Exploiting Hollywood 1980

The second major supporting actor to be confirmed is Rose Castorini, Loretta's mother, played by Cher.

Relative to Loretta's casualness and father Cosmo's cunning, mother Rose is the backbone of the Castorini family.

After she married Cosmo, she was a typical good Italian wife who always took the greatest responsibility for the family. For the grandfather who took care of the grandfather they shared with them, and the bottom for his daughter, he gave the best support to his daughter. After Loretta's husband died unexpectedly, he always wanted to leave the house to the poor daughter.

In addition to being conscientious, he is also very intelligent. She was the first family member to see that her daughter was in love with someone else, and the first to discover that her husband had an affair outsider.

However, for the sake of this big Italian family, she has been forbearing and did not expose her husband's fascination.

After discovering that her husband and lover went to the opera without him, Ross was full of puzzlement. During dinner, he met Perry, a university professor who he could talk to very well.

After enjoying a wise conversation and the company of a man of high social status, she did not destroy the morals of the family, but sent Perry away and returned to the family alone.

This role can be said to be the key character in all the stories. If she is not believable, then the structure of the story will fall apart.

Julia Taylor's first recommendation was a disillusioned Broadway actor, Olympia Dukakis.

"Is she not Italian?" Ronald looked at the resume behind the other person's photo, and then handed it to the screenwriter Shanley.

"No, she's of Greek descent. The good thing is that you don't have to worry about her familiarity with the atmosphere of an Italian-style extended family. Greeks are also famous for their extended family." Julia Taylor tapped on the table.

"Oh, she's going to play "The Raptors" in 1974, before you enter the industry." Screenwriter Shanley studied Dukakis' resume line by line and exclaimed.

"Then why hasn't she been popular in Hollywood for so many years?" Ronald also leaned in to take a look.

Julia Taylor pointed to her face, then made another ball on her chest.

"She has a too mature face, 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 is no film and television drama, she still stays in New York for a long time, Her husband is also a Broadway actor. The two of them are just running around on Broadway."

"John and Mary?" Shanley seemed to have discovered some great secret again. "Is it Dustin Hoffman, in that romantic movie with Mia Farrow? She's about the same age as Dustin. Right? Can you play Dustin's mother?"

"She was only 38 then, so she could play 32-year-old Dustin Hoffman's mother?" Ronald secretly counted how much the two of them would have had when filming "John and Mary" in 1969. age gap.

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

...

"I'm Greek, not Italian."

Olympia Dukakis has the face of a normal person, but looks like the intelligent type.

Ronald asked her for the audition and was very pleased with her appearance. I chatted with her about the role again, and I have to admit that Julia Taylor is much better at picking actors than herself.

Dukakis is not only good in appearance, but also has a lot in common with the character of Ross.

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

"Ha ha ha ha……"

Olympia Dukakis put the back of his hand to his mouth,

Laugh more and more.

Ronald was even more satisfied with the gesture, an old-fashioned educated woman's habit of covering her mouth when she laughed. It fits perfectly with Rose's background in the script.

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

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

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

After all, he is a director who made MVs and started out with low-cost exploitative films. Although it is very successful commercially, and the hit "Top Gun" is still showing in theaters, it is about to win the annual box office champion.

But he is a serious theatrical actor after all, and Dukakis doesn't really want to play roles in popcorn movies.

Her husband, a Croatian immigrant, and Dukakis, who couldn't afford a house in Manhattan after marrying Dukakis, settled in New Jersey.

After learning that it was Julia Taylor calling, her husband urged her to audition.

"Julia is the casting director for Woody Allen and she's not going to recommend a bad character for no reason. And I've heard Ronald has a good relationship with Matty Scorsese, he's not going to be a forever The director of the exploitative film."

"But..." Dukakis had to shirk, she still found the Broadway role enjoyable.

"Dear, our eldest daughter Christina is going to college next year, do you really have the heart to pay her tuition with a credit card? Even if we use both of our credit cards to make up the tuition next year. Where's the son Peter? And the third, Stephen..."

"Oh... don't say it, I will sell my soul once." Olympia Dukakis and her husband are both good actors who pursue acting skills, but in this day and age, their income is not enough. The income of the two people, after paying off the mortgage, is just enough to raise three children.

