Exploiting Hollywood 1980.

Chapter 824 The one named Kimura is the most like a star

"The second Tokyo Film Festival, Best Actress went to Rachael Ward for her performance in 'The Wife', which embodies the complexity of human nature in an unnoticed part of the pre-World War II world. In the corner, the emotional release of a suppressed wife is performed superbly."

In a large movie theater belonging to the Tokyo Express Electric Railway Group in Shibuya District, the award presentation of the second Tokyo International Film Festival has reached the last few awards.

"Next, we invite the famous Hollywood director, Ronald Sang, to present awards to Ms. Rachel Ward, an Australian star who came here on a special trip."

Following the host's introduction, Ronald took a few quick steps, jumped onto the theme stage, received a crystal trophy from the hands of the hostesses, and awarded it to Rachel Ward who was already waiting at the side.

"Congratulations!" Ronald looked at Ward, who was still charming.Today Ward wore a red and yellow dress in the early Australian style, with a string of red coral necklaces, and his hair was carefully made into a mess, which was still very charming.

"Ronald," Ward smiled at Ronald.Ronald also smiled back, and the two of them remained silent. Ronald backed away to give Ward the stage.

"First of all, I would like to thank the jury of the Tokyo International Film Festival for their affirmation of me, and I would also like to thank my husband, Barry who also played my husband in the movie..."

"Huh, huh, huh..." After a burst of applause from the audience, the live band began to play music.

Ronald and Ward walked off the sidelines together.The applause from the audience was very polite.The festival's organizer, Tokyo Express, is a railroad and real estate company that owns multiple movie theaters in Shibuya.

In every way, they are trying to copy the Oscars awarding process, and on the surface they are quite similar.The only downside was that the stars in the audience were not dazzling enough. Except for a few stars who came to participate, there were no well-known actors.

"Barry," Ronald handed over Rachel Ward, who was holding his arm, to her husband, and sat in the front row.

"It's my turn," said Diane, wearing a black suit and combing her hair up, looking a little more mature than she really is.Ronald kissed her on the cheek and stood aside watching her walk up to the podium.

"The winner of the second Tokyo Film Festival, the best actor is Zhang Yimou from Huaguo, 'Old Well', and we invited the famous Hollywood movie star Diane Lane to present the award.

Since Mr. Yimou could not come, the award was received by Wu Tianming, the director of 'Old Well'. "

The audience in Tokyo was still very polite. Although the actor did not come, they still gave warm applause no less than Ward.

Diane took the crystal trophy and awarded it to Director Wu.

"Thank you, thank you to the judges of the film festival, the friendship between China and Japan has a long history, and the two countries are neighbors separated by a narrow strip of water..."

Director Wu's award-winning speech was in Chinese, and an interpreter from the organizing committee was there to translate on the spot.

Ronald saw that Director Wu was really unprepared, so he spoke the diplomat's lines.

"Wow wow wow..."

Ronald felt that the audience applauded even more intensely this time. Maybe they were not all being polite, but Diane was really popular here.

After finishing the award speech, Diane came down with Director Wu on his arm, and when he walked to the side aisle, he took Ronald's arm instead.

"It's a very good movie, I like it very much, congratulations." Ronald and Director Wu intertwined, watching him take out a handkerchief to wipe his sweat, he couldn't help but feel happy, "You will prepare a thank you letter for the Best Film Award later. Yet?"

Director Wu looked at Ronald, who spoke Chinese, and seemed to be stunned by the news he revealed in advance.

"Do you speak Chinese?"

It turned out that he was surprised that an authentic Western foreigner could speak Chinese.

"Know a thing or two," Ronald stretched out the other hand to shake his hand, "Ronald, Ronald Lee."

"Oh, you are the Director Luo who helped Director Huang from Xujiahui win the Los Angeles Women's Film Special Award."

Director Wu suddenly realized that the domestic film industry is overwhelmed by that award, and the authentic Hollywood award may be a little worse than the Oscar?Who doesn't know Director Timely Yuluo who helped Director Huang win the award?I heard that he is very interested in Chinese culture.

