you don't need.

When Ronald saw the real person, he felt even more that the casting was very good.

The real Vincent Gardenia, in addition to the natural mixture of cunning and loyalty when communicating, also has a lustful attitude that is unique to Italian men.

That's not the kind of lustful person who wants to pursue a beautiful woman when he sees one, but the Italian type. When he sees a beautiful woman, he just sticks to her and beats her to death. At the same time, he talks and boasts about his own power.

His slightly chubby face also made him look a bit lecherous.

"Oh, Ronald, why do you want me to play Cosmo? When I was young, I always played the leading role. Can't you let me play Cher's fiancé Johnny?"

"Hahaha, no. I just think you are playing her father."

"Oh, it really makes me sad when you say that." Vincent Gardenia pretended to be sad by Ronald's words, "I think I can do it once or twice."

Ronald was very satisfied. The performance of these lines on the scene fit Cosmo's character very well.

"No, you play Cosmo."

"Let's discuss it. If you don't let me play the sanctimonious university professor, I can at least fall in love with my mother, Rose. Look at me, it would be such a waste for such a handsome young man not to fall in love with the heroine."

"As for Cosmo, you also have a lover to play opposite, and besides, you play Rose's husband in the movie. Isn't that better?"

"How is that the same? Why are love and marriage the same thing?"

Ronald was very insistent. This person was definitely Julia Taylor, who acted with a sense of slickness. A natural choice for Cosmo.

Vincent Gardenia chatted a few more words half-jokingly, and seeing that Ronald insisted on not changing, he put away his Italian style.

"When do I need to join the group?"

"There are some non-Italian actors who are still learning their accents. When we start script readings and rehearsals, you can join us."

Vincent Gardenia was even more satisfied when he heard that Ronald had also arranged rehearsal time.

Many Hollywood movies do not have a rehearsal session, but instead put the performance on the spot. Although he acted mostly for the pay, no actor would want to leave no room for his acting skills in the movie.

…

Then, the actor who played the university professor found a sanctimonious actor, John Mahoney. There are several other minor supporting roles, and Julia Taylor has been found to be a perfect fit.

Among the remaining main supporting characters, there is only one Loretta's grandfather, and the old man is difficult to deal with.

This character is usually confused, but is very shrewd at critical moments. He usually kept a large group of dogs, and often cooked Ross steaks for him and secretly fed them to the dogs. It's a very unique character. If there is an old Italian actor, it will add a wonderful charm to the movie.

This role requires a relatively high level of performance and unique appearance conditions. Ronald already trusted Julia Taylor's casting skills, "Julia, who did you find me this time? Which veteran Italian actor?"

"No, I found you a Russian, Fedor Chaliapin."

"Huh? Russian?"

…

Ronald met this old Russian actor. He was very thin, but it was obvious that he must have been a handsome guy when he was young.

Ronald learned from Julia that Fyodor Chaliapin’s father was the most powerful bass in the opera world in the 1920s. It was also during World War I that the great nobles of Russia.

Although his family property and apprentices were later confiscated, he did not hate the leaders at that time. Instead, he maintained sympathy for the workers and peasants.

Unlike his father, Fedor Chaliabin mainly debuted as an actor and made many movies in the European film industry.

Fedor Chaliapin was eighty-one years old this year and his legs and feet were a bit handicapped. Ronald asked him to sit down and wanted to have a few words with him to see the effect.

"I noticed that you made a lot of movies in Italy and worked with Fellini?"

Ronald came up and talked about one of the other party's greatest achievements, his collaboration with the legendary Italian director Fellini.

"What did you say?" Fedor Chaliapin asked in confusion.

"I asked, are you... collaborating with... Fellini..." Ronald had to raise his voice.

"Ah...yeah, I've been in a lot of movies with him. He's a very talented director, just like you."

Fedor Chaliapin spoke a little weakly, and he warmed his hands on the cup of coffee.

"What about your Italian accent? ... Italian accent?"

Ronald had no choice but to ask a few simple questions loudly so that the other party could hear them.

"Ah...I can speak Italian accent, but it's not as good as real Italian"

Fedor Chaliabin stretched out one ear with great difficulty. His hearing was severely reduced, and he could only hear clearly if he was very close.

"Thank you for coming today, Mr. Fedor Chaliapin."

After chatting a few questions, Ronald had to stand up and see him off. His manager, a young man, helped him stand up. When Fedor Chaliapin turned around, he smiled at Ronald.

"This smile..." Ronald originally planned to replace him. With such a hearing condition, it would be difficult to match the role.

But the smile on the other side in the end was very similar to those old people who are sometimes sober and sometimes confused. Their wisdom in life is measurable, but because they are old and weak, they sometimes pretend to be confused and do not excessively arouse the resentment of the younger generation and add inconvenience to their lives.

