Exploiting Hollywood 1980.

Chapter 302 Solving Problems with Academy Award Techniques

"This is very unusual, Ronald. Generally speaking, the MPAA seldom overturns previous grading decisions. Someone must be targeting us." The two producers, Lin Sen and Azoff, who got the news, rushed to the editing room, Show support to Ronald and discuss ways.

"MPAA's grading statement is very clear. They received a letter of protest from many industry insiders, so they re-examined the grading decision.

This time they 'cautiously' discovered that there were shots showing the whole body in full frontal view, which did not comply with the R-rated regulations.As long as we rework the footage, it can be submitted for review again.

If you are lucky, you can regain the R rating. "

Ronald spoke slowly, and called up the frontal shots of Jennifer Jason Lee and Robert Romanus on the editing table.At first, it took a lot of hard work to make it.

"Good luck?" Richard, the agent who was also by his side, asked Ronald.

CAA found out about the X-rating of the movie, and Richard stayed with Ronald all day, bought him food, and helped with some chores.

At this time, he was very afraid that Ronald would be under too much pressure. Since X-Rated began to have this classification, it is generally considered by the audience to be an adult movie.

Had it not been revised, Ronald could have kissed goodbye to his dream of a box office success with his first movie.

"Have you forgotten? At that time, Zeffirelli's 'Endless Love' was still starring Brooke Shields. Because it was submitted by Polygram, it went through a total of five trials before it was removed from the X rating and got an R."

"You have a good mentality, Ronald. This is not a problem with your editing skills at all, but the bastard Mount, who has connected many old stubborn seniors of Universal to make trouble."

Producer Lin Sen knew very well that the film he produced was involved in a high-level struggle, and was brandished by the two presidents as a big stick to attack each other.

The box office of "ET Alien" has broken many records. The number of theaters where it was released has increased from more than 100 at the beginning to more than 300. The calls for additional copies are still coming from the front. .

Tom Mount opposed ET's project establishment and filming. If he didn't grab a point to fight back, the day ET successfully ended the first round of screenings would be the day when he was swept out.

Of course, even if a president of the seven major studios is laid off, he will still hold a golden parachute.Millions, tens of millions of dollars in severance, plus investing in their own production company, and finally signed a film underwriting and distribution agreement with their new company for more than five years.

There are too many bad things in the film industry, and these hush money has become an industry practice, and Mount is no exception.

"We will unite and fight against those old and stubborn people. They are all old men who had glory before the 50s. They don't understand today's film market at all. They don't know what kind of films can attract audiences."

Azoff, as the producer of the MCA faction, is firmly in Simberg's shoes.

"Yeah, Mr. Spielberg will also help you talk." Richard also chimed in.

"However, what are you going to do with this censorship opinion, Ronald?" Lin Sen was still a director, even though the box office was underwhelming.But he knows that this specific review opinion is not easy to bypass.

It must be revised honestly, coupled with the hard work of Simberg's faction within Universal, and public relations with the MPAA, in order to regain the letter R.

"Reshoots are out of the question. The leading actor Romanus has found a new job and has started filming a TV series. And Jennifer is in mourning. Calling her in for the exposure scene now gives Mount the opportunity to exploit Jewish girls." Tell the truth."

Ronald said softly, twisting the control knob of the editing table in his hand, watching this section of film repeatedly.

One of Tom Mount's excuses for connecting old diehards is that he used Jennifer Jason Lee's eagerness to make his debut, forcing him to take off his clothes and make teenage exploitation films.

Now that Vic Morrow is dying, he has to stand up for his daughter, and not let a young director do this to a beautiful Jewish girl like a jewel, the future Barbra Streisand.Originally, there were not many beautiful girls of this ethnic group.

"Then what? Cut it out?" producer Azoff asked.

"I thought about it. The benefits of doing this can of course pass the MPAA's review immediately, but this is the core of the two characters Stacy and the scalper Mike. If they are cut, these two characters will not be established."

"Relax, we will always find a way." Producer Lin Sen came over and poured Ronald a glass of water. "We went to a meeting with Nisita and Ovitz at CAA, combined with Steven, who is now popular, and countered them at a higher level.

Guarantee that your modification will not be tricked again.Steven appreciates your push back against Landis and not letting him spread the rumor that Steven was there. "

Ronald took the water and nodded.Continuing to scrutinize the shot at the editing table, "Help me close the door, Richard, I need to focus."

No matter how the two producers discuss with CAA people.No matter how they take advantage of Spielberg ET's big sales and the advantages brought to Simberg, they try to counter Mount's offense.

Ronald was still fighting in the editing room.He watched this scene over and over again, and finally came up with a solution for him.

In the MPAA's re-examination opinion, it clearly stated the reasons for the rating as X.

Although this shot was shot to show Stacy and Mike nervous, out of control.After watching it, the audience will only feel a fear of young men and women stealing the forbidden fruit in their hearts.Never give birth to yearning thoughts.

But the rules are the rules. After being complained collectively, the MPAA cannot turn a blind eye to the films of the seven major companies such as Universal as usual.

