Exploiting Hollywood 1980

"She does have financial troubles. I have spoken with her agent team and David Letterman's agent to confirm that this is true."

Niceta and her wife Paula talked on the phone for a long time and confirmed the news through several channels. Cher was a little short of money.

"I remember very early on, Cher was a singer. How could she be short of hotel room fees?" Ronald was a little puzzled.

"Her financial situation is indeed a bit problematic. Her most popular songs were all released before the 1980s. At that time, her producer and manager were both her ex-husband Sonny Bono.

You know, the best way for a man to control a popular female singer is to marry her. So when Cher was very popular, she received very limited income from those songs.

Most of the new songs Cher released in the late 1970s were commercially unsuccessful. She hasn't had a new song in the top ten in seven or eight years. "

"But even if most of the dividends were taken away by her ex-husband, she shouldn't be able to pay tens of thousands of yuan for the house, right? Is it tens of thousands of yuan?"

"Twenty-eight thousand dollars," Niceta got the exact figure from David Letterman. "You don't know the pomp and circumstance of female celebrities, Ronald. Cher has a very large exclusive team to support, including a personal makeup artist, a personal hairstylist, and a lot of assistants."

"I don't really believe it. Even so, she is a big star." Ronald's calculation was wrong. "If Cher doesn't say anything else, it's not difficult at all to go to a concert somewhere and get tens of thousands of dollars." Bar?"

"Of course, she was stationed at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas and was paid three hundred thousand dollars a week."

As an agent, Niceta is very sensitive to this kind of remuneration.

“But you may underestimate how quickly a female star can spend money, invest a little here in a friend’s restaurant, buy a little stock recommended by the singer there, and boom! Six months later, with a single spell, the wealth is quickly gone.

Besides, Cher's efforts to transition into disco and rock genres ultimately failed. After that, she chose to be an actress. However, the studio was not willing to offer much in salary, so she was sitting on nothing in the past few years.

In addition, she is a single mother of two children and has a difficult mother who is counting on her. There are also several young and ambitious boyfriends who want to break into Hollywood, except of course Tom.

I'm afraid it's possible that I don't have enough cash at the moment. "

"Well, I didn't know that her financial situation was so bad. The salary MGM gave her was not very high, only more than 100,000 US dollars."

Then Ronald asked Niceta, "What's going on with Letterman? Why didn't he give Cher this reward? Twenty-eight thousand dollars is not very expensive compared to inviting Cher to support her, right?" "

"You may not know much about stand-up shows. In this kind of show, you can discuss remuneration or exchange some benefits in private, but this cannot be said publicly on the show. When Cher said this, Letterman had only one way to deny it. He has already had many I hinted at Xueer for the first time, but the other party didn’t answer.”

It turned out that Letterman's team, in order to recruit star Cher to boost ratings, actually agreed to the other party's request and promised to pay her $28,000 in room fees, plus reimbursement of air tickets.

But for some unknown reason, Cher had a strong objection to David Letterman himself, and the two had no good words for each other. Letterman started by asking Cher why she had declined invitations so many times in the past. Cher seemed to lose control and revealed the real reason.

This creates a vicious cycle. David Letterman cannot admit that he paid money in front of all the live viewers, otherwise it will cause other guests to follow suit and cause the budget to get out of control.

On the other hand, when Cher saw Letterman denying it to his face, she thought he was really unwilling to pay, so she went back on his promise and further deepened her prejudice against him until she said, "You are a big asshole."

The conversation between the two after that was like a large-scale disaster scene. Letterman quickly ended the conversation, and Cher went back to the hotel without picking up the check.

"Ring ring ring ring..."

This was the phone call that suddenly came to mind. After answering, Niceta said a few words and handed it to Ronald, "It's David Letterman."

"Hello David, what's wrong with you today?" Ronald picked up the phone and comforted poor Letterman.

"Ronald, I won't say much. Your agent called me just now and told me that you are about to let Cher star in your movie.

I urgently need you to give me a message to explain my difficulties to Xueer. If I openly admitted on the show that I paid for her room, my show budget would never be able to support the guests I wanted to invite. "

"What do you want, David?" Ronald covered the phone and gave Niceta a look for advice. Niceta had a strange look on her face, and he didn't know why Letterman was looking for him.

