Chapter 319 Are mentally handicapped characters easy to play?
The three female models were very excited when they found out that they could appear in a Universal theatrical movie. They were informed that they would appear in the opening scene of a movie starring one of the most popular male stars, Michael J.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you." The three models took Ronald's hand and kept thanking him. Tom Pollack acted very appropriately and made it clear to the three models' agents that it was Ronald.
They were selected only after their recommendation.
"There is absolutely no need for you to thank me. The famous director Herbert Ross took over this film. He was the final decision-maker. You have to thank him."
Ronald doesn't want to take any credit, but Herbert Ross, who directed "Break Down", is an ideal candidate to handle this kind of small-town youth story.
Moreover, he is famous for using actors as props during filming, rigidly and faithfully completing the work according to the shooting schedule. If the three models were not outstanding in their own abilities, they would look like they were part of the New York model circle, and they would have caused trouble for him.
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Veteran directors are very strict about this kind of thing, and they insist that an ensemble cast must also fit the identity of the character.
"But our agents all said that it was your recommendation that allowed us to guest star in the movie." Paulina Bodiskova is the most straightforward. She only accepts the information from her agent. In the model industry, it is important to know who is the best.
The most important thing is the noble people who can support you.
"If I hadn't heard that you were the director, Ronald, I wouldn't have wanted to come. I didn't even want to get up in the morning." Linda Evangelista has a changeable style, and she has also been spotted by major international brands. She is
I really want to participate in a movie like "Top Gun" and open up a new battlefield for my modeling career.
"Anyway, we have to thank you for being selected." Cindy Crawford has the best temperament among the three, and has the character of a carefree American girl. She is the least qualified among the three.
, there are no big names around now.
Fortunately, her face looks a bit like Gia Kallanji, who was hailed as a supermodel by the media two years ago, and her face is more American. Coupled with her unique cat-walk Kung Fu, she will surely be favored by big names soon.
The three of them had just performed a model catwalk in the audition room, and Herbert Ross also invited Ronald to watch it together. After watching it, the old director smiled and decided to use the three of them on the spot.
Among the three, the catwalk is of a very high standard, and Cindy Crawford is the most natural. Every step she takes meets the highest requirements of a fashion model, but she also has a free and easy look that no one else can achieve.
Just now, Ronald read her resume. She was admitted to the Chemical Engineering Department of Northwestern University with an academic merit scholarship, and then dropped out to pursue a modeling career.
Ronald was still waiting for Helen Slater, who was auditioning for the heroine inside, and was happy to chat with the three beauties.
"Don't you models have to get up early every day, exercise, and live a very healthy life?" Ronald has seen many media interviews with well-known models, and always feels that they all lead a boring life. Listen.
Linda Evangelista was still not up at noon, which was a bit surprising.
"That's all a lie. We work so hard on the stage, how can we not eat enough? At most, we can avoid steak and desserts and eat more pasta." Paulina Bodiskova, a Czech, said to Ami
Liga doesn't like the hypocritical style of interviews.
"That is, if I can't get a price of more than five thousand dollars for the day's work, I won't even bother to get up." Linda Evangelista also has a very natural character of a spoiled pretty girl.
I dare to say it in front of me.
"We all rely on exercise and do yoga. Being a model is very hard, but if you gain weight and can't fit into size 2 clothes, you will be eliminated." Cindy Crawford seems to be the most motivated of the three, working every day
Movement is constant.
The three models didn't want to leave, they wanted to spend more time with Ronald. Their respective agents had reminded that Ronald's ex-girlfriend was the former American sweetheart, the most famous fashion model in the past, who brought CK jeans with her in one fell swoop.
Brooke Shields became the best-selling jeans brand.
Moreover, that advertisement was shot by Ronald. If they are lucky enough and Ronald reveals something, they will seize the opportunity, which will greatly improve their careers, popularity, and entry into the film industry.
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"Ronald, my audition is finished, I feel..." Helen came out and interrupted Ronald's chat with the three beautiful models.
"Okay, let's talk somewhere else." Ronald interrupted Helen's idea of telling the audition situation at the door of the audition room and said goodbye to the three models. They all used the etiquette of the fashion industry and hugged Ronald very intimately.
Then three veneers, and another kiss.
Helen was no stranger to this common etiquette in the entertainment industry. She looked at Ronald with a smile and said goodbye, then put her hand on Ronald's arm, deliberately walked on the other side of the models, and went out together.
"Hey..." The three models sighed at the same time, but they did not get Ronald's contact information.
"Put it away. I asked Ronald's agent for the business card. It has Ronald's personal phone number on it. Put it away quickly and don't let others see it."
Cindy Crawford's agent came out and quickly found his client. He covered it with his hand and quickly handed her a business card.
