Exploiting Hollywood 1980.

Chapter 494 Roger Coleman's Ultimate Move
The biggest problem with "Breakdancing" is the tight schedule.Right now, every day wasted in setting up the shooting team and selecting actors, the shooting time is tense.If there is a delay in casting, it basically declares that the movie cannot be completed before Orion's "Hot Street Kid".

How to assemble a suitable technical team in a day or two, find the right actors, and start shooting a movie right away?
This task is done separately.Minahan decided to fly back to Los Angeles immediately, and transfer the technical team from other Cannon crews, or from Israel.

Ronald was in charge of casting and choosing the right shooting location.

On the first call, Ronald called Weintraub first.This matter must be approved by the producer of "Longwei Boy".

"Can you finish the filming?" Weintraub did not stop Ronald, but worried that he would not be able to finish filming during the three-week vacation, which would affect the progress of his film.

"Haha, I'm a Roger Coleman graduate. Two weeks to shoot and one week to edit. If the shoot drags, I'll hand over the edit to Minahan, just in time for the 'Dragon Boy' cut. "

"Well, you end things over there as soon as possible." Weintraub had heard the name of Roger Coleman and understood that Ronald wanted to make a quick buck this time.Anyway, the exploitation films shown on a small scale will not affect their Colombian distribution.

Then came the two agents of CAA. Ronald told them about his remuneration and dividends, and hoped that they would help with technical personnel and casting.

Hearing that if you don't work, you will get a share. The two managers hurriedly expressed that they would give emergency help in Los Angeles. All the talents, actors, and venues that Ronald needed were resolved according to the most urgent needs.

Although it is impossible for Ronald to sign with any producer without the participation of an agent, their share is pie in the sky.But when the contract is renewed, if the services that are suitable for the sharing cannot be provided, Ronald can choose another agent at any time.

After making two crucial phone calls, Ronald began to look for the main actors and shooting locations.

The reason why I have a well-thought-out plan is that I can get actors and venues that normally take a month to get done in a short period of time.It's because Ronald saw and heard a lot of Coleman's quick shooting tricks when he was working at Roger Coleman's.

Roger Corman's most powerful time, he once finished filming a movie "Little Shop of Horrors" in two days.In short, the most important point of this kind of fast-shooting exploitation film is not to stick to the original idea.Flexible everywhere.

For example, shoot exterior scenes as much as possible and reduce lighting time.For interior scenes, everything is crude and simple. If there is no suitable setting, then the script will be changed.If you have a set that someone else has used, use it.

If there is no suitable actor, then find an old partner who has worked with you.The role requires strong acting skills, so choose actors who are close to the character's personality and let them play in their true colors.In this way, the performance is easy to perform, and there is no need for repeated rehearsals and reshoots.

There are no real actors who are close to the character of the character?
Then change the script and change the role into the character of the actor!

This is not an art film that hits the Oscars. As long as the character makes sense logically, it doesn't matter what kind of character it is. The key is to be quick.

If there was no time to edit slowly, the samples were shot every day, and the audio and video were synchronized immediately.After shooting all the scenes, you can immediately enter the assembly link of editing.

Then there are the actors.The heroine is the heroine of my dream, the Lucinda Dicky that Minahan signed with Cannonball. Anyway, I can see that she has dancing skills and acting skills.

The actor didn't know where to find the role of the original film for a while, and Ronald called "Crazy Legs".The break dance master who refused to shave his beard, but shaved his legs to dance hip-hop for the heroine of "Lightning Dance", is in the New York dance company.

"I will not be in this kind of movie. He vulgarizes the meaning of hip-hop. This kind of dancing is simply a blasphemy against the dance that originated in the Bronx, New York. What does this story you tell have to do with those traitors on the West Coast who surrendered to Hollywood the difference."

"This time is different from Lightning Dance, I invite you to play the leading role!" Ronald emphasized, Crazy Legs will not give up this opportunity to become famous in one fell swoop, right?
"You can't buy me, this is our ideal."

Ronald knew that Crazy Legs was ideal, but he didn't expect him to be so obsessed, or...?
"The substitute I found for the last Lightning Dance, crazy legs, has he taken on any work recently?" Ronald called his manager Richard to find out.

