Exploiting Hollywood 1980

Ronald took the newspaper. There was no big problem with Cisco's film review in the Chicago Tribune. He maintained his rating and evaluation on the TV show. At most, Ronald's film did not have much artistic depth.

The problem was the Chicago Sun-Times. The PR beauty turned the newspaper to Roger Ebert's film review column. "Look, this film review has a big problem."

"Fast-paced Richmond High" One star, not recommended.

Ronald looked at the title, frowned, and continued reading.

"How could they treat Jennifer Jason Lee like this? How could they put such a fresh and cheerful girl in such a rubbish movie? Don't they know they have a star on their hands?"

Ronald showed a disgusted expression on his face. This "they" was obviously scolding himself as a director.

"When I walked into the cinema to watch 'Fast and Furious Richmond High', I didn't even know who Jennifer was, but I was completely conquered by her. Then, she and every actor in this 'so-called comedy' were thrown into a vulgar plot by the director."

"Let me make it clear. I am not against vulgarity as the theme of a comedy movie... and the director of this movie has an 'absolute talent' to turn vulgarity into embarrassment. He is an artistic blind man."

"Where the hell did I offend this lunatic? Is he sick?" Ronald was so angry that he threw the newspaper and asked the PR beauty, "Why did he say that to me?"

"Keep reading, this is the key." The beauty picked up the newspaper, handed it back to Ronald, and pointed to the next few paragraphs.

"This movie is a teen sex exploitation film, and part of the humor comes from the embarrassment of teenagers about sex. However, this movie is so obscene that even teenage audiences can't stand it.

I went to a preview held by a rock radio station. The audience were all rock fans. Some of the plots in the movie made even rock fans feel disgusted. There is a difference between teen sex exploitation films and gynecologists' teaching films."

Ronald laughed in anger. This Albert was like a shrew, viciously attacking him in the newspaper. This was obviously not a simple personal grudge.

He continued to read on. Who did Albert receive the black money from to throw dirty water on himself? In the end, he would always be exposed.

"The actors in the film struggle valiantly in this trashy movie. I have rarely seen so many talented young actors, put into such boring scenes by the director.

For example, Jennifer Jason Leigh plays a young student. She is curious about the affairs of men and women, so the script immediately turns her into a slut who will sleep with anyone. We have to see her being humiliated, disappointed and embarrassed.

The director is a thorough sexist. It pretends to insert some plots about pregnancy and abortion from time to time, showing false concern for women.

But for the most part, the director is just trying to walk a tightrope between teen comedy and low-level exploitation film to exploit those talented actors.

But if the film did not mix vulgarity with humor, it could have been more interesting. Just like director John Landis did in the movie "Animal House" a few years ago..."

"Ahaha," Ronald exclaimed in a weird tone, and it didn't seem abrupt to suddenly insert a compliment to Landis here. This bastard can still use a typewriter.

Landis's "Animal House" was produced by "National Lampoon" magazine, and it is full of vulgar jokes. How can it be better than his own movie?

"Fast and Furious" at least reflects the life of high school students realistically, with a little exaggeration. The name of "Animal House" is to satirize the college students' dormitory as a pig sty. The nudity scenes in it are much more unscrupulous. He actually thinks that movie is more stylish. Who is blind?

"Jennifer Jason Leigh looks so young, fresh, cheerful and innocent... and Sean Penn and Phoebe Cates, both of whom have contributed good acting skills.

The whole movie failed in taste, tone and editing - wasting good actors on disgusting plots, and the studio should replace them with a director who has proven his comedy talent..."

"John Landis? Isn't he and Jennifer working on the case of Vic Morrow's accidental death? What does Albert mean by writing this?"

Ronald finished reading the film review, put it down and asked the PR beauty.

He was a little confused. This Albert praised the acting skills of several leading actors, especially the leading actress Jennifer, and belittled his own directing ability, and even hinted that John Landis should direct. Which side is he on?

"Although he clearly praised Jennifer's acting skills to a high level, he strongly belittled the movie, which is still very unfavorable to the box office in the central market. I will report to the Universal headquarters and discuss countermeasures.

In addition, we have to talk to Jennifer first. Is it her family that exerted influence?"

I asked Jennifer, who was still catching up on sleep, and she didn't know why Albert praised herself and Landis and belittled Ronald at the same time.

"I don't know her at all, and I didn't ask my agent to publicize any film reviews. I've been busy with my father's affairs recently."

Jennifer tried her best to distance herself from the review. She was not satisfied with this review. Although it praised her highly, if the movie didn't sell well, what good would it do to the actress' career?

Albert is just a film critic, not a director. His so-called appreciation of his acting skills is worthless in the industry.

"It's okay, Jennifer, this is none of your business. I just asked you to come here to confirm that you will be interviewed by a Chicago TV station later. Don't be affected."

The PR beauty also pulled Jennifer aside and began to tell her how to avoid answering sensitive questions. This film review was released this morning. When the film is interviewed later, she will definitely be asked by reporters.

Ronald waited for her and the PR beauty to finish talking, and then returned to the suite where the interview was arranged with the PR beauty and closed the door.

They each made a phone call.

Ronald called his agent Nicita to inform him that he was attacked innocently and viciously.

The PR beauty also called the secretary of Ned Tanin, the vice president of Universal. He promised that he could find him if there were any problems in the film promotion.

Not long after, Tanin called first.

"Before resigning, Tom Mount listed a PR expense of $20,000 to sponsor the Chicago Film Critics Association meeting, including sponsorship of two vacation trips to Hawaii."

