Exploiting Hollywood 1980

Ronald was in the editing room working with editor Eric, editing the version for the network.

Television ratings are similar to movie ratings, but more stringent. Public television broadcasts over the air, and usually a family watches one TV in the living room. In this case, except for some large-scale programs in the late night slot, all other times must be G-rated.

The MCA Group, to which Universal Pictures belongs, has Universal Television Network as a subsidiary, and most of Universal Pictures' studios and staff are also producing TV programs for NBC. Therefore, the "fast-paced" special version for the TV station did not have to worry about sales, so two versions were cut during the editing stage.

After the theatrical release is over, it will be sold to TV stations for broadcast. This kind of deal is priced according to the number of broadcasts on the TV station, and Ronald, as the director, will also have a certain amount of residual dividends.

"These explicit scenes, and these lines with plots of love, abortion, etc., have to be cut. What stories are you going to use to fill this time?" Eric asked.

"I don't want to have to reorganize the structure of the story again. We were tired enough the previous week." Ronald pointed to the cards on the whiteboard on the wall. "See if there are any storylines for other supporting characters. Let's fill it in a little bit. ”

"You are the boss, you have the final say." Editor Eric got up to get the shot log and picked out a lot of shot numbers with mainly supporting characters.

"These two have good acting skills. We can add more shots of them." Eric looked at the two boys on the monitor screen, pressed pause, and pointed it out to Ronald.

"Nick Coppola and Eric Stoltz." Ronald smiled, "They gave me a lot of trouble on the set. How can you go out of your way to do a scene with only two sentences? There were several pages of actors’ notes. Stoltz also wanted to imitate Sean Penn and ask people to only call him by his character’s name on set.”

"Isn't that a good thing?"

"It's a good thing for actors, but not necessarily for directors." Ronald rewound the film and played it again.

"When you look at this rivalry scene, Nick's performance is very real, but his emotional intensity far exceeds that of Judge Reinhold, who plays opposite him. This makes the audience feel problematic."

Ronald pointed it out to the editor, "There are many problems like this in this movie, which made me understand that the higher the performance, the better. What is needed is to match the role and the opponent."

"It's true." Eric also watched the replay. "Fortunately, Spicoli's character is already crazy, and Sean Penn's interpretation fits the character perfectly."

"I hope the audience will like him. I have already made an agreement with his agent. As long as the host and Brooke Shields have reached an agreement on the guest appearance, he will come back from Chicago to reshoot the final scene of the day."

"Also add some scenes to Brad's girlfriend. She is very beautiful, and the audience prefers to see beautiful women."

"Ring ring ring ring..."

He remembered the ringing phone in the editing room, and Ronald picked it up, "It's me, Ronald."

"Hi, Ronald, I'm Lin Sen. David Letterman is very interested in guest starring in your movie and asked you to pick up a copy of the script. His agent wants to read it."

"No problem, do you have a copy there?" Ronald came to his senses. The morning show now hosted by David Letterman was very popular, and he was also nominated for an Emmy Award as the host. It would be very topical if we could ask him to make a cameo to host the scene where Spicoli won the award for surfing.

"Yes. But I have to remind you, Letterman's agent is very difficult to deal with. He originally had the opportunity to star in 'The Last of Us,' but his agent screwed him up."

"Try it first, and if he doesn't work, who else is on our list?"

"You can try the host of "The Tomorrow Show," but he is much less popular than Johnny Carson and David Letterman."

Producer Lin Sen switched the receiver to one ear and asked, "How is your progress in contacting Brooke Shields over there?"

"Porky's mother, Terry, offered an appearance fee of 500,000 yuan. I explained to her that this was just a cameo, and I also mentioned the help I had given her before, but she was only willing to reduce it to 400,000 yuan.

Brooke's popularity is very high now, and shooting a product advertisement requires this price. Her mother's side has little room for negotiation.

How much budget can we request for reshoots? "

"If you can hire Pork, the maximum is 300,000. If you can't hire Pork, then it'll be around 100,000." Lin Sen replied, "They don't think your reshoots are necessary. Without promotion marketing like Pork, effects star cameo, then they would rather subtitle Spicoli’s ending.”

‘Okay, I will try my best to get it below 300,000 yuan. "Ronald put down the phone.

Spicoli's performance will resonate with the audience, and I have to give him a sensational ending no matter what, so that the audience will spread the word, "Spicoli saved Brooke Shields."

Since her mother is unwilling, it is better to talk to Poji herself. She is already sixteen years old, and it is not surprising that she has her own ideas. As long as Poji is willing, Terry will also consider reducing the price.

