Exploiting Hollywood 1980

"In this way, they will send me more good scripts instead of asking me to play Instructor Charlie in "Top Gun" repeatedly."

Kelly McGillis's big waves have been cut much shorter, to the length of a shawl. The golden hair color has not been maintained, but some of the original brown base color has been revealed. The curly hair has also been straightened a little, and a pure bangs have been left, which is also a different charm.

McGillis is very distressed. She has an orthodox and systematic drama education. She went to the Pacific Academy of Performing Arts for high school. After obtaining a high school diploma, she went to Juilliard School, one of the highest-level drama schools in New York.

All her preparations and dreams are to become a performing artist. The role of an Amish widow in "Witness" was also well received by critics.

But who knew that what really made her famous was this "Top Gun" directed by Ronald. It was originally thought to be a ridiculous air combat film, but it made her a big star. Eight and a half out of ten scripts received by the agent are sexy doctors, teachers, instructors, and other similar roles.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have let you become a star." Ronald joked and went forward to hug McGillis warmly.

"Hehe..." Kelly McGillis also laughed, "At least, this Air Combat V has allowed me to get the invitation of the leading actress in a big production that I couldn't get before. I have much more room for selection."

After becoming famous in "Top Gun", Kelly McGillis has become the most popular female star poster image posted in the lockers and bedroom doors of American high school boys. I don't know how many teenagers are swaying their youth in front of her flaming red lips.

This made her receive scripts suddenly rise to a higher level. She will soon participate in a movie "The House on Carol Street" to be released, which tells the story of the experiences of left-wing Hollywood progressives persecuted by the Un-American Committee after World War II.

There are also several favorite movies that show complex dramatic conflicts between people waiting for her to start shooting. This is all thanks to the popularity brought by "Top Gun".

So this time, when she was needed to support "Top Gun" and meet with her old friend Ronald, McGillis immediately agreed.

The two set off to a high-end fashion custom shop, where McGillis ordered a black dress.

There was no sexy element that Ronald expected, no backless or low-cut, just a simple black evening dress. With the square-framed glasses that McGillis deliberately wore, she did not have the sexy temperament of Charlie.

Her entire beauty seemed to be restrained, becoming an intellectual beauty. She really had the temperament of a teacher giving lectures.

Ronald knew in his heart that McGillis still didn't like the positioning given to her by "Top Gun". From dressing up, makeup and clothing, she deliberately avoided the influence of the instructor Charlie.

"You still need some feminine elements," Ronald took out a pearl bracelet, opened it and helped McGillis put it on. Out of thin air, she added a few feminine softness to the dress that tightly wrapped her body without revealing a bit.

"Hehe... Thank you," McGillis looked at herself in the mirror. Even female stars who want to avoid a sexy image are not opposed to jewelry that can make them more beautiful.

...

"Oh, let's take a look. This is Kelly McGillis, the heroine of Top Gun. She doesn't look like Instructor Charlie today. Next to her is director Ronald Lee."

The night of the Oscars dinner came in a flash. Ronald and McGillis, who was dressed conservatively, were captured by the live camera of ABC TV at the entrance outside the Dorothy Chandler Hall and given an entrance shot.

After entering the venue, Ronald found a seat at the back of the hall and sat down. This is where some crews and stars who were nominated for smaller awards sat.

Ronald unexpectedly met Roger Corman here.

"Ronald," Coleman was still the same, smiling.

"Roger, hello. Has your new company also had a movie nominated this year?"

"No, it's not a movie shot by my new company, but a horror movie I shot before. Someone bought the rights to remake it, and it was also nominated for Best Original Song."

"Oh, then we are competitors." Ronald joked with Coleman.

"Haha, isn't it? I made a bet with someone and shot 'Little Shop of Horrors' in three days. I didn't expect Geffen Pictures to like it very much, and even found Steve Martin and John Candy to star in it."

"Candy," Ronald noticed that the fat John Candy was next to him, and he quickly hugged him and said hello. This Canadian comedy star is also very popular in Hollywood now. He and Steve Martin also starred in John Hughes' new work "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles", which will also be released in the second half of this year.

"This is a very good script. Mr. Coleman's movies are the source of many of my inspirations."

