Exploiting Hollywood 1980

Chapter 172 Fighting for David Lynch

Tom Mount, the president of Universal Pictures, is a tall, dark handmade suit with a white shirt and blue tie that gives him the air of a Hollywood elite, not exactly business like Wall Street. Fan Er, there are also some artist's temperament.

From Ronald's point of view, Mr. President's sunken eye sockets, high forehead, and neatly combed hair are a bit like the old Corleone played by Marlon Brando, the godfather.

But the words that came out of his mouth were not like a godfather at all, but more like a door-to-door salesman selling vacuum cleaners to housewives. I want to sell the vacuum cleaner to the other party, but I am afraid that I will scare the other party away by saying too much.

"I saw your first feature film, Eraserhead, and it was a crazy movie, but I absolutely loved it."

The object of conversation that Tom Mount faced was a quiet young man. His hair was brushed up from the roots, giving him a strangely rebellious air to his chubby, college-aged face.

"Oh, yes. That movie was made very hard, I spent several years, on and off, and then it was screened like at the New York Film Festival, and at the Cannes Film Festival, but it was rejected. I pushed a A cart from the supermarket, containing all my copies, begged the person in charge there, but it didn't work either.

If it wasn't for the opportunity that the Los Angeles Film Festival later gave me, I wouldn't have had a chance to continue my directing career. "

It was David Lynch who was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Picture (Drama) and Best Director by virtue of "The Elephant Man".

His big eyes were wide open, and he kept looking at the two young men sitting at Tom Mount's right hand. The shoulder-length hair is the novel author Cameron Crowe, and the shorter hair is Ronald Lee, the screenwriter of the adaptation.

Ronald was also looking at David Lynch, a man whose first impression was quiet. When President Mount spoke, he listened carefully, not the kind of person who only cared about expressing himself.

"Hi, yes, Mr. Lynch. Now Hollywood has learned of your talent through the Elephant Man. I don't think your film will ever be rejected by any film festival. On the contrary, those film festivals will probably come and ask you. to a film festival."

"I'm afraid so, Mr. Mount."

Tom Mount was choked, Hollywood stars used to talk to each other in a flattering way, and the orthodoxy to reject and each other was that it was a really good movie, but I'll have to look at my schedule.

He is not used to the way of dialogue that comes directly from everything like Lynch. Having heard Lynch's reputation long ago, Tom Mount also brought two screenwriters to discuss it.

He loosened his tie, leaned back slightly, and began to relax in body language.

The words that came out of his mouth did not have the momentum of the president.

"These two are the original author of the 'Fast-Paced Richmond High School' novel, Cameron Crowe, and the screenplay adaptation, Ronald Lee. I think you've read the screenplay, and if you have any questions, you can Communicate directly with them."

"Oh, this is a very interesting novel and an interesting script." Lynch began to ask questions to the two authors.

"How did you write the Valley Speak of Southern California high school? I still don't quite understand what they mean by inserting a Like between the subject and the predicate."

"I was in the 12th grade of a high school, undercover for a year, and finally attended the prom. So the way of speaking in the novel, there are real prototypes that can be found..."

The so-called valley accent is a way of speaking for girls from various upper-middle-class families in public high schools in Southern California, especially in the Fernando Valley, a suburb of Los Angeles.

The girls there are more vain and like to buy designer clothes and bags. Going to the beach for surfing, playing tennis and other high-class lifestyles, together with poor English grammar learning, and adding Like as a modal particle when speaking very characteristically.

For example, "Nancy, Like, she's a bitch. She went to the beach that day, Like, and actually tried to seduce my boyfriend Jack. I Like, I grabbed her hair, and gave her face a Like, here you go. a bit."

In the script, Ronald retains a lot of Cameron Crowe's valley-style dialogue. Not only that, the Italian-born character Spiccoli is a master surfer, which is also the favorite sport of high school girls there.

"And you, Ronald, I know you. Well-known and nominated for Best Picture (Comedy or Musical) at the Golden Globes, you're one of the writers.

I've seen 'fast-paced' scripts, very skilled, well-controlled rhythm and length. I also tried to write a screenplay 'Rooney's Rocket' myself. But I haven't adjusted the plot for a month, how did you do it? "

When David Lynch saw the two authors, he had a lively chat. That's what President Tom Mount had asked them to do. This Hollywood new favorite director has some quirks and prefers to communicate with artists.