College tuition is now expensive, and the two of them are indeed overwhelmed by their three children who have grown up in succession.

This time, Julia Taylor said that Ronald's movie budget was not big, but the script had high requirements for supporting roles, and the price Ronald gave was very generous for a supporting role. Julia knew that Dukakis was the most suitable candidate and that she was short of money, so she went to her first audition.

The two husband and wife have a deep relationship. For the future of their children, Olympia Dukakis made a decision that went against her career pursuit, and wanted to surrender to the magic of money and act in an exploitative film.

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

Dukakis suddenly felt that it seemed that these tens of thousands of yuan in remuneration did not seem to make 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 Boiseau, right? Yes, she plays your sister, and she will also serve as the accent coach for the crew, I hope to see it soon You can speak a fluent Brooklyn-Italian accent."

...

The next thing to confirm is the role of the father, Cosmo Castorini. Ronald looked at Julia Taylor.

"Vincent Gardenia, this time it's a real Italian actor. He was a Tony Award winner for Best Actor in 'The Prisoner of Second Avenue' on Broadway."

Taylor put 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 cast is fantastic.

Vincent Gardenia has a particularly interesting face. He looks honest and honest, but his smile is a little bit more cunning.

The sight of him reminds one of the owner of the hardware store in the community. He looks reliable, but when he sells your stuff, he often sells you something that looks good but you don't need.

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

The real person of Vincent Gardenia, when communicating, in addition to the mixture of natural cunning and honesty, there is also a kind of lecherousness that is unique to Italian men.

That's not a lecherous person who wants to pursue when you see a beautiful woman, but the kind of Italian who sees a beautiful woman as if he is a stalker, and at the same time rhetoric and brag about his greatness.

His slightly fat face also made him look a bit erotic.

"Oh, Ronald, why do you want me to play Cosmo? When I was young, it was all the lead roles. Can't you let me play Cher's fiancé, Johnny?"

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

"Oh, you really make me sad when you say that." Vincent Gardenia pretended to be saddened by Ronald's words. "I think I can come here once or twice."

Ronald was very satisfied. The performance of these few sentences on the spot was very suitable for Cosmo's character.

"No, you play Cosmo."

"Let's discuss it. If you want me to play that virtuous university professor, at least I can fall in love with my mother Rose. Look at me, such a handsome young man, it's a waste not to fall in love with the heroine."

"Just Cosmo, you've got a lover to play opposite, and you're Rose's husband in the movie. Not better."

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

Ronald is very insistent that this person is still Julia Taylor who can see it, and plays a slick taste. The natural Cosmo's choice.

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

"When do I need to join the group?"

"Now there are some non-Italian actors who are still learning accents. When we start script readings and rehearsal, you can join us."

Vincent Gardenia was even more satisfied to hear that Ronald had also scheduled rehearsal time.

Many Hollywood movies do not have a rehearsal session, but put the performance on the spot. Although most of them are acting for the salary, no actor does not want the movie to have no room for acting.

...

Then, the actor who played the college professor found a sanctimonious actor, John Mahoney. There are a few other minor supporting roles, and Julia Taylor has also found a very good fit.

Among the remaining main supporting roles, there is only one grandfather of Loretta, and the old man is not easy to solve.

This character is usually confused, but he is very shrewd at critical moments. Usually raised a large group of dogs, often burn Ross to eat steak, feed the dogs secretly. It is a very distinctive character, and if there is an old Italian actor, it will add a wonderful style to the film.

This role requires a relatively high level of performance and a unique appearance. Ronald already trusted Julia Taylor's casting skills, "Julia, who are you looking for this time? Which old Italian actor?"

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

"Huh? Russian?"

...

Ronald met the old Russian actor. He was very thin, but he could tell that he must have been a handsome guy when he was young.

Ronald knew from Julia that Fyodor Chaliapin's father was the most powerful bass in the opera of the twenties. Also during the First World War, the great aristocracy of Russia.

Although his property and land were later confiscated, he did not hate the leaders at the time, but maintained sympathy for the workers and peasants.

Unlike his father, Fedor Chaliapin made his debut as an actor and made many movies in the European film industry.

Fyodor Chaliapin is 81 years old this year, and his legs and feet are a little inconvenient. Ronald asked him to sit down, and then wanted to chat with him a few words to see the effect.