Several people chatted in the back. This "Little Shop of Horrors" is very interesting. Coleman originally put together a script to make full use of the set of another movie, and then found Jack Nicholson and others to star in it.

Nicholson plays a weird man who likes to see a dentist. The whole movie is very absurd. It tells the story of a man who bought a green plant and finally found out that it was a carnivorous plant. It killed many people and died with it.

For some reason, this crudely made movie was favored by Broadway. It was adapted into a play a few years ago and received praise from the critics, who said it told the tragedy of people being alienated by the material society.

Because it was well received in Off-Broadway, Geffen Films found Roger Corman again and bought the copyright to remake it into a movie. Roger Corman spent less than $30,000 and three days to make the movie. The remake cost $25 million and was full of big names.

Fortunately, the box office also received less than 40 million, barely avoiding losing money. Ronald admired the record company boss who decided to invest. This kind of remake of a low-cost B-level movie into a group play with big stars, this kind of whimsical idea, is simply admirable.

Ronald turned around and nodded and said hello to David Geffen, a new player in Hollywood who made this decision and also the owner of a record company.

After these record bosses came to Hollywood, their playing style was really "refreshing".

ABC bought the broadcasting rights for this year's Oscars, so the style of the host has changed.

They invited Samuel Goldwyn, the son of Hollywood tycoon Samuel Goldwyn (one of the three companies that merged into MGM), to produce the show, so they used a lot of new ideas.

For example, the host was comedian Chevy Chase, instead of the previous talk show host or movie star.

"Good evening, everyone, welcome to the 59th Academy Awards. Actually, I am a substitute host. I am sorry to tell you that Jim and Tammy Buck cannot attend."

"Hahaha..."

Ronald sat in the back and laughed with his friends.

Jim and Tammy Buck are one of the charlatans who pretend to be gods on TV. They are evangelical TV hosts who always say on TV that if you are sick, don't go to the doctor, and that your faith is not pious enough, and fool the ignorant people to buy their gospel tapes and videotapes.

Although he has a good-looking face, he is actually a liar who takes advantage of the credulity of the poor people to make money. Fortunately, they have been investigated for tax evasion recently, and Jim Bakker has been sued for rape. So their gospel TV station has changed the host, and the ratings have plummeted.

Every time the substitute host repeats, I'm sorry to tell you that Jim and Tammy Bakker can't come to attend.

This time, Chevy Chase quoted this here in a mean way, which immediately caused everyone to laugh.

Chevy Chase saw that the first joke was very effective, as if he had opened a machine gun. He ridiculed Disney's live-action movies as boring. He also said that Menahan Golan paid Stallone 12 million dollars. Is it because their English is too poor? The salary is paid by the star to the film company.

Ronald didn't laugh as loudly as before. This host was simply making jokes about anything that hurt his heart.

The camera pushed over to Menahan Golan, and Ronald saw that he was laughing very hard, and his facial muscles were shaking.

"This year's nominated movies are really very 80s. Platoon is like a bad American Army recruitment ad, and Top Gun... is a Navy recruitment ad."

The camera gave Oliver Stone and Ronald himself two seconds each.

Ronald kept smiling, and he was already uncomfortable with this host. He was too mean.

"Children who have fallen from grace with God, have sex in the swimming pool without waking up the neighbors. Hannah and Her Sisters, Woody Allen plays a psychological exhibitionist, and Michael Caine plays sisters."

Ronald was no longer smiling, and this host had already risen to personal attacks, which was very harmful to the actors.

Fortunately, the host who spoke inappropriately soon left. Ronald felt that this year's awards ceremony failed to transform, and this kind of comedian who relied on his mean mouth to get to the top was not suitable for hosting this kind of awards ceremony. He always insults people, and those who are insulted also have friends, and many people may not be too happy.

"Don't take it to heart, he has always been so tasteless." John Candy saw Ronald's unhappiness and said something comforting.

The award ceremony continued. Ronald was most happy that his friend Cameron's "Alien 2" won the Best Sound Design Award. Although it was not his award, this kind of technical award was also a recognition of him.

After the winner Don Sharp came on stage, he specially thanked Cameron and Gale for their encouragement and support.

