Exploiting Hollywood 1980

  Chapter 30 Classified Advertisements

   On Christmas Eve morning, Ronald walked out of the apartment door.

   bought "Daily Variety Show" at a newsstand not far from the apartment, and two Hollywood professional newspapers, "The Hollywood Reporter", plus one Los Angeles Times.

"Merry Christmas!"

"Merry Christmas!"

   Greeted the stall owner, Ronald looked on his way home. He's going to study three newspapers and advertise portrait photography in them.

  Ronald flipped through two professional newspapers. There were very few advertisements, and it was estimated that the price was not cheap. He couldn't do it himself. Picked up the Los Angeles Times again and turned to the classifieds.

   There are thick stacks of classified advertisements, and these columns are all for individuals to publish, and each person only has a piece the size of dried tofu. Weddings, obituaries, marriage applications, and finally turned to the page of service.

   "Hollywood portrait photographer, 120 yuan, available on the day."

   "10 years of portrait shooting experience, good at guiding subjects"

   "If you're handsome, don't have cash, and want an audition photo, please call..."

  …

   Ronald felt that the market was good and there was a lot to do.

  Find out the hotline for the publication of classified ads, Ronald found a phone booth to call, and asked for the address of the nearest intermediary office. It was not far away, so Ronald simply walked there.

While walking, I flipped through the daily variety shows, specializing in Hollywood newspapers, of course, the content was full of the start-up of a certain crew, rumors that the female lead and the director were at odds, a certain actor fell in love with the actress of the same show, and openly went out of line , and so on the gossip news.

   "Jane Fonda's new wedding ring is controversial. Is it suitable for a married woman to cheat in the movie?"

   This is about this year's blockbuster "Coming Home".

  Jane Fonda plays the wife of a Vietnam War officer in the film. During her husband's service in Vietnam, she still wore a wedding ring and had an affair with a former high school male god, now a disabled soldier.

   Ronald remembers that Aunt Karen disliked the movie and complained on the phone that "Hanoi Jane" had ruined the honor of their Vietnam War wives.

   "The DeerHunter is well-received, can it win the Oscar nomination battle?"

   This is about the new movie "The Deer Hunter" that Demi Moore wants to see. The report said the film was only released for seven days, which was intentional, meeting the minimum screening requirements for the Oscars.

   Not many people have seen this film, everyone just talks about it. It seems that after reading it, it is a relationship and a friend, a real insider.

  This is marketing, raising the expectations of the audience. Ronald secretly admired it, and now that the film's reputation is overwhelming, the Oscar nomination is expected to be expected.

   went to the intermediary company that issued the classified advertisements, Ronald asked the price, and bought four linked positions in a row.

   "What do you want to post? You can write it here", the staff handed over a piece of paper.

   Ronald picks up the pencil:

   "A full member of the director's union, explaining how to take audition photos in order to be favored by directors."

   "The author has worked as a screenwriter, assistant director, stills photographer and other positions, and has rich experience."

   "Contrary to what most people understand, the more beautiful the audition photos are, the better."

   "Indoor or outdoor? Black and white or color? The author analyzes it in detail."

   "The basic package is 99 yuan, and the upgrade package is 149 yuan."

   "Please call for details..."

   "Can you put pictures?" Ronald asked.

   "Yes, but only in black and white."

   Ronald took out a small photo of Demi Moore that was reproduced and handed it to the staff, "Just put it in the upper left corner. The text starts below the photo."

   The staff took the photo and asked, "How many days do you want to send it?"

   "Three days."

   It happened to be a holiday, people were at home, and more people would read newspapers. And there are fewer weddings at Christmas, so newspapers have plenty of vacancies to choose from. Ronald wanted to take the opportunity to do it for three days in a row.

   Holding the receipt from the staff with the publication date of the advertisement, Ronald returned to the apartment.

  Today is Christmas Eve and Ronald hangs up to greet Aunt Karen and finds he has nowhere to go.

  Thinking that after the advertisement was published, many people may call to inquire, and he was going to work to study editing after the holiday, Ronald considered whether to buy an answering machine.

   took out the phone book and looked up the phone number of the electronics store RadioShack. The staff of Rui Shark said that the cheapest one was $1,000, so Ronald hung up the phone immediately.

