Chapter 292: The first time someone filmed live at the FBI Academy
"I hope our next stop won't have such surprises..."
Mike Medavoy was on a business jet, smiling and joking at Ronald across from him. He took out his dietary supplement again and asked the flight attendant for a glass of water to drink it with. Hollywood is full of all kinds of secret recipes
, people here are under a lot of work pressure, and many people are superstitious that something can bring them special energy.
"Jonathan is a very thoughtful person and an experienced director. He doesn't know how to..." Ronald defended his senior brother.
"Ha, I'm just joking, relax, Ronald, God won't let us win the lottery twice." Mike Medavoy winked at Ronald, having experienced the "surprise" of Dances with Wolves, the two of them
Really need to relax a bit.
Sure enough, after the plane landed in New York, I saw that Jonathan Demme's preparations were much more complete than Costner's.
Demme previously worked with Orion on "Shotshot," which had Melanie Griffiths crawling out of the pit, and although the film had a modest box office, the overall execution of the project was outstanding and the film was completed
The degree is very high.
In addition to blending suspense, romance, action, road, and other major film genres together, Sanda Lulu's editing and sound design are also Oscar-level. Ronald also learned some techniques for training actors to perform from Demi.
Compared with Kevin Costner, becoming a director for the first time relied on his passion and natural charisma. Jonathan Demme relied on complete preparation and thorough advance design.
Rather than saying that Jonathan Demme is an artist, it may be more appropriate to call him a craftsman. What he is best at is to make all details to the extreme within a reasonable budget. From the perspective of a businessman controlling costs and quality
Look, this is a very ideal candidate for director.
Of course, Jonathan Demme also has a weakness, that is, he only wants to make the subjects he wants to make. If a movie has great commercial potential and suits his style, but he is not interested...then who can
Can't say anything to him.
For example, a director who has achieved commercial success like him will generally not go back to shoot documentaries, music videos, or TV movies. Most directors will feel that theatrical movies are the highest arena for directors.
But Demi didn't care. As long as he was interested in the subject, he would shoot it. Not only did he shoot a music video, but he also made a documentary about Haiti and a concert film about Cambodia. The latter movie was called "Swimming to Cambodia" and the whole process was
A personal monologue by actor Spaulding Gray.
The movie opens with Spalding Gray walking towards a performance garage in New York City. He enters the garage, passes the audience, and sits behind a desk. Behind him is a pull-down map of Southeast Asia, and then there is Spalding Gray.
Tells the story of his participation in the filming of the film "The Killing Fields" that reflects Cambodia, and an introduction to the history of this country.
It can be said that Jonathan Demme is a director who shoots movies purely based on his interest. As long as the project he is interested in, even if the budget is low and the shooting is difficult, he can make it very beautiful for you.
For example, this movie "Swimming to Cambodia", which seemed to be shot casually with a camera set up, also won a small film award, the "Independent Spirit Award" for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Screenplay.
Nominate.
Fortunately, "Silence of the Lambs" is indeed a project that Jonathan Demme is very interested in. So when the three of them met in New York, what Ronald saw were the details of various scenes carefully prepared by Demme, and his understanding of the shooting.
detailed plan.
This movie is not like "Dances with Wolves", where it could only be shot from beginning to end due to lack of experience. This is a very experienced director who synthesized the film based on various locations and the actors' performances.
The time of various resources is given, and the optimal solution is finally given.
"It's very good. I felt much better after watching it." Ronald was really happy to see such preparations. It would be great if all the directors he invested in could do this.
"Haha, I'm also very satisfied. When can we go to the FBI Academy?" Jonathan Demme rubbed his hands a few times. Ronald promised him to go to the FBI training academy to film the heroine Starling's scene. This is the FBI's first
Open these facilities to Hollywood at a time.
"We can go the day after tomorrow...I have already made arrangements with the FBI."
Of course, during a day off in New York, Ronald must meet Helen. She has finished shooting "Happy Together" and is intensively doing post-editing. This time Ronald met the director Nora in the editing room.
·Helen with Ephron.
"Help us take a look, Ronnie!" Helen was very happy that her lover came to New York and just caught him for advice.
"Huh? The editing room is the domain of the director and editor. You are not allowed in..." Ronald pretended to be businesslike and deliberately teased Helen.
"Okay, I'm just anxious to see my performance in the finished film..." Helen has always respected this so-called industry rule, and her family education does not allow her to do things that bully others.
