Exploiting Hollywood 1980

   Chapter 278 Evaluation and reshoots

   "click, click... click"

  Universal's small screening room is showing the newly edited sample. From time to time, there was a black screen delay caused by the scotch tape on the film clip opening, and the small pop of scotch tape on the tape was also heard from the speakers.

   But that didn't affect the two producers, Lin Sen and Azov, from their undivided attention to the film. It also did not affect a middle-aged man with a beard sitting next to the two of them.

  Ronald also took the seat, a working copy of "Fast-Paced Richmond High School," which was shown on screen for the first time.

   In the last scene of the movie, Mr. Hand is grading the students' homework, and he covers his head in frustration. In the new class of students, there are many more students like Spiccoli who smoke and **** all day and write their homework.

With a    "pop", the screen turned black, and several handwritten white numbers appeared and disappeared, which were small marks made by the editing assistant. This working copy is without the Universal Pictures logo at the beginning, and the subtitles at the end. After two seconds, the black screen ended, and the small theater was lit up. "

   Producer Art Linson turned his head and asked the bearded middle-aged man sitting next to him:

   "Great movie, isn't it?"

  Because there are some ridiculous rumors about the movie inside Universal Pictures, for example, the director turned a comedy into a tragedy, the director did not shoot enough material, and the editing could not make a film, etc. Universal's executive Ned Tanin, asked the famous director to see the real situation, whether it was really impossible to edit the film.

   The middle-aged man who was entrusted by the top executives of Universal to watch the demo is the recent comedy director, John Landis.

   For the past two years, Landis has been the darling of capital after Spielberg. He recently directed two comedies, "An American Werewolf in London" which grossed 60 million and "Blues Brothers" grossed 120 million.

   Plus the previous 1978 release of "National Lampoon's Animal House", which grossed 140 million at the box office.

   With three home runs in a row, he is already America's best director of comedy and horror movies. In particular, "The Blues Brothers," his collaboration with comedy star John Belushi, received a $30 million investment.

   In this era of declining film investment, this investment is only less than Spielberg's 35 million budget "1941". The studio has confidence in him.

   And the "Blues Brothers" box office was very good, quadrupling the cost, but "1941" ended badly. Landis was actually more sought after by the studio than Spielberg before Spielberg turned over with Lucas-produced "The Lost Ark of the Covenant."

   "What do you think?" Azov, another producer, also asked Landis' opinion. They urgently need the middle-aged man to report the real situation he has seen to the world and to dispel the rumors.

  John Landis pushed his glasses, he didn't really appreciate the movie. The laughter inside is relatively obscure and loose. The comedy films that have been selling well in the past two years are pursuing dense and shallow laughter, just like the several films he directed and the "unprecedented flying" that took off at the box office last year.

  Although it doesn't suit my taste, it is nonsense to say that the director can't shoot or edit it. It seems that someone did it on purpose.

   On the contrary, the young director Ronald not only knew how to make a film, but also made a film for the first time, and the film was surprisingly completed to a high degree. In addition to the actor's performance, there is a common problem with the emotional intensity mismatch of novice directors.

   But this kind of problem cannot be completely solved even by a veteran director, unless it is a long-term cooperation team, or return to the big studio model of the golden age of Hollywood, and let the actors form fixed partners, otherwise there is no way.

   "As a newcomer, it's already very good," Landis replied.

   The two producers breathed a sigh of relief. It is hoped that Landis can bring the real situation of the film to the executives of Universal, match the corresponding publicity resources before the premiere, and the number of theaters after the release.

   "I would like to ask, what is your consideration in letting the actors speak in a lot of Southern California Valley accents?" Landis turned back and asked the young director.

   "The California way of life is liked by young people in most other places, and I wanted to use the valley accent to express that," Ronald replied.

   "Very good idea." Landis turned his head back, slightly disapproving. The use of dialect accents in comedy films is generally to create some jokes. Such a large-scale use of dialect accents and no corresponding jokes limits the viewing experience of non-Southern California audiences.

  John Landis didn't say much, he got up and said goodbye. This movie doesn't deserve more time and attention on my own, it's better to chat with my old partner, John Belushi, about the idea of ​​a new movie, I haven't seen him in a long time.

   "Ronald, it seems that Director Landis has a good impression of you, and your movie will be released in many theaters." Editor Eric said to Ronald quietly.

   "Oh, yeah? I don't know, I hope so." Ronald didn't say a few words to Landis. Seeing that he didn't say anything wrong with the movie, it should not be rejected by Universal. "

   "The editing is good, Ronald." Producers Lin Sen and Azov came over to congratulate him. The two of them were actually relieved today. Ronald's editing progress suddenly accelerated, and he rushed to make a copy before Landis came to see it, so as not to show the broken clip to the special envoy of Universal executives.

   Ronald stood up from the sofa and said to the two producers:

"With the soundtracks that Hecklen chose, the story and mood could have been better. Now the Motown music is missing, and the rights to Led Zeppelin have not yet been negotiated, and the sound engineer has already started mixing. "

  Another producer, the vice president of MCA Records Azov, replied, "Motown Records has agreed to use the copyrights of their artists, and you will soon be able to use Donna Summer's songs."

   "There are some issues with the copyright of the songs on the Led Zeppelin IV album, can you replace them with songs from their other albums?" Azov asked back.