"It's very simple. I want to ask her to come back to my evening show again after the impact has passed. As long as she doesn't mention this matter, let us finish the show normally, so that everyone will remember her last night." I said it as a little joke.”

"I'll see what I can do." Ronald didn't fully agree and spoke vaguely.

"Let me be frank, the ratings of the show just now skyrocketed after Xueer scolded me. I don't hate her, but what she did made me a little confused. I don't have a hard time for her, right? I Some other guests are a bit more 'bad', which is just a common practice on late-night talk shows."

"I'll convey your message."

"Very good. Besides, she hasn't received the check I gave her yet. We'll give her a reasonable price next time."

Ronald put down the phone, also with a funny look on his face. David Letterman, who was humiliated in public, almost lost his temper during the live broadcast just now. Now that the ratings have increased, he took the initiative to make up the money and invited the other party to come on the show again.

It seems that the pressure of these TV guys' jobs is no less than that of working in movies.

Nicita had already found Cher's hotel phone number and handed the microphone to Ronald after the call was connected.

"Cher, this is Ronald. I just watched your performance on the Letterman show..."

"Oh, it seems like everyone knows? I don't care. That bad guy really deserves it. Someone should have scolded him long ago."

"So he really didn't reimburse you for the room fee?"

"Yes, now the hotel manager has also watched the show. He is trying to persuade me to leave by myself. The existing debts will be temporarily put on hold. Listen to the faces of these people."

After saying that, Cher also pointed the microphone at the manager on the scene.

"Hello, is this the manager of the hotel? I am Ronald Lee, the director of Cher's next movie.

She needs to move out? You don't have to worry so much. I'll come over and I'll settle her account."

Ronald put on his coat, called Bud, and went to NBC Letterman to pick up Cher's check. Then he drove to the door of Cher's room in the hotel.

The manager was still politely telling Cher that he was powerless and she had to leave the hotel.

"Ronald, you are here. Look at these people. They think I can't pay the room fee."

"Don't bother me. Yes, I'll settle her account." Ronald took out a check and handed it to Cher, asking him to endorse it and pay the room fee later.

"Great, Ms. Cher can stay here forever. I'm sorry for the inconvenience."

"No, she doesn't want to live in your place anymore." Ronald directed Little Bud and Cher's assistant to start packing her things.

"Hey, Ronald, what are you doing?"

"Rehearsal is about to start, and I hope you can prepare in a better environment. It is important to rest during rehearsal, and you also need good service. I think the service here is really bad, if nothing else."

Cher heard that the conditions were better in the place she was going to, so she didn't say anything, and took the initiative to help pack a few of her clothes.

Soon, Ronald planted Cher and her first batch of luggage and came to a 58-story building on Fifth Avenue.

The bottom eight floors here are shopping malls, the upper floors are offices, and the top 39 floors are all hotel apartment rooms.

After meeting with Niceta who came to prepare in advance, Ronald went to the hotel lobby in the middle of this golden building and opened an apartment suite for Cher for a month.

"Ten thousand dollars, thank you." The front desk quoted a price, and Ronald signed to confirm. This money is part of the treatment that the crew should pay to star Cher according to the contract.

"It's really nice here, but the colors are a bit tacky."

Cher was received very respectfully here. Her room was on the upper floor very close to the attic. Walking in, she felt that the privacy was good.

When she was about to reach her room, a handsome boy knocked on the door of another suite at the corner, "Demi, listen to me, I want to know what's going on between us, and who am I to you?"

The two looked at each other sideways, and Ronald felt that the boy looked familiar. He seemed to be the male protagonist in John Hughes' "Pretty in Pink", who was paired with Molly Ringwald's character at the end, but because of the poor audience response, the ending was deleted. The tragic actor.

Ronald ignored him and sent Cher into her room with a large group of people.

"I like it here very much. You are right. It is much better than the hotel I stayed in before, and the internal facilities are also very new."

The large executive suite and spacious dressing room made her very satisfied.

"I heard that the occupancy rate here is very high. A friend of mine used to live here for $8,000 a month." Ronald said.

After tipping the waiter, Ronald asked them to bring some drinks up.

