Exploiting Hollywood 1980

"Ah, hahaha, I miss the love I received in China. The audience there is so nice to me."

Ronald met Director Huang's request, and the two went to visit Gregory Peck. Director Huang also gave him gifts, some videotapes of Gregory Peck's Chinese-dubbed movies, and the blessings recorded by the dubbing actors.

The filmmakers there have a special liking for him. It may be because Gregory Peck's classic movies were not introduced to China until the 1980s, so the people there saw his enthusiasm and had similar feelings to the audiences in the 1950s and 1960s in America.

And people in the film industry also have a good impression of this actor. In the era when the two countries had no exchanges, he was the first to visit China and was also friendly to mainland actors. Yiou Zhang's Best Actor Award at the Tokyo Film Festival was awarded when he was the chairman of the jury.

"I'm glad to hear that you're acting in Director Ronald's movie recently. The audience there really wants to see your new movie." Director Huang likes actors like Gregory Peck much more than Marlon Brando.

This may be due to the different imagination of men in traditional East Asian society. Japanese audiences are also more receptive to Peck's movies.

"That's for sure. I just feel that he gives me too few movies. Sometimes I can only shoot some TV series to satisfy my craving, and even so, few people ask me to shoot movies. The current movie market is different from the past. The audience is mainly young people." Gregory Peck became a little nostalgic after filming Ronald's movie. There are few roles suitable for him in Hollywood now.

"I wonder if I can ask you to make a movie? If you have time and are interested." Director Huang suddenly said.

"Hmm? What projects do you have? Do you have a script?" Gregory Peck suddenly became interested. A Chinese director, or a female director, invited him to shoot a movie. Is there such a good thing?

"Hmm?" Ronald also tilted his head and glanced at Director Huang. He hadn't heard that she had a new movie project? Besides, filming in China is very complicated, and it is a completely different system from Hollywood. Planned economy

Although Peck's current salary cannot be compared with that of popular stars, it is still an astronomical figure compared with the film studios in the mainland.

"It's like this... Before I came here, I went to Hong Kong. Now the film studios are also reforming and we are allowed to go to Hong Kong to shoot movies. Someone has provided me with some funds. It would be great if I could invite Mr. Peck."

"I like this very much. I have seen the movie "Ghost" directed by you. It is a movie that moved me." Gregory Peck participated in the Los Angeles Women's Film Festival a few years ago and happened to see Director Huang's famous work.

"As for the script, it was a woman from Shandong whom I met at the Los Angeles airport. I talked to her for a long time, and her story inspired me. She was a woman who could not speak a few words of English, and she came to America for her dream. With her optimism and hard work, she could live a good life...

I want to add a World War II veteran to the story and play opposite her. In fact, the values ​​of the older generation of Americans are very consistent with those of us Chinese in many aspects. I think such a plot will resonate with our domestic audience."

Director Huang was very excited. She just thought of the inspiration for the story yesterday. Today, she happened to meet Gregory Peck. After careful observation, he and the old lady really have a very good chemistry.

She told Ronald the story she thought of, and then asked Xiaoyan to translate it for Gregory Peck.

An old lady came to America to meet her daughter and son-in-law. Because of the traffic jam on the highway at the airport, she was picked up by a kind-hearted World War II veteran who lived next door to her daughter and son-in-law. The veteran was collecting signatures to protest the demolition of his cafe by real estate developers to build a beach villa.

If he could collect enough signatures, the cafe, which was full of memories of him and his late wife, could be preserved according to California law. This cafe has become a frequent gathering place for local World War II veterans.

The aunt also signed the signature without knowing why, but she didn't expect that after returning home, she found that the real estate developer was actually her son-in-law.

The signature protest failed, and the veteran suffered a stroke when he met his son who was at odds with him. After that, the veteran recovered a little under the care of the aunt, and he donated the cafe to the aunt before his death.

Finally, the real estate developer's son-in-law, facing the legal provisions after the second successful signature collection, changed the design of the beach house and preserved the cafe as a cultural preservation building for World War II veterans...

"Tsk..." After listening to the whole story, Ronald found that Director Huang was not blind. Such a warm story is indeed very Hollywood in the 1940s and 1950s. And this kind of movie is very particular about the temperament of the actors and the chemical reaction with the important characters.

