Exploiting Hollywood 1980.
Chapter 35 Ordinary Life Syndrome
Chapter 35 Ordinary Life Syndrome
Accompanied by the rumbling editing machine, the editing of "Rock High School" is gradually coming to an end.
Two weeks later, on February 2, the editing of the entire film was announced.The next step is the job of sound mixing, dubbing the lip sync songs in the movie with the sound track in the record.
Mixing required few assistants, and Ronald's job on "High School of Rock" was over and he was unemployed.
Ronald didn't try to find a way to join a new crew, but prepared to wait for the results of the university admissions.In addition to running and exercising every day, to catch up on sleep, I watch TV dramas.After two days, I feel very inappropriate, I am not used to this step-by-step rest life, it seems that I still have to find something to do.
Go talk to Cameron?Cameron is in the stage of changing his enthusiasm for a new job. He works late into the night every day, and sometimes even lives in a stunt factory. Not surprisingly, he and his wife Sharon fell out again.
Ronald had to think of something to do.
First, I called Demi Moore and asked about the situation.She has been signed by an elite modeling agency, and several print modeling jobs await her.However, acting work still hasn't improved, and I don't know when I will be able to enter the industry.Now I am learning to write lyrics for rock music with my boyfriend.
Demi also told Ronald that Natasha Kinski had already returned to Hair Country to continue filming "Tess."I don't know when she will be able to see her on the screen in the United States.
Ronald felt a little empty. Compared with the stories in the movie, his daily life was too ordinary.On set, in the editing room, he was dealing with drama every moment.
After a movie, Ronald was a little unaccustomed to the routine of everyday life.It was as if he had escaped from this ordinary world.
Film shooting and post-editing are so colorful.Along the way, Ronald is a newcomer. After breaking into the film industry, he climbed the mountain every step of the way. He climbed hard and finally reached the top.But beyond the top it is flat ground.
Now this ordinary life is flat land.I am used to climbing mountains, and then walking on flat ground, it seems that I suddenly lose weight.The lives of most people are not as dramatic as the world on the screen.Ronald is still readjusting to a normal rhythm of life.
Ronald was driving aimlessly around Venice.
When the city planning was done, Venice Beach was planned as a cultural center by the Los Angeles municipal government.The lower working class couldn't do any high art, and Venice became a center for surfing and roller skating.
Municipal corporations have built roller skating courts on many roadsides.It is said that it is a venue, but it is actually a circular ground paved with cement, which is quite simple.The intention may be to let people play roller skating in it, just like the skating rink in Ronald's hometown of New York.
But now, the venue has been occupied by skateboarders who challenge the fancy difficulty.Instead of roller skates, they use skateboards instead, and try difficult fancy moves in pools, railings, stairs and other places.
Ronald asked someone to borrow a skateboard and tried it out.Soon I found that I was tall and big, and I couldn't do any fancy moves at all.After watching other people's wonderful performances for a while, I was very envious, but also jealous that I couldn't do it myself, so I left to see other fun things.
There is also a surf club on Venice Beach, where tanned masters in swimming shorts are challenging the waves.They seem to be able to hold a fragile balance on the top of the waves, wobbling and not falling off.
There are even more courageous ones who try to challenge the curly waves with a height of more than 5 meters and walk through the waves. The audience can only see a small person on the beach, appearing and disappearing in the huge waves.Although most of them ended in failure, occasionally a successful one pierced through the huge waves, and there was cheering on the beach.
Ronald also had a great time watching it and couldn't help but want to play it.
Find the surf club business point on the shore, pay the deposit, get into the locker room excitedly, and change into the swimming shorts.Taking the newly rented surfboard, I plunged into the sea.
"Pfft, bah bah bah." Ronald was overturned by the waves and returned to the shore in a state of embarrassment.
It seems that I am still not suitable for these extreme sports.
Then let's play wrestling.Ronald tried to find a wrestling gym again to recover his skills.But after driving around Venice for a long time, I couldn't find it.
Or enthusiastic citizens pointed out that there is a martial arts gym around the corner.
"Martial arts are fine too." Ronald thought.
Walking into the martial arts gym at the intersection of two streets, a smell of shoes hits you.Ronald frowned, and there were a dozen pairs of shoes neatly placed in the hallway.It turned out to be a karate hall, and you have to take off your shoes when you enter the door.
