Exploiting Hollywood 1980

Chapter 40 Oscar Promotional War

The black hand behind this is the "Return of Honor" who is also a big hit in the award. The film's distributor, United Arts, has also begun to make efforts in the media, accusing the "Deer Hunter" from the audience's point of view for its tediousness and the fabrication of Russian roulette casino scenes.

In this way, Ronald was unfortunately involved in the scolding battle between the two Oscar-winning films. On TV out of "the limelight".

Every day when I walk on the road, people will recognize him and ask him if he is "Dao Luo". Some agreed with Ronald's assessment and laughed and wanted to give him a high five. There are also some fans of "The Deer Hunter" who cursed him for not understanding the movie and talking nonsense.

Ronald had to put on his sunglasses and go out to kill time every day in Chinatown, where no one cared that he attacked a Vietnam War movie.

After a few days, the fever of Doze Luo subsided slightly. The scolding then unexpectedly brings up the question of integrity of director Michael Cimino.

Speaking of which, director Michael Cimino himself is to blame.

Because the plot of Russian roulette in the film is absurd and bizarre, not to mention the Vietnam War, in any modern war, such a scene cannot occur. The officer forced the prisoner to play Russian roulette with a revolver. If nothing else, the prisoner shot you several times with a gun and died with you?

This has put a lot of pressure on Universal, the publisher of "Deer Hunter".

Universal had a rigorous plan from the start, releasing only one week in 1978 to meet the Oscar criteria. Most of the guests invited are Oscar judges and family members. There are two benefits to doing this.

One is to compliment the judges in disguised form. Being able to watch the movie "Deer Hunter" is a status symbol. In addition, it is said that during the screening, the judges were given bonus gifts. So after a week of screening last year, the media was full of positive reviews.

Second, it has also created a hunger in the market, a movie with rave reviews, but ordinary audiences can’t see it. If you can take this praise and win several important Oscar nominations in one fell swoop, then it will be released to the public, and the audience will be in a short time. It will be a sneak peek into the cinema in time, and the box office figures will be great.

That's why Universal initially packaged "The Deer Hunter" as a reflective film about the humanity of the Vietnam War. It has been nearly four years since the Vietnam War ended, but the huge scars in America continue to tear society apart. If there is a movie that can seize the opportunity and shoot the trauma of the Vietnam War on society, then the box office will not be too bad.

However, the random fabrication of key plots, the scene of Russian roulette, was exaggerated by competitors through the media, which had a great impact on Universal's box office plan.

At this time, director Michael Cimino jumped out to defend the authenticity of this plot in order to rush awards and defend the box office. He said he was a medic for the U.S. Army's Green Beret unit during the Vietnam War, and was sent to the front to take part in the 1968 "Spring Offensive" that led to the capture of the protagonist in the film. It is also said that in the Vietnam battlefield, things that are several times more exaggerated have also happened.

But in this way, the age of director Michael Cimino does not match the time when the recruits were recruited in the spring of 1968. The recruits in 1968 are generally born around 1950. They are less than 30 years old this year, but the director looks almost 40.

Faced with this question, in an interview with Daily Variety, Michael Cimino declared that he was born in 1952 and is only 27 years old this year.

"Have you ever seen such an oily 27-year-old fat man? The hairline is so backward, and the double chin that came out of fat. You are only 27? Who is it?"

Ronnie complains to Gal at an Italian restaurant near New World Productions. In order to find someone to discuss how to deal with the Sleepy Luo incident, Ronald specially invited Gale out for lunch.

"Hahaha, Sleepy Luo. Don't be angry." Gale teased him too.

"How will this affect me?

Gail? You've worked with Mr. Coleman for so long and you've seen so much, I've always had a gut feeling that it's going to burn me in the future. "

"Well, yes, you have been intensively reported by the media these two days. The TV station is showing the two interview clips in which you criticized 'The Deer Hunter'." Gale laughed, "And the clip of yawning."

Ronald rolled the pasta with a fork viciously, and ate it in one bite with the minced tomato sauce.

"But I'm innocent. I actually said good things. The hateful TV station edited my words into that."

"Don't be angry, Ronald. You've done it in the editing room, and you know that editing can go against the original intent, or even cut out the exact opposite. What the media likes most is heat, and now these two Vietnam War movies, for the sake of Oscar was playing so hard, you actually got sucked into it."

"Then what can I do?"

