Exploiting Hollywood 1980

When Ronald returned to his apartment, he saw that his mailbox in the hallway was full, and the mailbox door was bulging with letters, slightly bulging outward.

"I have so many letters?" Ronald was a little puzzled. No one usually sends him letters, just bills. He was busy editing videos on the night shift a few days ago and didn't pay attention. Why did he accumulate so many letters?

"This...could it be..."

Ronald rushed to the mailbox, took out the key and unlocked it. He was so excited that he stuffed it twice without putting it in.

Hold your right hand with your left hand to calm down.

Slowly opening the lock, the mailbox door could not withstand the pressure of the letters forced inside, and a large pile of letters fell out, clattering to the ground.

Ronald quickly squatted down, gathered the letters, and tapped the edges of the envelopes on the ground to sort them out.

There were four extra-large envelopes in total, mixed with several utility bills.

Stand up and look at the big envelope, there is a prompt on it.

Rejected

This is UCLA Los Angeles.

Rejected

This is Colombian.

There were two large envelopes with red rejection stamps on them, which extinguished most of Ronald's hopes at once.

Ronald felt nervous and dug out the third large envelope.

Waitlisted

It's USC!

He quickly opened the envelope and found a pending notice inside.

"Dear Ronald Lee,

Hello.

Your application to the USC School of Cinematic Arts this year fully meets our school’s admission requirements.

However, because the number of applicants this year far exceeded expectations, we have reached the maximum number of admissions. We cannot send you an admission notice, we can only put you and other students on the waiting list.

It should be noted that the final decision on the pending list may be delayed until late May 1979..."

In other words, we have to wait for the situation of previously admitted students. They may also get several admission notices and choose to go elsewhere. Then USC has a spot open.

Don’t know where you are on the waiting list? Can you take the turn?

What about the fourth letter?

Ronald turned the last large envelope out...

A big word Aepted on the cover

Hahaha……

As a Chinese soul, the happiest moment is when I get the admission notice from a prestigious university.

Opened up, it looks like New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.

“Congratulations, you have been admitted to NYU Tisch School of the Arts

Admission to the Department of Film and Television.

…”

New York University is very close to home, just a ferry ride away from Staten Island.

“Please sign and submit the confirmation form before April 30th…

Along with the $200 enrollment deposit...

If you want to apply for dormitory...

Reporting Guidelines…”

It doesn’t matter that much, and it doesn’t matter that it’s already 11pm in New York. Ronald first called Aunt Karen to tell the news.

"Ring ring ring ring..."

“Aunt Karen!

I'm Ronald.

bingo,

I hit,

I passed the exam,

I was accepted into NYU! "

Aunt Karen was crying on the other end of the phone.

After several years of hard work, my sister's son was finally admitted to a prestigious university. As a single mother raising two children, Aunt Karen has had her share of hardships.

Ronald told his aunt that he had already earned enough for the first year's tuition and book fees, and the money he sent home could be used to pay off the housing loan or buy a bank certificate of deposit.

America's savings account basically has no interest. Inflation is so high now that it is depreciating by more than 10% every year.

The bank then provided Certificates of Deposit (Certified Deposit) for depositors to purchase, which was equivalent to China's time deposit. There is an interest rate of 15% per year, which is enough to beat inflation and still make a little profit.

Ronald himself is also buying large certificates of deposit. After all, the annual inflation of 13% is really outrageous.

The good news is exciting, and the discomfort caused by ordinary life in the past few days seems to have been cured. Ronald is very much looking for someone to share his joy with.

But in Los Angeles, Ronald didn't have many friends with whom he could share his joy. Except for Mrs. Weber's family next door, all other acquaintances and friends are working at New World Productions and the crew of "Rock of Ages".

Ronald is a so-called "first-generation college student". Neither his father nor mother went to college. Neither did his aunt or his late uncle. Ronald doesn't know about it further up.

If it were a normal American family, it would be a great honor to have a first-generation college student. Just like China, it needs to be celebrated grandly. Last year, Ronald's classmates on the wrestling team invited him to attend a dinner celebration, and his parents gave speeches. In short, it was quite grand.

Ronald also wants to share his joy with more people. Buy some gifts to give to others, some commemorative gadgets.

Early the next morning, Ronald ran to McDonald's and bargained with the store manager. He bought 100 family gift vouchers at a 20% discount and was given a large book of coupons as a gift.

Each gift certificate can be used to purchase a family park package. It also comes with a small badge that can be worn.

Then he drove into New World Productions and gave a set to everyone he met. Although the price is not expensive, family gift vouchers can get small toys that children like, and colleagues who receive the gifts are still very happy. Ronald also received many congratulations and congratulations.