People in America generally don't know the difference between Huaguo and Dongying people.
They called Bruce Lee's kung fu, also known as kalati (karate).Japanese karate and judo are also called kung fu.
Anyway, it is a mysterious martial art from the East. Once "Uncle" makes a move, the enemy will be killed.
There were only a few children in the hall, wearing white karate outfits and belts.
"Hey, hey, hey, hey", he was doing basic moves such as punching, up and down parrying, and so on.
Following the rules, Ronald took off his shoes and walked into the hall.The venue of the guild hall is not big, the entire floor is covered with milky yellow tatami mats, and there is no decoration around it, which is quite simple.On the opposite wall were some slogans written in Japanese, and there was a pennant, which seemed to be the championship flag of a certain championship.
The coach in the guild hall saw an adult and came up to talk to him.The business of the karate hall is not good. From this point of view, it looks like a practicing family. Did you come to the gym?
Ronald introduced himself, saying that he wanted to find a wrestling venue, and the guide pointed him to come here, saying that the coaches here have real skills.
The coach looks like a Mi-Japanese mixed race, in his 20s, and he learns authentic Ryukyu karate.After Bruce Lee's death, the business of oriental martial arts was not easy to do, and now it is still relying on recruiting some children to support it.
The coach didn't have any opinions. Seeing that Ronald could wrestle, he expressed that he would fight him twice.The two asked the students to pause, and they played tricks on the tatami.
Karate pays attention to stopping every inch, that is to say, stop when you click.The coach's fist hit Ronald's face an inch away, and it was considered a victory.
Ronald was not used to this, so he still stepped forward and grabbed the coach's wrist, twisted hard, and threw him to the ground.
He hurried forward to apologize, but the coach didn't intend to continue the fight, instead he chatted with Ronald about this wrestling method.All schools of martial arts have somewhat similar moves.Ronald also learned a bit about karate throwing.
Before parting, the two exchanged business cards. The coach said that he had also practiced Wing Chun and Filipino short stick martial arts. Ronald is welcome to try his skills again when he is free. He has some good friends who can also fight in practice.
Ronald looked at the name on the business card, and Darryl Vidal was indeed an American name.
……
Ordinary life lacks excitement, maybe I lack a girlfriend?thought Ronald.
How about having a Chinese meal to celebrate?Ronald drove to Chinatown in Los Angeles to try the Chinese cuisine there.
After passing Sunset Boulevard, and a short distance to the north, Ronald saw the bronze statue of Mr. Zhongshan and the tall archway with the words "Luozhi Qinghua".
The whole person relaxed.Although there is no memory of the previous life, I still have a natural intimacy with the Chinese-style houses, various Chinese plaques, and bilingual street signs.
I found a random restaurant and ordered a Yangzhou fried rice, with a side of char siu, fried vegetables, and a soup.Ronald's tongue and stomach are in place.It relieved a lot of the boredom of McDonald's every day.
Should come a few more times, Ronald patted his stomach, put down the excessive tip, got up and went home.
After taking a hot shower to wash off his fatigue, Ronald thought of finding a girlfriend again. How about looking for the two "dancing stars" from Van Nuys High School tomorrow?
Sitting in a daze on the sofa in the living room, Ronald turned on the TV.It happened to be CBS-2, a local TV station in Los Angeles, which was broadcasting the nominations for the 51st Academy Awards this year.
Some time ago, the two hits I saw in the daily variety newspaper, "Glorious Return" and "Deer Hunter" won 8 and 9 nominations respectively.And they all include big awards such as best picture, best director, best actor and actress.
Another strong contender for the award is Warren Beatty's self-produced, directed, written, and starring comedy film "Heaven Can Wait", which also received 9 nominations.
Warren Beatty is a well-known playboy in Hollywood. Since his starring role in "Bonnie and Clyde" became a box office legend a few years ago, his power in Hollywood has been growing day by day.There are constant scandals with various female stars, and none of his rumored girlfriends speak ill of him.
In fact, Ronald envied him very much in his heart. He was promiscuous everywhere and kept a good reputation.Much better than two other famous playboys in Hollywood, Jack Nicholson, and Marlon Brando.
