Exploiting Hollywood 1980

"Well, do you really care about the movie's box office?"

Helen put one arm around Ronald and huddled up in Ronald's arms. She found this position very comfortable.

Ronald's ecstasy of surprise just now made Helen very happy. She also liked the movie "Dirty Dancing," but Ronald kept talking about how great it was at the box office, how many box office multipliers were multiplied by the first weekend to get the total box office, and what Cinema ratings it was.

This made Helen a little uninterested. She felt that a good movie would definitely be loved by the audience. This movie made by Ronald is so great, and it makes the Jewish girl's culturally conservative but progressive mentality very real.

Baby pursues true love, regardless of Johnny's social background or poverty level. The love between two people is completely instinctive attraction and spiritual like-mindedness. Helen admired this view of love very much.

And Baby's father, Dr. Hausmann, is rich, has social status, is upright and elegant, and treats his daughter as an equal. This is the collection of all the beautiful imagination Helen has of her father Gerald. If only the father could be like Dr. Hausman and love his wife so much when his daughter is older.

Dr. Houseman in this movie represents the protection of her father that Helen enjoyed and the complete, loving family that she did not get in childhood. This made her really appreciate Jerome Orbach's acting skills as Dr. Houseman in the movie.

As for the box office, for such a good movie, you don’t need to pay attention to these things. How could the audience not come to see it? How beautiful! Helen could never imagine that there would be women in all of America who didn't like watching this kind of movie.

"No, I just had an unexpected surprise." Ronald touched his nose. Did he value money too much?

But in the world of Hollywood, no movie can be made without money. If you want to realize an ideal, promote a certain idea of ​​your own, or to be more vulgar, you want to win an award to prove your status. You have to spend a lot of money.

"What's the surprise? This movie is very good. I think anyone from New York will like it." Helen really liked the movie in her heart and felt that Ronald was just a fan of the authorities.

"Of course I thought the movie would do well at the box office, but I didn't expect it to be so good." Ronald explained to Helen.

The movie's first-day box office sales gave Dirty Dancing a good start at the box office.

But American movies have always been a two-part market. New York, Los Angeles, these big cities on the east and west coasts,

The audience's preference for certain plots has always been different from the preference of audiences in the Midwest, the Deep South, and the vast rural small towns.

Take musicals as an example. The previous film "Footloose" directed by Herbert Ross had a very average performance in big cities. The movie's pace was a bit slow and its plot was cliche, but it relied on the vast audience in the central and southern regions to achieve a high box office in the end.

Ronald's "Break Dance" has the highest box office in the east and west coasts, led by Los Angeles and New York, and has received a fanatical welcome. It is only in big cities that such deviant dances, graffiti and stories of the urban poor have such high recognition. The vast area in the middle contributes relatively limited box office.

"Dirty Dancing," the story follows a New York Jewish family as they vacation in the nearby Catskills. Logically speaking, a movie like this should be more popular on the east and west coasts. Ronald deduced based on previous experience that the box office for the three-day weekend would be around 5 million.

But suddenly "Dirty Dancing" became No. 1 at the box office. It seems that women on both coasts love this movie very much. Ronald was unexpected by the enthusiasm of those adult women in particular.

Of course it feels good to make money, but making more than expected is the reason why Ronald feels happy.

Generally speaking, when a movie has its highest box office opening weekend and then drops week by week until it reaches less than $1 million, theaters will slowly start to replace it with new movies. Therefore, the higher the opening box office, the longer "Dirty Dancing" will stay in movie theaters.

The longer it takes, of course, the more money you make. This is also the reason why "Top Gun" ranked first at the box office last year.

"Stop talking, what are our arrangements for today?" Helen and Ronald chatted for a while about her favorite acting analysis, and then stopped.

"I have received invitations to many parties. I will attend a few. Do you have any programs?" Ronald put his arms around Helen and asked her where she wanted to go.

"I originally wanted you to meet the actors' community that Helen (Hunter) and I established together and talk to them. But since you have so many invitations, of course I will accompany you."

"Let's all go, let's pick out the invitations together. I'm not familiar with the New York scene yet. You can help me see which ones are worth going to. We'll go to your actor community when we go down, and pick two parties to meet at in the evening. about there."

