Exploiting Hollywood 1980.

Chapter 300 Repelling Tom Mount
The accidental death of Vic Morrow and two young actors has aroused a lot of public attention, which greatly exceeded Ronald's expectations.

The news column of the TV station paid attention to this incident for several days in a row. They also sent a film crew to find the location where the shooting was "Indian Ranch". Several helicopters surrounded the scene to take aerial photos.

Next to the half-crashed helicopter lying crookedly by the lake, the surviving helicopter pilot, a veteran of the Vietnam War, was interviewed.

"I was interviewed because I didn't want the helicopter pilot to have such a tragedy again. The director loudly told us to fly lower, fly lower, I don't know what happened, the tail of the helicopter was disturbed , we couldn't control the plane and it crashed by the lake."

"Why is this still talking about the tragedy of their driver? Isn't this the tragedy of an actor and two innocent children?" Ronald couldn't help complaining.

"This is all instructed by the lawyer. Didn't you see that he deliberately showed the scratches on his lips?" Agent Nisita, who accompanied Ronald to watch the TV news with Richard, answered Ronald question.

"Deliberately dumping the pot?"

"Yes, this accident will cause trouble beyond our original imagination. The public's attention is very high, and the parties involved in the incident have begun to distance themselves at the speed of light."

As soon as the TV camera turned, there was an aerial shot of a helicopter rotating over the crash site. The helicopter flew very low, and the wreckage of the helicopter below was clearly visible.The news anchor's voice-over is still ringing:

"The helicopter crash in the movie shooting caused the largest number of accidental deaths in recent years. We call on the labor union to establish a safety system as soon as possible to reduce unnecessary helicopter aerial shots. Prevent this tragedy from happening again."

"Well, puchi." Ronald couldn't help it for a while, "It's okay, sorry."

"The producer said that all the shots needed for the film have been shot." The voice-over finally came with a comment related to "The Twilight Zone", ending the news.

"What does this mean?" Ronald felt something was wrong and asked Nisita back.

"The issuer, the filming team, the family of the victim, all of them need an unlucky guy to take responsibility. Looking at them now, they have already started to act. The director of this part of the story, John Landis, may be chosen by them to be in charge. people."

"This is director Landis hinting to Warner Bros. that the movie has already been filmed, so don't give up on him, right?" Richard seemed to realize something.

"Is Landis also a producer?"

"Yes, both he and Spielberg are producers."

Nisita saw the potential danger and went out to find President Michael Ovitz first. CAA has recently lost up-and-coming comedy star John Belushi and can't afford to lose Spielberg again, what are they going to do for him.

Although Spielberg is not a client of CAA, he has taken care of a large number of actors signed by CAA. At this critical moment when ET is about to be released, no mistakes can be made.

Ronald and Richard continued to watch the news in the office.

"The safety issue of movie shooting is the focus of public attention. This station interviewed Warner Bros., the distributor of 'The Twilight Zone' by telephone. The spokesperson of Warner Bros. said that this is a tragedy, whether it is an accident caused by human error, It also depends on the results of the police investigation.

Then we went on to call the other big studios.Universal was not available for an interview, and Disney had no comment.Paramount, no comment.Twentieth Century Fox, no comment..."

Ronald and Richard looked at each other. It was a normal press statement to say no comment, but after being edited by the TV station, it seemed that the attitude of the studio was very prevaricated. There is a feeling of sympathy for the victims and condemnation of the capitalists.

"We're taking a few hotline calls from viewers, Mary from Maryland...

Hello, I think the government should limit the wantonness of film producers and directors. Last year's Heaven's Gate, a bad movie cost 4000 million dollars. Do you know how many public schools can be funded by this much money and how many low-level people can be educated? Are you full?

…Okay, thanks Mary of Maryland.The next thing we get in is…”

"Why doesn't the producer come out to refute it? If the TV news is allowed to accuse like this, something will happen." Ronald felt more and more wrong, as if this kind of accusation was increasingly directed at the directors who made a lot of money, accusing them of disregarding the bottom of the crew The life and death of employees, the public began to point their fingers at them.

"Because Landis did make a big mistake, the studio also has to worry about the police investigation." Richard was well-informed at CAA, and there were no outsiders present, so he told the truth.

"You know, Ronald. The Screen Actors Union prohibits underage actors from working overtime late at night. For two ensemble performers under the age of ten, they are prohibited from filming any scenes after eleven o'clock in the evening."

"Of course. I know." When Ronald himself was filming "Fast-paced", on the first day of filming, he almost failed to film a scene with a young actor before the deadline due to various reasons. Fortunately, he succeeded the next time.

"This scene is a night scene. The first assistant director, pyrotechnician, and helicopter team on the scene thought that Landis would use technical means to work day and night, and add filters to the camera during the day to complete the shooting.

