Exploiting Hollywood 1980

"Helen?"

Ronald and bodyguard Dan came to the small office Helen had made. It was the small apartment she bought with her own film salary. Now it serves as the office for her new film "Happy Together" produced and starred by her.

"She's not here, Ronald."

In the office, only screenwriter and director Nora Ephron was there. She was writing on the script with a ballpoint pen in her hand.

"Nora, nice to meet you. We'll go to the premiere together tonight. There will be many audiences who will have many questions for you."

"OK!" Nora Ephron threw the ballpoint pen on the table, let out a long breath, and then stood up and stretched.

The script of "Happy Together" is really confusing. The male protagonist Christopher is a nerd who tries hard to become a writer. He was assigned a roommate named Alex.

Because Alex's name is unisex, the computer system for assigning dormitories made a mistake, and Christopher's roommate was still a girl. Alex is a party animal who studies acting and art, and the two are incompatible...

This movie is a very ordinary romantic comedy, telling the story of two men and women who dislike each other, break the ice and discover each other's strengths, and finally overcome obstacles to be together.

The unusual part is that this movie tells the story of two college freshmen. This has hardly been filmed in the history of Hollywood.

This is also easy to understand. Many plots are very interesting and dramatic when placed on high school students. But when it comes to college students, it feels very awkward. For example, it is difficult to imagine the scene of two college students...for the first time.

College students have a higher average IQ, and they have greater academic pressure than high school students and are more mature, so Nora Ephron invested a lot of energy in revising the script for her first time as a director.

On the one hand, we have to think of plots that seem reasonable to some audiences who have attended college, and on the other hand, we have to take care of those audiences who have not attended college and not make them too difficult to understand. In other words, the dialogues of the characters and the advancement of the plot should be told in a language that high school students can understand, telling the unique experiences of college students.

Ronald certainly knew the difficulty of this adaptation. Helen Slater's image and temperament were special, so it was not very likely that she would play a high school student. So it was wise to give it to Nora Ephron, who wrote "When Harry Met Sally", to worry about. Anyway, she could write the dialogue between New York white-collar lovers that would satisfy the audience.

Ronald picked up the script from the table and flipped through it. Sure enough, his vision was good. Nora Ephron replaced many unreasonable plots in the original script with very touching plots.

For example, Alex's acting class score was not high, and Christopher's writing class assignment was also said to have no inspiration by the professor. They were both asked by the professor to experience more real life, which gave them the opportunity to change their views.

And the conflict between the two in the end was also adapted into Christopher's arm being broken by Alex's ex-boyfriend, and the plaster cast delayed his study. When preparing for the exam, the quirky Alex gave him a bad idea to cheat by writing answers on the plaster.

In the end, Christopher was caught cheating and almost expelled from school. Once again, the two had a fierce conflict as the final climax.

"Yes, it's really good. I didn't make a mistake." Ronald was very happy. These plots are written with a college feel, which is completely different from the learning state of high school, but they cleverly avoid the advanced learning content and use some commonplaces that everyone can understand. The audience can understand at a glance that this is college, not high school, and can understand the difficulties they encounter.

"Oh my God, I was fooled by you. In order to change this script, I even moved out my diary written in college..." Nora Ephron said while waving her hands.

"Nora, the crew members I arranged for you are all experienced..." Ronald understood that this was Ephron's asking price, and smiled and said the benefits he gave.

In order to arrange a suitable movie for Helen, Ronald not only used Nora Ephron, who has great potential to express female psychology, as the screenwriter and director, but also found a very experienced director of photography who has been shooting romantic plots for many years. And a technician who is very good at managing the crew, and a person with 20 years of crew experience to serve as the first assistant director.

In this way, rookie producers and directors only need to focus on artistic creation and performance on the scene, and others will help them get it done.

"That's about right." Nora Ephron knew that the first movie was very important. Ronald gave her the opportunity, the pay, the creative freedom, and the high-quality creative team. She was well protected.

"By the way, where's Helen?" Ronald came to date Helen. He had been chatting with Ephron for a while, but Helen didn't come back.

"Ronald, Ronald..." Nora Ephron divorced her ex-husband because he had been cheating during the marriage. She was very disgusted with Ronald's behavior. But he was the boss, so it was hard to say anything.

Now Ronald blatantly asked about the whereabouts of his lover Helen. She couldn't help it again. The New York literary young woman's energy came up, "Who is Helen to you?"

"Uh, she's my friend."

"We won't interfere with what our friends do, right? This is their personal privacy. Whether they are working, going to a restaurant for dinner, or dating, we will only talk to them about the situation afterwards. Unless they are girlfriends, they will ask to know so much private privacy, right?"

"Oh, Nora, I'm ashamed of you for saying that."

Nora Ephron is a direct and critical person. Ronald couldn't argue with her, so he had to admit defeat and said the fallacy of "I know I was wrong, but if I end this relationship, more people will be hurt."

"I..." Nora Ephron was also speechless for a moment, but it was what they wanted anyway, "I like Helen very much, I hope she won't be hurt..." Then she curled her lips and packed her things and left. For the premiere tonight, she had to do her hair in advance.

