Zeffirelli added reshoots at the end and re-edited the print. PolyGram decided to do a small-scale test screening in New York, and Ronald was also invited to attend.
The test screenings were mainly for teenagers, with half singles and half couples. PolyGram spent a lot of money to invite the target audience, hoping to see the target audience's reaction to certain plots before making final changes.
However, the results of the test screening were very poor. The lyrical passages that were originally designed to move the audience aroused laughter from the audience. A "Romeo and Juliet"-style love tragedy actually had a comedic effect.
President Guber, who came specifically to see the test screening reactions, ignored director Zeffirelli who was trying to explain. He just told his assistant to arrange for the film to be sent to the rating agency as soon as possible so that it could be released as quickly as possible.
Ronald looked at Zeffirelli with a sad face, and had to step forward to say thank you, because Zeffirelli specially added Ronald's name to the special thank you subtitle at the end of the film.
"The ending theme is very good. The melody that starts when Brooke sheds tears fits the theme of the movie very well." Ronald said after choosing a good one.
"That's Endless Love, a duet by Lionel Richie and Diana Ross. It belongs to Motown Records and PolyGram bought the rights specifically for the movie." Zeffirelli knew that the test screenings were not good, but there was something wrong.
If a small audience stayed to listen to the song, it might save the box office.
"It seems that maybe I am not suitable for Hollywood. It would be better to go back to Italy to direct operas, where the audience appreciates classicism more."
"Don't say that. I think there are a lot of younger, eighth and ninth grade girls in the audience who like it very much. They even cried when watching it."
"Congratulations on your two Oscar nominations." Zeffirelli congratulated Ronald.
The Oscar nominations were just announced yesterday, and Ronald won two nominations for Best Original Screenplay and Best Original Song. These two nominations are undoubtedly high praises for the young Ronald.
"Thank you, this is not worth mentioning." Ronald comforted the old director and returned to the apartment.
"This is a very difficult miracle, Ronald." After a while, managers Richard and Niceta called jointly, "I have received no less than 10 invitations to write lyrics from record companies today."
"Haha, I rejected them all. I'm not a professional lyricist. What about scripts? Are there any new invitations?"
"Several scripts about teenagers have been sent to CAA. I hope you will evaluate or rewrite them. I have already sent them to you."
"Although the public doesn't pay much attention to these two non-performance awards, the industry is a bit shocked that you were nominated at such a young age."
Ronald liked the good news, "Am I the youngest nominee? Hahaha..."
"No, the youngest is Timothy Hutton for Best Supporting Actor." Richard bluntly pointed out Ronald's mistake.
"Um..." Ronald scratched his head, "If you don't mention this, how are you communicating about my seat?"
This is an issue left over from history.
At that time, Ronald gave up some seemingly unimportant rights in order to obtain the famous script authorship rights.
The most important two of them are that the crew of "Famous" will not provide Ronald with an invitation to attend the Oscars. If he wins the Best Original Screenplay Award, the honor of accepting the award on stage will go to the original screenwriter Christopher Gore alone.
Enjoy.
But now times have changed, and producer Da Silva and director Alan Parker have fallen out. Due to the realism tendency of shooting and editing, the film was rated R. Producer Da Silva plans to shoot a spin-off TV series of the same name.
Due to opposition from the director, this clause may be loosened.
"According to the allocation practices of previous years, Famous Worldwide is expected to get a total of more than 20 seats for live awards, but there are only 5 seats in the front row, which belong to the main creative and performance award nominees."
"Why are there only five seats?" Ronald was a little disappointed. Producer Da Silva and his highly praised Irene Cara must occupy two seats, director Alan Parker and screenwriter each have one seat, and there is also one seat.
Belongs to executive producer at MGM.
Although "Famous" received 6 nominations in 5 categories, the favorite for Best Supporting Actor, Barry Miller, did not receive a nomination, nor did he receive any awards such as Best Picture, Best Director, etc. Best Original Screenplay was
Your only Grand Award nomination. So in order to take care of other nominated films, I only gave you five seats."
"Isn't Alan Parker also nominated? This position should be given to me." Ronald said.
"Don't be naive, Ronald." Niceta took over, "The rules of the Oscar nomination are that you should have a front row seat, but you signed an agreement that stipulated that the crew did not provide tickets, and you did not go on stage to accept the best award.
Eligibility for the Screenwriting Award.
An agreement is an agreement, and of course we can go for public relations. But the Britons have a lot of power in Hollywood, and the price of offending them for a front-row seat is too high. Fortunately, you have two nominations, and one position is always available, but it will
In the back row.”
"Okay, what about the ones in the back row and closer to the front? I've seen the Oscar broadcast, and the nominees can sit in the front seat near the aisle, right?"
"We have to negotiate this matter with the composer Michael Gore. You have encountered a special situation Ronald. This year is the first time that a movie has been nominated for two best original songs, the famous theme song"
fame', and another interlude 'out here on my own'.
And the lyricist of the song ‘out here on my own’ is Michael Gore’s sister Leslie. She is a former singer and helped Michael’s career a lot...”