Ronald thought for a while, picked up the phone and called his agent.

"Nicita, this is Ronald. Can you find Brooke Shields' itinerary for the past two days?"

"What, you want to date her? Her mother Terry won't agree. This woman is notoriously snobbish in the industry and only lets her daughter date people who are in the headlines of the newspaper. Your new movie was a hit after it was released. Say Maybe she will come back."

"Don't be kidding, I'm serious." Ronald told Terry about his high price and declined his daughter's guest appearance.

"Okay, I will help you find out. But don't really kidnap Poji. Terry is famous for protecting his daughter. She will go crazy."

"I know better than you, Rick."

Two days later, the two guest guests had their results.

Lin Sen called and said that David Letterman's agent didn't like Spicoli's role and turned down the crew's invitation on his behalf. They could only do the next best thing and find the host of "The Tomorrow Show" to guest star. It just so happens that his ratings have been declining recently. It would be a good thing for him to make a guest appearance in the movie. I guess the possibility of agreeing to it is very high.

Agent Rick Niceta spread word to entertainment reporters and found Brooke Shields' whereabouts. She has been in Los Angeles for the past two days to participate in the recording of CBS' "Celebrity Circus Show".

Ronald got an inside pass to the CBS TV recording venue, which Niceta helped him get through his connections.

The high-level red pass allowed access to the backstage and dressing room areas of the taping, where Ronald waited for Brooke Shields, safe from her ever-present mother.

"Celebrity Circus" is an annual CBS variety show that allows popular celebrities to imitate circus acrobats and perform a show for the audience.

Ronald was backstage looking at the various equipment in the studio, including tightrope walking and fire hoop drilling. I feel very worried for the celebrities who participated. They are all risking their lives.

While he was thinking about it, a staff member came over and reminded him, "Porky will get used to the venue soon."

Ronald adjusted his leather jacket, stood in the aisle, and saw a tall girl in the passage leading to the dressing room in the distance.

She was wearing a high-slit white yoga-style costume, with a purple silk flower dotted on her chest, and her long legs were wearing stockings studded with reflective ornaments like diamonds. There is also a cockscomb-like headdress on her head.

An acrobat girl walked towards me.

It was just that she was wearing a pair of white fur slippers on her feet, revealing her girlish state of mind. It was Brooke Shields participating in "Celebrity Circus Show".

"Hi, Brooke." Ronald greeted her from a distance, "Isn't Terry here?"

"Oh, hi, Ronnie." Brooke Shields was surprised to see Ronald, "Why are you here? My mom is in the dressing room."

Then Brooke quietly leaned into her ear and said, "She drank two glasses of whiskey and is resting. I now ask her to ration it every day and not drink more."

Ronald also whispered in Brooke's ear and replied, "Don't worry, I will keep this secret. I am here to invite you to guest star in my movie."

"Ha, really? Do you want me to make a guest appearance in your movie?" Brooke smiled, "Okay, what is the subject of your film, and what role do you want me to make a guest appearance in?"

"Just play yourself. I was filming a youth film. The last character won the surfing award. When you were giving him the award, you accidentally fell into the sea, and he rescued you. But there were doubles in those scenes where you fell into the sea. When it’s done, you just need to take a shot of awarding him the award.”

"Ah, hahahaha..." Brooke Shields laughed wildly, "You are so bad, Ronnie. Make up this kind of plot for me. I agreed... but you have to teach me how to act.' Endless love 'After I came out, the critics were criticizing my acting skills."

"No problem, but I think your acting skills are not bad, but they don't know how to appreciate it." Ronald quickly praised Brooke, "Your mother gave me a very high price, and my movie is a small budget. , can it be lowered?”

"How much does she want?"

"Four Hundred Thousand"

"How much can you give?"

"ten"

Poji thought for a while and said, "Forty is the price my mother offers to shoot product advertisements, but she can be flexible on projects that require exposure, like this circus show. As long as the audience can see me, she is willing to compromise."

"There's nothing wrong with that. The movie opens over the summer and teenagers across the country will go see your cameo. And Universal has instructed me to edit a TV version that will be shown on public television in the future."

"Then wait for me here. When I finish practicing, we can go find my mother together."

As she spoke, Brooke Shields stepped on her white fur slippers and walked towards the middle of the studio.

There was already a professional acrobat waiting for her on a trapeze swing.

"Brother isn't going to risk her life on the trapeze, is she?"

Ronald looked at Brooke and then at the swing high in the sky, although

Brooke took off her two white slippers, climbed up from the nearby rope ladder, and then sat on a swing.