The host is still constantly analyzing the winning probability of each nomination, interspersed with various entertainment gossip, and interviews with the parties involved.
Warren Beatty is a handsome guy, and he can't help but say good things about his movies in interviews.
"'Going to the Wrong Heaven and Casting the Wrong Birth' is not simply a remake of the 1943 'Taixu Taoist'. It is not a simple farce. It incorporates thinking about modern America and what we want to live. Thoughts on life, and he's essentially a romance."
Ronald listened to his words and thought for a while, but didn't understand what the handsome guy meant.
The screen cuts to "The Deer Hunter", and the film's biggest star, Robert De Niro, is defending the film, stating that "The Deer Hunter" is the best movie of the year.
Then came director Michael Cimino.He was a greasy fat man with pompous talk, exaggerated gestures, and a bit of a megalomaniac.The host introduced him as a commercial shooter, and "The Deer Hunter" is the second feature film he directed.
But this time he was criticized by many film critics and progressives. In Michael Cimino's 3-hour film, there are some whimsical plots, such as American prisoners of war who were forced to gamble their lives by North Vietnamese officers.
Several prisoners gambled with a revolver containing only one bullet, the North Vietnamese officer spun the revolver, and the prisoners took turns shooting themselves in the temple.This is called Russian Roulette.Many people criticized him for talking nonsense, saying that there was never such a thing in the Vietnam War.
Facing the interview, Michael Cimino spoke plausibly:
"I served in the Green Berets of the Rice Army. When I first joined the army in 1968, I served as a medic in the Green Berets and witnessed the entire spring offensive. I can only say that many things are beyond your imagination People who understand will naturally understand what I mean, and those who don’t understand, I can’t reveal more. I can only tell you that many contents of this movie can be said to be autobiographical.”
Ronald looked at the greasy fat man on TV, "No, he was dispatched to Vietnam in 1968, so he is only about 30 years old this year? This fat man is 40 no matter how you look at it?"
The screen shifts to the heroine of "Returning Home", Jane Fonda being interviewed.Jane is the daughter of Henry Fonda, a veteran acting actor in the golden age. In 1971, she won an Oscar for her role in the movie "Klute".She is a big star with both beauty and acting skills.She has always stood on the left and advocated world peace. During the Vietnam War, she called on the commander of Amerika to stop bombing civilians in the North.
This time, Jane Fonda was attacked by conservatives.On the screen, the character she played had an affair with the high school male god and now the disabled soldier.When she had an affair, her character was still wearing a wedding ring, and her real husband was still fighting desperately on the Vietnam battlefield.
This aroused the dissatisfaction of many veterans and religious people. They all accused Jane Fonda of being immoral, and even brought out the nickname "Hanoi Jane" that caused public outrage during her visit to North Vietnam.
But Jane Fonda defended that her film reflected the real situation of Vietnam veterans.
"Did you know? We shot the scene of the Veteran's Hospital at the beginning of the film. Those lines are the daily conversations of Vietnam War veterans. Anyone with a conscience should watch this 'Return of Glory'. Instead of sitting in a room imagining the brutality of the Vietnamese, we need to understand the trauma that the Vietnam War has inflicted on our country.”
Ronald's uncle died in Vietnam.There are also many disabled Vietnam veterans in Staten Island and New York. He knows that what Jane Fonda said is actually very true.
Gossip reporters jumped at the chance:
"Jane, are you implying that 'The Deer Hunter' isn't really a reflection of the Vietnam War? Those Russian roulette plots are imaginary?"
"No, I'm not judging a movie, I'm criticizing a bad ethos in Hollywood that doesn't dare to be honest with the facts. As for the 'Deer Hunter' you said, I think our movie 'Homecoming' is better The one that can better reflect the true face of that war."
"Jane Fonda is back on the Vietnam War issue, will her new film win the favor of the judges? The photo of her sitting on the North Vietnamese People's Army's anti-aircraft gun in 1972 has not been forgotten by the American public." The host began to conclude.
The famous photo appeared on the TV screen.
Ronald was getting sleepy, so he turned off the TV and got ready for bed.It seems that this year's Oscar hits are all about the Vietnam War.No, there's the Warren Beatty movie, what's that movie called...
