Exploiting Hollywood 1980

The next morning, Ronald came out of the mansion Diane rented, stretched out, and walked to the large yard at the door to bask in the sun. The house faces a small lake in the town, and there is a small pier and trestle at the end of the yard. This kind of house design makes people feel very comfortable. The landlord even went to stay with relatives, leaving privacy and safety to the actresses who participated in the show.

They are all famous movie stars, singers, and entertainment reporters. There are always some who are particularly persistent and will sneak into small towns to take secret photos.

Fortunately, with the help of screenwriter Harlin, the several houses rented are the ancestral properties of wealthy people. Suitable yards and trees can block the telephoto lens from taking candid photos.

"Good morning……"

Say hello to Ronald, it’s Diane’s neighbors, Shirley MacLean and Dolly Parton. They also occupy the best houses on the left and right. Ronald is seen from Diane’s door. When he came out, everyone greeted him as usual.

"Good morning, ladies. How are you staying? If you have any requests, please ask me directly." Ronald greeted the two. The two half-aged MILFs were both wearing bikinis and sunbathing by the river.

"It's very good. It's very comfortable here, but paparazzi still come from time to time. Fortunately, they were chased away by your people. But we don't dare to go too far. After all, it is difficult to detect them with the telephoto lens of today's cameras. "Dolly Parton is very grateful to Ronald for giving her the opportunity to act in movies. She is a singer and can only play roles similar to her own experiences.

"I said, if we all take off our clothes and sunbathe, will there be any problem? Ronald?" Shirley MacLean is a very direct person, and her faint moans last night reached her while walking the dog. Her ears really made her curious, so she teased him a little bit.

"No problem, it will just cause traffic jams on the lake..."

"Hahaha..." Dolly and Shirley laughed wildly (especially Dolly Parton, who is famous for her figure). Ronald was very nice and handsome. Say a few words to him. Such words make people feel happy.

"What are you laughing at?" Diane yawned and walked out.

"Pfft, hahaha..." Shirley MacLean started laughing again. She just couldn't sleep well because of the noise last night. This smile made everyone laugh. Ronald picked up the coffee in the thermos cup and gave Diane a cup.

"Ah, it's so sweet. The two of them are as sweet as molasses, like two vines tightly attached to each other, and they can't bear to be separated." The two middle-aged actresses started to make noises, which made Diane embarrassed to pick up the coffee cup and drink it. It turns out that although it is instant coffee, it tastes really good.

…

"If Nora was still here, she would never come to visit the crew when I started filming. This is the most important part of shooting a movie. All actors need this day to be suitable for the director..."

A brief opening ceremony was held in the morning, and director Herbert Ross was still talking about the bad things about his fiancée. This old man is really hypocritical. After his wife passed away, he planned to marry a new socialite wife in less than a year. At the same time, he compared his new fiancée with his first wife and listed one, two or three ways in which she was inferior to Nora.

"Coffee...", Ronald waved his hand, and the assistant served fine coffee from the crew's coffee machine. After coming to the crew, Ronald and Diane confirmed with several actors that director Herbert Ross was under great mental pressure and had a bad attitude towards the actors during rehearsals.

In order to alleviate the hormonal imbalance of the old man who was about to get married, Ronald put the coffee machine used by his assistants on the set so that Herbert could drink his favorite freshly brewed coffee at any time.

The large glass of American food blocked Herbert's mouth, and he directed the first scene to the actors. This was a scene in which Julia Roberts played the protagonist Shelby, and Sally Field played the mother and his friend Olympia. ·Duka Keith, in the hair salon where Dolly Parton plays the proprietress, and the hairdressing assistant played by Diane, do wedding hairstyles for three women.

This is the first time Shelby appears, and it also introduces the background of the story that Shelby, who is about to get married, has severe diabetes. The scenes between several women are very tight, and everyone's rehearsals and training in southern accents in the past two weeks are about to come to fruition.

Herbert Ross was born on the theater stage, and his directorial philosophy was to shoot difficult scenes from the beginning. Only in this way will the actors be convinced of the director's scheduling and guidance, and if there is an actor who is not good enough, there will be time to replace him. Although I don't know how to change roles when making movies, this habit has been retained.

"I want the camera to be here, give them a medium shot, and then start to pan the camera while backing up, to this position, and finally give them a main shot to explain the environment and characters."

