Chapter 482 Finalizing the Director and Protagonist
Because Sybil Shepard is pregnant, she will take a break at the end of the season of "Blue Moonlight". The producers have plans for this and have arranged the corresponding plot, allowing Sybil to shoot some scenes in the two episodes.
, and then the plot is temporarily out of the Detective Agency.
However, due to the premature birth of the twins, the producer was suddenly attacked in terms of time.
The producers originally only knew that she was pregnant, not twins. They also did not make much preparation for the unexpected premature birth.
Therefore, after Shepard's public relations representative rushed to release the news to the media, the producers had no choice but to follow up and released the public relations draft drafted by Shepard. After revising the manuscript, the entire crew expressed their blessing to the heroine
.
This sudden attack method allows the audience to be exposed to the hot topics of discussion from Shepard's side for the first time. News about her loving husband, healthy children, blessings from the producer, etc.
Sybil Shepherd did not tell the producers the whole truth, and the sudden production forced the crew to stop filming immediately... Such discussions were all reflected in the one-sided congratulatory phone calls from the audience to the TV station.
Become out of date.
The producers had no choice but to dilute the previously filmed scenes featuring Sybil into episodes over three months, and then let other actors fill in the plot. Her screen time also became very small, and Bruce
Willis basically has no scenes with him anymore.
Bruce Willis had no choice but to sit back and quickly shoot the story for the next three months while waiting for Ronald and Silver to call him to make a movie.
This is fatal to the ratings of the TV series. You don’t know how many viewers will continue to watch this TV series that lacks the appearance of a heroine.
After all, it is one thing to send blessings to female celebrities, but it is another thing to say that the TV series is not good to watch. Even the ABC TV station where "Blue Moonlight" is located, there are still popular dramas such as "Growing Pains" to support the ratings.
"Blue Moonlight's" executive producer, Glenn Gordon Cullen, was furious. He was dealing with a veteran TV show whose ratings were already declining.
In the last episode of the third season last year, "Maddie" played by Sybil Shepard and "David" played by Bruce Willis, after three seasons of attracting each other and opposing each other, finally finally
became a couple.
But the audience was not satisfied with this plot. What they came to see was the plot of Maddie and David bickering with each other and worrying about each other. If the two really want to be together, the biggest attraction of the TV series will be missing.
So Glenn Gordon Cullen has begun directing the writers' room and began to slowly change the storyline, planning to have Maddie and David separate again about one-third of the season and restore the setting of becoming happy enemies.
But when Sybil takes leave, he is bound to stick to the previous plot line and can no longer change the plot based on audience feedback.
In such a TV series, which relies entirely on the chemical reaction between the male and female protagonists to attract the audience, it is very fatal to leave the audience dissatisfied with the plot, and the heroine only appears for a few minutes in each episode.
Glenn Gordon Cullen was so angry that he submitted his resignation and asked the company to hire another Gao Ming or rewrite the role of Terry, the new character of this season. Let Brooke Adams, the female star who plays the role of a single mother, be written as Willis.
Plays David's new love interest.
Of course, ABC has doubts about this adjustment. In their view, the success of "Blue Moonlight" is entirely due to the selection of the two leading actors and actresses. Sybil Shepard is already 37 years old, but with every gesture,
She still has the feeling of a young urban woman under thirty years old.
Paired with Bruce Willis, who is just in his early thirties but looks old, it feels like a couple.
Glenn Gordon Cullen scoffed at this. The producer who previously produced the detective TV series "The Legend of Remington Steele" starring Pierce Brosnan, bluntly said that his grasp of detective dramas is the key.
The reason why it ranks ninth in the country in ratings.
He gave ABC a choice, either keep Sybill Shepherd or keep him. Either way, one of them would have to be fired.
…
Ronald learned about another round of quarrels in the TV series through Demi Moore's tip. He came to Joel Silver to finalize the main members of the series.
"Bruce Willis is finally willing to join. It's really an opportunity given by God." Joel Silver has a bit of magical trust in Ronald's vision. No matter who he chooses to be the protagonist, he can make them famous.
.
The most recent "Dirty Dancing" actor, Patrick Schwytz, has become famous. He was recently invited to the White House to receive an award from the First Lady in person.
The heroine, Jennifer Gray, is also constantly being booked for films. If she hadn't recovered from her neck injury in a car accident involving her boyfriend Matthew Brodick, she would have been the subject of competition for multiple projects.
Audiences across the United States fell in love with this good Jewish girl Baby who played the role. Even though the typical Jewish big nose ruined the balance of the facial features, the audience tolerated it. They voted her into the top ten most popular teenage actresses in America.
name.
"However, we can't let him think that we can't survive without him, Ronald." Joel Silver is a veteran producer who has rich experience in handling overconfident male protagonists.
