Exploiting Hollywood 1980

Eisner gave an order, and Paramount summoned about two hundred manual workers. The blue-collar workers in the studio, who moved lights, pushed cameras, and operated electric fans, gathered in the screening room.

"I'm Michael Eisner. You all know who I am..."

Ronald and Don Simpson, Jerry Bruckheimer, two "Flashdance" producers, also sat in the audience to watch Eisner personally host the voting meeting.

"Ah, this bastard is still so graceful."

Don Simpson seemed to be a loudmouth, speaking ill of Eisner in front of Ronald, who met him for the first time.

Jerry Bruckheimer gave him a gentle tug.

"Hey, what's going on?" Don Simpson raised his arms dissatisfied, "This bastard fired me from Paramount's production department because I fell asleep during a high-level meeting.

But he doesn’t even think about it, I’m working on eight film projects at the same time for his piece of shit, and I only sleep four hours a day..."

Ronald felt that Don Simpson was very outspoken and outspoken, saying exactly what was on his mind.

"Hi, guys!" Eisner said on the stage, speaking into the microphone.

"Today, you are asked to come here for one purpose, to help us choose an actress..."

"Yeah, I'll choose whoever gives me..." A voice started to scream strangely from behind.

"Well said." Someone started cheering, and there were also a few loud whistles.

"You bastards, today is your lucky day." Eisner also began to spit out fragrance, "Tell me, among these three young and beautiful women, who do you most want...?"

Then he gestured for the projectionist to start playing the audition tapes of the three actresses.

Ronald also looked at the screen, where Leslie Young was predictably unpopular and Demi Moore elicited a flurry of whistles.

But when Jennifer Beals' audition clip was released at the end, the co-workers were immediately excited. "I want you, baby..." were the loudest and the whistles were the loudest.

Eisner motioned to stop the screening.

The audience's reaction is already very clear. The dark-skinned beauty, Jennifer Beals, has undoubtedly won the favor of the blue-collar class. They like this kind of tall, big-eyed, and good-looking figure.

"Just Jennifer Beals." Eisner and everyone returned to the office and decided on the heroine.

"But she is of mixed race." An assistant reminded.

"Huh?" Eisner took a look at Beals' resume. The race column on it did say black.

"Damn it, we don't know who knows, she looks no different from those tanned white girls." Eisner was encouraged by the audience's response. Jennifer Beals is so popular.

"What do you think?"

"It's her." Partners Tang and Jerry also agreed.

"You can get out of my sight now, Don you little bastard." Eisner hugged Don Simpson affectionately.

Don Simpson knows a lot about movies and the business of production. But when Eisner's immediate boss and shareholders were present at the meeting, it was outrageous that he passed out in public.

Fortunately, he found his partner Jerry Bruckheimer. Even when independent producers make films, they are still distributed by Paramount. Their films still contribute to Paramount, that is, their own business performance.

"Ronald, we are waiting for you outside, and we will go to the party together then." Don Simpson turned to Ronald before walking out of the office.

"Yes, let's introduce Ronald to Hollywood parties. Don, he's from New York." Eisner sent the two producers away.

"Now, we can talk about the other script, Ronald."

"Mr. Eisner."

"Call me Michael." Eisner said cheerfully. "We've known each other for a long time. Ronald."

"Ah, yes. I wrote the script for the Grease sequel for Paramount."

"No, even earlier than that, we competed with Columbia for Jane Fonda's My Brother's Keeper."

"Ah, that was a script written a long time ago. In the end, Colombia didn't film it."

"This is all normal. Footloose is also a musical project we plan to launch next year. My subordinates will discuss it with you in detail later. You won't let me down, right? "

"Of course I'm doing my best."

"The script is very creative, but there are some mistakes that people who have never made movies often make. Please help me correct them."

When Michael Eisner needed it, he could make the person he was talking to feel deeply trusted.

Ronald looked into Eisner's eyes and felt that he seemed to be an elder who valued his potential.

"Mr. Eisner, which director are you planning to hire?"

"Hahaha, Ronald." Eisner saw through Ronald's thoughts.

"This time we have invited the famous Hollywood and Broadway double-grossing director, Herbert Ross. I understand your thoughts. Paramount never lacks the courage and confidence to use young directors.

After the film starts shooting, we will discuss this issue in detail, and Paramount can sign a film contract with you. "

"Thank you, Mr. Eisner." Ronald nodded his thanks.

Niceta gave Ronald a wink, and the two said goodbye to Eisner.

Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer were still waiting for Ronald outside the door, and they hugged him again. "You follow me in the car. There are many British actors coming to the party today."

"You go first." Ronald also wanted to get to know some successful producers. There are many connections in this industry.

"So I have no chance to be a director this time?" Ronald asked him quietly while sitting in Niceta's new car.

"This time your character is a script doctor. Paramount is planning to invest about 8 million in this movie and has given the green light. However, Paramount is not satisfied with the script yet. They asked them to revise several drafts but still failed to meet the requirements. You should be able to change your level to their satisfaction.

