Exploiting Hollywood 1980

In the last week of July, "Superman IV: Mission to Peace" was finally released under the attention of millions of comic fans and movie fans. Cannonball, which claimed to have spent 40 million to create a super special effects blockbuster, won...

a lot of criticism.

Although it premiered at the Royal Palace in London, Prince Charles and Princess Diana were invited to attend, but the film was really poorly made, especially the special effects. In the end, Cannonball obviously did not invest money in the special effects. In the final battle between Superman and the villain, the two fat guys looked like paper people in the air, without a trace of three-dimensionality.

Christopher Reeve, who played Superman, was exposed to curse Cannonball to his friends for ruining the series of movies and his own career.

However, in order to improve the box office performance, the actors of the movie still have to appear on various talk shows. Today, it is the turn of Margot Kidder, who plays Lois, to appear on the show of Texas film critic, old lady Barbie Wygant.

The old lady will take time to come to Los Angeles every month to record all the talk shows related to the next movie at one time, and then play them slowly after returning. She found a large room at the Hilton Hotel, brought an assistant and a cameraman, and began to line up to interview the stars of various movies.

Ronald's "Dirty Dancing" was a small production, but he had a good personal relationship with the old lady, so this time Barbie Wygant specially added a plug for Ronald after recording the interview of "Superman IV" and asked the actors of "Dirty Dancing" to be interviewed.

"Is it really as bad as the reviews say? I haven't seen it yet." Ronald was resting outside the room, waiting for his turn. He asked a young actor, Jon Cryer, what he thought of Superman IV. He played the nephew of the villain Luther, Luther Jr. in this movie.

Ronald once saw him crying outside Demi Moore's apartment, begging her not to break up. This man still has some innocence.

"Oh my god, it's really terrible. Two weeks before the release, I happened to be in New York and met Christopher Reeve. He told me not to have any hope. Menahem Golan and Yola Goblins ran out of money when doing the special effects. This movie is even worse than the special effects of the first movie nine years ago."

Sure enough, he was too naive.

Ronald thought to himself. The movie was made and released. Most of the creators knew whether it was a bad movie or not. The reason why they still had to be stubborn and cheer for bad movies in the media was due to the special nature of the movie business.

Every movie is a brand new product development. Whether the audience likes it or not, whether the director can achieve the goal, are all unknown.

After the movie was made, the director, editor, and producer knew it was a bad movie after watching the whole movie, but the audience didn't know. No matter how good the creators were, at this time, they could only be stubborn and hope to trick more audiences into going to the cinema to watch it and make up for some losses.

Of course, they can't say the movie is very good against their conscience, because that would break their promise in front of the audience. The audience has a good memory for such things and will make a note of the actors who talk nonsense in their little notebooks.

So, more often, they will be like Margot Kidder, the actress who plays the heroine Lois, who is being interviewed by Barbie. They neither say good nor bad, but go around in circles to talk about some interesting details.

"Well, movies are not comics. It's impossible to draw two people exactly the same with a pen. Chris and I played Superman and Lois together for the first time nine years ago. So we used another method to interpret.

After so many years, Superman and Lois must love each other more and are better friends, just like a couple who have been married for many years. They have a deep understanding of each other and are dissatisfied with some things, but they still love each other deeply..."

Listening to the interview with Margot Kidder, and then looking at Jon Cryer who is very enthusiastic about spreading gossip about himself... Hey, I still need experience.

"Puff..." Ronald was standing next to Cynthia Rhodes, the second female lead who was to be interviewed by Bobbi Wygant. Seeing the silly Jon Cryer, she couldn't help but laugh.

"Hey, hey..." Jon Cryer touched his head. Cynthia Rhodes was also a tall, fair-skinned, mature woman with a good temperament, which made him a little embarrassed.

"You have already collaborated with Christopher (Reeve) on the fourth Superman. What do you think of collaborating with him?" Bobbi Wygant's question came out again.

"It's almost our turn..." Ronald nodded to Cynthia Rhodes and cut off the conversation with Jon Cryer. This guy was not tight-lipped and might have let something slip in front of other people.

Hearing that Bobbi Wygant was repeating the question just now, the camera was changed to another position to re-record the footage of her asking questions.

The reason why the second female lead Cynthia Rhodes came to be interviewed today was because the original heroine Jennifer Grey's troubles had not been played out yet.

Mickey Kanter arrived in Northern Ireland and quickly contacted the military police there to bail out Jennifer Gray. Her boyfriend, Matthew Brodick, was bailed out by another famous New York lawyer.

After discussing in Belfast, the two lawyers reached a consensus to change the charge of this case from "dangerous driving causing death" to "careless driving." In this way, even if convicted, there is no need to serve a real sentence. It is very likely that it can be resolved with a fine and suspended sentence.

