Exploiting Hollywood 1980

On April 15, Ronald came to the Hollywood Chinese Theater in a tuxedo to attend the grand premiere of "Flashdance".

As the co-producer of the film, he had to take photos with the two producers, the director, and the main creators. Of course, with the title of co-producer, Ronald also had the opportunity to be interviewed and talk about his new film.

Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer stood at the door of the theater, very proud. Don Simpson, a former Paramount executive who was fired for dozing off (taking too much) at an executive meeting, and Jerry Bruckheimer, a layman in the film industry who only knew about financing, were surrounded by reporters and peers, enjoying the feeling of being at the peak of their lives.

The flash in the hands of the photographers kept illuminating their faces, and the main creators and peers who came to attend the premiere kept coming up to take photos with them.

Ronald also walked to the photo area in front of the Chinese Theater with the help of his assistant and greeted the two producers. .

"Hi, Ronald, you're here. Great, why didn't I see you at the Oscars four days ago?" Jerry greeted him warmly.

"Haha, Ronald, take a look at our movie, the preview was very successful." Don Simpson pulled Ronald over and asked him to take a photo together.

"I wasn't nominated, and I have a script to write, so I just watched the TV broadcast at home." Ronald smiled and stood shoulder to shoulder with the two producers, allowing reporters to take photos.

CAA had gains and losses at the Oscars this time. Director Sidney Pollack only received a nomination for Best Director, and shared the same fate with Spielberg. The two Jewish directors still did not win any awards.

The big winner was "Gandhi", which won Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor. Only the Best Actress went to Mel Streep in "Sophie's Choice". CAA-led "Tootsie" won the Best Supporting Actress, and Jessica Lange won the trophy.

"See you later." Ronald left the reporters and entered the theater. The flashes of these reporters are brighter than the headlights on the set. It is not easy to deal with them if you are not an actor. Only actors are good at letting them take beautiful photos without blinking in such occasions.

There are also a bunch of reporters in the theater, who are interviewing the beautiful heroine, Jennifer Beals.

"Jennifer, this is a movie with a lot of dance performances, and you have no dance background. How do you practice dancing?"

"Thank you, the producer arranged a very good teacher for me, and I did a lot of training before filming."

"Jennifer, what brand is your T-shirt on the poster? Is this design with the neckline cut on one side specially designed by the designer?"

"That's a coincidence. This is my own T-shirt. It shrunk after washing in the washing machine. When I was shooting indoor scenes in Los Angeles, my head got stuck and couldn't get out. I had no choice but to cut it open. Unexpectedly, the costume designer said the effect was very good, so it was kept."

"Jennifer, are you really a student at Yale University?"

"Jennifer, have you really never filmed a movie before?"

Reporters surrounded the heroine and asked all kinds of questions.

"Hi, Cynthia, nice to see you here. You look good. How are you? Has your agent helped you deal with it?"

Cynthia Rhodes also came, and Ronald asked her about her situation afterwards. Stallone's brother did not bother her again, probably because of Stallone's order. Her agent is also looking for new movie opportunities for her, but the feedback is not optimistic. Maybe she has to start again with small productions or TV series.

"Hi, Adrian", Ronald saw director Adrian Ryan standing aside again. He seemed unhappy and did not go out for interviews.

"I'm afraid that after I go out, I will not be able to help but scold Paramount, and then they will kill me." Adrian Ryan smiled bitterly and told a joke. He was very dissatisfied with Paramount's requirements and was forced to cut about an hour of film, leaving only a simple story in the whole movie.

"I heard that the effect was great during the preview. Now all producers are compressing the length, and there is nothing they can do."

Ronald comforted his old friend Director Ryan, found his seat, sat down and waited quietly for the show to start.

The Chinese Theater is very large, but it is very full. Paramount was very satisfied with the results of the preview, so it invested heavily in organizing the premiere ceremony. Not only did it find the most famous cinema in Hollywood, but it also invited many audiences to watch it.

After the movie started, the whispers of the audience in the backstage did not stop. The striptease was kept, and the male audience kept exclaiming in admiration, and one or two people whistled occasionally.

Adrian Lane's anger was justified. In the whole movie, many scenes of the protagonist Alex and his boyfriend Nick outside the main line were almost cut, not to mention that the plot lines of other supporting characters were almost cut.

All the characters, except the heroine Alex, have no personality development. They are the same person at the beginning and the same person at the end.

Only Alex was put in the spotlight, from a person who was not confident in himself to a blooming dance academy student.

However, this dramatic weakening did not disappoint the audience. Many dances are very beautiful, and cutting off the story branches does not prevent the audience from understanding the main trunk of the whole story. The most important thing is that the movie always has a breath, and the audience does not have a minute to give up to go to the bathroom.

Ronald didn't know how this was done. Was it the director's editing skills? Or was it the convincing performance of the actors? Maybe when filming, the actors all had a breath, wanted to be famous, and wanted to shoot well.

Most of the actors in this movie are newcomers who have just entered the film industry. They all want to become famous with this movie. Director Ryan is very good at letting them play, and everyone performed 100% of the effect.

Finally, the lights came on and the audience applauded spontaneously. Then the singer of the theme song, Irene Kara, went on stage again and sang a song "whatafeelg" for everyone. After two years, she has a new song to perform on a variety show.

