Exploiting Hollywood 1980.

The two directors, headed by Coppola and Scorsese, signed under a small group of agents at CAA headed by Niceta. None of them would refuse the task of this Coca-Cola advertisement. The shooting was easy and the pay was very high. Moreover, shooting an advertisement for such a well-known product would not appear to be cheap. Instead, it would help the manufacturer and the director carry each other up. Ronald found this one for them. Life is obviously great.

The same thing happened to British directors Alan Parker, Adrian Lyne and others. They either had a good relationship with Ronald, or they had a deep hatred for Ovitz (they did not help him canvass votes for the Oscars). ), for a time many agent factions within CAA began to gather together to invite the most famous directors to participate in this advertising project.

Not mentioning this little thing, Ronald returned to the shooting scene. Everyone had finished resting, and Gregory Peck stood on the podium again.

"Action!"

"I'm very happy to see so many familiar faces and so many old friends today..." Gregory Pike's voice was full of passion, but also had the nostalgia and lack of energy unique to the elderly, "Ah, some of them I have already We haven’t seen each other for several years.”

He pointed to the workers' representatives in the back half of the auditorium. These people are all his supporters today, although they went on strike every year in the past few years and argued with him for a raise in wages. Because this year's shareholders' meeting is very different. If Jorgensen fails, the new boss will definitely declare the factory bankrupt and they will all lose their jobs.

Most of those sitting in the front half are shareholders who came from all over New York and Boston. They are also old. Their fathers are old partners who started the business with the Jorgensen family.

"My general manager, Bill, has already informed you through the annual report of the company's operating conditions, what we have done well and poorly, as well as our plans for next year and many years from now." Gregory Peck said from the stand Taking off the microphone and holding it in his hand, he had already withdrawn his gaze from the workers in the back and began to express his emotions to the shareholders in the front row... After all, their votes were the most important ones.

"I want to talk to you about something else. I want to talk to you about the vote that is about to take place, the vote that will determine the fate of the company you own." The excitement on Gregory Peck's face was visible. It was he and the old shareholder family who funded his father's business. The shareholders who had gone through ups and downs over the past eighty years frankly appealed for their help, just like their fathers helped his father back then.

“This is a successful company with a proud history that has survived the tragic death of its founder, multiple recessions, a Great Depression, and two world wars, a company that has weathered many ups and downs and is now Facing the machine that destroyed him..."

As he spoke, Gregory Peck pointed his finger at Tom Hanks, who was sitting opposite, and issued the soul-felt accusation of a veteran American industrialist...

"I want you to see him. This is the man called Larry the Liquidator, the Wall Street capitalist who plays God in the post-industrial era!"

As the saying goes, what is pointed out by thousands of people will end without any disease. Gregory Peck's outstretched finger seemed to be filled with the discomfort of the dozens of shareholders in the front row and the anger of the hundreds of workers behind him. His finger pointed at even a good actor like Tom Hanks. He licked his lips automatically and swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

Ronald could clearly see Hanks' body muscles tightening for a moment, and then he pretended to be relaxed and changed his posture. He sat down carelessly, stretched out his hand with an expensive Swiss watch, and put it on the table to maintain his composure. of calmness.

These reaction shots were all captured by well-hidden cameras. Ronald didn't know whether this reaction was more of a performance or a natural human reaction. In short, he was very happy. This kind of expression and movement was natural only in the first one, which showed that the two leading actors were very happy. They are in good condition and hope they continue to do well.

Gregory Peck continued to preach to the audience, "Those old money entrepreneurs, even if they are very stingy, will leave something tangible behind them. A bank, a railway, a coal mine..."

Another camera is looking at the audience to capture the expressions of the audience. Not to mention, Gregory Peck's skills are still so profound. This kind of speech scene is what he is best at, and the extras reacted positively to his remarks.

"But this man...he can't leave anything behind..." Gregory Peck looked disdainfully at Tom Hanks, who played Garfield.

"This man can leave nothing behind...

He creates nothing...

Build nothing…

No business...

Behind him, there are only tons of waste paper left..."

Hanks' face in the camera is completely speechless, because Jorgensen's lines are all true. As a liquidator who made a fortune through acquisitions and splits, he does not run any real economy, only financial operations, and all he employs are accountants and lawyers...

"Ha, if he said, I know how to run your business better, that would be worth talking about (referring to continuing the business after the acquisition), but he didn't say that, what he said was..."

Gregory Pike's eyes became sharp, and he said to the shareholders who had supported the cable factory for many years and received a lot of dividends, "What he said is, because at this specific moment, you make more money dead than alive, so I'm going to kill your factory..."

