Exploiting Hollywood 1980 Chapter 65

   Chapter 65 The first protagonist

   "You said that if you find an actor whose character and experience are very suitable for the role, but he does not match the appearance description in the script, what should you do?" Ronald asked Margery, who was sorting out the audition materials together.

   “That's a good question. The founder of our studio, Marion Dolotti, actually changed the general perception in the industry,” explains Margaery.

   "The 1967 movie 'The Graduate', the main character in the script is a tall, handsome guy with blond hair, kind of like you, Ronnie."

   "But Marion found Dustin Hoffman and persuaded director Michael Nichols to cast him in the lead role, changing the script's tall blond man to a Jewish dwarf."

"The film was very successful. Since then, some directors have begun to pay more attention to the fit between the actors and the characters, rather than just looking at their appearance. You know that in the era of large-scale studios, casting directors are similar to secretaries, who choose people who look good from actors' photos. Just as the script describes it."

   "Margery, do you see this picture?" Ronald took Gene's picture from his notebook and handed it to Margery.

   "What? Is there anything special about him?"

"Dancing is very good, and his experience is very similar to Leroy, the protagonist of "Hot Lunch". He is also a poor man from Harlem, and went to a high school in acting. He was expelled from school for his undisciplined behavior. The funniest He is, like Leroy, not very literate."

   "The only problem is that he's black and Leroy is Latino."

   "What's his name? Let him do an audition tomorrow."

   "Gene Anthony Ray, of course I was talking about audition dance groups, but I always thought he was LeRoy."

   Ronald picked up the phone and dialed.

"I'm looking for Gene, ... Gene Anthony Ray ... no one? ... The number he gave me is ... wait, he's Joan's son, ... yes, the one who always wears the top hat ."

   After a while, Gene came to answer the phone. He was very happy to hear that he was going to audition tomorrow, and he started singing on the phone.

   "Is this kid not going to class every day? Did he get fired again?" Ronald thought to himself.

  Jean's audition was very successful. His ballet mixed a lot of elements of floor dance and mechanical dance, much like an untrained dance genius who watched various dances by himself.

  Only this kind of dance genius can impress the teacher in the entrance interview, brush off the main character, and make an exception to be admitted to Leroy, who is a dancer with a friend.

"Got producer David Da Silva and director Ellen Parker to see." Margaery had been persuaded by Gene's audition to agree with Ronald and see him as a Leroy candidate People recommend up.

   "No, no, there are too many black people in this case, and three of the eight protagonists will be black." After watching Gene's audition, the producer categorically rejected it.

   "Leroy is a boy from the dance department, CoCo is a girl from the music department, and there is a competitor of CoCo, Lydia." Ronald did the math, it was indeed a little more, there were only eight protagonists in total.

   "But he's Leroy, and we can't give up on him. He'll make the whole movie go up a notch." Director Parker supported Gene as Leroy.

"NoWay, American audiences are accustomed to the proportion of protagonists in movies, two blacks, one Latino white, one Jewish white, and the other four are European whites, and no distribution company would agree to put so many black protagonists. ."

   "Do you need such strict racial proportions in the movie?" Ronald asked Margery secretly.

   "You're young, Ronnie. In Hollywood movies, there are racial quotas for roles," Margaery said.

   "Hollywood in the era of big studios is basically all white roles. Few black people can play, and there are also supporting roles."

"After Dr. King's affirmative action, black people began to have their own place in the entertainment industry. If it is a movie that reflects New York, blacks, Latinos, Italians, Jews, which are common races in New York, will be assigned some roles in proportion to the population. It's the default rule for everyone."

   "What about the Chinese?"

   "Chinese? They don't have enough influence. At most, there is a supporting role. In the admission interview scene at the hot lunch, a Chinese violinist appeared, but that's it." Margery explained to him.

   "What do you two think?" Director Parker and the producer were arguing and asked Margery and Ronald for their opinion.

  Ronald felt that the director was looking for support. Gene was originally recommended by Ronald and Margery. When asked for their opinions, the tendency was obvious.

"Ronald, why do you want to change the skin color of the protagonist? This is a casting that is 'obviously inconsistent with the script'." Producer Da Silva put the emphasis on the words "obviously inconsistent with the script", which It is to remind myself not to forget the original agreement.

"Mr. Da Silva, my idea is very simple, Jean's background is very similar to Leroy's, if you and Mr. Parker agree, I think it is a good candidate. If not, he can also be qualified for a dance group. "

   "Ronnie and I tried his play, Gene's acting is very explosive, and his background is almost the same as Leroy's, it's rare to find such an actor who can perform in his true colors.

The    audition situation also shows that it is not easy to find teenage actors nowadays, and it is worthwhile to change the script for him. ' Margery also began to help.

   "Maybe consider changing the race of the other two black girls to keep the proportion of blacks in the protagonist?" Ronald suggested in a low voice.