   This money is not as good as asking someone to answer the phone.

   was thinking about his business when Mrs. Weber next door knocked on the door, "Ronald, are you there? Come to my house for Christmas dinner today, I made turkey."

   Mrs. Weber is also a single mother. Her daughter is in grade 12 of high school. Mrs. Weber used to work as a waiter in a restaurant, and now she is a secretary of a small company. The similar family backgrounds allow Mrs. Webb and Ronald to communicate more often. Knowing that Ronald was alone in Los Angeles, he invited him over for Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve.

   Ronald was very happy, he had nowhere to go today.

  Cameron went home to accompany his wife Sharon. This workaholic usually doesn't come home, and his wife has a lot of opinions. Gail went back to his parents' house, and the other colleagues and friends were also natives of Los Angeles, and Ronald didn't know them so well that he wasn't invited to a family dinner and couldn't go.

   He was invited to various young people's carnival parties, but Ronald didn't want to go. Alcohol and drug abuse made him avoid it.

   He went out and bought a bottle of red wine, wrapped it in a paper bag, and gave it to Mrs. Weber as a present.

When    came in, Mrs. Webb came out of the kitchen with a roast chicken. Ronald stepped forward to help. The three sat down at the table:

   "For our hungry food,

   In order to let us rest in peace,

   For homes where memories haunt,

   We are grateful for these”

   Mrs. Webb spoke the prayer, folded her hands together, and prayed to God.

   "Amen," Ronald and her daughter responded, and the three crossed their chests before eating Christmas dinner.

   "Ronald, what are you doing lately? I don't think you're home."

  Mrs. Weber brought coffee after the meal, and the three chatted, waiting for the TV station to broadcast the annual Christmas Eve repertoire: the movie "It'sa Wonderful World".

   "I'm working on the set, but I'll start a portrait photography business next. If I make enough money, I may go to college. It depends on the admission results in February next year."

   "Ronnie, can you take pictures? Can you take one for me?" asked Mrs. Webb's daughter.

   "Of course, tomorrow you and your mother come to my apartment, and I'll take a picture of you all."

   "You're too kind, Ronald," said Mrs. Weber.

   "It's nothing, we working people in Venice Beach, it's about helping each other."

   "Yes, help each other." Mrs. Webb nodded. "We are still from very close places. My parents' home is in New Jersey, very close to Staten Island."

   "Really? That's a coincidence." Ronald took a sip of his coffee.

   "Yes, in fact, your Staten Island is closer to New Jersey, and there is an interstate highway connection, but you have to take a ferry from Stanton to Manhattan, the center of the universe."

"Yeah... A few years ago, Aunt Karen took her by ferry to Manhattan to see a doctor. Donna was also clamoring to go, which made Aunt Karen very distressed..." Ronald remembered the past, and suddenly he moved, looking at Mrs. Webb My daughter, a little girl in grade 12.

   "Mrs. Weber, I advertised portrait photography in the newspaper, but I don't have a suitable operator. Will your daughter be my temporary operator during the holidays? I can pay $5 a day."

   "What do I need to do?" the little girl asked eagerly.

  You just need to write down the name and phone number of the caller while I'm taking the photo, and I'll call them back when I'm done taking the photo. "Then you can rest.

  Mrs. Weber thought about it and agreed. If her daughter went to work in a fast food restaurant, she could earn a minimum wage of $2.65 an hour, but it would be much harder.

   The next Christmas is when the classified ads are published.

   Ronald got up early and turned the living room into a reception and reception desk. Put on a table, pull out the phone, and spread out Big Ben's notepad on the table, with two ballpoint pens parked beside it. everything's ready.

   Oh, yes, and this one. Ronald took out copies of the audition shots of Demi Moore and Natasha Kinski, framed them in wood, placed them on the table, and repositioned them so that customers could see them at first sight.

  The daughter of Mrs. Weber, the neighbor, also came to help. It was her first day at work. As a high school student, she wanted to be called Miss Weber, so she picked up the phone and put it down, simulating many times.

   "Good morning, this is Ronald's portrait photography studio." Ronald taught the little girl what to say. Then let her practice a few times.

   Just after 9:50, calls started to come in. Ronald motioned Miss Webb to stay still, and he took the first call himself...

  “Bell bell bell…”

   (end of this chapter)