Exploiting Hollywood 1980

Erica Eleniak, Playboy Miss July, will play herself in Steve Seagal's movie...

The publicity of "Ultimate Soldier" was highly exposed in the media because of the fistfights between the two main actors. Steve Seagal's movie "The Hitman" is actually a B-level action exploitation film, and the paths they take are very similar.

For example, the action part is of high standard, which can reach the level of first-line production, but the rest of the plot has logical loopholes so big that two people can get through it. This is the original intention of exploitation films, focusing on an element that the audience likes to watch and exploiting it hard...

The production dates of the two films are close, and the release dates are also close. Seagal was unwilling to show weakness and found Ovitz to help hype it up...

But "The Hitman" has only one male lead. The supporting actor Tommy Lee Jones plays a terrorist who hijacked the battleship. In fact, he does not know martial arts. He plays with guns in the plot of the movie. If you let him fight with Steve Seagal in front of the media, he may lose half his life.

There was no other way, so they had to use the swindled heroine, Erica Eleniak, as material for hype. This heroine (actually she had very few scenes, but she was the only female character) was the Playboy Girl of the Month in July 1989.

And in the movie, she was also a Playboy Girl of the Month, who was invited to dance a striptease for the captain. Such a role is very suitable for this actress with a majestic figure but average acting skills, and she played it in her true colors.

"Erica Eleniak gave up her regular role in "The Beach", the lifeguard Carrie, and wanted to return to the film industry. Will she jump out of an empty box for us on the battleship of the submarine and dance a striptease to please the male audience this time?"

To be honest, this actress is also very "innocent". She gave up the role of a good TV star and insisted on practicing her acting skills, fantasizing about becoming a real movie star. In addition, she was persuaded by Steve Siegel's real expertise - salesmanship, thinking that this was an Aikido version of "Rocky" and that she would be the new generation of "Adria Lodge" (played by Talia Shire).

"The girl kissed by ET's friend Elliot is now dancing striptease in the movie..."

Steve Siegel was afraid that he would be suppressed by Jean-Claude Van Damme and Lundgren, so the subsequent hype was a bit ignorant of the overall situation. This Erica Eleniak actually appeared in the screen when she was a child. She and Drew Barrymore both played the role of the male protagonist Elliot's friend and classmate in ET.

The blonde girl that Elliot kissed in the classroom was her. But there was no need to hype this incident. The shot of Erica Eleniak running fast in a red swimsuit in "The Beach" was enough for a large number of viewers to go to the cinema to see how she danced striptease.

It was completely superfluous to bring up one of Spielberg's favorite movies, "ET".

"This is a bit too much. Do you want me to tell him to shut up?" Ronald asked Spielberg when he was on the phone with him.

"I asked Catherine to do it, and involved a little girl... um..." Spielberg was very angry. The timing of this hype was really not the right time.

Since the release of "ET the Alien", Spielberg has refused to release the videotape. It was not until Ronald's two movies "Top Gun" and "Dirty Dancing" broke the videotape sales record twice that he started to think about it.

After asking Ronald about some anti-theft measures, his "ET the Alien" was finally released on the videotape market after taking enough anti-theft measures.

As soon as it was released, it broke Ronald's single-month videotape sales record (the cumulative record was still held by Dirty Dancing). The green videotape and special anti-theft measures made the young audience particularly like it, and the sales momentum surprised Spielberg.

Seeing the opportunity to make money, Catherine Kennedy, general manager of Spielberg Amblin, started to think about new sales channels. She found the Sears department store in Chicago and started selling the "ET" videotape as a holiday gift in their mall. Only Sears members and credit card holders could buy it...

Just when the deal was done, this happened, which was really throwing garbage in Spielberg's face.

It just so happened that Ovitz was doing all his PR for Spielberg and wanted to get his agent contract. Now the negotiation process was also stopped by Spielberg. Steve Siegel's bad move made the parents and audiences very embarrassed, which directly affected the jokes of the videotape and offended everyone.