Sure enough, seeing is better than hearing a hundred times. Being able to speak Chinese is not easy, and being able to use idioms correctly is really amazing.

"Will you travel to Huaguo? Your movie is very popular in Huaguo now, and everyone wants to see you."

"Huh?" Ronald didn't expect Director Wu to say that his movie was a hit in China.

"What movie? I don't have plans to release my new movie in China?"

"Break dance, break dance, now even my West Film Studio has many young people learning to dance, let alone big cities."

"Ha..." Ronald realized that his "Breakdance" was also one of the ten films exported to China by the American Film Association this year, and he sold it to them at a very cheap price.

"Is it really popular? I want to see it..."

"If you're free, you might as well come to my Xiying Studio. I'm the director there now. We still have terracotta warriors to see, and your commander-in-chief has also seen it."

"Okay, I will definitely go there when I have time... Where did you choose your leading actor? I watched his performance, like a real stonemason."

"Hahaha, in fact, his job is to be a photographer. I specially poached him from the Guangzhou Film Studio. But he is from the Northwest. I really couldn't find a leading actor, so I found him. His understanding of movies is already in place. Yes, so there is no problem in acting. But, I don’t know if it will be liked by the judges this time... This is the best actor in our first overseas film festival after liberation.”

Director Wu is actually the director of Xiying Film Studio. He has been very eloquent since he was transferred from the director to the director of the factory.There is a language barrier in Tokyo, and there is no one to communicate without an interpreter.It happened that Ronald could speak Chinese, and he was excited after winning the award, so he started talking non-stop, and wanted to have a good communication with "Director Luo of Hollywood".

Ronald held back a smile, looked at the anxious translator beside him, and pointed to the stage.

"The winner of the Best Film Award at the [-]nd Tokyo Film Festival is Hua Guo, 'Old Well'!"

"Director Luo, I really want to hear that they are talking about Lao Jing? Am I hearing it wrong?"

Ronald quickly pushed Director Wu who was already at a loss, and motioned for the translator next to him to help.

Director Wu handed the crystal trophy for Best Actor to Ronald, turned around and went up to receive the award.

"Congratulations, Director Wu. This award was strongly recommended by Ronald Lee, and I was able to confirm it against all opinions."

The award was presented by the chairman of the jury, Gregory Pike. He saw Director Wu chatting with Ronald below for a long time, and he knew that the two hit it off right away.

"Thank you, thank you." Director Wu did not expect to be loved by two big Hollywood names in Tokyo.Then he was reminded by Pike, holding a golden trophy in the shape of a flying dragon, and walked to the microphone to give a speech for the second time.

"Um... I'm very happy that this movie can be liked by the audience in Japan. This is the crystallization of our collective creation, not my own credit. My leading actor is also my photographer. In order to play the role of Wangquan, Carrying stones on the mountain for a month, the stone trough at the beginning of the movie was made by himself.

Huaguo movies have also been influenced by Japanese movies, and our hero is a loyal fan of Akira Kurosawa..."

Director Wu is worthy of being both a leader and a director. Without any preparation at all, he improvised an award acceptance speech.

……

After the awards show, Ronald and Diane came to the closing dinner of the film festival together.Director Wu is being surrounded by many Japanese filmmakers. They like the desolate and vast scenery in the northwest.

Gregory Peck and Ronald stand together, and he appreciates this kind of film that reflects the different styles of third world countries most.

"If there is a chance, I also want to make this kind of movie."

"If you go, I'm afraid it will be empty."

"Huh, for Hollywood, this kind of movie may be really realistic." A British accent said without warning.

Ronald tilted his head and looked at the person who spoke strange words.Officially, the "famous" director Alan Parker, the British director who played tricks to prevent himself from getting the screenwriter's signature.He likes to film the dark side of society, and has always disdained such movies with bright endings.

"Ronald, look at you, you're also a film director now."

Ronald smiled, not as knowledgeable as he was.He criticizes mainstream commercial films, and finally Hollywood pays him to make films, not those vulgar films. This person has no chance to make those dark "realistic" films.

