"Let the river flow!"
On the pier in the South Side of Manhattan, Carly Simon made a gesture of opening her hands to embrace the world. The speaker next to her was playing a recording of her single, and Carly was lip-syncing live.
Ang Lee directed the camera crew to shoot her MV. However, Ang Lee still has some problems with his English, and he is quite shy, so he always doesn't cooperate well with the camera crew. There was also a problem with directing Carly to make certain poses. After two test shots, there were always problems with the camera movement.
"What are you going to do? Don't you direct it?" asked Dances with Wolves live producer Polly Platt. She had just come back from the set in South Dakota to give Ronald a scolding about Kevin Costner's squandering of the budget. Filming of the big scene of the bison hunt had been stalled for three weeks, and he had yet to get a picture he was satisfied with.
Ronald learned about the situation. In fact, Costner had a good idea of what kind of scenes he wanted to shoot, but he had just become a director and lacked experience in how to use technical means to achieve his goals.
While Polly Platt complained, she also recognized Costner's talent and could not entirely blame him for the slow progress of filming. The number of Western film shootings in Hollywood has been shrinking year by year. Nowadays, Western films are developing in the direction of feature films. There are very few such big scenes, so that the crew has not found a few experienced Western film shooting experts.
Like the miniseries "Lone Dove" shot by Diane, compared with the imitation of the 1950s movie "Red River", the large number of cavalry charging scenes are reduced to only one or two scenes. Nowadays, ranches are using automobile machinery on a large scale, and horseback riding cowboys are already facing operational difficulties. The difficulty and cost of finding such group performers are not comparable to what they were back then.
"He didn't need me to direct..." Ronald remembered that the "Love to the Bottom" filmed by Helen was also produced by Polly, and he also directed director Cameron Crowe on the scene. Ang Lee's problem is different from him. He is very good at filming. The problem is just the Eastern tradition. He doesn't know how to communicate with the staff and actors.
"Just set up the camera here and do a close-up of Carly's upper body. Don't move. Carly, I want you to sing like you're in the studio. Don't think about the performance, just sing. Yes, your singing is the most beautiful, showing your true feelings."
Sure enough, Ang Lee discovered the problem and immediately came up with a solution. Since we can't communicate well and can't explain clearly, let's just use a still shot and take a close-up shot of the heroine. Everyone adjusts the light and shoots like this. It can’t be complicated, simple is fine.
Ronald smiled slightly, this method is actually quite good. Anyway, Carly Simon’s scenes were mixed with the movie in the post-production process.
"Polly, you take two days off in New York and reunite with your children for a weekend. I asked Bannon to contact you. He has wanted to invest in this project for a long time, so just give him a chance. Anyway, we don't expect to make any money from this movie. Big money.”
As soon as Polly Platt heard that additional investment was coming, she immediately said there was no problem.
"Ronald, your phone number." Little Bud got out of the car and called to Ronald.
"Hello……"
"Ronnie, are you free tonight? I have something to talk to you about." The caller was Diane, "I talked to my dad, Bert, and asked Donna, and they all thought I wanted to talk to you. Let’s talk in person, can you make time to come to my apartment in the evening? How about eight o’clock?”
"What's going on?"
"You'll know it when you come here. It's not a big deal. I have a decision to make. You are one of the most important... people in my life. I have to discuss it with you."
"Don't you want plastic surgery?" Ronald was really worried about what was going on. Before he could continue, Diane had already hung up the phone opposite, and a busy tone came from the phone.
"Crooked? Rick (Nisita), what's going on with your wife Paula? Diane is going to talk to me about plastic surgery today. Where did she go to persuade her?" Ronald hurriedly hung up the phone to his agent. .
"Paula persuaded her and talked about a lot of pros and cons. Diane probably won't want plastic surgery anymore. However, our agent can't actually dissuade her from this kind of thing. After all, it is the actor's own decision. America is a free person In this country, we can only give suggestions..."
