Exploiting Hollywood 1980

"Come here, Ronald?"

That evening, Joel Silver was on the top floor of the Fox Building waiting for the new movie "Nothing Can Last Forever (tentative title)" to start filming. He was a little fat and didn't want to join in the fun on the set.

But Ronald told him that his secret to being a producer was to observe the director and actors' abilities and cooperation on the first day on the set. If everything was OK, then he didn't have to watch them every day.

"Yeah, it's not too late, right?" Ronald had just finished talking with his colleagues in New York about the marketing of "Moonlight Temptation" and had just arrived at the set. He greeted Alan Rickman, who had already put on makeup and played the villain Hans Krupp, and Bonnie Bedelia, who played the protagonist's wife. They both looked ready.

Ronald always remembered Roger Corman's principle, to confirm the director's level on the first day of filming. If there is no problem, then don't show up on the set often, otherwise it will cause the actors and staff to misunderstand who is the boss who has the final say.

The role of the producer is to step back, and if there is no problem, it is best not to let the crew discover his presence. And when there is a problem, he must be able to solve it immediately.

"Where is Bruce?" Ronald looked around and saw that director John McTiernan and director of photography John de Bont were busy with the lighting. He just missed the male lead Bruce Willis, so he asked Joel Silver, who had been here for a while.

"His assistant called back half an hour ago and said that Bruce came out of the MGM studio in Culver City and was rushing to the Fox Building."

"Oh," Ronald looked at his watch, it should be almost time.

The filming of the TV series "Blue Moonlight" is still going on. Bruce Willis needs to work back and forth between two studios in the next two days. He can be here all the time in two days.

"What are you shooting today?" Ronald asked the production manager and took the shooting schedule to read it.

Tonight is the first day of shooting. The scene shot is the protagonist John McClane on the rooftop of the building. In order to avoid being killed by the bomb detonated by Hans Krupp, he wrapped a fire hose around his body and jumped off the rooftop to escape.

"Why shoot such a big scene on the first day?" Ronald didn't understand. Joel Silver didn't seem to understand either. He shrugged and pointed at director John McTiernan.

Generally speaking, on the first day of filming, the usual practice is to shoot some shots that are not difficult to get the actors into the state quickly. Or if you are a big director, you will deliberately pick a scene that requires high acting skills, "torture" those stars, let them tame, and know that you are not easy to fool.

But in this way, Ronald couldn't figure out why he shot a scene that didn't require much acting skills on the first day, but required very high requirements for the stunt team.

Such shots require the stunt team and photography, as well as the leading actors to cooperate with each other before the effect is better. Otherwise, the stunt actors and the leading actors don't have a tacit understanding, and the body shape of the shots may not be similar, wasting the explosion scene that cost a lot of money.

However, Ronald did not directly challenge, especially because he is also a director.

Every director has his own working style. Asking such questions himself may be suspected of not trusting John McTiernan.

"John, is everything okay? Is there anything we need to improve?" Ronald walked over. He planned to talk to director McTiernan.

"Ah, Ronald. Everything is fine. This is my director of photography, Jan de Bont, a talented photographer from the Netherlands."

"Hello, Jan," Ronald waved to the handsome director of photography, who was adjusting the camera position on the bracket.

"Ronald, hello, this is really exciting, isn't it?" Jan de Bont was very happy to see that it was the producer. He had previously worked with Dutch director Paul Verhoeven and was very excited to be able to shoot a big Hollywood commercial film.

"The conditions you provide are first-class, and the shooting is very interesting..."

"Looks good?" Ronald chatted with the director of photography for a while, then turned back to the director to continue chatting. He wanted to guide the topic to shooting big scenes right from the start, and it would be best to let the director talk about it himself.

"Very good, it's rare for me to work with a producer who is a director and knows how to shoot a movie. You are really a blessing to me. I have never enjoyed such creative freedom in shooting on the set. Sure enough, you are the producer who understands directors the most." The director liked Ronald's attitude of letting go.

"Uh..." Ronald was choked by John McTiernan's flattery, and couldn't say what he wanted to say.

"The big scene at the beginning of the filming? It seems that I am lucky to see one of the most exciting scenes in the movie on the first day of the filming." Ronald changed his method and reminded the other party.

"Hahaha, this is a design consideration. We have the initiative to shoot this scene at the beginning."

"Then I will wait and see. I won't bother you." Ronald heard this answer. Sure enough, John McTiernan had special considerations. Fortunately, he didn't say anything. Ronald walked to the back of the camera.

"Bruce is here," Ronald was reminded by Joel Silver next to him just after he left the filming circle.

