Exploiting Hollywood 1980

"Two McFish burgers, thank you."

Catholics have a tradition of not eating meat on Fridays, so McDonald's, which sells beef burgers, also invented fried cod burgers. Ronald doesn't eat often, and today he ran out of coupons for Big Macs.

When I got home, I boiled a pot of water, took out a tea bag, and brewed a large cup of black tea. Just drink black tea and finish dinner in a hurry. Ronald sat in front of the table and stared blankly.

Ronald applied to two New York public universities. One is the State University of New York at Albany, and the other is the newly established City University of New York at Staten Island. The economy is in recession and inflation is serious. Even if you get a diploma from an ordinary university, you may not be able to find a good job.

Ronald chose two affordable public universities. Aunt Karen is a New York State resident and can enjoy a large tuition reduction. The accounting major I applied for is a type of work that is needed by all companies. Even if the Great Depression hits again, I can still make a living by sorting out invoices and keeping accounts for the grocery store.

In New York, in the northeastern United States, people often hear about the Ivy League private schools, such as Harvard, Yale, Columbia, etc.

The starting point for class separation in America is college, and Ronald also wanted to go to a prestigious school. I have no money and no scholarships, and the tuition fees at prestigious private schools are several times higher than those at public schools. SAT scores and high school scores are enough to qualify, but low-interest state-sponsored student loans are not available.

Hey, if I had no choice but to go to the Staten Island campus of the City University of New York, which had just been upgraded from a community college (a junior college to a bachelor's degree), I might have to look up to those students from prestigious schools for the rest of my life.

…

I joined a film company and worked as a temporary director for a day. I originally just wanted to find a job in the industry so that I could earn more hard-earned money from taking pictures.

However, the conversation with Gale about dreams, and the feeling of having a final decision in a crew of dozens of people at the end of the day, ignited a wildfire in Ronald's heart.

…

In the film industry, only those with talent can make big money. You must have talent, right?

Besides, there was that strange dream last night. If you can dream about more future movies, you can shoot them in advance and make a lot of money, right?

Not necessarily.

Film is the most expensive art.

Unlike a novelist, who can write for just one dollar on pencil and paper. If you want to be a painter, you only need to spend $100 to buy brushes, paints, and canvas, and you can start painting.

If you want to make a feature film that will be released in theaters, the minimum requirement is $200,000.

Even a 10-minute short film like the one Jim made, which has no chance of being shown in theaters, costs more than 20,000 US dollars.

To make a movie with a normal budget, sorry... $3 million starts.

…

Or else scrape out the script and submit it to the studio? Then be appreciated by the producer, become a director, make a masterpiece, marry Bai Fumei, and reach the pinnacle of life?

I'm afraid it's not that easy.

Not to mention other things, judging from my experience of reading scripts for several months at New World Productions, many of the movies to be shot this year actually had their scripts written five years ago, and they were still in the warehouses of the eight major studios. It has been hidden for more than ten years.

As a young man with no successful works and no connections, I am afraid that if the script he writes is sent to the eight major studios, it will not even pass the test of a reviewer like himself.

…

Join a new world, slowly gain the appreciation of Roger Corman, and then be like Alan and Joe?

This road is also difficult.

This is no longer the era of big studios. Twenty years ago, as long as you worked in a big studio and had talent and hard work, you could get ahead. Write scripts for stars of your own company, find directors of your own company to shoot, and stay there for five or six years. You can be promoted to assistant director until you become a director and start shooting your own movie with a budget of 3 million US dollars.

In today's Hollywood, everything is a free market. You find your own investment, your own actors, and your own negotiations with distribution companies.

Before getting a ticket to enter the free market, like Ellen and Joe, they have to earn the minimum wage of $200 per week stipulated by the union during filming, and their income will be reduced by more than half when they are not filming. It took five or six years to start shooting a small, low-cost production worth $300,000. This is still under the hands of Roger Coleman, a well-known kind man in the industry.

Not only that, in the New Hollywood movement of the past 10 years, the new generation of great directors who have emerged are all college graduates. George Lucas who made "Star Wars", Francis Coppola who made "The Godfather", Martin Scorsese who made "Taxi Driver"...

After graduating from high school, can I compete with graduates from these famous schools?

…

But thinking about it on the other hand, it is not easy for me to enter the film industry.

How many handsome men and beautiful women want to enter this industry but cannot find the door.

I accidentally stumbled into New World Production and participated in the filming of the movie. It can be said that there is a lot of luck. At another time, I might not even be able to pass the interview.

If you go to the City University of New York to study accounting for four years, you will most likely become an accountant. What was once a movie dream may become a youthful memory like Chris and Marla did.

…

Ronald held the cup and took a sip of the black tea. The feeling of responding to everything on set came to mind again.

He smiled bitterly and enjoyed remembering that moment. Anyone who has had this decisive creative experience would probably want to do it again.

After going to college, you may find a stable job with an average income, and then forget about making movies as a dream.

Working in Hollywood may make you a lot of money, or you may stay poor forever, but no matter what, one thing is certain, you will be poor for several years.

How to choose between going to college and making movies? It would be great if there is a way to have the best of both worlds.

If you can have the best of both worlds..., maybe there is a way.

…

"Ring, ring, ring..."

The phone suddenly rang.

"Hello, this is Ronald."

"Um, hello, I'm looking for Mr. Lee, he is a portrait photographer." A pleasant mezzo-soprano voice came.

"I am, please call me Ronald, who are you?"

"OK. Ronald, my friend recommended you to me. You see, I called you several times this week, but no one answered, so I'll try one last time tonight."

"Sorry, I've been working on a film crew since Thanksgiving break, so I haven't been home during this time."

"Are you still helping people take audition photos now?"

"Yes, but I'm still filming on the crew next week, and I'll be filming until the 22nd."

"So you're busy before Christmas?"

"I should be free on the 23rd, or the morning of the 24th, because everyone is celebrating the holiday in the afternoon."

"Okay, I'd like you to take a set of audition photos for me, on the 23rd."

"What's your name?"

"My name is Demi Gaines"

"OK, do you want to update your audition photos, or are you taking them for the first time?"

"First time."

"Okay, do you want to take black and white or color photos?" Ronald opened the drawer, took out a work notebook, and began to take notes. "Um, I don't know, what do you think?"

"It depends on whether the movie you want to audition for is black and white or color. If you just shoot it and keep it with the casting director, then I recommend color."

"Okay, then color."

"Well, do you want to shoot outdoors or indoors? Oh, if it's your first time, you can consider indoors. There are still more movies shot in studios. You can use indoors when you first start, and add more when you need it later."

"Oh, I listen to you, you sound very professional."

"Thank you. You can shoot at my house. I live in Venice Beach..."

"Wait a minute, Ronald. I'm a print model with an agent. I don't go to photographers' homes." The girl was very alert. "I totally understand. If you have a free studio, I can use your place. If I rent a studio, I need to pay extra. Or if you have a larger room at home, I can also bring lights and shoot there."

"That's great. My boyfriend's house in West Hollywood is very big."

"Generally speaking, for the first audition photo shoot, I suggest shooting two versions, one for a serious drama and one for a romantic comedy. The total cost of the two sets of photography is $50, including 5 6X8-inch photos per version, and negatives."

"Okay, that's a deal."

"What's your phone number, Ms. Gaines? I will contact you on Friday the 22nd to set the time and address for the shoot."

"Oh, my phone number is 689-8425"

...

An unexpected surprise, another order was secured.