"This is an adapted propositional composition, Mr. Lynch. It took me a long time to adjust the proportions of the group portrait. I used sorting cards and rehearsed the composition on the wall..."

Ronald also chatted about his own writing methods.

David Lynch says it takes a little more reading of the script to learn Ronald's method. Now he's busy doing public relations for "The Elephant Man" and rushing for awards, and he has to wait until the Oscars are over to have a lot of time.

"Is there anything you want to ask me?" David Lynch said.

"Of course, how did you become the director of the first feature film 'The Elephant Man'?" Ronald asked. The eraser head is more like a student work, and "Elephant Man" is a commercial production.

"It was Transcendental Meditation that inspired me," Lynch said in an unexpected answer, "I've been selling 'Rooney's Rocket', but no producer is willing to invest in me.

One day when I was meditating in the house, a voice suddenly told me, why not try directing someone else's script? As a result, the first producer I asked gave me the opportunity to direct 'The Elephant Man'. "

"Isn't this dude joking?" Ronald thought, you might as well say you're lucky. The crowd ended the meeting.

"This SOB, he must be invited by other directors. As soon as he talks about the 'fast-paced' shooting, he avoids the topic." Tom Mount scolded his subordinates in the office, "Go and find out who wants to invite the director. David Lynch."

The subordinate soon returned and whispered a name in Tom Mount's ear.

"This lucky guy. Keep following up, this offer boosts his value. George is not that good to work with, if he can choose 'fast-paced Richmond High', we can even get a 6 million investment. "

Ronald, unaware that David Lynch is now being sought after by Hollywood, made another appointment at Jane Fonda's house in the evening.

"Ronald, it's nice to meet you." Jane Fonda took out the leg warmers from Aunt Karen after the veneer. "Is this from your company? My lawyer checked the records. In the future, tell me that the patent belongs to you."

"Yes, but my aunt Karen knitted them herself."

"I love this little accessory, it not only keeps the legs warm, but also modifies the legs, and the seller of the video tape is willing to let me wear aerobics while recording. I want to make this an optional item , along with the videotape for sale by mail order, would you supply me?"

"Sure, Jane. You can ask your lawyer to call my aunt Karen. We've sold leg warmers to big cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco on the west coast."

The two agreed to cooperate in a few words. Ronald was very happy. This kind of mail order business might sell tens of thousands of leg warmers. With a fixed delivery channel, the leg warmer business can go to the next level and order knitting. Machine to do small factory production.

"Listen to my agent, you finished another script?" Jane Fonda has finalized the cooperation and can chat with Ronald about the trends in the industry.

"Yes, a youth novel. Universal wants David Lynch to direct it."

"Oh, it's him. Then your competition is not small. George Lucas also wants David Lynch to direct his sixth Star Wars movie, which is tentatively called Revenge of the Jedi."

"Didn't George direct himself?" Ronaldo asked.

"The fifth film was not directed by him. Originally, he hoped to ask his old friend Steven Spielberg to direct the sixth film, but the director's union fell out with George because Star Wars did not put the main creator list in the title. Steven directs Star Wars Part VI."

"George now just wants to enjoy life with his wife Martha, and he hired a famous architect to build his estate in the suburbs of San Francisco. David Lynch is really a good candidate..."

Ronald took this news to heart, and went to CAA the next day to ask his agent Nisita, "If David Lynch goes to direct Star Wars, will I have a chance to be a 'fast-paced' director?"

"I've heard this rumor, Star Wars. If David Lynch goes to direct Star Wars, 'Fast-Paced Richmond High' loses his biggest bag-selling factor, a looming Oscar nomination for Best Director young directors. The budget can be quite low.”

"All I asked for was an opportunity to direct independently, and I'm a student of Roger Coleman, and any low budget at Universal seems to me very plentiful."

"Yeah, I forgot that you graduated from Roger Coleman University." Nisita laughed, "If David Lynch turned down Universal, I would try my best to get you this directing opportunity, I ensure.

In addition, I have some scripts that Spielberg liked here. He wants to find someone to evaluate it independently and give some suggestions and directions for revisions. The pay is not high.

But I think it's an opportunity. Spielberg has a close collaboration with Universal, and he's also recently thinking about getting into the production business. Anyway, he's evaluating a lot of scripts, including a lot of teen themes. "

"Of course I would." Ronald nodded quickly, it's not a bad thing to be familiar with Spielberg.

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