"What do you have in mind?" Ronald was already prepared for the difficulties and wrangling that a producer would face when facing a star, and now was a good opportunity to learn from Silver.
"The Eastern philosopher, Confucius once said," Silver leaned back and sat on the chair, then stretched out his right hand and drew a half circle, "If you have the ability to do it, you must show a certain attitude at this time."
Act like you can't do it; if you can't do it, act like you can definitely do it..."
"That's what Sun Tzu said," Ronald muttered quietly, but this strategy might be a good idea in this situation.
When Bruce Willis contacted him because of this, he asked him to do both TV series and movies. Naturally, Willis and his agent knew that Ronald and Silver needed him very much.
.
In addition to the 5 million salary proposed by the new president of Fox, he also proposed various superstar benefits. For example, he wanted a luxurious RV, a place for his girlfriend Demi Moore to rest, and his designated assistant.
Hairstylists, makeup artists, separate dressing rooms... Of course, all of this is paid for by the film studio.
And all of this is because Willis's agent felt that the producers had no other candidates besides him.
What Ronald and Silver have to do now is to make various noises to make them feel that besides Willis, there is not no second choice here.
"I sent an invitation to Harrison Ford and asked him to come to the party and talk about future cooperation." Ronald touched his chin. He had brought back many classical books from the East, and he quickly understood this kind of thing.
.Anyway, Harrison Ford is not willing to act in the original script. What I discussed with him could also be other cooperation opportunities.
"Bingo, I'm going to meet Leonard Goldberg, the new president of 20th Century Fox. He's an old man in television. He understands this kind of thing." Joel Silver's reaction to Ronald was very
satisfy.
"What kind of news are you going to make? I think the best candidate for this movie is Bruce Willis. Don't make it self-defeating." Ronald was a little worried. "The key to this movie is to make the audience think that the hero John
·McLean is just like them, and he also has many unsatisfactory places in his life..."
"I understand, I understand, so I won't let the suitability of the casting go..." Silver already agreed with Ronald's reason for casting, "I plan to use his salary to create a stir in Hollywood.
Some discussions can also warm up our movie..."
"Hahaha...you are really..." Ronald admired this trick very much. He could eat two things with one fish. While lowering the price, he could also speculate for free.
And the point of this hype is exactly what George Sr.’s campaign consultant Roger Ailes said, people like it best if they hit the gossip topic directly...
"It's not bad." Silver showed a "better" smile and sat back on the sofa.
"I'm going to find Cinema Score and do an audience awareness survey for Willis, so that we can go downhill when the time comes."
"What a good idea!" Silver jumped up from the sofa after hearing Ronald's idea, "Shxt", he was so excited that he knocked his thigh down again, rubbing it while praising, "This is a good idea,
It fits perfectly with our plan to stir up gossip.”
"Tomorrow we will meet the director candidate. His last film was said by Roger Ebert to make the audience care about the protagonist from beginning to end, which exactly meets your requirements for a film." Joel Silver also decided.
The time has been set for the meeting between the director candidate and Ronald.
…
"Oh, he is just a clown. He gave me 1.5 points, and he also pretended to say that I will direct the leading actor Pierce Brosnan. He criticized the story content of my movie. This kind of film critic is the most annoying."
The director candidate, John McTiernan, who was in his thirties, heard Ronald asking about film critics. He didn't show any respect to Roger Ebert and scolded him.
His first movie was called "Nomadland", an action movie starring Pierce Brosnan. The box office was very poor, only 2.3 million US dollars.
But the second one was Fox's blockbuster action science fiction film this summer, "Predator," which took in more than $50 million at the box office.
So Silver has great trust in a director who has proven himself at the box office and can create a leading actor that the audience can care about. He is the second best candidate after Ronald, and the first
Recommended to Ronald.
"Oh, he and I also have a bit of history... Without talking about this boring person, what do you think of the movie? Especially the actor John, he is the key to this movie..."
"I like this script very much. It has a sense of humor. Unlike Stallone's action movies, the terrorists in the villains are all disgusting, obscene idiots."
John McTiernan gave a lot of his thoughts on the script, most of which were the same as Ronald's understanding and the dream.
"I plan to find a male protagonist like Cary Grant, who is gentle on the surface but calm on the inside. Such a person can defeat the terrorists when they hijack the building headquarters... Just like the male protagonist of my first movie,
Like Pierce Brosnan..."
"Ahem..." Joel Silver gestured beside him, expressing that he didn't know John McTiernan had so many ideas. In fact, the de facto executive director didn't have much to say about casting.
The right to speak is decided by the two producers and the president of 20th Century Fox.
"Aha..." Ronald was about to retort, but he remembered the Eastern wisdom maxims Silver said yesterday. John McTiernan actually has no power, but instead he has to act like he has the power.
, people always tend to approve, as if they made the decision themselves, rather than being told by their boss.
