Exploiting Hollywood 1980

The last shot of "Terminator" was beautifully shot. After the sample was printed, Ronald was invited to Cameron's editing room to watch.

"I think you will be a very professional candidate as a director of photography. Now American directors of photography do not necessarily have to be operators or coolies. As long as you have a good aesthetic sense and some understanding of the camera, you can be a good director of photography." Cameron praised sincerely.

"Ronald wants to be a great director." Gail corrected him beside him. Sometimes Cameron didn't pay much attention to these. Let a director who has already made many hit movies be a director of photography. People who are not familiar with him think he is belittling.

"We are old friends. Jim is actually right. If I didn't have the opportunity to write scripts and be a director, I might develop into photography."

"Click!" Cameron pressed the shot taken by Ronald, and then quickly picked out the motor sound and wind sound in the sound material, synchronized them and fixed them with tape.

"Why do you still use this old-fashioned editing tape?" Ronald was a little surprised. "I have a new tape that is very easy to use, and each editing notch will not eat up one and a half frames of film."

Ronald recommended Walter Merz's new editing tape. Each editing notch only covers less than one-third of the film, keeping the rhythm and breath of the film intact. It can be said that the director and editor liked it as soon as they saw it.

"I've heard that it was invented and manufactured by Walter Merz. But he is not in America recently, and I can't contact him." Cameron is a technology enthusiast and found a dealer by himself.

"I'll call his home." Ronald called San Francisco to find Merz's wife to buy it. But he was told that Merz was still filming "Return to Oz" in the UK and there were not many stocks left.

After saying some good words, Ronald bought the last two rolls of stock from Mrs. Merz and asked Cameron to send a check to her. Merz refused to open a factory because of the small amount used. I hope everything goes well for him in London.

Time soon came to the weekend of the second week of June again.

Ronald looked up the box office column of "The Hollywood Reporter".

"Street Rage" and "Once Upon a Time in America", starring Diane, both had their box office plummeted to just over one million. They were forced to be withdrawn from the screen less than a month after their release.

"Breakdancing", directed by Ronald, was squeezed by the release of three new films, and MGM gradually reduced the number of theaters showing it. The weekend box office had fallen below two million, leaving only one and a half million.

However, the report sent by Cannon showed that the box office of the newly released second-tier theaters in big cities and town theaters in small towns continued to soar. Everything was very good, and the decline was very slow.

In total, the box office of "Breakdancing" did not decrease but increased, returning to more than four million. The total box office has approached 40 million.

Upward is the rival of "Breakdancing", "Hot Street Kids" released by Orion. This movie, which had a high momentum before its release, Orion won 1,400 theaters to show it, and began to concentrate advertising on major media.

"Five million and two hundred thousand," Ronald looked at the box office figures and felt relieved.

"Hot Street Kids" is known as a real "breakdancing" movie, and various advertisements have attacked "breakdancing", but in the end, it is not as high as the first week box office of Breakdancing in 1,000 theaters, which was 7.8 million. The average box office of a single theater is only half of his own.

No matter how the film critics led by Roger Ebert boast, it is impossible to compare with him in terms of box office.

Going up, the box office of "Star Trek: The Search for Spock" has quickly fallen to 9 million. "The House of Mortals" still maintains a box office of more than 12 million, which is worthy of being a big production jointly produced by Spielberg and Lucas.

"Huh," Ronald saw "The House of Mortals" all the way, and there were actually two movies on it. The weekend box office is actually higher than that of Spielberg's directorial works?

His eyes want to move up with his fingers, there are two new films!

The second place is related to Spielberg!

It was the teen fantasy horror film "Grels" written by Chris Columbus, whom Ronald knew, shot by Spielberg's Amblin Films, and distributed by Warner Bros.

Ronald looked at the details. The director of this film was Joe Dante, one of the leaders of his directing career. And the leading actress was Phoebe Cates, a black-haired beauty he discovered.

"Joe Dante, forget it, otherwise shouldn't this movie be made by me?" Ronald knocked his head. The actors, screenwriters, and producers were all his acquaintances, so why didn't Spielberg think of him?

Maybe it was because of the lack of contact, Ronald thought, no wonder these big-name directors and stars all lived in several wealthy communities in Los Angeles. Just the connections of frequent parties could help them get a lot of information.

Unlike himself who often went to New York, he lived in an apartment in Los Angeles instead of a separate house, and didn't try to be close to Beverly Hills, so he was far away from the circle. Ronald decided that after getting his share of the profits from "Breakdance", he would consider moving into a nicer, larger house, so that he could at least have a party.

"Gremlins" was shown in 1,500 theaters in its first week, earning $12.5 million.

Ronald pointed his finger upwards, which movie could be more powerful than this?

It was shown in 1,340 theaters, earning $13.5 million in its first weekend, with an average box office of more than $10,000 per theater.