"Why is this, why can't you do this well..." Ronald was angry.
"Stop complaining. Our agent has no influence on this kind of thing, especially since she has seen the conditions of other actresses after plastic surgery. You still have a chance to persuade Diane in person."
"Yeah, I'm really anxious." Ronald was quite anxious, "What should I say tonight?"
“Wait a moment, and I’ll ask Paula.”
After a while, Paula Wagner called and said, "I'm really sorry, Ronald. I thought I had convinced her, but recently some footage of Batman leaked and Kim Basinger seemed young. Over the age of ten, Hollywood's female stars are going crazy.
When you talk to Diane, don't deny her feelings to her face. Actresses are very sensitive. Not to mention the shortcomings of plastic surgery, these have been carefully considered by them. You should care more and eliminate their inner insecurities..."
Ronald listened to his agent's words for a long time and gained some confidence. In short, I just care about it, delay it, and let other actresses try it first to see the effect.
"If it doesn't work, I agree to let her get the scar at the corner of her eye done..." Ronald made up his mind.
…
"Brother Ronnie, you're here." Diane lived in a small apartment in lower Manhattan that she bought with her salary from the film, and kept it very clean.
She sat Ronald on the sofa, made him a cup of coffee, and then sat next to him obediently, acting like a little woman.
"It seems that he really wants something and wants to have plastic surgery." Ronald secretly thought that it was not good. Even the instant coffee was upgraded to espresso. The first smell was that it was made by the coffee machine.
"Actually... I've already asked dad Bert, and he said that as long as I feel happy..."
"Hmm...?" Ronald took a sip of espresso. He didn't dare to drink more. Diane's cooking skills were really not trustworthy. As expected, the coffee was very sour. He handed the coffee to his left hand... all this was due to the old man. Dad agreed? Isn’t Old Bert the most demanding of his daughter’s acting skills? Can you still take close-ups of your daughter after plastic surgery?
"I asked Donna today, and she agreed...agreed to me doing this..."
"Okay, even my cousin got through?" Ronald pursed his lips and continued to shake the coffee. It would have been nice to have some sugar and milk. Unfortunately, the Diane coffee machine was also newly purchased and had nothing.
He adjusted his thoughts and remembered what Paula Wagner said. Women's thinking is not as linear as men's, and they have to take into account their feelings.
"What, Diane, no matter what you become, I will always love you...ahem, I mean, I love you just as much as Bert and Donna..."
"Hehe, you are so kind, Ronnie..." Diane hugged him tightly and kissed Ronald, "I have also prepared legal documents, you don't have to worry about any burden."
With that said, Diane ran to the bedroom, took out a document and handed it to Ronald.
"Are you determined to have plastic surgery? Have you even prepared the legal documents?" Ronald's heart sank, this is too scheming.
what to do? Ronald thought back to his discussion with Paula Wagner and slowly thought of his words. First affirm Diane's feelings, and then let her delay.
Diane also widened her eyes, watching Ronald's expression.
"Then what... how about we give it a try first and then take it slow depending on the situation?"
"You still want to take your time? I..." Diane's eyes dimmed, but she still held Ronald's arm and didn't let go.
"Okay..." Seeing that Diane had softened, Ronald reached out and opened the document.
"Then don't make me wait too long. At most, I'll let you and Helen get together every once in a while. I won't interfere with you..."
"Okay...ah!" Ronald was shocked when he heard it...his hand shook and the coffee spilled into a puddle of documents.
He quickly took a napkin and wiped the document. Did I hear it wrong? Just now Diane seemed to be saying that I should maintain a relationship with Helen. What does this mean? Is she going to marry me?
After wiping away the coffee stains, Ronald opened the document, and sure enough, the first page read, "Prenuptial Agreement."
Ronald looked through the contents of the document. In this prenuptial agreement drafted by a lawyer, Diane made a great sacrifice and voluntarily gave up all recourse rights to joint income after marriage. Even if they divorced, she would also give up her share of Ronald's property. .