"Actually, have you ever thought that we might be able to tell the story from another aspect?" Ronald began to think of reasons while convincing the other party.
"What story line? I'm very interested..." John McTiernan didn't dare to neglect Ronald. He was a man with a very keen sense of commercial movies.
"We all agree that the key to this movie is that the audience recognizes that the protagonist is a member of their group and an ordinary person." Ronald observed John McTiernan's eyes and saw that he agreed with this, so he continued.
Go down.
"A New York police detective came to the free and open Los Angeles. His wife's salary was much higher than his. She did not use his last name, but her maiden name as her working name. Ordinary viewers must also often encounter troubles in the workplace.
, in the end, Mike Lian used his experience and wisdom to defeat the terrorists and win back his wife's love..."
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! "You are right, it seems that we should find an actor who looks like an ordinary person..." John McTiernan thoughtfully. This
A producer who is a successful director is one who thinks about problems from the director's perspective.
"Maybe we can find someone who looks ordinary but has a sense of humor, the kind of guy in the company you can go have a beer with after get off work."
"It's important to have a sense of humor. What's more important is that the appearance should not be that of a wise gentleman, but should have a blue-collar temperament." John McTiernan was inspired and began to express his own point of view, "Well, like this
Where can I find the actors?"
"Actually, I hope you can give us some inspiration..." Ronald shrugged sincerely, and then gave Silver a look.
"Yes, John, you have a very deep understanding of action movies. Who do you think is more suitable? In fact, the requirements for acting skills are not high. It is best to have someone who has played similar roles or acted in his true colors." Silver understood.
"I think about it, it seems that there is really no such actor in the film industry, but the young Frank Sinatra is quite suitable."
"Let's use this template to find the young Frank Sinatra." Ronald felt that this guidance was in the right direction.
"I don't usually watch TV. Are there any suitable TV actors recently?"
"Ha, I'm thinking of one. What do you think of Bruce Willis, the male protagonist of Blue Moonlight? He has a very friendly smile and a low-level blue-collar temperament."
"He..."
"What? What's wrong with him?" John McTiernan felt that he had finally found a suitable one, but there was no problem.
"We contacted him before, but he couldn't do both TV series and movies."
"Didn't you watch the news? The heroine of that TV series, Sybil Shepherd, has given birth and needs to take a break. Isn't it just right?" John McTiernan said immediately.
"Really? How about we..."
"I'll have 20th Century Fox contact him right away," Silver responded.
…
"Ronald, I don't know who released this news. It's obviously aimed at Bruce. You have to help him."
Demi Moore held her boyfriend Bruce Willis' arm and entertained Ronald for dinner at her big house in Beverly Hills. This was the Chinese chef she specially invited as the hostess.
"This chef is very authentic, and the food is the same as what I had in China." Ronald took a bite of the fried vegetables, which tasted very good.
Joel Silver's trick worked quickly. The gossip media Hollywood Reporter released the news that Bruce Willis is expected to join the new film created by Ronald and Silver.
In particular, as a newcomer in the film industry, Bruce Willis received a salary of 5 million that only veteran movie stars Dustin Hoffman, Robert Redford, Warren Beatty and others could receive.
For such a star in the TV industry to be on equal footing with other movie stars, the Hollywood Reporter's article vaguely insinuated that Willis was not qualified. This also caused a lot of controversy in the circle of movie actors.
It doesn't matter if your TV dramas are bad at acting and have high pay. When you first enter Hollywood, you have to compete for movie actors' jobs. Our salary is over 1 million, and we all have to work hard for many years. How come you have only made one movie that has a mediocre box office?
People who love movies can reach the sky in one step.
There were constant questions from the industry and the media. Bruce Willis felt the pressure and was afraid that he would lose the leading role. At this time, Demi Moore took the initiative to propose that Cammy, the screenwriter of "St. Elmo's Fire" in which she acted,
Len Crowe, a good friend of Ronald, invited him to his home for a private reception to smooth things over.
"Ronald, my agent may have said something to you that was not my original intention. Before filming the TV series, I had been acting as a sidekick, so my agent wanted to get treatment for me. As an actor, in fact, as long as I have a dedicated
Just a makeup artist and hairstylist.”
Bruce Willis also defended. During the stock market crash, the number of film productions shrank significantly, and no new projects were heard of. He was eager to get this role.
"You will be treated as you should be. This is the rule of the film industry." Ronald waved his hand to indicate that this was not a problem. "Movies are different from TV series. The script is created first, and it is rarely a big deal during the filming process."
The revision is different from the way TV dramas revise the big story line based on audience feedback."
"Of course, of course I respect the director. I saw John McTiernan's 'Predator' and it was great."
