Edwood is considered the "worst director of all time". However, after Ed's death, he gradually gained a worldwide reputation and a new generation of fans, as he became more and more a clear label: someone so indulged in dreams and gave up everything before and after his life to dreams . The film "Edwood" selects the production process of three Edwood's films, showing the story of Edwood's unrecognized, difficult steps but still maintaining enthusiasm, willingness to sacrifice and courage to persevere on the film road.
"Sudden Men and Women"
Edwood was dressed as a girl by his mother since he was a child, which made him accustomed to dressing up in women's clothes, even when he was in the army, he secretly wore women's underwear, and intersex people were not understood at that time. When it was learned that producer Wess was going to create a movie based on a story about a male officer exposing femininity. Edwood immediately actively sought the directorship of the film "Sudden Men and Women". He made no secret of his desire to direct the film when the producer George Weiss offered himself, saying that he had been waiting for this play all his life. In order to prove that he understands the male protagonist's archetypal intersex psychology better, Edwood does not hesitate to admit that he is a womanizer's privacy. Even so, Wes rejected Wood.
Turnarounds are always reserved for those who persevere. Rather than being blessed to meet Bella Rugersey, the vampire Dracula star, Wood never missed a chance to get filmmaking. The low price of the film led to the joining of old stars, the promise of low cost and a short time limit, and the responsibility for the film was all-inclusive...Let Wood act as the screenwriter, director, and starring role of "Sudden Boys and Girls". They have to avoid the police without the permission of the filming, and invite their friends and girlfriends to participate in the film to reduce the cost... The shooting conditions are so harsh, but Wood has always advertised a high sense of responsibility and mission. An enlightening film. "I want this film to tell people the real thing (intersex people)," he said.
Edwood was full of confidence in his film. As soon as it was finished, he took the film to see Mr. Feldman of Warner Company, hoping that he could invest in the newly conceived film "Atomic Bride" after watching it. Edwood calls himself a genius without any humility. That kind of nature is definitely not pretending, but the self-confidence and pride in the work that radiates from the bones. However, the result disappointed Wood. No theaters in New York are willing to show "Sudden Boys", and was criticized by producer Weiss, "I wish I had never participated in the production of this disgusting movie." At the same time, Mr. Feldman of Warner Company also said, "I haven't seen it. such a bad movie."
"Atomic Bride"
If you're knocked down by a single blow, it's not Edwood. Edwood was frustrated for no more than three seconds. Facing his girlfriend, "Maybe you're not suitable for making movies, maybe you can be a producer and raise your own money", Edwood only heard the positive parts. "Being a producer myself" was a determined next step on his cinematic path. The words of the prophet Criswell gave Edwood a revelation: "As long as you look well-dressed and trustworthy and articulate, people will believe everything you say." The horns: Wrestler Thor Johnson, girlfriend Dolores Fuller, vampire actor Bella Rugersey and the production team began lobbying at various parties to find investors.
The film shows the compromises and sacrifices producers have to make in order to obtain investment through Edwood's experience as a producer. In order to get funds to withstand the pressure of his girlfriend's breakup and coercion, he changed the heroine's role. He did not hesitate to kneel down to the popular female star Wampila, compromised with Mr. McCoy, a meat dealer, and revised the details of the script and arranged a hero role for his son... The "Atomic Bride" is still shoddy, with color-blind photographers, even smuggling homemade props, amateur actors, all kinds of costumes, and every scene is a pass. But Edwood was very fond of this play. Sitting in the director's chair, he couldn't help but read the lines with the actors, and he didn't care about all kinds of costumes. However, the audience did not buy it. At the premiere, the main creators were thrown away by the audience, and Edwood had to take everyone away.
Maybe as he said, what he loves is storytelling, and the emotional delivery of the film is what he thinks is the most precious part, especially his line "I have no home, I am hunted, I am despised, I live like an animal, the jungle It's my home, but I want to show the world that I can still be a master, and I want to make people of my race more perfect..." This is not only written for the characters, but also for the actors who play them - Zeng Shi Fengyun It was written by the outdated star Bella Rugersey, who was later forgotten and abandoned by the world. It was also written for the film industry who considered herself to be talented and had a sense of super-time trend but was not paid attention to and recognized. People often ridicule Edwood's films for being unintelligible, when in fact his films are all about his experiences.
"Plan Ninth Outer Space"
For another example, the death of childhood film and television classic Bella Rugersey in poverty, loneliness, and drug erosion made Edwood very sad. He had vowed to make Bella appear on the screen again, so he cut the last image of Bella into the movie "The Ninth Plan of Outer Space", and found a substitute for Bella, so that Bella on the screen Returning from the grave, like Bella once played the vampire Dracula. The financing of "Project Ninth Outer Space" reflects Edwood's shrewd business acumen. A church wanted to shoot 12 films to promote morality, but the initial cost was not enough to finish all the films. Edwood seized the opportunity to sell one of his own. A commercial film that promises profits back to the preacher to make moral films.
To this end, Edwood and the rest of the crew agreed to be baptized, and agreed to change the film's title from "Grave Raiders from Outer Space" to "Plan 9 in Outer Space." But the funders were very dissatisfied with the tomb-digging footage and various flaws, and even wanted to replace the director. A depressed Edwood meets Orson Welles, a major producer who is raising money for the third phase of Don Quixote, at a bar. As a super fanboy, Edwood had a conversation with Orson Welles, revealing the common reality and helplessness of producers struggling to survive in raising funds, sticking to their hearts, and defending art. "- Mr. Wells, do you think it's worth it?" "- The movie is worth fighting for."
As if encouraged by his comrades on the united front, Edwood was determined to complete the film according to his own ideas. "Because the dream of an artist can't be compromised with you, you can pack and leave, but you can stay if you shut up and do as I say." Domineering, dirty Edwood. In addition to paying tribute to the late star Bella Rugethy, the film's release ceremony also conveyed Edwood's desire to use the film to tell people his respect for the unknown space, the unknown territory, and the call to people's tolerance and openness: "We Curious about the future, because we will spend the rest of our lives there, remember my friends, things like these will affect you in the future..."
Whether the audience's applause at the premiere of the film "Project Ninth in Outer Space" is in line with the facts is unknown. Edwood, who was struggling in Hollywood, never achieved much. Later in his life, he indulged in alcohol, demons, and pornographic movies. However, I believe that people who are so devoted to their dreams will fall where they can reach their dreams even if they die.
Ed Wood (1924-1978)
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