Exploiting Hollywood 1980

"It is Mr. Tom Coleman of Atlantic Distribution who is more sincere, Richard. We met with several production companies and distribution companies, and only they clearly expressed their interest in investing."

We met with more than a dozen potential investors in a row. Most of them said nice things, saying that they would cooperate with Ronald in the future, but when they heard that it was a joint venture production, they all refused.

This is no wonder. For joint venture production of movies, the sooner the terms are on board, the better. Now that domestic and overseas distributors have been confirmed, the remaining part can only get a capped fixed income. Small companies in the circle are guys who want to get rich overnight, so it is not surprising that they are unwilling to give in.

"In fact, Atlantic is optimistic about you, Ronald. Originally, they wanted to invite you to direct the "Valley Girl" they are currently shooting. However, their financial resources are not good, and the movies they are shooting now occupy most of their funds. I think they can only invest 100,000 in your project at most."

Agent Richard has been accompanying Ronald to meet people during the day these days, and helping Ronald write summaries and prepare materials at night, which is very hard.

"It's already good. I think I'm lucky to be able to convince them to invest."

"What will you do about the next funding gap?"

"I've asked Nicita to help me take on new script revision projects. You know, although you don't sign your name when revising a script, the income is higher than writing a script. I'll try to make up for the gap before 1983. Then I'll see if there are any commercials I can direct, or if someone is willing to place ads in the movie."

"Happy Thanksgiving."

"You too."

It's almost Thanksgiving at the end of November every year. Ronald recalled his past experiences in the film industry in his apartment and found that he had a lot of people to be grateful to.

Roger Corman, who first gave him the opportunity to enter the industry, Joe Dante, who signed his name as the second director and obtained the union qualification, Rick Nicita, who signed his screenwriter's economic contract, Spielberg, who supported him on the set...

No matter what purpose they had when they helped me, they objectively helped me make a big step forward in my progress in the film industry. When I become successful, I will repay them whenever I have the chance. Of course, those who are against you have to "return" a little.

"Ronnie, what are your plans for Thanksgiving? Are you going back to New York?" It was Gail Hurd who called.

"I'm busy raising funds and won't go back for the time being. Where are you and Jim?"

"He is still concentrating on improving the script of "Terminator". I want to ask you something. Can you come to Sunset Club?" Gail reported an address.

"Okay, what is it?"

"My friend is a director for the first time, and I want to ask you to give him some on-site guidance."

Ronald came to this strip club on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood as promised. When Gail reported the address, he felt something was a bit strange.

There was a sign of closure at the door of Sunset Club today. It seemed that it was reserved for filming a movie.

"Hi, Ronnie, let me introduce you. This is my good friend Martha Coolidge."

Gail enthusiastically introduced a middle-aged woman to Ronald. She looked about thirty-four or thirty-five years old and looked very capable.

"Hi, Martha. Nice to meet you. What kind of movie are you shooting?" Ronald looked around. Only the lighting team was setting up the lights. The actors hadn't come out yet. He didn't know what kind of movie it was.

"Valley Girl," Martha Coolidge answered straightforwardly.

"Oh, I know this movie. It's a story about a valley girl, right? There seems to be a song with that name now, which is very popular."

Ronald didn't expect that Coolidge would direct the low-budget production that Atlantic invited him to direct before. The director's circle is really small.

"Okay, let's see Martha's directing skills." Gail pulled Ronald aside.

Several actors came out and moved with the camera crew. Ronald smiled as soon as he saw them. They were all old acquaintances.

The actor who played the leading role was Nicolas Cage, the nephew of Coppola. The supporting actress Michelle Meylink also had a role in "The Little Brats", and was the best friend of Cherry played by Diane Lane.

He did not say hello to disturb Director Coolidge, but waited to watch their performance with interest.

"A!"

Cage played the male protagonist Randy, who had a crush on the female protagonist Julie played by Deborah Foreman.

In the bar, Randy fell in love with Julie and confessed his true feelings to her.

Nicholas's performance was very real, like a sentimental high school boy, who really wanted to move forward but was afraid of being rejected by the high school girl he liked.

"This boy's acting is really good, why don't we ask him to play in "Night of the Comet"?" Ronald pondered behind the camera.

The male protagonist of "Night of the Comet" in the dream did not have much acting skills, and he seemed very dull when speaking the lines. Cage studied acting in "Fast Pace", and it seems that he can handle the role of the protagonist today.

"Any comments?" Martha Coolidge asked Ronald.

"Very good, very good. I think you directed it very well. This bar scene is a multi-person dialogue scene, and you arranged it very well."

Ronald praised sincerely. There are not many female directors in America. Coolidge's level is very textbook. It seems that she is from an academic school and is very methodical.

"Director Ronald said it was very good. Let's print this one again." Martha Coolidge ordered.

