Exploiting Hollywood 1980

   Chapter 279 Private Meeting Bo Ji Xiaosi

   Ronald is in the editing room working with editor Eric on the version for the TV station.

   TV ratings are similar to movie ratings, but more stringent. Public television is broadcast over the air, usually a family watching a TV in the living room. In this case, except for some large-scale programs in the late night, all other times must be G-level.

  The MCA Group, which Universal Pictures belongs to, has Universal Television Network, and most of the studios and staff of Universal Pictures are also producing TV programs for NBC. Therefore, there is no need to worry about selling the "fast-paced" special version for the TV station, and two versions are cut in the editing stage.

  Wait until the theatrical release ends, and then sell it to TV stations for broadcast. This kind of transaction is priced according to the number of broadcasts of the TV station, and Ronald will also have a certain residual dividend as the director.

   "These revealing scenes, and these lines with plots of love, abortion, etc. have to be cut. What story are you going to use to fill these times?" Eric asked.

"I don't want to do it all over again and restructure the story. We were tired enough from the previous week." Ronald pointed to the card on the whiteboard on the wall, "See if there are other supporting characters' storylines, and fill them in a bit. ."

   "You are the boss, you have the final say." Editor Eric got up to get the shot log, and picked out a lot of shot numbers that were mainly supporting characters.

   "The acting skills of these two are good, we can add more shots of them", Eric looked at the two boys on the monitor screen, pressed pause, and pointed to Ronald.

"Nick Coppola, and Eric Stoltz." Ronald smiled. "They caused me a lot of trouble on set. Nick did a two-sentence scene. Several pages of actor notes. Stoltz also wanted to imitate Sean Penn and let people just call him by his character’s name on set.”

   "Isn't that a good thing?"

   "It's good for the actor, but not necessarily for the director." Ronald rewinded the film and played it again.

   "You see this opposite scene, Nick's performance is very real, but his emotional intensity is far greater than that of Judge Reinhold, who plays opposite him. This makes the audience feel that there is a problem."

  Ronald pointed to the editor, "There are a lot of such problems in this movie, which made me understand that acting is not the higher the better. What is needed is the match with the character and the opponent."

   "It's true." Eric also watched the replay. "Fortunately, Spiccoli's character is crazy, and Sean Penn's interpretation fits the role."

   "I hope the audience likes him. I have already discussed with his agent that as long as the host and Brooke Shields have negotiated a cameo, let him come back from Chicago to make up for the ending scene of the day."

   "Also add a little shot to Brad's girlfriend, she is very beautiful, and the audience prefers to see beautiful women."

   "Bell bell bell..."

  The phone rang in the editing room, and Ronald picked it up, "It's me, Ronald."

   "Hi Ronald, I'm Linson. David Letterman is very interested in a cameo in your film and asked you to get a script for his agent to read."

   "No problem, do you have a copy there?" Ronald came to the spirit, David Letterman now hosts the morning show with great ratings, and he was nominated for an Emmy as the host. It would be very topical if he could be invited to make a cameo to host Spiccoli's award-winning surfing scene.

   "Yes. But I have to remind you that Letterman's agent is very difficult to deal with. He originally had the opportunity to star in 'The Unprecedented', but his agent made a fool of him."

   "Try first, if he doesn't work, who else is on our list?"

   "Letterman can't do it. You can also try the host of "Tomorrow Show", but he is much less popular than Johnny Carson and David Letterman."

   Producer Lin Sen changed the receiver to another ear, "How's your contact with Brooke Shields going?"

   "Porgy's mother, Terry, offered a fee of 500,000 yuan to appear. I explained to her that it was just a cameo appearance, and also mentioned that I had helped her before, and she was only willing to drop it to 400,000 yuan.

   Now Bo Ji's popularity is very high, and this price is also required for shooting a product advertisement. Her mother's side has little room for negotiation.

   How much budget can we apply for reshoots? "

"There are up to 300,000 Bo Ji, and if you can't get Bo Ji, then it's about 100,000." Lin Sen replied, "They don't think that your supplementary shots are necessary, if there is no such promotion as Bo Ji. effect star cameo, then they'd rather subtitle Spiccoli's ending."

  ‘Well, I will try to cut it to less than 300,000. "Ronald put down the phone.

   Spiccoli's performance will resonate with the audience, why should I give him a sensational ending, so that the audience will pass on word of mouth, "Spiccoli saved Brooke Shields".

  Since her mother is unwilling, it is better to talk to Bo Ji herself. She is already sixteen years old, so it is not surprising that she has her own ideas. As long as Bo Ji is willing, Terry also considers the matter of lowering the price.

