Exploiting Hollywood 1980.

Chapter 278 Evaluation and reshoots

"Kah, kah...k"

In Universal's small screening room, the newly edited sample is being shown.From time to time, the black screen delay caused by the scotch tape on the film clip appeared on the screen, and the small popping sound from the scotch tape on the tape came from the speaker at the same time.

But none of this has affected the undivided attention of the two producers, Lin Sen and Azoff, on the film.It also did not affect a middle-aged man with beard sitting next to the two of them.

Ronald is also seated, and this is the first time a working copy of "Fast-paced Richmond High" has been screened.

In the last scene of the movie, Mr. Hand is grading students' homework, and he is clutching his head dejectedly.Among the new class of students, there are a lot of students like Spiccoli who smoke all day long and write their homework scribbled.

With a "snap", the screen turned black, and several handwritten white numbers appeared and disappeared, which were small marks made by the editing assistant.This working copy has not yet attached the Universal Pictures logo at the beginning, and the credits at the end.Two seconds later, the black screen ended, and the lights in the small auditorium came on. "

Producer Art Linsen turned his head and asked the bearded middle-aged man sitting next to him:
"Great movie, isn't it?"

Because there are some nonsensical rumors about the movie inside Universal Pictures, such as the director turned a comedy into a tragedy, the director didn't shoot enough material, and the editing couldn't make a film, etc.Ned Tanin, an executive at Universal, asked this famous director to see if the real situation could not be edited into a finished film.

The middle-aged man who was entrusted by the executives of Universal to watch the sample film is the recently famous comedy director, John Landis.

In the past two years, Landis was second only to Spielberg's capital darling.His two most recent comedies, "An American Werewolf in London" grossed 6000 million and "The Blues Brothers" grossed 2000 million.

Combined with "National Lampoon's Animal House," which was released in 1978, it made 4000 million at the box office.

Hitting three home runs in a row, he's already America's best comedy and horror director.In particular, "The Blues Brothers," which he collaborated with comedian John Belushi, received $3000 million in investment.

In this era of declining film investment, this investment is only less than Spielberg's "3500" with a budget of 1941 million.The studio has faith in him.

Moreover, the box office of "Blues Brothers" was very good, quadrupling its cost, but "1941" ended in a miserable loss.Landis was actually more sought after by the studio than Spielberg before Spielberg's turnaround with Lucas' "The Lost Ark of the Covenant."

"What do you think?" Azoff, another producer, also asked Landis for his opinion.They urgently need this middle-aged man to report the real situation he saw to Universal to dispel the rumors.

John Landis pushed back his glasses, not enjoying the movie himself.The jokes in it are relatively vague and loose. The comedy movies that have sold well in the past two years have pursued dense and shallow jokes, just like the few films he directed and last year's "Flying All Over the Sky", which took off at the box office last year.

Although it doesn't suit my taste, the so-called director can't shoot, edit and so on are all nonsense. It seems that someone did it on purpose.

In fact, on the contrary, the young director Ronald not only knows how to shoot, but he is also shooting a movie for the first time, and the movie has a surprisingly high degree of completion.In addition to the performance of the actors, there is a problem of emotional intensity mismatch that is common to novice directors.

But this kind of problem cannot be completely solved even by experienced directors, unless it is a long-term cooperative team, or returning to the Hollywood golden age of the big studio model, let the actors form a fixed partner, otherwise there is no way.

"As a newcomer's work, it's already very good." Landis replied.

The two producers breathed a sigh of relief.I hope that Landis can bring the real situation of the movie to Universal's top management, match the corresponding promotional resources before the premiere, and the number of theaters after the release.

"I want to ask, what are your considerations for letting the actors speak in a large number of Southern California valley accents?" Landis turned back and asked the young director.

"The California way of life is enjoyed by young people in most other places, and I wanted to use the valley accent to express that," Ronald replied.

"A very good idea." Landis looked back, feeling a little disapproving.The use of dialect accents in comedy movies is generally intended to create some jokes.Such a large-scale use of dialect accents without corresponding jokes limits the movie-watching experience of non-Southern California audiences.

John Landis didn't say much, he got up to leave.This movie doesn't deserve more time for me to pay attention to. It's better to chat with my old partner, John Belushi about the idea of ​​a new movie. I haven't seen him for a long time.

"Ronald, it seems that Director Landis has a good impression of you, and your movie will be released in many theaters." Eric the editor whispered to Ronald.

"Oh, yeah? I don't know, I hope so." Ronald didn't say a few words to Landis. Seeing that he didn't say anything about the film's shortcomings, in short, it shouldn't be rejected by Universal for this version of the edit. "

"The editing is good, Ronald." Producers Lin Sen and Azoff came over to congratulate him.The two of them were actually relieved today. Ronald's editing progress suddenly accelerated, and he hurriedly made a copy before Landis came to see it, so as not to show the special envoy of Universal's executives with broken fragments.

Ronald stood up from the sofa and said to the two producers:
"With the soundtracks selected by Hacklin, the story and mood can be even better. Now Motown music is missing, and the copyright of Led Zeppelin has not yet been negotiated, and the sound engineer has already started mixing. "

Another producer, Azoff, vice president of MCA Records, replied, "Motown Records has agreed to let us use the copyright of their artists, and you will soon be able to use Donna Summer's songs."

"There are some problems with the copyright of the songs on Led Zeppelin IV's album, can they replace them with songs from other albums?" Azoff asked.

