Exploiting Hollywood 1980.

"I actually had to take medicine for the headache caused by the car accident... You have to believe me, Ronald, you have to give me this chance... I really need to..."

Eric Roberts was found by Daydream Films and went to the hospital for an examination.Ronald looked at the results and there were various drug abuse reports. The list was as long as Ronald's shopping list in the supermarket.

"Okay, I believe you. We have known each other for a long time, and this movie is just right for your life."

Ronald scratched his head, and the doctor told him that many of these medicines are painkillers taken for the pain management of patients. They are indeed suspected of abuse, but they are not the kind of drugs that actors often use.

However, there are also a lot of rotten drugs in his body, and the detected content only hints that he is currently in an intermission period and has not been tempted to the dark side for the time being.

Eric Roberts was on the rise that year. He starred in Konchalovsky's "Runaway Train" and was nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.He also had a boxing scene in that movie, which could be seen as Lian Jiazi.

Ronald recalled his visit to Alaska, when Tom Cruise's girlfriend at the time, Rebecca De Mornay, happened to be the heroine of the movie written by Akira Kurosawa.

Hey, things are different.

Ronald shook his head, and sent Eric Roberts, who was still in good shape, out of the office. He will sign a filming contract with Daydream and serve as the director of the taekwondo movie.

"Puff..." The fat girl Lake, the assistant who brought Ronald a new coffee next to him, saw the funny expressions of the smiling Eric Roberts and the frowning production director Michelle Cannold In contrast, I laughed out loud.

"What's wrong?" Ronald asked.

"When I joined Daydream, I didn't expect to come back and do something like this..." Michelle Cannold felt strange about Ronald's taste.The films he directs are both artistic and commercial, and they can often catch social hot spots. Why are the films he casts so... so Roger Coleman-like?
"B-level movie, right?" Ronald laughed.

"It's not a B-level movie, but these three movies are a bit, a bit like action for the sake of action, and patriotic for the sake of patriotism. Is this like that kind of movie?" Michelle Cannold commented on the movie The future of the market is relatively safe, but the plot... Maybe it will nominate the golden raspberry.

"Like Pxxrn, right?" Ronald didn't have any taboos about this kind of thing, and said it generously, "Yes, in fact, what we filmed is the action Pxxrn"

Just like a certain type of film that sells well in the video market and is produced in the San Fernando Valley, another film and television base in Los Angeles, the three low-budget films Ronald decided to make are the kind of films that are about fighting for the sake of fighting. Movie.

The reason why it is called action Pxxrn is because they write it for the audience to watch action scenes one after another from the script level. The growth of characters and the logic of the story are not considered. The messy plot is actually for purpose Transitions that lead to action scenes that some viewers love.

Anyway, audiences will know that this is a B-grade movie when they enter the cinema, and they will not have unrealistic fantasies.In Hollywood, there is actually a set of rigorous distribution methods. From the design of the poster to the layout of the marketing, it will be expressly implied that my movie is just to watch the action scenes and have a good time, so don't have any extra expectations.

In this way, on the contrary, there is no deception, and the people who buy tickets are action movie lovers. Except for those film critics, there will be no real complaints.

"So, you just picked three directors who were photographers to direct?" Michelle Cannold made an original expression, and Ronald accepted the flattery comfortably.

"Yes, anyway, as long as they can shoot pictures with atmosphere, everything else has action guidance, and it depends on the actors' personal performance to solve."

Ronald was very happy to understand what he meant by analogy with Kannold.The old brothers just have a good understanding...

All three films have hired new directors who used to be directors of photography. The price is cheap and their abilities have been verified. Then you can continue to produce on a larger scale.

"Is everything OK?" After talking about all the work arrangements, Ronald stood up and looked at his watch.

"Going back to the hotel? When will your new house be ready?" Everyone was no stranger to Ronald returning home on time every day to accompany his wife.Some female employees also secretly discussed whether Ronald is the new model husband in Hollywood?

"Ah, it's almost the end of the year, and I'll invite you all to a house warming party." Ronald was all smiles, and his married life was really good.

However, he can't go back to the hotel today because he has other arrangements.

Two weeks later, "When Harry Met Sally" will be released. When Batman dominates the box office, Ronald attaches great importance to the marketing of the film, hoping that the unique romantic love movie for adults can attract different audiences. of audiences come to the cinema.

