Exploiting Hollywood 1980.

Chapter 1305 Oscar in the Protest
"Be fair, don't discriminate..."

At the entrance of the Beverly Hills Cinema, two major protest groups were holding flags and shouting unified slogans. Two leaders were in front of the crowd and were being interviewed by reporters.

"What's going on?" Ronald and Diane saw that there was no star at the scene, nor were there any entertainment reporters who were common at premieres. The one who came was the host of the social news column of Los Angeles Channel 8.

Looking around, there was no one familiar around. Ronald felt that if he appeared at the scene, he would be forced to express his opinion on the live news, so he quickly took a few steps back and summoned his bodyguard Daniel.

The latter quickly stepped forward and opened his arms to protect the two men from being discovered by the photographers. The three of them retreated behind the street corner in embarrassment.

Daniel quickly called little Bud to come and help Ronald and his wife get into the car.

Only then did Ronald pick up the car phone and call Mike McDavoy of TriStar Pictures, Michael Douglas, the lead actor of "Basic Instinct", and others.

The two men hid in a place, and Ronald's car later came to the Beverly Hills Hilton Hotel where they were hiding, and went up to a suite where the two men were sitting there depressed.

In addition to them, there is also Dutch director Paul Verhoeven and a bright actress, Sharon Stone, who shot the exploitation film plagiarism version of "Indiana Jones" for Menahem Golan.

"What is going on?" Ronald was confused.

"Ah, Ronald, you're here. We called your family and told them you were out. We were worried that you would be photographed by reporters..."

Michael Douglas said when he saw this, he introduced several people present to Ronald.

It was just a coincidence. Just after Ronald went out, Douglas and others called to inform him that there was a large group of people protesting at the scene. Ronald walked slowly and arrived at the moment when the two major protest groups launched their movement.

"It seems that I will have to take a car to go out in the future..." Ronald thought to himself that the current lifestyle of ordinary people is really inconvenient.

There were two major groups protesting: one was a protest against sexism against women, and the other was a protest by minority groups against the stigmatization that had caused... a popular protest.

"What is the content of your movie? Is it so explosive?" The previous incident with Barbra Streisand caused a lot of controversy, so what is going on today? Ronald and Douglas talked to Madavoy for a while, only to find that they didn't really understand how they had offended the two powerful groups.

"Oh, then what about my clothes?" Everyone was preparing to cancel tonight's premiere. Sharon Stone sat there and became dissatisfied. She had been preparing for today for a long time.

"We'll arrange for you to appear on important TV shows in the future..." Douglas and Medavoy had no choice but to make a promise to her. This woman didn't use her brain much, and it would be terrible if she complained like Sean Young that she wasn't shown at the premiere.

Ronald was also very curious about this movie that caused protests before it was released. What kind of story would cause two groups that were originally in conflict to unite in protest?
Two days later, Madavoy sent a copy so that Ronald could appreciate it.

"Oh, Shxt..."

After Ronald finished watching, he made a sound that every man would make. If the projectionist wasn't his man, he might have asked him to rewind and replay a few of the erotic scenes.

Director Paul Verhoeven's level of filming this kind of erotic drama is no worse than Adrian Lane. I believe that many men will buy a copy of the video tape and keep it at home after it goes on sale. Perhaps their demeanor is not much better than that of George Duzza, who plays the detective in the movie.

"This movie really doesn't need any marketing, nor does it need a premiere..." After watching it, Ronald knew that this kind of movie could sell well just by relying on word of mouth from male audiences.

"Oh my god, what if Sharon's future children see this scene? I don't want to do this kind of scene..." Diane, who was watching together, exclaimed. She thought that this kind of scene would hurt the actress too much. But this outfit looks good, and Ronnie seems a little tempted. I'll go get one to wear...

……

"My next guest is the most talked-about female star recently, Sharon Stone, the leading actress of the controversial thriller Basic Instinct! Welcome to the Late Late Show. Was this the last time you came to my show?"

"Oh, yes, two years ago."

"At that time you were a star, an actress, but now you are a famous star... everyone is talking about you..."

"Ah ha ha ha ha..."

Sharon Stone was not as worried as Diane when she appeared on David Letterman's talk show. She was in a state of ecstasy. She seemed to be very serious about Letterman's fake compliments that she had become a big star and might be nominated for next year's Oscar.

"What has changed since Basic Instinct was released? The sudden fame is like going into space?"

"Yes, on Friday I was just a decent actress who might get a leading role, and on Monday when I walked down the street people were shouting my name..."