Ronald turned his head and asked Cameron Crowe, who had worked as a special correspondent for Rolling Stone magazine and was very familiar with the rock circle.

"No problem, audiences are less likely to notice that nerdy Mark and Stacy aren't using the album that scalper Mike suggested when they dated Stacy. Led Zeppelin sounds the same to the average audience."

"I want to talk to you guys about some catch-up scenes. Sean Penn's performance is surprisingly good. I talked it over with Cameron Crowe and hope to make up two scenes for him. Ask the talk show star respectively Johnny Carson, and popular actress Brooke Shields cameo."

The two producers were taken aback when they heard the words, and then felt very interested.If two stars can really be invited to make guest appearances, it will be very helpful to the promotion and marketing of the film, and it will be a topic that can make headlines for free.

"Do you have a way to invite them? Ronald." Lin Sen was more cautious.

"Johnny Carson's agent and my agent are in the same company. I have already asked my agent to inquire about his wishes. As for Brooke Shields..."

"I remembered, you directed her CK jeans commercial, right?"

"Yes, I'm an old acquaintance with her. I asked someone to go to her agent to ask her a question. Her mother is in charge of her acting career. I want to contact her through formal channels first." Ronald replied, especially Rui Ke is not an easy-talking person, so let her agent know her thoughts first.

"A very good idea, Ronald. After reading this working copy, I also think that Sean Penn's surfer is very outstanding and very attractive to the audience."

"If you guys have a way to contact Johnny Carson, please try that too. I've heard he charges a lot for cameos."

Lin Sen nodded. Johnny Carson is not only a talk show host, but also has his own menswear brand. He has also invested in a car company, planning to build a sports car of pure American origin.This is beyond the capabilities of most people in the entertainment industry, and building a car is not an easy task.

"I'll help you ask, but you have to be prepared for failure."

"My agent made a list for me. If he doesn't agree, we'll go find other show hosts. It won't hurt to try the most famous one first. What if he agrees?"

"Hahaha, that's it, keep this mentality."

In the evening, John Landis returned to the office of Universal's vice-president Ned Tannen to offer his thoughts on "fast-paced Richmond High."

"The director's skills are fairly proficient and experienced."

"Are there no shortcomings?" Tanin asked.

"Technically, there is no problem. The rhythm of the film is not in line with the recent blockbuster comedies. He seems to be shooting the kind of slow-paced nerve comedy of old Hollywood, plus some exposure shots of X-rated movies in the 70s." Landis commented road.

"You mean, the box office won't be very high?"

"It's hard to judge, but he did not adopt the comedy mode that audiences have liked in recent years. The rhythm is slower than the recent best-selling comedies. If you look at the editing rhythm of 'Flying All Over the Sky', it is faster than him."

"Including some of your blockbuster movies, too?"

Landis smiled and acquiesced to Tanin's words.

"Thank you, John. How is your new film going?"

"My new movie seems to be delayed. I might accept Steven's offer to co-direct a TV adaptation."

"Which Warner Bros. movie, eh? When are you going to do another comedy for us? Just with your old partner, John Belushi?"

"John Belushi is in a bad situation, I think he's getting into a lot of illicit drugs."

Landis sighed, his old partner now seemed to be a different person, and he asked to borrow money when he saw him.He didn't want him to continue to sink, so he refused the request to borrow money.

I also called Belushi's agent.The agent was also very frustrated. He said that he had called several of Belushi's good friends, Robert De Niro, Robin Williams and others, and asked them to persuade Belushi to go to a rehabilitation center.

"God, he's a surefire hit for comedy. Too many Hollywood actors have been ruined by illicit drugs lately."

Ned Tanin said and sent Landis away, and took out an annual film marketing plan on his desk.Use a red pencil to cross the name "Fast Tempo".

"Since this is the case, just arrange some resources and sell them to Universal TV stations to broadcast."

A few days later, Ronald came to the producer's office to discuss reshoots with Lin Sen and Azoff.

"Johnny Carson has officially declined the guest star invitation. He said he doesn't go to work on Tuesday, and he doesn't want to give up time with his wife for a small movie." Lin Sen said.He asked about Johnny Carson's time directly through his personal connections.

"Then we'll go with the list, Carson seems to have an apprentice, and David Letterman hosts the morning show on NBC."

"Okay, let's ask one by one. How is Brooke Shields? Is she willing to make a guest appearance?"

"She is willing, but his mother offered a price of 50 US dollars. I was very angry and asked her to talk. I hope she can lower the price." Ronald said, "Whether she can come depends on whether you can fight for it." How much additional budget for reshoots?"

"We try our best to fight for it. Brooke Shields is very charismatic. Many viewers who went to see Endless Love went to see her. We will make a request to Universal's top management. If you can convince Brooke Shields, I think they will agree. "

Ronald nodded, it seemed that he had to deal with Brooke Shields first.

"In addition, there is good news. Universal's high-level executives have a new idea after a meeting. They ask you to edit a version that meets the G-level standards of the TV station. They will sell the 'fast pace' to the TV station under the MCA. It seems that they are very interested in the release. The box office is very confident," Lin Sen said.

Generally speaking, TV stations will only bid to buy movies that have a good box office after they are released.Now that it has been prepared to edit the TV version, it should be that the high-level executives have listened to Landis's opinion and are confident in the prospect of the release... I guess.

(End of this chapter)