"Sony said that their partner Yaohan Department Store needs to replenish the stock. Your movie is very popular in Japan. I am simply jealous of this. Most people there can't even read the word ExtraTerrestrial, but the sales are higher than Britain, Germany and Australia combined..."

"Hahaha, you don't understand, the smile of a child is the universal language..." Spielberg was very proud that Ronald had a better relationship with Japan than he did, but as for movies, it still depends on whether the audience likes it. The holiday special sold more than 150,000 copies in Tokyo...

"Ronnie, our time is up..." Doug urged at the door...

"Okay, I'll be there." Ronald hung up the phone, tidied his clothes, and went to the Peninsula Hotel in Manhattan to meet a distinguished guest.

"Mr. Al D'Amato is on the executive floor..."

"Is there a problem with Senator Potholes' election this time?"

"Maybe there are some... He wants to win all the way, win beautifully, win without suspense..."

Ronald and Doug were whispering in the elevator.

This year is the re-election year for the New York State Senator, and Al D'Amato, a senior Elephant Party senator, is also running for re-election. This time, through Ms. Molinari, a congresswoman from Staten Island, Doug was found, hoping that he could do a "little favor". Ronald was there, so the senator invited them together...

"This must be Director Ronald Lee. I like your patriotic movies very much. I have a videotape of Top Gun in my office in DC... Please sit down, Doug, we meet again..."

Al D'Amato's name is Italian at first glance. He has close ties with Italian politicians in New York State. Moreover, he is a senator from the Elephant Party, and he is a political ally of the Molinari family, who debuted in the Elephant Party.

The reason why he has the nickname "Senator Potholes" is because his style is different from that of other senators. He rarely did anything about major federal affairs. But he was very active in small matters related to his hometown of New York State. He once personally coordinated to solve a pothole on the road in New York...

This style does not seem like a federal elder, but rather like a representative of the people of the House of Representatives. He was very satisfied with the Star-Spangled Banner Act indirectly promoted by Ronald.

To say how hard he worked for his hometown people, it was rare among senators. A few years ago, in order to prevent a bill that would cause hundreds of military employees in his hometown to lose their jobs, he once read the telephone directory of Washington, DC, in the Senate, reading it for 23 and a half hours without interruption, setting a record for the time of this special "filibters" filibustering. In the end, it also saved these employees.

If there is any advantage to this style, it is that the voters in your hometown will always remember you. They will write to him about anything, and after it is resolved, no matter how small the matter is, they will hope that you will continue to be re-elected.

Such a senator is the pillar of the Elephant Party in New York, where the Donkey Party is becoming more and more powerful. With a 30-plus vote advantage, he defeated the Donkey Party candidate who wanted to challenge him...

"I don't know what we can do for the Senator..." Doug asked directly after the greetings.

"It's like this, I'm not worried about the Donkey Party, but someone in the Elephant Party wants me to retire..."

Al D'Amato did not shy away from talking about his difficulties. This year, a challenger emerged from the Elephant Party, Lawrence Rockefeller...

This son of the Rockefeller family inherited the political ambitions of his father, the former deputy commander, and this time he wanted to challenge Al D'Amato's primary qualification.

Of course, he may not be able to succeed in the challenge, even if his last name is Rockefeller. Who would vote out a senator who helps him pave the way?

But this kind of thing is very dangerous. Italians don't have many political resources. Once someone shows that he is capable of challenging his position as a senator, it can be imagined that there will be a large number of very competitive challengers in the election six years later.

Moreover, Rockefeller's network and social power should not be underestimated. Perhaps the patriarch of the Rockefeller family will see that his political career has hope, and he will face almost countless campaign funds.

"So you not only have to beat him, but also make him lose his pants, so that no one will have the mind to challenge you in the future?" Little Doug understands this mentality. A politician's shocking victory in an election can intimidate no one to challenge him for ten years.