Bruce Willis was still wearing the iconic top and top hat in "Blue Moonlight". Followed by a manager and an assistant, he strode in.

"Hey, Ronald, I'm not late, am I? It's really hard to shoot from both sides."

"Of course not, we are here early. Please take the time to take a rest, and I will watch your performance when the camera is turned on." Of course Ronald could only say words of encouragement. The most fearful thing for actors who are competing on set is that they are not in a good mood. Well, it affects the shooting a lot.

"Just watch my performance. Today is a big event. You will know Bruce's ability. I also asked Demi to come to my performance. Is she here? Demi?"

"She just called and said she would be there soon. We will notify you as soon as she arrives." Joel Silver immediately continued.

"Very good, I'm going to put on makeup first. Demi doesn't know how brave his man is yet. Today is a good opportunity to show it off." Bruce Willis walked towards his dressing room.

"What big scene? There won't be any scene for him today, right? Two close-ups of reaction shots at most, and the makeup time will be longer?" Ronald was confused and picked up the shooting plan again and started looking at it.

It is clearly written above that in today’s shot, only a long stunt shot of jumping off a building is the highlight. Bruce Willis only showed his face when he wrapped a fire hose around himself, and then a stunt double jumped from the rooftop on his behalf.

"Television actors, you know, they don't understand film shooting," Joel Silver thought to Ronald with a wink.

Indeed, TV dramas rarely shoot such big scenes. Maybe Bruce Willis doesn’t understand how to shoot such an explosion and jumping scene in the movie.

"I'm going to take a rest first." Ronald looked around and found that his role today was producer, and the chair without his name on it was vacant and waiting for him.

With a self-deprecating laugh, Ronald simply sat on an apple box and closed his eyes to rest. After a busy day, it's time to take a break.

"Ronald, Ronald...Where's Bruce? Where are the others?"

A woman's voice came, waking Ronald up from his state of resting with his eyes closed.

Ronald opened his eyes and saw a dark-haired beauty with a wavy hairstyle just inches away from him. The shrewd eyes and sexy lips almost made Ronald lose his mind.

"Demi, are you here?" Ronald stood up from the apple box, "Bruce was putting on makeup just now, and the crew just finished lighting, and they are all preparing now...Bruce also said that he wanted you to see his makeup tonight. Brave state..."

"Hahaha", Demi Moore laughed wildly, and Bruce Willis liked to say vulgar words to flirt. This is what Willis likes to say in person to show his conquest of Demi.

Her eyes were wandering. Speaking of bravery, the one in front of her seemed to be stronger. Although he showed more of a scholar-like temperament on the surface, after taking off his clothes, he was actually very muscular.

The two of them walked side by side towards the dressing room. Demi and Ronald kept a little distance. The relationship between the two seemed to have retreated from the state of a special relationship to one where they could talk about personal things, but deliberately. Avoid ambiguous flirting.

"Hey, Demi, look at me...don't blink then." Bruce Willis was dressed as a predator. A submachine gun.

Ronald stood and looked at his outfit. The makeup made some red syrup on his body, and with a few streaks of black carbon black, the image of a lonely hero who had gone through a hard battle suddenly emerged.

"No problem," Ronald nodded. This kind of makeup showed that the director had good control over the makeup, costumes, and props team, and there was no problem with the expressiveness of the picture. Moreover, these details need to be consistent in each shot without being confusing, which shows that the director also managed the scene notes, photography and other teams very well.

As soon as the expert takes action, he will know how high the level is.

Ronald looked at his watch. He felt that the director had passed his approval. He could watch a few scenes of Bruce Willis as a courtesy and then watch the scene of the stunt double jumping off the building. He could go back and enjoy it. Go to sleep, I have to fly to New York tomorrow.

"Nothing lasts forever, first scene, first shot." The scribe began to announce the scene, and with a "pop" sound, the slate was laid down.

"A!" director John McTiernan started shooting.

Bruce Willis walked into the camera barefooted. He put the submachine gun on his body, then opened the iron box labeled "For Fire Brigade Only" and pulled out the red turntable wrapped with white fire hose.

"Ah..." Bruce Willis roared, and then began to pull the fire hose hard, causing the red turntable to spin. Willis saw that the hose was long enough, so he pulled the fire hydrant and walked to the other side.

"John...what the hell are you doing here?"

Bruce Willis walked to a corner of the rooftop and wrapped the fire hose around himself.

The camera began to zoom in on him, and director of photography Jan de Bont waved his hand with satisfaction.

The assistant next to him began to use an iron fan to blow air on Bruce Willis's body, and a white mist like water vapor caused by dry ice blew in that direction.

