"I attach great importance to this film. I think it needs a director who understands the history of African Americans, preferably a black director, to be at the helm." Quincy Jones, who serves as the producer, gave his reasons.
, I hope Ronald will step aside.
At the meeting to discuss who would serve as the director of "The Color Purple", Alice Walker, the author of the original novel, also expressed her concerns:
"Ronald, you can shoot black people very well. We saw your 'Break Dance', which featured black people as the protagonists, and several other movies also had important black characters. You are one of our ethnic minorities.
friend."
"But this movie tells the story of the American Deep South in the past. We wanted a director who had an understanding of that history to direct it. You know, Hollywood likes to adapt black literary works and then dissolve the meaning.
.”
Alice Walker had no grudge against Ronald because he was not black. She was worried that Ronald could not grasp the temperament of black life in southern states at the beginning of the twentieth century.
"Yes, Ronald, I like your work very much. But you are not black. You only came of age after the civil rights movement. This is a history of black people." Quincy Jones added.
"This has nothing to do with your talent. It's just an author's worry. I think you can understand."
Watching Alice Walker, who became the first black woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Literature in 1982 for her novel "The Color Purple", to express her reasons more sincerely, Ronald felt that she was worried.
It's not entirely unreasonable.
He really didn't understand the life of black people in the past. When reading the novel "The Color Purple", he was surprised by the black women who were given away like animals.
But Quincy Jones seemed to know less about this novel than he did. Ronald glanced at him and realized that music producers nowadays, who have made a lot of money, are joining in the fun and making movies.
"The Color Purple" tells the story of a black family. There is a strong lace plot between the two heroines. The whole movie has nothing to do with racial discrimination. It is more like the tyrannical father and the relationship between the farm family in the South.
The traditional story of the resigned daughter.
Quincy Jones won the approval of the producer, Peter Guber, who had a strong say in this project. The author Alice Walker, who had veto power, also had a strong opinion on Quincy Jones, who is a prominent figure in Hollywood.
The most capable black man does what he says. Although he and Ronald have similar honors in the film industry, they received Oscar nominations for their film scores.
Seeing the author Alice's love for his works, Ronald respects her ideas and intends to withdraw from the director competition. After all, he has also been a screenwriter, and he knows that this kind of worry that the director may not be able to film his script is very important.
real.
The problem is that Quincy Jones's attitude of "you can't do a good job filming our black people's stories" makes him a little uncomfortable.
"I think I can learn more about this history through research." Ronald thought for a while and told Alice Walker his thoughts. "I had never practiced karate before filming 'The Dragon King'."
, don’t understand his history. Directors always have to do their homework before shooting."
Alice Walker looked at Quincy Jones. She felt that what Ronald said was reasonable. Did the director who filmed a murder case have to kill one himself?
"Hey boy, you don't understand our history as African Americans. Our parents and ancestors have always been oppressed and exploited. We grow cotton in cotton fields and play music in clubs for white people. By the time we got our first Pulitzer Prize, we wanted to do something for our race."
"It seems that Quincy Jones really doesn't understand the story of this novel." Ronald became more and more certain in his heart. This guy was full of discrimination and oppression, but Zili gave his daughter as a gift to another black man as his wife. She was also a black man. .
He is simply the kind of person who has made a lot of money and fame for MJ's new album in the record industry, and wants to come to Hollywood to increase his presence.
"Well, I like your novels very much, and I hope I have the opportunity to collaborate with you in the future." Ronald stood up and shook hands with Alice Walker before leaving.
Such an ignorant producer also likes to interfere deeply in all aspects of the film. Unless the director is big enough, he will definitely give random directions during filming. Ronald does not want to get into this troubled water.
"Then what should we do? Who should we look for to direct? Are there any black directors now who can handle this subject?" Alice Walker turned to Quincy Jones. It was he who persuaded her to use ethnic differences as a guide. , being too young, rejected Ronald.
"I've already made a plan, let's find Spielberg." Quincy Jones waved his hand, maybe he could even win an Oscar.
"But he's not black either. Can he film the story of a black family in a southern state?"
"Spielberg is very capable, and his director level can be ranked among the top three in America." Quincy Jones also showed the expert style of a senior Hollywood scorer, "The director can do in-depth research, how can he do it?" Why do you have to kill someone yourself when you're filming a murder case?"
"This..." Alice Walker shook her head, "If I can really find Spielberg, what else do I have to complain about?"
…
"Then what should we do?" Ronald asked Niceta, his agent who worked as a driver. "I didn't expect that they would reject Mr. Ovitz's recommendation."
"I didn't expect that Alice Walker actually found Quincy Jones." Niceta honked the horn and urged the car in front.
"Black people have always had doubts about Hollywood. In the 1965 version of 'Uncle Tom's Cabin,' the role of the black uncle Tom was changed very strangely, almost like the story of the heroine Jaylin."
"So you didn't expect me to film it exactly according to the original work, did you?" Ronald understood that Hollywood is still dominated by white people after all. Just like John Hughes's previous "Sixteen Candles", the Korean character Yong Da was in it. Diao was filmed as a stereotypical Asian, and the audience did not object loudly.
"Didi..." Niceta honked the horn and acquiesced, "At least the lace plot must be toned down, otherwise it will be very controversial."
