Exploiting Hollywood 1980.

Chapter 792 Support from the President of the Actors Guild
"You have a letter from the Screen Actors Union, Ronald."

Daydream's colleague called and told him that an official letter from the Screen Actors Union had been sent to him.Not the white address stamped inside the envelope containing the printed, typical marketing material.Instead, use a standard No. 10 envelope, and the address is well-typed, which looks very much like a legal official letter.

"Help me disassemble it and read it to me." Ronald was sitting leisurely on the floor of a high-end yoga center and meditating.

The number of times he dreamed of movies gradually increased. Every time he dreamed, Ronald always had the same feeling, as if there was a door between his body and the real world, and he was in a world where he and the world could perceive each other, but But not together.

It was as if my mind was watching a movie in the living room while my body was still sleeping on the bed in the bedroom.

Ronald used the method of repeating various things he had done before dreaming to increase the chance of dreaming, but it was unsuccessful.

This time he changed his mind and began to try various methods of meditation and relaxation. He heard that meditation can also achieve this kind of effect on the mind and body. The state of isolation.

Maybe in this way, it can stimulate more times to enter the dreamland?
After trying the guild halls in Chinatown and the Zen teahouses of the Dongying people, Ronald finally chose yoga.

It is easier for the coaches here to understand what they say, without having to think hard about the meaning behind it.The coach's speech was also very direct, and Ronald only corrected his posture and breathing, without so many metaphors and deep meanings behind the twists and turns of Zen.

Ronald quite liked this game of adjusting his breathing, at least the quality of his sleep was improving.Wake up in the morning with no need for an alarm clock, and wake up naturally full of energy.

Eddie was on the other end of the phone. He opened the envelope and read it to Ronald:
"To... Ronald Lee, Director.

Because you violated the regulations of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) during the filming of "Moonlight" in Toronto, Canada, and did not strictly follow the lunch break and lunch time, you ordered the actors to shoot without physical damage.

The Screen Actors Union will investigate you and impose corresponding penalties..."

"Hey? What the hell? What physical damage... what investigation, what punishment?"

After hearing this, Ronald stood up from the high-grade rush cushion, "Let them dream."

"Ah, I'm sorry, I have some other things to deal with, let's stop here today." Ronald nodded and apologized to the coach, a middle-aged blonde beauty of Nordic origin, and ended today's class early.

"baffling!"

When he arrived at Daydream Films, Ronald read the letter in its entirety.

The letter said that after the filming of the movie "Moonlight" in Toronto, some actors complained that Ronald was not allowed to eat lunch during the filming of the final table scene, which caused the actor's health risks.There are also actors with diabetes, because of the delay of several hours of non-stop shooting, the onset of hypoglycemia symptoms, and the risk of passing out or even causing other more serious complications.

Therefore, after the investigation, the Screen Actors Union officially set up a project to come and investigate with Ronald face to face.If the complaint is true, Ronald will be fined heavily and placed on the warning list of the Screen Actors Guild in the future.All union members, will be warned that the filming of Ronald does not respect the basic needs of actors.

"Huh? It seems to be the case, but did anyone pass out at that time?"

Ronald recalled the shooting situation at that time. In order to capture the accurate and natural emotions of everyone, he did let them rehearse all the time without rest.

Perhaps because of the irritability caused by the hypoglycemia caused by skipping meals, the heroine Cher and the supporting actress Olympia Dukakis clashed, which unexpectedly brought about the chemistry between the actors.All the actors get into shape fast.

In order not to let the opportunity slip away, Ronald made a decision on the spot and decided to shoot immediately while everyone was in the mood.

"However, I... I provided snacks to the actors. In the end, it seemed that I was the only one who didn't eat. In the end, I fainted due to hypoglycemia."

"Then you are really wronged. The person who reported you must have transferred your affairs to the actor. You have postponed the lunch break and lunch. It is a fact. This is indeed a serious violation of the regulations of the Film Actors Union. .”

"I..." Ronald was very angry, "I just went to Toronto to shoot to avoid this group of vampire representatives from the trade union. Threatened me to strike.

I treat them well enough, I always find union members to do group performances, and the minimum wage is more than ten times higher than that of non-union actors.Don't they know that when creating, is it common to take a few more shots?We are not office workers, so we can commute to and from get off work on time. "

"Oh, Ronald, calm down, and when the union representatives investigate this matter, don't tell them that." Eddie quickly asked Ronald to sit down and poured him a glass of whiskey.

"Our Dirty Dancing is also a project registered with the trade union. If you fall out with them, it will be troublesome for them to find fault in this movie. You know, a crew has the largest number of actors, and there is no guarantee that there will be no one If you are dissatisfied with your salary, it will be troublesome to report it when the time comes."

