Exploiting Hollywood 1980

“Yeah, I’ve always liked female characters in movies. Those who are strong, whether it’s physical or brainy, smart, tough. My favorite TV show when I was a kid was Wonder Woman… I’ve tried to shoot some movies with female characters as the center before,… yes, like Working Girl… but Pink League takes it to a new level…

Yes, so many main characters are women, their work, challenges, lives, choices. Director Penny is one of the best directors I’ve ever seen who can portray female characters. She’s the best.

Yes, the thing I like most about this movie is that all the characters are based on real people. I’m very happy to bring this lost history to the screen.

I heard that women’s baseball will be included in the official competition events of the next Olympics. This is a very good attempt. Go, American team!”

Ronald was very smart to participate in many joint campaign marketing activities of “Pink League” and “New Karate Kid”. He always appeared in interviews and praised how powerful American women in the new era are. Every time, there happened to be some shots of him and two female senatorial candidates appearing on TV and in newspapers.

"Hey, the box office figures for the first weekend..."

Although the premiere was supported by two female senator candidates in California, the box office of the first weekend in 1,500 theaters across the country was less than 6 million US dollars. This is the worst opening score in the Karate Kid series.

Weintraub was a little frustrated. He originally wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to restart the Karate Kid series, but such a result broke all the plans for the next sequel.

Of course, the sequel of this series of movies is different from the first commercial movie that broke ground. If it was the first episode, then the movie could be prepared to be released a month later.

But the Karate Kid has a large number of stable audiences, two box office results of over 100 million, and a long-term ranking of the most popular video tapes among teenagers in video rental stores, which has cultivated a large number of audiences who like Master Miyagi.

The biggest reliance of this new Karate Kid is the perfect match between Morita Noriyuki and this role. Now he can also get a lot of appearance fees by showing up in various karate activities and fan organizations. The audience just loves to watch him teach children with his simple Japanese English full of grammatical errors.

Weintraub also comforted himself, he still has to find other movie scripts that may be popular. Ronald asked his colleagues to calculate the accounts. This movie, plus the overseas distribution contract and the expected income from the videotape, is expected to make back the investment within two years.

…

"Is the box office of the new movie not good?" Diane asked Ronald, who was looking at something at the table.

"Well, it can't be said that it is not good, but it did not meet expectations. Besides, no one can make every movie a hit, not even Spielberg." Ronald replied.

"I feel that you are, at least the ones you directed are still popular..."

"Ha, I hope it can last longer..."

Ronald has put down the box office statistics and is reading major film reviews. This time, the film reviews did not miss the sequel. Many comments pointed out that the "King of Karate Kid" series is essentially advocating violence.

Among them, Chris Wilman of the Los Angeles Times said something more humorous. He said that the philosophy of The Karate Kid is what "Master Miyagi who never uses articles" pointed out: don't fight unless you absolutely have to.

But the real implicit message of each movie in this series is: you always have to fight, let the fighting begin!

This actually reveals the hypocrisy of the Hollywood industry. In order to cater to the consensus of some people, action movies must also use the slogan of fighting violence with violence, at least on the surface.

For example, in the first movie of The Karate Kid, Master Miyagi tried his best to prevent Daniel from taking action, always saying that he would definitely be beaten to death if he participated in the karate competition. In the end, he was forced into the corner and was forced to participate.

But from Ronald to Weintraub to every actor and staff member, everyone knew that only the last move of the crane kick was the climax of the whole movie. If you don't knock down the villain, how can the audience buy tickets?

However, in many reviews of this new The Karate Kid, the performances of the two actors were still highly praised. Morita Noriyuki's relaxed and humorous performance still amazed the critics.

The other is newcomer Hilary Swank, who is considered the young protagonist, who is so convincing as a volatile girl that her parents might back off. Then she seems to blossom before your eyes and finally becomes a happy girl. And she looks very energetic when she does the action.

"Is it that action movies are not good, or girls are not good at acting in action movies?" Ronald scratched his head, unable to figure it out. The performances of the two main actors were praised by critics, but the box office was a big failure.

Which reason is the main reason for the failure of this movie? It is related to the direction of Ronald's investment in movies in the future. But a movie cannot rule out two possible reasons, so we have to continue to pay attention.

"Forget it, this movie is for me and the possible senator lady to appear together anyway..." Ronald put his worries aside and went to tease his son with Diane.