The expressions of the shareholders below really began to change. People all have feelings. Why would they kill a hen that lays golden eggs to eat meat in difficult times?

"Huh, maybe he's right, but he's also right that business will get better after its ups and downs." Gregory Peck's speech skills were top-notch, and he began to follow the audience's thoughts, "One day, business will get better." It will get better, the yen will weaken, the dollar will strengthen...or, when we finally start rebuilding our infrastructure one day, we will rebuild bridges, roads, railways, and the demand for infrastructure will skyrocket, and by that time time, we are still here...

By then, our stock price will skyrocket, making his bid look like a joke..." Gregory Peck waved at Tom Hanks as if he was being driven away like a fly.

"God forbid, if we inject a little money now, we will wait until this day. If the future is like what people like him say, then we Americans will become a nation and know nothing." Manufacturing, only hamburgers; Creating nothing, only lawyers; Selling nothing, only tax avoidance services..."

This parallelism was very powerful. Several actors present, including Jones, who played General Manager Bill, also showed thoughtful expressions, and Piper Lowry, who played Mrs. Sullivan, had eyes full of admiration.

"If at a certain time we are worth more dead than or, kill us... Look around you, people! Will you kill the people around you? That's murder! Now he wants to What he did was also a murder. Mass murder was still legal.

Only those on Wall Street would call murder "maximizing shareholder value." "

Gregory Pike became more and more excited as he spoke. The audience was already moved by his words and kept nodding in agreement. Tom Hanks's expression over there was even more depressed. What the other party said was true, but he used inflammatory words to turn him into a bad guy. Now everyone at the scene, and those outside listening to the loudspeakers of the live broadcast, will think that Garfield is a man with no conscience and only cares about money.

"Now, let's say this to every man like Garfield in this country: We build, we don't destroy; we care about things far beyond the price of a stock; we care about people..."

After Gregory Peck finished speaking, the place was eerily silent for a moment. Everyone is still recalling and chewing on this speech. If Jorgensen were younger and had such speaking skills, he would be very suitable to run for public office.

"Yeah..." The two bald workers couldn't help it. They broke the silence, stood up and applauded loudly for Jorgensen... It seemed like their jobs were going to be saved.

The workers sitting at the back of the scene were all led to stand up. A wave of enthusiasm swept across the scene like a whirlwind. The shareholders in front also stood up, even those wearing New England classical-style fur coats and fur scarves. The old lady shareholder also stood up and applauded.

Who says what Jorgensen said doesn't make sense? Didn't this company survive all the tribulations in the past, the Great Depression, and the World War? Who’s to say that the company can’t get through this much smaller storm?

"Now, let us welcome Mr. Lawrence Garfield to the stage," General Manager Bill announced on stage. As soon as Garfield's name was heard, there was a burst of boos, and only a few shareholders applauded.

"Please don't do this... Mr. Garfield is a guest, please let us show some courtesy..."

Tom Hanks stood up with difficulty. Under the tremendous pressure of being called an unscrupulous murderous banker, anyone might get stage fright. If he can't turn the tide and restore the feelings of those shareholders, he may really fail.

Hanks took off the microphone and held it in his hand, while the workers on site continued to make boos and noises for him. He tried several times to speak, but was choked back with hisses.

The subordinates he brought, as well as Kate Sullivan, played by Diane over there, all cast concerned glances.

Suddenly, the corners of Tom Hanks' mouth twitched and he gave a playful smile.

"Amen!"

"Amen! Amen!"

The audience, who were confused by Garfield's sudden mention of Amen, finally stopped and looked at him with suspicion. What was he trying to say?

"Sorry, I'm not familiar with local customs. But where I come from, people there will say amen after hearing the prayer."

The audience was immediately stopped and stopped cheering. This very weird opening not only dampened the excitement of the crowd, but also aroused their curiosity to hear what this strange banker wanted to say.

"Yes, what you just heard was a prayer. Where I come from, there is a special term for that kind of prayer, which is called a prayer for the deceased. My fellow shareholders, you just heard a prayer for the deceased. You Didn’t say amen!”

Gregory Peck and a group of his subordinates sat on the other side and stared at Garfield. This guy changed the direction of the wind for a few moments, but their expressions then twisted tightly. Garfield said next The words are even more inflammatory.

"This company is dead... I didn't kill him, don't accuse me. He was dead long before I came here."

Tom Hanks was very careful. When he was giving a speech, his eyes were fixed on the shareholders in the front row, especially the old lady shareholders who were so excited about the old handsome guy just now.