"This story is very good, very good... It reminds me of the old Hollywood..."

Gregory Peck is indeed the best candidate to play the veteran named Frank. If the leading actress is good, this movie...actually has box office potential in America.

Ronald was very excited when he saw Gregory Peck, and he seemed to have the urge to play such a classic role in Old Hollywood. He said to Director Huang... "If there is a suitable leading actress, I can also invest some money in your project..."

"I really have a candidate in mind. She is the most capable actress we have. She is of the right age, and she really doesn't speak English. But I dare say that she and Mr. Gregory Peck are really good friends. They have great chemistry, both of them are templates for male and female protagonists in classic dramas.”

"Ha, of course, I believe you. But investment in Hollywood has always gone through a process. And if you really invite Mr. Parker, I think distribution in America will become easier, and you may win by then. Released simultaneously in the United States and the United States..."

"Huh? Really?" Director Huang was also happy. The actor was originally a Pingju opera actor, and now he also acts in film and television dramas and performs sketches in the Spring Festival Gala. "

"What Spring Festival Gala? What skit?" Ronald also encountered a blind spot in knowledge. When he realized that this was a TV program with hundreds of millions of viewers, his mouth opened wide and he couldn't close it.

Isn’t this too many people? Good guy, it is a good marketing point for an actor with this rating to star in a movie. I heard that there are also many Chinese audiences in America watching it. It seems that at least the distribution of Chinese theaters is guaranteed.

"Okay, okay, you get in touch right away. I'll take a look at the actor's video information. I think this project can be approved. By the way, what did you say, a Sino-US co-production... The filming will start this year, and the two will blossom... Yes Okay, what’s this actor’s name?”

"Oh, this actor named Zhao Lirong is really good at acting." Ronald watched the Spring Festival Gala video from Chinatown and found that this old lady actress did have an innocent sense of humor. Such an actor will be believed if she can't speak English but can move the story of a veteran and a real estate developer's son-in-law. If it were anyone else, he would definitely be very exaggerated.

"Xiao Yan, do you want to be an assistant producer?" Ronald turned over the project and asked Xiao Yan, who graduated from college and was working in Daydream, to take over. He is familiar with the production departments of China and the United States and has language skills. He is indeed the most suitable candidate. Let him go to Xujiahui Studio to negotiate projects, which can be regarded as a return to his hometown in glory.

Director Huang immediately became passionate about creation. In addition to calling back to invite Zhao Lirong to star, she also found paper and pen to start writing the script. She was flooded with ideas and immediately wrote a synopsis. Ronald asked her to continue collecting stories in Los Angeles, and after watching the Oscars, she would go back to find other screenwriters to polish it.

This co-production project is jointly funded by Hong Kong and Hollywood, and it is very convenient in all aspects. If all goes well, filming is expected to begin this fall.

…

"You want my lightning lamp?" A few days later, Coppola called and asked Ronald to borrow the lightning lamp produced by his factory.

"Yes, all the electricians in Hollywood say that your lightning lamp is the most powerful. My new film Dracula has a lot of lightning scenes. They all say that it is best to find you. If you can't do it, there will be no one in Hollywood." It can be done.”

"What effect do you want to achieve? My lightning lamp is a unique technology. Unless you want to lightning in broad daylight, there is nothing else that my lightning lamp can't do."

"It's not that exaggerated. Can I find time to take a look?"

"Wow..." In Daydream's warehouse, Ronald found the most powerful lightning lamp and flashed it to Coppola himself.

After several years of R\u0026D and improvement, lightning lights have formed a series of models. The largest model can also produce obvious lightning under studio lights. The sound has also been improved, and the thunder a few seconds after the lightning can also be adjusted.

"Very good, I want two of the most powerful ones." Coppola was very satisfied.

"Two? Are there any slots?" Ronald asked the supervisor. Because Daydream’s lightning lights have a good reputation and are rented by many crews, this maximum power model is actually in short supply. "No matter what, if Director Coppola wants to use it, it will be freed up for his crew. Rent as much as you want for as long as you want..."

Ronald knew that famous works by great directors were the best way to promote this kind of prop. If famous scenes shot by great directors become legends in the industry, then in the future, Ronald will dominate Hollywood’s lightning style.