The box office of "Basic Instinct" was amazing. In this off-season, the first weekend box office reached 15 million without a premiere and almost no marketing...

A few days later, at the Oscar awards ceremony, this movie became the topic of discussion among most of the guests.

"You know, I was originally chosen to be the leading actor in this movie..." Kevin Costner wore a tuxedo with a red ribbon tied on his chest and crossed underneath. This is a feature of this year's Oscars.

After accepting the letter of opinion signed by Ronald, the sponsoring academy officially agreed to give the composer who died due to... the qualification to enter the Best Original Song Award. This actually determined the winner of this award.

As for the red ribbon, it is an ornament worn by all the audience this year as a symbol of prevention... I have to say that the Academy is quite sympathetic. Anyway, this time there is a moment to present awards to artists who have unfortunately passed away, so why not just use it as a theme to reflect Hollywood's forward-looking attitude on various progressive issues.

"Yeah, I heard they also invited Richard Gere and Mel Gibson." Ronald also wore a red ribbon, and the two friends chatted in a corner of the award hall. This time, Costner, as the previous winner, was going to present the Best Director award.

"Oh my god, this movie is so... so explosive... Did you see those protesters outside?"

The two protest groups finally sat down with the producer Carloco and the distributor TriStar to discuss a solution. The anti-women discrimination organizations were easily satisfied. Director Verhoeven personally explained that this is a feminist film and the heroine is a symbol of the idea of ​​women who are not satisfied with being housewives in a male-dominated society.

The feminist organization gave up its protest after the distributor and producer donated some money to them.

But the minority group was unconvinced. The main reason was that they had no reason to do so. There was no role for the minority group in the movie. The protesters protested after reading the original script.

However, screenwriter Eszterhas (the screenwriter of Flashdance) has quit the crew because he protested against Verhoeven's plan to delete the plots and scenes about female love. After that, Verhoeven deleted all the scenes related to minority groups.

This means that when "Basic Instinct" was released, there was no plot for them to protest. The film company had no way to deal with such empty protests, so they had to explain again and again. However, a few groups did not buy it (perhaps because the donations did not meet expectations) and insisted on protesting.

TriStar Pictures and Carloco have also become famous. If you can get money for protesting even though this kind of plot does not even exist in this kind of movie, then there will be no peace in the future, right?

When Ronald heard about this, he also felt very strange. Where did they get the script before it was modified? Later, Mike McDavoy told him that the protest group admitted that someone had sent them the information...

The two sides failed to reach a compromise, so much so that they both went to the Oscars ceremony to protest.

Fortunately, the Oscars' security was excellent, and Ronald and Diane didn't run into any protesters when they walked down the red carpet. Otherwise, Diane's efforts to fit into her black backless evening dress after being hungry all morning and not daring to drink water since last night might have been wasted.

"Hey Michael, you look great!"

Ronald and Costner both greet Michael Douglas who walks in. This guy could make an R-rated movie and still create box office miracles.

"Hahaha..." Douglas laughed and hugged them.

"You know what? They also asked me to play the leading female role..."

In the open space on the other side, Diane was chatting with Demi Moore.

Demi Moore told her that the Basic Instinct crew had also approached her at the beginning.

The two of them had strange expressions on their faces, somewhat envious of Sharon Stone's current popularity, but also feeling a little weird.

The popularity of this female star and the amount of discussion she has received among the audience have surpassed that of Julia Roberts, who ran away from her marriage last year, and she has subtly taken away the title of "the most beautiful female star in the world".

"This is really a good opportunity, but I don't dare to act. What will little Roger do when he grows up and sees his mother filming this kind of scene?"

"I'm saying the same thing. My two children also can't bear to see their mother filming this kind of scene..." Demi Moore made a cross-legged gesture with her fingers.

"Christ Jesus..."

"Sharon doesn't have children, right? After I had children, some of the movies I made in the past felt very weird..." Diane said to Demi Moore.

"That's right, maybe she doesn't have a child, so she would be willing to take such a shot..." Demi Moore said this, but she actually felt a little regretful in her heart. Anyway, if it was her, the scale of such a shot would definitely not be so large. If she agreed, she would be the one who became famous...

"In fact, I don't dare to answer it if I don't have children..."

Another female star joined their discussion, Michelle Pfeiffer.

"Did you get it too?" Demi asked.

"Yeah, my agent said they also asked Julia Roberts and Kathleen Turner, Kim Basinger..."

