Exploiting Hollywood 1980

"Huh? Madonna? She can't do it, right? She can only act in her true colors. She can't play well in roles that are not very similar to her own experience."

Ronald thought to himself, I know Madonna's acting skills, but that's about as good as none.

When she auditioned for "Famous," Ronald discovered that she couldn't empathize with other people's emotions. Later, the success of filming her "Material Girl" MV was also because she had always admired Marilyn Monroe, so the scene where she was dressed in Monroe's famous fan's low-cut dress and mingled among macho men was Perfect shot.

"No way. I saw her previous film 'Mysterious Date', and even New York film critic Pauline Carr praised his performance very much. But if I check again, maybe you are right, it seems that she also filmed Both movies did not receive high box office and critical reviews.”

"Where is your audition pool? Don't you have any information about Madonna?" Ronald remembered that Julia Taylor had made files for many actors, recording their performance on stage and in film and television. Normally, it was Julia Taylor who recommended the director, not the other way around like today, where Ronald told her whether a certain actor was suitable.

"Like you, I don't have much experience in dealing with big stars. I still have to make a few calls to ask my peers." Julia Taylor hung up the phone and started calling her friend who was also a casting director to inquire about Madonna's performance. .

Ronald hung up the phone. Taylor was right. Although he had directed some actors who were now stars, such as Tom Cruise and Kevin Costner, when he directed them, they were still Before they became super popular and became big stars.

Needless to say, Tom Hanks, "Top Gun" made him step into the threshold of a big star. Kevin Costner was also introduced by Ronald, and he got the first male lead in a theatrically released movie. Later, he had the opportunity to star in Lawrence Kasdan's "Silvarado" and became a minor actor in one fell swoop. Famous western film actor.

Julia Taylor's previous castings only considered whether the actor's characteristics were suitable for the role, and whether the actor himself was a star was not considered.

As expected, Ronald and his casting director still had to learn this method of choosing stars to play leading roles as they went.

A few hours later, Julia Taylor called again. Ronald's impression is still reliable. Madonna's subsequent collaboration with her husband Sean Penn, "Shanghai", not only failed at the box office, but also received unanimous negative reviews from film critics everywhere.

They all said that this is simply putting the Pan couple's daily fighting on the screen. If it is made into a documentary about Madonna's life, I believe more people will watch it.

Moreover, after calling Madonna's agent, the other party said that Madonna is now in the process of filing divorce proceedings and has suspended all career work. In this way, Madonna didn't even have the chance to prove herself through auditions.

"Sorry, I have a lot of things here, and they are all very urgent. We can talk now." Ronald put down the phone and told a few people who were waiting in the hotel lobby after the premiere, hoping to see him. The Chinese said.

They were unfamiliar with the place, and it was not like they had Xiao Yan to help them in Los Angeles. They were waiting in the lobby like looking for a needle in a haystack for Ronald to show up.

If Ronald hadn't gone to a nearby boutique to prepare a few ties for the upcoming small awards show, they would probably have been disappointed.

The Hilton Hotel is extremely concerned about the privacy of its guests, and several Chinese people did not know the pseudonym Ronald used to register. If Ronald had not proactively greeted them when he saw them, they would not have found anyone until dawn.

After confirming with the lobby manager that these Chinese people were really here to see him, Ronald took them upstairs and prepared to ask them why they came to him. But before we even started chatting, we made several phone calls and left several people indifferent for a long time.

"Director Luo is very busy, so we should wait a little longer."

"Your Excellency, are you busy?" Ronald turned back to look at a translator who was also here, thinking that this flattery was a bit too much. I am not a leading cadre of you guys.

"What Director Huang means is that you are a famous director in Hollywood and have a lot of things to do. We are taking the liberty to disturb you and cannot interfere with your arrangements. So we should wait."

"Why do you come to see me? It seems to me that you are not artists in the film industry." Ronald said to the translator.

"Let's visit Director Luo..."

"Actually, when you come to America, you should have seen a lot of places. Our philosophy here is that as long as your products are of good quality and cheap, you can sell them. You see, Japan used to be our enemy, but now their Home appliances, cars, and even computers are all selling well in America.”

Director Huang nodded, took out a pen and wrote down in his notebook. It is true that the TVs in the hotel are all Japanese Sony or Hitachi brands. In the light industry, it is true that America only wants high-quality and low-price products, and does not care who produces them. .

"Actually, our lightning lamp factory in Minhang is not because of any leading technology, but because long-arc xenon lamps can only be mass-produced in China. You are an American businessman. The only factory that can purchase in large quantities has certain technology. Monopoly."

Director Huang continued to jot down a few more notes. Director Luo was very sincere and spoke truthfully. It seemed that after returning home, he would have to look at the investment purposes of foreign capital from a different perspective. Breaking out of the original perspective would broaden the world.

"The key is not how to introduce new projects, but to understand what the American market needs."

After chatting for a while, Director Huang also understood that apart from the different development routes of long-arc xenon lamps, which have led to the formation of an exclusive monopoly industry, China currently only has some relatively low-cost ones that do not require high technical levels of labor. Only products can be competitive.

However, this time, the Economic Committee took advantage of the film studio's favor. "Empire of the Sun" made a unified reservation for the Holiday Inn hotel for the Chinese delegation. Because it was inconvenient to move away from the main force, they still had to go back to rest.

Ronald called the hotel car to take them back. He knew that these people who went abroad generally had a tax-free purchase quota for home appliances. So Ronald called Richard and asked him to make arrangements to give each member of the delegation, including Director Huang, a Japanese TV or video recorder for them to choose.