"Why don't you like David Letterman? What did he do that made you so dissatisfied with him?" After calming down, Ronald asked Cher what happened on the scene.

"Huh, actually I don't hate Letterman. He has a good sense of humor. Sometimes I can't sleep in the middle of the night and I'm waiting to watch his late show." Cher took a sip of wine and said to Ronald.

"Then why..."

"Because I don't like Letterman's attitude towards some vulnerable guests. Sometimes he treats guests very badly on TV, often attacking their weaknesses, telling jokes that make them very embarrassing, and even making jokes about their sad things."

"Hey, it's not that bad..." Ronald shook his head. When these artists get emotional...

"He denied agreeing to my conditions, and my mind flashed back to how he used to bully those less famous guests. I think he will do the same to me next..."

"So, you just strike first, right?"

Ronald knew that artists are always emotional, and sometimes they get carried away and don't think things through.

"He just called me and asked me to give you the check you forgot to take. He also said that you have a first-class on-the-spot reaction and you are a good guest that is hard to find since his talk show started. He hopes that you can come on his show again after a while. This time he won't ask you why you agreed."

"Hahaha, actually now it seems that he is not so bad."

"If you are willing, why don't you be on the last evening show before our movie is released next year, just as a warm-up for our movie."

"As you wish, hahaha", Cher was in a good mood. She had a good house to live in and someone paid for it. She hugged Ronald tightly to express her gratitude.

"No wonder so many young stars are captured by her. She still has such a good figure at this age." Ronald said goodbye and came out, still savoring Cher's ageless figure and a special perfume. I heard that she designed it herself and was ready to find someone to produce it and put it on the market when there was an opportunity.

"Jon, I said it a long time ago, the two of us are just playing around. I slept with you. Simply put, that's it. I already have a boyfriend."

Turning the corner, Ronald was about to go to the elevator and heard a familiar hoarse voice again.

He turned around and saw the boy, begging a beautiful woman to change her mind.

"Oh, how can I tell you? We just find each other attractive. I am a woman who is easily seduced, do you understand? Emilio and I are already engaged."

"But you have postponed the wedding ceremony with Emilio Estevez? I saw it in the Hollywood Reporter."

"That's just because the performance time of the Broadway play "Early Girl" I starred in was extended. Last week, I celebrated the 25th wedding anniversary with his father Martin and mother Janet with Emilio and his brother Carlos.

Don't bother me anymore. I don't want to cause misunderstandings. You don't want to ruin my wedding, do you?"

"Oh, no! I hate you Demi."

The handsome boy, Jon Cryer, who was dumped by Molly Ringwald's character in "Pretty in Pink", was also played around by beautiful women in real life. He turned back sadly, brushed past Ronald, and rushed into the elevator.

"Oh oh", Ronald saw that it was indeed Demi Moore whom he hadn't seen for a long time. Could it be that he was still thinking about reuniting with Demi who lived in this building in his subconscious?

However, when he heard that she was going to marry that annoying Emilio, Ronald felt unhappy and turned around to leave.

"Ronald", Demi watched Jon Claire get off the elevator, rushed up and grabbed Ronald, and dragged him into the room.

Demi Moore signaled Ronald's followers to leave first, and she wanted to "reminisce" with Ronald.

"Bang!" After closing the door, Demi immediately hugged Ronald and began to confess.

"I said that to get rid of him quickly. That guy acted in a movie with me and has been entangled with me for several years. I have broken off my engagement with Emilio Estevez, and I am free."

Demi knew that Ronald didn't like to be with married men or women who had a long-term relationship, so she made it clear that she was single now.

"Aren't you engaged to Emilio? I read Variety magazine, too." Ronald laughed and moved Demi's arm away from him.

"Then I did it for his movie 'Wisdom'. Although Emilio is a fool and his talent is not even one tenth of yours. But it is a movie that affects the future of many people. I know it's a bad movie, but I still have to do my best to market it.

I don't want those actors and the staff behind the scenes to lose further opportunities because of my lack of effort in publicity and promotion."

Demi Moore really knows Ronald well.

Hearing her say this, Ronald looked at this actress who, although her private life is exaggerated, is very dedicated to the film industry with a new look.

