Exploiting Hollywood 1980

"Ronald, you said those girls' dream is to be on the movie screen, so what is your dream?" Gale asked after picking up the trash together.

"My dream? I guess I haven't found my dream yet. All I want now is to be able to put my name in the credits of 'Rock 'n' Roll High' so I can charge higher prices for my portrait photography business , taking audition photos for handsome men and women in Hollywood.”

"Why? You are obviously very talented in this industry." Gale was a little confused that Ronald's "dream" was so realistic and had little to do with the film industry.

"To be honest, I don't know if I have talent in this industry, but I know that people without talent in this industry can't make money. Only those at the top of the pyramid can make big money, and most people in this industry have little money. And I need money, I need to make some money and go to college.”

"Ah? How old are you, Ronald?" Gale looked at Ronald up and down, a little unconvinced.

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

"Do you really know how to take portraits?" Gale looked at Ronald.

"Yes, I take audition photos, wedding photos, family photos, etc. in New York. But I don't know people in the Hollywood and Broadway circles, and clients don't believe me, so I can't offer you a price. Each set of audition photos can only be Charge 30-50 USD.

So I took advantage of my gap year after graduating from high school and wanted to try my luck in Los Angeles. It happened that New World Production was recruiting screenwriters, so I applied for the job. Unexpectedly, I was accepted, and later worked as an assistant on the "Rock High School" crew. "

"Then why don't you take some photos of the crew and use them for future marketing? I'll talk to Mr. Coleman. By the end of today, you won't be the temporary director, and you can make more money this way."

"I would be very happy if I could take photos of the crew and take photos with the stars, which will be hung in my photography studio. Thank you, Gail." Ronald thanked Gail with a smile.

"It's nothing," Gale shook his hand, "Then what is your dream? Jim?"

"Me? I hope to make a science fiction film like Kubrick's '2001: A Space Odyssey' one day." Jim said, "When I was in community college (equivalent to a junior college in China), I saw this When the movie was re-released, I was fascinated. I watched it several times and I said to myself, 'Jim, you must make a movie like this'.

Then I went to Los Angeles and studied on my own in the UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) library by copying all the books I could find about film shooting. As you all know next, I found 12 dentists and raised funds to shoot this short film. Unfortunately, they only wanted to get a tax refund when they invested in my short film. After seeing the sample, they rejected the plan to make a further feature film. "

“What about you, Gail? What is your dream?

"Me? I like movies, so after graduating from Stanford, I didn't go to a financial institution like my classmates. Instead, I came to New World to work as an assistant to Mr. Coleman. During this time, I learned a lot about his work. Compared with directors, I , I prefer being a producer. I prefer the financing, negotiation, and marketing parts, because my father is an investor, and I hope to be a producer of blockbusters in the future. "Graduating from a prestigious school, I have a good family background. Since she likes movies, Gale's dream comes naturally.

"Then may all our dreams come true!"

"Yeah, a dream come true."

…

The one-hour lunch time passed quickly, and the crew and extras gathered again. Ronald planned to rehearse the remaining two scenes first and shoot them during the magic hour of sunset in the evening.

Ronald invited Mary Woronov, who plays Principal Toga, "Ms. Woronov, we designed the shot like this. You and two security guards are walking from a distance, and the students along the way are still dancing. With disco and rock music on the speakers, you're in a state where you want them to..."

"Cut the wires and put the students in solitary confinement." Mary Woronov looked very arrogant and waved her hand downwards.

"You're in good shape, that's it. You're such a good actor." Ronald praised repeatedly, 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 the panorama to the medium shot, on both sides. I will arrange a few female students to dance, so that when you see them, there will be eye contact, and finally it will be a close shot.”

"This lens is well designed." Mary nodded.

"This scene is your entrance shot. We will shoot the close-up later, which is your final appearance. We will shoot the long shot of you approaching from a distance at sunset after 4 o'clock, so... "

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

Unlike the old-fashioned Principal Toga she plays, actress Mary Woronov 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. She perfectly portrays a female principal who hates rebellious rock music and wants to clean up the campus.

Especially her facial expressions are very well controlled. Just now, Xiao showed his talent, showing a mixture of contempt, hatred, and eagerness to ban rock and roll. Ronald didn't understand acting, but he knew she was good at acting.

Maybe she is the legendary acting school, right?

Next, rehearse the last scene of the day: the protagonists, rock hottie Liv Randall, and good school girl Kate Lambeau, are punished by Principal Toga with detention. The good girl was punished for the first time and was unhappy. Liv came over to comfort her, "Detention is nothing important. I just stay in school often."

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

I have to say that this part of the script, as well as the director's lens design, are of a very high standard and don't look like a shoddy, low-budget exploitation film. Roger Corman was always able to find truly talented people to work for him and pay them minimum wage.

After rehearsing the two shots several times, director of photography Dean felt it was ready, and Ronald announced that the crew was on hold.

This is a common thing among other film crews. Some big-name directors can wait a day for a certain light. But on Roger Corman's set, it's very rare to have to wait for the light.

The actors hid in the dressing room, and the extras also entered the teaching building and could not come out. Only a few staff members were left on the scene. Ronald did not sit on the chair marked with Director Allen's name. Although as a temporary director, no one would say anything if I really wanted to sit down.

Thinking of turning back into a crew assistant next week, Ronald was very satisfied with his current situation, commanding a crew and everyone waiting for him to make a decision. This feeling was very addictive. There were only a few shots left, and Ronald wanted to store the feeling at this moment and take it out for review at any time later.

The winter sunshine is very kind, and the Aley 35 BL camera sits quietly on the pan/tilt. The clapperboard was lying on the table next to him, the long recording pole, the furry microphone... Ronald couldn't tell for a moment. Is it these equipment or the people who control them who are the protagonists of the movie?

What is my dream? Will there ever be a chance to become a real movie director? The profession of director is too difficult to get into. It took Alan and Joe more than 5 years...

Maybe I can also try being an actor or photographer? After having a taste of filmmaking, I really want to do it again. It is difficult for other professions to provide this feeling of heroism.

In peacetime, command a team, spend a huge amount of money, and then wait for the day it is released. The box office, movie reviews, victory or defeat can be determined in an instant. Perhaps this is the profession closest to being a general who directs operations. "

No wonder everyone wants to be a general or a director. This is really a profession that men are born to love.