Exploiting Hollywood 1980

Norio Ohga could command TriStar Pictures, which was controlled by Frank Price. In order to give Ronald back, he asked TriStar Pictures to give Ronald some benefits. Daydream and TriStar Pictures renewed the distribution contract for five films.

After the merger, TriStar Pictures could only pick up some film distribution projects that Columbia did not want. It just happened to be a perfect match with Ronald's Daydream.

Last year, the three B-level action films made a small profit because of the Star-Spangled Banner incident, so they could set up projects to shoot sequels.

Kickboxer had the best box office, so it was naturally the first to be set up. However, Jean-Claude Van Damme's reputation was growing, and the budget for the sequel could not hire him, so Daydream began to look for his replacement.

The box office performance of Black Belt Elite was second, and the original team began to prepare

Only "The Hot-blooded Little King Kong Bravely Breaks Little Tokyo" had the worst box office performance, which was not enough to shoot a sequel. They had to distribute the actors evenly to the sequels of the other two films, letting them fill in the actors who could not shoot the sequel for various reasons.

Ronald looked at the report given to him by Michelle Cannold's distribution department. This movie with the highest shooting quality actually had the worst box office. The analysis report of ceasre pointed out that the Japanese culture of this movie was too strong, and many American audiences did not like it.

On the contrary, although the other two movies were covered with foreign culture, the core was still the American free-spirited male protagonist. After the setback, he suddenly realized that he had a successful life through hard work and the admiration of beautiful women. This was in line with the current situation that most of the domestic audiences were not highly educated.

This also reminded him that if the movie was shot for the box office (not for the award), it was still necessary to find the greatest common divisor of the audience's taste, and it would be best if the story resonated with some knowledge taught in high school textbooks. After all, for most Americans, the highest point of life knowledge was at the high school graduation dance.

…

"Mr. Kurosawa has been confirmed as the winner of this year's Oscar Honorary Award by the Academy of Motion Picture Technology and Arts. As the producer of the awards ceremony, what do you want to say?"

That day, Ronald, who was at home with Diane, was interviewed by reporters from The Hollywood Reporter and Vanity Fair.

"Oh, this is very exciting. I talked to Mr. Kurosawa on the phone (his daughter was the translator). Director Kurosawa, who is about to turn 80, is still working hard to prepare his next film.

His "Rashomon" won the Oscar Honorary Award for Foreign Language Film. At that time, the Best Foreign Language Film was not an official award category. "Dersu Uzala" won the Best Foreign Language Film Award, but Kurosawa did not come to receive the award.

In 1985, although Mr. Kurosawa came to the awards ceremony, his "Ran" lost in the Best Picture category. So this award was presented by him

It is not so much that the Oscars gave the Honorary Award to Kurosawa, but rather that Kurosawa brought honor to the Oscars..."

"Hmm..." The reporter kept recording, but he didn't expect Ronald to give Kurosawa the Best Foreign Language Film Award. The evaluation is so high, "So, will you be the one to present the award to him?"

"Hey, my phone rang all over when the news came out. You know? George Lucas and Steven Spielberg both told me that he must be the presenter. What should I do? In the end, I had to compromise and let them both present the award at the same time...

This part can't be reported now, it must be published after the party is over..."

"Then we will say that the Academy of Motion Picture Technology and Art will give Kurosawa Akira the highest courtesy and let the most outstanding talents present the award to them..."

"Okay, your tone of this report is very good..."

Ronald can now issue some suggestive guidance to the media without being regarded as bullying by reporters. After all, he is also the behind-the-scenes boss of an influential newspaper.

...

The preparations for the Oscar Awards Ceremony went smoothly and went smoothly. Soon, a week before the awards ceremony, Ronald asked Sony's special plane to pick up Kurosawa Akira and his daughter Kazuko Kurosawa and her family to Los Angeles.

Akira Kurosawa is already 79 years old, and he is still very healthy, but he needs to rest for a while in Los Angeles. Ronald just let him live in his own home, and with the chef hired by Sony's CEO office, he lives more comfortably than at home.