"Oh..." Crawford immediately shut up, found his handbag, took out his makeup mirror and pretended to touch up his makeup, and quickly slid the business card into his handbag.
"Bye, Cindy."
Paulina and Linda greeted Cindy Crawford. Their faces were also filled with smiles. It seemed that the agent had also gained something.
…
"I feel that my audition performance was good, and Director Ross also praised my natural performance." Helen was very happy sitting in the car, and kept telling Ronald about the details of the audition.
"It doesn't matter if you're not selected. Your film 'The Evil Husband' will be released soon, and there will be no shortage of script invitations after that."
"I think my hopes are pretty high. I have to start preparing to feel like a professional woman."
"Well, that's fine too."
Herbert Ross was a director who lived both on Broadway and in Hollywood, and had a long "history" in the industry. Ronald knew that such people often have many connections, and as Helen's connections, there was actually little hope.
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Ronald has a psychological barrier when it comes to actresses who have direct relationships with them. He always feels that he cannot objectively guide their acting skills to achieve the desired effects.
If it were an actress whom she only knew well and had experience of working with, Ronald would be very relaxed, guiding when he should be guided, and getting angry when he should be angry.
But now that the director has been replaced, Ronald feels that there is no need to give any bad news to Helen from his own mouth. If Herbert Ross chooses someone else, it will be the old man's fault.
Helen liked to tell herself whatever she had on her mind. The two of them made love to each other in the car and soon arrived at the CAA's office.
"I'm going to talk to Niceta about the new script. Are you going to wait for me here, okay?"
"I first went to the acting teacher Messner, and he promised to let me join the class..."
"Go ahead." Ronald rubbed Helen's short hair. She had dyed her hair blonde all year round after playing Supergirl. Helen still attached great importance to her acting skills, but she took it too seriously.
…
Entering Niceta's office, Ronald asked about the script written by Barry Morrow. This movie was a low-concept movie, and the story told was very touching. Ronald felt very happy after watching it.
It’s interesting. He has made many high-concept exploitation films, and I really want to try this kind of plot-driven film to challenge myself.
"The script of this movie is quite interesting, and it doesn't have a traditional three-act play structure, but I have feelings about the story. What are CAA's plans now? Which studio is it going to package and sell to?"
Niceta served various Italian snacks as usual, and then poured Ronald a glass of brandy.
"President Michael Ovitz takes it very seriously. This time he not only wants to package it, but also wants to be a real producer behind the scenes."
"Oh? What did Mr. Ovitz say? Is he going to promote that star to star?"
The name of the script is "Rain Man", and it is a very interesting story. It tells the story of Charlie Babbitt, who always thought he was the only son in the family. After the death of his father, he discovered that he had an intellectually challenged brother Raymond.
Germany.
In order to seize the inheritance left by his father to his brother, Charlie stole his brother from the foster hospital and drove all the way. The two brothers finally understood each other, and Charlie also reconciled with his brother who actually loved him very much, and with his father who showed that he did not love him.
Eventually reconciled.
The film was spotted by Michael Ovitz, the president of CAA. He felt that the film had the potential to win Oscars, so he decided to promote the film project himself.
"He has now found a pair of brothers to talk to, Randy Quaid and Dennis Quaid. Their chemistry must be even better. And the eldest brother Randy is a Broadway actor, and his acting skills are enough to deal with that mentally retarded person.
The big brother role.”
"Oh? Is it them?"
Ronald pouted.
He didn't have a good feeling towards the younger brother of the two brothers, Dennis. This man turned out to have taken advantage of Ronald's friend, P.J. Soles, the heroine of "Rock of Ages", to get into the mainstream of Hollywood.
Later, after starring in "Jaws 3D", she seduced Ronald to be chosen to shoot a Burger King commercial. He also admired her acting skills Leigh Thompson so much that she kicked PJ Soles away and divorced her.
Ronald admired Lea Thompson very much and originally planned to be the heroine in his own movie.
But she was in love with married man Dennis Quaid, which made Ronald a little uncomfortable. Afterwards, Thompson's own career development turned out to be as outstanding as Ronald expected.
It felt like I had found a good thing at a street stall. Just when I was about to withdraw money to buy it, Dennis Quaid came over and took it away secretly.
"So Ovitz is going to play Randy as his brother Raymond?" Ronald frowned and asked.
"Yes, what? Randy's acting skills are much better than his younger brother Dennis, and he is also an older brother. You want to use Dennis to play the older brother? I thought you didn't like him a bit." Niceta was surprised.
"I don't mean that. I really don't like Dennis very much. He treats my friend PJ very badly..."
"And robbed you of Leigh Thompson?"
