Exploiting Hollywood 1980

   Chapter 300 Repel Tom Mount

The accidental death of   Vic Morrow and two young actors has attracted a lot of attention from the public, which greatly exceeded Ronald's expectations.

The news column of    TV station has been following the incident for several days. They also sent a film crew to find the location of the shooting, "Indian Ranch", and several helicopters surrounded the scene for aerial photography.

   Right next to the half-crashed helicopter lying on the edge of the lake, the surviving helicopter pilot, a Vietnam War veteran, was interviewed.

"I was interviewed because I didn't want the helicopter pilot to have this kind of tragedy again. The director loudly told us to fly a little lower, fly a little lower, I don't know what happened, the tail of the helicopter was disturbed , we couldn't control the plane and it crashed on the edge of the lake."

   "Why is this still talking about the tragedy of their driver? Isn't this the tragedy of the actor and two innocent children?" Ronald couldn't help but complain.

"It was all pointed out by the lawyer, didn't you see that he showed the bruise on his lips on purpose?" Agent Nisita, who accompanied Ronald to watch the TV news with Richard, replied Ronald question.

   "Deliberately throw the pot?"

   "Yes, this accident will be more trouble than we originally imagined. The public's attention is very high, and all parties in the incident have begun to distance themselves at the speed of light."

  The TV camera turned, and there was an aerial shot of the helicopter rotating over the crash site. The helicopter flew very low, and the wreckage of the helicopter below was clearly visible. The news anchor's voiceover is still ringing:

   "The helicopter crash during the filming has caused the largest number of accidental deaths in recent years. We call on the trade union to establish a safety system as soon as possible to reduce unnecessary aerial photography of helicopters. Prevent this kind of tragedy from happening again."

   "Well, puff." Ronald couldn't help it for a while, "It's okay, sorry."

   "The producer said that all the shots needed for the movie have been shot." The voiceover ended with a comment related to "Yin and Yang Demon Realm", ending the news.

   "What does this mean?" Ronald asked Nisita, feeling wrong.

"The distributor, the shooting team, the victim's family, all of them need a hapless person to take responsibility. Now that they have started to act, the director of this part of the plot, John Landis, may be the one they chose to be responsible for. people."

   "This is director Landis's hint that Warner Bros., the movie has been filmed, don't give up on him, right?" Richard had a realization.

   "Is Landis also a producer?"

   "Yes, he and Spielberg are producers."

  Nisita saw the potential danger and went out to find President Michael Ovitz first. CAA has recently lost up-and-coming comedy star John Belushi, can't lose Spielberg any more, and they have something to do for him.

  Although Spielberg is not a client of CAA, he takes care of a large number of actors who have signed up with CAA. At this critical moment when ET aliens are about to be released, no mistakes can be made.

   Ronald and Richard continued to read the news in the office.

"The safety of filming is the focus of public attention. This station interviewed the publisher of 'Yin and Yang Demon Realm', Warner Bros. A spokesman for Warner Bros. said that this was a tragedy and was not an accident caused by human negligence. It also depends on the results of the police investigation.

   Then we went on to hang up the other big studios. Universal did not give interviews, and Disney, with no comment. Paramount, no comment. Twentieth Century Fox, no comment..."

Ronald and Richard looked at each other. It was normal for a press spokesman to have no comment, but it was edited by the TV station. It seemed that the studio's attitude was very prevaricious. A feeling of sympathy for the victims and condemnation of the capitalists arises.

   "Let's pick up a hotline for a couple of viewers, Mary from Maryland...  

Hello, I think the government should limit the reckless behavior of film producers and directors. Last year, Heaven's Gate, a bad film cost 40 million US dollars. You know how many public schools can be funded with this amount of money Do the people have enough to eat?

  …Ok, thanks Mary from Maryland. What we're going to do next is..."

"Why didn't the producers come out to refute? If the TV news were allowed to make such accusations, something would happen." Ronald felt more and more wrong, as if the accusations were increasingly aimed at the directors who made a lot of money, accusing them of disregarding the bottom of the crew Employees are dying, and people are starting to point their fingers at them.

   "Because Landis really made a big mistake, the studio also has to worry about the police investigation." Richard was well-informed at CAA, and there were no outsiders present, so he told the truth.

   "You know, Ronald. The Screen Actors Guild prohibits underage actors from working late at night. For two group performances under the age of ten like this, filming of any scenes is prohibited after eleven o'clock in the evening."

   "Of course. I know." When Ronald himself was filming "Fast Pace", on the first day of filming, due to various reasons, he almost didn't shoot a small actor before the deadline. Fortunately, he succeeded.

   "This scene is an evening scene. The first assistant director, pyrotechnician, and helicopter team all thought that Landis would use technical means to work day and night, adding filters to the camera during the day to complete the shooting.