  Da Silva is at a disadvantage, Ronald and Margaery are all on the side of the director, agreeing to replace Leroy's background and choose Jean as the protagonist.

  Chousing is of course not about choosing the leader, not counting the number of votes. But producers also have to be reasonable, and Da Silva generally cannot veto Parker's decision without a good reason.

  Da Silva frowned:

   "No, CoCo's scenes cannot be deleted. She is the only student who spans three departments of dance, comedy, and music. Many of the leading roles need her to be connected." Producer Da Silva said.

   "That's the other one that can be deleted?" Ronald thought to himself.

"Then delete Lydia's role," Director Parker said. "The plot between Lydia and CoCo is too repetitive, and the competition between the two in the singing career is actually quite useless. CoCo itself was not successful, and Lydia fought to win. Well, the best outcome would be to make an adult film."

  Margaery posted Gene's Polaroid photo on the whiteboard below the name "Leroy": "Ronald remember to take a picture of Gene, he's one of the main characters now."

   "The first protagonist determined in the whole play." The director continued, "How about our other protagonists? Where is the audition?"

   "It will be placed in the Ambassador Hotel, where there are several large business meeting rooms, and we generally recommend it there."

   "Come here, Ronald, and I'll have a chat with you." The producer Da Silva saw that the director and Margery were having a good chat, so he pulled Ronald out of the office alone and talked in the corridor.

"What did I say to you? Let you keep your eyes on the director and don't choose actors who obviously don't match the script. How did you do it?" Da Silva lowered his voice, but his face burst with blue veins, looking very angry .

   "Sorry, Mr. Da Silva, I just wanted to give him a chance to act in a group, but his background..."

  Ronald suddenly felt that things were not very good. The producer was like a strong bat who swiped his bat in the air again and again, unable to attack the pitcher director in the distance, and began to complain that the catcher Ronald next to him was getting up.

Da Silva made a stop gesture, "Stop talking, you will deduct one point from my credit, and don't do things that go against my will in the future." Da Silva is also tall and has two eyes. Looking at Ronald, "Don't think that the director likes you, I can't fire you."

   "Okay, Mr. Da Silva, I apologize..." Ronald thought, wondering what his total score was from the producer?

   "Also, Alan will be mainly sitting in the Ambassador Hotel right now, interviewing the audition actors for the audition, and your chauffeur job will end here." Da Silva was still angry and interrupted to apologize.

   "Yes, the monthly bonus is gone. It's really expensive to recommend a person." Ronald was a little upset.

"Don't forget what I told you, little Ronnie. You have to keep in mind that in the crew, who pays you your salary." Producer Da Silva poked his finger at every turn on Ronald's chest.

   Ronald took two steps back when he stabbed him, and his ears started to itch a little.

   As a result of this incident, it violated the producer's orders. However, Ronald didn't overstep his authority. He found Margery immediately, and Margery reported it to him and the director. Finally changing the script, it can be said that the producer himself did not suppress the director.

   Besides, I am also doing it for the entire crew, okay?

   "This will help you deepen your memory." Da Silva pointed to his head, "Don't forget what you promised me." After speaking, he turned to leave.

"I have one more thing, Mr. Da Silva," Ronald stopped the producer, "I heard that 'hot lunch' is a very bad slang term in black slang in Harlem, and the title of the movie would Is there a problem? In their slang term, hot lunch is…”

Da Silva interrupted Ronald again: "You're overthinking it, Ronnie. This movie is not for black people. The fact that two of the main characters are black doesn't mean the movie's main audience is black. You Understand?"

   "Forget it, you don't understand the distribution and marketing of movies, and you don't understand that. I know you're very motivated, little Ronnie. But on the set, the most important thing is to take care of your own business."

   As if someone had said this to him before, Ronald scratched his ears.

   Ronald, who lost several thousand dollars for no reason, was in a bad mood, poured a cup of coffee and sipped it in the corridor.

   "Ronnie, how's my audition going?" Gene was still waiting outside, and when he saw Ronald, he hurried up to find out.

   "Has Margery not informed you yet? The director appreciates you and will give you an important role." Ronald smiled, "Come with me, I'll take you to see the director."

   "Hi, brother. I won't forget you. We men in Harlem have the most clear-cut grudges. In the future, I'll be your man." Gene began to show his loyalty.

   "Remember to listen to the director. Play well and don't fall for the reputation of Harlem." Ronald introduced him into the conference room, "Director, Gene is here."

   "Aha, Gene, you're here." Director Parker hugged him happily.

"You'll play one of the protagonists, Leroy from Harlem. This is your script, you have to memorize it and ask Ronald about the parts you don't understand. Then next week, you'll be at the Ambassador Hotel every day. Go, we'll start auditioning other actors. There are some roles that require you to play with them."

   "Play well, Gene, and don't let my $6,000 a month cost me."

   (end of this chapter)

Chapter end