"Why are you so fucking unlucky?"

Bruce Willis continued to curse and talk to himself. When he was blown by the cold wind, the air he exhaled turned into white mist, which was more in line with the Christmas atmosphere in the movie.

"Cut!"

The director stopped the filming, and after checking with the director of photography, he said that this rule was passed.

"Bah bang bang..." Ronald took the lead and started clapping.

"Pa bang bang..." Everyone started to applaud together.

Ronald looked at the smile of director John McTiernan and the silly smile of Bruce Willis, and he also smiled. These two people were chosen correctly!

Bruce Willis's silly blue-collar temperament is completely true to himself. It fits the role of John McClane very well. McClane didn't want to be involved in such a terrorist incident. He just came to spend Christmas with his wife.

After taking off his shoes, having to step over broken glass, and escaping from the exploding elevator, he is now taking the last risk. If he succeeds, he can rescue all the hostages including his wife.

The audience will like this unlucky real hero. This is a common scene in their daily work and life. They are very unlucky (at least they think they are unlucky), and they continue to work hard while cursing. In the end, there will be a Christmas reunion with the whole family.

"Very good, make-up, make-up, quickly touch up Bruce's make-up. Stunt, stunt, set up explosives immediately, everyone, pay attention, clear the scene, clear the scene."

Director John McTiernan waited for Ronald's applause to end, and immediately began to direct the preparations for the next stunt shot.

Several stuntmen responsible for the explosion came over and placed plastic bags with liquids in different places on the roof.

Ronald knew that there was gasoline in it. In the hands of professionals, various dangerous items were arranged to have effects but not too dangerous. The stunt double was a member of the union and had no problem with his skills.

"What is this?" Bruce Willis stayed at the scene, hugging Demi Moore and showing off his acting skills. A person from the special effects team came over, smeared a large amount of plaster-like stuff on him, and then spread it with his hands.

"This is a fireproof plaster to prevent you from being burned by the flames that explode behind you when you jump."

"What is this?" Bruce Willis picked up a little with his fingers and smelled it. It had a little smell, but he knew it was to protect himself. He smeared it on himself with disdain, and then smeared it on Demi's body.

Before Demi Moore flirted with him, Willis found that his girlfriend Demi Moore was making a hand gesture to the producer Ronald, "What is this?"

"I don't know..." Ronald was also panicked. What is this? Bruce Willis is the leading actor? How can he be asked to shoot the scene of jumping off the building?

This is not a real action movie he shot. It's not the kind of Stallone's fist-to-flesh style? I chose Bruce Willis for his temperament, not because of his strong action ability.

"What is this? Hey, John, Joel, what is this?" Ronald didn't care about saving the director's face, and walked over to the director John McTiernan and asked loudly.

"This is the most exciting shot? What else could it be?" Director John McTiernan felt strange.

"I'm asking, why did Willis shoot it himself? This kind of stunt shot must be done by a stunt double."

"Ronald, Willis and I have already discussed it. He is willing to play the explosion and jumping shot. He understands the risks involved. He can also complete this shot and let the director and the leading actor feel that it is artistic. Remember?"

Ronald looked back at Demi Moore who was walking over and Bruce Willis who had already applied fireproof material.

"Yes, I am willing to shoot it myself. This is nothing. It's a very simple shot. I often shoot this kind of shot on TV..."

"Ronald, what is this? You can't let Bruce take risks..." Demi Moore was anxious. This is a life-threatening shoot. She has always made movies and knows that the shots in movies are real, not the kind of shooting in TV series that can fool people. Her boyfriend Bruce Willis doesn't understand what he is going to face yet.

Bruce Willis is very satisfied with his girlfriend's concern for him, but he can't show any timidity in front of Ronald. Demi likes her bravery, but she can't lose her biggest attraction in front of Ronald, the most masculine person present (except himself).

"Hey, I'm a professional action actor, are you looking down on me, Demi? Relax, it's just a small scene."

Ronald knew that this was a trick of director John McTiernan. He couldn't be unaware of the danger of this kind of action, but Bruce Willis, who had never filmed such an action scene, was okay.

Ronald looked at McTiernan, his eyes shining, staring at the other's eyes, "I don't like people playing tricks..."

"No one is playing tricks, Ronald, I'm about to shoot," John McTiernan gestured to leave.

"Ronald," Joel Silver came over and pulled Ronald. He didn't know much about filming, but he knew something was wrong from Ronald's resentful eyes.

"Let's just watch first. If... it will be detrimental to the safety of the filming."