Although Bruce Willis didn't go to school much, he had seen a lot in the TV drama circle. He could hear Ronald knocking him out, and immediately hinted that he would never be a big star this time, asking for script changes for him, or other bad habits of stars.
"Bruce is an actor who respects directors very much. This time Blue Moonlight's producer Glenn Gordon Cullen, Bruce is on his side." Demi Moore also supported.
"Oh, what's their final result?"
"The ABC executives still chose Sybil from the second choice. Sybil did not appear in the new episode and only had a recording. The ratings dropped drastically, so ABC chose her instead of him."
Bruce Willis and Sybil Shepard actually had deep conflicts, but it was impossible for him to kick Sybil away for the producers. He also felt that the TV series would not work without either of them.
.
"Ronald, I like your movies very much. Look here. I bought your Top Gun video and Demi and I watched it at night."
Bruce Willis didn't know how to ask for help. He started praising Ronald in a cowboy manner, but he couldn't say anything good to flatter him, so he could only flatter Ronald awkwardly.
"Ronnie..." Demi Moore looked on anxiously, and when Bruce turned to play the videotape, she pinched Ronald's butt.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! "Ouch..." Ronald almost shouted.
"What's wrong?" Willis came back and asked.
"Ahem, in fact, this matter is not without improvement." Ronald slowly pretended to put his hands on his hips, and then rubbed his butt.
"You have to know that Leonard Goldberg, the new president of 20th Century Fox, was transferred from the president of the network. His strategy is to use the same stars in TV series and movies. Silver will go and meet
He, I think he will speak for you."
"Aha, let me tell you, TV drama actors are the ones who impress the audience the most. What do you think, Demi, am I the most famous action actor in America?" Bruce Willis made a bodybuilding move.
"During the audition, don't do this action, it reminds you of Stallone."
"Hey, hey, okay, I won't do it." Bruce Willis put down his arm, "I'll get you a cup of coffee. Demi bought it. She knows where to buy good things."
In order to flatter Ronald, Willis took the unprecedented step of making coffee himself.
"Ronnie, can you let me play the leading role?" Demi Moore still didn't give up. "You see, Sybil Shepard can play roles that look different from her. She is already 37 and has three children.
Mother, you can also play a woman in your 20s."
"This is not something I can decide, Demi." Ronald obviously could decide, but said he couldn't. "This movie requires chemistry. Bruce will most likely get the role. It depends on whether he and you are a good match on the screen.
"
"Here you go, Ronald." Willis brought the coffee back and sprinkled some on the table.
Demi Moore frowned.
She turned around and asked her boyfriend, "Bruce, do you think it would be good for me to play the heroine of this movie? I want to appear on the screen at the same time as you?"
"How can that be done? You are a mother of two school-going children, and you are still a young girl. My dear, you want to be my woman, don't you?"
"Hmph..." Demi slapped her boyfriend on the butt.
"Well..." Then she was hugged by Bruce Willis and kissed him.
"Isn't Demi stunning?"
"Be prepared. Maybe Mr. Goldberg, the president of Fox, myself, Silver, and director John McTiernan will jointly interview you."
…
The joint interview was very successful. Fox CEO Goldberg was eager to adopt a new strategy to integrate Fox's television network and film department into one. The most important step was to prove to others that TV actors and movie actors
There is no big gap, and TV stars can seamlessly switch to acting in movies without affecting the box office of the movie because of their performance style.
Such a large company with TV and movies can integrate resources and promote each other to form a reasonable one. He does not allow anyone to question his decision to give Bruce Willis 5 million at the box office of the top actor in the movie.
At this time, Ronald came up with a survey he commissioned from Cinema Score. Although Bruce Willis's fame did not have a positive influence on whether to go to the movies, it did not have a negative influence on whether to go to the movies. It did.
After completing this investigation, it was enough for Goldberg to give an account.
Director John McTiernan is also very satisfied with Bruce Willis. The character he thought of is very suitable for the script. As for whether he can make a movie, it doesn't matter. He has been training for two months and he can do it.
"Next is the supporting actor, the actor of the terrorist leader Hans Gruber. This is also very important. How powerful the hero is must be contrasted by the villain. What we are looking for this time is not that kind of character.
The traditional silly villain.
Instead, we need to find someone with a high IQ, disguise the robbery as an action to release terrorists, and without the police knowing it, take away the real target, which is a large amount of bearer bonds."
John McTiernan was eager to find a key role and began preparations.
"What do you think?" Ronald asked for advice first.
"He should not look like a terrorist. It is best to be the kind of actor from Shakespeare's plays. The audience will think that he is a good guy at first glance, like a university teacher, and even a little charming. Women will love him if they don't know his background."
Fuck him..." begins John McTiernan.
"Well... if you put it that way, I know a Broadway actor who plays the leading actor in 'Dangerous Liaisons'. Why don't you come with me to watch his performance live?"