Chapter 123 Three movies are advancing simultaneously
"Ronald, is Herbert's matter settled smoothly?" Ovitz called to communicate with Ronald. TriStar Pictures agreed to release Steel Magnolias produced by Ronald, and Columbia used
The brand name of TriStar Pictures, which was on the verge of going out of business before the acquisition, helped Ronald release two movies at once, which made him believe even more in the rumors that Sony wanted to recruit Ronald to be the general manager after the merger.
"It went very smoothly. Mr. Ross is very excited about the preparations that are about to begin. He plans to spend two months preparing, starting in July and packaging in September, just in time for his wedding to his sister, the former first lady." Ronald
replied Ovitz with a smile.
Caroline Lee Radziwell, no, the "princess" soon to be called Caroline Lee Ross, was a socialite whose interest in Herbert seemed to be waning. So she let her fiancée see her
Directing a movie with a large number of stars as soon as possible will be very beneficial to Herbert Ross's revitalization of male glory.
"If you have any difficulties, you can call me directly." Ovitz rarely communicates directly with the company's clients this way. This time Steel Mulan can give many actors under CAA opportunities. "Also, don't forget that you gave William
As the heroine of Tom Morris, don’t forget the CAA client actress I asked you for last time. Don’t forget her if you have a good opportunity.”
"This role is Michelle Pfeiffer's replacement. I can't use her," Ronald explained. "Actually, I have the heroine of another movie here, and I'm going to let her audition. In addition,
I do need help with something."
Ronald was referring to the accent problem of the actors in "Steel Magnolias". Except for Dolly Parton herself, who has a Southern accent, several other actresses have some accent problems. Shirley MacLean and Sally...
Field had experience playing Southern women, who needed some refresher.
The more difficult ones were Olympia Dukakis and Diane. Ronald struggled not to know where to find a top accent coach. Ovitz happened to be the most powerful agent in Hollywood, and his connections would certainly be able to do so.
"I will call Stern, he is the best accent coach." Ovitz agreed immediately, "Don't forget your promise... When you go to New York, I may be there too,
We can get together more."
"Hello, Mr. Stern." Ronald quickly received a call from Ovitz's assistant and arranged a meeting with the accent coach.
"Hello Director Li, I'm looking forward to working with you. It would be an honor for my Accent Correction Laboratory." David Allen Stern, a slightly bald man, used several words in one sentence.
The accent is sometimes similar to Scarlett Scarlet in Gone with the Wind, and sometimes closer to that of a southern farmer.
"Haha, you have convinced me." Ronald was very happy. This man has excellent professional qualities. He attaches great importance to accent training, because Steel Mulan's accent is very important to southern audiences, so Ronald did not flirt with the moonlight.
Just like people, just find an actor who speaks with a Southern accent, such as Dolly Parton (she has a typical Southern accent) to teach others.
"Dolly Parton's accent leans towards the accent of the small town's farming population, so I will train Diane Lane to speak that accent as well, as close as possible to Dolly. Olympia Dukakis is the wealthiest person in town
woman, so I trained her to be closer to the wealthy 'plantation' style. The characters of Sally Field and Shirley MacLean have seen the world, so their southern accents should be lighter and retain more of their special flavor. Overall
Close to a Midwestern accent.”
David Allen Stern demonstrated the accents that several actresses should adopt, which not only fit their characters, but also were similar to their own characteristics, and also read some subtexts in the story. For example, the spirit of Dolly
·The psychological positions of Patton and Diane Lane are similar to that of mother and daughter.
Not only does this person help local actors learn regional dialects, but his main job is to help taillight actors remove the special English accents from Australia, South Africa and other places, or the accents of actors who speak other native languages in Europe.
After chatting with the accent coach and arranging his training time, Ronald met with screenwriter Robert Harlin. He is from Natchitoches, Louisiana. This place is where the story takes place and has a long history. This is Louis
The earliest white settlement in Anna, there are many plantations that have been passed down for a long time.
