Exploiting Hollywood 1980

   Chapter 311 Apology in disguise

The second day of   's Chicago roadshow was the third weekend of "Fast-Paced Richmond High School".

Three hundred copies of    urgent reprints have been sent to Texas in the Southwest, Illinois in the Midwest, and the most important markets, New York and New England on the East Coast.

  The newly added theaters and regions have kept the "fast-paced" average box office of a single venue at the original level. In the third week, the cumulative total box office in the middle of the week exceeded 10 million, and the two talk shows broadcast nationwide also raised the expectations of teenage audiences to a new level.

The compliments of Brooke Shields on Letterman's Late Show have made the film known to many teenagers, and the two heroines on tonight's Barbie Wygant star show have made the area outside the West Coast more interested in Phoebe and Phoebe. Jennifer's performance on screen is even more expected.

   Ronald in his hotel room, watching Barbie Wygant.

  Some conversations that are easily controversial, such as Jennifer's mentioning that Brooke Shields also participated in the protagonist audition, were deleted. However, the conversation discussing some "good-looking" shots of Jennifer and Phoebe was not deleted.

  These two actresses who just debuted did not have much bargaining chips in front of TV stations and studios, so they could only make some fuss about the way they answered questions.

   Ronald saw that some of his shots were also deleted, and only the part where he explained the main idea of ​​the film was kept. But Barbie Wygant's show is limited, Ronald feels that the little old lady has been good to himself, and there are a few frontal close-ups.

   "This is today's evening paper, and none of the words you said in the interview were published." The PR beauty walked in with a stack of newspapers and spread it out for Ronald to read.

"In all the review pages, only the film itself was mentioned, and the two heroines, and Sean Penn's performance, and several newspapers had good things to say about Ronald. But there was no mention of the director and Albert's performance. description of air firefight'."

   "Well, it seems that Roger Albert's 'prestige' in the Chicago media circle is quite high?" When Ronald was interviewed by a group, the words of Albert's anger were not published in the newspapers.

   "Of course, he's a legend in the Chicago media scene, winning a Pulitzer Prize in 1975 for his film criticism."

  Ronald raised his eyebrows, "Then why did he attack me as a sexist? If he can win the Pulitzer Prize, he won't understand that this movie actually supports women's independent rights, right?"

"Whether it's Albert, or his competitor and partner Sisko, they will vote for the worst film every year. Like the Golden Raspberry Award that came out last year, the worst film is really impossible to get. The ones on the list are often those well-known movies.”

   "So he picked me?" Ronald pointed to his nose.

"Actually, your film is in line with his poor film selection criteria. It's a small production produced by a big studio. Such scolding will not damage the relationship with the studio, and you can also establish yourself as an independent film critic among readers. ."

   The public relations beauty understands the mentality of these film critics very well, "But this time he saw the wrong person and kicked the iron plate."

  Ronald took a sip of coffee, "The so-called iron-clad statement is exaggerated. The content I scolded directly was not published in the newspaper, and Albert's scolding of sexism was written in black and white."

   "Actually, you can't say that you haven't been in the newspapers. The media in New York have scolded you for the words you said."

   "Is there anything moviegoers haven't seen about high school life, especially in suburban California? Well, maybe there is.

  'Fast-Paced Richmond High School' is such a novel and satisfying film. Audiences in New York will be able to see it in theaters soon.

   Unlike his Chicago counterparts, the film is actually pretty good. The actors' performances are gifted and slack, thanks to Ronald Lee, a young director who is directing his theatrical big-screen production for the first time. He is a New Yorker. "

   Ronald looked at the film review column of the "New York Times", and he was quite satisfied with such compliments. Looking at the author column, Janet Maslin.

   "Look, this is called a level film review. The Pulitzer Prize should be given to her."

   "There are many more, take your time." The PR beauty smiled and put New York's newspapers and magazine film reviews on the table.

"The fast-paced Richmond High School film has an attractive, characterful cast, a group of young actors who are very likable. The director is not trying to instill values ​​in the audience through the film, but rather California's public schools are on display in front of the audience.

   The kids at Richmond High did go through some hardships in life. There are unwanted pregnancy and freedom clinics here. Fantasy is shattered by reality, and the humiliation must be endured alone.

   However, the way this is all presented is not sad, the life the movie presents is sweet and decent. Relatively speaking, we may live in a fast-paced era, but we are not in a hurry. "

   This is a film review of the "New York Daily News", a newspaper that, although not well known outside New York, has more circulation in New York than The Times, Post and Wall Street Journal, and local audiences like to read their news the most.