Herbert Ross had his own views on photography. He did the opposite of the usual Hollywood method of starting with the main shot and moving to a medium shot or even a close-up. Start by introducing the two main characters, and then gradually introduce other characters into the camera, slowly zooming out, and then let the audience see the complete scene of the whole scene.

Ronald nodded. This technique was actually not used too much in Hollywood. Herbert Ross was obviously fully prepared and every move was very rigorous. With such a director, I can rest assured.

He left the set to pick up a Coca-Cola marketing director. It's not far from Coca-Cola's headquarters, Atlanta. Ronald reached out to them and secured over a million dollars in sponsorship.

In this movie, there are many Coca-Cola shots in the wedding and the subsequent airport party scenes. However, there are no close-up shots of the protagonist and Coke, and Coke is not an important prop, so the price of the product placement is not too expensive. This is the result of their bidding with Pepsi.

"In today's scene, you will see glass bottles of Coke in the refrigerator and on the table. There will be more shots in the wedding scene later." Ronald explained to the visitor.

"We are honored to work with you again, Director Li. In fact, we have selection criteria for this kind of product placement. As long as it is a work produced or directed by you, we will be happy to invest. The most important thing is not to let Pepsi appear in the movie."

The senior executives of Coke smiled and said that there is now a consensus among the senior executives of Coke that the decision to acquire Columbia has not brought any synergy to the group. Instead of spending a lot of money on Columbia Pictures every year, it is better to sell it and then spend money on these directors with box office guarantees, and the effect of product placement is better.

"I don't know Ronald, do you usually drink Coca-Cola or Pepsi?"

"Ah, hahaha... I think Coca-Cola is a product that represents the spirit of America. So I am honored to appear in the movie. As for normal times, I still drink Coca-Cola. Only in KFC will I drink Pepsi."

"Hahaha..." The executive understood the meaning. In America, McDonald's and Coca-Cola are partners, and KFC is all Pepsi.

"In fact, I am more optimistic about your business. I have also invested in some Coca-Cola stocks."

Ronald smiled and took the other party to watch the shooting. "At that time, we will stand behind the camera and don't make any noise to avoid affecting the shooting... The director is the boss on the set. I am a producer and can only stand behind and watch. No matter how big a star is, he has to listen to the director on the scene..."

"Ah!"

After more than half an hour, Herbert finally adjusted his position and began to officially shoot the first indoor shot of "Steel Magnolias".

"What's the main color of your wedding?" Dolly Parton dressed up as a hairdresser and did the hair of Julia Roberts, who had blonde hair.

"It's rose red and light red..." When Julia Roberts said this in a southern accent, her mouth widened, and the joy of a bride-to-be seemed to overflow from the depths of her heart.

"This girl's acting is average, but this kind of affinity is really unique." Ronald touched his chin and evaluated.

Julia Roberts is not well-trained in acting. In many places, she doesn't have the sense of layering and rhythm that should be expressed. But the kind of joy from the heart is something that many professional actors can't act out.

This is talent. She acts naturally, and the audience will like to watch it. Who would care about a little girl who is about to become a bride talking to her mother in the wrong mood?

"It's pink, pink." Sally Field's acting is much more restrained. She was also a very talented actress when she was young, and she became more and more proficient when she got older. She accurately captured the state of her mother's open reprimand but actually showing off.

Sally Field also had a lot of plastic curlers tied up on her head, waiting for a big wave at the back. The hair assistant who did her hair was played by Diane.

Seeing Diane's skillful gestures, Ronald couldn't help but smile. This is Sally Field's successor, who has both spirituality and acting skills, and hard work in learning. She took the hairpin off Sally Field's head, and then naturally clipped it on her clothes, which was the most natural action of a hairdresser.

This action was more professional than Michelle Pfeiffer's role as a shampoo girl in "Married to the Mob".

"Cut! Cut!"

Just when Ronald was admiring Diane's acting skills, Herbert Ross stopped the filming in dissatisfaction.

"I've told you this many times during rehearsal. It's true that Shelby is an independent woman, but she wouldn't be so mean to her mother. This is the South, the South, don't bring your old Yankee ways in."

