"If this continues, we must sit back and wait for death. We must move forward, at least to prevent the release of that youth exploitation film." Tom Mount's eyes were red, after learning that the ET box office continued to rise, and "Fast Pace" regained the R-level rating standard.
After that, it became a bit hysterical.
John Landis, who had been discovered by himself before and was now in a desperate situation, asked him to come out and bite Spielberg and drag him into the water, so that he would not have to pay the compensation alone for the two children who died in the accident.
As for my "friends" in the news field, with Spielberg's negative news, they can hedge against ET's unparalleled popularity and make ET's box office growth less scary.
Then he found a few retired old men and complained to the MPAA in the name of conscientious film workers who had watched the internal test screening. He successfully lowered the rating of the movie "Fast-paced Richmond High" to x.
class.
The board of directors evaluates the performance of the studio's top management based on the decision of whether to film each film project. On both of these films, I voted against it, and the box office results will become my year-end assessment.
Negative KPI, and now that Xinberg's power on the mca board of directors has increased significantly, he can just take advantage of this opportunity...
If he can keep the two movies that Sheinberg is pushing to produce as expected and prevent them from setting box office records, he will still be able to keep his position at the MCA board meeting at the end of the year with the support of some of MCA's top executives.
As the president of a large studio, he can decide the life or death of other people's projects with just one word. After experiencing this, he was asked to resign and start his own production company, and then look at other people's faces. Think about this kind of life.
All terrible.
However, these two counterattacks were unsuccessful.
He asked Landis to read the eulogy at Vic Morrow's funeral, which put Spielberg in trouble. It was expected that the black material about Steven would be released.
But who knew that Spielberg, an artist like a big boy, would actually become mature, ignore the dirty water thrown by Landis, and move forward in a roundabout way.
He gave Landis his own advice, but his trap failed. Spielberg did not confront Landis directly, and focused the discussion on whether he was as responsible for Vic Morrow's death as Landis.
It's your responsibility to come up.
After a few days of cold treatment, several newspapers and television media controlled by the Jews restarted, focusing on who was the culprit, Landis, the pyrotechnics engineer, and the helicopter pilot.
Landis's public relations action by attending the funerals of several victims brought him more notoriety, but it did not harm Spielberg's golden body at all.
The box office of et Alien is also rising day by day. Three hundred printed copies have been sent to theaters across the country. Not only has the number of theaters increased to 1,500, but the box office of a single theater has not dropped.
On the contrary, it increased from two thousand US dollars in a single day to more than three thousand US dollars.
This abnormal phenomenon fully demonstrates that "ET" will be a phenomenal movie. It is likely to break the North American box office record and go down in history forever.
Why didn't I see it at first?
Not to mention that he was opposed to the release of ET and had a hard time. Even if Frank Price, the president of Columbia, transferred the filming rights of ET to Universal and signed a contract to let Columbia share 5% of the net profit, he was also rejected by the new owner.
Meng, the vice president sent by Coca-Cola, criticized him both verbally and in writing.
He scolded him for letting go of the biggest fish in the 1982 film market, and his position as president was on the verge of collapse.
Although unlike Price, the senior script reviewer, he has the support of the parent company's board of directors, MCA. However, if he misses a series of phenomenal movies, he will inevitably be abandoned by his supporters on the board of directors. He is not their check and balance.
Sheinberg's only choice.
Who would have known that Hollywood, an industrial base that is already over 70 years old and entering its twilight years, would show any signs of coming back?
This was all the fault of the young director Ronald. He stopped Landis at the funeral and did not let reporters capture this important point of strength. As a result, Landis suffered from neurasthenia and gave up on trying to save himself.
Chance.
There is also "Fast-paced Richmond High", which was originally my favorite project. Whether it was David Lynch or later Amy Heckerling, the success of this film should be regarded as my own merit.
.
And now if this youth film is a hit, it will become the opponent Shenberg's discerning eye for people.
Rating it an
license.
He actually didn't choose to reshoot? The more Tom Mount thought about it, the angrier he became. The follow-up package he had prepared for Ronald was all in vain.
The prepared counterattack plan was missing the most critical link - a second-generation Jewish star who was oppressed and whose father had just died in an accident.
But no matter what, no plan can be executed perfectly. This is the last effort to save one's own fate.
Tom Mount pulled off his tie forcefully, threw it aside, picked up the phone and dialed a number.