   Ronald turned to ask Cameron Crowe, who was a special correspondent for "Rolling Stone" magazine and was very familiar with the rock circle.

   "No problem, the audience won't notice that Mark the Nerd and Stacey didn't use the album recommended by the scalper Mike when they were dating. Led Zeppelin's music is a taste to the average audience."

"I want to talk to you about making up some scenes. Sean Penn's performance is surprisingly good. I discussed it with Cameron Crowe and hope to make up two scenes for him. Please ask the talk show star. Johnny Carson, with Ruby Stars Brooke Shields."

   The two producers were stunned when they heard the words, and then they felt very interested. If you can really invite two stars to make cameo appearances, it will be very helpful for the promotion and marketing of the movie, and it is a topic that can get media headlines for free.

   "Do you have a way to invite them? Ronald." Lin Sen was more cautious.

   "Johnny Carson's agent is in the same company as my agent, and I have asked my agent to inquire about his wishes. As for Brooke Shields..."

   "I remembered, you directed the commercial for her CK jeans, right?"

"Yes, I have known her for a long time. I asked someone to ask her where the agent is. Her mother is in charge of her acting career. I want to contact her through formal channels first." Ronald replied, Rui is not a good talker, so let the agent know what she thinks first.

   "Very good idea, Ronald. After reading this working copy, I also think that Sean Penn's surfer is very prominent and the audience likes it."

   "If you have access to Johnny Carson, please try that too. I heard he's charging a lot for cameos."

  Linsen nodded, Johnny Carson is not only a talk show host, but also has his own men's clothing brand, and has also invested in a car company to build a sports car of pure American origin. This is beyond the ability of most people in the entertainment industry. Building a car is not a simple matter.

   "I'll help you ask, but you have to be prepared to fail."

   "My agent made a list for me. If he doesn't agree, we'll go to other show hosts. It doesn't hurt to try the most famous first. What if he agrees?"

   "Hahaha, that's it, keep this mentality."

   In the evening, John Landis returned to the office of Ned Tanning, the vice president of Universal Pictures, to talk about his thoughts on "fast-paced Richmond High School."

   "The director's technique is fairly skilled and experienced."

   "Are there no flaws?" Tanin asked.

"Technically no problem, the pace of the film doesn't quite match the latest blockbuster comedy, he's doing it like a slow-paced neuro-comedy of old Hollywood, with some exposure shots of X-rated movies from the 1970s." Landis evaluated.

   "You mean, the box office won't be very high?"

   "It's hard to judge, but he really didn't adopt the comedy mode that audiences have liked in recent years, and the pace is slower than the comedies that have been selling recently. You can see the editing pace of 'The Unprecedented', it's faster than him."

   "Including your blockbuster movies, right?"

  Landis smiled and acquiesced to Tanin's words.

   "Thank you, John. How's your new movie going?"

   "My new film seems to be delayed. I may accept Steven's offer to co-direct a movie based on a TV series with him."

   "Which Warner Bros. movie, eh? When are you going to make another comedy for us? Just with your old co-star John Belushi?"

   "John Belushi's situation is very bad, I think he's already mired in illicit drugs."

  Landis sighed, his former partner seemed to be a different person now, and he asked to borrow money when he saw him. He didn't want him to continue sinking and refused the request to borrow money.

   He even called Belushi's agent. The agent was also very upset. He said that he had called several of Belushi's good friends, Robert De Niro, Robin Williams and others, and asked them to persuade Belushi to go to the rehabilitation center.

   "God, he's a guaranteed comedy hit. Too many Hollywood actors have been ruined by illicit drugs lately."

  Ned Tanin said and sent Landis away, taking out an annual movie marketing plan on his desk. With a red pencil, I scratched the name "Fast pace".

   "In that case, just arrange some resources and sell them to Universal's TV station for broadcast."

   A few days later, Ronald came to the producer's office to discuss reshoots with Lin Sen and Azov.

   "Johnny Carson has officially declined the invitation to make a cameo. He said he doesn't work on Tuesdays and doesn't want to give up time with his wife for a small movie." Linson said. He inquired directly about Johnny Carson's time through a personal connection.

   "Then let's follow the list. Carson seems to have an apprentice. David Letterman is also hosting the morning show on NBC."

   "Okay, let's ask them one by one. How is Brooke Xiaosi? Is she willing to make a cameo?"

"She was willing, but his mother offered $500,000. I was angry and asked her to talk. I hope she can lower the price," Ronald said. "Whether she can come depends on what you can get. How much is the additional budget for reshoots?"

"We try our best to try, Brooke Shields is very attractive, and many viewers who go to see Endless Love go to see her. We will ask the global executives, if you can convince Brooke Shields, I think they will agree. "

   Ronald nodded, and it seemed that he had to go out and deal with Brooke Shields first.

"Also, there's good news. Universal's executives have a new idea after a meeting, let you edit a version that meets the TV station's G-level scale, and they will sell the 'fast pace' to the MCA-owned TV station. It seems that they are not interested in the release. The box office is very confident," Lin Sen said.

   Generally speaking, only the movies with excellent box office after they are released will the TV station make an offer to buy them. Now that the TV version is ready to be edited, it should be that the executives listened to Landis's opinions and are confident in the prospect of the release...

   (end of this chapter)