Exploiting Hollywood 1980

Editing of "When Harry Met Sally" went slowly and smoothly, but at the end of the week, Ronald put it down and took a trip to New York.

Not only did he have his own movie to edit, he also had to check it out

The editing situation for "Steel Magnolias." So when he arrived in Manhattan, he went to visit him first

"Steel Magnolias" director Herbert Ross. Because he had just gotten married and was on his honeymoon, Ronald gave Herbert Ross some convenience and let him work in the editing room of Daydream in New York instead of going to Hollywood to edit. Anyway, he was not looking for a quick job. He cut it into pieces.

"I'm glad you came to meet Herbert and me. It's not easy to see more Hollywood stars here, but Herbert still prefers New York, so we decided to make our home here." Herb Ross's new wife, Caroline Radziwill Ross, ordered the servants to make tea and entertain Ronald in the family's living room.

The socialite couldn't bear to part with her ex-husband's surname Radziwill, because with this surname, she had the title of Polish princess.

"If it were Nora, she would definitely go and make tea herself." Herbert Ross muttered beside her.

Nora was the name of his late wife, a former ballet dancer. Ronald discovered that Herbert Ross was a bit deaf, and he thought he was speaking loudly under his breath.

The new wife Caroline heard his complaints about missing his ex-wife and finding fault with him, but she also showed a real

With a "princess" demeanor, she just curled her lips and smiled. Ross had a great aura as a film director, and before getting married, Caroline thought that the life of a film director would also be very exciting and stimulating.

But her life after marriage was really dull. As the former number one socialite in America, having a celebrity like Ronald come to visit reminded her of the old days when her sister was still in the White House.

"Ronald, where is your residence in New York?" Caroline began to use her socialite instincts and wanted to organize acquaintances in the New York film industry to form a social circle.

"Oh, Fifth Avenue? Isn't that a shopping district? You should really consider finding a house here on the Upper East Side. It's very suitable for family life..." Caroline heard that Ronald lived on Fifth Avenue. At the top, they began to promote the values ​​of old-school people.

My home should be on the Upper East Side, and I would go to Fifth Avenue for shopping.

"Oh hahaha, many places in the Upper East Side won't let you in? That's because you haven't been properly introduced to Manhattan's social circle." Caroline heard Ronald say that he was discriminated against by the old money in the Upper East Side. He told the story with a smile.

"This was supposed to be part of your parents' coming-of-age ceremony for you. Oh... I'm sorry, I don't know about your parents' tragedy. It doesn't matter. I can hold a party to officially introduce you to the social circle of the Upper East Side... You have Anyone you want to meet? "In the eyes of a woman like Caroline, if you don't have a house in the Upper East Side or a stable social circle, then you are simply not a human being.

Ronald laughed out loud, and he kind of liked the feeling of still living in the sixties. Herbert Ross is in Didigu again. If Nora was still here, she would never treat the producer of his movie so harshly.

However, Caroline just didn't understand the living conditions of the lower class. She was still very enthusiastic. When she learned that Ronald wanted to meet the great architect I.M. Pei, she called a friend and found the phone number of Pei's wife Lu Shuhua. She quickly called Ronald made an appointment and they went to visit Bei's house not far away.

Ieoh Ming Pei happened to be at home and came down from the study room upstairs to chat with his wife's friends. But what surprised Ronald was that the home of architect I.M. Pei was a very ordinary old house on the Upper East Side.

There are four floors in total, very ordinary, and the appearance does not reflect the standard of an architect's house at all. Ronald mentioned that he wanted to ask I.M. Pei to design a private residence, but I.M. Pei refused.

"Ah, I don't accept private housing projects. But are you a movie director? I like watching movies very much. The biggest regret in America is that there are not many Chinese movies. The Last Emperor was also released in English two years ago. You guys There is a CAA company in Hollywood, and I designed their office building. If you also have a big company, I can consider it. "

"Hi..." Ronald stopped thinking. He didn't have the energy to run such a large company with hundreds of employees.

Unable to invite I.M. Pei, Ronald simply chatted with the couple. Ronald, who happened to be interested in Chinese culture, soon had a pleasant chat with Mr. and Mrs. Bei.

