Exploiting Hollywood 1980

The two directors, led by Coppola and Scorsese, were signed to a group of agents led by Niceta at CAA. None of them would refuse the task of the Coca-Cola advertisement. The shooting was simple and the pay was high. Moreover, shooting the advertisement of such a well-known product would not look cheap. Instead, it would help the manufacturer and the director to promote each other. The job Ronald found for them was obviously very good.

The same thing happened to British directors Alan Parker and Adrian Lane. They either had a good relationship with Ronald or had a deep hatred with Ovitz (they did not help him canvass for Oscars). For a time, many agent factions within CAA began to invite the most famous directors to participate in this advertising project.

Without mentioning this little thing, Ronald returned to the shooting site. Everyone had rested and Gregory Peck stood on the podium again.

"a!"

"I am very happy to see so many familiar faces and old friends again today..." Gregory Peck's voice was full of passion, nostalgia and lack of energy that only old people have, "Ah, I haven't seen some of them for several years."

He pointed to the worker representatives in the back half of the auditorium. Today, these people are all his supporters, although they went on strike every year in the past few years and asked him for a pay raise. Because this year's shareholders' meeting is very different. If Jorgensen fails, the new boss will definitely declare the factory bankrupt, and they will all be unemployed.

And most of the people sitting in the front half are shareholders who came from all over New York and Boston. They are also very old, and their fathers are old partners who started the business with the Jorgensen family.

"My general manager Bill has informed you of the company's operating conditions, our good and bad things, and plans for next year and many years later through the annual report." Gregory Peck took the microphone off the stand and held it in his hand. He had already withdrawn his gaze from the workers in the back and began to appeal to the shareholders in the front row... After all, their votes are the most important ones.

"I want to talk to you about something else. I want to talk to you about the vote that is about to take place, the vote that will decide the fate of the company you own." Gregory Peck's face was full of excitement. This was a frank appeal for help from the old shareholder family who funded his father's business. The shareholders who had gone through ups and downs for 80 years, just like their fathers helped his father.

"This is a successful company with a proud history. It survived the unfortunate death of its founder, and has also experienced many economic recessions, a Great Depression, and two world wars. This company that has experienced ups and downs is now facing the machine that destroyed it..."

As he said, Gregory Peck pointed his finger at Tom Hanks sitting opposite him, and issued a soul-destroying accusation from the old American industrialist...

"I want you to see him. This is the man called Larry the Liquidator, a Wall Street capitalist who plays God in the post-industrial era!"

The so-called thousands of people pointing fingers at him ended in vain. Gregory Peck's finger seemed to be pointing in the past, and even a good actor like Tom Hanks automatically licked his lips and swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

Ronald clearly saw Hanks' body muscles tighten for a moment, then he pretended to be relaxed and changed his posture. He sat down carefree, stretched out his hand with an expensive Swiss watch, and put it on the table to maintain his inner calm.

These reaction shots were captured by the well-hidden camera. Ronald didn't know whether this reaction was more of a performance or a natural reaction. In short, he was very happy. This expression and action was

Gregory Peck continued to preach to the audience, "Those old money entrepreneurs, even if they are very stingy, will leave some tangible things behind. A bank, a railway, a coal mine..."

Another camera was capturing the expressions of the audience's extras. Not to mention, Gregory Peck's skills are still so profound. This kind of speech play is what he is best at. Those extras all have positive reactions to his words.

"But this person... he can't leave anything..." Gregory Peck looked at Tom Hanks, who played Garfield, with contempt.

"This man leaves nothing behind...

He creates nothing...

He builds nothing...

He manages nothing...

He leaves tons of waste paper behind him..."

The face of Hanks in the camera is completely speechless, because Jorgensen's lines are all true. As a liquidator who makes a fortune by acquisitions and splits, he does not operate any real economy, only financial operations, and he employs accountants and lawyers...

"Ha, if he said, I know how to run your business better, it would be worth talking about (referring to continuing to operate after the acquisition), but he didn't say that, what he said was..."

Gregory Peck's eyes began to sharpen, and he said to the shareholders who have supported the cable factory for many years and received a lot of dividends, "He said that because at this particular moment, you are more profitable dead than alive, so I want to kill your factory..."