...

"Steven, is it convenient for you to come and see the production of your new film? I have other movie special effects here that need Van Fleet's approval. I am worried that your movie needs to be kept secret..."

"Come on, I just want to show you something good."

The post-production special effects of "Street Fighter" encountered some technical route problems. How to make the Qigong waves of several fighters need his special effects director to check.

And Van Fleet is currently working hard on the crew of Spielberg's "Jurassic Park". The filming of the movie has been completed, and overseas distribution and domestic marketing are about to begin. During this period, Ronald and Cameron's main special effects personnel are working overtime for this movie.

Ronald took the opportunity to see the movie called "Land Great White Shark" by Sheenberg to see if it has the strength of the great white shark that swept across the United States, developed the summer season, and revived the declining film industry.

"Ronald, you're just in time. Please help me look at this scene..."

Spielberg looked very happy. The filming of his Jurassic Park was on schedule. He could soon get away to shoot the epic of Jewish suffering.

"Classic Jaws technique, I'm really looking forward to it

After passing the very strict entry procedures, Ronald saw some of the footage shot by Spielberg on the screen. This shot was a shot of the male and female protagonists in a jeep discovering something incredible.

The protagonist Sam Neill has a special ability. His eyes can be opened very wide, so wide that even behind the sunglasses, you can see his pupils dilated because of surprise.

For an actor who is facing the green screen used for special effects shooting, this is first-class imagination.

The next shot is Sam Neill holding down the head of the heroine Laura Dern with his hand and turning her head to the left of the jeep.

In comparison, Laura's eyes are much smaller, and that effect cannot be achieved. She can only take off her sunglasses and open her mouth wide to perform the feeling of surprise. The effect is much worse than Sam Neill.

"I can't wait to see the big guy you arranged...", Ronald said with a smile.

"It's really big this time..." Spielberg also laughed, and the directors in the industry all laughed. Know his trick.

This method of using the expressions of the characters in the movie when they see something surprising to foreshadow that the next shot is "big is coming" is Spielberg's fingerprint editing method. In Jaws, he used the expression of surprise to foreshadow the audience.

It must be said that this method is really effective if used well. In fact, the shot that "big" suddenly appears and scares the audience may not get the best scaring effect. But predicting that the next shot will be scary will draw the audience's attention, and they will look in the direction of the protagonist's eyes, and the "big guy" you carefully shot will be shown in the focus on the screen...

Sure enough, Spielberg still exceeded Ronald's expectations, and his set of tricks has improved again. This time, it is not a one-time shark mouth, but first from the bottom to the top, using two-thirds of the screen to show the... four legs of a huge herbivorous dinosaur.

The entire screen cannot fit this giant beast. Is it bigger than the great white shark?

"Holy Shxt! This is fucking huge..."

Ronald opened his mouth wide, the camera continued to move, then the huge body of the dinosaur, then slowly upwards, a long neck like a giraffe, and finally a snake-like head, opening its mouth and slowly using its tongue to roll up the tender leaves on the treetops to eat.

"When John (Williams)'s soundtrack is added, this shot will be even more amazing..." Spielberg actually has a mischievous mentality. He likes to see a director like Ronald who is also very successful in the industry, opening his mouth wide to praise himself while thinking about how to shoot it.

"Without a doubt, I'm already looking forward to it..., this will blow up the brains of boys all over the country, no, the world..."

Roger, the human cub in Ronald's family, has begun to be interested in all kinds of toys. Especially dinosaur toys, it seems to awaken something in the genes of all boys. It is his favorite to play with. Once he plays, he can't put it down, and he makes all kinds of biu biu sounds in his mouth...

Fuck, Spielberg doesn't know how much money he can make this time. Just relying on the licensing fees for selling dinosaur toys is a huge profit.

"Do you think it will be popular in East Asia? "The reason why Spielberg let Ronald see the finished special effects in advance was to ask him to help expand the market. Everyone knows that Ronald has the deepest connections in East Asia, including Japan, Hong Kong, and even the mainland.

"Holy Shxt..." Ronald looked at Spielberg deeply. He was going to make a fortune this time. Children like dinosaurs even before they learn to speak a few words. This is a kind of love that transcends race, culture, language, and even gender.

No wonder Spielberg added so many camera languages. In fact, the lines in this movie are not very important. Not understanding them will not hinder your understanding of the general plot.

