Exploiting Hollywood 1980.

Chapter 682 Received by the Queen with Minahan
"Brilliant air combat with modern aircraft."

"Brilliant aerial combat, and a shallow romantic love story between a man and a woman."

"Highly recommended, the best movie in recent memory."

There are much more newspapers in London than in New York, and the film reviews in various major newspapers and tabloids are more open than those in America. All kinds of exaggerated stories and gossip are published on the agreed board together with the film reviews. It seemed like reading a story from another world.

Ronald flipped through the film reviews. The premiere in Britain this time received a good response.The box office also pleased distributor Paramount.

The movie theaters here are mainly traditional halls, and Ronald secretly went to one of them. The proportion of all family members of the movie-watching crowd here is higher than in America.So his box office expectations for Britannia are good.

"Ronald, where have you been? Paula has been looking for you for a long time." Tom Cruise looked at Ronald, as if he had known him for the first time.

"What's wrong? Has something happened to Hollywood?"

"No, the queen wants to summon you." Paula Wagner walked over, and she handed Ronald an invitation letter to attend the grand ball, which invited him to attend the queen's literary and artistic gathering.

The queen is going to meet Ronald at a dinner for the literary and artistic circles.

"Can I not go?" Ronald felt a little sudden, he didn't know the queen himself.

"Why don't you go? This is a great opportunity? If the crew still wants to be featured in the newspaper, it's up to you." The producer Bruckheimer was unhappy, and hurriedly urged Ronald to participate.

"Well, actually, I only brought one dress." For the premiere, Ronald specially prepared a dress, and he could no longer wear it to the dinner party, otherwise he would be rude.

"It's okay, I asked my colleagues in the London office of CAA to arrange it." Paula also hoped that Ronald would attend the dinner. Of course, it would be even better if she could bring Tom Cruise. Unfortunately, Ronald was the only one on the invitation. .

Ronald was the only one who received the invitation in the entire "Top Gun" crew, so that Tom Cruise, McGillis, Paula Wagner, and the producer Bruckheimer and others who came here together, had an interview with Ronald. Nader was a little taken aback.

Although the Americans and the British speak the same language and look down on each other, most people still have a natural respect for the noble royal family in their hearts.It is a special honor to be received by the queen, and this kind of news can also be published in a large number of newspapers, which is an alternative royal marketing.

For the film's box office, Ronald still stayed and waited for the Queen's summons.

"Why did the Queen summon you?"

"I do not know either?"

"Did you do Princess Diana a favor at the White House?"

"Nothing."

"Are you the cousin of Princess Diana who has been missing for many years?"

"You're so humorous. Actually, I don't know. It may be that Her Majesty the Queen is going to meet many people in the literary and art circles. She suddenly heard her son say that Top Gun was a good filming, and it just reminded me that I'm here."

Not only the people in the crew didn’t believe that Ronald was summoned by the Queen for no reason, but also his agent, Nisita, who made a transoceanic call from Los Angeles. Nutritional call.

……

The next day, Ronald wore a dress from CAA and a bow tie, and came to the venue where the dinner was held.In fact, men's clothing looks similar, but the details have to be distinguished, so this time the neckline style on the casual dress has been changed to a new style.

"Ronald!"

"Menahan?"

"Why are you here too?"

"You were also received by the Queen?"

In the hall outside the room waiting for the queen to be received, Ronald accidentally met his old friend, Israeli Minahan Golan.

"Quack quack... What a surprise, this is my good friend, Ronald Lee. Hey, do you know him? His 'Breakdance' was filmed for us at Cannon Pictures."

Minahan, dressed in a tacky purple gown, introduced Ronald to the surrounding British film industry.

Ronald came forward to shake hands with them and say hello.In fact, on this occasion, being with Cannon Pictures chairman Minahan Golan is not good news.

Ronald felt that these people who were waiting to be interviewed in the film industry looked down upon him, and they all knew what was going on with the nouveau riche Minahan.

No wonder they were dissatisfied. Minahan Golan bought the famous British cinema owner, Kenneth Reeve's Carnival Cinemas, and successfully merged with the original Cannon Cinemas, becoming the top five cinema owners in Britain.

Coupled with the five-year exclusive distribution agreement he signed with UGC theaters in China, Moment Cannon's distribution strength in Europe and Britain has become the number one in Hollywood.

