Exploiting Hollywood 1980

"Hush..."

The audience in the Palace of Cinema booed again.

There was a problem with the screening of the opening film "Sagan Castle". The brightness of the film projector was not enough. After the audience complained loudly about the dim projection, the organizers brightened the bulb. But half an hour later, the bulb exploded. The technician had to stop, replace the new bulb and dim the brightness again.

The venue of the Palace of Cinema is very large, and the projection equipment is the size of a general cinema. Since the main venue was moved to the newly built Palace of Cinema last year, there have always been problems of one kind or another.

The audio lines were not set according to the standards of the Palace of Cinema, and the constant explosions made the audience curse.

The crew of "Sagan Castle" was livid. The same problem occurred last year and has not been solved yet. As a film representing the United States in the "Golden Palm" competition, they can be said to have a bad start.

Natasha Kinski, who attended the dinner that followed, couldn't help but giggle at the round table. On her left was Stanton, the male lead of the crew of "Texas, Paris", and on her right was the Middle Eastern man. The two of them were very comfortable with each other.

"Ibrahim dear, what's going on over there? Why did they all leave early?" Kinski saw some people standing up at the table at the back of the banquet, making a lot of noise, and then scrambling to get out.

"I heard that an American movie caused a sensation, and they were all busy buying copies." The Middle Eastern man was Ibrahim Moussa, a wealthy businessman and film producer in Egypt. He was shocked by Natasha Kinski since he met her and kept pursuing her. He also took out money to invest in Kinski's film.

Ibrahim Moussa sent an assistant to find out the situation, and then signaled him to negotiate the distribution of the copy in Egypt. He himself accompanied Kinski every step of the way, and the old man next to him was the goddess's ex-ex.

"Which movie is it? Is it "Once Upon a Time in America" ​​directed by Leon?" Natasha Kinski asked. This "Once Upon a Time in America" ​​took two years to edit. Director Leon has high hopes for the three-hour special edition that will be screened at the Cannes Film Festival. Those businessmen are after this kind of movie, right?

"No, it's a small production called 'Hot Dance', produced by a small company. I heard that the director is a boy in his twenties named Ronald.

Natasha, don't waste your energy on these films that have no art. You are born to be a film artist. You should shoot a few productions by famous directors before you retire, leaving eternal memories for the audience."

"Well..." Natasha's face changed, and she immediately returned to her smiling face, dealing with her suitor and her ex-boyfriend.

After the dinner, Natasha Kinski returned to the hotel accompanied by Musa.

"Well, you know, dear Ibrahim, I'm not very convenient recently." After kissing goodbye at the door, Kinski blocked Musa from the door.

"Okay, my little cutie, I'll come to see you tomorrow."

Natasha watched Ibrahim Musa walk to the elevator door at the door, then quickly closed the door, picked up the phone and called her ex-boyfriend Harry Dean Stanton.

"Harry, can you accompany me to another hotel? I have something to go to."

Ronald's hotel is on the same road as Natasha Kinski's. He was enjoying the evening breeze on the balcony. "Breakdance" was selling well, and Minahan took the opportunity to establish contact with some movie buyers.

He tried to sell them the sequel to "Breakdance", a movie that had not yet been made, and sold it first. This arrangement of getting the pre-sale money first is a world of difference from the American release, where it takes a year to recover the box office.

If this path can be opened, it will be easy for producers to copy Roger Corman's success. Get the money first, then shoot a small-scale exploitation film, with a quick turnover and no risk. If you are lucky, you can still make a hit in one or two years.

If this path can be opened, then it is not impossible to invest in movies with your own money.

"Hey, isn't that Natasha Kinski?" Ronald suddenly saw two figures walking on the road. It was Kinski, the leading actress of the film participating in this year's Palme d'Or. She was wearing a headscarf and sunglasses, and there was a man beside her. If it weren't for her characteristic high nose, she would not be recognized.

She was wearing a loose long skirt and walked quickly along the roadside.

A gust of wind blew, and the long skirt stuck to her body. Natasha Kinski's waist was a little fatter than before.

"Why is it popular for actresses to gain weight now?" Ronald couldn't help but guess where she was going so late at night?

"Ding Dong", after a while, the doorbell of Ronald's room was rang.

"I'm here", Ronald walked over to open the door. Why did the midnight snack come so soon?

"Ronald", Natasha Kinski and Stanton were outside the door.

"Natasha, why are you here?"

Ronald let the two in.

The three chatted about the past in America for a while, how Ronald took pictures of Kinski back then, and how Ronald learned directing skills from "Old Love, New Love" starring Stanton.

Natasha Kinski seized the opportunity and said to Ronald, "I came here to ask you for a favor."

"Me? What can I do for you?" Ronald thought to himself, maybe you have found the wrong person.

Unlike the Oscars, which are voted by Hollywood practitioners, the awards at the Cannes Film Festival are decided by a jury.

