Exploiting Hollywood 1980

"No, you have to wrap the tape around the film chamber of the camera before you start shooting." Ronald stopped a red-haired female classmate.

"Why?"

"The school's equipment is very old. If there is light leakage on the cover of the film chamber, your film will be accidentally exposed and nothing will be captured."

The film and television major of Tishi College is relatively poor, and can only give each undergraduate student 1 minute of free film to let them try the basic operation of the camera, push, pull, shake, and move. Each action lasts for 10 seconds and is handed in as homework.

Ronald has not yet learned photography classes, but he has experience rolling on the set, and many senior students know it. He is often invited to be a photography assistant. It is called an assistant, but it is actually a guide.

When facing a machine like a camera, many people will feel afraid at the beginning. Even those who know how to operate it will forget it or be in a hurry.

At this time, with Ronald sitting next to him, he seemed to have some confidence. Ronald took the opportunity to get acquainted with many classmates, including some in the master's class.

"Don't be alarmist. The exploitation films you shot in the New World all used German Arri cameras, which is why the lid can't be closed. We use Panavision, made in America."

The speaker is the son of a person in the film industry, who was also sent to New York University. So he knows some of Ronald's details.

Ronald shrugged and spread his hands: "I'm just a reminder. You can decide how to shoot it." In fact, in the "Famous" crew, in addition to the two main cameras, a Panavision camera was also rented. The director of photography Seresin always used tape to wrap it several times.

The red-haired female classmate thought about it, and still took the tape handed by Ronald and wrapped it around the edge of the lid. It was not very troublesome.

Then the camera was installed on the pan/tilt.

"You must remember to wait two seconds after turning on the camera before starting to shake the camera," Ronald said again.

"Why?" the red-haired female classmate asked.

"Generally, it takes one or two seconds for the camera to start up and reach full speed. If you start shooting right away, the film won't roll fast enough in the first two seconds, and the shot will look like fast motion."

The red-haired girl was embarrassed: "How do I know when the motor is at full speed?"

"Don't worry, the sound of the motor will tell you when it starts, and I will remind you."

"Don't believe his nonsense, he is just an assistant. We only have 1 minute of film in total. If you wait like this, 3 seconds will be gone for a shot. What are we going to shoot? Saving film is the most important thing." The second-generation Hollywood guy started to object again.

"Of course, this is your homework, you decide for yourself." Ronald saw that the second-generation guy was interested in the red-haired girl and wanted to be a hero. He said that he was an assistant, and maybe he knew the British Alan Parker.

The red-haired girl asked the second-generation guy to be an actor, and ran in front of the camera several times to complete the homework. "Thank you, Ronald."

"No, help each other."

After helping, Ronald turned back to find his agent Eddie.

…

Sitting in Eddie’s small office, he drank the black tea brought by his female secretary.

“I remember you prefer black tea.” Eddie is a qualified agent who remembers all aspects of his clients’ preferences.

“Why, has anyone asked me to shoot an advertisement?” Ronald really wants to start a career as a director, even a TV commercial director. Although he has participated in two movies, one is an exploitation film shown in midnight theaters, and the other will be released next year. Now Ronald is still a nobody in the industry. Even a second-generation son can despise him.

"Don't worry, Ronald. I have been sending out the clips you directed. All we need is an opportunity and a little bit of luck."

"What opportunity do you mean?"

"Now there are many manufacturers that have launched a new generation of sugar-free chewing gum, which tastes better than the old ones, so there will be 34 advertisements that will determine the creative ideas and start shooting at the same time. All we need is to find one."

"I trust you, Eddie, is there anything I can cooperate with?"

"Just keep in shape and wait for my notice. We will have an interview together at that time. It will be enough if the creative director of the advertising company and the marketing director of the chewing gum factory recognize you."

"Okay, I'll wait for your news."

"How is your screenwriter agent finding going?" Eddie asked.

