Exploiting Hollywood 1980

  Chapter 3 Magic Rays

   Ronald drove to Van Nuys High School early in the morning.

   The dream last night was not like a dream, but a memory from a previous life. The images of the first three minutes were so clear that it seemed like a TV was playing in his mind.

   In his dream, he was not the "Rock High School" he saw in the movie theater. There are far fewer people sitting there than in a movie theater, and the screen is much smaller. The black box that the machine spat out at the end seemed to be a VHS videotape, a new toy invented by Dongying's company.

   It seems that the film "Rock High School" must be relatively successful, otherwise it would not be possible to release it overseas.

  It's a pity that the movie was interrupted after only 3 minutes...

  Ronald thought as he filled out the shooting log.

   Date: Saturday, December 16, 1978

  Location: Van Nuys High School, Hollywood, Los Angeles

  Assembly time:…

   raised his wrist and looked at his watch, it was 5:30 and continued to write in the log: 05:30.

  Los Angeles is not cold in winter, so he just put on a jacket over a white T-shirt, with a **** pack slumped around his waist. Put the ballpoint pen in my pocket, take out a small notebook, and turn to a folded page with the sunrise time I called the weather station yesterday—06:48.

   Ronald looked at his watch again, it was 5:31, he frowned with a tsk, the director had not arrived yet.

   went to the first assistant director of the crew: "cough..." Ronald cleared his throat and was about to speak.

  Jim ran from the opposite side and asked first what he wanted to ask: "Where is Director Allen? Where's Joe Dante?"

  The signed director of the crew is Alan Akush, and the two are actually co-directors. Sometimes Joe Dante can even call the shots and decide what to do. So much so that there were some rumors on the set that they were "good friends".

   The first assistant director shrugged, expressing that he did not know where the two were going. This assistant director is a little weak and will only do things according to the director's instructions. Ronald pouted and was about to speak when Jim pulled him.

After the two walked aside, Jim whispered, "You didn't come last night. I saw the director went to the Roxie Bar with the Ramones after the party last night. It's crazy there."

  Jim said a gossip that was circulating on the set. The crew always has a lot of gossip, some true and some false. If you want to eat well on the set, you have to **** up your ears. And make friends widely.

   Ronald was not used to Jim's long "Beatles" hair. He cut a slightly shorter three or seven points, but the beard hasn't been shaved for a long time since the film started, and now it's a full beard.

  Although his image is similar to people in the "artistic circle", he doesn't smoke with the crew (maybe they smoke other stuff), and he doesn't like to talk about spirituality, anti-nuclear, yoga...etc. So when it comes to gossip news, no Jim is well-informed.

   "Well, it looks like the director will be late today" Ronald said and took out the shooting log and handed it to Jim.

  Jim took it, and the two of them confirmed today's shooting arrangements one by one.

   Aligned the journal, Ronald took out a few more pencil drawings and handed them to Jim.

"what is this?"

   "The storyboard I drew last night."

   Ronald replied that after he woke up last night, he drew the first three scenes of the movie according to the revelation in his dream.

  The storyboard, referred to as the storyboard, is to draw the content depicted in the script into a picture, like a magnified little book. The director will use it for reference, set the shooting schedule, direct post-editing, etc. If making a movie is like building a house, then the shot draft is the architectural blueprint.

  Jim was amazed, and repeatedly praised Ronald's drawing so well that he could take pictures.

  The two are not ordinary assistants who come to mess things up, and they both want to enter the film industry through this. So come early and leave late, making coffee while observing and learning.

   The two directors did not regard them as ordinary crew assistants. In addition to doing chores, the two also participated in some shooting-related matters.

  Jim usually follows the director, watching the director talk to the actors;

  Ronald was responsible for a lot of chores, organizing extra rehearsal, filling out the shooting log, helping the director shout passwords, recording the number of people who ate lunch, etc...