"It's too late to pray now..." Tom Hanks said to Gregory Peck over there, dispelling the effect of his charismatic speech just now, "But even if your prayers are effective, God has answered, you The miracles we expected have all happened. The Japanese yen is like this, the U.S. dollar is like that, and large-scale infrastructure reconstruction has begun, but we are still dead..."

"Do you know why?" Tom Hanks looked straight at the old lady in fur, like a grandchild reporting his findings to his grandmother:

"optical fiber!"

"New technology is coming, and old technology will be eliminated and obsolete..." Hanks walked from one end of the stage to the other, making sure that every shareholder saw his sincere eyes.

"We are dead, but it doesn't matter, we are not bankrupt yet! Do you know which road definitely leads to bankruptcy? In a dying industry, continue to increase your market share! All the way to the grave..."

The scene was completely silent. The word "fiber optic" clearly spelled out the future of the New England Cable Factory. Yes, even if America once again carries out large-scale infrastructure construction like Roosevelt's New Deal, it will be the new optical fiber technology that gets business, not the outdated copper cables.

"You know what? I bet that there must have been many companies here that made riding whips used by coachmen." Hanks gave the audience a confirming look, and they understood his logic. "I also bet that the last one The company that makes carriage whips, their riding whips must be of the highest quality, lowest cost, the best fucking riding whips you have ever seen!

Now tell me, do you want to be a shareholder of that horsewhip company? ” ˆ ˆ A series of combination punches made the shareholders in the audience begin to whisper.

"If a company you invested in dies, let us sign the death certificate with dignity and wisdom, then take away the life insurance money of the deceased and invest in some new, more promising businesses!"

As soon as he said this, the face of Gregory Peck that the camera swept over became even more gloomy. I didn't expect Garfield to be so eloquent!

"Ah, no, our prayers say, we have social responsibilities! We have to be responsible to our employees and to the community. If we die, what will they do?"

Tom Hanks's tone of cold humor made the workers below feel heavy, and shareholders began to agree with his ideas.

"I'll give them a word, who the hell cares about you!"

"Ahh..." The workers in the back row began to voice objections, but Hanks struck while the iron was hot and continued to tell shareholders what they agreed with in their hearts.

"Why care about them? They never cared about you! They sucked you all dry. You have no social responsibility to them!

They've been taking your money for the last ten years!

Has this community ever said, we know the market is not good now, we will give you a tax cut and then lower your sewage charges? Check it out, you are paying double the sewage bill now than you were ten years ago! "

Tom Hanks also pointed out to shareholders that Jorgensen's most powerful emotional weapon is now almost gone.

"Our workers have not had a wage increase in three years, but they still produce twice as much product as they did ten years ago, and our stock price is only one-sixth of what it was ten years ago!"

This passage immediately shattered the so-called social responsibility. Yes, society has never cared about cable factories. They only care about their own taxes and fees.

With his sincere eyes, Tom Hanks looked around all the shareholder and worker representatives from left to right, and now he seemed to be speaking from their standpoint.

"You care about them, who cares about you?" Hanks paused, waited for a second, and then pointed to his chest.

"Let me tell you, I care!"

"I'm not your best friend, I'm your only friend!"

At this time, Gregory Peck's face was full of despair, and Garfield was telling the truth, but he was not appealing to emotions, but to the interests that everyone cared about.

"I really don't make anything..." Hanks glanced at Parker, "But I make money for you!"

"Let us not forget, this is the only reason all of you became shareholders back then! You wanted to make money!"

Tom Hanks's speech is becoming more and more effective, "You want to make money, and you don't care if they make cables, fry chicken legs, or grow oranges! You want to make money!"

Several old lady shareholders and actors in the audience also began to whisper to each other. They were all convinced by this eloquent statement, both as characters and as actors themselves.

"I am your only friend, I help you make money! Take your money and invest in a new business! Maybe you are lucky again and the money is used effectively, you create new jobs and make new products , contributed new responsibilities to society!

And, God willing, you might even make a little money for yourselves. "

In the camera, Gregory Pike, Piper Laurie, Diane and others were already leaning on the backs of their chairs, feeling like poor students who knew they had failed the exam and breathed a sigh of relief. They had lost.

"By the way, I'm glad they called me Larry the Liquidator. You know why, shareholders?

Because at my funeral, you will leave with a smile on your face and money in your pocket, and that will be a funeral worth having! "

"Whoosh!"

Garfield's speech also received applause from the audience. It seemed much smaller than Jorgensen's last time, but the main sound of applause came from the front half of the audience...

