Exploiting Hollywood 1980

"Ali is a symbol, the dream girl that all the lower-class boys in America want to have." Weintraub chatted with Ronald and the audition director about his ideas the day before the audition for the heroine began.

"So in addition to wanting a very beautiful girl, we also need her to be in line with the aesthetics of most Americans, and preferably already widely known."

Hearing this, Ronald raised his head and glanced at Weintraub. How come his words changed all overnight? No more looking at ethnicity? Did someone teach him?

"So, among these people, do you have a preference?" Dupont, the audition director, asked the producer while taking notes.

"Yes, we can focus on these two girls." Weintraub took the pen from Ronald's hand and circled the two names on the audition list.

"Lea Thompson, and Elizabeth Sue?"

"Yes, thanks to the Burger King commercial directed by Ronald, their popularity is very high among ordinary Americans." Weintraub patted Ronald on the shoulder, as if he had picked up something It's like a big deal.

"Hey, not bad. My children often talk about them." Dupont, the audition director, also said the same.

In addition to the national television audience, which has been bombarded with Burger King's series of commercials for months, the gossip about McDonald's suing Burger King and banning actress Sarah Michelle Gellar from dining at McDonald's also attracted a lot of attention.

It seemed that someone really taught Weintraub a few tricks. Ronald also felt that this statement was reasonable, so he took another ballpoint pen and wrote it down in his notebook. . Then he wrote a big question mark next to it, and wrote "Who is it?" next to it.

"I heard they auditioned for other movies?" Weintraub asked.

"Yes, Leigh Thompson's agent proposed that she keep the option of 'Red Dawn'. If John Milius chooses her, he will automatically ignore our film." Casting director Dupont turned to the notebook Previous page, "Elizabeth Sue is about to transfer to Harvard, so she's not sure."

"Ronald, please contact them when the time comes and see how things go. I know they are all actors you discovered." Weintraub gently scratched his temples with his fingernails. Eight million investment , still does not have much status in Hollywood, and actors do not regard their own projects as their first choice.

During the audition, Susan Akins attended as the representative as usual. At the end of the day, the best candidates in Ronald's mind were Lea Thompson and Elizabeth Sue. Both of them had their own merits, but what caught Ronald's eye the most was that the two of them looked like pretty girls next door in the camera lens.

As an audience, you can expect that your neighbor will have such a beautiful girl, but not so beautiful that you can only see it in movies.

Between the two, Ronald was more partial to Leigh Thompson. She knew how to restrain her luster better than Elizabeth Sue and let it out when needed.

The other girls who auditioned were a bit worse in person than in their audition photos. Sarah Jessica Parker is more suitable to play a supporting role. She looks so average that it would be impossible for Daniel to fall in love at first sight and be accepted by the audience, which would also be a great damage to the plot.

Sarah is not very picky, and she is also willing to play supporting roles. Maybe she had failed many auditions before and was criticized for not being pretty enough.

Sarah Jessica Parker fell in love with performing when she participated in the United Labor Organization's Singing Show as a child. But apart from her Jewish identity, she doesn't have many advantages in the industry.

Jennifer Gray comes from an acting family, and she is also Jewish. This girl's acting career is much broader. She also auditioned for the "Red Dawn" crew and was not afraid that Ronald would not choose her.

The third Helen Hunt, when she first entered the audition room, Ronald almost mistaken her for the child star Jodie Foster who had gone to Yale. The two have subtle similarities in facial features and temperament.

She also comes from an acting family, and she already starred in a movie last year, playing a girl who plays quarterback on a high school football team. Her problem is the same as the first two Jewish actors, she is not pretty enough.

After discussing and marking the evaluations of all the auditioned actresses with Dupont and Susan, Ronald got up and left first. She made an appointment with Lea Thompson and Elizabeth Sue at the Beverly Hills Hilton Hotel. Chat in the lounge.

Leigh Thompson saw Ronald walking into the lounge first and raised her hand to signal.

Ronald went over and sat in the seat between her and Elizabeth Su, "What are you talking about? Sorry, I'm done." He raised his hand to signal the waiter to bring a glass of mineral water.

"We were talking about the Burger King commercial, and it really helped us a lot." Leigh Thompson looked at Ronald and said, "Now I go to the crew to audition, and everyone knows that I am the Burger King girl. Even the character I played The surfer girls in Jaws 3D are not as famous as Burger King. We all have to thank you, Ronald.”

"This is the result of Burger King's huge investment and the quality of both of you." Ronald didn't want to take credit. "What about you? Elizabeth? I saw your updated resume, and it seems that you are not very active in film and television dramas."