"Damn it," Ronald put the whiskey on the table heavily, and the whiskey splashed out of the glass and threw his hand.

Ronald shook his hand, but Eddie wiped it with the tissue paper that Eddie handed over, "Thank you, I will bear it."

The Actors Union is very powerful. Not only can it intentionally disrupt the filming process, apply eye drops, and cause financial losses due to delays in filming.Moreover, the largest number of Oscar judges are actors, and they are all members of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG).

"Because you violated SAG's decision to provide lunch breaks for actors and crew on time during filming in Toronto, SAG has decided to issue a ticket to you.

$[-] fine.And this ruling will be published in the penalty column of the Screen Actors Union's newsletter next quarter. "

Towards the end of the afternoon, a representative of the Screen Actors Union, a very well-dressed, pious man, came to Ronald's daydream.After pretentiously asking Ronald about the situation, SAG's preliminary penalty decision was announced.

"This... Actually, the situation at the scene was not like this. I provided all kinds of snacks, and there was absolutely no abuse of the actors. This was determined by the nature of the scene. I had to extend the shooting time..."

Ronald Yitong explained that he hoped that the trade union representatives could understand the situation at that time.But it doesn't seem to work.

The representative of the Screen Actors Union grinned at Ronald with a half-smile, "We received an anonymous report, and got in touch with the informant, and got her testimony, proving that you delayed the shooting that day. The actors were allowed to rest and eat, which caused serious consequences, and some people fainted due to low blood pressure..."

"I told you repeatedly that I was the one who fainted from hypoglycemia that day, it was me! I am not a member of your actors' union. They all have the snacks I provided at the scene, and they will not suffer from hypoglycemia due to hunger."

Ronald felt that the trade union representative seemed to be targeting him specifically. He had already made it clear that the actors had not been abused.And he also submitted several references, such as director of photography David Watkin, or any actor who participated in the scene, can prove.

"This is the result of our investigation, Director Ronald. Of course, this punishment has to be approved by the SAG committee. If you have any objections to this, you can appeal." The union representative did not listen to Ronald's defense. Just repeating that this is their decision after careful investigation and careful scrutiny.

Ronald accepted the penalty notice with a blank expression. Under the table, the agent Nisita who rushed over specially grabbed Ronald's hand desperately to prevent him from falling out with the union representative on the spot.

"I see." Ronald didn't go to accept the punishment notice, and motioned him to put it on the table with his eyes, and didn't stand up to see him off.

Daydreaming Eddie takes Ronald's place and leads the union representatives out.

"Don't worry, we have a good relationship at the top of the CAA and the Screen Actors Guild, myself and their current president, Patti Duke, used to have a client-agent relationship. When her ex-husband divorced her, I helped her a little bit. .

You pay the fine, and let Patty Duke accommodate the public report in that newsletter. "

Seeing that Ronald was able to take care of the overall situation, Nisita breathed a sigh of relief.This kind of disgusting thing is not uncommon in major directors.

Representatives of many trade unions seem to be specifically to show that they are not afraid of power, and they specifically grab big-name stars or directors to show their toughness. Accumulate chips on behalf of the election.

Not only Ronald, but top directors like Spielberg and George Lucas are often fined for failing to abide by union rules.

"The president of the Screen Actors Guild, what kind of person is he? Should I meet her?" Ronald felt very good about Nisita and this contact. If he could chat with her, maybe the misunderstanding could be cleared up.

Generally speaking, these trade union organizations, those people at the top, are still very reasonable.

The last president of the Screen Actors Guild was Ed Asner, who launched the largest strike in Hollywood in more than a decade.He led the actor's strike, allowing Ronald's first script, because of the delay of the strike, Jane Fonda went to act in other movies, and finally died without a problem.

Such a radical trade union president was indeed quickly elected.

Although he himself gained a lot of exposure in the political arena of the Donkey Party, the actors did not benefit. The long strike caused heavy losses to the bottom actors.Although the minimum wage has been raised, many people have never played roles since then-Hollywood has gone to other places for filming.

Former union president Ed Asner was too ambitious and ended up getting nothing.After being selected, no one asked him to appear in any film and television dramas, and finally he was reduced to dubbing the low-level animations of the TV station.

Patty Duke, who was elected president this time, is a less aggressive actress.

"Then I'll talk to her first." Nisita smiled and picked up the copy of the punishment document.

"Who are you saying is reporting on me behind my back? I noticed that the union representative used the word actress."

Ronald asked Nisita who stood up and was about to go to work first.

"It's hard to say. These trade union parasites are very good at provoking conflicts. It may be a man. He said it on purpose. It may not be an actor, but a staff member."

