Exploiting Hollywood 1980

Zeffirelli added reshoots at the end and re-cut the copies. PolyGram decided to do a small-scale preview in New York, and Ronald was invited to attend.

The preview was mainly for teenagers, half singles and half couples. PolyGram spent a lot of money to invite the target audience group, wanting to see the target audience's reaction to certain plots before making the final changes.

However, the effect of the preview was very bad. The lyrical passages that were originally designed to move the audience caused laughter in the audience. A "Romeo and Juliet"-style love tragedy actually had a comedic effect.

President Gubel, who came to see the reaction of the preview, ignored Director Zeffirelli who wanted to explain, and just told his assistant to arrange to send it to the rating agency as soon as possible and release it as quickly as possible.

Ronald looked at Zeffirelli with a bitter face, and had to step forward to thank him, because Zeffirelli specially added Ronald's name to the special thanks subtitles at the end of the film.

"The ending song is very good. The melody that starts with Brooke crying is very suitable for the theme of the movie." Ronald picked a good one and said.

"That's Endless Love, sung by Lionel Richie and Diana Ross. It belongs to Motown Records, and Polygram bought the copyright specifically for the movie." Zeffirelli knew that the preview was not good, but many viewers stayed to listen to the song, and maybe it could save the box office.

"It seems that I am not suitable for Hollywood. It would be more comfortable to return to Italy to direct operas. The audience there appreciates classicism more."

"Don't say that. I see that there are many younger girls in grades 8 and 9 who like it very much. They all cried when they watched it."

"I haven't congratulated you on getting two Oscar nominations yet." Zeffirelli congratulated Ronald.

The Oscar nominations were just announced yesterday, and Ronald was nominated for Best Original Screenplay and Best Original Song. These two nominations are undoubtedly a high compliment to the young Ronald.

"Thank you, it's not worth mentioning." Ronald comforted the old director and returned to the apartment.

"This is a miracle that is not easy to come by, Ronald." After a while, the agent Richard and Niceta called together, "I received no less than 10 invitations to write lyrics from record companies today."

"Haha, I rejected them all. I am not a professional lyricist. What about the script? Are there any new invitations?"

"Several scripts about teenagers have been sent to CAA. I hope you can evaluate or rewrite them. I have sent them to you."

"Although the public does not pay much attention to these two non-acting awards, the industry is a bit shocked that you are nominated at such a young age."

Ronald likes these good news very much, "Am I the youngest nominee? Hahaha..."

"No, the youngest is Timothy Hutton's Best Supporting Actor." Richard pointed out Ronald's mistake directly.

"Uh..." Ronald scratched his head, "Let's not talk about this. How was the communication about my position?"

This is a historical legacy.

At that time, Ronald gave up some seemingly unimportant rights in order to fight for the right to sign the famous script.

The two most important ones are that the crew of "Famous" will not provide Ronald with an invitation to attend the Oscars. If he wins the Best Original Screenplay Award, the honor of going on stage to receive the award will belong to the original screenwriter Christopher Gore alone.

But now the times have changed, and producer Da Silva and director Alan Parker have fallen out. Because of the realistic tendency of shooting and editing, the film was rated R. Producer Da Silva's plan to shoot a derivative TV series of the same name was also opposed by the director, and this clause may be loosened.

"According to the allocation practice of previous years, Famous is expected to get a total of more than 20 seats for the live awards, but there are only 5 seats in the front row, which belong to the main creators and acting award nominees."

"Why only five seats?" Ronald was a little disappointed. Producer Da Silva and his favorite Irene Cara must occupy two seats, director Alan Parker and screenwriter each have one, and there is one for MGM's executive producer.

"Although Famous received 6 nominations for 5 awards, Barry Miller, the favorite for Best Supporting Actor, did not receive a nomination, nor did he receive Best Picture, Best Director, or any other major awards. Best Original Screenplay is your only major nomination. So in order to take care of other nominated films, you were only given 5 seats."

"Wasn't Alan Parker nominated either? This position should be given to me." Ronald said.

"Don't be naive, Ronald." Niceta took over the conversation. "According to the rules of the Oscar nomination, you should have a front row seat, but you signed an agreement that the crew can not provide tickets, and you are not eligible to go on stage to receive the Best Screenplay Award.

Agreements are agreements, of course we can make trouble and public relations. But the British have a lot of power in Hollywood, and the cost of offending them for a front row seat is too high. Fortunately, you have two nominations, so there is always a seat, but it will be in the back row."

"Okay, what about the front row in the back? I watched the Oscar broadcast, and the nominees can sit in the front seats near the aisle, right?"

"We have to negotiate this with the composer Michael Gore. You have encountered a special situation, Ronald. This year is the first time that a movie has been nominated for two best original songs, the world-famous theme song "fa", and another interlude "outhereonyown".

And the lyricist of the song 'outthereonyown' is Michael Gore's sister Leslie. She is a former singer and helped Michael's career a lot..."