"Beep...beep..." After two beeps, an old but powerful voice answered the phone, "Hello, it's me."
"Call those old stubborns, I need their help now."
"It's time to consider resigning honorably, Tom. I sent you to Universal Production to contain Sheinberg's power, not to do those..."
"The movie market is declining...the future is cable TV...no one will go out after 1990...people in the film industry can move to make TV...remember? Who said these things to me at the time?"
"Okay... for the sake of my daughter Nicola, I will support you one last time. This is the last time." The old man put down the phone and called in a subordinate, "Give it to our old guys at Universal.
Make a call and ask them to support Mount."
After saying that, he shook his head gently, pinched the root of his nose between his eyes with both hands and rubbed it twice. Mount was still too young, and maybe it was a mistake to let him go to the Globe at that time.
The key to Sheinberg's success in MCA is that he tied up with Spielberg. Executives who can make money are the ones the board of directors likes.
Whether it's movies or cable TV, as long as you make money, those capitalists don't care what you do.
"Mr. President, this is a joint letter from current and retired Universal Pictures executives and stars who want to prevent the release of 'Fast Richmond'."
Shenberg was sitting in his office, looking through the latest box office data from ET. His thoughts were interrupted by his secretary.
"What's the reason?" Shenberg asked his secretary directly without reading the joint letter. He opened the drawer, took out a cigar, lit it and started smoking. The box office of et Alien continued to rise.
The resources of the entire company have been invested in this epoch-making work.
Whether "Fast Tempo" is a hit or not has become irrelevant.
"It's still the same old thing, excessive promotion of love between men and women, not in line with American values, too much exposure, and exploitation of young Jewish actors..."
"Vic Morrow's daughter?" Sheinberg flicked the ash from his cigar into the ashtray, "That's a fresh reason."
"But it's all the same old stuff. I promised Steven that I would let that director's movie be released as scheduled. What's so special about this time that I asked you to come in and tell me?"
"Because this time there are more than 20 signatures." The lady who has been Sheinberg's secretary for a long time handed over the last page of the joint letter.
Xinberg's face became a little more solemn, he put down his cigar and accepted the joint letter.
More than twenty people, including current and retired executives from various departments, and star actors in Universal's history.
"Are they going to have a one-time showdown?"
"I'm afraid, yes, they said they heard a lot of rumors and asked for a preview meeting to discuss whether the movie should be released."
"shxt!" Sheinberg cursed after reading the letter. This untimely joint letter ruined his good mood to celebrate that ET's box office was about to exceed 100 million US dollars in box office.
"Get Mr. Spielberg for me." Shenberg gestured to the secretary.
"Hey, Steven. Tom Mount has gathered twenty retired executives and retired stars to demand a re-examination of 'Fast Pace'. I'm afraid I can't protect your little friend."
"Yes, they gathered more than 20 retired executives and celebrities, and the momentum was so great that I had to agree to their suggestion and hold an internal film viewing meeting."
"Of course, all the results will be decided at the issuance meeting of the five voting executives. I have two votes in hand, and Mount also has an executive to follow his orders. Maybe the fate of Ronald Jr. depends on Ned.
That’s what Tanin meant.”
Ronald, who learned that the film was going to be collectively reviewed by several retired executives, was preparing for a nationwide marketing tour to prepare for the premiere in two weeks. When he suddenly learned the news, he was a little confused.
"Why do they have the power to decide the fate of my movie?"
"Because twenty retired executives and stars of the Golden Age jointly wrote to Sheinberg, demanding a review of the decision to release the film. If he didn't agree, they threatened to publish the letter in the newspaper, completely disrupting the film.
The film’s public release.”
Richard, who hurried over, said to Ronald, "Mr. Spielberg called me personally. He said that after ET's celebration party is over, he will personally arrange your next project. There is a person over there at Amberlin."
There's a new teen movie waiting for you to revise the script, and once it gets the green light from the studio, he'll invite you to direct it."
"Thank him for me, Richard." Ronald walked quickly to Universal's large screening room, where old guys rarely set foot since Universal shrunk its film production business in the 1960s.
"Hi, Linda."
"Hi, Mr. Smith."
Many retired executives and stars have reunited in this place that brought them glory and memories. Some stars have also filmed scenes with James Stewart or Marlene Dietrich, and they have brought their grandchildren as well.