"Yes, originally I thought we could create some great stories with her."
Ronald didn't have much resentment towards his girlfriend who broke up with her, but he felt more resentment towards taking away an actress who had strong acting skills and was willing to work hard.
"Do you have any problem cooperating with him? If not, I can ask Mr. Ovitz to replace him. Originally, he was a little dissatisfied that the two brothers were not famous enough."
"I don't have such an idea. Since Mr. Ovitz thinks highly of them, it must be suitable." Ronald thought for a while. He and Dennis Quaid were cooperating, and they were not really trying to steal his girlfriend.
"Okay, I'll tell Michael." Niceta put down her notebook, "By the way, why do you think Randy is suitable to play the younger brother?"
"I think my younger brother needs more acting skills. My mentally retarded brother is actually easier to act."
"Why? Shouldn't it be difficult for a mentally retarded person to act?" Niceta thought Ronald's idea was interesting and asked quickly.
He didn't know whether it was easier to act for normal people or for mentally retarded people, but there must be some truth to what Ronald said.
The reason why Michael Ovitz jumped out to promote this movie is because he took a fancy to the role of the mentally retarded brother. This year's movie about deaf children, "Children of God" received very good test screenings, and everyone in the industry
It is said that it will be a big favorite at the Oscars next year.
This made Ovitz feel that the social trend was beginning to turn towards caring for the disabled. Intellectual disabilities received even less attention than physical disabilities, so this was a project that could be gambled on.
"I have been to China, and there is a saying there that it is easier to draw ghosts than to draw people. Intellectual disability is a very unusual role, so the audience tends to think that the actor plays it well. And the role of the younger brother is a normal person.
Therefore, the audience will be more familiar with this kind of performance, and if the acting is not good, it will be very dazzling."
"That's a very good point, I have to write it down." Niceta opened the notebook again. This kind of perspective of looking at problems is something that most practitioners lack.
Only talented directors like Ronald, who have an intuition for the audience that goes beyond ordinary people, can have very keen reactions.
He has seen so many actors. When most of them heard about this intellectually disabled character, their first reaction was that they needed acting skills and wanted to play the brother Raymond. No one saw the normal brother, and in the audience's direct comparison
It may require higher acting skills.
"If this is the case, we can't completely pin our hopes on this movie." After the exchange with Ronald, Niceta thought for a long time and expressed her thoughts to the most important customer.
"Ovitz is very ambitious. He previously directed 'Ghostbusters', and many people say he is the real producer. In that project, caa enjoyed a great success.
But this time, he not only aimed at the box office, but also wanted to make a difference at the Oscars. So before he approached us, he first approached Sidney Pollack, who had just won the best director for "Out of Africa."
As I said just now, the Quaid brothers may not be the last choice. Maybe if they play, you are a very good candidate. But if he wants to recommend a more powerful male star to star, things will be very complicated. "
"I understand that the three giants in this movie are the two male leads and the director."
If Ovitz can attract big investment, then he will have to rely on directors and famous stars. If he uses a superstar, then he will have to accommodate the other person's preferences. If he hires two stars, he may be a little bit
Too strong.
Among the Big Three, there can only be two real stars at most.
After all, when a studio invests in a movie that relies on plot and performance, it mainly depends on the star's appeal to attract audiences who don't usually go to theaters to watch it.
After all, the story of a mentally retarded brother is not as interesting to the audience as aerial combat.
How to promote and market a story that cannot be told clearly in one sentence so that the audience knows it is a good movie? Then it depends on the appeal of the lead actor.
After all, the director's appeal in the eyes of the audience is not as strong as that of the actor. There are still some viewers who don't know that "Top Gun" was directed by Ronald, but no one who has watched "Top Gun" doesn't know that the starring role is Tom.
Cruise's.
"We'll just deal with it this way. If Ovitz has new ideas, we'll adapt accordingly."
The two of them had reached a consensus, and Niceta told Ronald about the next itinerary.
The two will soon fly to Tokyo to attend the premiere of "Top Gun" there.
In addition, Ronald has also been invited by some Japanese film and television organizations to discuss possible cooperation. "Top Gun" is a story that transcends language and culture, and it will definitely perform well in the Japanese market.
"Dragon Boy 2" again tells the life story of Mr. Miyagi. The big shots there are very interested in such a director who likes to shoot Asian stories.
Next, Ronald wants to make some Japanese-related movies, and they don't mind investing in the project. Making money in the American market is secondary. The key is the Japanese market. The market here is closed to Hollywood and Wall Street, and most of the movies produced are the same.
Several major publishers in Japan made money.
"Will Diane come with us this time?" Niceta asked.
"She will take another flight and not be with the crew." Ronald replied.