"Hmm..." Ronald was very angry in his heart. For these film projects of his, those who can take care of the trade union should be taken care of according to the ratio.These people are not greedy enough, get paid, get out of the camera, and maybe make progress in their careers, but they want to bite themselves back. "

"Damn it, I won't use you people from the trade union when I have the chance."

……

"Hello, Ronald," said SAG president, Patty Duke, who made a special appointment with Ronald at the union's headquarters.

"Hello, Ms. Duke, I'm your fan."

Before Ronald came to see her, he asked Nisita about the president's past history.

She is really a famous actress.

Since he was a child star, because of his appearance, he has always played an important supporting role instead of a leading role.At the Oscars in 17, Patty Duke won the Best Supporting Actress award at the age of [-].He is the youngest actor ever to win an Oscar.

She has always played supporting roles, and later entered the TV series and played a few heroines. A few years ago, she also won the Primetime Emmy Award and the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress.

She has been in the industry for a long time, knows many people, and is popular as a supporting role, so she was able to succeed her unpopular predecessor two years ago and was voted as the president of the Screen Actors Guild.

"Rick has already told me about your matter. I will intervene directly and will not let your name appear in the punishment column in the newsletter.

On the contrary, I will introduce some of your filming situation and let the members of the union understand that sometimes for the sake of art, some compromises must be made. "

Patty Duke came up and talked about his decision.

This is not to criticize, but to praise instead.

"Then thank you, Ms. Duke." Ronald was also relieved to hear that he didn't have to publicly show the public the crime of not letting the actors eat lunch.

"However, you still have to pay your fine."

"Well, I've brought the checkbook."

The Screen Actors Guild, like the Directors Guild, suffered from a pension crisis, and Patty Duke heard a $[-] fine was issued, which was still free.

"I see that you have made guest appearances in many movies, why don't you join the Screen Actors Guild?" Patty Duke looked at Ronald. Wouldn't it be good for such a director to join the Screen Actors Guild?At least he'll have to pay a large surplus to the union's pension fund.

"I'm still a member of the Producers Union. It's not convenient, so I won't participate. Besides, I'm just a guest star." Ronald declined.

"Well, if there is any trade union matter in the future, you can call my assistant directly. You know that I am not busy with the trade union affairs full-time. Some people want to use the power of the trade union to achieve some of their own goals. You don't have to talk to me. They're polite. Just come and tell me."

There was a movement in Ronald's heart. This was Patty Duke hinting to himself that someone was behind this incident.

Things are done, Ronald went back to the trainer to practice yoga poses.

Taking some time to practice breathing methods every day, Ronald felt that when he was sleeping, he was getting closer and closer to that state, and it seemed that he might find a shortcut to dreaming about movies.

He happened to be sitting on the bedroom floor to catch his breath that day, and Bannon's phone call came home.

"Ronald, those shameless Screen Actors Guild bugs, are now coming to Arizona to fight us."

Bannon speaks directly, full of Wall Street's style of paying attention to efficiency.The shooting cost was reduced by 100 million. In order to supervise the use and save money as much as possible, he flew directly to Arizona, the location of the location, to take care of things on the scene.

The film was not registered with the Screen Actors Union, and all non-union ensemble and supporting roles were found. In the local public high school in Tucson, Arizona, students from the drama club were also found to do ensemble performances.This saves a lot of money compared to local Hollywood.

Those drama club students who have received good training and played a few background roles are not much different from those union actors who work in Hollywood.

"Damn it, 'Boys Rent Girls' is not a trade union project, you are so fucking afraid." Ronald cursed directly on the phone.

"No, I heard that the Screen Actors Union can decide to go on strike. They have a law in Congress that can temporarily announce the extra performance of the crew and become a temporary member of the Screen Actors Union, so that they can organize a temporary member strike on the crew.

We are a small production, and the loss of a day's delay is huge. "

Bannon felt that making a movie was not as easy as buying those factories on Wall Street, but also had to go through the game between capital and labor unions, and these actor unions had a much higher self-esteem than factory workers and valued their own rights more. Often the level of protest is more severe, and the various demands are more troublesome than the workers.

"Fuck, who wants to go on strike to protest? We went to Cincinnati just to save money, and to give them a chance to appear on camera is actually giving them a big chance. How dare you go on strike? Do you really think of yourself as a Hollywood actor? It’s not being used as a weapon by union representatives.”

"Come here? I can't handle these students."

"Okay, I'll show you a demonstration." Ronald immediately went to the airport with Little Bud, bought a plane ticket at a high price on the spot, and flew to Tucson, Arizona.

"Which one? Here to instigate those high school drama club idiots to strike?"

Arriving at Tucson Public High School on location, Ronald found Bannon who was on the scene and asked.

"It's the guy in the suit and the tie."