Ronald was also awarded the Best Visual Effects Award for "Alien 2" later. The award presenters specially invited "Captain Kirk" William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy who played Spock. As the leading actors of the well-known "Star Trek" TV series, they highly recognized the visual effects award with a strong sci-fi flavor.

Four winners came on stage this time, and the representative spoke and thanked Gale for his support and Cameron's overall design, which allowed them to win the award.

The camera was aimed at the Camerons and their husbands.

"Cameron was thanked twice," Ronald applauded and was happy for them. Alien 2 was not nominated for Best Director, Best Picture, etc., but being thanked like this was already very good.

At this year's Oscars, special arrangements were made for Marlene Matlin, the heroine of "Children of God". After she took the stage, she spoke in sign language and was even accompanied by an interpreter.

She took the stage to present Platoon with its first award of the night, Best Sound Effects. "Platoon" includes a lot of heavyweight award nominations tonight, and best sound effects is an appetizer.

The next award for Best Actress was an accident. Jane Fonda, Sigourney Weaver, Sissy Spacek and others did not win.

The award was given to last year's best actor, William Hurt, who played her lover in "Children of God". In reality, the two are also dating and living together. Hurt opened the envelope and found that it was Ma Lin Danlan. He excitedly signaled Ma Lin to come on stage with sign language.

Marlene Matlin once again took the stage and became the youngest Oscar-winning actress. The speech was also typed in sign language and translated simultaneously by an interpreter on the spot.

This year, in order to make the broadcast time more compact, a reminder device was also used. Any winner who spoke beyond the prescribed time will be reminded with a "beep" sound. Only Marlene Matlin is exempt from this requirement because she is disabled.

After applauding for a while, Ronald felt a little bored. The host is very tasteless, and the winner has little to do with him.

Suddenly, Oscar-winning actor Richard Dreyfuss, the actor who once played "Jaws," came on stage and began to speak.

"Every few years, the chairman of the Oscar organizing committee will award an Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award to recognize those who have made significant contributions to the film industry..."

"Who is it?" Ronald realized that a special award was about to be awarded.

"It must have something to do with Richard Dreyfuss," Roger Corman said with enthusiasm. This kind of award generally requires many people to promote it at the same time before it can be awarded. The artistic value of Coleman's exploitation films cannot be affirmed by the organizing committee. Only with this Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award, and relying on many friends in the industry, he has some hope.

"Could it be?" The more Ronald thought about it, the more he felt that it was Spielberg who won the award.

In the past two years, in order to suppress the great commercial film director Spielberg, the Oscar judges did not even give him a nomination for best director for such a good movie as "The Color Purple". And he didn't win any of the subsequent films that were nominated for Best Director.

If Spielberg doesn't come to the Oscars in anger, it will be everyone's loss.

"This time, they picked Steven Spielberg for his significant contribution to the film."

Sure enough, Spielberg stepped out from behind the scenes. He received the spherical commemorative award trophy, which looked completely different from the statuette, and gave an acceptance speech. He started by naming the earliest directors, and finally talked about himself, claiming to be their successor, and spoke for several minutes.

Because Oscar owes Spielberg a lot, he didn't get a "beep" this time when his speech timed out.

"I must be holding it back." Ronald and everyone stood up and applauded Spielberg, who should have won the award long ago.

In recent years, the Oscars have become increasingly distant from movies that are truly commercially successful.

Before the 1960s, big-selling commercial films, such as "Gone with the Wind", would also be big winners at the Oscars. But at this year's Oscars, among the top ten at the box office in 1986, only Platoon was nominated for the five major awards.

"Top Gun," which ranked first, and "Alien 2," which ranked among the top ten, only won a few technical awards. There is such a disconnect between art and business. In the final analysis, it is because too many people voted, and most of the seats were taken up by members of the Screen Actors Guild.

The Oscars are no longer what they were in their early days, a big gathering for everyone in Hollywood to entertain themselves, and to award insider awards to the films that performed outstandingly last year. It is an outsider's award that is broadcast on public television, with advertising worth tens of millions, and people across the country eager to watch.

Therefore, the criteria for evaluating the best movie, director, leading actor and actress, and best script have changed from whether it is a blockbuster to whether it is artistic.

