"This script doesn't have the structure of a three-act play!"
Ronald returned home and read the script of "Rain Man" in one sitting. He closed the script, picked up a cup of black tea, and let the temperature of the teacup warm his hands. He finally understood why two great directors had already
I was interested in directing, but later decided to quit.
Movie scripts generally consist of three stages. The characters and environment are introduced at the beginning, dramatic conflicts occur in the middle, and various conflicts gradually develop. When it is inevitable and the situation must be broken, it enters the end.
But this "Rain Man" script, although the roles of the two brothers are very exciting, does not have an obvious three-act play structure. It seems like a story moving at a constant speed to the end.
The story is actually very simple. His younger brother, Charlie Babbitt, is a parallel-imported luxury car retailer. He suddenly received the news that his father, with whom he was at odds, had passed away. His business was not going well, so he wanted to inherit his father's inheritance with hope.
When he arrived in Cincinnati, where his father lived, the will left most of the $3 million inheritance to a brother Charlie had never heard of, Raymond Babbitt, who was mentally retarded.
Angry, Charlie secretly went to the medical facility where Raymond lived and abducted his brother Raymond, hoping to get half of the inheritance from the trust administrator, the director of his brother's nursing home, to fill the shortfall.
While traveling to California, the two brothers gradually discovered the long-lost family relationship. Charlie wanted to get custody of Raymond, but the director of the nursing home proposed to give Charlie half of the inheritance and let him give up custody of his brother.
But Charlie didn't want to be separated from his brother. In the end, Charlie lost the case in court, and the two brothers parted ways. Raymond promised to visit his brother in Cincinnati often.
The plot seems simple. It's the kind of movie that requires extraordinary acting skills to make the audience identify with the characters before they can sympathize with the relationship between the two brothers.
Obviously, both actors and directors will be eager to take on this huge challenge. If the film is done well, it is very likely to receive preferential treatment from film critics and awards.
But the shortcomings are also here. The script itself lacks drama. If the actors are not chosen well and the audience cannot understand through sympathy, empathize through understanding, and finally be deeply moved by brotherhood, this movie will be a hit.
superb.
If the right actors are not found, or there is a lack of chemistry between the actors, the film will be a box office and awards failure.
Whether it is Sidney Pollack or Spielberg, they are both successful and famous directors. It is obvious that they have not found a suitable actor to star. Anyway, they are not short of any projects and cannot find a suitable actor.
I would rather not take pictures.
"Fortunately, I have a dream to help me. I can find the most suitable actor just by following the casting instructions in the dream." Thinking of this, Ronald happily took a hot bath and went to bed early to wait for the dream to come.
The light gradually brightened and a burst of music played.
"Los Angeles KFMU radio station, FM97.1 will broadcast for you on time every morning. First of all, I will bring you a new song "Open Your Heart" by Madonna. I hope you like it."
Ronald stretched out his hand and touched left and right, and found that he was still lying on the bed. The sun was glaring and he couldn't open his eyes. With his right hand, he touched the brand new Sony recorder on the bedside table and pressed the switch.
This is a new tape recorder that little Bud recommended to himself after he returned from New York. It has a digital watch and can be turned on at a scheduled time in the morning to serve as an alarm clock.
"Why didn't you dream about it? Is it because the movie is not good, so I haven't seen it in my previous life? But Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman are starring in it, they shouldn't be famous, right? Aren't they two in the end?
Acted by a human being?"
Ronald rubbed his eyes and finally opened them.
"It's better to go for a run, and then go to the club to practice." Ronald took a shower, went to the karate club owned by Darryl Vidal, Longwei's stand-in, and sparred with him for half an hour.
After The Kid 2 was released, the business here became even better. Daryl Vidal moved to a larger club and even put a photo of himself and Miyagi actor Noriyuki Morita on the wall behind the front desk of the club.
superior.
"You really want to have something on your mind." Vidal no longer teaches classes in person anymore. He only takes some advanced classes and receives famous students from Los Angeles.
"I seem to have suddenly lost my inspiration and am a little distressed, so I wanted to come to your place to practice and empty my mind." Ronald smiled bitterly. He really couldn't find any rules on how to dream about movies.