"Hey...", Ronald looked, isn't that the guy who gave him a [-] ticket?
"Ronald, are you the producer of this movie? On behalf of the Screen Actors Guild..."

When the trade union representative saw Ronald coming, a half-smile appeared on his face again, and he came over to talk to Ronald again about what a trade union is.

"Security, this person is not qualified to be here on the set, let him out."

Ronald didn't care about this bastard, this is Arizona, this project is a non-union project, don't look at this bastard's face.

"I'm a trade union representative, how dare you..."

"This is a non-union project. The filming location we rented belongs to Tucson High School, and it is now used by the crew. Anyone without permission is not allowed to enter." Ronald turned his head, facing the high school drama that was bewitched to make trouble The actors of the company said.

"You may be deceived by some people, thinking that we are a rich crew who want to use this project to get a union card and live a happy life as a union actor.

Let me tell you, our crew is an independent production, very poor.There is no money to hire union members as extra performers. All those who want to be union actors, please stand here and look for opportunities in other projects.

All those who are willing to participate in the performance as non-union, stand over there, our crew will register your names, and everything with scenes and lines will be signed.Those who don't have lines and take the camera will also get our recommendation letter and daily salary. "

"boom……"

The high school students are actually very simple. When they heard that the crew would not use union actors, they immediately crowded to the side who were willing to participate in non-union actors.

What a joke, Tucson, Arizona, a small city where the biggest employer is the aircraft cemetery of the navy and air force, has not had a film crew come to the locals for extra performances in a few years.

The students from the drama club, except for a few who were bewitched and their heads were stiff, all joined Ronald's side with a bang.

"Very well, those of you who insist on union status, then I'm sorry, please get out."

"Children, don't be fooled by him, as long as we are united, we can..."

"go out!"

Ronald didn't take a good look at the trade union representative and scolded him loudly.

Originally, his behavior violated the constitution of the actors' union. The temporary union membership of the actors who promised to participate in the performance must be a project registered by the union for him to have this right.

"I will complain to Ms. Duke, the president of the Screen Actors Union, about your unprofessionalism and intentional misleading about the temporary status of extras. This is now a private domain, get out!"

Bannon came over with two male actors, stood in front of the union representative, and kept pressing him to get out.

"What he said can't be true, right? You promised us that as long as the students in the high school drama club go on strike, we will get formal union status."

"Coax..." A few diehards spoke out the private promise of the trade union representative, which aroused booing from other students.

Amid everyone's contempt, he walked out of the shooting site in despair.

"The demonstration is very good, I learned it." Bannon came over and shook hands with Ronald, "Let me introduce to you, this is our leading actor Patrick Dempsey, and the handsome guy plays the leading actor Rona Miller.

This is Seth Green who plays his good friend, the supporting role.They both acted well. "

Bannon introduced Ronald to the two actors who ended up driving away the union representatives, and they were also acting in movies for the first time.

"Don't worry, it's easy for you to apply for union qualifications in the future. Although this project is a non-union project, the status of the protagonist allows you to apply for the Film Actors Union as long as you receive an extra job for more than three days. Qualified."

Ronald looked at the two handsome boys, fearing that they would be burdened, so he explained.

"Thanks, Ronald. We all love your Top Gun."

"Amanda, look who's coming."

Bannon greeted Amanda Peterson, the heroine who was watching from behind.

"Hi, Amanda." Ronald beckoned to her. It was Amanda Peterson who played the heroine Cindy's friend with her. It was Amanda Peterson who failed to audition for the protagonist Annie in "Annie" and played Annie's orphanage. Friends of two girls.

The two of them were also very envious of Amanda getting to know the great director Ronald. The two of them coyly walked around Amanda Peterson and said hello to Ronald.

"Stay here for one night? By the way, guide the filming." Bannon said to Ronald.

"That's fine, but I won't interfere with the director's work. This is the most important piece of professional ethics for a producer." Seeing that it was getting late, Ronald agreed to stay.

Amanda Peterson was set off by two actors in the middle, and she seemed unaffected by the events of the day before yesterday. Her eyes still looked full of hope, shining with a kind of light.Ronald was relieved that this light of hope had not been destroyed by villains like Tom Mount.

Amanda Peterson has the air of an elite high school girl cheerleader.

Patrick Dempsey, is a handsome guy with curly hair.Wearing old-fashioned black-framed eyes, I deliberately pretended to be a nerd, but I can see that I am a chic person. When the plot requires it, I will be a good match with Amanda after I transform into a fashionable handsome guy.

Ronald is very satisfied with the casting. Bannon's aesthetics are similar to those of most boys and girls in small American towns. This is a guarantee that the movie will be a hit.

(End of this chapter)