She only asked Ronald to guarantee that he would pay the child support based on her current annual income, plus an annual adjustment for inflation. This means that if the two of them divorce in the future, she will get nothing extra.
"Why?", Ronald looked at Diane, wanting to know the answer.
"I just want to be with you..." When Diane was involved in the Spielberg divorce case, she knew that this would be a huge blow to the willingness of successful men in Hollywood to get married.
If there is some truth to Martha Lucas's huge child support (she herself is a famous editor and has made many uncredited contributions to the editing of Star Wars), Amy Irving is simply After giving birth to a son, he got a share of 100 million US dollars.
Ronald looked at the agreement and then at Diane.
"The first time I attended the Oscars, I was disliked by the male guests. You were the gentleman who let me sit next to you without making a fool of yourself.
Later, after I ran away from my mother in Tennessee, I was threatened by little Zinnemann, and I was bullied by Estevez on the set... Every time I had a problem that I couldn't solve, you fell from the sky like a superhero and helped me. Get rid of all the problems.
My career hit a low point, and you helped me get the role I wanted. Every time I do something bad, you are like a big brother and make me feel at ease.
I just want to be with you, I am willing to prepare coffee for you every day, pick up dry cleaning clothes for you, prepare three meals for you, and I also want to have children for you..."
Ronald looked at the girl in his arms. These were all dreams he had many years ago, but he didn't expect that she would realize them...
Diane continued to tell her thoughts slowly, "My father and mother divorced when I was very young, and they fought for my custody for a long time.
But when I went to ask Bert for permission this time, I found a recording of their quarrel on the phone at home. All these years later, Burt still recorded every phone call from his mother, even if it wasn't a discussion about custody but just some trivial quarrels from their youth, he would still record them.
Sometimes, he would secretly play the recording to himself.
I think this is love, but it is blinded by some unimportant things. I didn't want to repeat their pattern, so I asked a famous New York divorce lawyer to draft this document... Ronald, will you marry me? "
"Hey..." Ronald hugged Diane and was filled with emotion. The life that I dreamed of before appeared in front of me again when I didn't expect it. Aroused his inner desire for family life.
"I do, Diane." Ronald stroked the small scar at the corner of Diane's eye with his hand. He didn't expect that the woman would propose to him when he got married.
"But I still have some things to deal with. I have to let the lawyer read this agreement. And... and Helen, I have to tell her the news in person."
"You don't have to worry..." Diane thought that Helen and I had already made an agreement, but she smiled and buried her head in Ronald's arms, "I'm so happy..."
…
The next day in the apartment on Fifth Avenue, Ronald found Helen Slater in New York. He had to explain the marriage to her in person.
Helen didn't notice and talked a lot about the preparations for the new film. She and Nora Ephron also found some audition photos of male actors. According to Ephron, he already has several suitable male protagonist candidates in his mind. They are very masculine. taste.
"What's wrong with you? You seem to have a lot of worries today?" Seeing Ronald's silence, Helen still discovered the problem.
"Helen, I'm getting married."
"Congratulations, with Diane, right?" The light in Helen Slater's eyes dimmed, but she still congratulated Ronald.
"I don't want to lie to you. I don't want you to read the news about what just happened in the newspaper. Anyway, I owe you an explanation."
"Stop talking, are you breaking up with me too?" Helen touched Ronald's lips with her hand and made a gesture to speak individually.
"What?"
"I've known it for a long time. The last time you had the flu, Diane and I made an agreement. Don't say bad things about each other, but don't appear in front of each other either."
"This..." Ronald didn't expect that they really had an agreement.
"I'm not a person suitable for marriage. If you repeat it day after day, I will feel uncomfortable. However, I also have a condition. If you and Diane have a child, I also want one."
…
Ronald obtained Helen's forgiveness, and the next step was to inform all his relatives and friends.
