Exploiting Hollywood 1980.

Chapter 227 Two Oscar Nominations

Zeffirelli added catch-up shots at the end and re-cut the copy. PolyGram decided to do a small-scale test screening in New York, and Ronald was also invited to attend.
The test screening is mainly aimed at young people, half of which are singles and half of couples. PolyGram spent a lot of money to invite the target audience, and wanted to see the reaction of the target audience to certain plots before making final revisions.

However, the effect of the test screening was very bad. The lyrical passage that was originally designed to move the audience caused a lot of laughter from the audience.A "Romeo and Juliet"-style love tragedy, actually saw the effect of comedy.

President Guber, who came to see the reaction of the preview, ignored the director Zeffirelli, who was next to him, who wanted to explain. He just told his assistant to arrange to send it to the rating agency as soon as possible, so that it could be released as soon as possible.

Ronald looked at Zeffirelli with a sad face, and had to come forward to thank him, because Zeffirelli specially added Ronald's name to the special thank you subtitle at the end of the film.

"The ending song is very good. The melody starts from the tears of Brooke, which fits the theme of the movie very well." Ronald picked a good one and said.

"That's Endless Love, sung by Lionel Richie and Diana Ross. It belongs to Motown Records. Polygram bought the copyright for the movie." A small number of viewers stayed to listen to the song, and it might save the box office.

"It seems that maybe I'm not suitable for Hollywood, and it's more comfortable to go back to Italy to direct operas, where the audience appreciates classicism more."

"Don't say that, I think there are many younger audiences, girls in grades [-] and [-] who like it very much, and cried when watching it."

"Congratulations on your two Oscar nominations yet." Zeffirelli congratulated Ronald.

The Oscar nominations were just announced yesterday, and Ronald won two nominations for Best Original Screenplay and Best Original Song.These two nominations are undoubtedly a high compliment to the young Ronald.

"Thank you, it's not worth mentioning." Ronald comforted the old director and returned to the apartment.

"This is a very difficult miracle, Ronald." After a while, the managers Richard and Nisita jointly called, "I have received no less than 10 invitations to write lyrics from the record company today."

"Haha, I declined. I'm not a professional lyricist. What about the script? Any new offers?"

"Several scripts about teenagers have been sent to CAA for you to evaluate or rewrite. I have sent them to you."

"Although the public doesn't pay much attention to these two non-acting awards, there is a bit of a stir in the industry that you were nominated at such a young age."

Ronald loved the good news, "Am I the youngest nominee? Hahaha..."

"No, the youngest is Timothy Hutton's Best Supporting Actor." Richard pointed out Ronald's mistake bluntly.

"Uh..." Ronald scratched his head, "Don't mention this, how is the communication about my seat?"

This is a problem left over from history.

At that time, Ronald gave up some seemingly insignificant rights in order to fight for the authorship of the famous script.

The most important two are that the "Fame" crew did not provide Ronald with an invitation letter to attend the Oscars. If he wins the Best Original Screenplay Award, the honor of accepting the award on stage will also go to the original screenwriter Christopher Gore alone. Enjoy.

But now times have changed, and producer Da Silva and director Alan Parker have had a falling out.The film was rated R for the realism of its shooting and editing.Producer Da Silva's plan to shoot a spin-off TV series of the same name has also been opposed by the director, and this clause may be able to be relaxed.

"According to the distribution practice in previous years, Fame is expected to get a total of more than 20 seats for the on-site awards, but there are only 5 seats in the front row, which belong to the nominees for the main creative and performance awards."

"Why are there only five seats?" Ronald was a little disappointed. The producer Da Silva and Irene Cara, who he advocated, would definitely occupy two seats. The director Alan Parker and the screenwriter each had one, and one Belongs to the executive producer of MGM.

"Although Famous has won 5 nominations for 6 awards, the popular Barry Miller for Best Supporting Actor has not been nominated, nor has he received awards for Best Picture, Best Director, etc. Best Original Screenplay is Your only Grand Prix nomination. So to take care of the other nominated films, I'm only giving you five slots"

"Isn't Alan Parker also nominated? This position should be given to me." Ronald said.

"Don't be naive, Ronald." Nisita took over the conversation, "Oscar nomination rules, you should have a front row seat, but you signed an agreement that stipulates that the crew can not provide tickets, and you can't go on stage to receive the best award. Eligibility for the Screenwriting Award.

An agreement is an agreement, and of course we can make trouble with public relations.But the Britons have a lot of influence in Hollywood, and the price of offending them for a front-row position is too high.Fortunately you have two nominations, there is always one spot, it's just going to be in the back row. "

"Okay, what about the front row at the back? I watched the Oscar broadcast, and the nominees can sit at the front of the aisle, right?"

"We have to negotiate with composer Michael Gore on this matter. You have a special situation Ronald. This year is the first time that a film has been nominated for two best original songs. The famous theme song' Fame', and another episode 'Out Here on My Own'.

And the song 'Out Here on My Own' was written by Michael Gore's sister Leslie, a former female singer who helped Michael a lot in his career..."

