Exploiting Hollywood 1980.

Chapter 360 Sunset Club

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

I met with more than a dozen potential investors in a row, and most of them said very nicely that they would cooperate with Ronald in the future, but when they heard that it was a joint venture production, they all shied away.

It's no wonder that the sooner the terms of the joint venture film production, the better the terms. Now that the domestic and overseas distributors have been confirmed, the remaining part can only get a capped fixed income. Small companies in the circle are all thinking about it. It's not surprising that a guy who got rich refused to let go.

"Actually, the Atlantic is optimistic about you, Ronald. Originally, they wanted to invite you to direct the 'Valley Girl' they are filming now. But their financial resources are not good enough, and the movies they are making now take up most of their funds. I watch the most Take one hundred thousand to invest in your project."

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

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

"The next funding gap, what do you do?"

"I have already asked Nisita to help with the new script revision project. You know that although the script revision is not signed, the income is higher than that of writing the script. I strive to make up the gap before [-] years ago. Then I will see if there is any There were no opportunities to direct commercials, or to place commercials in films."

“Have a great Thanksgiving holiday.”

"You too."

It was approaching Thanksgiving at the end of November every year. In the apartment, Ronald recalled the past events of his entry into the film industry, and found that there were quite a few people he had to be grateful 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 director and obtained union qualifications, Rick Nisita who signed his own screenwriting economic contract, and Speer who supported himself on the set Berg...

No matter what purpose they had when they helped themselves in the first place, objectively, they gave a big boost to their progress in the film industry.When I become famous, I will repay them when I have the opportunity.Of course, those who have trouble with themselves have to "repay" one or two.

"Ronnie, what are your plans for Thanksgiving? Back to New York?" It was Gail Hurd calling.

"I'm busy with financing, I won't go back for a while, where are you and Jim?"

"He's still concentrating on improving the 'Terminator' script. I'm looking for you. Can you come to the Sunset Club?" Gail 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 strip club on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood as promised, and he felt a little strange when Gail reported the address.

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

"Hi Ronnie, I'd like to introduce you to my good friend Martha Coolidge"

Gail enthusiastically introduced a middle-aged woman to Ronald, who looked 34 to [-] years old and looked very capable.

"Hi, Martha. Nice to meet you. What kind of movie are you shooting?" Ronald looked around, only the lighting team was setting up the lighting, and the actors hadn't come out yet, so he didn't know what kind of movie he was shooting.

"Valley girl," Martha Coolidge replied bluntly.

"Oh, I know this movie. It's a valley girl story, right? There's a song with that 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 circle of directors is really small.

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

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

The leading actor is Coppola's nephew, Nicolas Cage.Supporting actress Michelle Melink also had a role in "The Outer World" as Diane Lane's Cherry's best friend.

He didn't say hello to disturb Director Coolidge, but waited to see their performance with great interest.

"Action!"

Randy, played by Cage, has a crush on Jolie, played by Deborah Foreman.

In the bar, Randy fell in love with Julie immediately, and confessed his true feelings to Julie.

Nicholas is very real, very much like an emotional high school boy, really wanting to move forward but afraid of being rejected by the high school girl he likes.

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

The male protagonist in "Night of the Comet" in the dream has no acting skills, and his lines seem very dull.Cage has studied acting skills in "Fast-paced", and today he seems to be able to live as the leading role.

"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 your scheduling is excellent."

Ronald praised from the bottom of his heart. 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, and only nodded in response to the greetings from Cage and Mellink.Director Coolidge spoke with a bit of overtones.

He looked back at Gail Hurd.

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

During a break between filming and playing around with this shot, Ronald and Gale, Coolidge's director, got into the trailer together.Gale opened two bottles of beer and handed them to Ronald and Coolidge, then she took one herself and touched them.

"As I said, Martha. Ronald is a very honest person. He will not come to snatch your director."

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

It turned out that Tom Coleman, the president of the Atlantic Company, said a few words about his regret that he did not invite Ronald to direct "Valley Girl" after meeting with Ronald.

I don’t know how this matter spread more and more. When it came to Martha Coolidge, it became Ronald who wanted to replace him and took over the director’s job halfway.

She complained to her good friend Gail Hurd that the independent directing opportunity she had won so hard was robbed by another male director.

Gail heard that it was Ronald, and even said it was impossible.So I asked Ronald to come and have a look at the scene to clear up the misunderstanding.

Coolidge was a person of great character, and she may have suffered a lot of sexism in the industry.The director needs to have a strong commanding ability, and women must become as tough as men.So she was a little annoyed with Ronald's attitude.

Ronald explained that his new film had already been distributed by New World, and Atlantic was only a shareholder.

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

The two are also alumni of New York University's Tisch College. Coolidge was born in a well-known family. Her grandfather once served as governor of Massachusetts and was also a relative of the former commander-in-chief Coolidge.

"When will you finish filming 'Girls of the Valley'? I'd like to get Nick to try out my new lead actor."

"It can be completed in the next month."

"Then there is a schedule after the Christmas and New Year holidays?" Ronald thought to himself, this is not bad, and his own funds may be settled by then.

"Oh, Nick is good." Coolidge said, "In order to play the role well, he also wrote love poems to the heroine, and he was very devoted to 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 plays Julie."

"Hahaha... Is Nick also a methodist?" Ronald didn't expect this to happen, and he was too involved.

"He actually belonged to the school of German Expressionism... using high-contrast lighting, strong shadows, and unrealistic performances to represent dark film subjects..."

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

Expressionism is actually a bit incompatible with methodism, and does not pursue a sense of reality.Cage was influenced by the early German film "Metropolis" admired by his uncle Coppola, and his acting methods were extreme.

The three cleared up the misunderstanding and walked out of the trailer.It turns out that Cage is writing poems to Deborah again.

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

"The poem is called 'America Girl'"

"Hi hi," Nicholas cleared his throat and began to say,

"The beloved lady.

on top of everything else.

It is her home that adorns the earth of my fair land.

She is the crystallization of love and fire.

Rule the hearts of men by divine right. "

"Don't recite it in public, give it to me..." Deborah snatched Nicolas Cage's poem, took the pad into her arms, and went to the trailer to appreciate it carefully.

"Hahaha..." Ronald couldn't help laughing out. This recitation with an accent really didn't look like a realistic acting method.

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

"I came to see your performance. When did you film 'Betta Fish' in Oklahoma?"

"last month."

"What's next for the movie?"

"My agent, Limato, is contacting me to audition for a new movie, and it hasn't been finalized yet." Cage said, "Why, do you have a new movie?"

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

"Oh, oh..." Nicolas Cage held his head in his hands, looking surprised, "Did the drama god take care of me today? I'll call my agent Limato."

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

"You know, how much I envied Sean Penn when I was in 'fast pace'." Cage was very happy, and he really wanted to be able to play a role with more roles in a blockbuster film.

Cage excitedly pulled up the actors on the set and introduced to Ronald, "Hi Lisa, Mike, this is Ronald Lee, the director of 'Fast Richmond'. If it weren't for him, I still don't have a union card .Gosh, I'm so happy today."

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

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

(End of this chapter)