"When you were on the set, you were still a young man who changed the script..." Alan Parker had to rely on his old age to get back some face in front of Ronald, so that the producers of Dongpu could trust him more.His last movie failed at the box office and it was not easy to find investors.

"Good luck, I can find investors in Hollywood who can appreciate your taste." Ronald smiled, ignored him, and took Diane to leave to greet Rachel Ward and her husband Barry Brown .

"Rachel, Barry", Ronald and the two hugged and said hello.

"How's your movie at the box office? When's it showing in America?"

"We only got a box office of just over US$10 in Australia, and no distributor in America is willing to take over. This time we won the Best Actress, and we hope to promote overseas distribution."

Rachael Ward didn't hide anything from Ronald. She heard that Ronald also has publishing business now, and wanted to find him to see if he was interested.

"Why? I think this is a very interesting movie?" Ronald was a little surprised by the box office figure.

The heroine played by Rachel Ward and the love triangle between the two brothers, even if the background of the story is relatively unpopular, it is not so miserable.

Ward and her husband Barry smiled at each other, "Our image in Australia is too different from the one in the movie."

Ronald chatted with them for a while and figured out why.

The Wards are similar to Paul Newman and his wife Woodward in Australia, they are loving star couples.But in the movie, Barry Brown plays an incomprehensible husband who doesn't have much common language with his delicate wife, so that the wife ends up cheating on her husband's brother.

This kind of movie plot where the character image and the star image are contrary makes the audience very uncomfortable. Although there are unnecessary sexy scenes and strong storylines, Ward's performance is also very good, and the audience just doesn't sell it.

But no one in America knows them...

Ronald couldn't help evaluating the prospect of this movie in America. Rachael Ward is a beautiful woman, and she and her husband worked hard to perform, um...

"I'll let my colleagues see what can be done..."

Declining the organizer's invitation, Ronald and Diane left the dinner first, and they were going to the dinner hosted by Kitagawa and Kadokawa Haruki.

"The [-]nd Tokyo International Film Festival came to a successful conclusion, and the films from China were a great success... Diane Lane presented the award to Yimou for Best Actor"

"Oh... this film festival is very popular." Haruki Kadokawa, the young owner of Kadokawa Bookstore, watched the news on TV, and couldn't help sighing, it was all on the NHK news.

"Diane is also very beautiful, showing the demeanor of a Hollywood star." Johnny Kitagawa's sister, Mary, began to flatter Ronald, praising his female companion Diane for how American she is style.

"Hahaha..." Ronald was very happy. Diane seems to be very popular in Dongpu. This year, she made a few more advertisements. The audience here gave her a high evaluation. She is simply a Hollywood superstar. treatment.

"Can you consider acting in one or two movies in Japan?" Ronald turned around and asked Diane. She might be able to make a movie in Japan because her stardom is not going well.

"Hmph, I'm very popular in Dongpu. My 'Street of Rage' is still playing in theaters."

Ronald made an expression of disbelief, and turned to look at Johnny Kitagawa. This movie was made three years ago, and it's still playing now?
"There are indeed long-term theaters still showing it," Johnny Kitagawa nodded. "Now the opening and ending songs of that movie are often requested by radio stations, and the MV is often broadcast on TV stations."

Ronald looked back at Diane, seriously replaying the scene of her wearing Armani's costume, long live the style, that was when Ronald discovered her femininity.

Perhaps seeing the tenderness in Ronald's eyes, Diane touched Ronald's hand with a smile and squeezed it hard.

"Our newcomer trainees are also learning the Japanese version of this episode." Mary Kitagawa began to show her ability eagerly again, "I asked them to perform for Ronald-san? Can you give them a call?" Best."

"Ha, then let them try it." Ronald held Diane's hand, remembering that when he came last time, Kitagawa also found a group to sing, this time it's good to see how the next generation of Johnny is. .

Mary Kitagawa gave instructions to the assistant, and after a while, six teenage boys filed into the banquet hall.

Facing Ronald, one by one stood up and introduced themselves.

"My name is Masahiro Nakai, I am 15 years old this year"

"My name is Takuya Kimura and I am 14 years old."