Nora Ephron secretly gave Ronald a thumbs up from the side, "Ahem, I have a lot to ask you here..."
Ronald stepped forward and turned the knob. After watching two scenes, he knew that Nora Ephron had passed the basic skills. All she lacked was experience and confidence. And these things cannot be taught and can only be learned by oneself.
.
"It's very good. I'm looking forward to watching the film..." Ronald put his arm around Helen's waist and turned around and walked out together.
"Hey, let me say, Ronald, don't you care about your movie?"
"I remember at the beginning and end of the movie, your name was in the director column?" Ronald turned around and joked with Ephron with a smile. Then he ignored the situation, hugged Helen and walked out, leaving only a burst of silver.
A bell-like laughter.
"Will you attend the premiere of this movie?" Helen asked while holding Ronald in her arms. In the apartment on Fifth Avenue, the two of them looked at the night view of Manhattan in front of the window and ate takeout from a Michelin restaurant. It was very exciting.
Comfortable.
"Of course, I am one of the investors and issuers." Ronald smiled and touched Helen's waist.
"Well, I didn't mean that... um... I meant that I wanted you to come... um, not... um... whatever..."
…
"Huh...huh..." Ronald lay on the plane seat and slept soundly. Jonathan Demme and Mike Medavoy next to him looked at him with envy for being able to sleep soundly during the flight.
, is a very good talent. Only when you can rest well can you work well.
"Mr. Li, we are arriving at Dulles International Airport soon." The stewardess came over and woke Ronald up.
"Hey, let me wash my face first..." After washing his face with hot water in the bathroom, Ronald felt energetic again. He had been with Helen Slater all day long and never left the door of the apartment.
After taking a break, the lack of energy comes back again?
"Detective Claire...thank you, thank you for your help..."
Several people drove dozens of minutes from Washington to the FBI Academy in Virginia to inspect the actual shooting location.
"This is what Director Sessions means. Welcome to the FBI Academy as guests..." Detective Claire had already changed into a suit and gave each of the three people a visitor card.
Now Detective Claire has been transferred to the FBI Academy as an instructor for new recruits. She took Ronald to visit the academy within the Marine Corps base, covering an area of 547 acres. All trainees training here must go to college.
After graduation and training at the academy, you can directly become an official FBI agent, which is on the faster track than those police officers transferred from local PDs.
Starling, the heroine of Silence of the Lambs, is an FBI trainee who has not yet graduated. Because she is beautiful, she is assigned by the leader to interview Hannibal in the hope of getting some information about the serial murderer who kidnapped the congressman’s daughter.
clue.
Jonathan Demme and Mike Medavoy cherished the opportunity to come to the FBI and saw the actual training fields and offices. It was a very good talking point.
Ronald went to Detective Claire's office, not only to discuss cooperation, but actually he also took the opportunity to chat about some developments in the wiretapping case.
"Why are you being transferred here? Isn't it a great waste of your ability to train new recruits?" Ronald and Detective Claire are also acquaintances, and he is very interested in her being transferred from the real-power detective of the New York branch to the headquarters.
Still a little surprised.
"Training is a very important job. In addition, I showed up in the wiretapping case..." Claire explained the transfer to Ronald with a smile. Unlike what most people imagine, the FBI is not just a federal-level investigator.
The agency also has jurisdiction over domestic counterintelligence operations. The CIA cannot operate domestically.
These two agencies, after constant beatings by previous leaders, have now been constrained by various legislations. Unlike the Hoover period, they can no longer do some things at will.
For example, if the FBI wants to prosecute spies, then the agents investigated by the FBI must appear in court to testify. According to regulations, when testifying in court, they must use their real names. In this way, Agent Claire’s subsequent testimony in the Israeli spy case has been made public
Her face appears on the record. This way she can no longer continue to direct operations as a frontline agent.
But having said that, the FBI's treatment is also average. She can be promoted and transferred to the headquarters college. Claire's annual income has increased by 50%, and her husband and children can also come to Virginia together and enjoy the FBI's high subsidies. Here is
There are many very good public schools.
"Your matter will have to wait a little longer. This matter involves some internal issues within the FBI and CIA. I can't say more. In short, I'm sure they won't touch your mind now. The FBI actually likes you very much. You
It brought an investigation into the CIA. And those people will never let their people have anything to do with you again..."