He also learned that Mrs. Bei, Lu Shuhua, was the daughter of a famous Chinese-American family and a horticulture and botanist. She planted all the plants in the garden in front of Bei's house.

"Speaking of Chinese culture, it's actually very interesting. They have their own unique view on architecture, called Feng Shui. From an architectural point of view, it is a science that considers the flow of air, water, and buildings." Ronald was very surprised. Such an architect who received Western education still believes in Feng Shui.

"Do you believe in Feng Shui?"

"Actually, there is some truth. I used Feng Shui elements for the CAA building. Of course, this is because the client, Mr. Ovitz, is interested in East Asian culture." Ronald understood that the client was interested. Ieoh Ming Pei believed...

"So, does your private house also contain elements of Feng Shui? I think your yard is very Chinese culture. The double chair, with the lawn in front, big trees on both sides, facing the Hudson River, has a very Jiangnan feel. The design feel of the garden.”

"Hey, do you also know about Jiangnan Gardens?" Now Ronald scratched Mrs. Bei's itch. She especially liked others to praise the gardens she designed, but there were only a few guests who could see the principles of garden design at a glance.

"For my house on Staten Island, I hired Jiangnan's garden design and construction team..."

"Hey? Is there a garden in New York? I'll go and have a look then." At this time, the Bays felt very good about Ronald. This is a master who really understands Eastern culture. We must look for some of his movies to watch.

Both the Bays came to America to study in college and then stayed here to develop. Lu's family background is even higher than that of Bei. Her father is a classmate of Tang Shaoyi, and her mother is the daughter of Zhang Yintang, the last minister to the United States in the late Qing Dynasty.

Lu Shuhua's brother married Rong Fei, the daughter of Rong Hong's nephew, the father of Chinese students studying abroad. Ronald felt even more cordial now and quickly asked Mrs. Bei about her family situation.

Do the young international students who studied in America at that time still have contacts and activities now? However, Mrs. Bei also came to college and was not very familiar with these descendants of her ancestors. ..

Ronald felt sorry. Perhaps due to their natural affinity, the Bays fell in love with Ronald at first sight.

Several people talked about Chinese painting and calligraphy from the garden. Pei also took Ronald up the milky white spiral staircase to his study room on the second floor to show him his collection.

"This was given to me by Li Keran when I was sixty-two years old," I.M. Pei pointed to a landscape painting on the wall, with an everlasting pine on it.

"This is an early abstract work by Zao Wou-Ki." On the other wall are Western art works by Chinese painters.

"This is the calligraphy given to me by Wu Changshuo..." It is another gold calligraphy work. Ronald didn't understand this at all, but he could feel the artist's emotional calligraphy from the painting, which felt much better than the Andy Warhol silkscreen he bought.

"You understand Chinese culture..." I.M. Pei admired Ronald for being able to see the emotions in calligraphy works. As expected, artists have figured it all out.

It's rare to have a knowledgeable customer.

"I estimate that the art pieces you have here are worth more than the house itself." Ronald was a little envious. These works were not bought by I.M. Pei, but were given to his friends when they were having tea and gambling.

It doesn't matter who designed a celebrity's house. Gifts given by others in the room make it more respectable.

Of course, in addition to works by Chinese painters, there are also works by many famous Western artists in the study, all of which look expensive.

"Hehe... In fact, a home does not need to be designed, but is used to live in. As long as it is the most comfortable, it is a good design. In this sense, I think that homes do not need to be designed by architects. The most important thing is that What can the people who live in the house bring to the architecture..." Ronald heard what the great architect said and felt it made sense.

At that time, I'd better fill up the new house at the foot of Beverly Hills slowly. Later, Ronald and Herbert Ross went to see

Original footage from "Steel Magnolias." There is no doubt about Ross's ability, and he is very familiar with the movie adaptation of this kind of play. Ronald watched a few clips and thought it was great.

Ronald has always been lenient with directors who know what they are doing. As long as there are no problems, don't interfere with the artist's creation.

On the day he came to New York, he accomplished many important things. In the evening, little Douglas came over to have dinner with Ronald.

The two found a private room in a Chinese restaurant and watched the second general election debate while eating. This debate is for the vice-president candidates and will have little impact on the results of the general election. It is more of a fun event for everyone to watch.