In times of difficulty, kill a hen that lays golden eggs to eat meat?

"Huh, maybe he's right, but he's also right that business will get better after its ups and downs." Gregory Peck's speech skills were top-notch, and he began to follow the audience's thoughts, "One day, business will get better." It will get better, the yen will weaken, the dollar will strengthen...or, when we finally start rebuilding our infrastructure one day, we will rebuild bridges, roads, railways, and the demand for infrastructure will skyrocket, and by that time time, we are still here...

By then, our stock price will skyrocket, making his bid look like a joke..." Gregory Peck waved at Tom Hanks, as if he were a fly, being chased away.

"God forbid, if we inject a little money now, we will wait until this day. If the future is like what people like him say, then we Americans will become a nation and know nothing." Manufacturing, only hamburgers; Creating nothing, only lawyers; Selling nothing, only tax avoidance services..."

This parallelism was very powerful. Several actors present, including Jones, who played General Manager Bill, also showed thoughtful expressions, and Piper Lowry, who played Mrs. Sullivan, had eyes full of admiration.

"If at a certain time we are worth more dead than or, kill us... Look around you, people! Would you kill the people around you? That's murder! Now he wants to What he did was also a murder. Mass murder was still legal.

Only those on Wall Street would call murder "maximizing shareholder profits." "

Gregory Pike became more and more excited as he spoke. The audience was already moved by his words and kept nodding in agreement. Tom Hanks' expression over there was even more depressed. What the other party said was true, but he used inflammatory words to turn him into a bad guy. Now everyone at the scene, and those outside listening to the loudspeakers of the live broadcast, will think that Garfield is a man without a conscience and only cares about money.

"Now, let's say this to every man like Garfield in this country: We build, we don't destroy; we care about things far beyond the price of a stock; we care about people..."

After Gregory Peck finished speaking, the place was eerily silent for a moment. Everyone is still recalling and chewing on this speech. If Jorgensen were younger and had such speaking skills, he would be very suitable to run for public office.

"Yeah..." The two bald workers couldn't help it. They broke the silence, stood up and applauded loudly for Jorgensen... It seemed like their jobs were going to be saved.

The workers sitting at the back of the scene were all led to stand up. A wave of enthusiasm swept across the scene like a whirlwind. The shareholders in front also stood up, even those wearing New England classical-style fur coats and fur scarves. The old lady shareholder also stood up and applauded.

Who says what Jorgensen said doesn't make sense? Didn't this company survive all the tribulations in the past, the Great Depression, and the World War? Who’s to say that the company can’t get through this much smaller storm?

"Now, let us welcome Mr. Lawrence Garfield to the stage," General Manager Bill announced on stage. As soon as I heard Garfield's name,

"Please don't do this... Mr. Garfield is a guest, please let us show some courtesy..."

Tom Hanks stood up with difficulty. Under the tremendous pressure of being called an unscrupulous murderous banker, anyone might get stage fright. If he cannot turn the tide and restore the feelings of those shareholders, he may really fail.

Hanks took off the microphone and held it in his hand, while the workers on site continued to make boos and noises for him. He tried several times to speak, but was choked back with hisses.

The subordinates he brought, as well as Kate Sullivan, played by Diane over there, all cast concerned glances.

Suddenly, the corners of Tom Hanks' mouth twitched and he gave a playful smile.

"Amen!"

"Amen! Amen!"

The audience, who were confused by Garfield's sudden mention of Amen, finally stopped and looked at him with suspicion. What was he going to say?

"Sorry, I'm not familiar with local customs. But where I come from, people there will say amen after hearing the prayer."

The audience was immediately stopped and stopped cheering. This very weird opening not only dampened the excitement of the crowd, but also aroused their curiosity to hear what this strange banker wanted to say.

"Yes, what you just heard was a prayer. Where I come from, there is a special term for that kind of prayer, which is called a prayer for the deceased. My fellow shareholders, you just heard a prayer for the deceased. You Didn’t say amen!”

Gregory Peck and a group of his subordinates sat on the other side and stared at Garfield. This guy changed the direction of the wind for a few moments, but then their expressions changed tightly. Garfield

"This company is dead... I didn't kill him, don't accuse me. He was dead long before I came here."

