Exploiting Hollywood 1980

"Let the great river flow!"

On the pier in the southern part of Manhattan, Carly Simon made a gesture of opening her arms and embracing the world. The speaker next to her was playing the recording of her single, and Carly was lip-syncing on the spot.

Ang Lee directed the camera crew to shoot the MV for her. But Ang Lee still has some problems with English, and he is rather shy, and he always doesn't cooperate well with the photography team. There are also problems with the scheduling of directing Carly to make certain poses. After two trial shots, there are always problems with camera movement.

"What do you do? Aren't you going to direct?" Dances with Wolves live producer Polly Platt asked. She just came back from the set in South Dakota and slapped Ronald hard on Kevin Costner's budget splurge. Filming the big scene of the bison hunt has been stagnant for three weeks, and he has not yet produced a picture that he is satisfied with.

Ronald learned about the situation. In fact, Costner knew what kind of scenes he wanted to shoot, but he just became a director and lacked experience in how to use technical means to achieve his goals.

Apart from complaining, Polly Pratt also recognized Costner's talent, and he cannot be completely blamed for the slow progress of filming. The number of Hollywood Western films is shrinking year by year, and now Western films are developing towards feature films. There are very few such big scenes, so that the crew has not found a few experienced Western film shooting experts.

Just like the mini-series "Lone Pigeon Town" filmed by Diane, compared with the imitated movie "Red River" in the 1950s, the scene of a large number of cavalry rushing was reduced to only one or two scenes. Now it’s not the same as in the past, when ranches adopt automobile machinery on a large scale, and riding cowboys are already facing operational difficulties. The difficulty and cost of finding this kind of group performances are not comparable to those in the past.

"He didn't need me to guide...", Ronald remembered that the "Deep Love" filmed by Helen was also produced by Polly, and he also directed director Cameron Crowe on the scene. Ang Lee's problem is different from him, he is very good at shooting, the problem is just the tradition of the East, he doesn't know how to communicate with the staff and actors.

"You just put the camera up here and take a close-up shot of Carly's upper body without moving it. Carly, I want you to sing like you're in a recording studio, don't think about acting, just let it go Yes, your singing is the most beautiful, showing your true feelings."

Sure enough, Ang Lee discovered the problem and immediately came up with a solution. Since the communication is not good, I can’t explain clearly, just take a still shot, just take a close-up shot of the heroine, everyone adjust the light, and just shoot like this. Don't make things complicated, simple things are fine.

Ronald smiled slightly, this method is actually quite good. Anyway, Carly Simon's shots and the film were mixed and edited in post-production.

"Polly, you're in New York for two days off and a weekend with the kids. I put Bannon in touch with you, he's been wanting to fund this project for a long time, just give him a chance. We're not expecting to make money on this movie anyway. Big money."

As soon as Polly Pratt heard that the additional investment was coming, she immediately said that there was no problem.

"Ronald, your phone." Little Bud got out of the car and called to Ronald.

"Hello……"

"Ronnie, are you free tonight? I have something to talk to you about." It was Diane who called, "I talked to Daddy Burt and Donna, and they all think I want to talk to you Let's talk face to face, can you come to my apartment some time in the evening? How about eight o'clock?"

"What's the matter?"

"You will know when you come. It's nothing serious. I have a decision to make. You are the most important... one of several people in my life. I have to discuss it with you."

"Don't you go for plastic surgery?" Ronald was really worried about something. Before he could continue, Diane had already hung up the phone, and there was a beeping busy tone from the phone.

"Crooked? Rick (Nisita), what's the matter with your wife Paula? Diane is going to talk to me about plastic surgery today. Where is she trying to persuade her?" Ronald hurriedly hung up the phone to his agent .

"Paula persuaded her and said a lot of pros and cons. Diane probably won't want plastic surgery anymore. However, our agent can't dissuade this kind of thing. After all, this is the actor's own decision. America is a free country, we can only give suggestions..."

"Why, why can't you do this well..." Ronald was angry.