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

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

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

"I said, are you...are...working with...Fellini..." Ronald had to raise his voice.

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

Fedor Chaliapin's breath was a little out of breath, and he covered the cup of coffee with both hands to warm his hands.

"And how's your Italian accent?...Italian accent?"

Ronald couldn't help it. A few simple questions had to be said aloud so that the other party could hear them.

"Ah...Italian accent, I'm okay, of course not as good as real Italian"

Fyodor Chaliapin stretched out one of his ears with great difficulty. His hearing was so severe that he could only hear clearly when he was very close.

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

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

"This smile..." Ronald had planned to replace the person, and it was difficult to play with such a hearing condition.

But in the end, the smile on the other side was very similar to those old people who were sometimes sober and sometimes confused. Their wisdom in life is unfathomable, just because they are old and frail, and sometimes pretend to be confused, don't overly arouse the disgust of the younger juniors and add inconvenience to their lives.

"How is it? Isn't it suitable for the role of the old man?"

Julia Taylor took a fancy to this trait of Fedor Chaliapin.

"But his ears are too deaf."

"It's not a serious problem, he doesn't have a lot of roles."

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

Next, Ronald asked Julia to recommend several older actors, none of whom had the usual confused, occasionally wise qualities of Fedor Chaliapin.

He really wanted to use Fedor Chaliapin, but his hearing impairment made him hesitant.

"Nisita, you said that in the 'Children of God', how did the heroine Marlene Maitlin play? How does a deaf person play the opposite role?"

Ronald asked his agent, Nisita, who came to see him.

This film, which reflects the lives of deaf girls, has many characters played by real deaf people. It just came out in New York and Ronald went to see it too, the story and the acting are very good.

"I heard that the protagonist William Hurt, his mother is deaf, so he can sign language. He and Marlene communicate with each other through sign language. I heard that they also became attached to the movie and officially lived together."

Nisita shared what he knew.

Film performance is actually to act out one's own reaction to the other party's reaction. The two male and female protagonists spent a long time getting acquainted with each other before filming, and communicated in sign language every day. When the shooting starts, a tacit understanding naturally develops, and there is a natural response to the subtle body and expressions of the other party.

Therefore, in the movie, the couple played by the two is particularly believable. Especially the deaf people are more irritable, Ronald feels that the restoration is in place.

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

"Yeah, he has acted." Ronald suddenly thought, Fyodor Chaliapin has been frequently participating in movies recently. If deafness really affects his performance, then it should be soon No one asked him to play it.

I don't know how long he has been severely deaf.

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

"I don't know, do you?" Ronald thought, if he could talk privately with his colleagues from the last movie, maybe he would find out the truth.

"I know him. In the last movie, he played with Sean Connery in Magic Palace War. And Sean made us the No. 1 star of CAA." Nisita took out the phone book and dialed back to Los Angeles to give Ronald contact.

The so-called No. 1 star is not actually talking about Sean Connery's popularity, but because when CAA chairman Michael Ovitz started his business, Sean Connery was the first one he signed. star actor. In the CAA office, a large office is also reserved for Connery.

"Hello, Ronald, I heard Michael say you have something to ask me?" Sean Connery spoke in a thick Scottish accent and spoke arrogantly.

It's not that he can't speak other easier-to-understand accents, but he deliberately shows his Scottish origin and speaks this dialect that he doesn't understand.

"Well, yes, Mr. Connery. I wanted to ask, are you familiar with Fedor Chaliapin? I'd like to have him in the movie, but I'm worried that his hearing will be affected."

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

"Why?" Ronald barely understood Connery's opinion, but what he actually wanted to know was some details of Fyodor Chaliapin's crew, not an arbitrary judgment.

"You don't believe me, young man?"

"I just want to know more details, this character is so critical to the movie, and I need a good actor."

"Let me tell you, sign him quickly. He's old and deaf, but as soon as he's in front of the camera, he's going to steal my show."

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

"Mr. Bond is a bad-tempered man, but he has already given his opinion, hasn't he?" Nisita listened to the whole conversation and nodded to Ronald, saying that although Connery was an asshole, Acting is always telling the truth.

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 praise to others' acting skills.