Pfeiffer was talking about famous female stars who had acted in passionate scenes. It seems that the director actually asked all the female stars, but when no one agreed, he had to settle for the next best thing and found Sharon Stone.

"That's right, my neck started itching when I watched that scene, and I felt so embarrassed..." Diane was still relatively honest and took Pfeiffer's hand and started chatting.

"Which institution did you go to for recovery after giving birth?" Michelle Pfeiffer took the opportunity to ask about the secret of postpartum care. She is older than the two of them, and she also needs to spend more time to recover after giving birth.

"You already have a boyfriend?" Dai An said frankly.

"I'm going to do artificial insemination... If I don't become a mother, the ship will leave..."

"Oh, Michelle..."

The two began to empathize with Pfeiffer in an exaggerated tone. Without being a mother, a woman seems to have not experienced a complete life...

"Beep, beep, beep..." The theme music sounded, and Ronald and Diane both broke away from the social interaction and found their own seats and sat down.

Diane was nominated for Best Supporting Actress today, so she was the main character among the two. Her carefully decorated makeup and hairstyle were carefully protected when she was talking just now, and they were not messy at all. Diane calmly put away the small makeup mirror and put it in Ronald's pocket.

Today, Ronald sat with the crew of The Silence of the Lambs, with Anthony Hopkins on the left, Jodie Foster on the right, and Jonathan Demme in the back. Diane sat with her husband because she only had one nomination for the money of the others. Tom Hanks and others sat on the aisle side.

The crew of "The Last Airbender," the most popular film with 10 nominations, sat diagonally in front of them, led by Warren Beatty and Annette Bening, and there was also a large group.

"Please take your seats. The live broadcast will begin shortly..."

Staff holding signs walked around the venue, informing the stars to get ready and greet the TV broadcast with a smile...

"Three, two, one... start! Unit 1!

The on-site director began to broadcast the live signal to the line, and after a delay of a few seconds, it would appear on the televisions of viewers around the world. Everyone made an expression of "It's an honor to be here today" and applauded to congratulate the start of the 64th Academy Awards Ceremony.

The chairman of the Academy of Motion Picture Technology and Arts opened the ceremony as usual. He talked nonsense for a full five minutes until the smiles disappeared from the faces of the audience, and then he began the formal awards ceremony.

"Now, please welcome your host for tonight, Billy Crystal!"

The lights on the stage dimmed.

"Camera number two!" The on-site director dispatched a close-up shot aimed at the audience, scanning the faces of the guests in the front row.

Warren Beatty and Annette Bening, who have the most nominated films tonight, got the benefit of this opening shot.
Annette Bening was also wearing an expensive Tiffany evening gown, with huge earrings inlaid with multiple diamonds under her ears, sparkling. Bening was so excited that she tried her best to maintain her emotions. Who would have thought that now I was also enjoying my first close-up!

The camera scanned the faces of the guests one by one. In addition to Ronald, Diane and other major nominees of the film, it also paid special attention to the oldest actress in the film, Jessica Tandy. Her health was not very good and she had lost a lot of weight, but she still made a movie "Fried Green Tomatoes" and was nominated for Best Supporting Actress. Out of respect, the last close-up of the opening was given to her.

The on-site director moved back to the stage, the lights gradually came on, and Billy Crystal appeared.

"Oh……"

Ronald, all the guests at the scene, and the audience in front of the TV exclaimed. After riding a horse on the stage last year, Billy Crystal made another big move this year.

He was dressed like Hannibal in "The Silence of the Lambs", wearing a mask, and was pushed into the venue by two men in white.

The audience burst out laughing, and the camera was turned to Anthony Hopkins next to Ronald. He was also laughing happily, and even took out his reading glasses and put them on to watch Billy Crystal's funny performance.

Not to mention, Billy Crystal looks a bit like Anthony Hopkins, especially his hairstyle. After putting on the mask, the two really look a bit alike.

Everyone was laughing so hard that they fell backwards. Billy Crystal walked down from the stage, walked straight to Anthony Hopkins, and shook his hand...

"I have some golden men left over for dinner, do you want to join in?"

Billy Crystal asked Anthony Hopkins in a Hannibal-like voice. The whole audience had seen this part of the movie, either in the cinema or on videotape, and the laughter became even louder.

"Of course, I'm at your service any time..." Anthony Hopkins' accent was still so magnetic and dangerous...and the audience laughed even more happily.

Only Warren Beatty, who was sitting in the front row, felt a little uneasy, muttering, "This doesn't feel right..."

(End of this chapter)