"Don't complain, our agent has no influence on this kind of matter, especially when she sees other actresses after plastic surgery. You still have a chance to persuade Diane in person."

"Yeah, I'm really anxious." Ronald was very anxious, "What should I say tonight?"

"Wait a minute, I'll ask Paula."

After a while, Paula Wagner called, "I'm really sorry, Ronald. I thought I'd convinced her, but some footage of Batman leaked out recently, and Kim Basinger seems young Over the age of ten, Hollywood female stars are crazy.

When you talk to Diane, don't deny her feelings face to face, actresses are very sensitive. Not to mention the shortcomings of plastic surgery, these are all carefully considered by them. You should pay more attention to eliminate their inner insecurities..."

After listening to the agent's words for a long time, Ronald also gained some confidence. All in all, it's about caring, procrastinating, and letting other actresses try to see the effect first.

"If it doesn't work, I agree with her to get the scar on the corner of her eye done..." Ronald made up his mind.

...

"Brother Ronnie, you're here." Diane lived in the small apartment in lower Manhattan that she bought with her film salary, and it was very clean.

She made Ronald sit on the sofa, made him a cup of coffee, and then sat obediently beside him, acting like a little woman.

"It seems that I really want something, and I want to go for plastic surgery." Ronald secretly thought that it was not good, even the instant coffee was upgraded to espresso, and it smelled like it was made by a coffee machine.

"I actually... have already asked my father Bert, and he said, as long as I feel happy..."

"Huh...?" Ronald took a sip of the espresso, he didn't dare to drink more, Diane's cooking skills were really untrustworthy, and the coffee was really sour, so he handed the coffee to his left hand to hold it... It all got old Dad agreed? Isn't old Bert the most demanding of his daughter's acting skills? Can your daughter still take close-ups after plastic surgery?

"I went to ask Donna today, and she also agreed... agreed to me doing this..."

"Well, even my cousin got through?" Ronald pursed his lips and continued to shake the coffee. It would be nice if there was some sugar and milk. Unfortunately, the Diane coffee machine was also newly bought, and there was nothing.

He adjusted his thoughts and remembered what Paula Wagner said. Women's thinking is not as linear as men's, and their feelings must be taken into account.

"Then what, Diane, no matter what you become, I will always love you... Ahem, I mean, I love you as much as Burt and Donna..."

"Hee hee, that's very kind of you, Ronnie..." Diane hugged him tightly, and then kissed Ronald, "I've prepared the legal documents, so you don't have to worry about any burden."

With that said, Diane ran to the bedroom, took out a document, and handed it to Ronald.

"Is this determined to have plastic surgery? Even the legal documents are ready?" Ronald's heart sank, this is too scheming.

what to do? Ronald recalled what he had discussed with Paula Wagner, and slowly thought of the words. Affirm Diane's feelings first, and then let her delay.

Diane also widened her eyes, watching Ronald's expression and reaction.

"Then what...how about we try it first, and then take our time depending on the situation?"

"You still have to take your time? I..." Diane's eyes darkened, but she still grabbed Ronald's arm and didn't let go.

"Okay..." Seeing that Diane softened, Ronald reached out and opened the document.

"Then don't make me wait for too long, at most I'll let you and Helen keep getting together every now and then, okay, I won't interfere with you..."

"Okay... ah!" Ronald was taken aback when he heard it... With a shaking of his hand, the coffee splashed a big puddle of documents.

He hurriedly took the napkin and wiped the documents. Did I hear wrong? Just now Diane seemed to be asking me to maintain a relationship with Helen. What does this mean? Is she going to marry me?

After wiping off the coffee stains, Ronald opened the document, and sure enough, the first page read, "Prenuptial Agreement".

Ronald flipped through the contents of the document. Diane made a great sacrifice in the prenuptial agreement drafted by the lawyer, and voluntarily gave up all recourse to the joint income after marriage. Even if they divorced, they would also give up Ronald's property .