My aunt has already traveled to the Mediterranean for her honeymoon, and she was extremely happy there. Donna knew this a long time ago and was very happy that her best friend married her brother. Ronald made a special trip to old Bert's place. Bert still said the same old thing, wishing Diane happiness.
Only when the agent was notified, Richard and Niceta flew to New York with Paula Wagner and Daniel Jaffe, the most famous divorce lawyer in Los Angeles.
…
Richard and Niceta were actually more happy about Ronald's sudden announcement of marriage. The wife of the largest client is a client of Niceta's wife Paula, which promotes a closer relationship between the two of them.
Besides, Ronald, who is already close to thirty, has reached the time to get married. He is not the kind of playboy with a good reputation. During the last flu crisis, many people had already doubted his orientation. He has a marriage partner. It's a very good thing.
The one who was dissatisfied was the famous divorce lawyer Daniel Jaffe. He had been in the industry for 25 years and was one of the few lawyers specializing in divorce listed in The Best Lawyers in America in 1987.
"Which lawyer drafted this agreement? These terms..." Jaffe said dissatisfiedly as he flipped through the agreement that smelled of coffee.
"It seems that the name is Robert Cohen. The terms are too unfair to Diane." Ronald felt that this was Diane's sincerity and he couldn't be so mean.
"No, it's too unfair to you. If you sign this agreement, you will end up worse than Spielberg."
"Why?" Ronald was confused and looked at private lawyer Lindsay Dole.
Lindsay briefly guessed the trap and raised his hand to signal Lawyer Jaffe to continue.
"This prenuptial agreement is obviously a trap. Robert Cohen is the most famous divorce lawyer in New York, but his methods are still too rough."
Jaffe began to disparage his peers' methods. There are obvious loopholes in the prenuptial agreement. No matter which state it is in, it will probably end up like Spielberg and be ruled invalid.
And the agreement in Ronald's hands is even more embarrassing than Spielberg's. He just didn't understand the law and made a joke. If Ronald's agreement is leaked, everyone in the country will know that he is a miser who loves money as much as his life. By then, both his property and reputation will be lost.
"Your income as a director, screenwriter, and producer must reasonably consider Diane's contribution. The success you achieve is inseparable from the care and compromise of your wife. Any court will consider reasonable contributions. Do not give Judge for any reason.
As for the income you make from running your business and investing, there are some technical details that can be used to circumvent it. Presumably your fiancee won't care too much. Business operations are related to the jobs of many employees. If they are involved in a protracted division lawsuit due to divorce, it will affect their lives, and the judge will consider it appropriately.
When investing, you should consider setting up a family office to make this part of your wealth indivisible. You can consider giving the fiancée some income rights. Such an arrangement will prevent the public and the judge from saying anything, and it will also give the other party's lawyer no incentive to reveal certain terms of the agreement. "
Ronald nodded, this agreement does need to be modified.
"Also, do you have any other long-term girlfriends that you will maintain a relationship with after marriage?"
"Ah..." After Lindsay Dole said there was no need to worry, Ronald's privacy was protected by attorney-client privilege, Ronald revealed his long-term relationship with Helen, and the relationship between her and Diane. understanding.
"Understanding is not enough. There are always countless loopholes in the law. You can't guarantee that her thoughts will remain unchanged after you get married, or a few years later. It's best to be prepared."
Jaffe explained to Ronald that although the laws of New York and California did not support fault divorce, they also had many provisions to protect legal spouses and the recognition of de facto cohabiting relationships. If Ronald and Helen were in a de facto cohabitation relationship. It would be troublesome if a lawsuit broke out, whether it was a potential divorce or Helen suing him for child support.
"What should we do?"
"Buy her a house next to your usual residence..." Jaffe suggested. As adult male and female neighbors, the two have romantic encounters from time to time, which does not constitute a cohabitation relationship.
"Phew, I just bought her a loft," Ronald thought. Fortunately, I bought her an extra apartment on Fifth Avenue.
"Okay, let's find a time. Miss Lindsay and I will formally discuss it with the other party's lawyer, and you and your fiancée, Miss Lane, can come and sign."