"How is it? Is it suitable for the role of the old man?"

Julia Taylor liked this quality in Fedor Chaliabin.

"But he's also too deaf."

"It's not a serious problem. He doesn't have many scenes."

"But every scene is important." Ronald and Julia Taylor had different opinions on casting for the first time.

Next, Ronald asked Julia to recommend several elderly actors, but none of them had the usually confused and occasionally wise qualities of Fedor Chaliapin.

He was very much like Fedor Chaliabin, but the other person's hearing made him hesitate.

"Nicita, in the movie 'The Child of God' you are talking about, how did Marlene Matlin play the heroine? How can a deaf person play the opposite role?"

Ronald asked his agent Niceta who came to see him.

In this movie, which reflects the life of a deaf girl, many characters are played by real deaf-mute people. It was just released in New York, and Ronald went to see it. The story and performances were both very good.

"I heard that the male protagonist, William Hurt, had a deaf mother, so he knew sign language. He and Marlene communicated with each other through sign language. I heard that they got to know each other because of the movie and officially lived together."

Niceta told her what she knew.

Film acting is actually about acting out one's own reaction against the other person's reaction. The two male and female protagonists spent a long time getting to know each other before filming and communicated in sign language every day. When the filming started, a tacit understanding was naturally developed, with natural reactions to each other's subtle body and expressions.

Therefore, in the movie, the couple played by the two is particularly believable. In particular, deaf people tend to have irritable tempers, and Ronald felt that the restoration was spot on.

"You're worried about Fyodor Chaliapin's hearing. Has he been in any movies lately?"

"Yes, he has acted." Ronald suddenly thought that Fedor Chaliapin has been frequently participating in movies recently. If deafness really affects his performance, then it should soon be It’s just that no one asked him to act.

It is not known how long he had been severely deafened.

"Why don't you ask the director or actor who has worked with him to ask about the situation?" Niceta reminded.

"I don't know him, do you know him?" Ronald thought, if he could have a private chat with his colleagues from the previous film, he might be able to find out the truth.

"I know him. In his last movie, he co-starred with Sean Connery in Castle War. Sean became our number one star in CAA." Niceta took out the phone book and dialed back to Los Angeles to call Ronald Contact.

The so-called No. 1 star actually does not refer to Sean Connery’s popularity, but because when Michael Ovitz, the chairman of CAA, started his business, Sean Connery was the first person he signed. Star actors. In the CAA office, a large office was also reserved for Connery.

"Hello, Ronald, I heard Michael say you want to call me if you have something?" Sean Connery spoke with a strong Scottish accent and was very arrogant.

It’s not that he doesn’t know other accents that are easier to understand, but he deliberately shows off his Scottish origins and speaks this dialect that is difficult to understand.

"Uh, yes, Mr. Connery. I would like to ask, are you familiar with Fedor Chaliapin? I would like to cast him in a movie, but I am worried that it will affect his hearing."

"Young man, if you ask me, my answer is, sign him quickly."

"Why?" Ronald reluctantly understood Connery's opinion, but what he actually wanted to know were some details about Fedor Chaliapin's presence on the set, rather than an arbitrary judgment.

"Don't you believe what I say, young man?"

"I just want to know more details. This character is crucial to the movie and I need a good actor."

"Let me tell you, sign him now. He's old and deaf, but as soon as he's in front of the camera, he steals all my scenes."

Sean Connery did not give any details. After saying this, he urged Ronald to sign Fedor Chaliabin and then hung up the phone.

"Mr. Bond is a man with a bad temper, but he has already given his opinion, hasn't he?" Niceta listened to the entire conversation and nodded to Ronald, saying that although Connery was a bastard, he was I want to tell the truth about the performance.

This bald Bond, who relies on wearing a wig to act, is quite conceited about his acting skills. It is not easy for him to say such words of praise for other people's acting skills.

Ronald went to the cinema again and watched "The War" which had not yet been released. Sure enough, in this movie shot last year, Fedor Chaliapin's acting was very good, turning Sean Conn into a Nally was pressed hard.

In this case, Ronald agreed with Julia's judgment and signed a contract with the last major supporting actor, Fedor Chaliabin.

In this way, all the important roles have been determined. Ronald took a half-day off on the weekend and waited for everyone to gather together to read the script for the first time. Then he began to practice and correct the Brooklyn Italian with the help of Julie Boisso. accent.

Diane Lane returned to New York and happened to visit Ronald. The two were in the hotel, sitting together and watching TV.

Ronald needed this daily routine to relax the director's tense nerves during filming.