The screening ended and the audience began to disperse. Ronald also stood up and prepared to leave. At this time, a man and a woman rushed to the front in the opposite direction and shouted loudly with the two producers and directors.

"Why? Why is my name not on the subtitles?"

Ronald identified the voice from the Chinese accent as Marin Jahan, the dance double of the heroine Jennifer. She was trying hard to make things clear with the producer. Next to her was her husband Peter Tramm, who was desperately pulling her.

"Where are my bodyguards?" Don Simpson shouted. Two burly men came over and tried to fork Marin Jahan out.

Ronald hurried forward. This scene was too ugly to be staged in front of the news media who had not left yet.

Jerry Bruckheimer also came up to stop the bodyguard.

Ronald pulled Marin Jahan and said a few words. Marin calmed down and remained silent.

This was a powerful occasion in Hollywood. She and her husband had no status here. Ronald was giving her a chance to let her and her husband leave with dignity.

A few people walked to the lounge next to them and left the reporters who had already discovered the problem.

"Why is there no name on it? Even the 'crazy legs' which only did a back spin has a subtitle. Why do I dance most of the dances for Jennifer but don't have a name?" Marlene Jahan, who entered the lounge, shouted.

"I'm sorry, Marlene. This is not a decision made by the two of us. It was ultimately decided by Mr. Eisner of Paramount. We can give you a certain amount of money compensation." Jerry Bruckheimer was more reasonable and explained to Marlene.

"But this is not a matter of money. I need this resume to endorse it. My agent has found me an audition for a supporting role in a movie. Now the experience on my resume is different from the subtitles. I will be regarded as a liar." Marlene leaned against her husband uncomfortably.

"I can't do anything about this. You either take the check and leave, or find a lawyer to sue." Don Simpson said very arrogantly, taking out an agreement from his bag, on which Marlene Jahan gave up suing Paramount and the producer because of the subtitle issue.

Jerry Bruckheimer took out a checkbook, wrote a number, and handed it over.

"I don't want money, I just want what I deserve." Marlene was still angry.

However, Ronald had seen her husband Peter Tram's eyes light up after seeing the number on the check. It seemed that sooner or later he would help the film company and persuade Marlene to accept it.

"How about this, if you have a problem with your resume, I can write you a letter of certification as a co-producer, so that you won't have any problems when you go to the audition." Ronald offered to help.

"That's good, I can also sign a certificate for you." Director Adrian Lane also spoke. Jerry Bruckheimer also nodded, and now Marlene's most urgent problem could be solved.

"Okay, thank you." Marlene thanked Ronald and the director, bowed deeply, and then signed and walked out without taking the check that lost her signature.

Her husband Peter Tram hurriedly bent down to collect the check and chased after her.

"What's going on? Why is Mr. Eisner so persistent and doesn't let her sign?" Ronald asked.

"All the marketing of this movie is based on the fact that the beautiful Jennifer Beals can dance. If this is exposed, it will cause great losses." Don Simpson raised his chin and answered. Because Ronald helped him persuade Marlene to leave, he was willing to explain.

"Okay, I understand. So Crazylegs, who did her back spin, and Sharon Shapiro, who was her gymnastics stand-in, can both be credited, because they have very few stand-ins, which is allowed by the audience.

But Marlene danced almost all of Beals' dance moves. If she is credited, Beals's dancing beauty promotion will be exposed."

"Correct." Don Simpson snapped his fingers.

Ronald said goodbye and went out. He saw Marlene and her husband Peter still at the door. Peter kept persuading his wife Marlene, and finally slowly made her smile a little and didn't want to tear up the check. Peter also smiled, folded the check, put it in his pocket, and the two became happy again.

"Marin, I'm leaving now. If you have any questions about the audition and need me to testify, you can ask them to call my agent." Ronald handed over a business card. It was a simple favor, so he decided to help. After all, Marin was being treated unfairly.

"Thank you, Ronald." Marlene Jahan replied with a Chinese accent, "I know you and Adrian are good people, but the producer Tang Shishi...he didn't even want to inform me in advance."

"It would be a bad thing if I informed you, and you could sue." Ronald thought to himself, Don Simpson seemed arrogant, but in fact it was all calculated. Get things done first, and then use money to get it done. You still have to hang out in Hollywood anyway, and you can't afford to offend Paramount.

"With a little effort, what role are you auditioning for?"

"It's the role of a showgirl, very similar to the one played by Cynthia Rhodes in 'Flashdance.' After I found out about her, I got a starring role in a new film directed by Stallone. In fact, my dancing is not worse than hers, so I can play the role this time. It’s a supporting role, maybe I’ll get a chance to play the leading role next time.”

"This is my husband Peter. He is also a dance stuntman and recently got a job." Marlene began to introduce her husband to Ronald again, hoping to leave an impression and think of them as a couple in the future.

"Yes, Mr. Ronald. I'm Peter Tram, and I'm currently on the set of 'The Body' and I work as a dance stunt double for the leading actor, Kevin Bacon."

Ronald said hello and left quickly. This husband seemed to be a man who was good at sneaking around. It would be a waste of time to get entangled with him.

But "Full of Strength" was also filmed with a dance double, right? It seems that it is not easy to find people with both acting and dancing skills when making musical films.