Exploiting Hollywood 1980

   Chapter 360 Sunset Club

   "Mr. Tom Coleman from Atlantic Distribution is more sincere, Richard. We have met with several production companies and distribution companies, and only they have clearly expressed interest in investing."

   I met with more than a dozen potential investors in a row. Most of them said that they were very good and would like to cooperate with Ronald in the future, but when they heard that it was a joint stock production, they all shied away.

It's no wonder that the sooner the film is produced by a joint stock, the better the terms of the ship. Now the domestic and overseas distributors have been determined, the remaining part can only get the fixed income of the cap, and the small companies in the circle are all thinking about it. It's not surprising that the guy who got rich doesn't want to let go.

"Actually, the Atlantic is optimistic about you, Ronald. Originally, they wanted to invite you to direct the 'Valley Girl' that they are shooting now. But their financial resources are not very good, and the movies they make now occupy most of their funds. I watch the most. Take 100,000 to invest in your project."

  Richard, the agent, has been accompanying Ronald to meet people during the day, and at night, he has to help Ronald write summaries and prepare materials, which is very hard.

   "It's not bad, I think I'm lucky to be able to persuade them to invest."

   "What will you do about the next funding gap?"

"I have asked Nisita to help me with the new script revision project. You know that although the script is not signed, the income is higher than that of writing the script. I will try to make up the gap before 1983. Then I will see if there is any There are no commercial directing opportunities, or people willing to put ads in a movie.”

   “Have a nice Thanksgiving break.”

"You too."

  The Thanksgiving Day at the end of November each year is approaching. Ronald recalled the past events of his entry into the film industry in his apartment, and found that there are really many people to be thankful for.

Roger Coleman, who was the first to give himself a chance to enter the industry, Joe Dante, who signed himself as a second group of directors and obtained the union qualification, Rick Nisita who signed his own screenwriter economic contract, and Spear who supported himself on the set Berg...

   No matter what purpose they had when they helped themselves in the first place, they all objectively boosted their progress in the film industry. When you become famous, you will repay them when you have the opportunity. Of course, those who can't get through with themselves have to "reward" one or two.

   "Ronnie, what are you planning for Thanksgiving? Are you back in New York?" Gail Hurd called.

   "I'm busy raising money, so I won't go back for now, how about you and Jim?"

   "He's still working on improving the script of 'Terminator', I'm looking for you, can you come to the Sunset Club?" Gale reported an address.

   "Okay, what's the matter?"

   "My friend is a director for the first time, and I would like to ask you to guide me on the spot."

  Ronald came to this **** on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood as scheduled, and when Gale reported the address, he felt a little weird.

  Today, there is a closed sign at the entrance of Sunset Club, which seems to be reserved for movie shooting.

   "Hi Ronnie, let me introduce you, this is my good friend Martha Coolidge"

  Gail enthusiastically introduced Ronald to a middle-aged woman who looked like she was thirty-four or five years old and looked very capable.

   "Hi, Martha. Nice to meet you. What movie are you making?" Ronald looked around, only the lighting crew was lighting, the actors hadn't come out, and he didn't know what kind of movie they were making.

   "Valley Girl," Martha Coolidge answered bluntly.

   "Oh, I know about this movie. It's a story about a girl in the valley, right? There's a song that seems to have this name right now, and it's very popular."

   Ronald did not expect Coolidge to direct the low-budget production that Atlantic had invited him to direct. The director's circle is really small.

   "Okay, let's see Martha's directing skills." Gale pulled Ronald aside.

   A few actors came out and cooperated with the camera crew. Ronald laughed when he saw it. They were all old acquaintances.

  The actor is Coppola's nephew, Nicolas Cage. Supporting actress Michelle Melink also has a role in "The Outer Boy," as Diane Lane's Cherries' best friend.

   He did not say hello and disturb Director Coolidge, but waited with great interest to see their performance.

   "Action!"

  The actor Randy played by Cage has a crush on Julie played by the heroine Deborah Foreman.

  In the bar, Randy fell for Julie and confessed to Julie.

  Nicholas played very real, very like an emotional high school boy, who really wanted to move forward but was afraid of being rejected to the high school girl he liked.

   "This kid's acting skills are really good, why don't you ask him to play in 'Night of the Comet'?" Ronald pondered behind the camera.

  The actor of "Night of the Comet" in the dreamland has no acting skills, and his lines appear to be very dull. Cage studied his acting skills in "Fast Rhythm", and it seems that he can afford to play the leading role today.

   "Any comments?" Martha Coolidge asked Ronald.

   "Very good, very good. I think you directed it very well. This bar scene is a multi-person dialogue scene, and you managed it very well."

  Ronald sincerely praised that there are not many female directors in America, and Coolidge's level is very textbook.

   "Director Ronald said it was very good, let's do this print again." Martha Coolidge ordered.