Robert Harlin is considered the biggest artist to come out of that town. The last time someone came here to shoot a movie was John Wayne's movie "Horse Soldiers" thirty years ago.
"I have many friends in my hometown who are very excited. The trustees of Northwest Louisiana State University (NSU) offered to provide us with a shooting location for free, and also allowed us to set up a temporary studio on campus, all for free.
"Robert Harlin was very excited. This movie could include his hometown and show the simple style of the south. Many old friends were very excited and rushed to provide him with various conveniences.
"So what, can college students from the school come to work as extras and do some assistant work on the crew?" When Ronald heard that there was such a good thing, he immediately pushed forward and asked for more benefits.
"No problem. Most of the people at State University are locals, and they are very proud that their hometown can be put on the screen. My friend Tom Whitehead, a journalism professor, is an expert on colonial history. He will help coordinate the filming at the university and also
They will help us select houses and exteriors that are more in line with the history of that time.”
Robert Harlin said with a smile that this is actually a win-win situation. During the filming in his hometown, it is expected to bring almost four million U.S. dollars of investment to Louisiana, and there will be many job opportunities. Even if the salary is very meager, for this
It is also very precious for an agricultural state.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! He was very happy to be able to continue to contribute to the filming of the film, especially since Ronald respected him very much during the filming and casting process, which made him feel very happy.
, Hollywood producers like Ronald are simply rare animals that are going extinct. Maybe it’s because he is a director himself? So he has special respect for artists.
"How's the location in your hometown of Natchitoches going? Is Herbert satisfied?" Ronald knew that director Herbert Ross had already gone there to check out the scenes.
"My friends are very enthusiastic, and Herbert is very strict, but it doesn't matter. Everyone in the town will free up their houses for filming, as long as the director likes them. In addition, all actresses can live wherever they want.
House, the town council has passed a resolution to provide a home away from home for Hollywood stars."
"Hahaha, it seems like this movie would be impossible to make without you." Ronald rubbed his hands happily. He didn't know how much money he could save this way. With local people participating, the movie can save a lot.
matter.
In this way, I only need to drag two more mobile restrooms and a few trailers. With Harlin's help in coordination, this movie is much better than Diane's rush to work in "Lone Dove".
…
After finishing the preparations for "Steel Magnolias", Ronald went to the "In Love" preparation office to have a meeting with producer Polly Platt and director Cameron Crowe as an investor.
"How's the casting going?" Ronald asked when he came up.
Diane got a supporting role in a big production, Helen Slater, and Ronald recommended it to Cameron Crowe. The heroine in "In Love" didn't have any acting difficulties. She came from a wealthy family.
The woman was not deeply involved in the matter, but was moved by the enthusiasm of a poor boy. In the end, after her father went bankrupt and was imprisoned due to fraud, she still had a scholarship and the property that her father had segregated in advance.
The most important thing here is not acting skills, but that the heroine must have the kind of temperament that has been well protected since childhood, and the kind of beauty that every high school boy admires. Helen meets these conditions very well.
"Now there is a more troublesome part. I have seen more than 30 actors, but I haven't found the right one yet." Crowe is a little anxious. It is his first time to be a director. While he is excited, he also wants to do everything.
most.
"Huh?", Ronald thought to himself, when I say "recommend", do you really mean it as a recommendation? If he were to direct this movie, regardless of his personal relationship, Helen Slater would be the heroine.
After Kathryn Bigelow's previous guidance, Helen seems to have gotten the hang of it, and she can be said to be getting started in film acting, at least she won't act awkwardly anymore.
"Cameron was very worried about the male lead and the role of Helen's father. One was a passionate boy who dreamed of becoming a karate champion, Long Wei. When he saw Helen's character, he felt that he wanted to be with her. The other was usually kind and open-minded.
, a fraudster who communicates with his daughter on an equal footing. This requires some careful selection.”
Polly Platt, who was standing next to her, noticed Ronald's unhappiness and came over to explain. Crowe was a little overjoyed as a director for the first time. He didn't even understand the subtext of Ronald's question and really started talking.