  If there is time, the two directors will also give them a few words about their shooting skills and experience.

"The two directors haven't come yet. Today we have to take advantage of the light before and after the sunrise. We have to prepare first, otherwise we will miss the time window for shooting." Jim looked at the time on the shooting log and said, he always put the Think as a director yourself.

"OK. Let's go to the assistant director... Forget it, it's not very useful to find the assistant director who can only listen. Let's go to the director of photography first." Ronald said and Jim went to the director of photography Dean Candy (Dean Cundey).

  The director of photography is the head of the photography team, and he is installing the camera's crane arm with his three strong guys.

   Ronald asked, "Mr. Candy, the director hasn't arrived yet. If we don't start rehearsing and moving positions right now, we won't be able to catch the sunrise. Is it possible that the shooting will be delayed?"

The director of photography was reluctant to answer such rudimentary questions to the two assistants, but after seeing Ronald's miraculous performance yesterday, he made an effort and gestured to his first camera assistant, who was also a follower, and the chief coolie who pushed and pulled the camera. A red-haired boy answered.

"Only 20 minutes before and after sunrise is called magic light. During this time, the sky is already bright, but the sun has not come directly, just like nature has helped you with background lighting. After time, you can't take that kind of picture. already."

   "Then we have to start filming preparations now. I will coordinate the rehearsal with the group, Jim will invite the three heroines to take their seats, Mr. Dean, you will start preparing the camera. Is this arrangement okay?"

  The bearded director of photography was reticent to speak, and waved his hand to approve Ronald's arrangement. Ronald looked at Jim, "OK!"

   There are nearly 30 group performances today, all of them are students of Van Nuys High School. The filming was about the beginning of high school, and there were drama clubs, science clubs, football teams and others set up a stage to welcome freshmen, and there were also some dancing scenes.

Ronald picked up the electric horn and started shouting to the group: "Boys and girls from Van Nuys High School!, thank you all for coming to "Shake..." for the filming of the "Life in High School" movie. We're going to shoot today It's a welcome new student, are you all ready to show your face on the screen?"

"Ready!"

   "Okay, let me divide the group. You, you,... stand here; you, you... stand here; those in skirts, two people in skirts stand in the front row; the football team is here...;

  You, you, you, the four of you who are good-looking are standing behind the stage of the drama club; the few of you who look like a scholar wearing glasses are standing in the science club...

  Ok, do you all know where you are? "

   "Football team, you just need to pick up one of our freshman actors, prank them, and carry him along this road...

  Other people at their reserved booths, talking to each other. "

   "Let's rehearse..."

"Very good, everyone remember, don't look at the camera! I repeat, everyone, don't look at the camera! We are shooting you talking to each other, not you looking at the camera and giggle. Whoever looks at the camera, I will take him The picture is cut out, you know?"

   "If you want to be in a movie, if you want your parents and boyfriends and girlfriends to see your faces in the cinema, if you want to be the most popular person in your class, don't look at the camera! Let's practice again..."

   "Very good, now everyone is going to change clothes, and the girls are going to touch up their makeup. It's 5:45, I'll give you 10 minutes, and 10 minutes later, it's 5:55, everyone put on the prescribed clothes and gather here."

   temporarily disbanded the group performance, Ronald hurriedly walked to a group of people gathered beside the camera, "Who saw the scene record? Has anyone seen the scene record Jenny?"

   "Ronnie, I'm here." A female voice came from behind.

   Ronald looked back and saw that Jenny was holding the shooting journal in one hand and writing in a large book in the other.

  The scene record is also called the continuity supervisor, who is responsible for keeping the props and costumes of each scene consistent to prevent them from being worn out. It's a delicate job.

  Ronald walked over, picked up the slate, pointed to the words on it and lowered his voice: "Jenny, the title of the film here needs to be changed, it can't be called 'Rock High School', it has to be called 'High School Life'".

   (end of this chapter)