"Please put your choice on your ballot and put it in the ballot box in the back." Piper Lawrie came up to end the applause and announced the start of voting.

"Cut!"

"I think I played very well..." Gregory Peck came up and said to Ronald.

"Yeah, I think this is one of the best times I've performed." Tom Hanks also came over, and he pretended to wipe his sweat.

"Hey, young man, I now feel that you are my equal opponent." Gregory Peck stretched out his hand to shake Hanks's hand.

"Ah, it's my pleasure, Mr. Pike."

"Okay, just use this one..." When Ronald saw the director of photography giving him an OK gesture, he knew he had captured the scene he imagined. This scene couldn't have been shot any better.

Those sparks just now were all created by the freshness that you only get when you shoot for the first time. The fullness of emotions and those natural reactions will not be reproduced in future shootings. At most, it is just for safety.

By the time it was time to get off work in the afternoon, the most important scene in the movie was completed on time and with high quality. Ronald was relieved when he saw that the photography team had locked the film and moved it to the car, preparing to go to New York for printing.

He turned around and saw Diane, took her hand, and went to the hotel to rest together. Early the next morning, they would fly back to New York for vacation. The Christmas holiday is coming soon. The crew has completed the scenes in Connecticut and will stop filming for a while. They will resume the scenes in New York after the New Year.

……

"What's wrong with you?" Diane felt that Ronald was a little depressed along the way. After arriving in New York, they took Bud's car to the Peninsula Hotel where they often stayed.

"It's nothing...honey, I'm just a little emotional."

"You..." Diane obviously felt that Brother Ronnie was a little abnormal, so he sat in his arms.

"Well..." Ronald was obviously not interested and just kissed Diane lightly, "Maybe he missed little Roger." Their son Roger was playing happily with his aunt's family.

"No, are you worried? If you feel tired, let's take a day off tomorrow? I just happened to be looking for my dad and Laura Dern. I haven't seen them for a long time."

Diane felt dark, they must have been getting along day and night. Brother Ronnie must have missed the person he had in New York a little bit. Forget it, it's normal for Hollywood to play tricks on occasion. I'm lucky enough to find such a Ronnie, so I can't complain too much. Demi Moore once said to herself that whether it was Emilio Estevez or Bruce Willis, there was no one who did not cheat on the actress while filming.

"Oh, would you like to invite Bert and Laura to come tomorrow? I haven't seen them for a long time." Ronald thought of Laura Dern, the girl who filmed the rock singer movie with Diane, and later It has grown to be very tall.

"Huh? I haven't contacted them. When do you think it's convenient?" The haze disappeared from Diane's heart. It turned out that she didn't want to see her lover, Brother Ronnie... Hey, I really...

"Whatever, I can do it." Ronald looked a little depressed again. He had a hasty dinner and watched "Seinfeld" in the living room. The ratings of this TV series are surprisingly good, but it has no interesting plot and relies entirely on the jokes in the dialogue.

Ronald didn't smile either. He just watched the TV series with empty eyes. After a while, he fell asleep on the sofa.

"Ouch..." Diane was so distressed that she quickly took out an expensive wool blanket and covered him with it.

Early the next morning, Ronald seemed to have had enough sleep and was feeling better. He called Richard and asked him to collect a list of the top ten grossing movies in each year in the past twenty years and start ticking off each one. , if he hasn’t watched it, let him collect the video tapes.

Then he focused on the movie title and stopped talking.

"What's wrong with you, dear? Is this list important?" Diane saw that Ronald was a little depressed again, and hurried over to lure Ronald's attention with herself.

"Hey..." Ronald sighed again, "I suddenly discovered that the studios in Hollywood that are serious about making feature films are now the last few people making riding whips..."

"Ah, really?" Diane took the list.

Sure enough, starting in the 1980s, nonsensical comedies and movies relying on large investments in special effects began to become popular. It turns out that the proportion of classical Hollywood movies with ups and downs in plots and brilliant performances by actors in the top 20 grossing movies of the year is decreasing year by year.

Especially for Ronald, his movies after "Top Gun" and "Dirty Dancing" were all movies that mainly reflected realistic plots, without using too many special effects or comedy elements.

Even though Ronald's skills and artistic vision are of a high level that can be seen with the naked eye, his box office has not broken through the previous movies that did not require too many skills. The most recent film, "The Love of Ghosts" did not follow the route of a classical drama, but incorporated computer special effects and strong comedy elements brought by Whoopi Goldberg. On the contrary, it had the best box office and easily broke through in China. 200 million box office.

If this continues, the storytelling techniques passed down by excellent directors will become lost dragon-slaying skills.