(End of this chapter)
Accompanied by the rumbling editing machine, the editing of "Rock High School" is gradually coming to an end.
Two weeks later, on February 2, the editing of the entire film was announced.The next step is the job of sound mixing, dubbing the lip sync songs in the movie with the sound track in the record.
Mixing required few assistants, and Ronald's job on "High School of Rock" was over and he was unemployed.
Ronald didn't try to find a way to join a new crew, but prepared to wait for the results of the university admissions.In addition to running and exercising every day, to catch up on sleep, I watch TV dramas.After two days, I feel very inappropriate, I am not used to this step-by-step rest life, it seems that I still have to find something to do.
Go talk to Cameron?Cameron is in the stage of changing his enthusiasm for a new job. He works late into the night every day, and sometimes even lives in a stunt factory. Not surprisingly, he and his wife Sharon fell out again.
Ronald had to think of something to do.
First, I called Demi Moore and asked about the situation.She has been signed by an elite modeling agency, and several print modeling jobs await her.However, acting work still hasn't improved, and I don't know when I will be able to enter the industry.Now I am learning to write lyrics for rock music with my boyfriend.
Demi also told Ronald that Natasha Kinski had already returned to Hair Country to continue filming "Tess."I don't know when she will be able to see her on the screen in the United States.
Ronald felt a little empty. Compared with the stories in the movie, his daily life was too ordinary.On set, in the editing room, he was dealing with drama every moment.
After a movie, Ronald was a little unaccustomed to the routine of everyday life.It was as if he had escaped from this ordinary world.
Film shooting and post-editing are so colorful.Along the way, Ronald is a newcomer. After breaking into the film industry, he climbed the mountain every step of the way. He climbed hard and finally reached the top.But beyond the top it is flat ground.
Now this ordinary life is flat land.I am used to climbing mountains, and then walking on flat ground, it seems that I suddenly lose weight.The lives of most people are not as dramatic as the world on the screen.Ronald is still readjusting to a normal rhythm of life.
Ronald was driving aimlessly around Venice.
When the city planning was done, Venice Beach was planned as a cultural center by the Los Angeles municipal government.The lower working class couldn't do any high art, and Venice became a center for surfing and roller skating.
Municipal corporations have built roller skating courts on many roadsides.It is said that it is a venue, but it is actually a circular ground paved with cement, which is quite simple.The intention may be to let people play roller skating in it, just like the skating rink in Ronald's hometown of New York.
But now, the venue has been occupied by skateboarders who challenge the fancy difficulty.Instead of roller skates, they use skateboards instead, and try difficult fancy moves in pools, railings, stairs and other places.
Ronald asked someone to borrow a skateboard and tried it out.Soon I found that I was tall and big, and I couldn't do any fancy moves at all.After watching other people's wonderful performances for a while, I was very envious, but also jealous that I couldn't do it myself, so I left to see other fun things.
There is also a surf club on Venice Beach, where tanned masters in swimming shorts are challenging the waves.They seem to be able to hold a fragile balance on the top of the waves, wobbling and not falling off.
There are even more courageous ones who try to challenge the curly waves with a height of more than 5 meters and walk through the waves. The audience can only see a small person on the beach, appearing and disappearing in the huge waves.Although most of them ended in failure, occasionally a successful one pierced through the huge waves, and there was cheering on the beach.
Ronald also had a great time watching it and couldn't help but want to play it.
Find the surf club business point on the shore, pay the deposit, get into the locker room excitedly, and change into the swimming shorts.Taking the newly rented surfboard, I plunged into the sea.
"Pfft, bah bah bah." Ronald was overturned by the waves and returned to the shore in a state of embarrassment.
It seems that I am still not suitable for these extreme sports.
Then let's play wrestling.Ronald tried to find a wrestling gym again to recover his skills.But after driving around Venice for a long time, I couldn't find it.
Or enthusiastic citizens pointed out that there is a martial arts gym around the corner.
"Martial arts are fine too." Ronald thought.
Walking into the martial arts gym at the intersection of two streets, a smell of shoes hits you.Ronald frowned, and there were a dozen pairs of shoes neatly placed in the hallway.It turned out to be a karate hall, and you have to take off your shoes when you enter the door.