"There is a saying of meditation in karate. You can try to adjust your breathing and then meditate." Vidal taught Ronald a traditional karate method.
"Is it useful?" That night, Ronald took the high-grade rush woven Japanese futon given by Vidal, tried hard to adjust his breathing, and sat quietly for half an hour before going to bed.
"Los Angeles KFMU radio station... what I bring to you today is Bon Jovi's new song, Livin' on a Prayer"
"Shxt..." Ronald was so angry that he unplugged the recorder.
What kind of Japanese Zen way is of no use.
In the next few days, Ronald tried to soak in hot springs, do Jane Fonda's aerobics, and find Kim Cattrall to exercise, but all to no avail.
"Your sleep quality is very good, there is nothing wrong with you."
A doctor from a private hospital in Los Angeles across the street removed the electrodes from Ronald. You have a high proportion of deep sleep. I have never seen a Hollywood person with such healthy sleep like you. Many actors and directors actually suffer from insomnia.
If you want me to prescribe medicine for your problem, you can rest assured.
"No, I didn't dream..."
"No, people dream during the rapid eye movement period of sleep. When you say you don't dream, you actually mean that your sleep quality is high and you quickly forget the content of your dreams before you wake up."
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! "But I just want to remember what I did in my dreams. I...I sometimes have some inspirations in my dreams." Ronald whispered to the doctor,
I actually don’t mind if my sleep quality is a little worse in exchange for dreaming about movies more frequently.
"This is more common among artists. Sleeping is actually the subconscious sorting out our daily thoughts. When you wake up in the morning, it is normal to remember some inspiration from your dreams." The doctor began to write a report to Ronald.
"In this case, I have a little method you can try. Put a note or a tape recorder by your bedside. In the minute you wake up, try to write down your dream so that it is not easy to forget."
"Oh..." Ronald began to change out of the hospital gown and into his own clothes.
Do I not remember? I didn’t dream about it.
"How's it going? What did the doctor say?"
Outside the door, little Bud and his agent Richard, who had returned from New York, looked at Ronald and the doctor.
"It doesn't matter. Mr. Li only has poor sleep occasionally, so there is no need to prescribe medication. If the sleep condition occurs again, then we will see if it needs to be controlled with medication."
"Oh, that's great." Richard's heart dropped. He was the most nervous when he heard that Ronald wanted to see a doctor specializing in sleep-related diseases.
"I just said there's nothing wrong with you." Little Bud grinned.
"No, I have something to do." Ronald looked unhappy. This was a dream of inspiration. Is this biggest support going to leave him?
I also know the leading actor, and I have read the script over and over again. All the necessary conditions are met, but why can’t I dream about it for several days?
"Ronald, how's it going? What do you think of the script? Which role should I play?" Tom Cruise also called.
"Well...well...I haven't completely thought about it yet." Ronald declined.
"Why don't you come to Guaranty Building? Mimi and I are at Scientology's technical center. It's very confidential here. We can have a chat as much as we want."
"Uh...okay"
Although I don’t want to go to that place in Scientology where all the staff are nervous, but I don’t have the answer, maybe it’s good to go once. Ronald feels that he has made several blockbuster movies, maybe he can succeed without relying on dreams?
"Hello, Ronald, my name is Kelly, Kelly Preston, and I am an assistant in Scientology. I will be your temporary assistant this time."
At the technical center of Scientology, a young and beautiful blonde was waiting for Ronald at the front desk.
"We've met before. When I was filming my first movie, 'Fast-paced Richmond High,' you came to audition." Ronald looked familiar to her and recalled the past many years ago.
"Yeah, actually we first met earlier. When we were filming 'Endless Love', I went to New York for an audition."
"Yes, it seems there is you." Ronald nodded, "Why are you here now?"
"I already believe in Scientology, and they have helped me a lot, so I also help out with some volunteer work here. It just so happens that you are coming today. David, the president of Scientology, said that I am also from Hollywood and asked me to come
Be your assistant."
"Where's Tom?" Ronald looked at Kelly Preston with a sweet smile. Over the past few years, she seemed to have become more attractive.
"He is doing an audit with Mimi, shall I take you to visit some of our technology centers first?" Preston naturally came over and took Ronald's arm and took him to have a look at the Scientology Technology Center.