"Not very good. I don't have a script for them to evaluate. Famous has not been released yet, so they are a little hesitant."

"Why? Famous is an MGM project, why are they still hesitant?" Eddie was puzzled. "Which agencies did you look for?"

"Art Performance Agency, Abrams Art Agency, I called a circle according to the list."

"You should try the agencies on the West Coast. Of course, it would be better if you have a new script. Many agencies on the East Coast serve Broadway."

"So, should I also join the Western Writers Guild?" Ronald thought about the issue of the union. The American Writers Guild is divided into the Eastern Guild and the Western Guild. If we draw inferences from one example, the Western Guild is close to Hollywood, so I should also join the Western Guild to have more opportunities.

"Yes, the same reason." Eddie admitted with a smile.

"Hi, is Eddie there?" A gentle female voice came from the open door. A tall blonde girl came in. Light blonde hair, explosive figure, and what was especially rare was that the girl's voice was very pleasant, without the boldness of an American girl, but the way people with a good high school education spoke.

"Sorry, Eddie, I told Miss Dorothy Stratten that you were meeting a guest." The secretary hurried in to apologize.

"Ah, it doesn't matter, my door is always open to Dorothy."

Eddie stood up and hugged the girl, "Why, Dorothy, are you finally willing to get rid of Hugh Hefner and return to my arms?"

The girl giggled and glanced at Ronald, a stranger.

"I forgot to introduce you, this is Dorothy Stratten, a Canadian who came to the United States to make a living. She was my client for a short time, and then went to Hollywood. This is Ronald Lee, my client, a young and promising advertising director."

"Hello, Miss Stratten," Ronald greeted and stood aside.

The girl nodded to him and continued to talk to Eddie, "I came to see you, Eddie. I'm going to be the cover girl of the October issue of Playboy."

"Congratulations, Dorothy." Eddie stood up and congratulated again.

"I don't know if this is a good thing. My boyfriend tried hard to get me to be a model for Hugh Hefner. In the past year or so in the United States, only you really cared about me, so that I, a Canadian telephone company operator, would not be cheated, and gave me the opportunity to be my first advertising model."

Ronald saw that they were talking about private matters and wanted to leave.

"No, no, don't bother you because of me. I'm in a hurry and I have to go to the location soon. My boyfriend Paul is waiting for me outside." The girl said goodbye and left again.

"A beauty, isn't it?" Eddie sighed. Her boyfriend Paul Snider is a bad guy who instigated her to terminate my contract with me and go to model for Playboy magazine. Can you imagine a man letting his girlfriend shoot Playboy? ”

“Dorothy is not yet 20, a little immature, this road is not so easy to walk, her boyfriend will lie on her and suck her blood in the future.”

The two chatted about gossip for a while, and agreed to go to the advertising company on Madison Street for an interview if there was an opportunity for a gum advertisement.

…

“Hello, is this the hotel of the San Francisco Opera? Yes, yes, I’m looking for Antonia Franceschi of the American Ballet Company.”

“What? You can’t answer the phone without the director’s consent? Then I’ll look for the director, Ms. Makarova.”

“She’s not here? When will she be back? I don’t know? I’m Antonia’s… um, relative, I want to talk to her.”

“Can’t talk? Then what if I come in person? …I’m in New York…Yes, I’ll come by plane. They’re leaving tomorrow? …Where to? I don’t know? "

Ronald hung up the phone angrily. It was really uncomfortable to be a nobody. He was always told to do things according to procedures, and there was no room for compromise.

Antonia was very busy. The schedule of the West Coast tour organized by the American Ballet Company was very tight, and she had no time to contact him. Sometimes, after the agreed time, she still couldn't get through the long-distance call. Ronald didn't know what to do. Maybe he should go to the West Coast to give her a surprise.

...

A few days later, his agent Eddie called and said that his first advertising director job was in the works, and the advertising company was willing to talk to him...