Al D'Amato adjusted his large gold-rimmed glasses and confirmed Little Doug's question with a smile.

"Then what can Ronald and I do for you?"

"I'm just going to use your influence in Staten Island..."

It turns out that to run for the senator of New York State, you need to collect a certain number of signatures to register for the election. Most of New York City is the territory of the Donkey Party's congressmen. Little Rockefeller can't find any supporters in these places.

Many supporters of the Elephant Party are in the countryside of New York State, which is also Al D'Amato's base, and it is difficult for Little Rockefeller to pry them. Only Staten Island, which is under the jurisdiction of New York City and where the Elephant Party is dominant, could help him collect tens of thousands of signatures...

In Staten Island, especially in Totville, these two people are the ones who have the final say. The thousands of jobs they offer, as long as this organized group does not endorse Rockefeller Jr., can guarantee that he will taste the ultimate humiliation.

"In addition, I heard that Ronald, you are the owner of the Daily News?" Al D'Amato wanted to add more.

"I'm just an investment shareholder..." Ronald answered the phone and called James Wells, the editor-in-chief of the Daily News.

"I'm Ronald. Who do we support in this senator's re-election?"

"Of course, the Italian guy who fills the trough, our position is originally biased towards readers in Long Island, Brooklyn and Staten Island... our circulation there is the largest..."

"Haha... you owe me one", Ronald smiled and nodded to the senator.

"I think this is the beginning of a great friendship..." Al D'Amato extended his hand to them, and he must have heard the previous sentence.

...

"Is the California senator also re-elected?"

When Ronald returned to his home in Los Angeles, he saw Diane looking through the campaign materials of a candidate named Barbara Boxer.

"This is her office inviting us to donate..."

After becoming a celebrity, there are many such door-to-door begging. This Barbara Boxer is already a member of the California House of Representatives and is preparing to run for the Senate this time. Senior Allen Cranston is not running for election due to health reasons. Barbara's reason for running as a woman is that women can also be the spokesperson for voters.

So directors like Ronald who shoot female-themed movies are attacked by their campaign office. Not only did they invite the couple to participate in the event, but they also sought endorsement support.

"Donate some money, don't endorse... We don't know her, and don't know what kind of person she is..."

"I think so too, politicians are actually similar to actors..."

After signing a check of a medium size, Ronald stayed with his family until the evening before visiting Cameron.

"This time, the Saturn Awards sent a special invitation to hold a discussion after the public screening..."

Cameron threw a piece of information to Ronald.

This time, Ronald's "Silence of the Lambs" was nominated for Best Horror Film, and "Terminator 2" was nominated for Best Science Fiction Film. Both have great hopes of winning.

This award is an audience choice award, so it pays great attention to the interaction with the audience. This time, the two directors were also invited to interact with the lucky audience and answer various questions.

"No problem, I'll go with you..."

Compared with the judges of the Oscars, Ronald actually prefers to communicate with these ordinary audiences. Their cognition is actually closer to commercial film directors like Ronald and Cameron. No one will ask them questions like what profound meaning a paragraph in the movie expresses.

In order to impact the Oscars, Ronald also has to attend a series of parties, smiling and talking to these actors and film critics and judges about things he doesn't understand. It's really hard to think about it.

For awards like the Saturn Award, the audience admires the director very much, and their questions are all about thinking of the director as a master. Communicating with these people is a much more pleasant experience.

Oh, if they could vote for the Oscars, Ronald and Cameron would both have a good chance of winning...

"Bruce Hesenson... who is this?" Ronald found an envelope behind the information, opened it and saw another campaign document inside.

"This is a political commentator from the Elephant Party, preparing to run for the Senate re-election..." Cameron shrugged. As a motorcycle enthusiast, he was approached by politicians from the Elephant Party.

"Hey? How about I donate a little too?" Ronald flipped through the documents. Anyway, this place is not like New York, where the registration place and the factory are located. For candidates in California, it's okay if they don't offend both sides...