   "Look at this", the PR beauty selected a magazine, turned to the movie review page, and handed it to Ronald.

"not bad.

   Very not bad. It might fall into the general teen exploitation movie category, but it doesn't have the aggressiveness of an exploitative movie.

  The young local director Ronald Lee, who brings his film debut, has a light hand on the actors and the story.

  The film presents the lives of boys and girls at a public high school in a relaxed atmosphere. The story could take place in California, it could be New York, it could be any public high school in America.

   If the film has one theme, it's sexual embarrassment, but no major crisis.

   There is a friendship between two girls. Jennifer Jason Leigh's teenage Stacy longs to learn about sex, and Phoebe Cates' valley girl Linda shares everything she knows, including lies.

   Sean Penn as surfer Spiccoli, the most amiable goofy kid we can all imagine. Pan plays very well, the role is not big, but he plays like a star.

   There are also Robert Romanus, Judge Reinhold, and the familiar Mars uncle Ray Walston.

   For all this good performance, we can thank young director Ronald Lee. From casting to acting, as well as the scene by the swimming pool, here's a saying that he did a good job, and you can see the director's taste.

   This may be the edification brought to him by New York, or New York University. I learned that director Ronald is a native and a student of New York's proud Martin Scorsese. "

   "This magazine is the best!" Ronald happily accepted several film reviews.

   "Of course, that's by Pauline Kael of The New Yorker."

   "Is that her?" Ronald turned to the author's page, and it turned out to be Pauline Kyle, the most famous film critic in New York. When she was a student at New York University, her film critic collection "KissKissBangBang" was a must-read for students.

"Roger Albert was able to gain a foothold in the film critic circle because Pauline Kayle gave him a high rating, so this time Pauline's praise came out, and Albert should not continue to criticize it. ' said the PR beauty.

"Including Barbie Wygant's review, and more compliments to you. They're both Albert's seniors. Roger Albert knows he's barking the wrong tree this time, and he'll be hosting it tonight with Sisko. Apologizing for his own film review in disguise on film critic TV shows."

   "Okay", Ronald knew that he didn't have such energy yet, and asked Albert to "apologise directly". In fact, with his sense of interest, if he was a well-known director like Spielberg, he would not come to give bad reviews at all.

  In the evening local time in Chicago, Ronald turned on the TV to watch "The Sisko and Albert Critic Show" aired nationwide by the PBS syndicate.

"Roger, I heard that you were very dissatisfied with the previous release of 'Fast-Paced Richmond High School'? You gave it a one-star movie review in the newspaper?" Sisko mentioned after talking about the new movie. fast paced things.

   "Oh, that teen exploitation movie. I may have been too harsh on the director."

   "We have several letters from the audience here expressing dissatisfaction with your comments." Sisko opened a letter and read.

"Roger, I don't think you're fair on 'fast-paced', I think it's real good looking. It's not as sleazy as you say, and we high school kids love watching him. In fact, it's better than your praise for 'animals' The house' should have more taste.

   Here is another one:

   I'm a single mother raising her high school daughter alone, fast pace is not my type, and I don't have my favorite stars. I watched it with my daughter, but I think it's much better than the one star you gave.

   It was the first time that my daughter and I had a common topic. I think this is the first movie that admits that current high school students also have mature minds and independent thinking ability. "

   What do you think of the audience's opinion? Roger? "

  Sisko said with a bad laugh, Roger is not only his competitor in writing newspaper reviews, but also his partner in TV shows. It is rare to see him fail so badly.

"I respect the opinions of these audiences, but 'Fast Pace' is not my type of movie. Of course I could be wrong, I gave 'The Godfather Part II' a low score, but then I put it on To the list of my favorite movies of the seventies.

   This shows that I am not a complacent person, I will also learn. Maybe in a few years, I'll enjoy this movie even more. "

   "You pass the test." Ronald muttered and turned off the TV.

   "Tomorrow we are going to your hometown, New York City. You will be the darling of the media there." The PR beauty said to Ronald with a smile.

  The next day, the crew arrived at Chicago O'Hare International Airport and were preparing to fly to New York.

  When I arrived at the airport and waited for my luggage to be checked in, the PR beauty called Universal Headquarters and came over to find Ronald. She seemed very excited.

   "Ronald, yesterday's box office statistics are out. The East Coast box office has exploded, and the total box office has exceeded 13 million. You're going to be famous, and you're going to be famous."

   "Really? Great." Jennifer Jason Lee and Phoebe Cates exclaimed happily.

   (end of this chapter)