Exploiting Hollywood 1980

   Chapter 541 Jennifer in Back to the Future

"I take this film very seriously, and I think it needs a director who understands African-American history at the helm, preferably a black director." Quincy Jones, the producer, gave his reasons. , hope Ronald lets Yin.

   In a meeting to discuss who will be the director of "Purple", Alice Walker, the author of the original novel, also expressed her concerns:

"Ronald, you do a great job of filming black people, we saw your 'breakdance', and it featured black people as the protagonist, and a few other movies had important black characters as well. You're our minority. friend."

"But this movie, it's a story of a past Ameri deepening the South. We wanted to be directed by a director who knew that history. You know, Hollywood likes to take black literature and demystify it. ."

  Alice Walker has no grudges that Ronald is not black. She worries that Ronald cannot grasp the temperament of black life in the southern states in the early twentieth century.

   "Yes, Ronald, I like your work a lot. But you're not black. You didn't come of age until after the Civil Rights Movement. This is a black history." Quincy Jones added.

   "This has nothing to do with your talent, it's just a writer's worry, I think you can understand."

Watching Alice Walker, the first black woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for literature in 1982 for her "Purple" novel, reason more honestly with herself, Ronald felt her concerns Not entirely unreasonable.

   He really didn't know the black life in the past. When reading the "Purple" novel, he was surprised by the black women who were given away like livestock.

   But Quincy Jones seems to know more about this novel than he does. Ronald glanced at him. Now the music producers are making a lot of money, and they all come to join in the fun and make movies.

"Purple" tells the story of a black family. There is also a strong lace-edge plot between the two heroines. The whole movie has nothing to do with racial discrimination. The traditional story of the resigned daughter.

  Quincy Jones has won the approval of the production rights owner, Peter Guber, who has a strong voice on the project. Author Alice Walker, who has veto power, also listens to Quincy Jones, the most powerful black man in Hollywood. Although he and Ronald have similar accolades in the film industry, he won an Oscar nomination for the soundtrack.

  Ronald sees the author Alice's love for her work, and has the intention of respecting her ideas and withdrawing from the director competition. After all, I have also worked as a screenwriter, so I know that this kind of worry that the director may not be able to make his own script is very real.

   The problem is that Quincy Jones' attitude of "you can't make a good story about us black people" makes him a little uncomfortable.

"I think I can learn more about this history through research," Ronald thought for a while, and told Alice Walker his thoughts, "I didn't practice karate before filming 'Long Wei Kid'. , don't know his history. The director always has to do his homework before shooting."

  Alice Walker looked at Quincy Jones. She felt that what Ronald said was reasonable. Could it be that the director of a murder case has to kill one himself?

"Hey boy, you don't understand our African American history, our fathers, grandparents, have always been oppressed, exploited. We grow cotton in cotton fields, play music in clubs for white people, By the time we won our first Pulitzer Prize, we wanted to do something for our own race."

"It seems that Quincy Jones really doesn't understand the story of this novel." Ronald became more and more certain in his heart. This guy was full of discrimination and oppression, but Purple Li gave his daughter as a gift to another black man as his wife, and he was obviously also a black man. .

   He's just the kind of guy who made a lot of money and fame in the record industry for MJ's new album, and wanted to come to Hollywood to gain a sense of presence.

   "Well, I like your novel very much, and I hope to have the opportunity to cooperate with you in the future", Ronald got up and shook hands with Alice Walker and said goodbye.

   Such an ignorant producer likes to interfere deeply in every aspect of the film. Unless the director is big enough, the shooting will definitely be messy. Ronald didn't want to go to the mess.

   "Then what do we do? Who should we turn to direct? Is there any black director who can handle this theme?" Alice Walker turned to Quincy Jones. I was persuaded by him that I rejected Ronald's proposal because of my ethnicity and age.

   "I have a plan, we will find Spielberg." Quincy Jones waved, maybe he will win an Oscar.

   "But he's not black either. Can he make a good story about a black family in the southern states?"

"Spielberg is very capable, and his directing level can be ranked in the top three in America", Quincy Jones took the style of a senior Hollywood soundtrack player, "The director can do in-depth research, don't you go? If you shoot a murder case, do you want to kill someone yourself?"

   "This..." Alice Walker shook her head, "If Spielberg can really be found, what else do I have to complain about?"

  …

   "Then what do we do?" Ronald asked Nisita, his driver's agent, "I didn't expect that if Mr. Ovitz recommended it, they would also reject it."

   "I didn't expect Alice Walker to find Quincy Jones." Nisita honked his horn and urged the car in front.

   "Black people have always had doubts about Hollywood. In the 1965 version of 'Uncle Tom's Cabin', the scene of Black Uncle Tom was changed very strangely. It was almost like the story of the heroine Jaylin."

   "So you didn't think I made it exactly as the original, did you?" Ronald understood, after all, Hollywood is still ruled by white people. Just like the "Sixteen Candles" filmed by John Hughes before, the Korean character Long Dadiao was filmed as a stereotyped Asian, and the audience did not protest loudly.

   "DiDi...", Nisita honked the horn and came to a default, "At least the plot of the lace side must be lowered, otherwise there will be a lot of controversy."

