Exploiting Hollywood 1980

The accidental death of Vic Morrow and two young actors attracted a lot of public attention, which was far beyond Ronald's expectation.

The news section of the TV station paid attention to this incident for several days. They also sent a camera crew to find the "Indian Ranch" where the filming was performed. Several helicopters surrounded the scene for aerial photography.

Next to the half-crashed helicopter leaning on the edge of the lake, the surviving helicopter pilot, a Vietnam War veteran, was interviewed.

"I accepted the interview because I didn't want the helicopter pilot to have such a tragedy again. The director loudly asked us to fly lower, fly lower. I don't know what happened. The helicopter's tail was disturbed. , we couldn't control the plane and it crashed near the lake."

"Why are we still talking about the tragedy of their driver? Isn't this the tragedy of the actor and two innocent children?" Ronald couldn't help complaining.

"This is all after the advice of a lawyer. Didn't you see that he deliberately showed the scratch on his lip?" Agent Niceta, who accompanied Ronald to watch the TV news with Richard, answered Ronald question.

"Deliberately dumping the blame?"

"Yes, this accident will cause more trouble than we originally imagined. The public's attention is very high, and all parties involved in the incident have begun to distance themselves from each other at the speed of light."

The TV camera turned and showed an aerial shot of a helicopter rotating over the scene of the crash. The helicopter flew very low and the wreckage of the helicopter below was clearly visible. The news host’s voiceover is still ringing:

"The helicopter crash during movie shooting caused the largest number of accidental deaths in recent years. We call on the union to establish a safety system as soon as possible to reduce unnecessary helicopter aerial footage to prevent this kind of tragedy from happening again."

"Well, pfft." Ronald couldn't help it for a moment, "It's okay, I'm sorry."

"The producer said that all the shots required for the movie have been shot." The voiceover ended with a comment related to "The Twilight Zone" to end the news.

"What does this mean?" Ronald felt something was wrong and turned around to ask Niceta.

"The distributor, the filming team, the victim's family, everyone needs an unlucky person to take responsibility. Now it seems that they have begun to take action. The director of this part of the plot, John Landis, may be the one they selected to be responsible. people."

"This is director Landis hinting to Warner Bros. that the movie has been finished and they shouldn't give up on him, right?" Richard seemed to have some realization.

"Is Landis also a producer?"

"Yes, he and Spielberg are both producers."

Niceta saw the potential danger and went out to find the president, Michael Ovitz. CAA had recently lost promising comedy star John Belushi, and they couldn't afford to lose Spielberg again. They had to do something for him.

Although Spielberg is not a client of CAA, he takes care of a large number of actors signed by CAA. At this critical moment when ET The Alien is about to be released, no mistakes can be made.

Ronald and Richard continued to watch the news in the office.

"Safety issues in film shooting are the focus of public attention. Our station interviewed Warner Bros., the distributor of 'The Twilight Zone' over the phone. A spokesman for Warner Bros. said that this was a tragedy and was not caused by human negligence. It also depends on the outcome of the police investigation.

Then we went on to get on the phone with other major studios. Universal did not grant an interview, and Disney had no comment. Paramount, no comment. 20th Century Fox, no comment..."

Ronald and Richard looked at each other. Originally, "no comment" is a normal press spokesman's expression, but when it was edited by the TV station, it seemed that the studio's attitude was very prevaricating. After the audience saw it, they would be upset. Create a feeling of sympathy for the victims and condemnation of the capitalists.

"We're taking a call from a couple of viewers, Mary from Maryland...

Hello, I think the government should restrict the wanton behavior of film producers and directors. Last year's Heaven's Gate cost 40 million US dollars for a bad movie. Do you know how many public schools can be funded with so much money, and how many low-income people can be educated? Do the people have enough to eat?

…Okay, thank you Mary from Maryland. What we are going to get next is..."

"Why don't the producers come out to refute? If the TV news is allowed to make such accusations, something will happen." Ronald felt more and more wrong, as if this accusation was increasingly directed at directors who made a lot of money, accusing them of ignoring the bottom of the crew. Regarding the life and death of employees, the public began to point their fingers at them.

"Because Landis did make a big mistake, the studio also has to worry about the police investigation." Richard was well-informed at CAA and there were no outsiders present, so he told the truth.

"You know, Ronald. The Screen Actors Guild prohibits underage actors from working overtime late at night. Two extras like this who are under ten years old are prohibited from filming any scenes after eleven o'clock at night."

"Of course. I know." When Ronald himself was filming "Fast Pace", on the first day of filming, due to various reasons, he almost failed to film the scene with the young actor before the deadline. Fortunately, he succeeded.

“This scene was a night scene, and the first assistant director on set, the pyrotechnics technician, and the helicopter team all thought that Landis would use technical means to work day and night and add filters to the camera during the day to complete the shooting.

