Exploiting Hollywood 1980

"Tom, how is the new film going?" Ronald walked into the CAA office where Tom Cruise and his two agents Niceta and Wagner were.

Tom had just finished filming the movie "Crazy as Hell". The baby fat he gained from eating to play the leading role is still there. If he wants to film "Powerful" next, he will have to lose this fat.

"Everything is good, but the scene by the lake in Chicago's Highland Park is a bit cold. When filming, I had to make a pensive expression and I almost shivered from the cold."

"Acting is like this. Sometimes when filming in winter for summer scenes, you have to splash water on your face to simulate sweat. Tom is very dedicated." Paula Wagner is very satisfied with Cruise's performance.

Several people talked about their experiences after parting in "The Little Rascals". Paula Wagner suddenly asked Ronald: "Ronald, is this movie "Full of Strength" a good role for Tom?" "If it is based on my script, it is actually similar to Tom's recent movie "Crazy Boys". It is also a story about a teenager growing up and taking responsibility. There is also a solo dance segment for Tom. Girls will go crazy for him." "Oh, yeah?" Tom Cruise was very interested in Ronald's introduction. "But Shirley Lansing doesn't seem to be very interested in my idea. If she found someone else, it might be another story." "Why? She doesn't like you? But you just shot "Fast and Furious". She has no reason not to trust your ability." Paula Wagner said in surprise. "Ms. Lansing prefers movies with strong drama." Niceta interrupted. "Yes, last time she used Timothy Hutton and Tom in 'Lights Out', the box office was only average. With a budget of more than 13 million, the box office was not as high as Ronald's 'Fast Pace'. You must still be afraid of this high-concept script."

Paula wanted to get more good roles for Tom. She saw that Tom wanted to work with Ronald. If the script was suitable, it might also create a box office miracle.

"When Ms. Lansing asked me about the male lead, my first choice was Tom. If I finally got the director position, I mean if, the schedule in March or April next year..."

Several people talked about the strategy when they went to see Shirley Lansing again.

"How does it feel to be a protagonist, Tom?" Ronald asked about Cruise's feelings. "Good Boy Crazy" was Tom Cruise's first time as a male lead.

"The salary is much higher than Coppola's 'The Brat'." Tom laughed happily

"Hahaha... What did you do when you saw so much money in the account?" Ronald understood the feeling of getting a check of more than $100,000 for the first time.

"I paid for one of my sisters' college tuition and bought another sister a car for work."

"Oh, you're really nice to your family. What did you buy for yourself?"

"I didn't buy anything. Paula took good care of me and I didn't need anything."

The two agents then excused themselves to do other things. Tom Cruise suddenly approached Ronald mysteriously and said to him.

"I met a girl on the set. She is three years older than me and we are dating. She is mature and nice."

"Oh, yeah? Congratulations. Who is the lucky girl?"

"It's the leading actress Rebecca De Mornay. Maybe I am the lucky one."

Ronald knew this woman. She once auditioned for "Fast and Furious Richmond High".

"Did she play a supporting role in Coppola's 'Old Love, New Love'?"

"Yes, that's what bothers me. Rebecca and the supporting actor Stanton in that movie are boyfriend and girlfriend, but the old man is 30 years older than her. I suspect she was blackmailed by Stanton and had to give in to get the supporting role."

Ronald scratched his head. He didn't know how to deal with this kind of thing. Unlike cheating with married people, America can take things like boyfriend and girlfriend lightly. Sleeping together for one night and getting engaged can both be called boyfriend and girlfriend.

But since the man is 30 years older than the woman, what Cruise said is quite possible. Then I wish Tom true love comes first.

And since De Mornay is older than Tom and more mature, it's still unclear who is the dominant one in this relationship.

"I think you are in true love, I bless you."

"You know, Ronald. I grew up in a Catholic family, and their boyfriends and girlfriends are immoral. What Rebecca and I do is not a biblical sin, and we are not committing adultery."

"No, they are not married."

"Yes, you are right."

"Does Paula know about your affairs?" Ronald asked Tom. As long as the agent knows about this kind of thing, there is no problem, which means Wagner does not regard it as a threat to Tom Cruise's acting career. "

"I didn't tell her, but she saw Rebecca come to my trailer several times. She didn't say anything."

"Well, congratulations. I think this is also a kind of blessed relationship."

"Oh, yeah? That's great." The 19-year-old Tom Cruise is still quite devout. Since Ronald also agrees with this kind of thing, there is no big problem.

...

A few days later, Ronald was summoned by Shirley Lansing, and this time he and Niceta came to her office together.

"What is he here for?" Ronald saw a familiar face in the waiting area at the door. It was Fat Boy Michael Cimino who said in an interview that Ronald had no directing talent.