   "Then what do we do?" Ronald found that his next movie was nowhere to be found.

"Whatever you want to do, buy a house, buy a sports car, get a new girlfriend, travel abroad, do whatever you like. Ronald, few Hollywood directors have made movies as intensively as you, and you are no longer for Roger. Coleman is working part-time. You can slowly find a suitable book, or wait for your inspiration to emerge."

   "That's right." Ronald opened the car window and the wind was blowing. By the end of the year, I may get millions of shares from "Break Dance", and the box office of "Longwei Kid" is also very strong, so I can enjoy life.

  My dreams always come at an inadvertent time. I use various methods to analyze them, but I have not figured out the triggering conditions.

   It’s better to enjoy life with beautiful women, watch the Olympics, travel abroad, maybe change the environment, feel happy, and dream about new movies again.

  …

   "Helen, this way!" Ronald saw Helen Slater coming out of the airport. Her figure has lost a lot of weight, no longer the strong appearance of "Supergirl", but also has a weak beauty.

   Just do what he says. In order to compensate Helen Slater, Ronald specially found a few friends in the circle and began to introduce her to the role.

   Finally, with Zemeckis, Ronald found a suitable role, so he called Gerald and asked him to arrange for his daughter to audition.

  "Ronnie", Helen hugged Ronald, "Are we going to audition on the set?"

   "I've arranged everything. Director Zemeckis and the casting director are all here, so you can go directly to the second round of recall and play with the male lead." Ronald helped with the luggage

  The two have stayed at the distance of friends since Helen suffered from anorexia and said she needed to take a break.

   "Marty, a rejection is not the end of the world." Helen Slater, wearing a pink T-shirt, read out the lines of the protagonist Marty's girlfriend, Jennifer Parker, in the audition room.

   "I think, maybe I should give up music," Eric Stoltz, who played Marty McFly's lines, said with a little annoyance looking at Helen. This episode is a conversation between Marty and his girlfriend after he was unsuccessful at the audition school party.

   "But, Marty, you're great. You're really great." Helen pulled a tape out of her shorts pocket. "This demo sounds really good. You should send him to a record company to try."

   "Very well, thank you, Helen, we will notify your agent when we have a decision." Robert Zemeckis nodded inwardly as he watched the two audition, "or inform Ronald."

   "Hee hee, just notify my agent." Helen glanced at Ronald and walked out of the audition room.

"What do you think, Ronald?" Zemeckis was very satisfied with the Helen introduced by Ronald. There are not many scenes in this role. The first thing is to be beautiful, and then there is the kind of ordinary high school students who want to have **** with each other. Less than, the temperament of a tall girlfriend.

   Helen Slater is exactly the same. She was born in a wealthy family and has a superb appearance, especially under the camera. It doesn't need very good acting skills. To be precise, it is a super-class vase.

"Of course I think Helen is suitable, but do you have any other candidates?" Ronald smiled at Zemeckis. The two actors he recommended for him, Eric Stoltz and Leigh Thompson, both It's a very acting role that solves his big problem. Putting an important supporting role into the group, Helen herself is very suitable, and she will not refuse.

"Her temperament is particularly good, and her height is suitable." Zemeckis was not imaginary, and put out the audition photos of the two actors on the table, "This is Claudia Wells, His height is too far from Eric to have chemistry."

Then he pointed to another tall beauty and said, "Melora Harding, her temperament and height are fine, I originally planned to use her, but Helen is obviously a grade prettier than him, so that the boys all over the country will Envy the good luck of the protagonist Marty McFly."

  "Thank you", Ronald smiled and gave Zemeckis a hug, his favor was finally restored. It's always a bit troublesome to owe money, but it's always a little troublesome to owe favors. You don't know what the other party will ask you to use to pay it back.

  …

   "Mr. Spielberg, I would especially like you to direct this film."

   "Purple" novelist Alice Walker began pitching Spielberg, hoping he would direct the film.

   "Yeah, Steven, this novel has won a Pulitzer Prize, adapted it into a film, and has a good chance of winning the Oscar for best director." Quincy Jones knows how to convince the commercial director.

   Sure enough, Spielberg was a little moved. "But I don't know anything about the history of black people in the deep south. I'm afraid that it can't reflect the original appearance of the novel. Maybe you should find a black director."

   "Comeon, it's not about ethnicity, it's about who has the ability to make the movie convincing." Quincy Jones changed his method to flatter Spielberg.

   "Yeah, when you filmed ET Alien, was it possible that you had to do an alien before you could film it?"

"Okay," Spielberg was persuaded. This film based on the Pulitzer Prize novel might actually bring him a nomination for best director, and his old friend Sydney Pollack's film It is also an adaptation of the best-selling novel "Out of Africa", which may be able to compete.

   "However, my girlfriend is about to give birth, I have to shoot after our baby is born."

   "Don't worry, we will take good care of Amy. There is a scene in the script where the protagonist gives birth, and it happens that you will be a father for the first time in your life. Compared to this, the scene will be perfect."

   "Hehehe", Spielberg thought about getting back together with actress Amy Owen, and his heart welled up with the joy of becoming a father. Speaking of which, it was only after the filming of "ET Alien" that I felt that children were not noisy, but rather cute.

   (end of this chapter)