People in America generally don't know the difference between Huaguo and Dongying people.
They called Bruce Lee's kung fu, also known as kalati (karate).Japanese karate and judo are also called kung fu.
Anyway, it is a mysterious martial art from the East. Once "Uncle" makes a move, the enemy will be killed.
There were only a few children in the hall, wearing white karate outfits and belts.
"Hey, hey, hey, hey", he was doing basic moves such as punching, up and down parrying, and so on.
Following the rules, Ronald took off his shoes and walked into the hall.The venue of the guild hall is not big, the entire floor is covered with milky yellow tatami mats, and there is no decoration around it, which is quite simple.On the opposite wall were some slogans written in Japanese, and there was a pennant, which seemed to be the championship flag of a certain championship.
The coach in the guild hall saw an adult and came up to talk to him.The business of the karate hall is not good. From this point of view, it looks like a practicing family. Did you come to the gym?
Ronald introduced himself, saying that he wanted to find a wrestling venue, and the guide pointed him to come here, saying that the coaches here have real skills.
The coach looks like a Mi-Japanese mixed race, in his 20s, and he learns authentic Ryukyu karate.After Bruce Lee's death, the business of oriental martial arts was not easy to do, and now it is still relying on recruiting some children to support it.
The coach didn't have any opinions. Seeing that Ronald could wrestle, he expressed that he would fight him twice.The two asked the students to pause, and they played tricks on the tatami.
Karate pays attention to stopping every inch, that is to say, stop when you click.The coach's fist hit Ronald's face an inch away, and it was considered a victory.
Ronald was not used to this, so he still stepped forward and grabbed the coach's wrist, twisted hard, and threw him to the ground.
He hurried forward to apologize, but the coach didn't intend to continue the fight, instead he chatted with Ronald about this wrestling method.All schools of martial arts have somewhat similar moves.Ronald also learned a bit about karate throwing.
Before parting, the two exchanged business cards. The coach said that he had also practiced Wing Chun and Filipino short stick martial arts. Ronald is welcome to try his skills again when he is free. He has some good friends who can also fight in practice.
Ronald looked at the name on the business card, and Darryl Vidal was indeed an American name.
……
Ordinary life lacks excitement, maybe I lack a girlfriend?thought Ronald.
How about having a Chinese meal to celebrate?Ronald drove to Chinatown in Los Angeles to try the Chinese cuisine there.
After passing Sunset Boulevard, and a short distance to the north, Ronald saw the bronze statue of Mr. Zhongshan and the tall archway with the words "Luozhi Qinghua".
The whole person relaxed.Although there is no memory of the previous life, I still have a natural intimacy with the Chinese-style houses, various Chinese plaques, and bilingual street signs.
I found a random restaurant and ordered a Yangzhou fried rice, with a side of char siu, fried vegetables, and a soup.Ronald's tongue and stomach are in place.It relieved a lot of the boredom of McDonald's every day.
Should come a few more times, Ronald patted his stomach, put down the excessive tip, got up and went home.
After taking a hot shower to wash off his fatigue, Ronald thought of finding a girlfriend again. How about looking for the two "dancing stars" from Van Nuys High School tomorrow?
Sitting in a daze on the sofa in the living room, Ronald turned on the TV.It happened to be CBS-2, a local TV station in Los Angeles, which was broadcasting the nominations for the 51st Academy Awards this year.
Some time ago, the two hits I saw in the daily variety newspaper, "Glorious Return" and "Deer Hunter" won 8 and 9 nominations respectively.And they all include big awards such as best picture, best director, best actor and actress.
Another strong contender for the award is Warren Beatty's self-produced, directed, written, and starring comedy film "Heaven Can Wait", which also received 9 nominations.
Warren Beatty is a well-known playboy in Hollywood. Since his starring role in "Bonnie and Clyde" became a box office legend a few years ago, his power in Hollywood has been growing day by day.There are constant scandals with various female stars, and none of his rumored girlfriends speak ill of him.
In fact, Ronald envied him very much in his heart. He was promiscuous everywhere and kept a good reputation.Much better than two other famous playboys in Hollywood, Jack Nicholson, and Marlon Brando.