Then came the difficulty of casting.
"Ah, fortunately, I have the trump card of Helen Slater. She is very suitable for the heroine in the script. But with the right candidate, the overall film will be better."
"Give me your requirements, and I'll go to CAA and Julia Taylor to register you." Ronald thought to himself that it was his first time being a director, so nervousness was inevitable. Fortunately, Crowe was worried about the perfection of the film.
This kind of moderate tension actually helps his performance.
"Do you have any suitable candidates?" Ronald asked Polly Platt next to him. He knew that Platt had been in Hollywood for many years and must have her own unique insights. However, as a producer, some of her words were inappropriate.
Will be the first to say.
"Do you remember the actress who played Tess' friend Sheen when we did Working Girl?" Polly Platt asked Ronald.
"Joan Cusack is from Chicago. I admire her very much. Her performance is very natural." Ronald thought to himself, if her chin hadn't been so prominent, she would have become a star long ago.
"I plan to ask her to play the leading actor's sister, the sister who cares about her younger brother but also wants to focus on her own small family." Polly Platt did not tell the truth. She has experienced highs and lows in Hollywood.
I have long understood that even if you have the truth in hand, you should not show off your knowledge too much in front of the people who pay for it. It is best to let them think that they figured it out by themselves.
"Huh?" Ronald saw Platt's meaning from his eyes, and his heart suddenly changed, "I remember she has a younger brother who made a cameo in Working Girl?" It was Ronald who had to say this.
It is said that Cameron Crowe is a director for the first time, and no one knows what his temperament is like as a director. As for this kind of recommendation, it would be better to have Ronald, the person who supports him.
"Yes, the name is John Cusack." Polly Platt took out an audition photo, which showed a green face. He was not too handsome, but he was still pretty among ordinary people.
"Do you want to give it a try? It seems okay in terms of appearance, and the look in his eyes makes him look like a leading actor." Ronald pushed over and asked Crowe.
"Of course, Polly, you should have recommended him earlier, which made Cameron have such a hard time finding someone."
"Hahaha, I just thought of it too." Polly laughed.
It seems that Cameron Crowe is still the good-natured and gentle gentleman. Ronald was relieved, because such a director is much easier to "manage" than Kobe Herbert Ross.
Polly's idea inspired Ronald, and he began to slowly think about who could play this sanctimonious fraudster father among the actors he had worked with in the past.
He looks very personable, talks elegantly like a college teacher, and has a kind of approachability. How about inviting Roger Coleman?
This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! No, he is not bad enough in his heart. As a father, in the end he swallowed a large amount of pension fraud money from retirees and did not hand it over. He wanted to keep it.
For my daughter. It’s hard to imagine that Roger Corman could be so ruthless, so he might as well make a guest appearance as the high school principal.
"By the way, do you remember the university professor who flirted with Olympia Dukakis in Moonlight?" Ronald suddenly remembered the supporting character in Moonlight, John Mahoney. In Moonlight
In The Flirting, he played a university professor who specializes in picking up his female students. Later, he and Olympia Dukakis fell in love with each other because of their witty dialogue. This kind of middle-aged man who has an affinity with both old ladies and young women is like
A fraudster.
"Mahoney? Hahaha, he does look like a scammer." Polly Platt also appreciated it and said she would send out an audition invitation.
The two more difficult characters to choose had already been cast. Ronald asked them if they still had any difficulties.
"Our budget is limited, so it's not easy to find the heroine's classmates and the location in Los Angeles." Polly Platt was not polite, asking for money and resources.
"This is indeed a problem." Ronald felt that he did invest a little less money. This kind of group performance is also very important to the quality of the film. Although the budget is not large, it is not a B-level movie. Any supporting role must match the image and temperament.
Just fine.
But it’s not like I’ve never made low-budget movies before. Ronald quickly came up with a plan.
"Ask Nancy if there are any children of celebrities in the music industry who want to join the industry. I will also ask my friends in the circle if there are any children or nephews who want to join the industry."