Ronald frowned and just nodded in response to Cage and Meylink's greetings. Director Coolidge's words had a hidden meaning.

He turned to look at Gail Hurd.

"It's okay. I'll invite you to talk after the shooting. There's a little misunderstanding." Gail smiled and said in Ronald's ear.

During the break of shooting this shot, Ronald and Gail, Director Coolidge, sat in the trailer together. Gail opened two bottles of beer and handed them to Ronald and Coolidge, and then she took one herself and clinked them with the two.

"I told you, Martha. Ronald is a very upright man. He won't come to steal your directorship."

"Huh?" Ronald was surprised. Where did this come from?

It turned out that Tom Coleman, the president of Atlantic Company, said a few words after meeting Ronald that he regretted not inviting Ronald to direct "Valley Girl".

I don't know how this matter got more and more distorted. When it came to Martha Coolidge, it became Ronald wanted to replace and take over the directorship halfway.

She complained to her good friend Gail Hurd that the independent directing opportunity she had finally won was snatched away by a male director.

When Gail heard that it was Ronald, she said it was impossible. So she asked Ronald to come to the scene to see and clear up the misunderstanding.

Coolidge was a person with a strong personality. She might have suffered a lot of gender discrimination in the industry. Directors need to have strong commanding ability, and women must become as tough as men. So she was a little resentful of Ronald's attitude.

Ronald explained that his new film had been distributed by New World Company, and Atlantic was just a shareholder.

After the misunderstanding was cleared, Coolidge was still a person who was easy to communicate with.

The two were also alumni of New York University's Tisch School. Coolidge came from a famous family. Her grandfather had served as governor of Massachusetts and was also a relative of the former President Coolidge.

"When will your "Valley Girl" be finished? I want to find Nick to try the male lead in my new film."

"It can be completed in the middle of next month."

"Then there will be a schedule after the Christmas and New Year holidays?" Ronald thought to himself, this is not bad, and his funds may be solved by then.

"Oh, Nick is good." Coolidge said, "In order to play the role well, he even wrote love poems to the heroine. He is very devoted to the role."

"That's great. The first time I saw him perform, I knew he was a very serious actor."

"Sometimes he is too serious. I think he really fell in love with Deborah who plays Julie."

"Hahaha... Is Nick also a method actor?" Ronald didn't expect this to happen. He was too devoted.

"He actually belongs to the German Expressionist school... He uses high-contrast lighting, strong shadows, and unrealistic performances to express dark film themes..."

When it comes to acting, Ronald is not very good at it. He has heard Martha Coolidge talk about it. Martha once studied the origins of the method school and studied with several realistic acting teachers.

Expressionism is actually a little incompatible with the method school and does not pursue realism. Cage was influenced by the early German film "Metropolis" promoted by his uncle Coppola, and his acting method tends to be extreme.

The three cleared up the misunderstanding and walked out of the trailer. They found that Cage was writing poems to Deborah again.

"Deborah, this is the love poem I wrote for you."

"It's called 'American Girl'"

"Hey, hey," Nicholas cleared his throat and began to read,

"A lady loved by others.

Above all other things.

It's her home, the soil that adorns my beautiful land.

She is the crystallization of love and fire.

She rules the hearts of people with divine right."

"Don't recite in public, give it to me..." Deborah snatched Nicolas Cage's poem, took the paper in her arms, and went to the trailer to appreciate it carefully.

"Hahaha..." Ronald couldn't help laughing. This pretentious recitation really doesn't look like a realistic performance method.

Cage blew a kiss to Deborah, then came over to greet Ronald, "Hi, Ronald. Why are you here?"

"I came to see your performance. When did you finish filming 'Fighting Fish' in Oklahoma?"

"Last month."

"What film contracts are you going to have next?"

"My agent Limato is contacting me for an audition for a new film, but it hasn't been finalized yet." Cage said, "Why, do you have a new film?"

"Yes, a story about comets and zombies, are you interested?" Ronald asked him to come closer, then whispered his thoughts to him.

"Oh, oh..." Nicolas Cage held his head with his hands, looking surprised, "Did the gods of drama favor me today? I'll call agent Limato."

"Don't worry, the film's financing hasn't been completed yet, I'll contact Limato."

"You know, I envied Sean Penn so much when I was in 'Fast Pace'." Cage was very happy, he really wanted to be able to play a role with more scenes in a hit film.

Cage excitedly pulled up the actors on the set to introduce Ronald, "Hi Lisa, Mike, this is Ronald Lee, the director of 'Fast and Furious Richmond'. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have a union card. God, I'm so happy today."

"It's nice to meet you, I have to go, otherwise Director Coolidge will be unhappy." Ronald shook hands with the actors and said goodbye.

"I'll find Limato," Ronald gestured to Cage before leaving.