Ronald was a little angry. It was the first time he had the opportunity to attend the Oscars gala. With two nominations in hand, he couldn't get a good spot?

"Then the row behind the Gore siblings? Back row to the side?" Ronald made a suggestion. He always had to make a scene for Aunt Karen and Donna to see. If there was no award, only the nominees would be announced. Sometimes, the camera would pan to the nominees, and he didn't want to get too far away from Michael Gore in case the cameraman behind the camera didn't recognize him.

"We will try our best to negotiate, Fame is nominated for the best sound effect and best editing two technical awards this time, and we will also sit next to the aisle. CAA will definitely guarantee your appearance, the worst is the aisle The third position inward."

The happy mood was slightly diluted by the matter of arranging seats, but Ronald soon became happy again.Aunt Karen also knew the good news of his nomination, and specially baked a oven of biscuits at home to celebrate.

"Oh, Ronnie. I didn't expect you to be nominated for an Oscar. We haven't had such an artistic genius before in our family." Aunt Karen hugged Ronald tightly, very happy.

"I also didn't expect that the Golden Globe Awards are actually for the producers to go to public relations. There are only 90 judges, which are easy to influence. The Academy Award has more than 3000 judges, all of whom are professionals in the industry. Nominee's endorsement."

Ronald began to show off the knowledge he had learned from CAA, "The agent has promised me a good position in public relations, and you and Donna will see me on TV. When the nominations are announced, the camera will sweep over, you guys pay attention Look, I'll greet you."

"Will you win the prize, Ronnie?" asked the aunt with bright eyes.

"I don't know. The agent said that the Oscars are hard to predict, but I will prepare the acceptance speech. You guys have the VCR ready."

"Okay, Ronnie, I'll let Donna get it ready, she's very smart, she can understand electronic products at a glance." Aunt Karen was very happy, "Come over for dinner on the weekend, let's have a little celebration"

"Well, I'll record it." Donna picked up the biscuit and broke half of it to Diane Lane.

Seeing Diane Lane eating biscuits, Aunt Karen added, "Come and celebrate together. You can also go to the awards show and teach Ronnie how to deal with reporters."

"Of course, I will cover you. You can ask Bert, he will go with me, he knows everything." Diane said, reaching for another biscuit.

The sound of an advertisement came from the TV, it was Brooke Shields' public service advertisement.The purpose is to dissuade young people from learning to smoke. Now many non-governmental organizations have called for smoking to cause cancer. They have begun to publicize the ban on smoking on TV and other mass media, starting from dissuading young people from smoking and becoming addicted.

"I heard she was in some trouble?" Donna pointed to Brooke Shields on the TV and asked Ronald.

Brooke Shields was talking on TV, boys who don't like smoking, smoking doesn't mean cool.Increasing their attractiveness in the eyes of teenagers of the opposite sex is the biggest reason why many people smoke, and then they cannot quit because of addiction.

"I heard that many conservative groups in New York attacked her, saying that her movies and er... advertisements...challenged American values. Ask the government to investigate whether she has done un-America things."

Ronald knew a little about Brooke's problems from her mother.

"Un-American values? This seems to be the discourse system of the 50s, right? That's how they persecuted Ingrid Bergman at that time." Donna has read the autobiography of Bergman received by Ronald, and knows a little bit about the words of the conservatives at that time. surgery.

"Did it really break the law? Will the FBI come to arrest her?" Diane was a little confused about Brooke Shields, the most popular actress of her age.

"Oh, Diane. This is an ad from New York, and it's the NYPD who wants to catch it. The FBI only cares about cross-state crimes, but not within the state. Only when they cross state borders, the FBI will use their investigative network to intervene." Donna corrected.

"Oh? That's it..." Diane nodded.

Ronald came home after dinner and received a lot of congratulatory calls.With Oscar nominations, even if there is a number one figure like Ronald in the American film industry.Even if he makes low-budget exploitation films and remains unknown in the future, when the 53rd Oscar is mentioned, his name will occupy a small historical fragment.

"Oh, Mr. Coleman. I didn't expect you to call to congratulate me personally." Ronald received an unexpected congratulatory call.

"Congratulations, fool. 'Moscow Doesn't Believe in Tears,' which you picked for me, was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film. We'll at least get one more run in art theaters."

"Aha, that's great news," Ronald replied.

"It's great news. Hahaha..." Roger Coleman was still so hearty.

"What's the matter, Ronald, you don't seem very happy. The copy of this film was lent by the Sowell embassy at a nominal price. The rental fee is almost free of cost, and you have a share of the profit."

"Mr. Coleman, I'm not unhappy, it's just that I may not be caught by the camera during the awards show, which is a bit regrettable."

Ronald told Coleman that although he had two nominations at the Oscars, he might have to sit alone in the middle of the back row because of the agreement that he was nominated for two songs at the same time. again.

"Don't worry, kid. Did you forget? You got three nominations, including Best Foreign Language Film..."

(End of this chapter)