Ronald naturally remembered that when he was filming "The Kid", Weintraub did this. He brought in the children of many movie stars, so that they could get free marketing and save money on the film. These second-generation stars,
I usually have a certain amount of acting ability, but I don't care about the pay in order to get into the industry.
"For venue issues, you go to these people." Ronald wrote down a few names on the paper. The dance studio was opened by Debbie Reynolds, the mother of Princess Leia in Star Wars, and the dance studio was opened by Daryl Vidal.
For the sake of their own sake, these people will be happy to provide a place for filming in karate dojos.
…
After solving the practical problems of the "Love to the Heart" crew, Ronald met with the screenwriter of another untitled romantic movie he was investing in, Nora Ephron's.
"I want a salad, and the tomatoes shouldn't be in the vegetables, on the side of the plate, and the dressing shouldn't be mixed in, damn it. Damn it, we're on strike again. Michelle Pfeiffer can't play,
It's really distressing." Nora Ephron came to Los Angeles, complained that the waiter at the restaurant couldn't make the salad she asked for, and then turned on Ronald.
"What, give me a glass of dry ginger water and a sandwich from your counter." When Ronald heard that Nora Ephron was so picky, he was afraid that the people in the kitchen would spit on the food on his table.
I quickly ordered some food that I could eat at the counter outside the cafe.
"No problem, Director Li. We are all fans of your movies." Fortunately, the waiter recognized Ronald and probably stopped spitting.
Different from the previous two movies, this untitled movie was started after the strike, so it cannot be exempted from the strike. Nora Ephron cannot blatantly modify it now, and can only chat quietly with Ronald.
One of the original candidates for the heroine, Michelle Pfeiffer, is involved in a scandal again, and the strike does not know when it will end. The special negotiator sent by the commander-in-chief for the second time is about to convene a second emergency meeting.
Don't shirk negotiations.
However, the conditions between the Writers Guild and the Producers Union are too different, and the industry is generally not optimistic that they can reach an agreement this time.
"Actually, I found a suitable candidate for you and Rob (Reiner, director)." Ronald looked at the waiter and recognized him. He was afraid that he was also a member of the Screenwriters Guild and was doing odd jobs to make money here, so he didn't put it in.
He took out the audition photos. "We'll find a place later and I'll show you my secret weapon."
After saying this, Ronald found that the old lady at the table seemed to have misunderstood what he meant, and looked at her with a look like "You are this kind of person, I understand...".
"What, that's not what I meant..." Ronald muttered and stopped mid-sentence, unable to speak clearly now.
"Meg Ryan." The two moved to the battlefield, and Ronald took out the audition photos in his bag. This was the candidate suggested by CAA's Ovitz.
Meg Ryan's boyfriend, Hollywood love saint Dennis Quaid, is a client of CAA, and is very favored by Ovitz. Not only does he look like a Hollywood leading actor, but he also has extraordinary skills in dealing with women. Such a man
Celebrities have indescribable benefits to brokerage companies.
However, Ronald made a comparison and left that opportunity to Julia Roberts. The benefits of completely binding with CAA will not be too many, because they already have some experienced Jewish collaborators. But there are many disadvantages, this
Complete binding in one line means that other brokerage companies will no longer have a sincere interest in your project.
Fortunately, I have many projects, and opportunities that were rejected by "Steel Mulan" can be provided here.
"Take time and find an opportunity to meet Rob (Reiner) in New York. She is currently practicing piano with Dennis Quaid in New York, and her boyfriend is going to play the role of Jerry Lee Lewis, the early superstar of rock music."
"Good, where did you find this actress?" Nora Ephron looked at the sweet girl in the photo and was very satisfied. Meg Ryan, who was pouting a little, did indeed look the most like her from that angle.
They are all perfectionists.
"Remember Goose's country wife in Top Gun? She played it, but that's not her nature. I think she might be more suitable for a professional woman in the city." Ronald looked at the photo of Meg Ryan.