"Hahaha, thank you..." Coppola is now in a happy mood. The new film has been greenlit by Samsung Pictures. He just finished shooting the Coca-Cola commercial that Ronald invited him to do in the past few weeks, and his financial crisis has been temporarily alleviated.

"How are the preparations for your new film going?"

"I already had coffee with Winona, she apologized to me in person, and I also gave her the script..."

Originally, Winona Ryder was on the Rome set of Coppola's "The Godfather Part III", but she ran away with her boyfriend Johnny Depp on the first day of filming, letting the great director go. Ordinarily, with Coppola's arrogance, he would never look back.

However, one of the requirements for Samsung Pictures to win the distribution contract is that it needs a topical star to play the role. Otherwise, the bank will not grant the loan and the project will most likely be postponed. Because movies that require studio investment are often good projects that are uncontroversial.

Coppola's reputation had been shaky of late, and the genre was stale, so there wasn't a single major studio interested except TriStar Pictures' Frank Price.

Coppola is a relatively realistic person and will not hold his neck still when he should lower his head. He invited Winona Ryder, showing his goodwill and not caring about her rude behavior in Rome.

Winona Ryder also understands that this is a good opportunity to improve her position. Anyway, this time the filming is not in Rome, so many things in Los Angeles can be arranged more easily. So the two hit it off and agreed to star.

"Coca-Cola told me that your commercials are very stylized. Do you have any considerations?"

Coppola filmed the blonde beauty Cameron Diaz who was selected in the audition. However, Coppola's shooting method is different. The whole film is mainly dark, and the main tone is also a mixture of red and black, giving people a strong sense of oil painting.

However, the sexy charm of the beautiful Diaz is not fully expressed under this shooting method. The main actors of the entire commercial are more like a vivid atmosphere than handsome men and beautiful women.

Coca-Cola is also very happy to accept it. They are now in the experimental stage. There are so many commercials, and I don’t know which one is good. I will wait and see the audience feedback before deciding.

"What do you think? My new film plans to adopt this stylized shooting method."

"Hmm..." Ronald had expected it. In fact, the "Godfather" series was a surprise for Coppola. He didn't really want to shoot the first one, and he had to shoot the second and third ones for various reasons.

What he is best at and likes most is this kind of small and medium-sized production with a strong style. From his earliest days as a Rain Tribe member to his later love interests, this was true. Anyway, he is very disciplined now. For the green light of the project, he can even forgive Winona Ryder for being disrespectful to him. Maybe this time he can really succeed.

"Where's Marty? I haven't seen him recently. Has he finished shooting his version of the commercial?" Coppola thought of Scorsese. Both of them were invited to shoot commercials for Coca-Cola, and he had a competitive mentality.

"Don't mention it. He is now working hard on Oscars. The filming of the commercials has been postponed. Now, at the parties organized by several veteran Hollywood stars, he will definitely be there. It's also difficult for a New Yorker."

Ronald shook his head. This guy is really trying hard. As the Oscar voting is approaching, Scorsese, contrary to his usual behavior, began to do his best to do public relations under the arrangement. Every time he attends such an occasion and talks to others for a few words, he may get a few extra tickets.

"Wish him good luck this time." Coppola shrugged. He had already won the Best Director Award for The Godfather Part II, and he didn't have to go through this kind of thing again.

…

"Marty's luck may have really come..." As the vote approached, Richard suddenly brought Ronald a piece of news.

"What do you mean?" Ronald looked strange. Every year, the Oscars are counted by Pricewaterhouse, and no one knows before the prize is drawn.

"You know, more or less, from the rumors, we can also see some clues. The most important thing is that the organizing committee has contacted Tom Cruise and asked him to be the guest presenter for the Best Director award."

"Oh..." Ronald understood that the awards ceremony would basically let people who are closely related to the winners present the awards.

For example, this year's Oscar Honorary Award was awarded to Sophia Loren. The guest presenter was her good friend in Hollywood, Gregory Peck. The last award was presented to Kurosawa by two of his Hollywood fans, Spielberg and George Lucas.

Tom Cruise is one of the leading actors in Martin Scorsese's "The Color of Money", and he is also the director that Cruise has expressed his admiration for and wanted to work with many times. Such a hint is very obvious.

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