Exploiting Hollywood 1980

   Chapter 13 What is your dream?

   "Ronald, you said those girls' dreams were the last movie screen, so what was your dream?" Gail asked after picking up the trash together.

"My dream? I don't think I've found my dream yet. I just want to be able to put a name in the credits of 'High School of Rock' so I can charge a higher price for my portrait photography business , auditioning for Hollywood handsome men and women."

   "Why? You are obviously very talented in this line of work." Gale didn't understand that Ronald's "dream" was so realistic, and it had little to do with the film industry.

"To be honest, I don't know if I'm talented in this industry, but I know that people who don't have talent in this industry don't make money. Only those at the top of the pyramid make big money, and most people in the industry don't have much money. I need money, I need to make some money and go to college."

   "Huh? How old are you this year, Ronald?" Gale looked Ronald up and down, a little unconvinced.

   "Yeah, it's hard to believe. This guy just graduated from high school this year. He is four or five years younger than us. He came out to work during the gap year to earn tuition." Jim added with a smile, "I was surprised when I first found out."

   "Are you really good at portraiture?" Gale looked at Ronald.

"Yes, I help people take audition photos, wedding photos, family portraits, etc. in New York. But I don't know Hollywood, Broadway insiders, and clients don't believe me, so I can't make an offer. Each audition set can only be Charge $30-50.

   So I took advantage of the gap year between high school graduation and came to Los Angeles to try my luck. It happened that New World Productions was recruiting screenwriters, so I applied for it, but I didn’t expect to be accepted. Later, I worked as an assistant in the “Rock High School” crew. "

   "Then why don't you take some pictures for the crew and use them for marketing later? I'll tell Mr. Coleman. At the end of today, you won't be the temporary director, so you can make more money."

   "If I can take pictures of the crew, then I'm very happy, and I can take pictures with the stars and hang them in my photography studio. Thank you, Gail." Ronald thanked Gail with a smile.

   "It's nothing", Gail waved his hand, "Then what is your dream? Jim?"

"What about me? I hope to one day make a sci-fi film like Kubrick's '2001 A Space Odyssey'," Jim said. The re-release of the movie, I was hooked, I watched it several times, and I said to myself 'Jim, you must make a movie like this'.

   Then I went to Los Angeles, in the library of UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles), copied all the books I could find about filming and taught myself. As you all know, I found 12 dentists and raised funds to make this short film. Unfortunately, they invested in my short film just to get a tax refund. "

   "What about you, Gail? What's your dream?

"Me? I like movies, so after graduating from Stanford, I didn't go to financial institutions like my classmates, but came to New World as an assistant to Mr. Coleman. During this time, I learned a lot about his work. , I prefer to be a producer. I prefer those parts of financing, negotiation, and marketing, because my father is an investor, and I hope to be a producer of blockbusters in the future." Graduated from a prestigious school, family background, plus She likes movies, so Gale's dream is logical.

   "Then may our dreams come true!"

   "Yeah, dreams come true."

  …

  The one-hour lunch time passed quickly, and the crew and group actors gathered again. Ronald plans to rehearse the remaining two scenes first, and shoot them at the magic hour of the evening sunset.

Ronald invited Mary Voronoff, who played Principal Toga, "Ms Voronoff, we designed the shot like this, you and two security guards, coming from a distance, the students were still dancing along the way. disco, rock 'n' roll on the speakers. You're in a state of trying to get them…”

   "Cut off the wires and confine the students." Mary Voronoff made a very arrogant look and waved her hand down.

"You're in good shape, that's all, you're such a good actor." Ronald praised repeatedly, and then pointed to the grass on the other side of the playground, "When the time comes, you and the security guards will walk across the grass, from panorama to medium shot, on both sides. I will arrange for a few female students to dance, so that when you see them, there is an eye scene to play, and finally you get to the close-up."

   "This shot is well designed." Mary nodded.

   "This scene is your appearance shot. We'll shoot a close-up later, which is the final appearance. That long shot approaching from a distance, we'll shoot it at sunset after 4 o'clock, so..."

   "No problem, I will cooperate with the rehearsal first."

   Unlike her old-fashioned, principal Toga, actor Mary Voronoff is a very "progressive" person. In fact, she is the one who likes rock music the most among the actors, but her acting skills are very good.

   Especially her facial expressions are well controlled. Just now, Xiao Lufeng showed a mixture of contempt, hatred, and eagerness to block rock and roll. Ronald didn't know how to act, and he knew she was good at acting.

   She may be the legendary acting school, right?

  Then rehearse for the last scene of the day: the protagonists, the rock hot girl Liv Randall, and the good girl Kate Rambo, were sentenced to detention by Principal Toga. It was the first time that the good girl was punished, and she was unhappy. Liv came to comfort her, "It doesn't matter if I stay in school, I will stay in school often."

   The two walked slowly towards the teaching building. Liv held a portable tape recorder and played Ramones' music, joking around Kate to make her happy, and finally settled on the backs of the two good sisters in the sunset.

   I have to say that this part of the script, and the director's lens design, are of a very high standard, not like a shoddy low-cost exploitative film. Roger Coleman can always find truly talented people and work for him at minimum wage.

   After rehearsing the two shots several times, the director of photography, Dean, thought it was okay, and Ronald announced that the crew was temporarily suspended.

   This is a common thing in other crews, and some big-name directors can wait a day for a certain light. But on Roger Coleman's crew, it's very rare to wait for the light on the set.

  The actors hid in the dressing room, the group performers also entered the teaching building and could not come out. There were only a few staff members left at the scene. Ronald didn't go to sit on the chair marked with Director Allen's name. Although as an interim director, no one said anything if I really wanted to sit down.

   Thinking of changing back to the crew assistant next week, Ronald is very satisfied with his current state, directing a crew and everyone waiting for him to make a decision. This feeling is very addictive. There are only a few shots left, and Ronald wanted to store the feeling at the moment, and take it out anytime later.

  The sun in winter is very kind, and the Alai 35BL camera sits quietly on the gimbal. The slate was lying on the table next to it, the long recording rod, the furry microphone... Ronald couldn't tell for a while, whether it was these equipment or the person who manipulated them was the protagonist of the filming?

  What is my dream? Will there be a chance to become a real film director? The career of director is too difficult to enter, and it took Ellen and Joe more than 5 years...

   Maybe I can also try being an actor, photographer? I have tasted the taste of making a movie, and I really want to do it again. It is difficult for other occupations to provide this kind of heroism.

   In peacetime, command a team, spend a lot of money, and then wait for the day of the release, the box office, the film review, the victory or defeat is in an instant. Perhaps this is the occupation that comes closest to commanding a general. "

   No wonder everyone wants to be a general and a director. This is a profession that men naturally love.

   (end of this chapter)