Brought it.
Looking at these old people wearing outdated old-fashioned dresses and watching movies, Ronald seemed to be looking at actors walking out of some period drama set.
Ronald, who was not qualified to talk to them and interrupt their reminiscing, sat at the edge of the screening room and watched the audience's reactions.
When the lights dimmed and MCA's Universal title appeared on the screen, there was a sigh from the audience.
When the movie entered Spicoli eating in class and being scolded by Mr. Hand for being careless and walking out of the classroom, the chairs on the scene began to creak. Ronald could imagine the embarrassment of these old people.
When Linda taught Stacy how to put a carrot in her mouth in the high school cafeteria, the squeaking of the chair began to occur more frequently and intensively.
Brad was at home imagining Stacey's head emerging from the swimming pool like a lotus. During that dreamlike episode, there were two retired executives who couldn't bear the sound of the chair springs being bounced.
Got up and left.
"No, Grandpa, let me watch it again." His grandson refused to leave and wanted to stay in his seat to watch this fun movie.
After the screening was completed, Robert Raimi, the senior vice president in charge of production, walked out angrily, "This is an immoral movie. If our young people in America grow up watching this kind of movie, will it be okay?"
?”
He has the vote that Tom Mount relies on.
Retired celebrities and executives began to leave with their grandchildren. What they valued more was respectable invitations and gatherings with old friends. As for movies, it was secondary. They had made too many similar movies in their lives.
Low-budget exploitation films, and this one is no exception.
However, their grandchildren enjoyed standing and watching the ending scene when the credits rose. Spicoli and Brooke Shields appeared at the end of David Letterman's talk show, which aroused their cheers.
"I want to tell my friends that the bikini photo taken in the swimming pool is so beautiful..."
"Yeah, it was so funny that Spicoli saved Brooke Shields at the end. If only I could be like him..."
Ronald noticed that his grandchildren were discussing several plot points in the movie.
The old people began to leave. Only an old lady, who had played many supporting roles in the golden age of Hollywood and later married a film company executive, came over to say goodbye to Ronald.
"To be honest, I don't like this movie. It has too many sexual implications. But you are a capable director, but you still need to watch more classic movies.
I don't understand much of the new Southern California dialect, but my granddaughter seems to really enjoy it, and the cheerleaders speak in the same grammatical way she does.
Also, good luck to you."
"If there's nothing else to say, let's start voting." Sheinberg chaired the ensuing meeting.
"I object, this movie should not be released. In the future, it is best to hold a meeting to vote before our movies are released." Robert Raimi, senior vice president, was the first to express his attitude.
Tom Mount got one vote and Remy is a very conservative guy.
"The issuance plan has been made, and if it is withdrawn now, we will lose a lot of money."
Sheinberg received the vote of vice president for distribution.
Focus on Ned Tanning.
Tanin was undecided.
If you agree, you can bet on your own vision. At that time, I also agreed to Ronald's additional budget for reshoots. The box office can be counted as my own performance.
But if this "fast-paced" film also does well at the box office, Shenberg may gain higher authority and become the most influential person within Universal Pictures. It is highly likely that Tom Mount's power will be reduced.
Then it seems that I will have to report to Xinberg in the future?
Don’t you agree? If you don’t agree to the release, you may be regarded as Mount’s accomplice afterwards.
"I heard from a retired actor. She said that many of the characters in the movie speak with Southern California valley accents, and people from other places sound impaired."
Tanin finally spoke.
"This movie is not suitable for simultaneous national release, but it has a good audience on the West Coast. We can show it for a week or two, see how it does at the box office, and if it does well, we can sell the movie to Universal Television.
If it can achieve good box office results and stay in theaters for more than four weeks, it can be sold to NBC."
…
Ronald waited outside the door for the executives who would decide the fate of his debut novel to make a decision.
"Why can't I show up at the meeting where my fate will be decided?"
Ronald, who was having random thoughts, saw Shenberg, Tom Mount and others walking out.
"It's not the best result, and it's not the worst either." Shenberg nodded to him and said.
"Let Mr. Tanin explain to you." Tanin's last-minute compromise made neither party very satisfied.
"With nationwide screenings canceled, we will replace the original schedule with Dolly Parton's film 'The Finest Chicken Room in Texas.' Your film has been moved to the first weekend of August, on the West Coast in May.