"I always feel that I am a bit similar to the heroine Loretta in this movie. It seems that I have bad luck. Every time a big production is made, as long as I participate in it, the box office will not be very good."

Diane hung Ronald's arm around her neck, then leaned into Ronald's arms and straddled one foot on the back of the sofa.

When there are no outsiders, Diane has never been able to sit well.

"Don't say that. If you think too much, it might actually happen. Knock on wood and get rid of the bad luck."

Ronald knocked on the wooden coffee table twice instead of Diane.

"Hehe, why didn't you come to me for this movie?"

"There is no suitable role. This is a love story for middle-aged people." Ronald thought for a while, "There is only one scene where Ronnie works in the bakery. There is a young girl who also works in the bakery and has a crush on Ronnie. .Would you like to make a cameo?"

"If I don't want to, I won't be able to act."

Diane twisted twice on the sofa, picked up the remote control and changed the channel. This is the case in Hollywood. The less you can make blockbuster movies, the less good scripts will come to you.

"Look at the Late Show. Cher will be on David Letterman's show tonight." Ronald asked Diane to stop and watch NBC's Late Show together. His friend Letterman will have Cher as his guest today.

After a burst of welcoming applause, Cher wore a white crew-neck top, black tights, a conservative hairstyle, and hugged David Letterman.

The two sit down separately. After the audience's applause disappears, Letterman usually asks an ice-breaking question to let the guests relax and get into the mood.

"You are the guest I have most wanted to invite since my show started. You have never agreed to be on the show. Why are you willing to come to the Late Show after four and a half years of our constant invitations?" David Letterman said in response. Good words, ask Cher.

"Ha...hehehe..."

Cher suddenly burst out laughing, "I don't know, I think maybe there's a reason... I have to pay my hotel rent."

The audience was amused by Cher's humor.

David Letterman continued, "Are you saying you're living in a hotel in New York and don't have enough cash to pay the hotel rent?"

"Hey, yes, because the rent bill is huge." Xueer straightened her posture and answered very formally.

"Hey hey hey..." David Letterman was a little surprised. Cher's answer was beyond his expectation.

"So, I thought, why not meet this handsome guy, and then..." Xueer continued to answer.

David Letterman couldn't figure out whether Cher was real or a joke.

"Well, if you think The Late Show is going to pay your hotel bill, I think you're seriously misinformed." David Letterman frowned and formally rejected the idea.

"Like I said, our previous time slot, Johnny Carson's Tonight Show, was very rich, and they could spend whatever money they wanted on guests. But our Late Show was very poor, and they didn't even have a paper clip. It’s all reused.”

The audience laughed again.

David Letterman skillfully made the audience laugh, but then quietly told Cher the reality of the show's crew. He really couldn't afford her so-called "sky-high hotel bill."

"So, you're living back and forth between California and New York?" He changed the subject.

"No, I mainly live in California. But in the past few months, I have been living in a hotel in New York and I just went back. You wanted me to be on the show, so I flew over." Cher continued to half-jokingly want the show crew to to reimburse.

"So, our program team agreed to reimburse your air tickets?" David Letterman asked the staff below.

"Of course," Cher nodded to Letterman on stage.

"No, we didn't agree." The staff below replied, causing another murmur from the audience.

"Oh, God, something is going to happen." Ronald's expression changed when he saw Xue'er. Is she really short of money? Could it be that she acted in three movies in succession in order to make money as quickly as possible?

Of course David Letterman also discovered something was wrong, and he wanted to go back and find it quickly.

"Joke aside, I want to ask, you must have some reason. We have been looking for you for four and a half years, but you are not willing to be on my show. You must have some change in your thinking, right?"

"No, actually, I always thought that I would never be on your show." Xueer's tone was already very bad.

"Why?" David Letterman thought Cher had another witty comment, so he quickly picked it up.

"Because, because you're such a big asshole."

"Hey, hey..." David Letterman's face immediately fell. He lit his cigar and took two puffs.

"Hey, the audience is not booing me, they are cheering for Cher..."

Ten awkward seconds passed, but David Letterman's professionalism allowed him to continue the show.

"If the audience in front of the TV didn't hear it, I am repeating it. Cher thinks I am a good person, yes... Cher... a famous singer and movie star. Everyone applauds..."

David Letterman was still angry, and he ended the show hastily without giving Cher a chance to continue speaking.

"Rick, have you watched TV? What happened to Cher?" Ronald quickly picked up the phone and dialed his agent Niceta. His wife Paula Wagner, who to some extent formed an alliance with Cher's agent to break up Cher and Tom Cruise, may know something about the situation.

Cher is the most important character in "Moonlight". No matter what happened to her tonight, it's not good news for the crew.

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