But he still filmed the scene at 2:00 in the morning in order to shoot the effect or to catch up with the schedule. In order to avoid the regulations, he instructed the second assistant director to give cash to the two young actors and prevent their names from appearing in the filming crew list. , in order to evade the supervision of the Actors Guild. "

   "This? Is it for the effect of shooting, or to save money in a hurry?" Ronald disagrees with this approach very much. Landis is not a low-cost production, so why bother in such a place?

"Come with me, Universal's Tom Mount is proposing a high-level meeting involving Steven's ET, and your 'fast-paced' distribution, Ovitz has gone, we CAA will defend your interests ." Nisita said to Ronald and Richard, who opened the office.

The group hurried to Universal, and an impromptu meeting convened by Tom Mount had begun. MCA President Simberg, Universal's Vice President of Production Ned Tanning, and the two Vice Presidents responsible for marketing and distribution, all at the top The executive meeting room on the first floor discussed the release of ET aliens.

  Nisita went to inquire about the news, Ronald and Richard joined the two producers Linsen and Azov downstairs.

   "Why the meeting? Does it have any effect on our film?"

"The release meeting about our movie and ET was called by Mount on an impromptu. Spielberg is the producer of 'Tin and Yang', we should be related to Jennifer. It should not have much to do with us, the worry is She." Lin Sen pouted to a professional woman opposite.

   is Spielberg's assistant, Katherine Kennedy. Ronald greeted her with a nod and walked over to say hello.

   "Why are you here?" Catherine was a little surprised to see Ronald.

   "The heroine of my new film, Jennifer, is the daughter of the tragically killed Vic Morrow."

   "Oh, I didn't expect this to involve you."

   "Where's Steven?"

   "Fortunately, he is only one of the producers of 'Yin and Yang Demon Realm'. Landis was responsible for the accident. Some people are not willing to fail."

   At the same time, on the top floor of the Universal Building, in the best executive meeting room, several senior executives of Universal are discussing.

  Tom Mount seized this unexpected opportunity and proposed a meeting to reduce the number of theaters ET's opening weekend opened.

"Steven is one of the producers of 'Yin and Yang', and now the public opinion is focusing on the crew's non-compliance with laws and regulations, resulting in deaths. I think this will make the audience's perception of him worse. And ET is also a small film. Children's movies, two children were killed in this accident."

   "We already have a definite plan for this matter, and the current public perception is mainly aimed at director Landis who ignores the union rules. I think we should stick to our distribution and marketing plan.

  ET's test screening rating was A+. We worked hard to get 1,100 theaters in the first weekend. As expected, this number will rise in the second week. "

   The VPs of marketing and distribution are all on Simberg's side.

   "Your opinion?" Tom Mount also anticipated this situation, and did not say much, and directly asked Simberg's attitude.

   "I support their opinion. The existing marketing rhythm should not be modified. It is only a week away from the painting. Temporary changes are self-inflicted."

  Tom Mount knew that this matter would not be so easy to solve, so let Simberg take on the attitude of full endorsement of Spielberg before talking about it. This kind of film aimed at young audiences has no precedent for box office success.

"And that 'fast-paced Richmond High' where the heroine Jennifer Jason Leigh is the daughter of the slain Vic Morrow, and you put her naked in the movie, it's going to be controversial. "

  Mount's conversation changed and he started attacking Ronald's movie again.

   "This is a low-cost youth film. Without these shots, how can it attract the key audience of summer movies, male teenagers?"

The VP of    Publishing did justice to Ronald.

   "It's time for the people to pity Vic Morrow, are you really going to go against the will of the people? What do you think?" Mount asked Simberg.

  Simberg is afraid of a group of retired old guys behind Mount, and doesn't want to openly fall out with Mount now, so how can he show support for Ronald's movie? He thought for a while and was about to speak.

   "Jennifer Jason Lee's mother, Barbara, and Vic Morrow have been divorced for more than ten years. Now the focus of the media's attention is on the accident itself, and no one will disturb the relatives."

   It is Ned Tanin who has a good word for "fast pace". I didn't expect that this old stubborn would actually say good things about Ronald's exposed footage.

  Tom Mount glanced at Tanin. Tanin has always been known for his insistence. There are right and wrong, but the old guys always remember what he was right. However, does no one really turn over the old accounts of relatives?

   "No change, our release plan is still going as usual."

   Soon, the decision of the executive meeting room on the top floor reached the ears of Ronald and the others who were waiting downstairs.

   "It seems that Tom Mount's days around the world will be counted in days." On the way back, Nisita said suddenly. He opposes Spielberg like this, and his supporters will shut up when the ET box office hits next week.

   (end of this chapter)