"Lansing might be interested in him as director." Niceta whispered into Ronald's ear. "We haven't heard anything about it. Don't get angry on the spot, Ronnie."

Niceta knew that the two had a grudge, so she reminded them.

"Ronald, this is director Michael Cimino, who needs no introduction. Michael, this is Ronald Lee, director and screenwriter of 'Fast Times'."

Ronald shook hands with Lansing quickly, then sat apart. He was a little suspicious that Lansing was doing this because he wanted to take advantage of the conflict between him and Cimino to lower each other's prices.

"I decided to have Director Cimino take on this project..." Shirley Lansing gets right to the point.

Ronald was a little confused. If Cimino was asked to direct, why would he be asked to do it? Just hearing bad news? Come to Lansing and you won't have that much time to spare.

"Thank you for calling me here and telling me the final result." Ronald stood up and wanted to leave.

"No, no, Ronald, I also hope to give you a job as a screenwriter and continue to improve the script." Shirley Lansing felt very good and raised her hand to let Ronald sit down.

"Don't get angry on the spot," Niceta reminded softly from behind.

"My answer is No," Ronald replied stiffly.

"Don't refuse in a hurry, listen to my conditions. Although you don't have a director's job, you can sign the screenwriter, and we will also create conditions for you to observe on the set. Michael is the Oscar-winning director, and he also agreed."

"Calm down, calm down." Niceta regretted coming today very much. Lan Xing couldn't figure out the situation. She appreciates Cimino's directing ability and likes directors who can create a sense of drama.

But Ronald's debut film had a box office of RMB 40 million. Even if his directing skills were inferior to Cimino's, how could young people like the director who brought down United Artists? Moreover, the two still had old grudges.

"Oh? What parts of the script are you going to ask me to revise? Which parts does the Oscar-winning director have different opinions on?" Ronald smiled instead of angry and glanced at the fat guy Cimino mockingly.

Cimino is still chubby. It seems that the huge public pressure to bring down Lianyi has not caused him much insomnia.

"The tone of the whole movie is not realistic enough. I hope to see a real male town. This kind of conservative priest who bans the whole town from dancing will not repent in the final stage and let the people stop burning."

I wanted to add some real, darker plot, it's a great story that shouldn't be turned into a musical and a tractor showdown to stimulate teenage hormones.

Urban and rural, progressive and conservative, male and female, all these contradictions are entangled together. I knew this would be a great movie when I thought about it.

The tone of the movie should be the unique depression and ultimate liberation in the man's small town.

We want to invite some actors with outstanding acting skills to join us...

Like Bobby, Mel, coming in as pastor and his wife."

"My answer is NO!" Ronald still refused firmly.

"Ronald, can you tell me why?" Shirley Lansing looked at Ronald with her eyes, which was a bit beyond her expectation.

"I don't like this story."

"Hey, do you know what a good story is?" Michael Cimino got angry instead. What you wrote are all jokes, not stories. I really don’t know how you could write such a script that does nothing but stimulate hormones.

It's all in the style of those exploitation films. A truly great movie is not a movie that only cares about the audience's sensory stimulation. What is needed is a dramatic conflict that penetrates the human heart..."

"Shut up, Fatty."

Ronald blurted out, pointed at Cimino, and took two steps forward.

Cimino was shocked by Ronald's tall body and did not continue.

Shirley Lansing didn't expect that the conversation would turn out like this. She looked at the body language of the two people and seemed to notice it.

Niceta could only cover her face with her hands, hoping the quarrel would not continue.

"Don't slander my script. If you don't like it, you can write it yourself." Ronald put down his arms and continued:

"I know the tricks you played on the script of 'The Deer Hunter'. You first disparaged Mr. Washburn's script, and then you made some slight changes and tried to claim it as your own.

If I find that you stole part of the plot and scene arrangements I wrote in the final script, I won’t say which side the Writers Guild will be on.

I will personally sue you until you sell your panties to pay for your losses. My lawyer is the original "Grey-Eyed Mickey" from MGM. You can ask him about it. "

"Goodbye, Ms. Lansing." Ronald gave a final nod to Shirley Lansing and walked out of the office. Niceta shrugged at Lansing and followed him out.

"Michael, what's going on with you two?"

"Nothing," Cimino replied easily. "He gave a TV interview and said he didn't like my movie. I might have said he had no talent for making movies. His script really didn't show any storytelling talent."

"Okay, then you will write the script. Be careful not to plagiarize Ronald's content."

Shirley Lansing was a little skeptical of Cimino's character after being told by Ronald.

"Relax, these plots are not suitable for the story in my mind. I will go to the site to investigate the real scene there and the details of people's speech, and I will definitely be able to write a satisfactory story."

"Very good," Lansing's doubts were slightly reduced, "I will reimburse you for the reasonable expenses of going there."