She only asks Ronald to guarantee payment, the corresponding maintenance fee of her annual income at this stage, plus the annual inflation adjustment. It means that if the two divorce in the future, she will get nothing extra.

"Why?" Ronald looked at Diane, wanting to know the answer.

"I just want to be with you..." When Diane was in the Spielberg divorce case, she knew that this would be a huge blow to the marriage wishes of successful men in Hollywood.

If Martha Lucas's huge child support payment for Lucas makes any sense (she herself is a famous editor and has made many unsigned contributions to Star Wars editing), Amy Irwin is simply By giving birth to a son, he took away 100 million US dollars.

Ronald looked at the agreement, then at Diane.

"The first time I participated in the Oscars, I was disgusted by the male guests. You acted like a gentleman and let me sit next to you without making a fool of yourself.

Later, after I ran away from my mother in Tennessee, I was threatened by Kinneman, and I was bullied by Estevez on the set... Every time I have a problem that I can’t solve, you will fall from the sky like a superhero and help me Get rid of all the problems.

My career fell into a trough, and you helped me get the role I wanted. Every time I do something bad, you are like a big brother, reassuring me.

I just want to be with you, I am willing to prepare coffee for you every day, pick up your dry cleaning clothes for you, prepare three meals for you, and I want to have children for you..."

Ronald looked at the girl in his arms. These were all dreams he had many years ago, but he didn't expect her to realize them...

Diane continued to tell her thoughts slowly, "My parents divorced when I was very young, and they fought for a long time over my custody rights.

But when I went to ask Burt for permission this time, I found a recording of their quarrel on the phone at home. Bert, after all these years, was still recording every phone call from his mother, even if it wasn't a discussion about custody, just talking about trivial fights when they were young, he would record it.

Sometimes, he would secretly play the recording to himself.

This, I think, is love, but blinded by something unimportant. I didn't want to repeat their pattern, so I asked a well-known divorce attorney in New York to draft this document... Ronald, will you marry me? "

"Hey..." Ronald put his arms around Diane, full of emotion. The life I dreamed of before appeared in front of me when I didn't expect it. Aroused his inner desire for family life.

"I am willing, Diane." Ronald stroked the small scar on the corner of Diane's eye with his hand, but he did not expect that the woman proposed to marry him.

"But I still have some things to deal with. I have to show this agreement to the lawyer. And... and Helen, I have to tell her the news in person."

"You don't have to worry..." Diane thought that Helen and I had already made an agreement, but she smiled and buried her head in Ronald's arms, "I'm so happy..."

...

In the apartment on Fifth Avenue the next day, Ronald found Helen Slater in New York, and he had to explain to her face to face about the marriage.

Helen didn't notice it, and talked a lot about the preparation of the new film. She also found some audition photos of male actors with Nora Ephron. According to Ephron, he already has a few suitable male lead candidates in his mind. They are very manly. taste.

"What's wrong with you? You seem to have a lot of things on your mind today?" Seeing Ronald's silence, Helen still found a problem.

"Helen, I'm getting married."

"Congratulations, is it Diane?" The light in Helen Slater's eyes dimmed, but she still congratulated Ronald.

"I don't want to lie to you. What happened just now, I don't want you to read the news in the newspaper. In short, I owe you an explanation of the year."

"Stop talking, are you breaking up with me too?" Helen touched Ronald's lips with her hand, and made a gesture of speaking.

"What?"

"I've known it for a long time. When you had the flu last time, Diane and I made an agreement. Don't speak ill of each other, but don't appear in front of each other either."

"This..." Ronald didn't expect that they really had an agreement.

"I'm not a person suitable for marriage. I will be uncomfortable if I repeat it day after day. However, I also have a condition. If you and Diane have children, I want one too."

...

Ronald obtained Helen's understanding, and the next step was to inform all his relatives and friends.

My aunt has gone to the Mediterranean on her honeymoon and is very happy there. Donna knew about it a long time ago, and she was very happy that her best friend married her brother. Ronald made a special trip to old Burt's place. Bert still said that he wished Diane happiness.