"My name is Katori Shingo, I'm 11 years old"

……

"They're so young..." Diane looked at the boys.

"This is Johnny's strategy. They are all cultivated from a young age, and they will sign a long-term contract." Ronald explained to Diane, this is not Hollywood, Kitagawa just cast a net on these boy groups, Each trainee is cultivated from an early age.

These six boys are very lucky, they have already formed the Junior group, and after one or two more years of raising them, they can debut.

"Thank you, next, we will bring you a song, 'Tonight is the meaning of being young'"

The six boys began singing the Japanese translation of the ending theme song of "Streets of Rage" to the backing tape.

They were all a little nervous. The two oldest boys, Masahiro Nakai and Takuya Kimura, both sang out of tune, but Shingo Katori, the youngest, sang well.

"Okay..." Diane likes them very much. Her own singing skills are very average, but she just thinks they are cute when they work hard.

"Ronald-san, do you think these guys can do it well?" Mary Kitagawa's habit of showing off her handsome boys was repeated.

Johnny Kitagawa stopped the impatient sister and let the six-member group push down first, "Ronald-san, which of these do you think has the most potential?"

"Acting? That long-haired one is called Kimura?..." Ronald said without hesitation that Takuya Kimura, who he thought had the most potential in acting, was the second oldest. "

"Oh, how do you say that?"

Johnny Kitagawa was also quite surprised. He didn't expect Ronald to be able to name the candidate in one bite. Haruki Kadokawa over there also looked at Ronald with great interest, listening to what he said.

"He is very focused and has imagination in his eyes. Among the six of us, he is the only one who is looking at our audience. It seems that he is facing a concert of tens of thousands of people, and his eyes seem to be looking at tens of thousands of audiences."

"Hahaha, so that's the case, Ronald-san, I understand." Johnny Kitagawa was very happy and toasted Ronald.

"Our investment is settled, and I will trouble Ronald Sang next."

"I'm bothering you too."

Ronald drank sake with them, and the two Japanese film festival bosses decided to invest in Hollywood films with Japanese plots or with the participation of Japanese movie stars. Ronald and the others were also welcome to come to Dongying to shoot.

As a contact person in Hollywood, Ronald will receive priority investment from the two here for his recommendations and projects.And relax the screening conditions in Japan.This time "Dirty Dancing", the theaters under the two banners will show it with all their strength.

"Cheers!" Bannon, who had been looking at the wind direction, finally waited until the moment of finalizing the cooperation, and happily toasted with them.

"Speaking of concerts with tens of thousands of people, this time MJ's new album special concert in Tokyo is very popular."

Kitagawa changed the subject and talked about MJ's concert arrangements in Dongying.

"Dianne and I will go to the scene to watch, and MJ sent the tickets for the front row."

"Ronald-san and the King of Pop also intersect?" Kitagawa likes MJ's concert style very much, and has always wanted to introduce his live performance to the Japanese music scene.

"We are good friends." Ronald smiled lightly. These Dongying people are still very admired by MJ's music and live performances.

"As expected of Ronald-san, we can help you with anything in Japan in the future." Kitagawa and Kadokawa exchanged glances with each other. Cooperating with a great director with a wide range of friends, he is also a key figure who can break into the American cultural circle.

"It's easy to talk, easy to talk", Ronald tried his best to maintain the posture of a mysterious expert, in fact, he himself didn't know as many people in Hollywood as they thought.

"By the way, is there a lot of people watching videotapes in Dongying now?" Ronald thought of Diane's "Streets of Rage". Since it is still so popular, maybe they can make a fortune by releasing the videotapes.

"There are still quite a few. The format dispute between Sony and JVC is still going on, but when it comes to movies, everyone still likes the VHS format. Their videotapes can fit a movie in one box."

"If Ronald-sang has the copyright of a movie that Japanese audiences like, he might as well release the videotape here. The two manufacturers are very welcome. Their sales of VCRs must also be driven by good movies."

"Well, I'll go back and discuss with them, and choose some movies that Japanese audiences like to try."

(End of this chapter)