But for the sake of shooting effect or to meet the deadline, he still shot the scene at two in the morning. In order to circumvent the regulations, he instructed the second assistant director to give the two young actors cash so that their names would not appear in the crew list to evade the supervision of the actors' union. "

"This? Is it for shooting effect or to meet the deadline and save money?" Ronald disagreed with this approach. Landis's film was not a low-budget production, so why should he be stingy in such a place?

"Come with me. Tom Mount of Universal proposed to hold a high-level meeting involving Steven's ET and your "fast-paced" distribution issues. Ovitz has already rushed there. We CAA will defend your interests. "Nicita opened the door of the office and said to Ronald and Richard.

The group hurried to Universal, where the meeting convened by Tom Mount had already begun. MCA President Simberg, Universal Production Vice President Ned Tanin, and two vice presidents in charge of marketing and distribution were all in the executive meeting room on the top floor to discuss the distribution of ET aliens.

Nicita went to get the news herself, while Ronald and Richard met up with two producers Linsen and Azov downstairs.

"Why is there a meeting? Will it have any impact on our movie?"

"It's a meeting about the distribution of our movie and ET, which was convened by Mount temporarily. Spielberg is the producer of "The Twilight Zone", and we should be related to Jennifer. It shouldn't have much to do with us, and she is the one we should worry about." Linsen pouted at a professional woman opposite.

It was Spielberg's assistant Kathryn Kennedy. Ronald nodded and greeted her, then walked over to say hello.

"Why are you here too? "Katherine was a little surprised to see Ronald.

"Jennifer, the heroine of my new film, is the daughter of Vic Morrow who died unfortunately."

"Oh, I didn't expect this matter to involve you."

"What about Steven?"

"Fortunately, he is only one of the producers of "The Twilight Zone". The part where the accident happened was handled by Landis. Some people just don't want to fail."

At the same time, in the best executive meeting room on the top floor of the Universal Building, several senior executives of Universal were discussing.

Tom Mount seized the opportunity brought by this accident and proposed to hold a meeting to reduce the number of theaters where ET will be released on the first weekend.

"Steven is one of the producers of "The Twilight Zone". The current public opinion is closely watching the crew's non-compliance with regulations, resulting in deaths. I think this will make the audience's perception of him worse. Moreover, ET is also a movie for children. Two children died in this accident."

"We have already had a definite plan for this matter. The current public perception is mainly directed at Director Landis who disregards union rules. I think we should stick to our distribution and marketing plan.

\u0026's preview score is A+. We worked hard to get 1,100 theaters in the first weekend. This number will rise in the second week as expected. "

The vice presidents in charge of marketing and distribution all stand on Sheenberg's side.

"What do you think?" Tom Mount also expected this situation, and without saying much, he asked Sheenberg's attitude directly.

"I support their opinion. The existing marketing rhythm should not be modified. There is only one week left before the filming. Temporary changes will disrupt the team."

Tom Mount knew that this matter would not be solved so easily, so he let Sheenberg take the responsibility of endorsing Spielberg. There is no precedent for this kind of movie targeting young audiences to be successful at the box office.

"And the heroine Jennifer Jason Lee in "Fast and Furious Richmond High School" is the daughter of the deceased Vic Morrow. If you put her nude scenes in the movie, it will cause controversy."

Mount changed the subject and began to attack Ronald's movie again.

"This is a low-cost youth film. Without these scenes, how can it attract the key audience of summer moviegoers, male teenagers? "

The vice president of distribution spoke a fair word for Ronald.

"Now is the time when the whole nation sympathizes with Vic Morrow. Do you really want to go against public opinion? What do you think?" Mount asked Simberg.

Simberg was afraid of the group of retired old guys behind Mount, and didn't want to publicly fall out with Mount now. How could he express his support for Ronald's film? He thought for a while and was about to speak.

"Jennifer Jason Lee's mother Barbara has been divorced from Vic Morrow for more than ten years. Now the focus of the media's attention is on the accident itself, and no one will bother the relatives. "

The one who spoke well of "Fast Pace" was Ned Tanin. I didn't expect that this old stubborn would actually speak well of Ronald's exposed shots.

Tom Mount glanced at Tanin. Tanin has always been famous for sticking to his own opinions. His insistence was right and wrong, but those old guys always remembered what he said. However, is it true that no one will dig up the old accounts of relatives?

"No change, our distribution plan will proceed as usual. "

Soon, the decision of the top-floor executive meeting room reached the ears of Ronald and others who were waiting downstairs.

"It seems that Tom Mount's days at Universal will be counted in days." On the way back, Niceta suddenly said. If he opposes Spielberg like this, his supporters will shut up if ET hits the box office next week.