"It doesn't seem that serious, does it?" Ronald thought. Maybe Southern women are less direct, but Shelby is the daughter of a wealthy family, so it's not impossible that she sometimes behaves like a girl from a big city in the North.

Julia Roberts was almost in tears because of his meanness, and tears welled up in her big eyes.

"Sorry, director, I'll do it again." She quickly gathered her emotions and prepared to shoot again.

"Director, she didn't mean it... Don't be mean to her..." Dolly Parton likes everyone to be happy by nature, and she couldn't bear to see such things, so she came up to smooth things over.

"And you, Dolly. You play the female owner of a hair salon, not a country singer. This is a service industry, not a star. You please the customers, not the customers please you..."

The character I played has been doing hair for Shelby's mother for many years, and they are more like good friends. "Dolly Parton got angry and started a "discussion" with Herbert Ross, "Hmph...why don't you show me how to please the customers?"

"Sometimes, when there are difficulties on the set, actors will have some "professional discussions" with the director on acting." Ronald quickly said a few perfunctory words to the Coca-Cola executive, and accompanied him out with his assistant and took a car to the airport. It's not good for sponsors to see such a quarrel on the set.

"Let's do it again, just as I said. You all have to act according to the script, don't add your own scenes, don't change the lines in the script... Don't change a single punctuation mark..."

Ronald came back and saw Herbert Ross finished directing the actress and started shooting the second take.

"A!"

Now Julia Roberts did exactly what the director asked. The strong appeal brought by that talent was gone.

Ronald frowned. Is it so important that every word matches the lines? Besides, it is a very rare talent to be able to express such true feelings. If I were to shoot it, I would definitely use the one Roberts just did.

Forget it, forget it, I'm not directing. Besides, I can make up for it in the editing room later.

Ronald was about to watch it, but suddenly Herbert Ross stopped it again.

"Cut!"

"What's wrong with you? Why don't you put in some emotion? I asked you to follow the lines, not to be a puppet. What's the difference between you and a tape recorder that directs to repeat the script lines?"

"I'm sorry, director." Julia Roberts was even more at a loss. She lowered her head and tears were about to come out.

Sally Field and Olympia Dukakis were working with Herbert Ross for the first time, and they were not interested in this rigid directing method. Diane also went to comfort Julia Roberts.

"Still crying? What's there to cry about? I'm the one who should cry... Ronald, Ronald, I said Ronald," Herbert Ross turned to Ronald, "Can you get Michelle Pfeiffer back for me? I really can't continue shooting. How can such a vase with no acting skills play Shelby well?"

"Wow..." Julia Roberts was described by Herbert as a vase with no acting skills. She couldn't hold back and cried loudly.

"That's enough, Herbert, can you respect us women a little? If you have something to say, you can talk about it nicely, don't insult our personality." Dolly Parton couldn't bear it anymore, walked up to Herbert Ross, put her hands on her hips, and criticized his attitude.

"How good do you think you are? You are also a vase with no acting skills. Do you think you can act?" Herbert Ross was still dissatisfied with Dolly's performance method. His anger had not subsided, and he scolded her again.

"Of course I can't act..." Dolly Parton glared, "But you are the director, make me look like I can act, this is your job!"

"Get out, you bitch..." Herbert Ross cursed at Dolly Parton. How can actors nowadays still talk about directors? The world has really changed. When his wife Nora was still there, which actor dared to talk back to him in person?

"You have to respect us, Herbert", Shirley MacLaine also came up to speak for the actresses. Such a director is too much.

"Herbert, you have to respect us. Actors and directors work together, not us working for you. You see, when Ronald directed my play, he never told me what to do. He respected our improvisation and the chemistry between the actors." Olympia Dukakis was not interested in such a director. How lucky she was to meet Ronald.

"Oh my God," Herbert Ross put down the baton, "Ronald, can't you find me some women who can act?"

"Herbert, let's talk..." Ronald started thinking about how to deal with the aftermath when the few people quarreled just now.

He couldn't directly refute Herbert Ross in the crew, because that would cause the loss of the director's authority. But Ross couldn't continue to use this bullying guidance method.

This movie relies on the chemistry between several actresses. If you let them act completely according to Ross's ideas, it doesn't mean that it will not work, but a great work may become mediocre.

Ronald asked Herbert Ross to go to the trailer outside the venue with him. As soon as he got in the car, Ronald slammed the door.

