Exploiting Hollywood 1980.

Chapter 1302: The Beginning of the Election Year
Erika Eleniak, Playboy's Miss July, to Play Herself in Steve Seagal's Movie...

The movie promotion of "Ultimate Soldier" received a lot of media exposure because of the fistfights between the two main actors. Steve Siegel's movie "The Hitman" is actually a B-level action exploitation film, and the style is very similar.

For example, the action is of a very high standard, up to the level of first-tier productions, but the rest of the plot has logic loopholes so big that two people can get through it. This is the original intention of exploitation films, focusing on an element that the audience likes to watch and exploiting it vigorously...

The two films were produced and released close to each other, and Siegel was unwilling to give in, so he approached Ovitz and asked him to help promote the films.

But there is only one male lead in "The Hidden Dragon". The supporting actor Tommy Lee Jones plays a terrorist who hijacks a battleship. He actually doesn't know martial arts. He just plays with guns in the movie plot. If you let him fight with Steve Siegel in front of the media, he might lose half his life.

There was no other choice but to use the swindled heroine, Erica Eleniak, as material for the publicity. This heroine (actually she had very few scenes, but she was the only female character) was the Playboy Girl of the Month in July 1989.

In the movie, she plays a "Playboy" girl of the month who is invited to dance a striptease for the captain. This role is very suitable for this actress with a magnificent figure but average acting skills, and she plays it in her true colors.

"Erica Eleniak gave up her regular role in 'The Beach' as ​​lifeguard Carrie to return to the film industry. Will she jump out of an empty box on a submarine battleship and perform a striptease to please the male audience this time?"

This actress is also very "naive". She gave up her good TV star role and insisted on practicing her acting skills, fantasizing about becoming a real movie star. In addition, she was persuaded by Steve Siegel's real expertise - salesmanship, thinking that this was an Aikido version of "Rocky" and she would be the new generation of "Adria Rocky" (played by Talia Shire).

"The girl kissed by ET's friend Elliot is now dancing in a movie..."

Steve Siegel was afraid that the momentum would be suppressed by Jean-Claude Van Damme and Lundgren, so the subsequent hype was a bit out of touch with the overall situation. This Erica Eleniak actually appeared in the screen when she was a child. She and Drew Barrymore both played the role of the male protagonist Elliot's friend and classmate in ET.

The blonde girl that Elliot kissed in the classroom was her. But there was no need to hype this up. The scene of Erica Eleniak running fast in a red swimsuit in "The Beach" was enough to attract a large number of viewers to the cinema to watch her dance erotically.

It is completely superfluous to bring up one of Spielberg's favorite movies, "ET the Extra-Terrestrial."

"This is a bit too much. Do you want me to tell him to shut up?" Ronald asked Spielberg when they were on the phone.

"I asked Catherine to do it, and involved a little girl... um..." Spielberg was very angry. The timing of this hype was really not right.

Spielberg had refused to release the videotape of "ET" since its release, until Ronald's two films, "Top Gun" and "Dirty Dancing", broke the videotape sales record twice, and he was moved.

After asking Ronald about some anti-theft measures, his "ET the Extraterrestrial" was finally released on the video tape market after taking all the anti-theft measures.

As soon as it was released, it broke Ronald's single-month videotape sales record (the cumulative record is still held by Dirty Dancing). The green videotape and special anti-theft measures made it particularly popular with young viewers, and the sales momentum surprised Spielberg.

Seeing the opportunity to make money, Kathryn Kennedy, general manager of Spielberg Amblin, thought of a new sales channel. She found Sears Department Store in Chicago and began to sell the "ET the Alien" videotape as a holiday gift in their store. Only Sears members and credit card holders could buy it...

Just when the deal was about to be done, this happened, which was really throwing garbage in Spielberg's face.

Ovitz was trying to get Spielberg to sign his agent contract. Now the negotiation process was also stopped by Spielberg. Steve Siegel's bad move embarrassed the parents and audience, directly affected the jokes in the video, and offended everyone.