Going upstairs and seeing Gale there, Ronald stepped forward quickly.

"This is a gift for you, Gail."

"Congratulations, Ronald." Gale congratulated him immediately when he saw him.

"You already know?" Ronald asked curiously.

"You already know?" Gale also asked at the same time.

"Who told you?" The two asked the same question at the same time.

"I received an offer from New York University," Ronald said, handing over a McDonald's gift certificate. "Thank you, Gail. Is Mr. Coleman here? I wanted to thank him in person."

Gale laughed loudly, found an envelope from the drawer and handed it over, "So you have been admitted to college, and here is a surprise."

Ronald took the envelope and saw that it was from the American Directors Guild: "My application for membership?"

Gale nodded.

"Wow! Today is really my lucky day." Ronald's eyes were a little sore.

"Come here, Ronald." Gale gave him a big hug.

"Who's out there?" Roger Coleman asked from inside.

"It's Ronald."

"Oh, Ronald, please come in." Roger Coleman said happily.

"Mr. Coleman, thank you for helping me." Ronald entered the office and respectfully presented a set of five McDonald's children's meals and gift certificates co-branded with Disney. This set was specially chosen by him. Yes, there are Disney character dolls. He knew Roger Corman had three children.

"I received an admission notice from the Department of Film and Television at New York University, and I'm here to thank you for the letter of recommendation you wrote for me, Mr. Coleman." Ronald said.

"And just now Gale told me about the Directors Guild's application. Thank you very much, Mr. Coleman."

Roger Coleman reached for the gift certificate and nodded.

"Congratulations, Ronald." He stood up and shook his hand.

Roger Coleman then said some words of congratulations and gave some advice on Ronald's college life.

Ronald saw that there were still many documents on the boss's desk, thanked him again and prepared to leave.

"By the way, Ronald, I'm a film professor at New York University. Martin Scorsese also made a movie for me. Have you seen his "Taxi Driver"? If you have a chance, say hello to him for me."

Ronald agreed, turned around and walked out of the office.

"What movie is Taxi Driver?" he asked Gale.

"Oh, directed by Martin Scorsese," Gale replied.

"Movies from 1976," Gale made a gun gesture with his hand, "Are you talking to me?"

Ronald shrugged and said he hadn't seen it.

"Um, what about 'Alice Doesn't Live Here Anyore' from 1974?" Gale somewhat despised Ronald's ignorance of Hollywood.

“I’ve seen this movie,” Ronald remembered, going to a movie theater on Staten Island with his Aunt Karen and Cousin Donna. The movie theaters there often show outdated films.

This movie tells the story of a single-parent hotel waitress who works with her son while searching for her dream of a singing career and love. Aunt Karen was moved by the scene and was very excited. She even nagged for several days saying that the filming was good.

"Ellen Burstyn, who played a single mother, even won the Oscar for Best Actress."

It seems that this powerful director has been very productive recently. I must have more contact with him and become familiar with him. Maybe I can join his crew. Ronald made up his mind.

Gale handed over the application from the Directors Guild, "You can fill it out here." Then he handed over a pen.

Ronald had never seen a pen of this shape before. It was black and he didn’t know what material it was made of. The clip on the pen cap was made of metal. Ronald tried to turn the pen cap away.

"It's pulled out, not turned around." Gale reminded.

"Thanks."

Ronald took out his pen and started filling out the form. The pen writes smoothly, filling in your name, date of birth, contact address, application level...

"By the way, people from the Directors Guild said that the name Ronald Lee is already used by five or six actors and producers. They suggest that you add your middle name or give it a stage name." Er said.

"Okay, I will." Ronald neatly wrote in the column of the registered name: Ronald V. Lee.

Americans usually sign only their initials in their middle names, and Ronald's driver's license and checks were all signed this way.

"I still need the endorsement of three members of the Directors Guild. You should be able to find it, right?" Gale asked.

"I think so, thank you." Ronald thanked him again, took the application materials from the Directors Guild and went downstairs.

Find the editing room and knock on the door to enter. It just so happened that director Alan Arkush and Joe Dante were watching the mixed "Rock of Ages" demos. Ronald asked them to sign a letter of certification and handed them a McDonald's gift certificate to tell them the good news that he was a first-generation college student.

I received a few more congratulations and hugs.

Alan and Joe also told Ronald that the full sound mixing of "Rock and Roll High School" would be completed soon, and after sending it to MGM's printing factory, they could make several copies, and there would be a preview in Los Angeles in April. He must come to see it then.

In April, it seems that he will have to come to the company more often to inquire about the news.

With two letters of recommendation, Ronald got in the car and drove to the stunt company again. Cameron is also a certified member, and the third letter of certification fell on his head.