"Quack quack quack", Minahan was unaware of everyone's contempt for him, and started chatting with Ronald.

"I said, you beat Stallone's movie. This week, your 'Top Gun' surpassed us again and became No. 1 in America again."

"Paramount just added some copies." Ronald knew the box office results of the third week, and "Top Gun" returned to No.1 again.

Minahan's Stallone movie lacked stamina, and the single-house box office dropped rapidly after it was released. Within a week, it gave up the number one throne and returned it to Ronald.

"I'm still very convinced of you. Do you have any ideas to direct Stallone?" Minahan said loudly the name of Hollywood's popular action actor, as if he wanted to tell those around him deliberately.

"You know, I have a little bit of a holiday with him." Ronald replied with a smile, he knew that the fat man wanted to use Stallone's name to shock the snobbish eyes around him.

"I'm serious, you just happen to be the director, let him listen to your command?" Minahan also lowered his voice, and stretched out his finger to Ronald, making a 25 gesture.

"I signed a 2500 million film contract with Stallone to make two or three movies. He is our Cannon man now. I must make a masterpiece. Stallone is not only a simple action star, but also a rich inner drama. .”

Minahan fully felt that Stallone has acting potential, and with a director like Ronald, a strong combination, maybe he can win an Oscar?

This year's Oscars, directed by Konchalowski's "Runaway Train", starring Jon Voight was nominated for best actor, but lost to William Hurt in "Kiss of the Spider Woman".

Under the reign of Sidney Pollack's "Out of Africa," Best Actor was one of the few films at this year's Oscars that could steal the award from that monster.

It's a pity that the Oscars are not like the Golden Globes. Although Minahan has a lot of cash, he can't buy the votes of the judges.

"I'm not confident he'll make another 'Rocky'."

Ronald smiled, not taking it seriously.Maybe Stallone has potential, and his acting skills in "Rocky" are really not bad.

But now that he has been a star for a long time, does he still have the passion to challenge himself?Hiding in the image of Rambo and Rocky, you can get high box office and high income by acting casually, isn't it very comfortable?

And after becoming famous, Stallone began to show off, and his temper was very big.And the humble character of Rocky Balboa, but it's getting farther and farther away.

The box office of "Rocky 4" is not as good as the previous one. Even John Avelson, the director of the original "Rocky" that he was famous for back then, was so angry that he didn't want to cooperate with him anymore.

"Okay, okay, no Stallone, what do you think of Kim Basinger in 'Loving You for Nine and a Half Weeks'? Sex Bomb, I asked her to let you direct one?"

"Come on, I don't have Adrian Lane's porn skills."

The two were talking about the new film "Love You for Nine and a Half Weeks", which was released in February this year.This is the new work of "Lightning Dance" director Adrian Lane's Hollywood director after a few years.

The leading actor was met by Ronald. In Coppola's black-and-white film "Betta Fish" shot by Diane, Mickey Rourke played the second male lead.The heroine is Kim Basinger, the sexy blonde of Hollywood these days.

Her sexy image is unmatched, and her sacrificial large-scale performance in "Love You for Nine and a Half Weeks" also allowed her to gradually replace Katherine Turner, approaching the title of Hollywood's sexiest woman.

"Hey, I really want to work with you on a movie again." Minahan sighed.Now that Ronald is coming to shoot, he is also going to shoot those blockbuster films that have stars joining in. The past years of the two people's close cooperation "breakdance" can no longer go back.

"Excuse me, are you Director Ronald Lee?" A fat man with a thick neck and a similar temperament to Minahan came over and introduced himself, "My name is Jeremy Thomas, and I am also here to attend the Queen's dinner today. I'm an independent producer."

"Oh, hello." Ronald had never heard of this person's reputation.

In fact, he came from a film family, his father and uncle are both film directors.When he arrived, he became an independent producer. Since the late 70s, he has produced a series of movies. Although he was not popular, some people in Hollywood have heard his name.

"Hi, are you making any new films recently?" Ronald asked politely.

"I recently got the invitation and permission to shoot there. I can go to that ancient country, the palace of the last dynasty to shoot real scenes, just like going to Buckingham Palace to shoot the history of the British dynasty."

"Oh, you're in luck. We don't have a movie in Hollywood shooting there yet. When are you going to start?"