Ronald's wiretapping case was a stab at the CIA's weakness. They were prohibited from engaging in any operations domestically, and had to ask the FBI for assistance if necessary. And abroad, many operations were prohibited (such as assassinations being completely prohibited).
, he is considered a celebrity, and as long as he is still active in Hollywood, there will be no more blind agents trying to take his ideas.
"This place is really great, and the shots at the training ground are beautiful." Demi and Medavoy came back after the visit, full of praise.
…
"Ronald, you are really great..." Jonathan Demme was also very excited. Everyone wants to be the first director to shoot on location with the FBI. But this is not easy. Hollywood has always liked to arrange several FBI villains.
, in many movies, the FBI is either stupid or bad, and if they can come to the real scene to shoot, Ronald's methods are quite wild!
"I'm not surprised, he can do Top Gun with Navy..." Mike Medavoy said with a smile.
"Director Sessions also wants to cooperate with Hollywood like the military. Top Gun is so important to improving the image of the Navy..." Ronald explained that there was a reason why he was able to receive strong assistance from the FBI.
The new Director Sessions wants to improve the image of the FBI. He also wants to imitate the Navy and exchange some filming resources in exchange for Hollywood to say good things. If you use real scenes of the FBI, it will be embarrassing to portray the FBI as stupid and stupid.
He's a bad person.
Fortunately, in Silence of the Lambs, there is another person who is stupid and bad, and he is the warden of Hannibal's prison.
"That's your help too, why don't others get this opportunity?" Jonathan Demme was extremely satisfied with Ronald. This junior student of Roger Coleman University spent money readily and was very happy.
Trust yourself and don't interfere in artistic decisions.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! What to shoot and how to shoot are all decided by yourself. Except for the heroine casting when a candidate is mentioned, at other times, it is better than usual.
Respecting the artist's famous Orion is also easy to talk to.
"Ah, hahaha... This is the advantage of making some movies with main themes. These institutions still have some trust in me, but it might not be possible if it were you..." Ronald smiled and said to Mike Medavoy next to him
Ridicule.
"Of course, we have filmed too many Vietnam War and gangster films. It is normal for the FBI to not trust us..."
Mike Medavoy didn't tell the truth. In fact, they had contacted the FBI several times and wanted to shoot other movies in real locations. But they couldn't get it approved.
This time, the director personally nodded and arranged for Ronald's old acquaintance to come and meet him. It was not because he had filmed Top Gun, but because he had strong connections to say hello.
There are rumors that Ronald has a close relationship with the family. Is it true? At least it must be at the level of the White House Chief of Staff.
"Of course it's because the commander said hello..." Ronald understood what the other person was thinking. He smiled and didn't say anything. It was good to maintain a sense of mystery. "But speaking of Inspector Claire, it's really because
Did she come here just to show her face? It seems like she has some secret mission."
After solving the biggest filming difficulty, the group returned to New York. This time British actor Anthony Hopkins was joining the cast. He had to do a lot of preparation work in the early stage, such as custom-making a tights for him and matching the heroine with him.
Waiting for the main actors to rehearse and so on.
"Mr. Hopkins, how does it feel to be in New York?"
“It’s very good. In autumn, it’s suitable to mix fried liver with chickpeas and drink it with wine...”
"Huh?" Ronald saw Anthony Hopkins stepping into the role of Hannibal. His unique sense of humor was very scary. His quiet words made your hair stand on end.
"Hahaha, I like this character very much. He has a special sense of humor... I feel that I will have a great time here..." Anthony Hopkins' acting skills switch quickly, as if he doesn't need to
It's like he's warming up. He's worthy of being an actor who has a background in Shakespeare's plays.
"Jonathan is very good, really very good, but during rehearsals, make sure Jodie (Foster) is not frightened by him." Ronald was extremely satisfied with this casting choice.
"Why, I was trying to get Anthony Hopkins to scare her."
"What did you think about it?"
"Technically Jodie Foster will play the role very well, but the fear that comes from the heart must be real. I have to find a way to prepare her technically while also giving
She had a real stimulating reaction.”
"I'll rest assured if you have an idea... But, take it easy..." Ronald felt that Jodie Foster didn't seem to be particularly courageous. In real life, she also encountered someone who assassinated the commander-in-chief.
The Entanglement of John Hinckley…
"Don't worry, I won't scare her on purpose. The key to the art of directing acting is to be honest with the actors, but give them unexpected stimulation during filming."