"Ghostbusters!"

Another movie I know.

I also drank beer with Canadian screenwriter and starring Dan Aykroyd, and had dinner with Canadian colleagues working in Hollywood, but I forgot about it.

This was the last movie that former Columbia President Frank Price agreed to before he jumped to Universal.

In the end, comedy master Bill Murray and actress Sigourney Weaver were invited to star.

This is a movie that CAA President Michael Ovitz tried his best to promote. From the screenwriter, director, to the main actors, they are all CAA clients. Ovitz has long been optimistic about the comedy and horror genre, and this time he finally succeeded in "Ghostbusters".

All of a sudden, Ronald felt the pressure. Two new films, two second-week blockbusters, and "The Karate Kid" released in two weeks will face the pressure of the last four hits.

Ronald picked up the phone and called producer Weintraub, "Jerry, did you see today's box office results? We have to do something."

Jerry brought Susan Aikins to meet Ronald in the office, and both felt that the challenge was huge.

Weintraub wanted to take out another half a million to add to the marketing of the movie. Ronald began to ask old friends to see if he could get another talk show or a movie interview before the release.

After the discussion, the two went their separate ways.

Ronald rushed to the CAA office, where someone was launching streamers. Many people held champagne in their hands to celebrate the great success of "Ghostbusters".

Ronald left the celebrating crowd and went straight to Niceta's office.

"Rick! Do you want to hold a celebration like this too?"

"Shh!" Niceta made a small gesture and stood up to close the door of the office.

"Of course I think so. Is your 'The Karate Kid' also threatened?"

"Of course, you have to help me think of ways to increase exposure. This movie will definitely be a box office success, but I'm worried that the current Ghostbusters and Gremlins are both box office monsters and will swallow up our exposure."

"What do you think? Which shows do you want to be exposed on?"

"A few major talk shows are fine? Johnny Carson, or David Letterman. Although I know their schedules are full, do you have any ideas?"

"I have an idea. I can go on both talk shows this weekend, and maybe I can go to CBS News 60."

"Ah? What idea? Tell me quickly."

"You make your relationship with Brooke Shields public, and then they will all come." Nicita poured herself a glass of wine and drank it.

"Ah?"

"Hahaha, I fooled you."

Ronald realized that the other party was joking, "Brooke is so focused on graduating from Princeton that she doesn't even accept movie invitations."

"I know, can you persuade her? Her fame is still strong, isn't it just right for her to come out and make movies during the summer vacation?"

"If you can kick her mother out and become her agent, I don't object and will help." Ronald actually felt that Brooke shouldn't give up her acting career, and she might regret it in the future.

"It's really too tight, I can't arrange it." Niceta shook her head and rejected Ronald's idea.

"Can you go on Barbie Wygant's show?" Ronald remembered this female film critic. His "Fast Pace" had been on her show, and it was arranged by Universal at that time.

"I'll make a few calls."

Nicita made a few calls to find out the situation. "Barbie is recording a show in Los Angeles. She may give you a role, but she needs some gimmicks. It's just a medium-sized production distributed by Columbia, and there are no stars. If she wants to give you a role, she needs some reasons."

"Reasons?"

Ronald thought again and again, thinking about all the participants in the movie.

The male and female protagonists are not stars. Some of the supporting roles are second-generation stars, but they are not qualified. Producer Weintraub enters the film industry? But Barbie Wygant's interviews have always been only with the main creative staff.

"Can I do it alone without Brooke?" Ronald felt that he was still a successful director.

"It's difficult. Your current movie is produced by Weintraub. Columbia can't use resources so actively."

"Then there is only one person left, Morita Noriyuki, who plays Mr. Miyagi."

Ronald thought about it and called the office of Hawaii Senator Daniel Inoue on Capitol Hill.

"Mr. Inoue is busy with his proposal in the Senate to adopt a new sterilization method for milk transported by the troops stationed in Hawaii. The original bus sterilization method can only keep the milk for eight days. Soldiers in Hawaii and Alaska often drink sour milk."

"Why can the senator only propose this kind of proposal?" Ronald was puzzled. "Then can I get assistance from Mr. Inoue's office?"

"Hello, I am Mr. Inoue's public affairs assistant. Who are you?" The call was transferred to the office of Inoue's subordinate.

"I am Ronald Lee, the director of a film about the history of the 442nd Infantry Regiment."

"Mr. Inoue specifically told you that after the film is released, he hopes you can send a copy to Capitol Hill for screening. Is there anything you need his help with?"

"I hope Mr. Inoue can help promote my movie and get the actor who plays the Medal of Honor winner of the Infantry Regiment to be interviewed on a film review program."

"Barbie Wygant? Her program needs advertising sponsorship, right? I'll call the people at Sony."