Ronald has begun to imagine the scene of parents rushing to buy dinosaur toys for their children next Christmas. This is simply a replica of the Transformers toys that were popular all over the United States.

Spielberg is definitely doing it on purpose...

"No problem, this is the common mission of Hollywood..."

Ronald didn't say anything. Although he didn't get much money, only this kind of film that transcends race, language, and culture can open up various barriers and break into the film market around the world.

Although America has signed more or less open film agreements with various countries since the end of the Cold War, and films from both parties can enter the other party's domestic market for distribution, but the agreement is an agreement, and the market is a market.

Only by relying on such a powerful movie to break down the barriers in the minds of the audience and let them marvel at the inaccuracy of Hollywood and the strength of industrialized movies, will it be possible for them to follow the various commercial films that they are good at in the future.

The market opening agreement only opens a door and a possibility. The real market opening can only be opened and maintained by the enjoyment brought to the audience by one high-level commercial film after another.

Just like the American market is also open to movies from all over the world, no movie from any country has become popular in theaters across the United States. What kind of reputation does it have... Only Chinese-language action movies have some fixed audiences in the video market. .

By the way, that is also a movie that can be understood without any lines...

…

"Jim, have you seen that new Spielberg movie?"

"I didn't watch it. He hired all the senior special effects talents in Hollywood. I could only watch...I didn't want to watch..."

Cameron was still a little angry that Spielberg had a monopoly on computer special effects talent in Hollywood, and he had to take a break from making movies for a long time.

"I suggest you check it out, it might be a completely new genre. He still has some time to finish his special effects work, and we can start preparing a film project with a similar approach to his big monster movie... …

Yes, it’s hard for me to explain clearly. You’ll understand when you go and take a look. I think everyone in Hollywood will go crazy to make this kind of movie. It depends on who takes the first step and locks in these special effects talents who have experienced such a big project..."

"Holy shxt!" Cameron didn't expect Ronald to say such words. This friend of his has always been very accurate in predicting the audience's taste trends in the next few years. If it is like what he said, he will start preparations immediately. First, he will get the project ready and grab people. After the big monster movie is released, the audience will definitely want to see similar big scenes. Whoever gets it first will win. Waiting to count the money...

…

"It's really amazing. I have already found Arnold (Schwarzenegger). He is about to join the team to shoot a new action movie. I have already booked the next movie with him..."

"It's more important to confirm the schedules of Stan Winston and Van Fleet first..." Ronald also began to screen the movie scripts, taking the initiative. "

"Hey, you said those special effects are more important than me? Although I also recognize their efforts, no one is more important than Arnold..." Schwarzenegger heard what Ronald said and immediately expressed his dissatisfaction. .

"Hey, Arnold, of course you are the one with the highest salary, no doubt." When Ronald heard that it was the big man Schwarzenegger, he thought, your time may be over. As a big guy like you, if you meet that big dinosaur guy, you won't be able to see enough.

"Hahaha, just kidding." Schwarzenegger laughed, "Just kidding, I have a favor to ask you to do. Can you authorize your image in the movie to be used in my new movie? This is My first full-scale film..."

Schwarzenegger's salary has now risen to more than 15 million US dollars, plus various sharing and incentive terms. He is now the veritable number one action star in Hollywood, leaving Stallone far behind. Bruce Willis can't get so much except for filming the Die Hard series again.

So he has now been involved in the production and distribution of movies. The new action movie can be said to be a miracle in Hollywood, catching up with all the successful action movies in the past.

"What image, what image do I have?" Ronald didn't understand.

"It's your image of Thor in The Adventures of Babysitter. I've made an agreement with Disney. If you nod, I will put your image in my new movie. This is where the most famous action stars in Hollywood gather. land……"

"OK, then you can use it...", Ronald immediately knew that it was the kind of movie references and cameos. As long as it is not too excessive, the seven major studios will generally make it convenient. This is for the overall prosperity. .

After making an appointment to let the lawyer and agent handle the details, Ronald hung up the phone and turned around to watch TV with Diane in his arms.

Today is the second session of the presidential debate. This time, instead of being asked by various moderators, popular questions sent in by viewers across the country were collected. After selection, representative ones were selected and asked to be answered by the candidates.

Everyone believes that this second debate is the most important and decisive one. Because this is equivalent to communicating directly with voters.