At Eisner's order, Paramount summoned about two hundred manual workers. Those who moved lights, pushed cameras, and operated electric fans in the studio... blue-collar workers gathered in the screening room.
"I'm Michael Eisner. You all know who I am..."
Ronald, Don Simpson, and Jerry Bruckheimer, the two "Flashdance" producers, also sat in the audience to watch Eisner personally host the voting meeting.
"Ah, this bastard is still so graceful."
Don Simpson seemed to be a big talker and spoke ill of Eisner in front of Ronald when they met him for the first time.
Jerry Bruckheimer gave him a gentle tug.
"Hey, what's going on?" Don Simpson raised his arms dissatisfied, "This bastard fired me from Paramount's production department because I fell asleep during a high-level meeting.
But he doesn’t even think about the fact that I’m working on eight film projects at the same time for his piece of shit and only sleep four hours a day..."
Ronald felt that Don Simpson was very outspoken and outspoken, saying what was on his mind directly.
"Hi, guys!" Eisner on the stage began to use the microphone to shout to the workers below.
"Today I ask you to come here for one purpose, to help us choose an actress..."
"Yeah, I'll choose whoever gives it to me..." A voice started to scream strangely from behind.
"Well said." Someone shouted, followed by a few loud whistles.
"You bastards, today is your lucky day." Eisner also began to spit out fragrance, "Tell me, among the next three young and beautiful women, who do you most want...?"
Then he gestured to the projectionist to start playing the audition videos of the three actresses.
Ronald also looked at the screen. As expected, Leslie Young was not popular with the audience, and Demi Moore directly caused a burst of whistles.
But when the Jennifer Beals audition clip was released, the co-workers immediately became excited, shouting "I want you, baby..." the loudest and whistling the loudest.
Eisner signaled to stop the screening.
The audience's reaction is already very clear. Jennifer Beals, the dark-skinned beauty, has undoubtedly won the favor of the blue-collar class. They like tall people, big eyes, and good figures.
"Just Jennifer Beals." Eisner and everyone returned to the office and decided on the heroine.
"But she is of mixed race." An assistant reminded her.
"Huh?" Eisner took a look at Beals' resume. The race column on it did say black.
"Damn, who knows if we don't say it, she looks no different from those tanned white girls." Eisner was encouraged by the audience's response. Jennifer Beals is so popular.
"What do you think?"
"It's her." Partners Tang and Jerry also agreed.
"You can disappear from my sight now, Don, you little bastard." Eisner hugged Don Simpson affectionately.
Don Simpson knew a lot about movies and the production business. But it was outrageous that he passed out in public when Eisner's immediate boss and shareholders were present at the meeting.
Fortunately, he found his partner Jerry Bruckheimer. Even when independent producers make films, they are still distributed by Paramount. Their films are still contributing to Paramount, which is to say, their own business performance.
"Ronald, we'll wait for you outside, and we'll go to the party together then." Don Simpson turned to Ronald before walking out of the office.
"Yes, let's introduce Ronald to Hollywood parties. Don, he is from New York." Eisner sent the two producers away.
"Now, we can talk about the other script, Ronald."
"Mr. Eisner."
"Call me Michael." Eisner said with great interest, "We have known each other for a long time. Ronald."
"Ah, yes. I wrote the script for the Grease sequel for Paramount."
"No, even earlier than that, we competed with Columbia for Jane Fonda's My Brother's Keeper."
"Ah, that was a script written a long time ago, and in the end it wasn't filmed in Colombia."
"This is all normal. Footloose is also a musical project we plan to launch next year. My subordinates will discuss it with you in detail later. You won't let me down, right?
"
"Of course I do my best."
"The script is very creative, but there are some mistakes that people who have never made movies often make. Please help me correct them."
When Michael Eisner needed it, he could make the person he was talking to feel deeply trusted.
Ronald looked into Eisner's eyes and felt that he seemed to be an elder who valued his potential.
"Mr. Eisner, which director are you planning to hire?"
"Hahaha, Ronald." Eisner saw through Ronald's thoughts.
"This time we have invited the famous Hollywood and Broadway double-grossing director, Herbert Ross. I understand your thoughts. Paramount will never lack the courage and confidence to use young directors.
After the filming of this movie starts, we will discuss this issue in detail, and Paramount can sign a film contract with you."
"Thank you, Mr. Eisner." Ronald nodded his thanks.
Niceta gave Ronald a wink, and the two said goodbye to Eisner.
Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer were still waiting for Ronald outside the door, and they hugged him again. "You guys follow me in the car. There are many British actors coming to the party today."
"Please go first." Ronald also wanted to get to know some successful producers. There are many connections in this industry.
"So I have no chance to be a director this time?" Ronald asked him quietly while sitting in Niceta's new car.
"This time your character is a script doctor. Paramount is planning to invest about 8 million in this movie and has already given the green light. However, Paramount is not satisfied with the script yet. They asked them to revise several drafts but still failed to meet the requirements.