   Ronald thought for a while, picked up the phone and dialed his agent.

   "Nicita, I'm Ronald. Can you find Brooke Shields' itinerary for the last two days?"

"What, you want to date her? Her mother, Terry, wouldn't agree, a woman known in circles for a snob who only asks her daughter to date people who make headlines. Your new movie is a big hit, say Maybe she'll post it upside down."

   "Don't joke, I'm serious." Ronald reiterated the story of Terry's high bid and his daughter's refusal to make a cameo appearance.

   "Okay, I'll help you find out. But don't really kidnap Brooke, Terry is famous for protecting her daughter, she'll go crazy."

   "I know better than you, Rick."

   After two days, the two guest guests had results.

  Linsen called. David Letterman's agent didn't like Spiccoli's role and declined the invitation from the crew for him. They can only settle for the next best thing and find the host of "Tomorrow Show" to make a cameo. It happens that his ratings have been low recently, and it is a good thing for him to make a cameo movie. It is estimated that the possibility of agreeing is very high.

   Agent Rick Nisita told the entertainment reporter and found the whereabouts of Brooke Shields. She was in Los Angeles these two days, participating in the recording of CBS' "The Circus of the Stars".

  Ronald got an inside pass to the CBS recording site, which Nisita helped him get through a relationship.

The    red pass level is high enough to go to the backstage of the recording and the locker room area, where Ronald waits for Brooke Shields, avoiding her ubiquitous mother.

   "Star Circus Show" is an annual variety show on CBS, where popular stars imitate circus acrobats and put on a show for the audience.

  Ronald watched the various equipment in the studio in the background, walking a tightrope, drilling a ring of fire. In my heart, I was sweating for the stars who participated, this is all life-threatening.

   When he was thinking about it, a staff member came over and reminded him, "Borgy will adapt to the venue soon."

  Ronald tidied up his leather jacket, stood in the aisle, and saw a tall girl walking towards the passage leading to the locker room in the distance.

  I saw her wearing a white yoga-style costume with a high slit, a purple silk flower embellished on her chest, and two long legs wearing silk stockings inlaid with stars and reflective accessories like diamonds. He also wears a headdress like a cockscomb on his head.

   An acrobat girl walked towards him.

   It was just a pair of white flip-flops dragging on her feet, revealing her girlish mood. It was Brooke Shields who participated in the "Star Circus Show".

   "Hi, Brooke." Ronald greeted her from a distance, "Is Terry not here?"

   "Oh, hi, Ronnie." Brooke Shields was surprised to see Ronald, "Why are you here? My mom is in the dressing room."

   Then Brooke whispered close to her ear and said, "She drank two glasses of whiskey and is resting. I am now making her a daily ration, and she can't drink too much."

   Ronald also replied in a low voice in Brooke's ear, "Don't worry, I will keep this a secret. I'm here to invite you to guest star in my movie."

   "Huh, is that right? Your movie invited me to make a cameo?" Brooke smiled, "Okay, what theme are you filming, and what role do you want me to play in?"

"Just play yourself. I made a youth film, and the last character won the surfing award. When you gave him the award, you accidentally fell into the sea, and he rescued you. But those scenes that fell into the sea have doubles. Done, you just have to take a scene where you give him the award."

"Ah, hahahaha..." Brooke Xiaosi laughed wildly, "You're so bad, Ronnie. Make up this kind of plot for me. I promise...but you have to teach me how to act.' Endless love 'After I came out, film critics were scolding me for my bad acting skills."

"No problem, but I think your acting is not bad, they just don't know how to appreciate it." Ronald quickly praised Brooke, "Your mother charged me a high price, my movie is a small budget , can you lower it a bit?"

   "How much is she asking for?"

   "400,000"

   "How much can you give?"

"ten"

   Brooke thought for a while and said, "Forty is the price my mother offered to shoot product advertisements, but she can accommodate for exposed projects. Just like this circus show, as long as the audience can see me, she is willing to compromise."

   "There's nothing wrong with that, the movie is released in the summer, teens across the country are going to see your cameo, and Universal instructed me to edit a TV version that will be shown on public television later."

   "Then you wait for me here, and when I finish practicing, go to my mother together."

   Saying that, Brooke Xiaosi was wearing white flip-flops and walked to the middle of the studio.

   There was already a professional acrobat waiting for her on the trapeze swing.

   "Borgy won't play trapeze, will she?"

  Ronald looked at Brooke and at the swing high in the sky. Although there was a safety net below, he was still a little panicked.

   Brooke took off her two white slippers, climbed to the sky from the rope ladder next to her, and then sat on a swing.