"I've heard it many times, what does audit mean?"
"This is a form of Scientology that helps us achieve a purer body and mind."
"Ah? Just use that multimeter to test it like this?"
"Hahaha, that's not a multimeter. It's an instrument invented by L. Ron Hubbard, the inventor of Scientology. It can measure the degree of contamination of your body by the residual contamination of the bad guys in the universe. As long as you actively participate in Scientology
Through the activities of the base, the pollution can be eliminated and the purity of Hittan can be restored, so that it can be boarded on the spacecraft in the future."
"What Hittan? What pollution?"
Ronald felt as if he heard wrongly. Was Preston talking about Scientology? Why did it sound like science fiction?
"Hehehe, I have Scientology's advanced information here, called Zinu. If you want to see it, I can secretly show it to you. Anyway, if you join Scientology, you will become a senior member in one step and have permissions.
Look at our Zenu myth."
Preston said, pressing closer to Ronald.
Out of curiosity, Ronald led her into a luxuriously decorated room, where several young people were diligently mopping the floor. When he saw Preston coming in, he bowed to her and left.
, leaving the room to her and Ronald.
"This is our advanced teaching, and ordinary beginners are not qualified to read it." Preston watched them walk out, and then took out something written in a parchment book from a safe-like box, which looked very similar to
Scrolls.
Preston placed the sheepskin horn on the table with the word Xenu written on it.
She gently pulled Ronald and opened the Zinnu book to read with him.
"Seventy-five million years ago, the universe was ruled by Zenu, the leader of the Galactic Confederacy. There were 26 stars and 76 planets, including the Earth (the Earth was named Teegeeack at the time).
In order to solve the overpopulation problem, Zinnu sent billions of aliens to volcanoes around the earth. The vehicles carried by these aliens were spacecrafts that looked like DC-8 passenger planes.
Then, Zinu detonated the nuclear bomb and killed the aliens. Their remaining spiritual bodies stubbornly stayed on the earth and polluted the earth. This is the main reason for the mental harm to human beings..."
Ronald suddenly had a delusion in his life. If Preston hadn't clearly said that this was the advanced teachings of Scientology, he seemed to have become ten years younger, back in high school, and dating the most beautiful girl on the cheerleading team.
My girlfriend Preston is talking about the plot of "Star Wars" to herself.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! "So, Scientology's audit instrument can reduce the evil substances of the galaxy's villains remaining in our bodies. As it becomes purer and purer, it will be able to
When the Galactic Emperor Zenu returned to Earth, he boarded the spaceship."
"You have to be kidding me, right? You want to be in this science fiction movie?"
Ronald looked at Preston, who was smiling and had the beautiful and virtuous temperament of a southern woman. If it weren't for the ridiculous words coming out of her mouth, she would be so gentle and different from the straightforward character of most American girls.
It is quite refreshing for a woman to be alone.
"No, this Zinnu teaching is relatively advanced. You haven't done an audit yet, so it's normal that you don't understand it now..."
Preston pulled out a thing like a multimeter used by electricians, came up and asked with a smile, "Would you like me to do an audit for you now?"
"Next time..." Ronald made up his mind never to come here again.
"Ronald, it's great that you came. What did you think after reading the script? What do you think? Can we work together again?"
Tom Cruise, who had finished the audit with his girlfriend Mimi Rogers, looked refreshed and came over to see Ronald.
"Kelly, have you met her? She is the most beautiful member of our Scientology community, as well as the most professional and gentle. You should ask her to audit you when you have time..." Mimi Rogers was next to her.
chime in.
"Next time, you have to choose a time to do this kind of thing." Ronald looked at Cruise with the same sincere smile as before, but he always felt that something was wrong.
"Ladies, give us a moment." Cruise asked Mimi and Preston to leave first, and he could communicate with Ronald alone.
"I know this is a bit too strong for you, but they can indeed help my dyslexia, and I feel it is still very beneficial. If you don't want to, you can just come as my friend. There is no exclusion here."
"Okay, by the way, what did you say before? Which one to play?" Ronald changed the subject.