"Crazy legs, is that the Manhattan Dance Company? Richard quickly found out the truth from all the filming schedules on the big blackboard of CAA. He is making a film that reflects hip-hop culture with Orion investment, He plays himself in the movie."

"But I invited the protagonist!"

"He is not necessarily short of money, but for Latino and black street dancers, he can leave his real name in a movie that reflects street dance. To some extent, he will be an old-timer in the circle in the future. ’” Richard explained.

"Damn it," Ronald regretted that he was looking for crazy legs too hastily, "In this way, you continue to contact his agent on my behalf, don't stop."

Since there is no way to dig it out, then continue to confuse competitors so that they don't realize that they are secretly filming.

"By the way, Ronald, we have arranged for you a Coppola-style mobile editing vehicle." Nisita answered the phone, and you can get it when you come to Los Angeles.

It was a method invented by Francis Coppola to cram all the film and sound editing equipment into a van.

The car followed for exterior shots, and was parked outside for interior shots.The films shot every day, after developing and printing out the working copy, are sent to the set immediately and edited in the car, so that Ronald can go to the car to guide the editing during the interval between shootings or at night.Greatly improved work efficiency.

"What about the scene I asked you to find? What did Princess Leia's mother say?" Ronald continued to confirm the location of the interior scene.

"Ms. Debbie Reynolds is willing to lend you her dance studio. She has just renovated and has no students yet."

One of Roger Coleman's stunts is to eat two fish with one fish.Rely on the set built with other people's investment, and then set up a movie of your own.Ronald was going to copy it.

"What about the apartment?"

"The apartment in Venice, the parking lot where the karate master lived has not been demolished yet, so you use it directly to shoot the three protagonists practicing dancing."

"Where is the venue for the buffet?"

"How about choosing the mansion in Ali's house? The owner has a large lawn and can shoot the scenes you want. He can directly help you find a party company."

……

Ronald, Nisita, and Richard negotiated a lot of shooting locations. Anyway, the time of "Longwei Boy" was too late, and familiarity with the road is very important to save time.

"The Handyman I asked you to find, have you found it?" Ronald began to care about the extras again.

"Found it, Eddie Rodriguez is a very interesting guy. He promised to call all the students and contribute to your film, just give them a little pocket money and a lunch. If there is spare, the best Give more, they will eat at night."

The break dancers are all poor people, mostly Latino or black.Ronald readily agreed, there are so many group performers who can break dance, there is no more suitable one.

The heroine and the main supporting role have been confirmed, and the remaining two leading actors on Ronald's list have not yet been found.

"Ronald, do you want me to recommend some people to you?" Nisita asked on the phone.

"Do you know an actor who can dance hip-hop?"

"No, I just know some dancers, you know a show called 'Soul Train'?"

Soul train?Ronald remembered that he had seen this show before. It was mainly black and Latino, and there were some black dances from beginning to end.

"They air on the national syndicated network, and we have a good relationship with CAA. I can ask them for someone to audition."

"Very good. I'm coming on a red-eye flight at night. You'd better arrange it tomorrow."

"No problem, it's pie in the sky that they have this kind of opportunity, I'll call you all the people on the Soul Train show."

Arranging things, Ronald began to pack his bags, and then told his aunt that he was going to Los Angeles to make a low-budget movie impromptu, and the vacation was over.

"What subject are you shooting again this time? You have a new job so soon?" Auntie was a little surprised and began to help Ronald pack his luggage.

Ronald thought for a while, how should he explain the content of "Breakdance" to Aunt Karen?
"It's actually filming your friend, Mrs. Davis, and her son, Bud Jr., stories of poor blacks, motivated kids who get on the right track by dancing."

"Ronnie, I'm very happy. You should make more movies like this. The general public just want to relax and dream a little when they watch movies. You can listen to my advice and make movies for them. You are a good director."

Aunt Karen was very happy and hugged Ronald, "This is my newly baked biscuit, you can eat some when you are hungry when you take it with you."

(End of this chapter)