   Ronald frowned, nodding in response to Cage and Melink's greetings to him. Director Coolidge's remarks are a little over the top.

   He looked back at Gail Hurd.

   "It's alright, I'll ask you to chat after filming. There's a little misunderstanding," Gail smiled and said in Ronald's ear.

   During the break between filming and playing with this scene, Ronald and Gale, the Coolidge director, sat in the trailer together. Gale opened two beers and handed them to Ronald and Coolidge, then she took one herself and touched them.

   "As I said, Martha. Ronald is a very upright person, and he won't come to steal your director."

   "Huh?" Ronald was surprised, where did he start.

  It turned out that after meeting with Ronald, Tom Coleman, the president of Atlantic Corporation, said two words of regret for not inviting Ronald to direct "Valley Girl".

   This matter is getting more and more different, and when it comes to Martha Coolidge, it becomes Ronald who wants to replace him and takes over the director job halfway through.

   She complained to her good friend Gail Heard that the independent directing opportunity she finally won was robbed by a male director.

  Gail heard that it was Ronald, and even said it was impossible. So Ronald was invited to the scene to take a look and clear up the misunderstanding.

  Coolidge is a very personable person, she may have suffered a lot of sexism in the industry. The director needs to have a strong commanding ability, and women have to become as tough as men. So she was a little resentful about Ronald's attitude.

   Ronald explained that his new film has been released by the New World Company, and Atlantic is only a shareholder.

  After the misunderstanding was resolved, Coolidge was still a good person to communicate with.

  The two are also alumni of the Imperial College of New York University. Coolidge was born in a prestigious family. Her grandfather once served as the governor of Massachusetts and was also a relative of the former commander Coolidge.

   "When will your 'Valley Girl' finish filming? I'm looking for Nick to try out the male lead in my new film."

   "It can be done by the middle of next month."

   "Then there is a schedule after the Christmas and New Year holidays?" Ronald thought, this is good, and his funds may be settled by then.

   "Oh, Nick is good." Coolidge said, "In order to play a good role, he also wrote love poems for the heroine, and he was very involved in the role."

   "That's good. The first time I saw him perform, I knew he was a serious actor."

   "Sometimes it's too serious, I think he really fell in love with Deborah who played Julie."

   "Hahaha...Is Nick a Methodist too?" Ronald didn't expect this one, and he was too involved.

   "He actually belongs to the German expressionist school...using high-contrast lighting, strong shadows, and detached performances to express dark film themes..."

   When it comes to acting, Ronald is not very good at it. He listened to Martha Coolidge for a while. Martha has studied the origins of the method school and has studied with several realism acting teachers.

  Expressionism is actually a bit incompatible with Methodism, and does not pursue realism. Cage was influenced by his uncle Coppola's early German film "Metropolis," whose approach to acting was extreme.

   The three cleared up the misunderstanding and got out of the trailer. Found out that Cage was writing poetry to Deborah again.

   "Deborah, this is my love poem for you."

   "Poem Named 'America Girl'"

   "Hi," Nicholas cleared his throat and began to read,

   "The beloved lady.

   above all other things.

   is her home, adorned with the earth of my beautiful land.

   She is the result of love and fire.

   dominates the human heart with divine right. "

   "Stop reciting it in public, give it to me..." Deborah snatched Nicholas Cage's poem, took the pad in his arms, and went to the trailer to appreciate it carefully.

   "Hahaha..." Ronald couldn't help laughing, this recitation with a tonality really didn't look like a realistic performance method.

  Cage blew Deborah a kiss, then came over to say hello to Ronald, "Hi Ronald. What are you doing here?"

   "Let me see your show. When did your 'Betta' filming in Oklahoma end?"

   "Last month."

   "What's next?"

   "My agent Limato is contacting me to audition for a new film, and it has not been decided yet." Cage said, "Why, do you have a new film?"

   "Yes, a story about comets and zombies, are you interested?" Ronald asked him to come closer, then whispered his thoughts to him.

   "Oh, oh,..." Nicolas Cage put his head in his hands, looking surprised, "Did the **** of drama favor me today? I'll call the agent Limato."

   "Don't worry, the financing of the film has not been completed, I will contact Limato."

   "You know, I envy Sean Penn so much when I'm 'fast-paced'." Cage was very happy, and he really wanted to be able to play a role with more scenes in a blockbuster movie.

Cage excitedly pulled up the actors on the set to introduce Ronald, "Hi Lisa, Mike, this is Ronald Lee, director of 'Fast-Paced Richmond'. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have a union card yet. .God, I'm so happy today."

   "Nice to meet you, I have to go, otherwise Director Coolidge will be upset." Ronald shook hands with the actors and said goodbye.

  "I'll find Limato." Ronald made a phone call to Cage before leaving.

   (end of this chapter)