The judges this year include the famous veteran Hollywood director Stanley Conan, the Italian soundtrack master Morricone, and the Chinese actress Isabelle Huppert, who once served as the heroine in "Heaven's Gate".

They discussed behind closed doors, and under the chairman's auspices, everyone exchanged words, and finally came to a conclusion, who can take away the golden palm leaf.

Ronald didn't know any of these judges. It is also impossible to influence the opinions of one or two judges through agents like in Hollywood. There is really nothing you can do.

"No, that's not it." Kinski turned to Stanton, who had accompanied her, and said, "Harry, can Ronald and I be alone for a chat?"

After sending Stanton away, Kinski sat next to Ronald and held Ronald's hand with his hand. "I'm talking about my other movie 'Maria's Lovers'. Can you help me?" Tell me about Mr. Minahan Golan? I know that the film you shot for him sold very well in Cannes, and he will definitely be willing to help me to make the film famous in other film festivals, right?”

Ronald looked at Natasha Kinski's face that looked like a Greek sculpture as she gradually approached, and a faint fragrance came over. He couldn't help but feel his head heat up, and he almost agreed.

"I'm just a director. I don't understand this kind of business thing. I can only help you mention it." At the critical moment, Ronald remembered the intimate look of Kinski and Stanton he had just seen on the balcony. , quickly changed his words without saying anything.

Then he leaned back, took a pillow and put it on his knees, and raised his legs.

"You are so humble, Ronald. I think sometimes you don't act like an American." Kinski said again, "I know that you directed this blockbuster dance movie, and Mr. Golan will definitely I will take your opinions into consideration carefully.”

"Then I can't mislead him even more. You know I know a thing or two about making movies, but I know nothing about how to sell them."

Natasha Kinski became distressed, "I know, we artists still have to be manipulated by these businessmen."

Her expression became a little sad, "This 'Maria's Lovers' was actually invested by one of my suitors, Mr. Ibrahim Moussa of Egypt. If I can't help him earn back his investment, , just... I can only agree to his kindness."

Natasha Kinski has changed her look again and seems to have regained the playfulness she had when she was younger a few years ago, "He was very nice to me, but you know, the idea of ​​a Middle Eastern man, he wants me After marrying him, I took a break for a few years and concentrated on having children for him and being a housewife."

Kinski sat back a little further, "But I still want to keep making movies. I don't want to be a housewife and mother behind a businessman."

Ronald couldn't help but hold the pillow tighter.

"Okay, I'll mention it to Minahan. We're going to show a movie on the beach in three days, and he'll have some free time afterwards, and I'll arrange for you to talk about it in detail."

"Then, thank you?" Kinski stood up, preparing to call Stanton outside and leave together.

"Can you say a nice word for me in front of him? The conditions he offered last time were not very good."

"I will." Ronald also stood up, still holding a pillow on his waist.

"Thank you, Ronald." Kinski came up and hugged Ronald, wrapping his arms around Ronald's neck.

Ronald was embarrassed, the pillow fell to the side, and the two of them hugged each other tightly.

Kinski completely felt Ronald's enthusiasm, "Hehehe...you are so kind. I could see that you were a very capable man back then. It's a pity that Demi Moore liked you so much at that time, and I couldn't be with you." She grabs."

Ronald also felt the amazing charm of the beautiful woman in his arms. No wonder the Egyptian pursued her so diligently. And what’s going on with Stanton outside?

"She's really fat, and her belly is sticking out." Ronald couldn't help but recall when he took her audition photos in Los Angeles. At that time, Kinski was innocent and at the peak of her appearance.

Open the door and send the two actors out.

Ronald picked up the glass, took a glass of water from the tap, and drank it.

"Actually, Kinski is not bad now. She has more of the charm of a mature woman and is more charming."

The cold water helped Ronald calm down a bit, "I'm just fat again. How come I'm the same as Diane? It's like I can feel my belly when it's hugged. The 'Maria's Lovers' she filmed was also a period film. Need a fattening aesthetic?”

Ronald felt that it was unreasonable for these great artistic directors to make actresses so fat, as if they were pregnant. What was the benefit?

"Wait a minute..." Ronald touched his own body and recalled the feeling when he and Kinski were so close to each other just now, "Isn't it?"

He turned on the TV and watched the news in French.

A local news report showing Natasha Kinski arriving at the Cinema Palace with two men.

Ronald took a closer look at Kinski's gait and was almost certain. No wonder I am so anxious to find a marriage partner.

I couldn’t understand French, and there was only one piece of news in which the name of an American man who participated in the meeting was pronounced in English.

"Jack Valenti," Ronald recognized, seemed to be the president of the American Film Institute, who also spoke on stage at the Oscars.

"The Minister of Culture of the Kingdom of China, negotiations..." Ronald guessed a little from the subtitles. It seems that Hollywood and the Kingdom of China are negotiating on opening up the market.

Ronald picked up the phone and called the person next door, "Minahan, have you seen the news? It seems that the Kingdom of China's film market is going to be fully open to Hollywood."