No one can explain the preparations for the film. I can only say that you have no chance at all. "

Ronald knew about the film preparations. It was true that few films had a smooth journey. Many of them changed directors, starring actors, or even stopped filming during the preparation period.

Niceta drove the car out of the parking lot and followed the two producers in front. The group drove along Hollywood Boulevard to a mansion in Beverly Hills.

"Mr. Simpson, Bruckheimer, I would like to ask you about production methods." Ronald took the time to learn from the two producers.

"High concept, Ronald. The movie needs to be high concept." Don Simpson rang the doorbell at the front door.

A servant came out and opened the door, "Good evening, Mr. Simpson."

Ronald didn't know whose mansion it was, but Don Simpson seemed very familiar with it. He let Ronald in as if he were at home, and then introduced him to some celebrities present.

"This is Britain's famous actor Michael Caine. This is our rising star in Hollywood, Ronald Lee."

Ronald also wanted to ask the producer more about what high concept meant. But Don Simpson was a party animal and disappeared after a while.

Ronald took two glasses of wine and handed one to Michael Caine, whom he had just met, "Nice to meet you, Mr. Caine."

"Are you a newcomer to Hollywood? I haven't seen you the last time I came to Hollywood." Michael Caine spoke with a Cockney accent from the East End of London. Fortunately, Ronald had learned New Concept English, which was recorded in the teaching material There's this accent.

"Yes, my first movie just came out this year, with a box office of 40 million US dollars."

"Excellent, you are a lucky boy." Michael Caine drank the champagne in one gulp, then raised his hand to ask the waiter for another glass of strong wine.

"I thought I was just like you and became famous. After I came to Hollywood, many seniors taught me a lot of experience."

"Oh, that's nice."

"You know what? My favorite piece of advice was given to me by Western star John Wayne. Always..."

Michael Caine said, glancing at Ronald's leather shoes, "Never wear suede shoes."

"Ah? Why?" Ronald was puzzled.

"Because you become famous, strangers will recognize you. When you go to the bathroom, the people next to you will look over and see your face, and then they will be surprised to recognize you, ah, you are not Ronald Li? I am..."

Michael Caine made a toilet gesture next to Ronald, then turned towards him and said, "Then the piss will go all over your suede shoes."

"Hahaha..." Ronald laughed loudly. The British have a knack for telling bad jokes.

"You are so funny, Mr. Kane."

"No, that's what John Wayne told me, the real thing." Michael Caine winked at him.

"Hahaha, what you said is funny. But maybe I don't have this problem."

"Why?" This time it was Michael Caine's turn to be confused.

"I'm not an actor, I'm a director."

"Director, you must be kidding."

"No, my movie 'Fast Richmond High' just came out, you can ask Mr. Simpson.

"You are really young as a director." Kane was a little surprised. "You don't have such young directors in Britain, but you often have them in Hollywood. For example, Orson Welles made his debut at the age of 23."

"Maybe we in America don't have much class."

"You're right, Ronald. You know what? I was born in the East End of London, so I don't want to change my Cockney accent, so that I can set an example for future generations. A young person from the East End of London can also To be an actor, not all actors go to Cambridge or Oxford.”

"I have always envied actors. You can act in several dramas a year, unlike directors who can do one movie every year and a half."

"Who says it's not? Actors shoot quickly. I just finished filming Edubsp;Rita in Dublin, and I'm about to go to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to shoot a new film."

"That's really enviable," Ronald replied.

"To be honest, we actors all rely on the director's editing, but this ordinary girl is a good subject. It will also be screened in America. You will be invited to participate when the time comes."

"I will definitely go if time permits..."

Ronald unexpectedly met the funny Michael Caine at the party, and the two had a great chat. But the others couldn't talk much, Ronald never saw Don Simpson again, and the meaning of the high concept had not yet been asked.

Walking past a room with a half-closed door, Ronald peeked inside and saw Don Simpson lying on the sofa, and smelled a strange odor.

He knew that this party might not be very clean, so he found Jerry Bruckheimer outside and said goodbye and left first.

"It seems that you don't like this kind of party?" Bruckheimer smiled.

"I really want to know what high concept is."

"It's a sentence that can explain the movie clearly. You go ask your agent, they understand."

Nicita also completed the task of chatting up. Many British actors do not need to find an agent in America, so she also accompanied Ronald to go first. After leaving the door, Nicita went to get the car first.

Ronald was bored waiting at the door, and a woman jumped out of the door.

"Ronnie!"

"Demi, why are you here?" Ronald was surprised and recognized the woman as Demi Moore.

"I saw you come to see Don Simpson in the middle of the party," Demi pulled down her collar and stared at Ronald with wide eyes. "I saw you talking to Jerry Bruckheimer later. Do you have the power to decide who will be the female lead in Flashdance? Are you going to be the director of Flashdance?