"Do you want me to be ruined like John Landis?" Ronald was pulled away, and he glanced at Silver. When director Landis was filming "The Twilight Zone", he didn't pay attention to the safety of filming, which eventually led to actor Vic Morrow being beheaded by a helicopter. Not only did he lose all his property, but no mainstream commercial productions ever came to him again.

"Don't be like that. I found the special effects team this time, the best one in Hollywood. They are very professional. Although I don't understand filming, I still pay attention to safety. No one wants to end up like John Landis."

Ronald shook his head, "You don't understand. The safety of special effects shots depends not only on the team's arrangement, but also on the actor's own experience. This is a redundant shooting scene. Willis has never acted in an action scene before, so he doesn't know much about it. I'm worried that he might get hurt."

Ronald has seen many of Jackie's martial arts actors in Hong Kong. They act fearless at the dinner table, but they are actually doing it to save face. Jackie's shooting team has a death index every year.

But now he didn't know about this arrangement in advance, and now he went up to express his opposition temporarily, which will affect the mentality of everyone from the director to the actor. Maybe it was fine before, but he hesitated and thought too much, which would cause trouble.

Ronald stood in the corner, biting his lips, and was in a dilemma. He had never been deceived so badly on the set.

"Fortunately, we have bought enough insurance, don't be nervous... Even if he gets into trouble, the insurance company will pay for it, unlike Landis... Hey, what are you doing?" Joel Silver was about to continue explaining, but suddenly found Ronald's glare, and stopped talking in fear.

"Ronald, will Bruce be okay?" Demi Moore was also very nervous, and couldn't help but grab Ronald's arm and hugged it tightly, as if this man would give her some courage to watch.

"Special effects department? Prepare the countdown..."

"Camera No. 1?"

"Full speed!"

"Camera No. 2?"

"Full speed!"

...

Director John McTiernan began to give orders.

The pyrotechnicians of the special effects team began to prepare for the explosion.

"A!"

At the command, Bruce Willis climbed up the railing of the rooftop. He held the pillar with both hands and checked the fire hose tied to his body again, "God, don't let me die here..."

Then he looked back and shouted "Ah..."

Photographers at multiple camera positions were nervously holding the topless actor Bruce Willis to prevent him from running out of the picture.

"Boo! Boo!..." The special effects team began to blast multiple blasting points on the rooftop.

"Boom boom..." The blast ignited the plastic bag containing the accelerant, and a group of large flames were angry, and waves of heat waves came from the corner of the rooftop.

Ronald was far away and felt the amazing thrust of the heat wave.

"It's broken..." Ronald felt that this special effect was added too much. This thrust added to Bruce Willis might make him move forward more when he jumped off the building and deviate.

Ronald and others looked at Bruce Willis with regret in their hearts.

Bruce Willis closed his eyes, gritted his teeth, and jumped off the railing with his legs.

"SHXT!" Ronald yelled, and rushed downstairs without waiting for the director to call for a stop.

As expected, after Bruce Willis jumped off the rooftop, he was pushed forward by the blast.

"Bruce..." Demi Moore didn't know what happened, and followed Ronald down. Director John McTiernan knew something was wrong, so he threw away his headset and ran. Finally, it was the fat Joel Silver, who was out of breath and almost fell down the stairs due to hypoglycemia.

"Huh... Huh... Wait for me..."

Holding on the wall, Silver, who was sweating all over from fear, finally appeared.

Bruce Willis hit the edge of the air cushion. If he was one or two meters away, he would fall out and die.

Ronald was in the inner circle, and he helped him up with the stunt team.

"Demi, Ronald, I told you to watch my brave performance...hahahaha..."

Bruce Willis laughed non-stop.

"You scared me to death", Demi grabbed him and trembled with fear.

"It's okay, it's okay", Bruce Willis comforted his worried girlfriend, "Tonight I will let you see who is the bravest man in Hollywood."

"Of course it's you", Demi Moore couldn't stand this, her boyfriend became the bravest person, and gave him a hot kiss.

"Well done!" All the people on the scene applauded Bruce Willis.

"Huh, it's okay...Ronald, I didn't lie to you, it's okay...I'm sure", the director John McTiernan, who was almost scared to death, also breathed a sigh of relief.

"Hmph... If you are sure, why did you shoot this scene first?" Ronald glared, "All the subsequent jumps, explosions, and all dangerous shots will be performed by a stand-in."

"What a die-hard, Die Hard." Alan Rickman, who played the villain, came down with everyone and was very impressed and praised Bruce Willis' heroic performance.

"What?" Ronald didn't hear clearly.

"I said he is Die Hard, the kind of person who never gives up."