…

Wearing a newly purchased tie, Ronald arrived at the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards Ceremony early the next morning.

This is the first of several prestigious Film Critics Association awards in America.

The awards are more like a gathering of old friends. This kind of film critics award is more about adding some luster to the film critics association than making the winners feel glorious.

However, they also have a reason to ask the winners to attend as much as possible, because most of the members of the film critics association in various places have the right to nominate and vote for the Oscars. Therefore, directors, producers, actors, and screenwriters who want to win the Oscars every year have become , a series of canvassing opportunities.

Ronald and Spielberg are sitting together again, neither of whom was nominated for best director. Ronald's "Moonlight" only won one gold award, which was for Olympia Dukakis for Best Supporting Actress. In addition, screenwriter John Patrick Shanley won the silver medal for best screenplay.

Perhaps because it premiered too late, Spielberg's "Empire of the Sun" didn't win a single award, which really made the great director feel a little uncomfortable.

"It seems that the Film Critics Association's awards still like to be awarded to those dramatic films." Ronald also muttered. Not only did they not win the award, even "The Last Emperor", which had a high reputation among the audience, did not win. The gold awards for Best Picture and Best Director were only given to a few technical awards such as Best Cinematography and Best Sound Effects.

These film critics always deviate from the aesthetic taste of ordinary audiences to a certain extent. An important reason why the TV show of two Chicago film critics, Sisko and Albert, has become popular across the country is that they often give good reviews to some commercial genre films, which can be used by real audiences. Refer to reliable reviews on whether to go to the cinema.

Those who pay attention to the film reviews in these places, such as the Los Angeles Film Critics Association and the New York Film Critics Association, are mainly young literary and artistic people in the city. Only they have the leisure to make movie viewing guides.

But who lets the people from these two cities lead the trend and have the loudest voice?

"Hey, I should have known it would be a waste of time, but my agent said I would come even if I didn't win the prize." A fat bald man walked towards Ronald and Spielberg, got down, and then The tie is loosened.

"Hahaha..." Ronald agreed with Fatty's words. He was also urged to come by his agent Niceta.

"Ha, Bob, let me introduce you." Spielberg introduced the two of them.

Ronald stood up and shook hands with the fat man who was also a director. What movie are you participating in?

"A live-action fairy tale movie, 'The Princess Bride,' I thought they would be a little more lenient with children's movies, hahaha."

The fat man named Bob smiled sincerely, and his uneven teeth gave him a sincere feeling.

This nonchalant yet happy temperament reminded Ronald of an acquaintance.

"Bob, I want to ask, you and Mr. Carl Reiner..."

"It's my father." Bob Reiner smiled. I heard my father talk about you and said your movies looked interesting.

Ronald had not seen Bob Reiner's movie "The Princess Bride" and was going to check it out. He found that one of the advantages of participating in such small awards is that he can get to know many directors.

When working in different crews, actors will always run into actors they have worked with before, and directors will also run into directors they have worked with before. However, it is difficult for directors and directors to meet during filming.

Moreover, in Hollywood today, there is no mentoring system like in the past. It is difficult for directors to establish a relatively close relationship and provide advice to each other.

Except for a few go-getters of New Hollywood, such as Spielberg, George Lucas, Martin Scorsese, and Brian De Palma, they were all university talents who entered Hollywood by chance. The old-fashioned directors with higher education have been ostracized and have been together for a period of time. Directors will not make any direct comments on the works of other directors.

But I thought that Director Huang was willing to cross the Pacific to hear the real voice with his own ears. Ronald felt that he had to find some peers, listen to criticism that was not mixed with flattery and flattery, and learn from each other.

"Bob", Ronald was about to get to know Bob Reiner better when he suddenly jumped up, "I have to leave first because I have something to do. Don't tell me you've seen me here."

Then he squeaked and ran out of the room at a speed that didn't match the fat man's stature.

"It's Penny, Penny Marshall," Spielberg explained to Ronald, "Reiner's ex-wife, they have some disputes over child support."

"Hi, Penny." Penny Marshall is also an actress. Spielberg once directed her in the failed comedy "1941".

"It's funny, Reiner is really a coward." Penny Marshall was very straightforward. She scolded her ex-husband right away, saying that he owed child support and didn't dare to see her.

"Let me introduce you, this is Ronald Lee, Penny Marshall." Spielberg introduced again.

"Oh, you are the director of "Dirty Dancing"? That's great. I haven't seen such a good movie about women breaking through shackles and pursuing their own liberation and progress for a long time."

"I hope you like it." Ronald smiled and exchanged business cards with her again. Knowing more directors is actually a good thing for his production business.

The two chatted and eliminated the unhappiness of the ex-husband's escape.

"What movie are you planning recently?" Penny Marshall asked Ronald.

"Don't you know? A modern version of Tess, put her in a financial company in Manhattan, and progress from a secretary to an investment manager."

Ronald laughed at himself, "I thought Hollywood knew about this?"

"Ah, I've been too busy recently. I finally decided on the male lead of the new film, Robert De Niro. It's hard to imagine that I can invite him to be the male lead."

"Oh... It's rare. I wonder what movie you invited him to shoot?"

"A fairy tale, a little boy suddenly grows up to the adult world, and uses his innocence to understand the adult world."

"Ha..." Ronald applauded. The two ex-husbands and ex-wives really have similar tastes, and even the themes of the movies they shoot are similar.

"However, they both shoot fairy tale-themed stories. Is it really a coincidence, the same aesthetics, or has there been a change in the recent film trend?"

Ronald turned his head and saw Spielberg, and it seemed that he was also asking this question. The two nodded, both thoughtful, and it seemed that they could do some research in this regard.