Exploiting Hollywood 1980

The director picked up the viewfinder hanging around his neck and stared at Meg Tilly for a while.

"Yes, her face is suitable for filming."

"Where did you study acting at?" the director asked Meg.

"I'm a ballet major, at Skidmore College."

"Huh?", the director raised his eyebrows, you must be a good dancer.

"She suffered a back injury and will no longer be able to dance professionally in ballet, so she transformed into an actor." Ronald hurriedly explained to Meg.

The director wanted to find some less successful "Loser" actors to film "Hot Lunch", so Meg Tilly's professional ballet background was not an advantage, but a disadvantage.

But if you add the experience of being injured and suffering major setbacks, you will be closer to the character.

"It doesn't matter, let's try her show."

Ronald's answer reflected his understanding of the film, which made the director very satisfied.

It just so happened that he needed someone to help him keep an eye on the casting. "I'll call him over for the next casting. Let's see if he had an idea today or if he really has a talent for casting."

So it's not a bad idea to give his girlfriend a small role. She's a ballet student anyway, and there are a lot of ballet scenes in the movie.

"You play a ballerina who flirts with the boy she likes." Director Alan Parker did not give Meg a script, but directed her on the spot. "You do this first...and then..."

"Ronald, come and play the role. When the time comes..."

Ronald put down the script he was reading. The new script he had just copied still had some heat left in it.

He walked to the door and stood, smiling at Meg Tilly.

Meg was a little nervous. She did two ballet moves to warm up, and then signaled that it was ready to start.

Meg raised her hands in a ready position, and the director signaled that she could start.

Raising her hands, Meg danced two ballet pirouettes, then stood still and raised one leg to freeze, like a proud swan.

Ronald was making an appreciative gesture, "Fortunately, she wore suitable shoes today."

Then Meg lowered her posture, picked up the small bag, and walked past Ronald. A little physical contact was deliberately created gently.

Ronald looked up at her.

Meg stopped at the door and signaled Ronald with a look that she would not follow him.

Ronald was stunned for a moment, then smiled in realization for half a second and walked out.

Meg's acting was a bit deliberate, and her flirting scenes were unnatural.

After all, he has not been polished by the actor training class, Ronald thought to himself.

"Ronald, you did a good job. Are you studying acting?" The director seemed to appreciate Ronald's acting skills more.

"I studied directing, and I also know how to take portraiture." Ronald quickly denied it, but still wanted to give Meg the opportunity.

"Meg has no professional acting training. She was previously a contracted dancer with the Connecticut Ballet, but she had no choice but to retire due to injury." Ronald explained to the director.

"Mr. Director, Meg's experience is very suitable for your movie. She is very suitable to play a ballet student. Your movie needs many young, ballet dancing extras."

It is estimated that Meg's acting skills are not up to the requirements of the main role for the time being, but it is enough to be an extra and get a union card. A one-day contract that meets the union minimum wage. That would make her eligible to apply to join the Screen Actors Guild.

"Call me Allen, or Mr. Parker, don't call me Mr. Director." Director Allen Parker laughed next to him, "I don't want to be called the old man of the studio."

"There are still some problems with her acting skills. During this time, you ask her to sign up for an acting training class. In short, I will at least give her a Taft Hartley." The director promised.

"What Taft Hartley?" Ronald didn't understand.

Meg Tilly quickly pulled him and explained in a low voice: "Taft Hartley means equal treatment. The director will give me a one-day contract, and after one month I will automatically enjoy the same treatment as a union member. . One month was enough for my union application to be approved.”

In order to enter the entertainment industry, Meg studied all the details of entering the industry thoroughly.

"It's the name of the congressman who passed this bill that year. We in the industry generally call it that." Margery from the casting studio added to Ronald.

"I will sign her up for an acting training class, Mr. Parker." Ronald assured the director that if he could be one of the protagonists, it would be a hundred times better than acting in an ensemble cast.

Alan Parker took out two standard contracts from his bag, filled in Meg Tilley's name, a day's performance time, and a daily wage of $218 based on the union's minimum wage. It was then handed over to Meg Tilley for signature.

"This is a one-day employment contract. If you take this contract, there will be an agent who is willing to represent you. After he signs it, bring another copy to me so that you can use it to apply for Screen Actors Guild qualifications. ”

Meg took the contract and hugged Ronald excitedly.

"It will be some time before Hot Lunch starts filming. Meg, you should learn acting first. If you make progress, you can also audition for the main role."

"Thank you, Mr. Parker."

After he went out to call Meg, a lot of photos were placed on the table again. Ronald took a look and found that the people in the photos were not as beautiful and confident as the original batch. They were all a bit "loser". Loser temperament.

"I like this, this, and this..." Mr. Director pulled some photos aside, "We can arrange auditions for these."

"I will arrange it, but I think it's not enough, especially for the group performances. Do you want to consider auditioning the students from the performing arts high school?" Margaret replied.

"Yes, yes, I need some real people. The students from the performing arts high school are acting in their true colors. This is great. We will invite them for an interview as soon as possible."

"Okay, but most of them are not members of the actors' union. We don't have their audition photos. I will arrange a live audition with the school."

"Ronald, come with me. We need your photography skills." The older employee called Ronald and went to another room with her.

"I'm Julia Taylor, working in the casting studio." She introduced herself to Ronald.