The military police had the investigation records of the two parties after they woke up, which contained content that was not favorable to the two American young people.

Brodick and Gray both said that they had quarreled before driving, which was a good evidence for the prosecution.

In order to prevent this evidence from being accepted by the court, the two barristers used all their skills and finally found flaws in the evidence. Both young people were diagnosed with concussion. As we all know, after a concussion, people will have blurred memories, and even under the deliberate guidance of some people, they will think that some of the things they said were what they really experienced.

After getting the collateral evidence of a famous brain doctor in Northern Ireland, the two quickly overturned this testimony.

Matthew Brodick changed his words and said that after he woke up in the hospital, he didn't remember anything, didn't know why his legs were broken, and had a collapsed lung and pneumothorax.

Jennifer Gray also changed her words and said that because she was wearing a seat belt, she suffered a whiplash injury to her neck after the collision, and the collision on the headrest and front window caused concussion and spinal damage to her neck. I can't remember anything.

This denial has angered the victim's family. They exposed this trick in the local media and described the lawyer's instigation to fabricate evidence as a "mockery of justice". This has caused great dissatisfaction among the local people.

For a time, the investigation and follow-up came to a temporary deadlock. Jennifer Grey cannot leave Northern Ireland either. Her father Joel Grey has flown to Belfast to stay with Brodick's mother, Patricia Brodick, a famous New York painter and socialite, and their children.

Ronald also called lawyer Mickey Kanter yesterday to ask if Jennifer Grey could return to America safely, how she was doing, and whether she could make it to the premiere of "Dirty Dancing".

Kanter said on the phone that her physical condition was still optimistic. Jennifer Grey's neck injury is not fake, and she now has to wear a special neck brace to walk around. The doctor said it would take a week to take it off.

The case is now at a stalemate. The military police in Northern Ireland are unwilling to let a reckless young man like Matthew Brodick escape easily. They used local media reports and public opposition to create a big wave.

Although the two young men have been released on bail, they cannot leave the hospital. If they go out, they will encounter demonstrators who write "fairness" slogans and throw eggs at them.

Northern Ireland has been in chaos for many years. The great-uncle of the British Crown Prince Charles, the first Lord Mountbatten, was assassinated by people in Northern Ireland. The demonstrations here are very worrying. The parents of the two young people want to let them return to America as soon as possible.

But Kanter still told good news.

Matthew Brodick's father is the late James Brodick, an actor. But his mother Patricia, whose maiden name is Bio, is a leader of the Jewish family in New York. Her father was the president of a famous advertising company in the 1930s.

This branch of Jews is Ashkenazi Jews, speaking Yiddish. It turns out that there are a large number of Jews in Germany and Poland, and they are also the group of Jews who have gained a lot of money and power in America after the war.

Matthew Brodick's mother mobilized her family's powerful network of relationships and contacted Daniel Patrick Moynihan, a senator from New York State and a member of the Donkey Party.

This Senator Moynihan is no small matter. He has been a staff member of the President since the Kennedy era, and later served as ambassador to the United Nations, succeeding the current deputy president. In short, this is a senator with a strong network of relationships.

Moynihan is not a Jew, but he represents the interests of the Ashkenazi Jews in eastern America. He once made a speech that was very biased towards Israel and defended the Palestinian-Israeli issue.

According to Matthew Brodick's mother, Moynihan has written to the United Kingdom government and the local government of Northern Ireland as a New York State senator and a senior member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, demanding the release of the two young people.

The Senate Intelligence Committee is a very powerful committee. Now the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland both need help from America on the issue of the Republican Army. I think Senator Moynihan's letter will settle this matter and allow the two actors to return home.

"Then I'll go in?" Cynthia Rhodes combed her hair into a bun today, no longer hanging down like a girl, and had a mature female charm. With her outstanding temperament as a dancer, it's no wonder that Jon Claire's eyes were straight.

"Cynthia, I'm glad we meet again."

"It's nice to see you, Barbie."

The interview between the two began. Ronald looked at Cynthia Rhodes at the door and couldn't help thinking of what she said to him last night.

After receiving Cynthia, who came to replace Jennifer Grey to attend various publicity events, Ronald and her, who hadn't seen for a long time, spent a very romantic night.

Cynthia is exactly the type Ronald likes, with a dancer's figure and the gentleness of a southern girl. The two lingered for a long time, and finally fell exhausted on the hotel bed of the size of a "California King".

This size is much larger than the regular king size, and is perfect for Ronald's tall stature, so he and Cynthia can lie down effortlessly.

Ronald was very grateful to Cynthia for coming to the rescue from her hometown of Nashville, and did not care about any compensation issues, nor did he care about the fact that this opportunity to appear in the media originally belonged to the heroine Gray.

Moreover, Cynthia Rhodes is more than three years older than me, very mature and understanding. This made Ronald very happy. He usually always had to take care of his female companion, and it was rare for him to be well taken care of by his female companion.