"Then what should we do?" Ronald realized that he had no idea about his next movie again.
"Whatever you want, buy a house, buy a sports car, get a new girlfriend, travel abroad, do whatever you like. Ronald, there are few Hollywood directors who make movies as intensively as you do. Now you no longer work for Roger... Coleman is working part-time. You can slowly find a suitable book, or wait for your inspiration to emerge."
"That's right." Ronald opened the car window and blew in the wind. He may get millions of shares from "Break Dance" by the end of the year, and the box office of "The Dragon King" is also very strong.
You can enjoy life now.
My dreams always come unexpectedly, and I analyze them in various ways, but I still don’t understand the triggering conditions.
Why not enjoy life with beautiful women, watch the Olympics, travel abroad, maybe change the environment, feel happy, and dream about new movies.
…
"Helen, over here!" Ronald saw Helen Slater coming out of the airport. Her figure had lost a lot of weight. She no longer had the strong appearance of "Superwoman", but she also had a kind of fragile beauty.
He did what he said. In order to compensate Helen Slater, Ronald specially found a few friends in the industry and began to introduce roles to her.
Finally, Ronald found a suitable role with Zemeckis, and then he called Gerald and asked him to arrange for his daughter to come over for an audition.
"Ronnie", Helen hugged Ronald, "Are we just going to audition on the set?"
"I have arranged everything. Director Zemeckis and the casting director are here. You will go directly to the second round of recall and star with the leading actor." Ronald helped carry the luggage.
The two of them have remained friends since Helen suffered from anorexia and said she needed to take a break.
"Marty, one rejection is not the end of the world." Helen Slater, wearing a pink T-shirt, read the lines of the protagonist Marty's girlfriend, Jennifer Parker, in the audition room.
"I think maybe I should give up music." Eric Stoltz, who plays Marty McFly, has a good command of lines. He looked at Helen and said with a little regret. This episode is about Marty in the sea.
A conversation I had with my girlfriend after I was not selected for the school party.
"But, Marty, you're great. You're really great." Helen took out a cassette tape from her shorts pocket. "This demo sounds really good. You should send it to the record company to try it out."
"Very well, thank you, Helen, we will notify your agent once we have made the decision." Robert Zemeckis looked at the two auditions and nodded in his mind, "or notify Ronald."
"Hehe, just give my agent a notice." Helen glanced at Ronald and left the audition room.
"What do you think, Ronald?" Zemeckis was very satisfied with the Helen introduced by Ronald. There are not many scenes in this role. The first thing is to be beautiful, and then have the kind of character that ordinary high school students want to be friends with again and again.
Unbelievable, the temperament of a girlfriend with a high family background.
Helen Slater fits the bill perfectly. She comes from a wealthy family, has first-rate looks, and is particularly good on camera. She doesn't need great acting skills. To be precise, she is just a first-rate vase.
"Of course I think Helen is suitable, but do you have any other candidates?" Ronald smiled at Zemeckis. The two actors he recommended for him, Eric Stoltz and Leigh Thompson, were both
It is a very demanding role, which solves his big problem. An important supporting role is added to the cast, and Helen is very suitable, so she will not refuse it.
"Her temperament is particularly outstanding, and her height is also suitable." Zemeckis was no longer conceited. He took out the audition photos of the two actors and placed them on the table. "This is Claudia Wells."
, his height is too far away from Eric and there is no chemistry."
Then he pointed at another tall beauty and said, "Melora Harding, her temperament and height are okay. I originally planned to use her, but Helen is obviously a level prettier than him, so that boys all over the country will
I envy the protagonist Marty McFly’s good luck.”
"Thank you," Ronald smiled and gave Zemeckis a hug. His favor was finally repaid. It's easy to pay back the money you owe, but it's always a bit troublesome to owe a favor. You don't know what the other person will ask you to use to repay.
…
"Mr. Spielberg, I especially hope you can direct this movie."
Alice Walker, the author of the novel "The Color Purple", began to promote Spielberg, hoping that he would direct the film.
"Yes, Steven, this novel won the Pulitzer Prize. If adapted into a movie, it is very likely to win the Oscar for Best Director." Quincy Jones knew how to persuade this big commercial film director.
Sure enough, Spielberg was a little moved, "But I don't know anything about the history of black people in the Deep South, and I'm afraid it won't reflect the original look of the novel. Maybe you should find a black director."
"Come on, this is not a matter of ethnicity, but who has the ability to make a convincing movie." Quincy Jones used another method to flatter Spielberg.
"Yes, when you first filmed E.T., was it possible that you had to do an alien before you could film it?"
"Okay," Spielberg was persuaded. This film adapted from the Pulitzer Prize novel might really bring him a nomination for best director, and it would be the same as his old friend Sydney Pollack's film.
"Out of Africa", which is also adapted from the best-selling novel, may be able to compete.
"However, my girlfriend is about to give birth, and I have to wait until our child is born before filming."
"Don't worry, we will take good care of Amy. There is a scene in the script where the protagonist gives birth. It just so happens that you are a father for the first time in your life. You will shoot this scene perfectly."
"Hehehe", Spielberg thought about the actress Amy Irving with whom he was reunited, and the joy of becoming a father welled up in his heart. Speaking of which, it was only after filming "ET" that he felt like a child.