"You can't do anything, Ronald. Of course, nothing to do," Gale said.

"Should I just watch?" Ronald was still angry.

"Yes to a certain extent, as long as you wait until the Oscars are over, there will be no media attention to Dosleep anymore."

It seems to be the case.

Ronald sighed secretly, "Has the screening time for Rock High School been confirmed?"

"Let me see." Gal took out his notebook and checked it. "Yes, it's already set for April 10, the day after the Oscars."

At this time, the TV hanging on the ceiling of the restaurant was turned on by the boss, "Here is KNBC channel (NBC's regional channel in Los Angeles), nominated for Best Director Oscar, the director of this year's Oscar's biggest dark horse 'Deer Hunter' was interviewed by this channel , clarifying his service experience..."

Michael Cimino, with a fat double chin, spoke to the camera:

"The screenwriter of the movie accused me of stealing his work? No no, I'm a good screenwriter myself, and I wrote my last film myself. The first draft he wrote? That's pure rubbish. Write."

"Doylo's point of view? He accuses me of making movies drowsy? I would say that if this is Doylo's true opinion, I advise him not to go the film route. The perception of beauty and art is Talent, talent like him, no matter how hard you work, it's hard to get ahead in the film industry."

Ronald slapped the table angrily, with a bang, attracting everyone's attention, so frightened that he shrank his neck, erected his collar, and put on his sunglasses, "I'm sorry, Gail, I didn't mean it. "

"Anyone who knows me knows I like to joke around, and sometimes I'm half-joking in interviews. Twenty-seven years old? It's half-joking, of course, because I'm young, so I want to try your reporters' minimum skills. Believe me how old I am. Actually, I was born in 1949 and I am 30 years old this year.”

"I believe in you." Ronald muttered angrily.

For the next few days, Ronald had to pretend that he couldn't see the news, and deceived himself like a bell, and couldn't see the sleepy Luo yawning on the TV. Fortunately, the media gradually began to divert the fire, and his yawns appeared less and less on TV.

Called Mara several times, but didn't get her back. It is estimated that she has made her lose face in front of her classmates, and it is not easy to calm down in a short time.

Days go by, and the competition for the Oscars this year is more intense than in previous years. The fat director of "The Deer Hunter," Michael Cimino, is under fire for his age at birth. His justification was getting weaker and weaker. The year of birth retreated from 49 years to 47 years, 45 years, and finally stopped at 43 years.

The mouth of director Fat Boy has no credibility in the film circle, and the public does not like a person who is even a liar at his age. Therefore, everyone is generally skeptical about the plot of Russian roulette, thinking that director and screenwriter Michael Cimino made it up himself.

At this time, Universal Pictures, which had already invested heavily in the "Deer Hunter", finally fought back.

Instead of wasting ammo on Fat Cimino's age, they attacked Jane Fonda directly.

First, Universal united the main actors, nominated Robert De Niro for Best Actor Oscar, Christopher Walken for Best Supporting Actor, and newcomer Meryl Streep for Best Supporting Actress. Stand for the director.

The trio were interviewed on television, and the main argument was that Russian roulette was not about the Vietnam War, but a possibility. The Deer Hunter is not about the Vietnam War, but about the possibility of any war. Fat Boy director Michael Cimino, he is about the human response to any war.

The audience does not need to be serious about whether the plot actually happened on the battlefield in Vietnam. Instead, when watching the movie, focus on the beautiful shots and the destruction of human nature from war.

"So the Russian roulette is made up, it is not the Vietnam War, but a false reference to any war. The male protagonist returns to his hometown and robs his friend's fiancee, which is the destruction of human nature by the war, and it is a criticism of the violence of the Vietnam War."

Ronald complained to Cameron angrily. Just came to the stunt model factory today, and had lunch and chat with Cameron.

"Anyway, this fat guy is always right!"

Universal first played a smoke bomb to justify the Russian roulette plot.

Then they hit the real big game, catching a fatal blunder from "Homecoming" heroine Jane Fonda.

Jane Fonda has said many times that "Homecoming" is the better Vietnam War movie this year. But in a TV interview, Jane Fonda admitted that she hasn't seen "The Deer Hunter" yet.

I haven't watched "The Deer Hunter" and said that his "Return of Honor" is stronger than his opponent. Universal seized this handle and made an all-out attack in the media. This time it was the turn of the "Return of Honor" crew and Jane Fonda to be embarrassed.

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