Ronald couldn't help but think about getting along with Cynthia for a while. Whether she wanted more resources or more money, he could satisfy it. Getting along with the eldest sister and the little sister is indeed a different experience.

Ronald turned his head and saw Cynthia's blushing face and smiling mouth, about to speak.

Cynthia touched his face and spoke in advance, "I don't think you will consider marrying me, right?"

"Uh..." Ronald was stunned for a moment.

"Stop talking, I understand what you mean," Cynthia smiled, "I have always liked you, ever since you saved me from Stallone's brother, but I am a girl who grew up in a southern town. My parents were both devout believers. They taught me to grow up to be a southern lady.

So, I don’t want to start a relationship that doesn’t work out. "

"I don't know, it's too much for me all at once." Ronald could only say that he couldn't digest it. It seemed a bit troublesome to get married or become an official girlfriend.

"It doesn't matter, but I also have a suitor, although he is younger than you. He is six years older than me, and he is a singer. I am considering whether to agree to his pursuit. He seems to be serious."

"I'm over six years older than you. Is there an age difference between you?" Seeing that Cynthia regarded him as a close friend and shared some emotional issues, Ronald cheered up and helped her analyze it from a male perspective.

"I also hesitate for this reason. I am still young now, but what about ten years from now? What about twenty years? What about twenty-five years? Women in America age very quickly..."

"Don't think so. You are a dancer. Anyone who sees you will first lose 5-8 years of your age."

"Hahaha... you are really good at talking. Do you mind if I bring him to be the best man at this premiere in New York?"

"Uh..." Ronald choked up, "As a director and producer, of course I don't mind having an extra singer at the premiere, but as a man, I do mind it."

"Hahaha... You can't be my boyfriend." Cynthia hugged me, but she was just an ideal bed partner.

…

"Cynthia, what do you think of the filming process of 'Dirty Dancing'?" Bobbi Wygant's question brought Ronald back to the present.

"The director Ronald is great. His grasp of the beauty and rhythm of the dance is first-rate. We all remember 'Break Dancing', right..."

"Ah, yes, break dancing is still fresh in my memory. I wonder if this Dirty Dancing will also set off a dance trend."

"I don't know, but our backup dancer Ortega is very strict with us. We have to dance continuously every day, from morning to night, which makes me have a psychological barrier to dancing. Maybe next, as a girl from Nashville, I should try being a singer."

…

Another week passed, and Superman IV's box office dropped off a cliff. The media received a lot of bad reviews, and it had already lost half of its box office.

Not to mention the newly released "007: Dead by Daylight", even the newly released biopic "La Baba" reflecting on the early death of the rock wizard Richie Valens was not mentioned, and it was relegated to the 1937 grandpa movie " Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" went behind.

"There will be many guests at the New York premiere. Patrick Schwytz and his wife, Cynthia Rhodes and her male partner Richard Marcos are all confirmed to attend, as well as many female members of the New York Film Critics Association. Come and dance with Schwyz, and you bring Helen Slater."

Michelle Cannold, who is in charge of distribution, is constantly confirming the film's promotion schedule.

"Here in Los Angeles, we don't have enough celebrities to invite, so it's up to you."

"I found Tom Cruise, and he agreed to come with his new wife Mimi Rogers." Ronald also mobilized all his contacts.

Mimi Rogers asked Cruise to hold a very small, very private wedding ceremony because of her belief in Scientology.

Cruise seemed to love his wife and Scientology auditor so much that he didn't even tell his agents Paula Wagner or Ronald. The ritual was completed secretly.

Ronald and Wagner only found out about his marriage after reading the newspaper, and they were so angry that they called to complain. Wagner angrily quarreled with Tom and warned him not to make such important decisions in private in the future.

Ronald always thought that Tom Cruise would ask him to be the best man, so he got married secretly. Even if it's a private ceremony and you don't invite others, it doesn't stop you from finding your best friend. Even Spielberg asked him to marry him.

But Niceta advised him not to be too angry, "This is just his first wedding. Hollywood people never attend first weddings. You still have a chance to be the best man."

Tom Cruise knew he was in the wrong and immediately agreed to attend the premiere of Ronald's new movie after returning from his honeymoon with his new wife.

"Awesome, anyone else?"

"Michael Douglas will come. There are many other directors, and I actually don't have many close friends with stars. Cameron and Gale will participate, and Chris Columbus, the director of Adventures in Babysitting, will also come."

After all, it was Ronald's first movie that he produced and distributed with his own money. These good friends agreed to come and support it, and added one more interview gimmick for the media, all to help Ronald increase the box office.

I haven't seen Cameron for a few days. I heard that he is currently researching new technologies.