His eldest son Hisao Kurosawa flew from New York to meet his father, and was very grateful to Ronald. Hisao Kurosawa has no talent, so he can only take care of some of his father's projects and open a small office in New York. Kurosawa Kazuko studied fashion design in college and became a fashion designer after graduation.

Since last year's "Dream", she has been the costume designer in her father's movies. In addition to taking care of her elderly father, she also has to take care of her children and do her job well. Like traditional Japanese women, Kazuko does everything very well.

"Ronald-san, why do you think I am popular in America and Europe, but Japanese producers are unwilling to invest in my movies? In the past few years, many of my scripts have not been filmed, so I have to keep writing, hoping that one day they can be filmed..."

That afternoon, Kurosawa Akira took a lunch break and took a walk in the garden with Ronald. Although the style here is mainly Chinese, it is also an East Asian style, which Kurosawa Akira admires very much. He likes to take a walk here with Ronald every day.

"I think the Japanese market is too small to support a master's masterpiece..." Ronald couldn't say for sure. But the film market must first have quantity. There are many large, medium and small productions that make money every year, so that there can be outstanding producers who are willing to take big risks and shoot those films that challenge the limits of art.

"Maybe it's like this..." Kurosawa nodded after listening to his daughter Kazuko's translation. The Japanese market is still too small to accommodate his meticulous style, where every detail of every movie must be perfect.

"Mr. Scorsese is here..." Ang Lee, who could only listen but not express his opinions, said to Ronald.

"Let's go back, Marty is here."

...

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you..." Kurosawa Kazuko's daughter sang the birthday song in a childish voice. Scorsese laughed next to him, happy for Kurosawa to enjoy family happiness.

Next to him was Ang Lee, who personally took the camera and took a Sony home video recorder to shoot this scene. Looking at Kurosawa's gratified smile, Ronald and Marty also helped to sing a few sentences, which were all recorded in the videotape.

This segment, like the review of Akira Kurosawa's films edited by Ang Lee, will be used as material for the Oscars ceremony and will be played on site and in the broadcast.

"Ronald, this is such a joyful moment. I have to organize a big celebration for Mr. Kurosawa..." Scorsese felt very interesting after the birthday party, and also felt sorry that he didn't get the opportunity to present the award to Akira Kurosawa.

"Ah, what are you going to do?" Ronald asked.

"I have a movie to participate in this year's Cannes. I will persuade the Cannes organizing committee to give Mr. Kurosawa an honorary award. If they don't want to, you have to help me. At that time, we will organize Hollywood directors to jointly sign and strive for honor for Mr. Kurosawa..."

"Don't worry, this year's awards ceremony means that the top directors still active in Hollywood are celebrating Kurosawa. If this news spreads to Japan, they will definitely not let Americans have all the glory..."

Ronald told Scorsese not to worry. Kurosawa is a Japanese director. Hollywood has given such a great honor. I think the Japanese, who want to compete with America in cultural influence, will definitely not miss this opportunity to make up for their regrets (Rashomon participated in the Venice Film Festival and won the Golden Lion Award).

"That's right..." Scorsese and Ronald talked about the new film for a while. Jimmy Reiner lived up to his reputation and helped him get the right to use the interlude. With this interlude, the long shot was perfect.

...

Ronald did not try to steal the old man's limelight. He and Diane hid in the master's room, leaving the leading role to the Japanese who inspired and influenced a generation of Hollywood directors.

In the afternoon, Ronald put on a light-colored suit, kissed Diane goodbye, and walked to the Beverly Hills Cinema to attend the premiere of "Pretty Woman".

"Come back early..." Diane stood up and kissed him goodbye. She was about to give birth, and it was a bit inconvenient for her to walk.

"I'll be back as soon as I'm done. Anyway, I'm not the protagonist today..."

This movie released by Disney is a medium-sized production. Ronald just hopes that the investment can be recovered, and he doesn't care much. This time he went to the premiere mainly to reunite with the main creators. After all, there was an earthquake at that time, and everyone had a special friendship.

"Aha, Ronald..." Director Garry Marshall came up and hugged him warmly. The effect of the preview was very good. It seems that this romantic love film of his can continue to allow him to receive some commercial productions in Hollywood.