Only when the agent was notified, Richard and Nisita, brought Paula Wagner, and the most famous divorce lawyer in Los Angeles, Daniel Jaffe, flew to New York quickly.

...

Richard, Nisita, was actually more happy about Ronald's sudden announcement of marriage. The wife of the largest client is the client of Nisita's wife Paula, which is a closer promotion for the relationship between the two.

Besides, Ronald, who is close to thirty, is about to get married. He is not the kind of famous playboy. During the flu incident last time, many people already doubted his orientation. There is a marriage partner, It's a very good thing.

The one who was dissatisfied was the famous divorce lawyer Daniel Jaffe, who had been in the practice for 25 years and was one of the few lawyers specializing in divorce in the list of the best lawyers in the United States in 1987.

"Which lawyer drafted this agreement? These terms..." Jaffe flipped through the coffee-smelling agreement and said dissatisfied.

"It seems to be called Robert Cohen. The terms are too unfair to Diane." Ronald felt that this was Diane's sincerity, and he couldn't be so mean.

"No, it's too unfair to you. If you sign this agreement, you will end up worse than Spielberg."

"Why?" Ronald was puzzled and looked at his personal lawyer Lindsay Dole.

Lindsay slightly guessed the trap, and raised his hand to signal Lawyer Jaffe to continue.

"This prenuptial agreement is obviously a trap. Robert Cohen is the most famous divorce lawyer in New York, but his methods are still too rough."

Jaffe began to belittle the methods of his peers. There are obvious loopholes in the prenuptial agreement, no matter which state it is in, I am afraid that it will end up like Spielberg and be ruled invalid.

And the agreement in Ronald's hands is even more embarrassing than Spielberg. He just made a joke because he didn't understand the law. If Ronald's agreement leaked out, the whole country would know that he was a miser who loved money like his life. At that time, his wealth and reputation would be lost together.

"Your income as a director, screenwriter, and producer must reasonably consider Diane's contribution. The success you have achieved is inseparable from the care and compromise of your wife. Any court will consider reasonable contributions. Do not give judge for any reason.

As for your business and investment income, you can use some technical details to circumvent. Presumably your fiancée won't care too much. The business operation is related to the livelihood of many employees. If they are involved in a protracted division lawsuit due to divorce, which will affect their lives, the judge will consider it as appropriate.

For investment, consider setting up a family office to make this part of the wealth indivisible. You can consider giving your fiancée some usufruct rights. With such an arrangement, neither the public nor the judge can say anything, and it will also prevent the opposing lawyer from disclosing some of the terms of the agreement. "

Ronald nodded, this agreement does need to be revised.

"Also, do you have any other long-term girlfriends who will keep the relationship after marriage?"

"Ah..." After Lindsay Dole said that there is no need to worry about Ronald's privacy, which is protected by the lawyer-client privilege, Ronald revealed his long-term relationship with Helen, as well as the relationship between her and Diane. understanding between.

"Understanding is not enough. There are always countless loopholes in the law. You can't guarantee that her ideas will remain the same after you get married, or after a few years. It's best to be prepared."

Jaffe explained to Ronald that although the laws of New York and California do not support fault divorce, they also have many provisions for the protection of legal spouses and the determination of de facto cohabitation. If Ronald and Helen maintain a de facto cohabitation relationship. It would be troublesome if there was a lawsuit, whether it was a potential divorce, or Helen suing him for child support.

"Then what to do?"

"Next to your usual place of residence, buy her a house..." Jaffe suggested. As adult male and female neighbors, the two have a romantic encounter from time to time, which does not constitute a cohabitation relationship.

"Phew, I just bought her a penthouse," Ronald thought, and it's a good thing I bought her an extra apartment on Fifth Avenue.

"Well, let's find a time. Miss Lindsay and I will have a formal discussion with the other party's lawyer, and you and your fiancée, Miss Lian En, will sign it."