Tom Hanks was very careful. When he was speaking, his eyes were fixed on the shareholders in the front row, especially the old lady shareholders who were so excited about the handsome old man just now.

"It's too late to pray now..." Tom Hanks said to Gregory Peck over there, dispelling the effect of his charismatic speech just now, "But even if your prayers are effective, God responds, and the miracles you expect happen, the yen is like this, the dollar is like that, and large-scale infrastructure reconstruction has begun, we are still dead..."

"Do you know why?" Tom Hanks looked straight at the old lady in fur, like a grandchild reporting his discovery to his grandmother:

"Fiber optic!"

"New technology is coming, and the old technology will be eliminated and outdated..." Hanks walked from one end to the other on the stage, making sure that every shareholder saw his sincere eyes.

"We are dead, but it doesn't matter, we are not bankrupt yet! Do you know which road will definitely lead to bankruptcy? In a dying industry, continue to increase your market share! Slide all the way to the grave..."

The scene was silent, and the word called "fiber optic" clearly explained the future of the New England Cable Factory. Yes, even if America were to carry out a major infrastructure construction like Roosevelt's New Deal, it would be the new fiber optic technology, not the outdated copper cable, that would gain business.

"You know what? I bet there must have been many companies making whips for coachmen here before." Hanks gave the audience a positive look, and they understood his logic, "I also bet that the last company making coach whips must have the highest quality and lowest cost whips, the best whips you have ever seen!

Now tell me, do you want to be a shareholder of that whip company?"

A series of combined punches made the shareholders in the audience start whispering.

"If a company you invested in dies, let us sign the death certificate with dignity and wisdom, and then take the life insurance money of the deceased and invest in some new and more promising businesses!"

As soon as this sentence was said, Gregory Peck's face, which the camera swept over, became even gloomier. I didn't expect Garfield to be so eloquent!

"Ah, no, our prayers say that we have social responsibilities! We have to be responsible for our employees and the community. What will happen to them if we die?"

Tom Hanks' tone with a bit of cold humor made

"I'll give them a word, who the hell cares about you!"

"Ah..." The workers in the back row began to object, but Hanks struck while the iron was hot and continued to say to the shareholders what they agreed with in their hearts.

"Why should you care about them? They never care about you! They sucked you dry. You have no social responsibility to them!

They have been squeezing your money for the past ten years!

Has this community ever said, we know the market is not good now, we will give you tax cuts and then reduce sewage fees? Check it out, you are now paying twice as much sewage fees as ten years ago!"

Tom Hanks also pointed to the shareholders, and Jorgensen's most powerful emotional weapon is now almost gone.

"Our workers have not had their wages raised in three years, but they still produce twice as much as they did ten years ago, and our stock price is only one-sixth of what it was ten years ago!"

This sentence shattered the so-called social responsibility in one fell swoop. Yes, society has never cared about the cable factory. They only care about their own taxes and expenses.

Tom Hanks looked at all the shareholders and worker representatives from left to right with his sincere eyes. Now he seemed to be speaking from their standpoint.

"You care about them, but who cares about you?" Hanks paused, waited for a second, and then pointed his hand to his chest,

"Let me tell you, I care!"

"I'm not your best friend, I'm your only friend!"

Gregory Peck's face was full of despair. Garfield was telling the truth, but he didn't appeal to emotions, but to the interests that everyone cares about.

"I don't really make anything..." Hanks glanced at Pike, "but I make money for you!"

"Let's not forget that this is the only reason why all of you became shareholders! You want to make money!"

Tom Hanks's speech is getting more and more effective, "You want to make money, you don't care whether they make cables, fried chicken legs, or grow oranges! You want to make money!"

The actors who are shareholders of the old ladies in the audience also began to whisper to each other. Whether they are characters or actors themselves, they are convinced by this eloquent statement.

"I am your only friend, I help you make money! Take your money and invest in a new business! Maybe you are lucky again, the money is used effectively, you create new jobs, make new products, and contribute new responsibilities to society!

And, God bless, you may also make a little money for yourself."

In the camera, Gregory Peck, Piper Laurie, Diane and others have leaned back on the back of the chair, feeling like a poor student who knows that he has failed the exam, relieved, they have already lost.

