Exploiting Hollywood 1980

"I take this film very seriously, and I think it needs a director who understands African-American history to be at the helm, preferably a black director." Quincy Jones, who serves as the producer, gave his reasons , I hope Ronald will give way.

During the meeting to discuss who would serve as the director of "The Color Purple," Alice Walker, the original author, also expressed her concerns:

"Ronald, you can shoot black people very well. We saw your 'Break Dance', which featured black people as the protagonists, and several other movies also had important black characters. You are one of our minorities. friend."

"But this movie, it's about the American South in the past. We wanted a director who had an understanding of that history to direct it. You know, Hollywood likes to adapt black literature and then dissolve the meaning. ”

Alice Walker had no grudge against Ronald because he was not black. She was worried that Ronald could not grasp the temperament of black life in the southern states at the beginning of the twentieth century.

"Yes, Ronald, I like your work very much. But you are not black. You came of age after the civil rights movement. This is a history of black people." Quincy Jones added.

"This has nothing to do with your talent. It's just an author's worry. I think you can understand."

Watching Alice Walker, who became the first black woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Literature in 1982 for "The Color Purple", to express her reasons more sincerely, Ronald felt that her worries were also justified. Not completely unreasonable.

He really didn't understand the life of black people in the past. When watching "The Color Purple", he was surprised by the black women who were given away like animals.

But Quincy Jones seems to know less about this movie than himself. Ronald glanced at him. Nowadays, music producers who have made a lot of money come to join in the fun and make movies.

"The Color Purple" tells the story of a black family, and there is a strong lace plot between the two heroines. The whole movie has nothing to do with racial discrimination, but more like the tyrannical father and the relationship between the farm family in the South. The traditional story of the resigned daughter.

Quincy Jones secured the approval of producer Peter Guber, who had a strong say in the project. Alice Walker, the author with veto power, also obeyed the words of Quincy Jones, the most powerful black man in Hollywood. Although he and Ronald have similar honors in the film industry, they received Oscar nominations for their film scores.

Seeing the author Alice's love for her work, Ronald respected her ideas and wanted to withdraw from the director competition. After all, I have also been a screenwriter, and I know that this worry that the director may not be able to film his script is very real.

The problem was that Quincy Jones's attitude of "You can't do a good job on our black people's stories" made him a little uncomfortable.

"I think I can learn more about this history through research." Ronald thought for a while and told Alice Walker his thoughts. "I had never practiced karate before filming 'The Dragon King'." , Don’t understand his history. Directors always have to do their homework before shooting.”

Alice Walker looked at Quincy Jones. She felt that what Ronald said was reasonable. Could it be that the director who filmed a murder case had to kill one himself?

"Hey, boy, you don't know our history as African Americans. Our fathers, our ancestors, have always been oppressed and exploited. We grew cotton in cotton fields and played music in clubs for white people. By the time we got our first Pulitzer Prize, we wanted to do something for our race."

"It seems that Quincy Jones really doesn't understand the story of this movie." Ronald became more and more certain in his heart. This guy was full of discrimination and oppression, but the man who gave his daughter as a gift to another black man as his wife in Zili was obviously also a black man.

He is simply the kind of person who has made a lot of money and fame for J's new album in the record industry, and wants to come to Hollywood to increase his presence.

"Well, I like you very much and hope to have the opportunity to cooperate with you in the future." Ronald stood up and shook hands with Alice Walker before leaving.

Such an ignorant producer likes to interfere deeply in every aspect of the film. Unless the director is big enough, the filming will definitely be chaotic. Ronald didn't want to wade through this troubled waters.

"Then what should we do? Who should we find to direct? Are there any black directors now who can handle this subject?" Alice Walker turned to Quincy Jones. I was persuaded by him, so I rejected Ronald because of his different ethnic origin and his young age.

"I've already made a plan, let's find Spielberg." Quincy Jones waved his hand, maybe he could even win an Oscar.

"But he's not black either. Can he film the story of a black family in a southern state?"

"Spielberg is very capable. His directorship can be ranked among the top three in America." Quincy Jones also showed the expert style of a senior Hollywood scorer. "The director can do in-depth research. How can he do it?" Why do you want to kill someone yourself when you’re filming a murder case?”

"This..." Alice Walker shook her head, "If I can really find Spielberg, what else do I have to complain about?"

…

"Then what should we do?" Ronald asked Niceta, his agent who works as a driver. "I didn't expect that even Mr. Ovitz's recommendation would be rejected."

"I didn't expect that Alice Walker actually found Quincy Jones." Niceta honked the horn and urged the car in front.

"Black people have always been suspicious of Hollywood. In the 1965 version of "Uncle Tom's Cabin", the role of black Uncle Tom was changed to be very strange, almost like the story of the heroine, Jerlin."

"So you didn't expect me to shoot it completely according to the original, right?" Ronald understood. Hollywood was still dominated by white people after all. Just like John Hughes' previous "Sixteen Candles", the Korean-American character Long Da Diao was filmed as a stereotypical Asian, and the audience didn't object loudly.

"Beep...", Nicita honked the horn and agreed, "At least the lesbian plot must be toned down, otherwise it will be very controversial."