"Really, I'm pretty good in Hollywood like this..." Ronald could only mutter to himself. "By the way, you haven't told me where she went? Nora, Nora?"

Ronald stuck his head out the window and watched these Hollywood women treat me..."

After closing the door, Ronald called Dan, the bodyguard waiting outside, to go with him. Little Bud's car was parked downstairs.

"Where's Helen?" Little Bud was already quite familiar with Helen Slater, and was a little surprised to see Ronald coming down alone.

"Who knows? Whether it's work, going to a restaurant to eat, or going on a date..." Ronald was embarrassed to say that he couldn't find Helen Slater, and repeated Ephron's words, "No, what?" Dating? Who are you dating?”

Ronald suddenly realized that Nora Ephron was actually talking about a date. Could this be tolerated? "Get in the car, get in the car, go to the salon where Nora Ephron gets her hair done, I want to find out."

Little Bud suppressed his laughter and was about to start the car.

"Wait a minute, the person opposite has been observing this apartment for a long time." Dan, the bodyguard sitting next to Ronald, suddenly stopped Bud and said to Ronald in a low voice.

The job of a bodyguard sounds complicated, but for a public figure like Ronald who has no particularly high-risk targets who are targeting him day and night, it is actually just a matter of protecting both ends and keeping the middle.

Security means that security cameras and other measures are arranged in the customer's home and office. Keeping the center means that the greatest exposure risk for customers is the period of travel between two destinations.

Therefore, bodyguard Dan would check the safety of the vehicle every time before Ronald got in the car and before getting off.

The curtains were closed inside Ronald's Mercedes-Benz, and the bodyguard pointed his finger at the peeper, but the other party didn't expect him to notice. Ronald followed the gesture and looked over. The man poking his head in the opposite corner was a man.

"I know this guy...fucking bastard..." Ronald suddenly cursed when he saw the man's strong jaw and well-lined face.

"Hi, Ronald..." Seeing that his employer was about to get out of the car and face him directly, the bodyguard quickly dissuaded him.

"It's okay, this person is an actor..." Ronald had already recognized the person. He was the young actor who deceived his cousin Donna in an attempt to get a role in his movie. What is this guy doing sneaking around here? This is not Hollywood. Apart from Helen's studio, there are no other industry insiders.

Unable to stop Ronald, Dan felt the anger contained in his employer's slamming of the door, and quickly winked at Little Bud, and the two of them protected Ronald in tandem.

"Hi, you..." Ronald pointed across the street with his hand, and then quickly stepped forward.

"Don't run away. What's your name? Who are you waiting for? Bastard."

The square-chinned actor, when he saw it was Ronald, immediately jumped into an old sports car next to him, hit the accelerator and ran away.

"Fuxk You!" Ronald was so angry that he picked up a stone from the ground and threw it towards the other person's car.

Bang, the sports car started very fast, it probably didn't turn off, and the stone didn't fall to the ground.

"Quick, quick, catch up with his car..." Ronald was very unhappy. He happened to have a punching bag, so he immediately got in the car and let little Bud chase him.

"I'll drive..." At this time, Bodyguard Dan's driving skills are reliable.

“Richard, call Nora’s agent, ask her where she gets her hair done, and ask her to call me back. Where is Helen? Also, what’s the name of the slick guy who lied to my cousin last time? "

Ronald got in the car and made a lot of phone calls, and finally asked him that the actor with this strong square chin was called Brad Pitt.

"Yes, it's this bastard. Are you trying to find his whereabouts and where will he settle in New York?"

After all, Ronald's car was a luxury car that focused on comfort, and it was quickly outrun by the sports car driven by Brad Pitt.

However, bodyguard Dan was very familiar with the routes in New York. Before he lost sight of the other party, he judged that the other party was driving out of the city.

The car was speeding towards downtown and was about to leave New York City and go to Newark, New Jersey. At this time Richard's call came back.

"I asked. He has a date in Bernardsville, New Jersey. His agent said he goes there every other day. I'll give you the address..."

"I know." When Ronald hung up the phone, he used too much force and the entire phone receiver was placed on the top of the stand, breaking the hook of the car phone.

"Hey, Ronald..." By the time Nora Ephron called from the hair salon, there was already a busy signal.

The Turnpike in New Jersey is very common. After driving for an hour, the car got off Exit 9 and after asking two pedestrians, it found the good address of Brad Pitt that Richard had found out about.

Ronald was still angry, and he got off the car and started looking for the red Ford sports car. The second-hand price was not expensive, but the horsepower was not small, which was very suitable for this young actor who didn't have much money but had to maintain a macho image.

The address was a mansion. It was three stories high and covered a large area. Looking from the outside, there was a grass tennis court, an outdoor swimming pool, and a small theater-like house on the side of the main building, which looked a bit like a screening room.

"Huh? It's really a residence for people in the film industry?" After Ronald got off the car, he saw this building and became even angrier.