   She is very calm and performs every year at the "Celebrity Circus Show", and she has the foundation of gymnastics and yoga. These movements look scary, but they are not difficult to do.

   Then she grabbed the acrobat's upside-down arm and let go of the swing herself.

   "Mummy, so powerful", Ronald didn't expect Brooke to really come.

   Then Brooke hooked the swing with both legs, and let go of the acrobat above with both hands. Bo Ji, who hooked the swing with only two legs, also greeted the audience with open arms.

   "It was too exciting." Ronald had a homage to the acrobats.

   Then Bo Ji gradually lowered one leg and hooked his entire body weight with only one leg.

  Ronald felt his heart beating faster, should he work so hard?

  Borgy Xiaosi did it very easily, she then hooked the swing with one hand and one foot, posing in various poses.

   Ronald then understood that Brooke has a good foundation for flexibility and may have learned gymnastics as a child.

   Finally, Brooke picked up a rope loop, put it on the back of his neck, raised his head and let the rope loop pull him, and turned his hands on the swing, brought his hands to his chest, and quickly rotated.

   Ronald watched from the side and couldn't help applauding Brooke's wonderful performance.

   "Hahaha..." Brooke heard Ronald's applause, stopped the rotation of the rope with her hand, then stood on the swing and gave Ronald a salute.

   She jumped off the swing and fell on the safety net, then moved to the side, looking down for her slippers.

   Ronald stopped to applaud, went to the rope ladder and picked up two fluffy white slippers, walked over to gently put them on for Brooke, then grabbed one of her hands and asked her to borrow.

   Brooke firmly supported Ronald's hand and jumped off the safety net, "Is my technique not bad?"

  Ronald felt that Brooke was a bit rounder than the last time he saw her on the set. Her skeleton was already big, and now she is a bit like an adult woman, no longer the skinny little girl she used to be.

   "Of course, you are the best."

  The two walked to the dressing room, and Brooke woke up mother Terry.

   "Oh, Brooke. Are you done practicing?"

   "Yes, here comes Ronald, and he wants to ask me for a cameo in a movie. I promise him."

   "Ronald, promise?" Terry got up and saw Ronald standing beside him, yanked him, pulled him aside, and began to question Ronald.

   "What did you tell my daughter that she would agree to you?"

   "I just invited her to make a cameo and said that our budget is limited, but the film has been sold to TVB, and she will have a good chance of exposure."

   "Wireless station? Are you serious?"

   "Yes, a film produced by Universal. Guaranteed to be broadcast on Universal Television Network. You know that Universal and NBC have a good relationship. If the release is successful at the box office, it is not impossible to sell it to NBC."

   "Mom, I want to play this role. Ronald would inspire my acting, and he's helped us before."

  Terry looked at his daughter and Ronald suspiciously. Ronald's height was a man who rarely matched his height in the film industry. She continued to pull Ronald and whispered:

   "You don't want me to catch you and Boogie talking nonsense, understand?"

"It's just a half-day cameo scene, I have no other intentions. This is the first film I directed. I want to invite Bo Ji to make a cameo. I hope she can come, so I gave a price that Universal can afford, 100,000, and she agreed. , that's it.

   Besides, Brooke also likes acting, so it would be good for her to get acquainted with various roles. "

   "She is my daughter, and what I do is for her future. Are there any mothers in the world who don't think about their daughters?" Terri was a little excited when he heard these acting skills and characters.

   "I don't mean anything else, I just hope Brooke can make a cameo." Ronald repeated his purpose, and it seems that Terry is also a little sensitive to the statement of acting skills.

   "That's it, since Brooke promised you, let the producer come to me. After all, you helped us before."

   Ronald saw that he had achieved his goal, happily bid farewell to the two of them, and left.

   "Mom, I just love acting. Ronald is great at inspiring me on set."

   "I know, you like acting. In the future, we will have time to improve, daughter. Now you are still a child, the most important thing is to perform in your true colors, and perform happily.

   As for the improvement of acting, we are looking for an experienced and older director, not a newbie like Ronald.

   When you are an adult, there will be roles for you to play. Now you are still acting as a girl, and acting in your true colors is the best. You are the most beautiful girl. "

   "I see, Mom." Brooke turned around, she had been playing a little girl for four years, and she hadn't tried a real role yet.

  Terry closed the locker room door and helped his daughter take off the headgear. Bo Ji is sixteen years old and has her own ideas. She has never revealed her ambition to be an actress before. Did Ronald say something to him?

   Take a closer look when Brooke makes a cameo appearance in a Ronald movie.

   (end of this chapter)