You should be able to change your level to their satisfaction.
No one can explain the preparations for the movie. I can only say that you have no chance at all."
Ronald understands the film preparation situation. It is true that few films go smoothly. Many directors, starring actors are changed, or even filming is stopped during the preparation period.
Niceta drove the car out of the parking lot and followed the two producers in front. The group drove along Hollywood Boulevard to a mansion in Beverly Hills.
"Mr. Simpson, Bruckheimer, I would like to ask you about production methods." Ronald took the time to learn from the two producers.
"High concept, Ronald. The movie needs to be high concept." Don Simpson rang the doorbell at the door.
A servant came out and opened the door, "Good evening, Mr. Simpson."
Ronald didn't know whose mansion it was, but Don Simpson seemed very familiar with it. He let Ronald in as if he were at home, and then introduced him to some celebrities present.
"This is the famous British actor Michael Caine. This is our new Hollywood star, Ronald Lee."
Ronald wanted to ask the producer more about what high concept meant. But Don Simpson was a party animal and disappeared after a while.
Ronald took two glasses of wine and handed one to Michael Caine, whom he had just met, "Nice to meet you, Mr. Caine."
"Are you a newcomer to Hollywood? I haven't seen you since the last time I came to Hollywood." Michael Caine spoke with a Cockney accent from the East End of London. Fortunately, Ronald had learned New Concept English, which was recorded in the teaching material.
There is such an accent.
"Yes, my first film was just released this year, with a box office of 40 million US dollars."
"Excellent, you are a lucky boy." Michael Caine drank the champagne in one gulp, then raised his hand to ask the waiter for another glass of strong wine.
"I thought I was just like you and became famous. After I came to Hollywood, many seniors taught me a lot of experience."
"Oh, that's nice."
"You know what? My favorite piece of advice ever was given to me by Western star John Wayne. Always..."
Michael Caine said, glancing at Ronald's leather shoes, "Never wear suede shoes."
"Ah? Why?" Ronald was puzzled.
"Because you become famous, strangers will recognize you. When you go to the bathroom, the people next to you will look over and see your face, and then they will be surprised to recognize you, ah, you are not Ronald
Li? I am..."
Michael Caine made a toilet gesture next to Ronald, then turned towards him and said, "Then the piss will go all over your suede shoes."
"Hahaha..." Ronald laughed loudly. The British people's ability to tell cold jokes is indeed extraordinary.
"You are so funny, Mr. Kane."
"No, this is what John Wayne told me, the real thing." Michael Caine winked at him.
"Hahaha, what you said is funny. But maybe I don't have this problem."
"Why?" It was Michael Caine's turn to be confused.
"I'm not an actor, I'm a director."
"Director, you must be kidding."
"No, my movie 'Fast Richmond High' just came out, you can ask Mr. Simpson.
"You are really young as a director." Kane was a little surprised. "There are no such young directors in Britain, but you often have such young directors in Hollywood. For example, Orson Welles made his debut at the age of 23."
"Maybe we in America don't have much class."
"You're right, Ronald. You know what? I was born in the East End of London, so I don't want to change my Cockney accent, so as to set an example for future generations. A young man from the East End of London can also
To be an actor, not all actors go to Cambridge or Oxford."
"I have always envied actors. You can act in several dramas a year, unlike directors who can film one movie every year and a half."
"Who says it's not? Actors shoot quickly. I just finished filming Educating Rita in Dublin, and I'm about to go to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to shoot a new film."
"That's really enviable," Ronald replied.
"To be honest, we actors all rely on the director's editing, but this film about ordinary women is a good subject. It will also be screened in America. I invite you to participate when the time comes."
"I will definitely go if time permits..."
Ronald unexpectedly met the funny Michael Caine at the party, and the two had a pleasant chat. However, the others did not get along very well, and Ronald never saw Don Simpson again. High-concept
The meaning has not yet been asked.
When passing by a room that was half-hidden, Ronald looked inside and saw Don Simpson lying on the sofa inside, and smelled a strange stench.
He knew that this party might not be very clean, so he found Jerry Bruckheimer outside and wanted to say goodbye and leave.
"It seems you don't like this kind of party?" Bruckheimer smiled.
"I'd love to know what high concept is."
"Just one sentence can explain the movie clearly. Just ask your agent, they will understand."
Niceta also completed the pick-up task. Many British actors did not have the need to find agents in America, so he accompanied Ronald and left first. After leaving the gate, Niceta went to pick up the car first.
Ronald was waiting boredly at the door when a woman jumped out of the door.
"Ronnie!"
"Demi, why are you here?" Ronald was surprised and recognized the woman as Demi Moore.
"I saw you at the party looking for Don Simpson." Demi pulled her collar down and stared at Ronald with wide almond-shaped eyes. "I saw you talking to Jerry Bruckheimer later.
Do you have the power to decide on the heroine of Lightning Dance? Do you want to be the director of Lightning Dance?