Exploiting Hollywood 1980.

Chapter 388
"Hey bro. Your packing party sucks." Nicolas Cage, who drank a lot of alcohol at the big party after filming, patted Ronald on the shoulder and started raving, "Not even that "

"Ask Limato for me." Ronald handed Cage to Kevin Costner, who also belonged to Ed Limato's agent.Limato received a call from Ronald, and after hearing that Cage was drunk, he sent an assistant and a car to pick him up.

"I will." Costner nodded. Together with his assistant, he helped Cage, who will continue to rehearse a new play next Monday, and walked out. Before going out, he turned to Ronald and said, "Thank you, Ronald."

"What a party," said director of photography Arthur Albert, who is Latino and likes this kind of party where everyone eats and drinks.
"It's been a pleasure working with you. I've got a few new assignments and we could work together again if the opportunity arises. What's next for you? Will you start editing right away, Ronald?"

"I will give myself a two-week vacation, which is my habit. Do something that has nothing to do with this movie, let my brain cool down, and then I can see the flaws in the movie." Ronald replied road.

"Good way, have you thought about going there for vacation?"

"I don't know, I might go to Britain to see my girlfriend..."

After sending off the crew, Ronald gave a little tip to the staff of the party service company who stayed behind to clean up.

If you shoot a movie single-handedly, you won't have the leisurely shooting and editing like the "fast pace" of the upper part.All matters related to the movie need to be taken care of by Ronald himself.

From Ronald's notebook, the most urgent thing that jumped out was the episode of the two heroines trying on high fashion in a department store.

Ronald asked his agent, Nisita, to ask several record companies, but did not get definite results.If you can't find the song "Girls Just Want to Have Fun", then you have to find another song with similar rhythm and lyrics.

In addition to the episode, there is also a soundtrack.Adding the two together, the total cost should not exceed [-]% to [-]% of the total budget. Finding a cheaper composer has become a top priority.

Ronald had already asked Michael Gore, who shared his Academy Award for Best Original Song in "Fame."Gore himself is already expensive, and "Night of the Comet" cannot afford it. He promises to recommend a composer with a better cost performance.

In addition to these technical issues, there is also the release of the film.Atlantic's previous movie "Valley Girl" was confirmed to be released in April, and "Night of the Comet" needs to wait for it to release part of the funds before it can be marketed and released.

A lot of things are waiting for Ronald to deal with, but the top priority is to get him a good night's sleep.

Back at the apartment, Ronald lay down on the bed and began to sleep soundly.The high-intensity physical and mental work for two weeks allowed him to sleep soundly, and he was not awakened by the ringing of the phone until noon the next day.

"Ronald, Michael Jackson from Epic Records is looking for you, and he said he wants to show you his breakdancing moves." It was Richard, CAA's manager, who called.

"Hey? Why is he looking for me as a singer? I'm still sleeping."

"The dance coach you introduced helped him practice a full set of movements, and said he wanted to ask you to take a look."

"Crazy legs?"

Ronald rubbed his eyes, got up and took a hot bath to wake himself up completely.

Richard arrived at the apartment shortly after and drove him to Epic Records' studio in Los Angeles.

"Is there any news recently?" Ronald sat in the car, eating the "Burger King" burger brought by Richard, French fries, onion rings, and a glass of Pepsi.

"A lot of things." While driving, Richard told Ronald about the entertainment news in the past few weeks.

"Your friend Cynthia Rhodes, the one who played the dancer in 'Lightning', was cast by Stallone to play the leading lady in 'Fly and Fly'."

"Huh? I asked Nisita to say hello, so it doesn't have such a big influence, right? Does she have other connections?" Ronald asked while chewing on a hamburger.

"I heard from Nisita that when he accompanied Cynthia to the audition, Stallone's brother Frank Stallone saw her and was pursuing Cynthia with all his strength. Frank will also play a supporting role, that is, the musician who is dating the heroine played by Cynthia."

"Well, all right. Any more news?" Ronald finished eating a hamburger and started eating onion rings. The script of "Flying Dragon and Phoenix Dance" has been changed into a mess, and I have no interest in it at all.

"Lightning's Los Angeles premiere confirmed, Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer sent you invitations. It's in April."

"I'll go." Ronald took a sip of Coke.

"Your girlfriend Helen called you from the British studio and asked me to tell you that she is fine and nothing to worry about."

"I want to go to London to visit the class, but I just don't know when I will be free."

"I have already asked my colleagues in London to send flowers to Helen on your behalf. If you set a time, I will arrange all the air tickets and accommodation."

"Thank you, Richard."