"Yeah... I see."

"This bastard. He made trouble even after resigning. This money was probably used to bribe the Chicago film critics. They probably wanted to promote Jennifer and suppress Ronald at the same time. Let Jennifer sue Spielberg and boost the box office of ET."

The PR beauty knew very well what tricks Mount had done before his downfall.

"But what about the Landis part?"

Then there was a call back from CAA's agent Niceta.

"There is also the trick of lawyer John Landis. He is trying hard to make peace with Morrow's two daughters and avoid criminal prosecution. He proposed to their mother that Morrow's two daughters participate in his next movie, with Jennifer as the protagonist and her sister as the associate producer.

But now he has become the target of public criticism. Morrow's family intends to settle with the producers represented by Spielberg, and Landis will also bear the criminal responsibility investigation. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have launched independent accident liability investigations.

The insurance company also accused Landis of issuing instructions to the pyrotechnician to make the explosion bigger and let the helicopter "fly lower" because of the accusations of the witnesses present. He was made to bear most of the civil compensation. In short, he is finished."

"Jennifer has asked her family and lawyers to settle with Spielberg quietly. He will not appear on the list of defendants." Ronald said what he learned.

"This is a good thing. Steven is now the darling of Hollywood, and everyone has to protect him.

The latest news I heard is that Steven has cut ties with John Landis after learning of the strategy of Landis' lawyer to drag him into the water. He refuses to appear in any project with Landis and does not answer his calls.

Maybe the film critic is not so well-informed, and Albert is still unaware of these latest changes." Nicita said.

"Well, that's his bad luck. I will hit back without hesitation. Universal will arrange a group interview for me in the newspaper."

"Take it easy, Ronald. After all, criticizing directors is one of the privileges of film critics. This is not a personal grudge."

"No, didn't you read his review? He called me a sexist. This is already a personal grudge."

"This?" Ronald heard Nicita scolding the intern on the phone for not finding the reporting materials in time, "He said that about you? This bastard."

"Yes, read you a paragraph..."

Ronald read Albert's personal attack again, "This director is a complete sexist. It pretends from time to time..., hypocritical concern... Did you hear it? Did you hear it clearly?"

After listening, Nicita also began to get angry.

Such a vicious attack on CAA's contracted directors, do you still respect the rising new companies in the agent industry?

Well, it's true that he doesn't need to respect CAA so much. Sometimes CAA has to bribe him to give a proper evaluation of the movie.

But these words have gone beyond the language a film critic should use, especially for the projects of the seven major Hollywood studios. Do these film critics still respect capital?

"What is Universal's plan? What are you going to do?"

"I will beat his XX out of him."

In the afternoon, the Sun's film review had spread throughout the Chicago media. All the newspapers and media, invited and not invited, gathered at the hotel to interview director Ronald's reaction to Ebert's film review.

After all, it is rare to see such a film review that specifically names and abuses the blockbuster films of the seven major studios. Now there is a director who personally responds...

"Director Ronald will accept your joint interview, and then we have booked the interview time for the two heroines..."

"Who would interview the heroine at this time? We want to hear the director's response." The reporters gathered in a small suite, waiting for Ronald to appear.

"Director Ronald,

Ronald!

Director!"

The media saw Ronald appear in front of them and began to get excited, squeezing forward.

"This is the reporter from the Tribune." The public relations signaled everyone to stay calm and named the familiar reporter.

"Director Ronald, what do you think of some critics' comments on your film?"

"I suspect that some of the film critics you mentioned did not seem to have watched my movies in the cinema. Maybe they read the plot excerpts in some tabloids and were deceived by the distorted plots used to attract attention."

"Hey, you can't slander Roger like this. Mr. Albert always watches the movie himself before writing the review." A reporter from the Sun had some admiration for Albert and defended him.

"It's not your turn yet." The PR beauty tried to stop him.

"It doesn't matter. Then he must not have understood my movie. As a film critic, his understanding ability is not up to standard. I can provide a movie ticket and ask him to watch it again."

"What do you think of Roger calling you a sexist?" Another newspaper reporter also ignored the etiquette of his peers and directly mentioned Albert's name.

"I think he is a discriminator."

"You can't say that about Mr. Albert." The reporter from the Sun began to argue again.

"So he can just say that about me?" Ronald glanced at the reporter, asked the PR girl for a copy of the Chicago Sun-Times, and started reading:

"I went to a preview held by a rock radio station. The audience were all rock fans. Some of the plots in the movie even disgusted rock fans. There is a difference between teen exploitation movies and gynecologist teaching movies."

"I have every reason to believe that Roger Ebert discriminates against rock fans and gynecologists. He discriminates against the tastes of rock fans and the noble profession of gynecologists."

"Puff...hahaha..."

"You can't take it out of context like this. Mr. Ebert is commenting on your movie as a whole. This is the freedom of speech and freedom of the press protected by the First Amendment of America." The reporter of the Sun-Times urgently cited the First Amendment to defend Roger Ebert.

"Very good, then as an American film practitioner and citizen, I can also comment on Roger Ebert's films.

I think his films are X-rated sexual exploitation films, full of sexism against women and obscene plots. The acting talents of talented actresses Dolly Reed and Cynthia Myers are wasted."

"Wow..." The reporters heard the names of the two "Playboy" girls and began to whisper to each other. It seems that they don't know much about Roger Ebert's "glorious history".

"You...you lied."

"Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, go ask your idol Albert yourself, does he still remember his masterpiece?"