"Hmm... um..." Helen twisted around in Ronald's arms. This arrangement made her feel very appropriate.

"This is Princess Lee Radziwill's party. She is a socialite, and all the boring people are going there. It's possible that little Kennedy is going too."

Helen looked through the invitations to Ronald one by one. She took out one and held it up to Ronald.

"Which country is she a princess? Why is little JFK going? Is he dating this princess?" Ronald has no interest in little Kennedy. This kind of person and him are completely the opposite extremes of America. I have seen him before. It's not a pleasant experience either.

"Hahaha, don't you know who Princess Lee Radziwill is?" Helen laughed so hard when she heard about the date.

"Tell me, don't make fun of me, a country boy from Staten Island." Ronald realized that he might not know enough about these upper-class circles in New York and said something ridiculous.

"No, you are not a country boy...you are one of the best directors in New York..." Helen turned around and held Ronald's face, and said solemnly.

"Then who is she?"

"Caroline Lee Radziwell, the New York social circle often calls her princess, she is the former first lady, Jacqueline Kennedy's little sister, that is, the younger Kennedy's..."

"It turns out to be his aunt." Ronald understood. This family is all American "nobles". Even her nickname is "Princess".

"Do you want to go?" Ronald asked Helen.

"Actually, I don't like these people very much. They are always aloof. They like to talk about boring topics at parties, like who bought new jewelry and who married whom. As the greatest wealthy people in the history of America, they The descendants of one of the leaders, Kennedy, turned a blind eye to the most important issues in the world today, nuclear disarmament and environmental protection."

"Ah, that's it... let's see then." Ronald thought of Helen's mother, a progressive who likes to do free defense work and is committed to anti-nuclear, disarmament, and environmental protection.

"But..." Helen held the invitation in her hand and was unwilling to let it go. "Princess Lee Radziwill's parties often have some very interesting guests. She especially likes to interact with people in the entertainment industry, singers, writers, etc. I I want to see if there are any artists."

"Okay, I'll listen to you. I'll meet your partner Helen (Hunter) in the afternoon and go to Princess Lee Radziwill's party in the evening." Ronald moved other plot aside and hugged Helen to the side. forward.

…

"You look so beautiful, what foundation and blush did you use?" Helen Hunt asked her good friend in surprise, holding Slater's hand.

Helen Slater has surprisingly good skin this afternoon. There was a hint of blush on the white cheeks. There seemed to be a glow in the skin, as if someone had taken a stockinged movie close-up on Helen Slater's film.

Ronald and Helen Slater went to an abandoned factory on West Seventeenth Street in Manhattan. This is where two actors named Helen, together with other actors and directors, formed the actors' club "Naked Angels".

"That's all." Slater smiled and hugged his good friend, and then introduced Ronald to some young actors present.

Everyone was very excited that Ronald could come to this small place. They gathered around him and asked him to talk about some of the requirements for actors in film shooting.

Usually, the biggest names come here, that is, the heroine like Helen Slater, who has already made two blockbuster movies. They have never dared to think of a blockbuster director like Ronald.

"I'm not an actor like some directors. It can be said that your acting skills are better than mine." Ronald came up and made a joke.

Everyone laughed in amusement. Helen Slater's eyes almost sparkled as she looked at her lover.

Helen Hunt next to her saw the clue, and it turned out that it was not the result of foundation and blush.

"I can only talk about it from a director's point of view, what I hope the actors in the movie will be like. I hope the actors in my movies will not over-rehearse and save the most emotional and passionate moments. camera.

I know that you are all used to the theater stage, so reducing rehearsals in this way is not in line with your experience. But in a movie, every performance does not need to be of a certain level. In the end, I may only need one shot that brings out the best...well, maybe two or three shots edited together. "

"Hahaha..." The actors present laughed out loud after hearing this. They found that Ronald not only had a sense of humor, but also spoke plain words that were very important summaries of experience, without any nonsense or clichés.

Who can not like such a speaker?

"Catch him, Helen, and trap him in a small circle." After Helen Hunt heard this, she secretly said to her good friend and best friend Slater.

"Ah, that's too far away. I haven't considered it yet. Besides, I'm not suitable for living with people for a long time. We will quarrel after a long time. We love each other more if we get together for a short time like this."