"It's nothing, the agent should help you deal with these things."

"Any more news?"

"That's all about you, and some big industry stuff. Columbia's president, Frank Price, lost the upper echelon. He let go of last year's biggest box office moneymaker, 'ET,' and was sent by his new owner, Coca-Cola. executives collectively demanded their resignation, which may be announced in Colombia in the near future.”

"Huh? Where's he going?"

"I don't know. Industry rumors say that [-]th Century Fox is the most likely. They fired Shirley Lansing, and they need a male president. By the way, Lansing officially rejected Paramount's invitation and went to start a production company by himself. .” Richard reported many major personnel changes in the industry.

"Hmm... I think about it, right. Shirley Lansing's 'Body Strength' has been handed over to a new producer. I heard that they will go to the original director Herbert Ross."

"At that time, the planning of the two films was almost at the same time. I had already filmed them here, and they hadn't decided on a director yet."

"That's the way the big studio system works, it's tough waiting for the green light."

Ronald finished his hamburger, Richard finished his news, and the two drove to the rehearsal hall of Epic Records.

In the rehearsal hall, Michael Jackson, a thin black singer on the stage, was talking to the two with crazy legs, as if they were arguing about something.

"Hey, this dance is our rebellion against capitalism, why can't we do those traditional dance steps? With these fighting lyrics? It's the tradition of black people using music to rebel against these white masters."

"Listen, my friend. That dance move was supposed to go to the single Billie Jean from my new album, are you blaming my music?"

"Hey, MJ, the Ronald you were looking for is here." A man who looked like a manager came to the stage and whispered something to MJ.

"Ronald, please come in."

Ronald walked into the rehearsal hall and said hello to Michael Jackson and Crazy Legs.

"Hi, Ronald, I'm glad you can come." MJ smiled sincerely, "Music? I'll dance for Ronald to see."

Michael Jackson choreographed his choreography and performed it for Ronald.

"She told me her name was Billie Jean because she caused a stir

Everyone's head is turning, eyes are dreaming of being that her"

Billy King's music played, and Ronald watched MJ dance on the stage.The white T-shirt and black top hat suddenly looked familiar to Ronald.

This arrangement is very familiar, it seems that the one I can dance is like this. Could it be that I learned it from MJ in my previous life?

"What do you think?" MJ asked Ronald on the stage as the music stopped.

"Okay!" Both Ronald and Richard clapped their hands. Although they were also moonwalks, it was obvious that MJ's dance was much more beautiful and powerful than his own.

"Your dance will definitely cause a sensation." Ronald said sincerely, "That movement is amazing, but it seems that you can do it more powerfully?"

"You like it? Ha, good, you like it." MJ jumped down and shook Ronald's hand, "Crazy legs don't like the classic moves of my predecessors who have changed too much..."

Ronald raised his hands high, indicating that he didn't understand at all, "I don't understand this at all, I just think it matches this song well."

"Very well, then you won't be unhappy if I change to a new dance instructor."

Ronald glanced at the crazy legs, "Of course not, he and I only worked together on the same crew."

"Well, I've made movies before..."

After chatting about movies and songs, Ronald watched the person next to MJ keep raising his hands to signal his watch, knowing that MJ was busy, he took advantage of the opportunity to say goodbye.

"Okay, you must come to Motown's commemorative concert then."

Ronald bid him farewell, and walked toward the gate with Richard.

It's a bit inexplicable to come here today, so MJ asked him to watch the dance?Maybe the crazy leg was introduced by himself, and MJ had to notify himself first if he wanted to replace it?Are black people so particular about things?
"I told you that this album of yours is an epoch-making work. What you need now is to become famous at the 25th anniversary concert of Motown. The MV can be postponed and filmed later. We will arrange the most famous film director to come It's not an exploitation film director like him." The man who looked like a manager whispered to MJ.

"Well, I just thought his movies were interesting. Brooke mentioned his name to me, too." MJ spread his hands.

"I found you two break-dancing talents in Los Angeles. You are a star. A star doesn't need to learn dance steps from anyone. No one can be your teacher."

"Okay, some new music." Without commenting on his arrangement, MJ started talking to his backup dancers.After a day of rehearsing the Billy King dance, he wanted a change.

"When the day's work is over

Oh girls, they wanna have some fun"

The dancers changed a record and started dancing to the new music.

"Huh?" Ronald, who walked to the door, heard the singing from the loudspeaker. It was the high-pitched female voice in the dream, and it was also singing that song.

He turned back and walked back, "Whose song is this? Who is the girl singing?"

(End of this chapter)