"Marriage turns out to be so realistic, I almost lost the romantic feeling." Ronald let out a sigh of relief.
"For an ordinary person, of course this is the case, but you are a successful person. It is no longer your responsibility alone. You must find a way to provide some protection to the ordinary people who work for you, Mr. Li.
This is the most responsible idea for marriage. I wish you a happy wedding in advance. "
Jaffe has handled many difficult divorce cases for celebrities and wealthy individuals. I admire Ronald very much, a man who is considered to be kind and righteous among these two types of people. In addition, he is able to understand the opinions of lawyers and adopt professional opinions, which is even more extraordinary.
"Thank you..." Ronald put these things behind him and resumed his longing for marriage.
…
"Where are we going?" Diane sat in the passenger seat of Ronald's new BMW. This was a small gift he gave to Diane. Ronald was driving today.
"There are still some technical details in the agreement, dear. Let's finish it as soon as possible..."
The two looked at each other and smiled, then kissed each other quickly.
"Didi...", the car behind honked its horn.
"Hey, it's not our problem, there are people protesting in front..." Ronald opened the car window and said to the people behind him.
"What happened? I still have to go to Wall Street?" The man behind was obviously very anxious.
"Release, release..." A group of blacks and Latinos walked past, holding large signs.
Ronald took a look and realized that he was complaining about the young woman who was attacked in Central Park last time.
The five suspects were quickly found guilty, and the developer advertised that they would be sentenced to death. Many blacks and Latinos were dissatisfied and took to the streets to protest.
They said that these five people all confessed under pressure, and later overturned their confessions. It was obvious that the NYPD was trying to induce the confessions.
Because these five people had no factual evidence and were convicted based entirely on their confessions, everyone was dissatisfied and demanded a retrial.
Ronald didn't know if what they said made sense. He only knew that he was going to be late for the things he had arranged.
"How about we call the lawyer and come over later?" Diane suggested as he went out to look at the congestion.
"In this way, I know a shortcut." Ronald simply parked the car on the edge of Fifth Avenue, which was very close to Robert Cohen's law office. Originally, we walked south along Fifth Avenue and turned the corner at 23rd. However, the Chelsea community here is also a residential area for people of color, and the protestors blocked the road tightly.
Ronald took Diane's hand and walked towards the building on the roadside regardless of the NYPD sticker that was about to come over the new car.
Ronald took Diane through the door, walked down a flight of stairs, and opened an underground fire door, which revealed a long fire escape.
"Do you know the roads?" Diane, an old Manhattanite, knows that these midtown roads are similar to small roads, but only those who are familiar with them know how to pass between the buildings. Ronnie is from Staten Island...
"Don't worry, I was filming here when I was on the set of "Famous" and I know a small path." Ronald walked forward confidently.
The fire door was pushed open again, and there was no longer a fire escape inside, but a hall, but it was dark inside.
"Where is this? Are we going wrong?" Diane looked around.
"Pick one." Ronald snapped his fingers.
Richard across from me clapped twice, bang bang.
One lamp after another was lit, and bright lights came on one after another. The spotlights shine on the dark blue velvet counters, reflecting colorful light from the glass and transparent stones on the velvet.
"Oh, My God", Diane opened her mouth in surprise.
This is not a shortcut, but the Cartier store on Fifth Avenue. What they walked into happened to be the ring section. There were two rows of diamond rings on each counter. Behind each counter, there was a salesperson in formal clothes standing behind, ready to serve at any time.
"Oh, My God", Diane said several times and covered her mouth. She had no choice but to take the initiative to propose. Which girl doesn't want to be proposed to by the man she loves? This kind of romantic scene should be remembered for a lifetime.
"I think these are good..." Ronald asked Diane, pointing to the ring.
"Oh, My God" Diane was still repeating this sentence, she was a little speechless.
"Diane Lane, will you marry me?" Ronald knelt down on one knee...
(End of chapter)