"Sony said that their partner Yaohan Department Store needs to restock. Your movie is very popular in Japan. I am so jealous of this. Most people there can't even read the word Extra-Terrestrial, but the sales are higher than Britain, Germany, and Australia combined..."

"Hahaha, you don't understand, a child's smile is a universal language..." Spielberg was very proud that Ronald had a better relationship with Japan than he did, but as for a movie, it still depends on whether the audience likes it. The holiday special sold more than 150,000 copies in Tokyo...

"Ronnie, our time is up..." Little Doug urged at the door...

"Okay, I'll be right there." Ronald hung up the phone, tidied his clothes, and went to the Peninsula Hotel in Manhattan to meet a distinguished guest.

"Mr. Al D'Amato is on the executive floor..."

“Is there something wrong with Senator Pothole’s election this time?”

"Maybe there are some... He wants to win all the games, win beautifully, win without any suspense..."

Ronald and Doug Jr. were talking in low voices in the elevator.

This year is the re-election year for the New York State Senate, and senior Democratic Senator Al D'Amato is also running for re-election. This time, through Staten Island Congresswoman Ms. Molinari, he found Doug and hoped that he could do a "small favor". Ronald was there too, so the Senator invited them to come together...

"This must be Director Ronald Lee. I really like your patriotic movies. I have a videotape of Top Gun in my office in DC... Please take a seat, Doug. We meet again..."

Al D'Amato's name is obviously of Italian descent. He has close ties with Italian politicians in New York State. Moreover, he is a senator from the Elephant Party, and is a political ally of the Molinari family, who debuted in the Elephant Party.

The reason why he was nicknamed "Senator of Potholes" was because his style was different from other senators. He rarely did anything about major federal affairs. But when it came to small matters related to his hometown of New York State, he was very active. He once personally coordinated a solution to a pothole on a road in New York...

This style is not like that of a federal elder, but rather like that of a representative of the people in the House of Representatives. He was very satisfied with the Star-Spangled Banner Act indirectly promoted by Ronald.

He is a rare senator who works hard for his hometown. A few years ago, in order to stop a bill that would cause hundreds of military employees in his hometown to lose their jobs, he read the Washington, DC telephone directory in the Senate for 23 and a half hours without interruption, setting a record for the time of this special "filibusters" filibuster. In the end, he saved these employees.

If there is any advantage to this style, it is that the voters in your hometown will always remember you. They will write to you about any problem, and after it is solved, no matter how small the problem is, they will hope that you will continue to be re-elected.

Such a senator is the pillar of the Democratic Party in New York, where the Democratic Party is becoming increasingly powerful. With a vote advantage of more than 30%, he defeated the Democratic Party candidate who wanted to challenge him miserably...

"I wonder if there is anything we can do for the Senator..." Doug asked directly after exchanging pleasantries.

"It's like this. I'm not worried about the Donkey Party, but there are people in the Elephant Party who want me to retire..."

Al D'Amato did not shy away from talking about his difficulties. This year, a challenger emerged from within the Elephant Party, Lawrence Rockefeller...

This son of the Rockefeller family inherited the political ambitions of his father, the former deputy governor, and this time he wants to challenge Al D'Amato's primary qualifications.

Of course, he may not succeed in his challenge, even if his last name is Rockefeller. Who would vote out a senator who helps him pave the way?
But this is very dangerous. Italians do not have many political resources. Once someone shows that he is capable of challenging his senatorship, it is conceivable that in the election six years later, there will be a large number of very competitive challengers.

Moreover, Rockefeller's network of relationships and social influence cannot be underestimated. Perhaps the patriarch of the Rockefeller family, seeing that his political career has a promising future, will be faced with almost endless campaign funds.

"So not only do you want to beat him, you want to make him lose his pants, so that no one will want to challenge you in the future?" Little Doug understood this mentality. If a politician wins an election impressively, he can scare no one from challenging him for ten years.