"Nice to meet you, Ms. Taylor. I'm Ronald Lee."

Julia is a middle-aged lady, a little older, and she smiles very kindly, just like the aunt that everyone has. She always has the ability to make the person she is talking to feel like a spring breeze.

"I heard from Margaret that you haven't met Director Alan Parker before?"

"Yes, I met him for the first time today."

"Do you know that he is the director of last year's movie "Midnight Express"? The screenwriter Oliver Stone won the Oscar for Best Screenplay."

"Oh, it's him." Ronald smiled embarrassedly, "I worked in a crew last year, and I haven't had time to watch many movies."

"It doesn't matter. I can represent the casting studio and give you a special photographer position. Come here once a week to take photos for actors who need to update their audition photos. It's $40 per person per time, starting with the audition of the Hot Lunch crew."

"This price is quite fair. I don't have to think about finding clients and doing marketing. I just need to take pictures." Ronald thought to himself.

"Thank you, Ms. Taylor. I will provide you with first-class audition photos."

"Director Alan Parker seems to appreciate you very much. He took the initiative to ask you to participate in the next audition of the Hot Lunch crew. If you are willing to agree, and..." Julia Taylor paused and looked directly at Ronald.

Ronald didn't quite understand what Julia meant. "If there's anything I can do for you, Ms. Taylor..."

"Director Alan Parker is English, and we hope to provide him with thoughtful casting services and recommend good New York actors to him.

In New York, no one knows more about film casting than us, so if Mr. Director meets with other casting companies, I'm afraid he won't get professional services..."

"I'll record the names of the people Mr. Director has met with from other casting companies, and then come back to tell you, Ms. Taylor."

So you're afraid of competition to poach clients. It's okay to secretly tell on them, because who asked me to work for you.

Julia Taylor smiled with satisfaction, "Come here, we'll sign a cooperation agreement with you."

"Generally, casting work is first selected by us from the actor pool, and then we recommend about 5 actors for each role to the director. The director decides who is suitable and invites them for an interview."

After signing the agreement, casting director Julia Taylor explained the work process to Ronald.

"But this hot lunch is a group play, with 8 main characters and more than a dozen minor roles. The group performances will require hundreds of people, so we will organize a special audition with the High School of Performing Arts in New York, and let the director select from among the high school students."

"You need to take photos of each student who auditioned on the spot, and record the ones selected by Director Alan Parker and bring them back to us for filing. We will notify you of the specific time arrangement by phone. What is your phone number?"

Ronald reported the phone number and also wrote down the phone number of the casting studio. He checked with Julia one by one and clarified his work content.

"Go ahead, you can celebrate with your girlfriend today."

Ronald found Meg Tilly, who was chattering happily with Margery like a little bird. The two said goodbye to the director, exchanged phone numbers, and then jumped out of the casting studio.

"Have you been selected? What are the director's requirements?"

"Why can they go in? This is unfair."

The boys and girls at the door surrounded the two and showed concern.

Seeing that he couldn't get away for the time being, Ronald simply announced loudly, "I'm a photographer, not an actor. I'm here to give out audition photos."

"I heard from the casting studio that this movie will be open for casting, and all students from performing arts high schools have the opportunity to participate."

With a bang, the crowd started discussing, and some people ran to the phone booth next to them to make a call.

Ronald took the opportunity to quickly slip away with Meg Tilly.

...

"Hahahaha" Meg was as happy as a little dove all the way, raising her hands and running fast on the road. Ronald chased after her, picked up Meg, and the two turned around several times.

The two stopped and looked at each other for a long time.

"Ronald, thank you." Meg's voice became particularly gentle, and Ronald seemed to be able to feel her pounding heart.

"You're busy saying thank you, it's nothing, it's you who are suitable for the film industry."

Meg simply hugged Ronald's neck, jumped up, and kissed Ronald hard several times.

"I'm so happy, Ronald, it's like a dream." Meg looked into Ronald's eyes and said gently.

Ronald hugged Meg and smelled all kinds of pleasant smells coming from her body. He couldn't help but be intoxicated for a moment.

"Yesterday I was a desperate former ballet dancer, but today I have received a formal contract from the crew, and I am considered to have entered the industry. You helped me do this, thank you." Meg was a little emotional and leaned her head against Ronald's head.

"Maybe you will be a big star tomorrow." Ronald gently hugged her and they kissed each other.

The casting studio is not far from home. The two of them ran all the way and actually walked to the artist's apartment, but Meg didn't want to go upstairs.

"Ronald, can you go with me to visit the pier on the south bank of Manhattan? I have been trying to dance since I came to New York, and I haven't been to the Statue of Liberty yet."

"Okay, no problem, I often take a boat past the statue, and I can be your guide." After the tour in the afternoon, we can also go to a movie, and then buy some food and red wine in the evening to celebrate your entry into the industry.

"Ronnie, you are so nice..."

On the other side, in the afternoon, in the casting studio, the two casting directors, Julia Taylor and Margaret, sent off director Alan Parker.

"What do you think Alan is doing? Why did he give us a wrong script?" Margaret asked.

"I still don't know what he means. Maybe the script has been revised, or maybe he wants to replace us with other casting directors." Julia Taylor changed her previous smile and said seriously.

"Then we... continue to cast him according to the revised plan?"

"Go on. Don't worry too much. I have arranged an insider next to the director."