After not seeing her for a while, Demi Moore's development momentum is faintly surpassing her boyfriend Emilio. In accepting interviews, maintaining her boyfriend's movie reputation, etc., Demi did what she did in front of the media, which is a mature star posture.

"I'm very happy. I watched your last movie, "Last Night" starring Rob Lowe. Your acting skills have improved a lot."

"Haha, your praise makes me happier than all the praises from those film critics." Demi looked at Ronald with almond eyes, and a sense of charm flowed out.

This woman has undergone rigorous training in Broadway and Hollywood. When her acting skills are naturally revealed, she has indeed grown a lot more than the little actor before.

"Broadway has indeed changed you..."

"Yes, this is a different world. Although I have a little reputation, if I don't rehearse well here and don't achieve the level of proficiency and naturalness in dialogue, my companions will look down on me.

They are full of hostility towards actors from Hollywood, and they hope that we will make some jokes. In addition, there is a B-character who has been eyeing us covetously."

Demi touched her hair. She just wanted to find a topic that Ronald was interested in and talk more.

"Don't you want to ask me why I broke up with Emilio?" Demi pulled the collar of her chest open a little.

"This is your private matter." Ronald didn't want to be nosy and answered. But in his heart, Ronald had other ideas:

In fact, everyone knows that the movie that Emilio wrote, directed and acted in, with Demi Moore as the main character and produced by Dino De Laurentiis, is very bad.

For Demi, Emilio's value has reached its end. If she continues to be engaged to him, Demi Moore will no longer be able to get any benefits.

The reason why the two have not officially announced the cancellation of the engagement is that Demi does not want to bear the bad reputation of kicking her fiancé away. Maybe in a few months...

"Let me tell you, Emilio didn't regard me as his real girlfriend at all. While he was confirming his relationship with me, he was still in contact with a Latina woman and had two children with her."

"Oh oh," Ronald shouted in his heart, "Now there is no need to wait a few months. Emilio made a fool of himself and handed this handle to Demi. It seems that we will soon see the secret of Emilio's secret lover in the gossip media."

"Do you really not want to stay and reminisce with me?" Demi drank some wine and her face became more and more rosy.

"I'm sorry, we're about to start rehearsals for the new film, so I have to go first."

"I know, I know, the old woman Cher you sent is the lead actress, I often collect news about you in the media, a movie similar to a Broadway play. You have to switch to making the kind of movie that Oscar likes."

"Uh, this is a middle-aged love movie."

"I know, it's Mr. Shanley's first screenwriter's work after he turned from Broadway to Hollywood. We're all waiting to see it."

Demi came up and took the initiative to give Ronald a deep French kiss.

"Well... so good. I thought I would forget that your kiss is so intoxicating." Demi's hand rubbed Ronald's..., she was very satisfied with her charm.

"I really have to go..." Ronald was not very confident in his willpower to fight against the charm of this beauty. Demi's demeanor and temperament are now mature, combined with her figure and face, it's easy for people to fall in love with her.

"When you're done with this part, when we're all free..." Demi smiled, as long as you have the heart, it's actually better to keep a thought.

"Bye... Ronald," Demi let Ronald out of the room. After opening the door, she saw Nicita standing outside. She grabbed Ronald's collar as if playing a prank, gave him a deep kiss, and then smiled at Nicita behind Ronald.

"Very good, you really remembered what I repeatedly emphasized. Whatever happens with a beautiful female star, you must find a place where you can control it."

Nicita and Ronald got off the elevator together. It was not until they got in the car that she told Ronald what was in her heart.

Nowadays, Japanese video recorders and audio recorders are not big in size. As a famous director, Ronald has to be on guard and not hunt for food outside.

"Ah... what..." Ronald was thinking about something and was awakened by Nicita's words.

"Demi is a smart girl. I just talked to her and asked about the current situation."

Ronald explained to his agent.

He was still thinking about what Demi Moore had just said, that Broadway actors have an omnipresent hostility towards Hollywood.

They always think that Hollywood actors have no acting skills, but they get much higher salaries than themselves.

Ronald thought to himself that he had to prepare for the upcoming rehearsal and start by overpowering those Broadway gold medal supporting actors.

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