Al D'Amato adjusted his large gold-rimmed glasses and smiled as he confirmed Doug's question.

"So is there anything Ronald and I can do for you?"

"I was just thinking of using your influence on Staten Island..."

It turns out that to run for the Senate in New York State, you need to collect a certain number of signatures to register for the election. Most of New York City is the territory of the Donald Trump Party Congressmen. In these places, Rockefeller Jr. could not find any supporters.

Many Elephant Party supporters were in the countryside of New York State, which was also Al D'Amato's base, so it was difficult for Rockefeller Jr. to pry them away. Only Staten Island, which was under the jurisdiction of New York City and where the Elephant Party had an advantage, could help him collect tens of thousands of signatures...

In Staten Island, and especially in Totville, these two men were the ones who had the final say, and the thousands of jobs they offered to Rockefeller Jr. were guaranteed to give him the ultimate humiliation unless the organized group endorsed him.

"Also, I heard that Ronald, you are the owner of the Daily News?" Al D'Amato added.

"I'm just an investment shareholder..." Ronald picked up the phone and called James Wells, the editor-in-chief of the Daily News.

"I'm Ronald. Who should we support in this Senate election?"

"Of course it's the Italians who are filling the gaps. Our position is biased towards readers in Long Island, Brooklyn and Staten Island... our circulation is the largest there..."

"Haha...you owe me one," Ronald smiled and nodded to the senator.

"I think this is the beginning of a great friendship..." Al D'Amato extended his hand to them, confirming that he had heard what he had just said.

……

“Will the California senator also be re-elected?”

When Ronald returned to his home in Los Angeles, he saw Diane looking through the campaign materials of a candidate named Barbara Boxer.

"This is her office inviting us to donate..."

After becoming a celebrity, there are many people who come to beg for alms. Barbara Boxer is already a member of the California House of Representatives and is preparing to run for the Senate. Alan Cranston, a senior, is not running for election due to health reasons. Barbara's reason for running as a woman is that women can also be the spokesperson for voters.

Therefore, directors like Ronald who shoot films about women were visited by their campaign offices, not only inviting them and their spouses to participate in activities, but also seeking endorsements and support.

"Just donate some money, don't endorse her... We don't know her, we don't know what kind of person she is..."

"I think so too. Politicians are actually similar to actors..."

After signing a check of moderate size, Ronald stayed with his family until the evening before visiting Cameron.

"This time, the Saturn Awards have specially invited us to hold a discussion after the public screening..."

Cameron threw a piece of information to Ronald.

This time, Ronald's "The Silence of the Lambs" was nominated for Best Horror Film, and "Terminator 2" was nominated for Best Science Fiction Film. Both have great hopes of winning.

This award is an audience choice award, so we pay a lot of attention to the interaction with the audience. This time we also invited the two directors to interact with the lucky audience and answer various questions.

"No problem, I'll go with you..."

Compared to the judges of the Oscars, Ronald actually prefers to communicate with these ordinary audiences. Their cognition is actually closer to commercial film directors like Ronald and Cameron. No one will ask them questions like what profound meaning a part in a movie expresses.

In order to win an Oscar, Ronald had to attend a series of parties, talking to actors and film critics with a smile, even though he didn't understand what they were saying. It was really hard to think about it.

For awards like the Saturn Awards, the audiences all admire the directors very much, and their questions are all about thinking of the directors as masters. Communicating with these people is a much more pleasant experience.

Oh, if only they could vote for the Oscars, both Ronald and Cameron would have a good chance of winning...

"Bruce Hesenson...who is this?" Ronald found an envelope behind the information. He opened it and saw that it contained another campaign information.

"This is a political commentator from the Elephant Party, who is preparing to run for re-election as a senator..." Cameron shrugged. As a motorcycle enthusiast, he was also approached by politicians from the Elephant Party.

"Hey? How about I donate a little too?" Ronald flipped his head. Anyway, this place is not like New York where the registration place and the factory are located. For the candidates in California, it is enough not to offend both sides...

(End of this chapter)