"Ah, I said it would be better for me to play the elder brother or the younger brother. What do you think of the script? I was very excited after listening to the script. The story of this brother is so good. I feel that the two protagonists will be very enjoyable to play."
"Tom, I want to ask you something, and you'd better tell me the truth." Ronald became serious.
"What?" Cruise looked heroic. His newly made dentures had completely transformed his temperament and made him very positive. Ronald could feel the upward spirit of the American people condensed into his magical facial features.
"Do you want to make this movie for the Oscars?"
"Hmm, I think the Oscars are biased against me. I think my performance in The Color of Money can rival Paul Newman's, but they didn't give me a single nomination.
This is a very good script, and Mr. Ovitz also promised me that if I agree to act, he will give me the best support."
"If you want an Oscar, you'd better play the mentally retarded brother."
Ronald patted Cruise on the shoulder and said slowly.
Although he had not dreamed of the original version, Ronald had read the script many times.
The two protagonist brothers in this movie are actually not equal. The one who plays the mentally retarded brother has a much greater chance of being nominated than the one who plays the normal brother.
"Why?"
Tom Cruise loved both characters very much. He asked Mimi Rogers to record the dialogue, and he kept trying to figure out and recite it. He couldn't let go of the two. Hearing that Ronald was so categorically optimistic about playing the mentally handicapped brother, I couldn't help but feel a little bit.
strangeness.
In his opinion, both roles require good acting skills, so it is possible to get a double-shot nomination like this year's "Platoon".
"I have recently met many old directors from the golden age, such as Billy Wilder, and learned a lot about acting skills." Ronald organized the language.
"Acting is all about reacting, but this mentally retarded brother rarely reacts."
"You mean, I need better acting skills to play my brother Raymond?"
"On the contrary, playing the younger brother Charlie requires better acting skills. Because you don't get any feedback from the opponent, and his role requires you to make various reactions to set off his stupidity."
Ronald smiled and analyzed it technically.
"The audience's reaction is different. Charlie is the kind of car retailer they often encounter. He has a cunning side. If you don't act like him, they will be able to tell that something is wrong.
And Raymond is a mildly mentally retarded person. We don't often see this kind of person, so as long as your acting has characteristics, they will think that the acting is very similar.
So, in my opinion, it’s more advantageous to play Raymond. It’s less technically difficult, but the response will be good.”
"But the actors are responsible for nominating the Oscars for the Actor Awards. They will know that acting is more difficult than Charlie, right?" It was the first time that Tom Cruise heard such a perspective on acting. Although it makes sense, it is different from his own.
It was so different from what I usually heard that I was a little doubtful for a while.
"Haha..." Ronald laughed. What acting skills do those actors know? How many of them understand the secrets? Acting is a practical art. Many actors actually act with passion. From a technical point of view,
Looking at acting from a different angle, it still depends on directors like them who stand behind the camera.
"Of course, this is just my opinion for your reference." Today's Tom Cruise is no longer the young man who Ronald drove to get his teeth filled. Besides, he now believes in this Scientology.
It's a problem, it always feels like a science fiction movie rather than a serious religious sect.
"I will consider it carefully. Your opinion is very important to me, Ronald." Tom Cruise thought for a while and felt that what Ronald said was technically correct, but the Oscars are not those that are chosen by the audience.
Yes, I have to get the approval of the actors.
Besides, there is another issue of image, which needs to be considered comprehensively.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! "Actually, you should play the role of brother Raymond. You are so handsome, so you can have dramatic effect by playing a mentally retarded guy. If you play a normal handsome guy, then
No impact."
Ronald gave another reason, and the more he said it, the more he felt it was right. If he really wanted to direct it, then let Tom Cruise play a mentally retarded person to attract the audience's interest. As for the Oscar vote, the audience praised it.
Do actors still have a choice?
After the two talked about the project, Ronald slipped away quietly before Preston came to pester him.
…
"What's going on with Scientology? It's not Cult, right?"
Ronald went to CAA and told Niceta some of the strange things he heard. Tom Cruise's main manager is his wife Paula. If Cruise is exposed to the Cult scandal...
"Hey..." Niceta sighed, "Paula is worried that Scientology is a religion legally registered in America and enjoys tax-free status.