The host is still constantly analyzing the winning probability of each nomination, interspersed with various entertainment gossip, and interviews with the parties involved.
Warren Beatty is a handsome guy, and he can't help but say good things about his movies in interviews.
"'Going to the Wrong Heaven and Casting the Wrong Birth' is not simply a remake of the 1943 'Taixu Taoist'. It is not a simple farce. It incorporates thinking about modern America and what we want to live. Thoughts on life, and he's essentially a romance."
Ronald listened to his words and thought for a while, but didn't understand what the handsome guy meant.
The screen cuts to "The Deer Hunter", and the film's biggest star, Robert De Niro, is defending the film, stating that "The Deer Hunter" is the best movie of the year.
Then came director Michael Cimino.He was a greasy fat man with pompous talk, exaggerated gestures, and a bit of a megalomaniac.The host introduced him as a commercial shooter, and "The Deer Hunter" is the second feature film he directed.
But this time he was criticized by many film critics and progressives. In Michael Cimino's 3-hour film, there are some whimsical plots, such as American prisoners of war who were forced to gamble their lives by North Vietnamese officers.
Several prisoners gambled with a revolver containing only one bullet, the North Vietnamese officer spun the revolver, and the prisoners took turns shooting themselves in the temple.This is called Russian Roulette.Many people criticized him for talking nonsense, saying that there was never such a thing in the Vietnam War.
Facing the interview, Michael Cimino spoke plausibly:
"I served in the Green Berets of the Rice Army. When I first joined the army in 1968, I served as a medic in the Green Berets and witnessed the entire spring offensive. I can only say that many things are beyond your imagination People who understand will naturally understand what I mean, and those who don’t understand, I can’t reveal more. I can only tell you that many contents of this movie can be said to be autobiographical.”
Ronald looked at the greasy fat man on TV, "No, he was dispatched to Vietnam in 1968, so he is only about 30 years old this year? This fat man is 40 no matter how you look at it?"
The screen shifts to the heroine of "Returning Home", Jane Fonda being interviewed.Jane is the daughter of Henry Fonda, a veteran acting actor in the golden age. In 1971, she won an Oscar for her role in the movie "Klute".She is a big star with both beauty and acting skills.She has always stood on the left and advocated world peace. During the Vietnam War, she called on the commander of Amerika to stop bombing civilians in the North.
This time, Jane Fonda was attacked by conservatives.On the screen, the character she played had an affair with the high school male god and now the disabled soldier.When she had an affair, her character was still wearing a wedding ring, and her real husband was still fighting desperately on the Vietnam battlefield.
This aroused the dissatisfaction of many veterans and religious people. They all accused Jane Fonda of being immoral, and even brought out the nickname "Hanoi Jane" that caused public outrage during her visit to North Vietnam.
But Jane Fonda defended that her film reflected the real situation of Vietnam veterans.
"Did you know? We shot the scene of the Veteran's Hospital at the beginning of the film. Those lines are the daily conversations of Vietnam War veterans. Anyone with a conscience should watch this 'Return of Glory'. Instead of sitting in a room imagining the brutality of the Vietnamese, we need to understand the trauma that the Vietnam War has inflicted on our country.”
Ronald's uncle died in Vietnam.There are also many disabled Vietnam veterans in Staten Island and New York. He knows that what Jane Fonda said is actually very true.
Gossip reporters jumped at the chance:
"Jane, are you implying that 'The Deer Hunter' isn't really a reflection of the Vietnam War? Those Russian roulette plots are imaginary?"
"No, I'm not judging a movie, I'm criticizing a bad ethos in Hollywood that doesn't dare to be honest with the facts. As for the 'Deer Hunter' you said, I think our movie 'Homecoming' is better The one that can better reflect the true face of that war."
"Jane Fonda is back on the Vietnam War issue, will her new film win the favor of the judges? The photo of her sitting on the North Vietnamese People's Army's anti-aircraft gun in 1972 has not been forgotten by the American public." The host began to conclude.
The famous photo appeared on the TV screen.
Ronald was getting sleepy, so he turned off the TV and got ready for bed.It seems that this year's Oscar hits are all about the Vietnam War.No, there's the Warren Beatty movie, what's that movie called...
(End of this chapter)
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