"I have applied to Harvard to transfer from Wesleyan College. My application mentioned my advertising career, which should be of great help." Elizabeth also smiled and thanked Ronald for his support.

"In addition, my application will take some time. If... I mean if..." Elizabeth Sue grabbed Lee Thompson's hand, "If I get this role, can you tell me earlier? I need to communicate more with the school to postpone my admission."

"I will." Ronald agreed. He knew that it was a rare opportunity to study at Harvard, and he would tell Elizabeth Sue the final result as early as possible to avoid delaying her.

Many girls in the entertainment industry have become actors after graduating from high school or before graduation. But there are also a small number of actors who have higher education experience, even Ivy League degrees.

Gu 桭

"Ronald, I also want to get some inside information early..." Lee Thompson saw that Elizabeth Sue had also spoken out, and also wanted Ronald to inform her of the audition results in advance.

"You are different, it's useless for me to inform you in advance," Ronald said after drinking a sip of water. During the preparation stage of the crew, he didn't want to use alcohol and tobacco to boost his energy.

"Why?" Lee Thompson scolded.

"Because you still have the casting for 'Red Dawn'. Even if I choose you, I'm afraid you will abandon me and go fight Fidel's paratroopers." Ronald made a joke. The movie "Red Dawn" tells the story of men and women fighting guerrilla warfare against Cuban paratroopers.

Lee Thompson blushed, "You have never invited me to act in a movie, Ronald."

"I'm just kidding, Lee. I don't have the final say in casting. If the producer chooses any of you, I will be very happy."

Ronald unknowingly also caught the habit of Avilson's talkativeness.

"By the way, why is 'Red Dawn' so attractive? It seems that all the young actors in Hollywood have auditioned." Ronald showed an envious look.

"First of all, this is a big production. Secondly, everyone wants to act in director John Milius's movie." Lea Thompson analyzed it carefully for Ronald.

"But, female guerrillas? Come on." Ronald felt that these actors seemed to be short-sighted. Even if it was a big production, who would want to watch a female guerrilla? Guerrillas can't be beautiful in the camera, what's the point?

"Oh, Ronald. You don't know the life of us actors. Our acting time in a movie is very short. After filming, we will audition for the next one. By the time the movie we shot is released, we may have shot two more in the middle, and we have forgotten the plot of the movie that was released.

So my agent said that I should have a plan for my career. "Red Dawn" is the new work of a big-selling director, and MGM invested more than 15 million in it.

There are very few such big productions now. The agent said that as long as I can act, I can improve my position in the future. Unlike "The Karate Kid",... Forget it, I won't say it."

Lee Thompson said halfway, then picked up the straw and started drinking the cocktail.

"What did he say?" Ronald knew it was not a good thing, but he still wanted to hear the real opinions of the industry agent on his movie. In this circle, most people flatter in person, and few people will say their true opinions.

"Yes, Lee, we are all friends, there is nothing we can't say." Elizabeth Shue echoed beside him.

"Okay, but this is what my agent said. He said that Hollywood is saying that your movie is just a small-scale exploitation film, which is to cheat money from laymen like Weintraub. As long as the cost is higher, you can make a lot of money.

So many agents are not optimistic about your project, and there are many actresses who are unwilling to audition for your movie."

"So why did you come?" Ronald took a sip of water. This rumor was really boring. He has always only helped producers save money and has never cheated producers like Michael Cimino.

"Me? I like this role a little, and I was able to enter the film and television industry because you gave me the first chance."

"Thank you, I will urge the producer and give you an answer as soon as possible. But please do me a favor. If you have any progress in "Red Dawn", please tell me as soon as possible so that I can prepare to find other actresses."

The three friends sat for a while, and Ronald left first to work on the project.

Before leaving, he remembered and asked Lea Thompson, "How is Dennis?"

"He just finished a movie about a person who can manipulate other people's thoughts through dreams. Now, he is preparing for the next project." Lea Thompson talked about her boyfriend Dennis Quaid with a smile on her face.

Dennis Quaid's acting career is developing well. The two often find time to get together during the filming breaks.

Ronald smiled. It is a personal choice and outsiders have no right to interfere. This is the value of America. Choosing a spouse is also a kind of competition. No one sympathizes with the loser.

But the two Burger King girls have other choices. Ronald thinks he should make some preparations. He found the phone and called Weintraub.

"Hello, Weintraub is here."

Ronald heard a voice coming from the receiver, as if Weintraub was in a meeting with someone.

"It's me, Ronald. There is a high possibility that both girls will not be able to participate. I think we have to start the backup plan."

"Come to the office tomorrow to discuss in detail. We should really continue to look for it."