George Sr.'s deputy was the specially chosen Indiana Senator Dan Quayle. This guy became a senator at the age of thirty-three, the youngest in history.

He is very handsome, the kind of handsome man who could go to Hollywood to make a movie. Dukakis's deputy candidate is Texas Senator Lloyd Bentson, who is already 67 years old.

He looks senile compared to Dan Quayle.

"Old George probably chose him because of his face. People are always more tolerant of good-looking people." Ronald and Little Doug made random comments about their two debate opponents.

One of the points that Dukakis attacked George Sr. was that the deputy commander was too young and inexperienced.

If something unexpected happens to the commander-in-chief, can such a person lead the country if he is in the White House? Sure enough, Dan Quayle was questioned by the other party about his age at the beginning, and then he was constantly focused on this topic.

However, he was already prepared, and later simply answered,

"I think this is the fourth time I've had this question tonight, and it's really not necessary, and let me repeat that, I have as much experience in Congress as Jack Kennedy did when he was running for president..." Jack is John Kennedy's nickname, only his close friends would call him this.

Dan Quayle started the show like this, reminding TV viewers that youth is not a problem. There is no need for the other party to make excuses because of their age.

Many young women in the audience applauded Dan Quayle. In terms of looks alone, the senator and Kennedy are both very attractive to women.

"Mr. Bengtsen..." The host turned to the other party. There was a smile on Bengtsen's face, as if he had been waiting for the other person to mention the name Kennedy.

"Senator Quayle, I served with Jack Kennedy. I know Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy is my friend. Senator, you are not Jack Kennedy..."

"Uh..." Ronald and Doug looked at each other and were speechless. Dan Quayle said this to anyone, but how could he not know that Bentsen himself was Kennedy's comrade-in-arms?

This time, he was killed. Many audiences at the scene shouted and applauded for a long time.

"Actually, this is unfair to Dan Quayle. He didn't say he was Kennedy. He just said that age should not be used to judge his ability..." In the private room, a Chinese female waiter saw the situation on TV and stood up for the handsome Dan Quayle.

Ronald and Doug turned to look at her. Very good, it seems that the audience who are interested in politics at the scene do not represent the majority of the people.

"Sorry, I'll go and rush your dishes..." The waiter stuck out his tongue, smiled at the two guests, and hurried out to serve the dishes.

The debate afterwards was uneventful, with the two backups saying these meaningless words. Ronald and Doug Jr. spent their last energy on the food.

"Dear guests, I hope you enjoy the food tonight..." Douglas Jr. often came to this Chinese restaurant, and in the end the chef came to greet him personally.

"A-choo..." The chef sneezed, apologized and went back.

"Pay the bill..." Ronald smiled and greeted the waiter.

"A-choo... a total of... A-choo..." The waitress also began to sneeze.

"Hey, be careful not to catch a cold..." Ronald also helped the other party and reminded the waitress. ...Sure enough, the victory or defeat of the debate of the vice president has little impact on the support rate.

After the smear attack on Dukakis riding a tank, George Sr.'s support rate has been leading all the way, surpassing Dukakis by more than 3%.

After the debate of the vice president ended, the gap in the new polls did not narrow. George Sr.'s team was very happy to get such a support rate when the election was approaching.

"A-choo... A-choo... Don't come. I seem to have the recent severe flu. It would be bad if I infect you... I'm fine. The housekeeper service here takes good care of me. I take medicine on time. I ask them to bring me whatever I want..." Ronald was lying alone in his home on Fifth Avenue, and he had used up more than half of a box of tissues.

Donna was on the phone. She was supposed to have dinner with him, but she had to cancel.

"Why didn't Douglas have the flu? Only you got it? Didn't he go to Chinese food with you?" Donna seemed a little dissatisfied that I didn't accompany Douglas to have the flu.

"I'm fine. The housekeeper found a doctor in the building for me. He checked it out and it's fine. It's just an ordinary flu. It will take a week to recover. Unfortunately, I have to rest and the editing work will be delayed. By the way, don't tell Aunt Karen..."

"Got it, are you really fine? Don't you need me to accompany you?"

"Don't come. This flu is easy to catch. I just helped a sneezed waiter and it became like this. Douglas didn't get it if I didn't help him. I'm miserable..."