"Just next month, I will go there immediately to meet director Bertolucci. You know, I rely on his identity to be the first film producer to go to the Forbidden City to shoot scenes." Jeremy Thomas said proudly.

The two chatted for a while about the movie.

It turned out that Bertolucci is a left-wing director in Italy, and he has always wanted to go there to shoot a live-action movie.

Because of his status, it also gave him a lot of convenience.Bertolucci submitted two filming plans.One is "The Destiny of Man" adapted from the best-selling novel in the 30s, and the other is the story of the last emperor of the last dynasty who lived in the Forbidden City.

Originally, both Bertolucci and Jeremy Thomas liked "The Fate of Man", and thought they would choose "The Fate of Man". After all, the Forbidden City is unlikely to be open to filmmakers.

Unexpectedly, they were more optimistic about the "Last Emperor" and gave a lot of convenient conditions. During the filming period, tourists were even suspended from visiting the museum transformed from the Forbidden City.

Jeremy Thomas, who had been raising money everywhere, was so desperate that he had to call one by one in the phone book to ask for money.Holding the approval and promise of the government over there, many people soon came to ask for money.

He raised an investment of 2500 million U.S. dollars within half a year, and started shooting this masterpiece.

"Do you still have a financing line? I also like this story very much." Ronald said half-jokingly. He was in Hollywood and was not well informed about European news.Unexpectedly, this guy had already gone to the ancient country to shoot live action before Spielberg.

"Hahaha, I will definitely remember to look for you for the next project."

"Her Majesty arrives at..."

A man dressed in splendid attire, holding a scepter, walked into the hall and shouted.

A little old lady, well dressed and with a feathered hat, entered the hall.It is Her Majesty the Queen of Britain.

"Your Majesty," Minahan Golan bent over and laughed.

"Thank you for your contribution to the British film industry."

"Her Majesty," Jeremy Thomas also bowed.

"Thank u."

The queen walked along, and everyone in the aisle wearing a dress nodded slightly in return, so that it was officially received by the guests.

"Your Majesty the Queen", when it was Ronald's turn, he followed suit and bowed slightly to salute the Queen.

"Hello, Ronald. I heard that you are Annette's grandson? You are very nice." The queen shook hands with him, patted Ronald on the shoulder, and whispered two words in his ear. A whisper.

"Hey?"

The Queen winked at him. The Countess Spencer was her royal friend, and Her Majesty the Queen was also very happy to hear that the offspring of her relatives had been found.

"Please come with me, Her Majesty and the husband have some orders."

A man who looked like a housekeeper came up and invited Ronald to talk in detail.

"Oh……"

The butler had a sharp temperament, and took out a document and handed it to Ronald.

Ronald opened the file bag, and inside was a yellowed document and a photocopy.It turned out to be his father's birth document.

Ronald's grandmother was a Miss Spencer who served in the Royal Air Force during World War II and fell in love with Ronald's grandfather James.The papers of their marriage may have been lost, or the wedding may not have taken place, allowing grandmother Annette to conceive and give birth to her father.

After grandfather James was killed in action, the child was raised for a while before being sent back to America.The Jerome family also did not accept the child who was not officially married, that is, Ronald's father.

"My husband means that it is inconvenient to confer titles on you now, because your father is an illegitimate child after all."

"It doesn't matter, this document?" Ronald didn't care about the so-called aristocratic status, he more recognized the blood of his ancestor Li Enfu who relied on his own struggle.

"You can take it away." The butler nodded, and the husband's order was almost completed, "The royal family and the British government don't want you to disclose your blood relationship to the media. After all, you and Princess Diana, and the future Duchess Sarah , It’s a cousin relationship separated by two floors.”

"I also don't want you to disclose my grandmother. After all, we American people pay attention to personal struggle, combined with the progress of the times. I don't want Hollywood to think that I am a British guy."

Ronald took out a copy of his father's birth certificate indifferently, and then returned the original to the housekeeper.

Hollywood really doesn't like people of British descent very much. Chaplin was so talented back then, so he was driven away to Switzerland.

"As you wish," the butler smiled and took the original.

"He is still a young man with character. The bosses of MI[-] will like it when they hear him say that. The dignity of the royal family is important, and the husband does not want to be associated with the illegitimate children of the princess family."

(End of this chapter)