"What should we do then?" Ronald found that he had no idea about his next movie.

"Whatever you want to do, buy a house, buy a sports car, make a new girlfriend, travel abroad, do whatever you want. Ronald, there are very few Hollywood directors who shoot movies as intensively as you do. You are no longer working for Roger Corman. You can slowly find a suitable script, or wait for your own inspiration to emerge."

"That's true," Ronald opened the car window and blew the wind. By the end of the year, I might get millions of dollars in share from "Breakdance", and the box office of "The Karate Kid" is also strong, so I can enjoy life.

My dreams always come when I don't expect them. I have analyzed them in various ways, but I still can't figure out the triggering conditions.

It's better to enjoy life with beautiful women, watch the Olympics, and travel abroad. Maybe I can change the environment, feel happy, and dream about new movies again.

...

"Helen, this way!" Ronald saw Helen Slater coming out at the airport. She was much thinner, no longer the strong look of "Superwoman", but she also had a kind of fragile beauty.

He did it right away. In order to compensate Helen Slater, Ronald specially found several friends in the circle and began to introduce roles to her.

Finally, Ronald found a suitable role from Zemeckis, and then called Gerard to arrange for his daughter to come for an audition.

"Ronnie," Helen hugged Ronald, "Are we going to audition?"

"I've arranged everything. Director Zemeckis and the casting director are here. You can go directly to the second round of the recall and act with the male lead." Ronald helped carry the luggage.

The two have been friends since Helen suffered from anorexia and said she needed to take a break.

"Marty, one rejection is not the end of the world." Helen Slater, wearing a pink T-shirt, read the lines of the protagonist Marty's girlfriend, Jennifer Parker, in the audition room.

"I think I should give up music," Eric Stoltz, who plays Marty McFly, has a good line foundation. He looked at Helen and said a little annoyed. This plot is a conversation between Marty and his girlfriend after he failed in the audition school party.

"But, Marty, you're great. You're really great." Helen took out a tape from her shorts pocket, "This demo sounds really good, you should send it to the record company to try."

"Very good, thank you, Helen, we will inform your agent when we make a decision." Robert Zemeckis looked at the two people's audition and nodded in his heart, "Or inform Ronald."

"Hehe, just inform my agent." Helen glanced at Ronald and left the audition room.

"What do you think, Ronald?" Zemeckis was very satisfied with Helen introduced by Ronald. This role doesn't have many scenes. The first thing is to be beautiful, and then have the temperament of a girlfriend from a high family that ordinary high school students want to make but can't.

Helen Slater just meets all the requirements. She comes from a rich family, has a first-class appearance, and is especially outstanding under the camera. She doesn't need too good acting skills. To be precise, she is a first-class vase.

"Of course I think Helen is suitable, but do you have any other candidates?" Ronald smiled at Zemeckis. The two actors he recommended for him, Eric Stoltz and Lea Thompson, both had roles that required great acting skills, which solved his big problem. Helen herself was very suitable for the role, so he would not refuse.

"Her temperament is particularly outstanding, and her height is also suitable." Zemeckis did not pretend to be false, and took out the audition photos of the two actors and put them on the table, "This is Claudia Wells, her height is too far from Eric, and there is no chemical reaction."

Then he pointed to another tall beauty and said, "Melora Harding, her temperament and height are OK, I originally planned to use her, but Helen is obviously a level more beautiful than her, so that boys all over the country will envy the good luck of the protagonist Marty McFly."

"Thank you," Ronald smiled and gave Zemeckis a hug. He finally paid back his favor. It is easy to pay back money, but it is always a bit troublesome to owe favors. You don't know what the other party will ask you to use to pay it back.

…

"Mr. Spielberg, I really hope you can direct this movie."

Alice Walker, the author of "The Color Purple", began to promote Spielberg, hoping that he could direct this movie.

"Yes, Steven, this movie won the Pulitzer Prize. If it is adapted into a movie, it is very likely to win the Oscar for Best Director." Quincy Jones knew how to convince this big commercial film director.

Spielberg was indeed a little tempted, "But I don't know anything about the history of black people in the Deep South. I'm afraid I can't reflect the original appearance. Maybe you should find a black director."

"Eon, this is not about ethnicity, but about who has the ability to make a convincing film." Quincy Jones flattered Spielberg in a different way.

"Yeah, when you were filming ET Aliens, did you have to be an alien before you could film it?"

"Okay," Spielberg was persuaded. This Pulitzer Prize-winning film might really bring him a nomination for Best Director, and he might compete with his old friend Sydney Pollack's "Out of Africa," which is also a best-selling adaptation.

"However, my girlfriend is about to give birth, and I have to wait until our child is born before filming."

"Don't worry, we will take good care of Amy. There is a plot in the script about the protagonist giving birth, and it just so happens that you are a father for the first time in your life, so you will be able to film this scene perfectly."

"Hehehe," Spielberg thought of the actress Amy Irving, who had reunited with him, and his heart was filled with joy of becoming a father. Speaking of which, it was only after filming "ET Aliens" that he felt that children were not noisy, but cute.

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