"Ronald, let's ask someone. I don't think Helen would come here without telling you." Little Bud saw that the situation was not right, and he mustered up the courage to speak to Ronald.

"Why do you say that?" Ronald turned around and glared, which made Little Bud's heart jump. This boss is no longer as approachable as he was in the past. He has hundreds of millions of assets, bodyguards to protect him, and he is a driver. Some things he says are not very good...

But Helen Slater is an old friend who played with him in the leg warmer store. He still has to say it. Little Bud said, "Ronald, think about it. Helen waited for you to accompany you this time. I don't think she would be so stupid to run here the day after you arrived?"

"That's right..." Ronald was reminded of this and found that he was also allergic. Helen came to work in the morning, and he went to visit her at noon but she was nowhere to be seen. Nora Ephron said that he was in the wrong, and he became more suspicious.

"Call Richard again and ask..."

"Hey..." Little Bud ran to pick up the car phone to dial, only to find that the phone was broken by Ronald.

"Hello, Richard, this is Bud. Is there any news about Helen?"

"Oh my God, you finally answered the phone. I thought you had an accident. I couldn't get through the phone for more than an hour. Ephron said that Helen went to her Nude Angel actor group to select some people from them for the movie audition."

"Ronald was very angry just now and broke the phone. I called you in the phone booth. We are fine... As long as we find it."

"Ronald..." Little Bud hurried back to tell Ronald the news.

"You fucking adulterer... You can sleep with 17 or 18 people in the first half hour before I come back."

At this moment, a loud noise came from the mansion, as if someone kicked the furniture and broke it.

Immediately afterwards, a man's voice came out. This person seemed to have a big tongue, spoke a little unclearly, and had a little air leakage.

"Fuxk, Fuxk you. I have divorced you. Do you come here to eat fast food every day? Who do you think I am?" A woman's scream followed.

"Robin, don't go too far. We haven't divorced yet."

"You idiot, I can sleep with anyone if I hand you my indictment. What's your business?"

"Ah..." The man let out a beast-like roar, and then there were bursts of glass breaking sounds in the room, as if he was looking for the adulterer.

"Bang..." A side door of the mansion opened, and a man carrying clothes, pants and shoes, wearing only a pair of white underwear, ran out in a hurry.

Ronald saw that it was Brad Pitt. This guy had a grudge with Donna, and he was sneaking around Helen's house again.

"Hey, Brad, you are..." Ronald stepped forward and exposed Brad Pitt's whereabouts.

"God, be gentle, be gentle, do you want me to be beaten to death?" Brad Pitt seemed to be under the influence of drugs and was a little confused.

"Ward, you are here." The man inside heard what Ronald said and rushed out.

"Thank you, neighbor, you are my neighbor, right? I haven't seen many neighbors since I moved in. Thank you for helping me catch this bastard."

The man had a big head and a face full of flesh. He looked very dangerous. With dark skin and short stubble, and no shirt on, his naked upper body was full of strong muscles.

He grabbed Brad Pitt's collar with one hand and clenched his fist with the other hand.

"Hey, hey, friend, don't do this..." Ronald was frightened when he saw the fist that was not much smaller than Brad Pitt's face. He hurriedly persuaded him.

This punch might be the end of the matter. Even if the pretty boy Pitt didn't die, he would probably be disfigured.

"Oh, you bastard, why did I marry you, a bastard?" The woman inside also ran out and persuaded him, "Your lawyer is talking to my lawyer about child support. I didn't refuse you when you came to my place to eat fast food. I am free now. If you hit him, don't come to my place in the future."

"Holy Shxt, that's boxing champion Tyson." Little Bud has reacted from the shock.

"Who?"

"Heavyweight boxing champion, Mike Tyson."

"Huh?" Ronald glanced at Brad Pitt, who was so scared that his face turned pale. This guy is so bold that he dared to do it to the boxing champion's wife... No, it's his ex-wife... A wife who hasn't completed the divorce yet. Most people wouldn't dare to do it.

"Hey, aren't you Ronald? Why are you here too?" Robin Givens, the wife of boxing champion Tyson and also an actress, found Ronald here.

"No, I'm a neighbor." Ronald hurriedly got in the car. If he was recognized and the gossip media reported it, it would be troublesome. What should he say? Why did he appear at the scene of Tyson's adultery?

"No, Ronald..." Robin Givens didn't care to comfort Tyson and plead for the adulterer. It's rare to run into a big director.

"Woo..." Ronald trotted all the way and hurriedly got in the car with everyone and left.

"What's wrong? I'm not embarrassed. Why are you running?" Robin Givens looked at the car that ran away in confusion.

"Woo woo..."

Looking back, Givens saw the boxing champion throw Brad Pitt to the ground and drive away.

"Brad." Givens stepped forward and helped Brad Pitt up with the thought of not wasting it.

"Woo woo, it's terrible..." Brad Pitt escaped death and didn't dare to stay here any longer. What happened today? I went to Nora Ephron to recommend myself and was caught by Ronald. I came to Givens to seek comfort and was caught by Tyson again. New York is too scary. I might as well go to Los Angeles.