Ronald was a little angry. It was the first time he had the opportunity to attend the Oscar awards party. He had two nominations in hand, but he couldn't get a good seat?
"Then what about the row behind the Gores? The back row is to the side?" Ronald suggested that he should always appear on the scene to show Aunt Karen and Donna. If there is no award, only the nomination will be announced.
Sometimes, the camera would pan over to the nominee, and he didn't want to be too far away from Michael Gore in case the cameraman behind the camera didn't recognize him.
"We will try our best to negotiate. Famous Worldwide is also nominated for the two technical awards of Best Sound Effects and Best Editing this time. You will also sit next to the aisle. CAA will definitely guarantee your appearance. The worst is the aisle.
The third position inward.”
The happy mood was slightly diluted by the arrangement of seats, but Ronald soon became happy again. Aunt Karen also learned the good news that he was nominated, and specially baked a batch of cookies at home to celebrate.
"Oh, Ronnie. I didn't expect you to be nominated for an Oscar. Our family has never had such an artistic genius before." Aunt Karen hugged Ronald tightly, very happy.
"I also didn't expect that the Golden Globe Awards are actually brought by the producers for public relations. There are only 90 judges, so it is easy to influence. The Academy Awards has more than 3,000 judges, all professionals in the industry. This award represents the industry's respect for the judges.
Nominator’s Endorsement.”
Ronald began to show off the knowledge he had learned from CAA, "My agent has promised me a good position in public relations. You and Donna will see me on TV. The camera will sweep over when the nominations are announced. Please pay attention.
Look, I'll say hello to you."
"Are you going to win the prize, Ronnie?" my aunt asked with bright eyes.
"I don't know. My agent said it's hard to predict the Oscars, but I will prepare an acceptance speech. Get your video recorders ready."
"Okay, Ronnie, I will let Donna prepare it. She is very smart and can understand electronic products at a glance." Aunt Karen was very happy, "You come over for dinner on the weekend and we can celebrate a little."
"Well, I'll record it." Donna picked up the biscuit, broke half of it and gave it to Diane Lane.
Watching Diane Lane eating biscuits, Aunt Karen added, "Come and celebrate together. You will also go to the awards show and you can teach Ronnie how to deal with reporters."
"Of course, I will protect you. You can ask Bert, he will go with me, he knows everything." Diane said, reaching for another biscuit.
The sound of an advertisement came from the TV. It was a public service announcement by Brooke Shields. The purpose is to dissuade teenagers from learning to smoke. Now many civil organizations have called out that smoking causes cancer and have begun to promote anti-smoking on TV and other mass media to discourage teenagers from starting to smoke and become addicted.
start.
"I heard she was in some trouble?" Donna asked Ronald, pointing to Brooke Shields on the TV.
Brooke Shields was saying on TV that smoking doesn't mean coolness for boys who don't like smoking. To increase one's attractiveness in the eyes of the opposite sex among teenagers is the biggest reason why many people smoke, and then they can't quit because of addiction.
"I heard that many conservative groups in New York are attacking her, saying that her movies and uh... advertisements... challenge American values. They are asking the government to investigate whether she has done anything un-American."
Ronald knew something about Brooke's problems from her mother.
"Un-American values? This seems to be the discourse system of the 1950s, right? This is how they persecuted Ingrid Bergman at that time." Donna had read Bergman's autobiography that Ronald received and knew a little about what conservatives said at the time.
technique.
"Did it really break the law? Will the FBI come to arrest her?" Diane felt a little unclear about Brooke Shields, the most popular actress of her age.
"Oh, Diane. This is an advertisement from New York. If you want to arrest it, it's the NYPD. The FBI only cares about cross-state crimes, not within the state. Only when it crosses state borders, the FBI will use their investigative network to intervene." Donna corrected.
"Oh? That's right..." Diane nodded.
Ronald went home after dinner and received many congratulatory calls. With the Oscar nomination, Ronald is considered to be such a big figure in the American film industry. Even if he only makes low-cost exploitation films and is unknown in the future, when it comes to the third
At the 53rd Oscars, his name will also occupy a small piece of history.
"Oh, Mr. Coleman. I didn't expect you to call me personally to congratulate me." Ronald received an unexpected congratulatory call.
"Idiot, congratulations to us. 'Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears' that you helped me pick was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film. We can at least screen it one more time in art theaters."
"Ah ha, that's good news." Ronald replied.
"This is great news. Hahaha..." Roger Coleman was still so cheerful.
"What's wrong, Ronald, I think you're not very happy. The copy of this movie was lent by the Suville Embassy at a nominal price. The rental fee is almost free, and you have a share of the profit."
"Mr. Coleman, I'm not unhappy. It's just a pity that I might not be caught by the camera during the awards show."
Ronald told Coleman about the fact that at the Oscars night, although he had two nominations, he might have to sit alone in the middle seat in the back row because of the agreement that he was nominated for two songs at the same time.
once.
"Don't worry, kid. Did you forget? You were nominated for three awards, including Best Foreign Language Film..."