"What the fuck is wrong with you? Why are you insulting them in person? These actors are Oscar nominees and winners, and have rich acting experience. Dolly Parton and the newcomer Roberts are also very talented in acting. If you are dissatisfied, why are you scolding them?"

"You are the one who is wrong, right? Why can actors talk back to directors? Is this how you make movies? Young man, let me teach you what a director should do. In a movie, no actress is irreplaceable. Don't let them push you too far..."

"First! Except for Julia Roberts, everyone's salary is not lower than yours. In this project, their contribution to the box office is not lower than yours!" Ronald was furious. Why is this Ross still a stubborn old man?

"Second, they either have Oscars or Golden Globe winners. You are not the most authoritative person in the crew! You are right. No one is irreplaceable in the movie, including you, Herbert."

"But I am doing this for the sake of the movie, Ronald. The script of this movie is excellent. I really want to make it my most satisfying work. It will go down in film history." Ross softened when he heard Ronald say this. He still had to wait for the pay to get a wife. It was a huge expense. If he was fired now, it would be troublesome.

"I'm glad you think so, Herbert. Sometimes, it's not necessarily a bad thing to let actors like Dolly and Julia, who haven't received enough training, to improvise more."

Ronald let out a sigh of relief. Before signing the contract, the director was the strong one, but after signing the contract, it all depends on the producer. If you don't obey, you'll be kicked out, and you won't get paid a penny. You'll also be held responsible for the project losses you caused. If you're even more ruthless, you'll be put on Hollywood's blacklist and you won't be able to shoot for a few years.

"You have to apologize to Dolly... and Julia when you go back," Ronald said.

"What? Don't be like that... Ronald, do you want me to embarrass myself?" Herbert Ross had already given in, but he was unhappy when he heard that he had to apologize. How could he gain a foothold in the crew in the future if he apologized to the actors? What would the other actors think? Would they be dissatisfied with him?

"Privately, I don't care what you say, let them feel that you have no personal grudges with them other than professional... ok?"

"Okay..."

Herbert Ross bowed his head helplessly.

After chatting with the two actors privately for a while, Herbert Ross adjusted his attitude and continued filming.

Several actors have recovered their good condition. Without such insults in person, they are more relaxed, and relaxation will bring more inspiration.

"Cut! This print has passed..."

Herbert Ross gave the director of photography a pass gesture, and everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief. In addition to his bad temper and love of scolding, Director Ross is actually very good.

Diane also winked at Ronald, meaning that you have changed Ross's temper, which is amazing!

Ronald gave her a look back. However, I can't stay in the crew for too long. I should let Diane prepare more to sort out the relationship. Such a good opportunity to compete with the group of actresses, I should not get in the way here.

】

…

"Mr. President is waiting for you..."

The senior executive in charge of marketing at Coca-Cola returned to the Atlanta headquarters and was called to a meeting by the president's secretary.

In the conference room, President Donald Keough was meeting with the financial director and several vice presidents. They all nodded when they saw him come in.

"How about it? Do you think changing our investment method in the film and television industry will affect Coca-Cola's exposure and penetration?" President Donald Keogh is a Midwesterner of Irish descent. Since he became president in 1981, he has led Coca-Cola to defeat the challenge of Pepsi, and now the business is booming.

"As long as we can continue to sponsor blockbuster directors like Ronald Lee and Spielberg and squeeze Pepsi out of the mainstream screen in Hollywood, I think the influence will not be weaker than the influence we get with Columbia."

"Got it," Donald Keogh nodded. The key is that Columbia loses money every year. Instead of doing this, it is better to use this part of the money for sponsorship and sell the film company for a good price.

"We are in a meeting, and our financial director has an amazing discovery." Donald Keogh motioned to the CFO to repeat the question.

"After the stock market crash in 1987, our stock price is 25% lower than the price before the crash." There has not been a particularly large turnover rate. But recently someone has been quietly buying in large quantities. Now we have at least 500 million shares. "

"Find out who is buying our shares. It has reached the minimum disclosure limit stipulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission. I want to see who is trying to maliciously acquire Coca-Cola." Donald Keogh said viciously. In 1981, some people wanted to acquire Coca-Cola at a low price because Pepsi had overtaken Coca-Cola in market share, but they fought back. This time will be no different.

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