She is very calm and performs at the "Celebrity Circus Show" every year. Moreover, she has a foundation in gymnastics and yoga. These moves may look scary, but they are actually not difficult to do.

Then she grabbed the acrobat's hanging arm and let go of the swing herself.

"Oh my god, it's so awesome." Ronald didn't expect Poji to be serious.

Then Brooke hooked her legs into the swing and let go of the acrobat with both hands. Brooke, who was hooked on the swing with only the crook of her legs, extended her hands to greet the audience.

"It's so exciting." Ronald had a certain respect for the acrobats.

Then Brooke gradually lowered one leg, using only the crook of one leg to hold her whole body weight.

Ronald felt that his heartbeat was also speeding up. Should he fight so hard?

Brooke Shields did it very easily. She then hooked the swing with one hand and one foot and posed in various poses.

Ronald then realized that Brooke had a good foundation of flexibility and might have learned gymnastics when she was a child.

Finally, Brooke picked up a rope loop, put it behind her neck, raised her head to let the rope loop pull her, turned her hands on the swing, put her hands in front of her chest, and spun quickly.

Ronald was also beside her and couldn't help but applaud Brooke's wonderful performance.

"Hahaha..." Brooke heard Ronald's applause, stopped the rotation of the rope loop with her hand, then stood on the swing and saluted Ronald.

She jumped off the swing and fell on the safety net, then moved to the side and looked around for her slippers.

Ronald stopped clapping, went to the rope ladder to pick up two fluffy white slippers, walked over and gently helped Brooke put them on, then grabbed one of her hands to let her use the force.

Brooke held Ronald's hand tightly and jumped down from the safety net. "My technique is pretty good, right?"

Ronald felt that Brooke was a little rounder than the last time he saw her on the set. Her frame was originally large, and now she looked like an adult woman, no longer the skinny little girl she used to be.

"Of course, you are the best."

The two walked to the dressing room, and Brooke woke up her mother Terry.

"Oh, Brooke. Have you finished practicing?"

"Yes, Ronald is here, and he wants me to guest star in a movie. I promised him."

"Ronald, promise?" Terry stood up and saw Ronald standing next to him. He pulled him aside and began to question Ronald.

"What did you tell my daughter that she would agree to it?"

"I just invited her to make a cameo appearance, and then told her that our budget is limited, but the film has been sold to a wireless station, and she will have a good chance of exposure."

"Wireless station? Are you serious?"

"Yes, it's a Universal production. It will be broadcast on Universal Television Network at the very least. You know that Universal and NBC have a good relationship. If the box office is successful, it is not impossible to sell it to NBC."

"Mom, I want to play this role. Ronald will inspire my performance, and he has helped us before."

Terry looked at her daughter and Ronald suspiciously. Ronald's height is one of the few men in the entertainment industry who can match Brooke's height. She continued to pull Ronald and whispered:

"Don't let me catch you and Brooke talking nonsense, understand?"

"It's just a half-day cameo shot. I don't have any other intentions. This is my first movie directed. I want to invite Brooke to make a cameo. I hope she can come, so I gave a price that Universal can afford, 100,000, and she agreed. That's it.

Besides, Brooke also likes acting, so it's good for her to get familiar with various roles."

"She is my daughter, and what I do is to consider her future. Is there any mother in the world who doesn't consider her daughter?" Terry was a little excited when he heard these acting and role words.

"I don't have any other intentions, I just hope Brooke can make a cameo." Ronald repeated his purpose. It seems that Terry is also a little sensitive to the saying of acting.

"That's it, since Brooke agreed to you, let the producer come to me. After all, you help us."

Seeing that he had achieved his goal, Ronald happily said goodbye to the two and left.

"Mom, I just like acting. Ronald is very good at inspiring me on the set."

"I know you like acting. We have plenty of time to improve in the future, daughter. Now you are still a child, the most important thing is to act in your true colors and perform happily.

As for improving acting skills, we should find an experienced and older director, not a rookie like Ronald.

When you are an adult, there will be roles suitable for you. Now you are still playing a girl, and acting in your true colors is the best. You are the most beautiful girl."

"I know, Mom." Brooke turned around. She has been playing a little girl for four years and has not tried a real role.

Terry closed the door of the dressing room and helped her daughter take off her headdress. Brooke is already sixteen years old and has her own ideas. She has never expressed her ambition to be an actor before. Did Ronald say something to her?

When Brooke goes to guest star in Ronald's movie, she will observe carefully.