"By the way, I'm glad they call me Larry the Liquidator. You know why, shareholders?

Because at my funeral, you'll leave with smiles on your faces and money in your pockets, and that's a funeral worth having!"

"Whew!"

This time, Garfield's speech also received applause from the audience. It seemed much smaller than Jorgensen's last time, but the main applause came from the front half of the audience...

"Please choose on your ballot and put it in the ballot box at the back." Piper Laurie came up to end the applause and announced the start of voting.

"Cut!"

"I think I played very well..." Gregory Peck came up and said to Ronald.

"Yeah, I also think it was one of my best performances." Tom Hanks also came over, pretending to wipe his sweat.

"Hey, young man, I think you are my equal opponent now." Gregory Peck stretched out his hand to shake hands with Hanks.

"Ah, it's my honor, Mr. Peck."

"Okay, use this..." Ronald saw the director of photography gave him an OK gesture, and he knew that he had shot the scene he imagined. This scene couldn't be shot any better.

All the fires just now were

In the afternoon, when it was close to the end of get off work, the most important highlight of this movie was completed on time and with quality. Ronald was relieved when he saw the film crew locked the film and put it in the car, ready to go to New York for printing.

He turned around and saw Diane, took her hand, and went to the hotel to rest together.

...

"What's wrong with you?" Diane felt that Ronald was a little depressed along the way. After arriving in New York, they took Bud's car to the Peninsula Hotel where they often stayed.

"Nothing... dear, just a little emotional."

"You..." Diane obviously felt that Brother Ronnie was a little abnormal, so she sat in his arms.

"Well..." Ronald obviously had no interest, just kissed Diane lightly, "Maybe he missed little Roger." Their son Roger was playing happily with his aunt's family.

"No, are you worried? If you feel tired, let's take a day off tomorrow? I'm just going to go find my dad and Laura Dunn. I haven't seen them for a long time."

Diane's heart was gloomy. Brother Ronnie must be missing the person he was in New York after spending time together day and night. Forget it, it's normal for Hollywood to have sex on occasion. I can't complain too much if I'm lucky enough to find such a Ronnie. Demi Moore once told me that no matter Emilio Estevez or Bruce Willis, they all cheated on actresses during filming.

"Oh, did you ask Bert and Laura to come tomorrow? I haven't seen them for a long time." Ronald thought of Laura Dern, the girl who had filmed the rock singer movie with Diane, and later grew up to be very tall.

"Huh? I haven't contacted them. When do you think it's convenient?" Diane's heart was cleared. It turned out that she didn't want to see her lover, but Brother Ronnie... Oh, I really...

"Whatever, I'm fine." Ronald seemed a little depressed again. He ate dinner hastily and watched "Seinfeld" in the living room. The ratings of this TV series are unexpectedly good, but there is no interesting plot, all relying on the jokes in the dialogue.

Ronald didn't laugh either, just staring at the TV series with empty eyes, and after a while, he fell asleep on the sofa.

"Oh my..." Diane was so distressed that she quickly took out an expensive wool blanket to cover him.

Then he looked at the movie names intently and stopped talking again.

"What's wrong with you, dear? Is this list important?" Diane saw that Ronald was a little depressed again, and hurried over to use herself to attract Ronald's attention.

"Hey..." Ronald sighed again, "I suddenly realized that the Hollywood studios that seriously make drama movies are now the last few people who make whips..."

"Ah, really?" Diane took the list.

Sure enough, since the 1980s, nonsensical comedies and movies relying on big investment special effects have become popular. It turns out that the proportion of classical Hollywood movies with ups and downs in the plot and wonderful performances of actors in the top 20 of the annual box office is decreasing year by year.

Especially Ronald, the movies after "Top Gun" and "Dirty Dancing" are all movies that mainly reflect realistic plots, without using too many special effects and comedy elements.

Even though Ronald's skills and artistic vision are visibly high-end, his box office has not broken through the previous films that did not require too much skills. The latest "Ghost" did not follow the classical drama route, but added computer special effects and the strong comedy elements brought by Whoopi Goldberg. On the contrary, it had the best box office and easily broke through 200 million box office in China.

If this continues, the storytelling techniques passed down by those excellent directors will become lost dragon-slaying skills.