This is no joke, although Columbia Pictures will try its best to cooperate, but under the Batman, all the movies released at the same time are a bit jittery.

So did Ronald. He made an appointment in the afternoon with Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan to take promotional photos for the movie. He needed to do his best to promote it on major media magazines and TV stations.

"What are you up to now?" Billy Crystal finished filming When Harry Met Sally and stayed home.This time to promote is one of the few busy times for him.

"I want to make a movie myself, Ronald. What do you think of a cowboy movie?"

"Westerns?" Ronald was scratching his head at "Dances with Wolves". This subject was rarely filmed, and everything was expensive.

"No, a cowboy movie, it's a comedy movie. I only have one basic idea now." Billy Crystal wanted to find a new way to introduce comedy elements into traditional western cowboy movies.

"When you have a script, you might as well show it to me. I have to sign a first-view agreement with you." Ronald half-jokingly booked his project with Crystal first.

"Really? Do you have such confidence in me? I take it seriously. This is a dream I have had since I was a child. When I watch old movies on TV, I always make up comedy lines and plots for them. And then imagine what those old Westerns would be like."

"So it's settled?" Ronald and Billy Crystal shook hands and settled.He knew that Christo had a high pursuit of art, and if he wanted to create a project by himself, he might have a chance to become a boutique.

"By the way, do you have any other film or TV projects now?" Ronald asked Billy Crystal.

"No, I'm at home now...hahahaha." In fact, Crystal has a wide range of hobbies, he can act in Broadway plays, he can also produce jazz records by himself, and he also guest starred in weekend comedy shows on TV...

"Have you ever thought about being the host of the Oscars?" Ovitz promised to help Ronald run the producer of the next year's Oscars gala.This matter has to be discussed with the organizer, the Academy of Film Technology and Art.

Ronald thought of the disastrous host of the last Oscar, who said inconspicuous and vulgar jokes, and only Billy Crystal's jokes, which he played on the spot, were popular in the audience, so he remembered this.If he could team up with Billy Crystal for the interview, he would be much more likely to win this awards show.

"Me? Oscar? Why?"

"Actually, I want to be a producer. You know, the Oscar judges are very harsh on me. I want to please them..." Ronald was also half-joking.

"Why not? If you're interested, I'd be happy to." Billy Crystal was reminded by Ronald, and he also thought of the benefits of gaining favorability at the Oscars.

"Now we're really going to sign an agreement." Ronald shook hands with Billy Crystal again, and when he had a clue, Ronald would still find a suitable comedy screenwriter to write some jokes for Crystal. Let him perform a show or two in front of the hosts to give them some confidence.

"Wow, there are always good things to be with Ronald." Crystal was also very excited, "When will Meg come, I haven't seen her for a long time."

"She's coming back from Hawaii, she should be here soon..." Ronald looked at his watch, and Meg Ryan's agent said to himself, the heroine has recently received a new movie and is rehearsing and adapting on the spot, Ronald is responsible for the entire travel and appearance fees.

"Hi Ronnie, didn't realize you were married, congratulations. Hi Billy."

Just as she was talking, Meg Ryan's people flashed in from the door. She was still the same sweet beauty, hugging and saying hello to her old friends one by one.

"Meg, I'm so heartbroken, you abandoned me." Ronald said to Meg Ryan with a smile.

"Why did I abandon you?" Meg Ryan was not upset about Ronald's strange words. She actually understood what he meant.

"You abandoned me and went to Hawaii because of Shanley's new movie. If I hadn't asked you repeatedly, you wouldn't even be able to come to the pre-screening promotion when Harry Met Sally. I said, is John so attractive?"

In fact, Ronald didn't mean Meg Ryan. In fact, what he was really uncomfortable with was the screenwriter of "Moonlight", Oscar winner John Patrick Shanley.

Back then, the two cooperated very well in "Moonlight", and Ronald also said that Shanli would come to him if he wanted to be a director in the future.

However, Kathleen Kennedy, the general manager of Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment, got there first. After she learned about Shanley's new script, she quickly signed a contract with him and invited him to Amblin's place to shoot his directorial debut, Jumping into the Volcano Joe Versus the Volcano.

"Ah, hahaha... Shanley often talks about you, saying that your shooting method in Moonlight was a great inspiration to him." Meg Ryan said a few good words about the current director.