At first we thought Cruise was just doing it because of Mimi and to treat his dyslexia, but we didn’t expect him to really believe it.”
"That girl seems to be very active. I think she is a smart person."
"Tom told Paula that he might propose to Mimi." Niceta said her biggest worry, "Mimi Rogers' father is a follower of Herbert, the founder of Scientology."
"Terrible woman", the same thought flashed through Ronald and Niceta's minds.
"Speaking of Rain Man, what do you think?"
Niceta didn't want to continue talking about those troublesome things in front of Ronald.
"I haven't decided yet, I just think that if Tom plays the role of brother Raymond, he has a much better chance of getting an Oscar nomination."
"Playing the role of brother?"
"Yes, this is a tricky choice. It requires low acting skills, but the effect is good."
Niceta listened to Ronald's technical analysis and nodded in agreement.
"I agree with you, but in the end it depends on Tom's own choice and Ovitz's wishes."
"Well..." Ronald understood. Another interested star, Dustin Hoffman, was an authentic Jew who immigrated from the black land on the Dnieper River in Eastern Europe.
After telling Niceta what he meant, Ronald returned home.
After taking a nice hot bath and lying on the bed, Ronald was still thinking about the crazy things he had experienced today.
Is Scientology a science fiction readership or a legitimate religion?
really weird!
After thinking about it, Ronald fell asleep.
A red sun shines in the foggy sky. On the skyline are the skyscrapers of Los Angeles, and some power lines are nearby.
A red Ferrari flies into the frame from the right side of the sky and slowly moves toward the left.
The dream came quietly when Ronald was not expecting it.
Ronald, who was overjoyed, hid his joy and did not want to be too happy and scare away the dream.
"Is this a science fiction movie? Ferraris flying through the sky?"
Could it be that you were stimulated today? Did you listen to that whimsical story about Scientology? So you have to see related things before you can dream about it?
The Ferrari slowly slides into the frame and then slowly descends.
"Isn't this a sequel to Back to the Future?" There was no title at the beginning of the film, and Ronald began to think wildly. Did Ferrari become the sponsor for the sequel? Did he switch to a DeLorean sports car?
The camera jumped to the next picture, where the car was landing on the ground, and in the foreground was Tom Cruise's young and handsome face.
The protagonist of the sequel has also been changed? Ronald was quite surprised. There is no reason why Michael J. Fox should not play the role?
"My grandma and your grandma
sit by the fire
My grandma told your grandma
I'm going to burn your flag."
A burst of light, rhythmic music came to mind in the background.
Tom Cruise looked at the Ferrari being lowered by the crane and smiled. There was a number written on the car, and a customs-looking man next to him was still talking to Cruise's character.
"Oh, this is Rain Man." Ronald realized that this was Tom Cruise at the dock, picking up these parallel-imported cars.
"No, why did he still play the normal brother Charlie?"
Ronald sighed, it seemed that Cruise didn't listen to him.
The dream began to blur and then became clear again. Charlie, played by Cruise, was angry with his father after hearing the will.
He found a way and met his brother Raymond. Raymond also knew his brother and ran out of the nursing home with him.
"The brother is still played by Dustin Hoffman." Ronald looked at the image of the brother who tilted his head and always repeated one sentence.
"What kind of acting skills does this require? But outsiders and film critics will definitely praise Hoffman's performance."
On the contrary, every conversation and every scene with an opponent requires Tom Cruise to use all his technical methods to face the camera alone and perform alone without the stimulation of his opponent.
Although it may not seem difficult, such a one-man show is actually the most difficult to perform.
"Pah..." Raymond accidentally dropped a jar of toothpicks on the table while traveling.
Dustin Hoffman immediately reported the number of toothpicks.
"Is this a retard? Is this adding drama to yourself?" Ronald was amused. Dustin Hoffman must have changed the script. This is just a little quirky. Not to mention a retard, he is still a genius.
"Los Angeles KFMU radio station, FM97.1 broadcasts for you on time every morning..."
Ronald woke up from his dream. It was already morning.
"Little Bud!" Ronald knew that it must be Little Bud who helped him connect the power of the recorder.
"Don't let this radio be powered on in the future. I don't like to listen to the radio when I get up in the morning..."