"Oh, Helen, hold on tight," Hunter said in his mind, while he was still obsessed with you.

At the end of the lecture, the actors crowded around Ronald crazily, asking questions and asking him to leave his contact information.

The name Naked Angel comes from the book of the same name by writer John Teitel, who was the first to tell about the "Beat Generation". These actors all believe in freedom, professionalism, and rock and roll. They don't have much respect for authority, but they are still crazy about a director like Ronald who is capable and eloquent.

"Helen and I have to go to another party, so that's it for today." Ronald answered a few questions, declined their invitation to stay for a beer, and went to Manhattan with Helen Slater. ’s upscale venue for Princess Lee Radziwill’s party.

"Cynthia?"

Surprisingly, at Princess Lee Radziwill's set, Ronald also met Cynthia Rhodes, the film's second female lead, and her boyfriend, rock singer Richard Marks.

"Ronald", Cynthia was also a little surprised, and then introduced Ronald and his female companion Helen to Richard.

"It's really pleasant to meet acquaintances here. I don't know these New York celebrities very well." Ronald was very happy to have a few more friends with him, so as not to know how to talk to those long-term socialites.

"Ha...Princess Lee Radziwill often invites people from our rock circle, let me introduce it to you. This is Ronald, the director of Dirty Dancing. This is Carly Simon, the best singer in New York .”

"Hahaha, you didn't write songs for Barbra Streisand, she is the best singer in your mind, right?"

Carly Simon is quite good-looking, but her teeth are a bit bald, so she is not a great beauty. Her father is Richard Simon, co-founder of the Simon \u0026 Schuster publishing company. Influenced by her father who was a part-time pianist since childhood, Carly Simon has had a very smooth career in the field of music.

In the early 1980s, Carly also had several top-10 best-selling albums, and her music style was very popular with white audiences.

However, when people mention her now, what they think of is not her singing, but the endless rumors of drug abuse, alcoholism, etc.

"Ah, hello, I seem to have seen your name at this year's Golden Globe Awards. Are you composing music for movies now?"

Ronald had heard of Carly, who had recently made a comeback and composed the episode for Michael Nichols' film "Heartfire" (starring Jack Nicholson and Meryl Streep). Perform well on the leaderboards.

"Yeah, we can also collaborate on your movies in the future." Carly Simon's comeback was very difficult, but after her successful comeback, she is much more cheerful than before.

"There must be a chance."

After Ronald finished chatting with them, he fell into a state of speechlessness. The celebrities were all polite on the surface, but they couldn't say a few words and left, saying they had other things to do.

Afterwards, they would sneak around Princess Lee Radziwill and chat happily with the brokers of powerful people from DC.

Especially after JFK showed up at the party, people flocked to the party.

"Let aunt come and see you." Princess Lee Radziwill went up to welcome her nephew Kennedy Jr., who was accompanied by Darryl Hannah.

"When are you going to take the New York State bar exam? Don't say I didn't remind you, but it's very difficult."

"You don't have to worry about this. Our law firm will give all interns the opportunity to take the exam in their second year of employment."

Little JFK and his aunt were not so harmonious, and they would make fun of each other when they were together.

"Are you still clinging to that little mermaid?" Princess Lee Radziwill nuzzled at her nephew when she was free. "My sister will never agree to you marrying an actress."

"It's none of your business. You're having a hot time with that movie director, Herbert Ross."

"Ha, they all call me princess, and you are a prince, how can this be the same?"

In the corner on the other side, Ronald only chatted with Helen, Cynthia Rhodes, and Richard Marks, and they also felt strongly that they could not fit in.

None of these people were Jewish like Barbra Streisand, nor did they have the Irish ancestry of the Kennedy family. They were marginal figures at Princess Lee Radziwill's party.

Of course, if Lee Radziwill's boyfriend, the famous director Herbert Ross, also came, Ronald could still have a few words with him.

"Ronald, the box office results seem to be very good?"

With nothing else to talk about, Richard Marks brought up the box office of "Dirty Dancing."

"Yes, it's pretty good, unexpected. I got a call from my colleagues in the distribution department this afternoon. In Cynthia's hometown of Tennessee, the box office was unexpectedly strong. Even some distribution managers from the seven major studios called Asked if we in the southern states agreed to buy box offices.