Ronald went to the cinema again to watch the "Magic Palace War" which has not yet been released. Sure enough, in this movie shot last year, Fedor Chaliapin's acting was very good, and Sean Kang was very good. Nally was crushed.

In this case, Ronald agreed with Julia's judgment and signed the last major supporting role, Fedor Chaliapin.

With all the important roles in place, Ronald took a half day off over the weekend, waiting for everyone to gather for the first time to read the script, and then began to practice and correct the Brooklyn-Italian with the help of Julie Boiseau accent.

Diane Lane was back in New York just in time to see Ronald. The two were in the hotel, sitting and watching TV together.

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

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

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

When there are no outsiders, Diane has nothing to do.

"Don't say that, if you think about it too much, it might actually happen. Knock on the wood and take the bad luck away."

Ronald knocked on the wooden coffee table twice in place of Diane.

"Hee hee, why didn't you find me in this movie?"

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

"I don't want to, and I don't have any acting."

Diane twisted twice on the sofa, picked up the remote and changed the channel. That's what Hollywood is like, the less you can make a blockbuster movie, the less you have a good script to come to you.

"Look at the late show, Cher is on David Letterman tonight." Ronald told Diane to stop and watch NBC's late show together. His friend Letterman will have Cher as a guest today.

A welcome applause passed, and Cher wore a white crew-neck top, black leggings, a conservative hairstyle, and hugged David Letterman.

The two sat down separately. After the applause of the audience disappeared, Letterman usually asked an ice-breaking question to let the guests relax and enter the state.

"You are the guest I want to invite the most since my show started. You haven't agreed to be on the show. Why are you willing to come to the evening show after four and a half years of constant invitations from us?" David Letterman responded to Good word, ask Cher.

"Ha...hehehe..."

Cher burst into a burst of laughter, "I don't know, I think there may be a reason...I have to pay my hotel rent."

The audience was amused by Cher's humor.

David Letterman went on with her statement, "What do you mean, you're staying in a hotel in New York right now and don't have enough cash to pay the hotel rent?"

"Hey, yes, because the rent bill is huge." Xue Er sat upright and answered very formally.

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

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

David Letterman wasn't sure for a moment whether Cher was real or just joking.

"Well, if you want the Late Show crew to come and pay your hotel bill, I think you must be greatly misled." David Letterman frowned, formally rejecting the idea.

"Like I said, our previous slot, The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, was rich, and they could pay guests whatever they wanted. But our evening show was very poor, with a paperclip. be reused.”

The audience laughed again.

David Letterman subtly made the audience laugh, but quietly told Cher the real situation of the show team, he really couldn't afford the other party's so-called "high-priced hotel bill".

"So, are you going back and forth between California and New York right now?" he changed the subject.

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

"So, our show team agreed to reimburse you for your airfare?" David Letterman asked the staff below.

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

"No, we didn't agree." The staff below replied, causing the audience to whisper again.

"Oh, God, this is going to happen." Ronald's expression changed when he saw Cher. Is she really short of money? Could it be that she performed three movies one after another in order to make money as soon as possible?

Of course, David Letterman also found out that something was wrong, and he had to go back quickly.

"Joke aside, I want to ask, you must have any reason. We have been looking for you for four and a half years, and you are unwilling to appear on my show. You must have changed your mind?"

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

"Why?" David Letterman thought that Cher had another punchline, and hurriedly picked it up.

"Because, because you're an Axxhole."

"Hey hey..." David Letterman's face collapsed immediately, he lit his cigar and took two hard puffs.

"Hey, the audience isn't booing me, they're cheering for Cher..."

After ten seconds of embarrassment, David Letterman's professionalism still allowed him to continue the show.

"If the audience in front of the TV didn't hear it, I'm repeating, Cher thinks I'm a good guy, yeah... Cher... famous singer, movie star. Everyone applauds..."

David Letterman was still angry, he didn't give Cher a chance to continue talking, and ended the show hastily.

"Rick, did you watch TV? What happened to Cher?" Ronald quickly picked up the phone and dialed his agent, Nisita. His wife Paula Wagner, who somehow formed an alliance with Cher's agent to break up Cher and Tom Cruise, may know something.

Xueer is the most important character in "Moonlight Sultry", no matter what her gaffe was tonight, it's not good news for the crew.