Ronald was a little angry. It was the first time he had the opportunity to attend the Oscar Awards party. He had two nominations in hand, but he couldn't get a good seat?

"Then what about the row behind the Gores? The back row to the side?" Ronald suggested that he would always appear in front of the camera and let Aunt Karen and Donna see it. If there was no award, only the nomination would be announced. When the camera pans over to the nominee, he doesn't want to be too far away from Michael Gore in case the cameraman behind the camera doesn't recognize him.

"We will try our best to negotiate. Famous Worldwide is also nominated for two technical awards: Best Sound Effects and Best Editing. You will also be seated next to the aisle. CAA will definitely guarantee your appearance. The worst is the aisle. The third position inward.”

The happy mood was slightly diluted by the arrangement of seats, but Ronald soon became happy again. Aunt Karen also learned the good news that he was nominated and baked a batch of cookies at home to celebrate.

"Oh, Ronnie. I didn't expect you to be nominated for an Oscar. Our family has never had such an artistic genius before." Aunt Karen hugged Ronald tightly, very happy.

"I also didn't expect that the Golden Globe Awards are actually brought by the producers to public relations. There are only 90 judges, so it is easy to influence. The Academy Awards has more than 3,000 judges, all professionals in the industry. This award represents the industry's respect for the judges. Nominator’s Recognition.”

Ronald began to show off the knowledge he had learned from CAA, "My agent has promised me a good position in public relations. You and Donna will see me on TV. The camera will sweep over when the nominations are announced. Please pay attention. Look, I'll say hello to you."

"Are you going to win the prize, Ronnie?" my aunt asked with bright eyes.

"I don't know. My agent said it's hard to predict the Oscars, but I will prepare an acceptance speech. Get your video recorders ready."

"Okay, Ronnie, I'll get Donna ready. She's very smart and can understand electronic products at a glance." Aunt Karen was very happy, "You come over for dinner on the weekend and we can celebrate a little."

"Yeah, I'll record it." Donna picked up the biscuit, broke half of it and gave it to Diane Lane.

Watching Diane Lane eating cookies, Aunt Karen added, "You should also celebrate together. Then you will also go to the awards show and you can teach Ronnie how to deal with reporters."

"Of course, I will protect you. You can ask Bert, he will go with me, he knows everything." Diane said, reaching for another biscuit.

The sound of an advertisement came from the TV, a public service announcement from Brooke Shields. The purpose is to dissuade young people from learning to smoke. Now many civil society organizations have called out that smoking causes cancer and have begun to publicize anti-smoking on TV and other mass media, starting from discouraging young people from starting to smoke and becoming addicted.

"I heard she was in some trouble?" Donna asked Ronald, pointing to Brooke Shields on the TV.

Brooke Shields was saying on TV that she doesn't like boys who smoke. Smoking doesn't mean cool. To increase one's attractiveness in the eyes of the opposite sex among teenagers is the biggest reason why many people smoke, and then they are unable to quit because of addiction.

"I heard that many conservative groups in New York are attacking her, saying that her movies and uh... advertisements... challenge American values. They are asking the government to investigate whether she has done un-American things."

Ronald knew a little about Brooke's problems from her mother.

"Un-American values? This seems to be the discourse system of the 1950s, right? That's how they persecuted Ingrid Bergman at that time." Donna had read Bergman's autobiography that Ronald received and knew a little about what conservatives said at the time. technique.

"Did it really break the law? Will the FBI come to arrest her?" Diane felt a little unclear about Brooke Shields, the most popular actress of her age.

"Oh, Diane. This is an advertisement from New York. If you want to arrest it, it's the NYPD. The FBI only cares about cross-state crimes, not within the state. Only when it crosses state borders, the FBI will use their investigative network to intervene." Donna corrected.

"Oh? That's right..." Diane nodded.

Ronald went home after dinner and received many more congratulatory calls. With an Oscar nomination, there is a figure like Ronald in the American film industry. Even if he makes low-budget exploitation films and remains unknown in the future, when the 53rd Oscars are mentioned, his name will occupy a small piece of history.

"Oh, Mr. Coleman. I didn't expect you to call me personally to congratulate me." Ronald received an unexpected congratulatory call.

"Idiot, congratulations to us. 'Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears' which you helped me pick was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film. We can at least screen it one more time in art theaters."

"Ah ha, that's great news," Ronald replied.

"This is great news. Hahaha..." Roger Coleman was still so cheerful.

"What's wrong, Ronald, I think you're not very happy. The copy of this movie was lent by the Suville Embassy at a nominal price. The rental fee is almost zero cost, and you have a share of the profit."

"Mr. Coleman, I'm not unhappy. It's just a pity that I might not be caught by the camera during the awards show."

Ronald told Coleman about the issue that at the Oscars awards night, although he had two nominations, he might have to sit alone in the middle seat in the back row because of the agreement that he was nominated for two songs at the same time. Again.

"Don't worry, kid. Did you forget? You got three nominations, including Best Foreign Language Film..."