The first film about Columbus did well at the box office. Although it did not beat Disney's re-released classic "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs", it is expected to stay in theaters for four to five weeks. It seems promising to make money back.

Once a director has a blockbuster movie, the road ahead will be easier.

"My former boss and teacher, Roger Corman and his wife, will also come. He said he would help me figure out whether this movie can make money."

Ronald laughed and asked Cannold to add Coleman's name. This old man was very happy when he heard that he had learned his method, made a musical at a low cost, and handled the distribution and other business by himself.

Coleman said that he is good at looking at the box office trends of movies from their premieres and will give him a prediction when the time comes.

"Where's your escort for the Los Angeles premiere?"

"Diane, I invited Diane Lane. Like me, she also needs exposure." Ronald knew that Diane's new film will be released in September, and now she also needs some media space. In the spirit of everyone helping each other, she was invited to attend the premiere in Los Angeles.

"How is Jennifer (Gray) doing? Can she attend the Los Angeles premiere?"

Cannold is determining the protagonist's itinerary.

"She had just been brought back from Northern Ireland by her father, Joel, and it would take a few days for the protective belt around her neck to be removed. Joel asked my assistant director Emile to plead with me and let my daughter only go to the premiere in New York. I agreed."

"Poor Jennifer, she lost so many opportunities to show up out of thin air."

"Then what should I do? I can't let him put the TV around his neck, right?" Ronald said angrily.

The intimidation power of New York's Donkey Party Senator Moynihan was indeed extraordinary. After he came forward to write a letter, the Northern Ireland military police immediately agreed to release the two young actors on bail.

Then after some "investigation", the accident that night was also classified as careless driving. The two men did not need to wait in Belfast for investigation and could return to America.

That night, Matthew Brodick's mother chartered a flight and flew her son back to New York in his hospital bed, where he would receive further treatment.

Jennifer Gray also returned to New York. When she called Ronald, her mental state was not very stable. The car accident and the investigation frightened her so much that she cried a little miserably on the phone.

Ronald had no way of settling the score with her. Without the heroine’s announcement, it would always be weird, and he didn’t know how much the effect would be compromised.

But speaking of it, Gray was also a victim in this matter, and Ronald couldn't ask for much.

Another thing that bothered Ronald was that after the movie's soundtrack was released, sales were very poor. This kind of old songs from the 1950s and 1960s has been reassembled and released into records. Unless it is a selected album by a record company, generally no one will release it like this.

The theme song "The Ti of My Life" and "She's Like the Wind", which was written and composed by Patrick Schwytz himself, simply failed to hit the charts. After the DJ played it, it didn’t make any waves.

Fortunately, the record store didn't stock too many items, so the loss wouldn't be too great.

Ronald felt that for the first film to be fully produced and distributed by Daydream, it would be better to focus on the box office. Everyone was inexperienced and made a mess. As long as it can make some money at the box office, it will be successful.

"How much do you think we can make? How much will the box office be on the first weekend?" Michelle Cannold is the distribution director of Daydream Pictures. In fact, she has no experience in distributing theatrical movies. Previously, I was only responsible for distributing videotapes. He also began to look forward to the results of his first work.

After half a year of busy work, now there are female film critics pursuing it. It can’t be bad in comparison, right?

"It's hard to say, movie box office forecasting is a subtle art. It depends on how many weeks we can keep it in theaters.

On the one hand, our reviews are good, and many viewers may come here. On the other hand, it depends on their reputation after watching it, which depends on the score of Cea Sre on the day of release. Their scores are quite reliable in predicting audience reputation. "

"It's just that the price is a bit expensive." Cannold whispered.

Various unexpected events have consumed a lot of the original reserve fund. Next, if the box office is satisfactory and additional marketing is needed, Douglas Jr. will need to invest additional money.

If the box office is not satisfactory, no additional budget will be added and the team will be disbanded.

It is estimated that Daydream Company will not be able to withstand the box office failure. Ronald can continue to be a director, but he will have to find a new job.

"No, our movie has such good reviews, it will definitely be a success at the premiere and the box office will be good." Cannold knocked on the wooden table with his hand to clear the unlucky thoughts from his mind.

"We also have to look at the strength of the competitors that will be released at the same time." Ronald clicked his tongue.

The new version of 007 performed poorly and the box office declined quickly. It drops by 30% every week.

It's not as good as Robocop and Ronald's "Love Is Not For Sale", which have been the nail households on the box office list.

When "Dirty Dancing" was released that weekend, the main new films were the suspense film "No Way Out" starring Kevin Costner and Sean Young, and "Masters of the Universe" produced by Menahan Golan.

"Although you are all my friends, I still curse your movies to fail!"

Ronald looked at the schedule and silently recited the Chinese spell he learned from watching art films in Xujiahui: "Clouds follow the dragon, wind follows the tiger, Taishang Laojun is as urgent as the law..."