This industry is like this, not only directors choose actors, actors also choose directors.John Patrick Shanley, with little experience in casting, scoured the actors who had worked with Ronald.

For the heroine, I chose the heroine in Ronald's romance film, and for the hero, I chose Tom Hanks, the hero in Diane Lane's last movie.Anyway, Ronald's own vision and the actor he chose for his wife must not be wrong.

This made Ronald a little bit uncomfortable, and it was also the reason why he wanted to finalize an agreement with Billy Crystal immediately after hearing that Billy Crystal wanted to make a movie by himself.With the read-first agreement, he can see the script before everyone else, and then decide whether to invest and how much to invest.

Back then, he didn't sign a contract with Shangli, and An Bolin took the lead.

"What is this movie about? Is it also a romance movie?" Billy Crystal changed into a gown, and Meg Ryan, who also put on a gown, took a promotional photo back to back.

"It's a romance movie. The hero's name is Joe. He is a diligent and qualified employee, but he has no ambitions. When he meets a colleague he likes, he doesn't dare to pursue him. Later, the doctor told Joe that he was suffering from an incurable disease. There are only a few months left to live. The disheartened Joe decided to confess his love to his female colleague, but he was rejected unexpectedly."

"So, are you playing that female colleague?" While watching from the side, Ronald also asked about Shanli's new script, which he hadn't read yet.

"Yes or no, listen to me, this script is very interesting. At this moment, a mysterious rich businessman appeared in front of Joe. The rich businessman told Joe that if Joe would jump into an island on a certain day In the volcano, he can get a lot of money.

On the way to the island, Joe met Patricia, the daughter of a wealthy businessman, and the two developed a sincere relationship in the twists and turns. In order to be with Joe, Patricia was even willing to jump into the crater with him. "

"Could it be that you are playing this rich girl?" Billy Crystal also became curious.

"Oh, yes and no. I play two roles in the movie, both a colleague and a rich girl."

"How is that possible? Isn't Joe secretly in love with a female colleague? Why can't he recognize a rich girl?" Ronald didn't understand.

"That's what's interesting about this script, it's actually an allegory, they can be one person, or two people, representing different aspects of women.

By the way, I actually played not two female characters, but three, and one was Angelica, the sister of the rich girl Patricia. "

"Now you've completely confused me."

Ronald was extremely confused, is this still a movie?Why does it sound like a stream of consciousness novel?
"One more, give me an expression of seeing my lover when I look back."

Poster photographers began directing Meg Ryan to pose.She is so photogenic, most of Billy Crystal's pictures are taken with her, and Meg Ryan takes twice as many pictures as him.

"Thank you, then shall we see you at the premiere?" Ronald was very satisfied after seeing the demo shot by the photographer with a single-shot camera.Let the marketing department take over and print a large number of photos of Meg Ryan looking back and smiling as movie posters and featured advertisements in magazines.

He also cut two versions of the trailer, which were played on cable TV stations in major cities such as Los Angeles and New York.This adult love story cannot be broadcast roughly on a youth channel like MTV. It is a test of a daydreaming publicity team.

In the end, they were TV stations from one city to another, and they negotiated preferential time slots for advertisements.

One is to focus on the shots of the elderly couples being interviewed in the movie, and finally add the warm scenes of the hero and heroine telling each other how to fall in love with each other, attracting some married couples.

The other version is to edit the images of the two protagonists who have been mutually exclusive for ten years, together with the voice-over of the two sweetly telling how they met each other in the interview, creating a contrasting effect.

"Hahaha, this trailer is so interesting."

In the evening, the second version of the trailer was broadcast on the cable station in Los Angeles as scheduled. Diane watched the contradictory combination of the picture and the voice-over, laughing hard.

"I cut it myself, isn't my workmanship okay?" Ronald looked at with a smile. It is estimated that this trailer will become the talk of many urban men and women in the next two weeks. It will definitely attract some viewers to the cinema to watch it. Ultimately.

With his arm around Diane's shoulders, Ronald picked up the New York Times magazine edition with the other hand, and the centerfold on it was the movie poster of "When Harry Met Sally".

On the screen, Harry and Sally are separated on the left and right sides of the screen, with the streets of New York at their feet and the title of the movie.

In the middle of the screen is a title:
"When two friends sleep together, can they still love each other the next morning?"