This is far from their understanding. No one can figure out why this movie about freedom and liberation is so popular in the conservative Deep South. "

"Then it's up to you and Cynthia to find out the reason. You have to go to her hometown of Nashville the day after tomorrow."

"Won't you come with us? I'll let the distribution department make the arrangements." Ronald said to Richard Marks.

This singer with an Indian hairstyle looks cool, but he is actually a very nice person.

"No, Barbra Streisand wants to discuss the style of a new song for her and I can't leave. Sorry, Cynthia."

"My dear, it's nothing. My colleagues in Daydream take good care of me."

"What about you, Helen, are you going to Tennessee and Alabama to promote?" Cynthia turned back and asked Helen Slater.

"I can't go. I have to discuss the plot of the new movie with many people here."

"Oh, it's your own movie. That's really troublesome. I played Dirty Dancing, and the dance rehearsals were a bit unbearable for me. I danced the same dance every day, six days a week, eight hours a day. It was too boring. . It looks good on screen, but I doubt it's worth it.

Maybe I should try being a singer. "

Cynthia Rhodes heard that Helen was working on a movie, and she didn't know whether she was envious or distressed. She expressed her fear of the various trivial tasks involved in making movies.

"Honey, you finally figured it out. You grew up in Nashville and can sing naturally. I called that band in New York and said you would like to be the lead singer?"

"Okay, give it a try," Cynthia Rhodes replied.

"Yeah, I knew you would be better as a singer than as an actor." Richard Marks was very happy. If Cynthia Rhodes agreed to develop in the music industry, then he would have more time to spend time with her.

"Hey, that's not polite to say. I'm still here, and I think Cynthia is talented as an actress."

Ronald joked, adding fuel to the fire.

"No, I'm definitely more talented as a singer."

"She's a good actress. Use her talent. Did you see her performance in Dirty Dancing? What a talent? And being a movie star definitely earns a lot of money."

"The income of singers is also very high. For people like Michael Jackson and Barbra Streisand, their income as singers is higher than that of actors."

Seeing Ronald pretending to argue with Richard Marks in a serious manner, Helen Slater and Cynthia Rhodes were overjoyed and covered their mouths with laughter.

"Oh, you're Ronald Lee."

Princess Lee Radziwill, the host of the party, was attracted by the natural laughter and came over to say hello to Ronald.

"Yeah, I hope you like my movie."

"I like it very much. I can tell that it's a photo of Jews. Your technique is very clever, and ordinary viewers may not be aware of it."

"Oh, you are an expert." Ronald did not dare to underestimate Lee Radziwill. A socialite from the upper class must have something special about him.

"Haha, that's not difficult for me. My second husband is a Polish nobleman. He knows the details of these Azkennar Jews best. Are they causing trouble for you?" Lee Radziwill At a glance, we can see that Ronald is secretly teasing the mentality of some Jews in the movie.

"I'm impressed by your wisdom." Ronald admitted in disguise, having been blocked by the Jews.

"They are always sensitive and troubled. They always feel that someone is suppressing them, as if they suffer from persecution paranoia."

"Pfft..." Ronald laughed. But she stopped immediately. It was not convenient for Helen, who was Jewish, to know about this.

"Is she your female companion?" Lee Radziwill was very sophisticated, and he knew what was going on at a glance.

"She's the daughter of the vice president of PBS, I guess. I've met her. Their family is actually pretty good. They are Jewish liberals and have already celebrated Christmas. If you're a conservative, you'll have to suffer."

"Is Director Ross also a liberal?" Ronald asked about Lee Radziwill's rumored boyfriend, Herbert Ross.

"So does he, and his wife, the former ballet dancer Nora, who sadly passed away, otherwise I wouldn't be able to stand him."

"Aunt Li?" Little Kennedy over there was calling her aunt's name.

"Ronald, it was nice talking to you. My lovely nephew called me again because he wanted to meet someone."

"Then I won't disturb you." Ronald said goodbye wisely.

"You are an interesting person. I think we will meet again." Lee Radziwill smiled and patted Ronald, then turned back and walked in the direction of JFK.

"Let me introduce to you, this is the newly appointed New York City Hall Real Estate Development Agency... This is..."

"Ha, no need for introduction."

Please remember the first domain name of this book: . :