But for the sake of the shooting effect, or to catch up with the schedule, he still filmed the scene at two o'clock in the morning. In order to avoid the regulations, he instructed the second assistant director to give cash to the two young actors so that their names would not appear in the crew list , in order to evade the supervision of the actors union. "

"Is this? Is it for the sake of shooting effect, or to catch up with the schedule and save money?" Ronald disagrees with this approach. Landis's shooting is not a low-cost production, so why bother to be stingy in this kind of place?
"You guys come with me, Universal's Tom Mount proposed a high-level meeting involving Steven's ET, and your 'fast-paced' release issue, Ovitz has rushed, we CAA will defend your interests "Nisita opened the office and said to Ronald and Richard.

A group of people hurried to Universal, and the impromptu meeting called by Tom Mount had already begun. MCA President Sinberg, Universal Production Vice President Ned Tanning, and two Vice Presidents in charge of marketing and distribution were all at the top The administrative meeting room on the first floor discusses the distribution of ET aliens.

Nisita went to find out the news, and Ronald and Richard met the two producers Lin Sen and Azoff downstairs.

"Why is there a meeting? Does it have any effect on our film?"

"The release meeting of our film and ET was called by Mount impromptu. Spielberg is the producer of 'The Twilight Zone'. We should be related to Jennifer. It should not have much to do with us. What we should worry about is Her." Lin Sen pouted at a professional woman opposite.

It was Kathleen Kennedy, Spielberg's assistant.Ronald nodded and greeted her, then walked over to say hello.

"Why are you here?" Catherine was a little surprised to see Ronald.

"The heroine of my new film, Jennifer, is the daughter of Vic Morrow, who unfortunately died."

"Oh, I didn't expect you to be involved in this matter."

"Where's Steven?"

"Fortunately, he is only one of the producers of 'The Twilight Zone'. Landis was responsible for the accident. Some people are just unwilling to fail."

At the same time, in the executive meeting room with the best location on the top floor of the Universal building, several senior executives of Global were discussing.

Tom Mount seized on the unexpected opportunity and proposed a meeting to trim ET's opening weekend in theaters.

"Steven is one of the producers of 'The Twilight Zone', and the current public opinion is focused on the crew's non-compliance with regulations, resulting in death. I think this will make the audience feel bad about him. And ET is also a small film. Children's movie, this accident killed two children."

"We have already made a definite plan for this matter. The current public perception is mainly aimed at the director Landis who disregards the union rules. I think we should stick to our distribution marketing plan.

ET's test screening score was A+, and we worked hard to get [-] theaters in the first weekend, and this number will increase in the second week as expected. "

The vice president of marketing and distribution was on Hinberg's side.

"Your opinion?" Tom Mount also expected this situation, and asked Simberg directly without saying much.

"I support their opinions. The existing marketing rhythm should not be modified. It is only a week away from the painting. Temporary changes are self-defeating."

Tom Mount knew that this matter would not be so easy to solve, so let Simberg bear the attitude of fully endorsing Spielberg first.This kind of movie aimed at young audiences has no precedent for box office success.

"There is also that 'fast-paced Richmond High School', the heroine Jennifer Jason Leigh is the daughter of the dead Vic Morrow, you put her nude scenes in the movie, it will cause controversy. "

Mount changed the subject and started attacking Ronald's movie again.

"This is a low-budget youth film. Without these scenes, how can it attract the key audience of summer movies, male teenagers?"

The VP of distribution did Ronald justice.

"Now is the time for the whole people to pity Vic Morrow. Do you really want to go against public opinion? What do you think?" Mount asked Simberg.

Simberg is afraid of a group of retired old guys behind Mount, and doesn't want to publicly fall out with Mount now, so how can he support Ronald's movie?He thought for a while before opening his mouth.

"Jennifer Jason Lee's mother, Barbara, and Vic Morrow have been divorced for more than ten years. Now the focus of media attention is on the accident itself, and no one will bother relatives."

It is Ned Tannen who has a good word for "fast pace".Unexpectedly, this stubborn old man would say good things about Ronald's exposure.

Tom Mount took a look at Tanin. Tanin has always been known for his insistence. His insistence is right or wrong, but those old guys always remember what he is right.However, is it true that no one will turn over the old accounts of relatives?
"There is no change, and our release schedule continues as usual."

Soon, the decision of the executive meeting room on the top floor reached the ears of Ronald and the others who were waiting downstairs.

"It seems that Tom Mount's days in the world will be counted by the number of days." On the way back, Nisita said suddenly.He opposes Spielberg like this, and next week ET box office will explode, and his supporters will shut up.

(End of this chapter)