Just like Spielberg's previous work "The Lost Ark of the Covenant", there are obviously a lot of violent scenes, as well as gun battles, sword fights, etc., because it was released by Paramount, produced by Lucas, directed by Spielberg, Just gave it a PG rating indiscriminately.

PG is the level that parents are advised to accompany. Let those children watch Harrison Ford shoot down the villain chief, be chased by a big stone ball and almost die, and kiss a woman passionately.In order to save the movie box office in America, the MPAA is actually not so strict in front of the seven major studios.

So the problem now is that Ronald wants to give the MPAA an explanation, an explanation of "I have followed your review and revised it in good faith".Then look at Simberg's.

The MPAA makes it clear which parts do not meet the rating.The main problem with being rated X is that the male and female protagonists are naked at three points from top to bottom.In fact, as long as the lower part of the screen can be deleted, the X rating can be avoided.

The problem is that deleting a part of the inside of a certain lens in this way cannot be consistent with the original negative.The audience will notice that the framing frame of the deleted scene suddenly jumps and then becomes smaller, and then realizes what the director has done, and it is difficult not to play.

It is also an option to remake the hero and heroine scenes, but it is difficult for actors to get back the original feeling.This kind of scene was filmed after the scene was cleared, and the two actors were filmed with a feeling of worrying about gain and loss, which just fit the mood of the characters.

It would be great if this part of the film could be cut off from the lower half of the frame, then re-exposed, and combined with the original negative.In this way, the picture seen by the audience is like cutting out the original camera viewfinder frame, and then zooming back to the original frame, and the audience will not feel that the picture is not right.

"Huh? I seem to have seen a machine that can realize this function somewhere." Ronald seemed to have a hint of inspiration in his heart, but he didn't catch it.In a hurry, he stood up and spun around.

"What's wrong with you, Ronald." Richard, the agent who accompanied him in the editing room, looked at him, thinking he was too anxious. "If it doesn't work, our CAA will come forward to help you hire the actors back for reshoots. We can say that those are the extra shots that were shot at that time."

"No, reshoots can't reproduce the actor's performance state." After more than two months of Coppola's instructing Ronald, he knew very well that he didn't have much experience in directing actors when filming "fast pace". , this shot happened to be one of the few good shots that were shot by mistake.

"I was just thinking of a machine that would help me with my picture editing. I must have seen it somewhere, but I can't remember what it's called."

"Do you have any impression? I can help you think together."

"I seem to remember being with Roger Corman. But not in New Age."

"Who else was there?"

"Like I remember Johnny Carson's voice."

"Johnny Carson? Are you on the Tonight Show with Coleman?"

"No, there should be someone beside me."

"By the way, it's the cultural counselor of the Sowell Alliance embassy. Help me find it. Last year's Oscar ceremony, a technology award was awarded to the inventor of a machine. What's the name of that machine?"

Richard immediately called the CAA mailroom and found the list of winners for last year's Oscars.

"That device is called an optical printer."

"Yes, it's called an optical printer."

Ronald remembered the name, and immediately approached the producer Lin Sen to coordinate the rental of a film optical printer for editing.

"First make a copy of this part of the negative, then cut out Mike's lower body shot according to the proportion of each frame, and finally copy it to the original size with a film optical printer, and finally replace this part of the negative."

In Universal's film editing room, Ronald told the film editor and special effects staff his requirements.

"You have a good idea, it's hard for you to think of such a cut."

The special effects artist smiled wryly. The original intention of this machine was to make special effects composite shots of the Tie Fighter vs. X-Wing Fighter in "Star Wars".It is now used to cut off sensitive parts of an actor.

"Hahaha, I can't help it." Ronald laughed.

The new negatives that were replaced were re-edited.Universal re-produced a copy as quickly as possible and sent it to the MPAA for re-examination.

At the same time, Simberg also received a call from Spielberg, asking him to escort Ronald's movie this time, get the MPAA's R rating, and release it on time.

"This kid helped me again. Landis is like a mad dog now, biting anyone he catches. Can't let him wreak havoc with Tom Mount anymore. I heard he also gathered a bunch of Universal olds Write a joint letter and sue everywhere. What are they trying to do?"

"Steven, the National Day weekend is coming soon, ET is at a critical moment, and the box office is expected to exceed [-] million soon, we are stepping up printing copies, and it may increase to [-] theaters next week.

Following this momentum, ET's box office is very likely to surpass your friend George's 'A New Hope for Star Wars', making you the highest-grossing single-film owner in America again.

At this time, it is best not to cause extra problems.As for Mount, I already have a plan for him. "

Spielberg was silent for a while, "I don't want Ronald to suffer any harm, this is a very good young film director, if the first film fails at the box office, I'm afraid he will lose confidence.

remember?Sidney.When I shot Jaws, I was overdue and over budget.If it wasn't for your support..."

"I see, Steven." Simberg did not expect Spielberg to have such a high opinion of Ronald, "I will try my best to ensure that his movie is released on schedule."

"It just so happens that major studios are transitioning to shoot teen movies. Disney's 'Texas' and Paramount's 'Grease II' are all part of this trend. That's good, just watch This Ronald is an excellent director." Sinberg said to himself after putting down the phone.

(End of this chapter)