"Marriage is so realistic, I don't feel romantic anymore." Ronald let out a long breath.

"For an ordinary person, this is of course the case, but you are a successful person. On your shoulders, it is no longer your responsibility alone. Find a way to give some protection to the ordinary people who work for you, Mr. Li.

This is the most responsible idea for marriage. I wish you a happy wedding first. "

Jaffe has handled many difficult divorce cases for the famous and wealthy. Among the two types of people, Ronald is a kind and righteous man, and I appreciate it very much. Besides, he can understand the opinions of lawyers and adopt professional opinions, which is even more extraordinary.

"Thank you..." Ronald put these things behind him again, and resumed his longing for marriage.

...

"Where are we going?" Diane was sitting in the co-pilot of Ronald's new BMW sedan, which was a small gift from him for Diane, and Ronald was driving today.

"There are some technical details of the agreement, dear. We'll get that out of the way sooner..."

The two looked at each other and smiled, then quickly kissed each other.

"Didi...", the car behind honked its horn.

"Hey, it's not our problem. Someone in front is protesting..." Ronald opened the window and said to the people behind.

"What happened? I still have to go to Wall Street?" The man behind was obviously in a hurry.

"Release, release..." A group of blacks and Latinos walked in front, holding big signs in their hands.

Ronald took a look, and it turned out that he was complaining about the young woman who was attacked in Central Park last time.

The five suspects were quickly found guilty, and the advertisement made by Mr. Developer was to sentence them to death. Many blacks and Latinos were very dissatisfied and took to the streets to protest.

They said that the five pleaded guilty under pressure, and all of them later overturned their confessions. It was obvious that the NYPD was inducing the confessions.

Because none of these five had any factual evidence, and they were all convicted based on their confessions, they refused to accept it and demanded a retrial.

Ronald didn't know if what they said made sense. He only knew that he was about to be late for the things he had arranged.

"Why don't we call the lawyer and we'll be there later?" Di An went out to check the traffic, and suggested.

"Well, I know a shortcut," Ronald simply parked the car on the side of Fifth Avenue, which is very close to Robert Cohen's law firm. Originally, I went south along Fifth Avenue, and arrived at the 23rd turn. However, the Chelsea community here is also a community of colored people, and the protesters blocked the road tightly.

Ronald took Diane's hand, and walked towards the building beside the road, regardless of the NYPD sticker that the new car would be coming soon.

Ronald led Diane into the door, walked down a flight of stairs, and opened an underground fire door, which was a long fire escape.

"Do you know the road?" Diane, an old man from Manhattan, knew that the roads in these midtowns were similar to the small roads, but only those who were familiar with them knew how to pass through the buildings. Ronnie's from Staten Island...

"Don't worry, I was shooting scenes here when I was on the set of "Fame", and I know a path." Ronald walked forward confidently.

The fire door was pushed open again, and the inside was no longer a fire escape, but a hall, but it was completely dark inside.

"Where is this? Did we go wrong?" Diane looked around.

"Choose one." Ronald snapped his fingers.

Richard on the opposite side clapped his hands twice.

The lamps are lit one by one, and the bright lights are turned on one by one. The spotlights shone on the counters made of dark blue velvet, and the glass and the transparent stones on the velvet reflected colorful light.

"Oh, My God", Diane opened her mouth in surprise.

This is not a shortcut, but Cartier's store on Fifth Avenue. They walked in, which happened to be the ring area. There were two rows of diamond rings in each counter, and behind each counter, there were salesmen in formal attire, ready to serve at any time.

"Oh, My God", Diane said several times and covered her mouth. She had no choice but to propose. Which girl would not want to be proposed by the man she loves? This kind of romantic scene should be remembered for a lifetime.

"I think these are all good..." Ronald pointed to the ring and asked Diane.

"Oh, My God" Diane was still repeating this sentence, she was a little speechless.

"Diane Lane, will you marry me?" Ronald knelt down on one knee...