"Congratulations, Gary..." Ronald hugged him warmly. The director had invested a lot of enthusiasm and energy in this film. The film could be what it is today, thanks to his unremitting efforts. He thought of various ways to ensure the effect of the filming.

The two walked to the door of the theater, where the lights were bright and a huge poster occupied a wall.

There was a circle of revolving lanterns around the poster, and the male lead Richard Gere was in the middle. He turned his head 90 degrees and looked at the audience, with an elite look on his face.

His tie was pulled back and grabbed by Vivian, played by Julia Roberts, who was standing back to back. Vivian was wearing the same outfit as when she stood on the street at the beginning of the film, with a pink vest that exposed her waist and a black miniskirt; there was a section of her super long legs between the over-the-knee boots...

"Huh?" Ronald looked at Vivian's curvy figure on the poster and was a little confused. When she was on the set, Julia Roberts' figure was obviously not so good, right?

"Ronald..."

With a happy shout, Julia Roberts, wearing a beige top and trousers, rushed over and hugged Ronald. With her iconic big mouth, she laughed from the heart, and then she seemed to be hanging up.

"Hey, hey, hey..." Ronald felt the vitality of this young body, but he didn't dare to act rashly in public, so he quickly put Roberts down.

"Eric has agreed to make a sequel. How are you preparing for the Oscars in two days?"

"I... I secretly, secretly prepared a little speech..." Just like all

She brought two fingers close together, leaving a little gap, as if to say that she still had a chance to win the award.

"Good luck... Hey?"

Just after chatting with Roberts, her boyfriend Kiefer Sutherland came over and inserted himself into the gap between Roberts and Ronald, then kissed his girlfriend to declare his power.

"Kiefer..." Ronald nodded to him. This silly man probably knew that after Julia Roberts was nominated for an Oscar, her career would surpass his own, which would cast a shadow on their relationship, right?

Ronald ignored the two people who walked in and continued to stand at the door looking at the poster. It felt more real when Roberts hugged her just now. She was indeed not as solid as the one on the poster.

"I used a photo of Shirley Mitchell and Richard Gere, and then asked the artist to replace Julia's head..." Director Garry Marshall was next to him, saw Ronald's doubts, and quietly explained to him.

Shirley Mitchell is Julia Roberts' stand-in. Many intimate bed scenes were shot with her body. This time, using photoshop to replace the head, is Roberts not cooperating?

Director Garry Marshall nodded. After Julia Roberts won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for "Steel Magnolias", she gradually became difficult to contact, and her promotion of "Pretty Woman" was not as cooperative as before. If Ronald had not attended the Los Angeles premiere, it would have been a problem whether she would come or not.

"Hurry up and contact Disney's legal department, the producer, and Shirley Mitchell to sign an agreement and give her some money. Otherwise, after the movie is a hit, she will definitely find a lawyer to sue..." Ronald whispered in Director Marshall's ear. He has seen a lot of such things.

"Okay, I'll contact them tonight..." Garry Marshall felt that Ronald was thoughtful and quickly agreed.

"As for Julia, will you cooperate..." Ronald shook his head, the female star's

"Ronald..." Another woman's voice came.

Ronald looked back and saw a tall girl wearing a red dress similar to the dress that Vivian wore to the opera in the movie, walking towards him step by step with a model-like pace.

She put her hands on her hips, revealing her graceful curves. Her deep V neckline was very deep. She held the gray-haired Richard Gere beside her with both hands and walked towards Ronald.

"Uh..." Ronald almost fell into a daze, recalling the catwalk model in the red dress, "Cindy, congratulations..."

This time, it seems that Cindy Crawford and Richard Gere have made their relationship public to the media, allowing them to take photos of the two of them holding hands.

However, why did Cindy Crawford put on this "combat uniform" again? Ronald thought, Cindy Crawford, Julia Roberts, you fought from the set to the premiere, are you really going to steal Richard Gere?

No matter, all kinds of photos tomorrow will add free publicity to the box office of "Pretty Woman".

...

"Ronald, yesterday

"How much?" Ronald calculated that there were more than 1,300 theaters in the first weekend. This result is going to break 10 million?

"Ah, I should have invested more..."

There is only one chapter today