After interspersed with some performances and editing for a while, the Best Foreign Language Film Award was awarded.

This time, it’s Minahan Golan’s cannon shot The Assault. Awarded in the name of the Netherlands.

Minahan was so excited that he ran up to accept the award on behalf of the director, and then began to thank the people on the list.

"I would like to thank the creators of the film. This award should belong to them. I also thank the creators of other films who have made contributions to Cannon Pictures, such as Ronald..."

Ronald next to himself.

"Beep..."

Minahan Golan, who was still thanking, was reminded. The organizing committee didn't like this Israeli, and the best foreign language film was also a minor prize, so they didn't want him to take up too much time.

"I would also like to say that we are not the initiator of the increase in star pay, but because Hollywood is too indulgent of stars and does not reflect all their value..."

Minahan also wanted to argue that he was not the culprit for raising stars' pay.

"Beep……"

A louder electronic sound knocked him down.

When the award for Best Original Song was presented, Terri Nunn, the lead singer of the Berlin band who was persuaded by Ronald to participate in the medley performance, heard the news that she had won the award.

She also jumped on the stage, "I'm very happy. If the director Ronald hadn't asked me to come, I might not be here today to say to my mother, Mom, I love you!"

Her thanks were short, and she shared her time with the songwriters. This time there was no beep to urge them.

Next, another person Ronald didn't expect to come on stage was Paul Hogan, the star of "Crocodile Dundee".

"I'm from Australia, and the organizing committee asked me to come up and say a few words. Several major awards are about to be presented, and I want to remind everyone not to get too excited and save time.

Those who won the awards, don't be too hypocritical in your speeches, for example, I think someone who was nominated with me is more qualified to get this award. If you really think so, then tell us first, and we will change the list of winners in the envelope."

"Hahaha..."

The audience burst into laughter again. Ronald felt that Hogan's humor was much more advanced than that mean-mouthed Chevy Chase.

"Those who didn't win don't have to pretend to be happy that he won. I took a 16-hour flight to get here, and they also nominated me. If I didn't win, I guarantee that I wouldn't look good. If you didn't win, don't pretend to be happy. If you cry or rush out of the award ceremony hall, I guarantee that everyone will think you are very real."

"Hahaha..."

Ronald felt that Paul Hogan's satire of those who won and didn't win was very accurate. And he is not from Hollywood, so it is more appropriate to say so.

However, the situation that Hogan satirized did not appear tonight.

Ronald found that the guests selected by ABC TV were too suggestive.

Just like Richard Dreyfuss presented a special award to Spielberg just now, the two had a history. And this time, the Best Actor award was presented by Bette Davis, an old actress from the golden age.

It is easy to guess that the winner is Paul Newman, who is her contemporary.

"The winner is... Stop for a second at this moment..." Bette Davis was still pretending, so everyone had to pretend to hold their breath.

"Paul Newman."

"As expected, he won the award," Ronald applauded with everyone.

"It seems that acting opposite a big star is a disadvantage for you." Ronald thought of Tom Cruise, who played opposite Paul Newman in "The Color of Money." If you want to win an award, this is definitely the wrong way.

The final Best Director Award was presented by Elizabeth Taylor, a veteran star who has always been against war and supports charity.

Ronald looked at Oliver Stone in front of him.

The hint was too obvious.

"I am very happy that such a movie can be favored by the judges. Maybe some people will know what the Vietnam War is like after watching this movie. I thank the actors for their cooperation, and I also want to thank Ronald for giving me some tips to find the right actors."

"Thank you again, you have been thanked more times than Cameron." Coleman said to Ronald beside him.

"Hey..." Ronald laughed, "It's not a good thing either."

Oliver Stone stands on the anti-war stance. His previous sentence, "I just know what the Vietnam War is all about", is a subtle criticism of his "Top Gun" for beautifying air combat.

"I hope that in our lifetime, we will never see a war like the Vietnam War happen again."

"Wow..." Ronald had no choice but to stand up and applaud with everyone.

"Anyway, the war that America fought so badly, let's not have another one, right?" Ronald secretly complained. In fact, the audience still likes to watch his "Top Gun" and other movies where America beat up its Cold War opponents. He said he was against the war, but his box office was still high.