Exploiting Hollywood 1980

  Chapter 19 Regulations of Directors Guild

   "Don't say you can't sign the director, not even Joe Dante." Roger Coleman took Joe as an example.

"Because the Directors Guild (DGA) stipulates that, except in very special circumstances, a film can only be signed to one director. This is to prevent the studio from exploiting the director, let him finish most of the shots first, and then wait until after the filming. If you fire him, you can add your own name and co-director with him."

  Roger continued to explain: "Not only that, the director who wants to sign a film must be reviewed by the director's union, and at least two-thirds of the original footage was shot by this director."

   "As long as you are a registered member of the Hollywood Directors Guild, your interests are quite guaranteed. The producer may not give you the final editing right, but he cannot deny your signature. What you shoot is what you shoot."

"Because of this, the director's union is very strict on signatures. They don't accept applications, they only invite new directors to join the union. If I put a newcomer on the 'Rock High School' director list, the union will come and invite him soon. And this opportunity was left to Aaron Akush."

   "Oh, Mr. Coleman, you misunderstood. I don't have the idea of ​​​​signing the director. I just want to appear in the subtitles at the end of the film. I know that crew assistants usually don't have the opportunity to do subtitles."

"I can add your name to the assistant column at the end of the credits, but why do you have to put subtitles?" Roger Coleman was a little strange, and Ronald also had the naive idea of ​​leaving his name, "Generally The audience will not read the subtitles, and a person's name will appear for a few seconds, and you can't see it if you don't pay attention. In Hollywood movies, the names of important members are released at the beginning."

   "That's right, Mr. Coleman." Ronald explained, "My income now comes mainly from taking audition photos for actors, which cost $30 a set.

  If my name was on a movie that was going to be released in theaters, then I could raise my offer to at least $50, and then I could be a photographer while earning money to pay for college. "

   "Does it matter that your name appears in the subtitles?" Roger Coleman was a little curious.

   "Yes, Mr. Coleman. Almost all the actors who approached me for auditions had never been in a movie. They wanted to be in a movie, but often had a lot of anecdotal ideas about how to do an audition.

   If I have been involved in a movie, then my words have more authority. Not only can you ask for a higher price, but you can also save a lot of trouble when shooting. "

   "Oh, that's a good idea. You have to keep it up, it's good business thinking. A lot of good directors don't understand business. But great directors always find a balance between business and art."

   "Mr. Coleman, don't know you need a still photographer? I can take stills for 'Rock and Roll High School' for free, as long as the film and the money for printing." Ronald took the opportunity to sell his service.

   "Do you have samples?"

   "Yes, here it is, look." Ronald took out a prepared stack of photos from the folder and handed it to Roger Coleman. It's all portraits taken in New York.

   "Very good, you go to the production location next week to take some stills, remember to keep the receipt."

   "Thank you, Mr. Coleman, then I'll go out first."

   "Let Jim in by the way."

  Ronald took the door and walked slowly to Gale's position, he had a gut feeling that Roger Coleman didn't want to give him a title directorship. His claims about the directors' union are not necessarily the whole truth.

   First of all, the members of the Directors Guild cannot all be directors. What about the assistant director? What about the second group of directors? Their rights also need trade unions to protect. Is it impossible to be a member of the director's union without signing a film director's name? Roger said Aaron Akush had to rely on Rock High to get his director's union qualification. The qualifications here are probably referring to the level of a film's signature director.

   Second, Roger Coleman paid very little to his employees. A college graduate from a decent family like Gale is fine. Why are Joe, Alan, and Jim, who are family prostitutes, willing to take such low wages? This shows that Roger is exploiting their skills, allowing these talented professionals to work for him for almost free, and he can join the union after completing a film, and when he is famous, he will go to eight major studios to make films. Then Roger Coleman recruited a new batch.

Before watching the demo, Ronald heard Roger Coleman say to Jerry Zucker, "If you make this movie well, you'll never have to work for me in the future." manifested very clearly.

   In turn, these professionals are exploiting Roger Coleman. Hollywood unions are very harsh on newcomers like Ronald or Jim. If you are a union member, you can enjoy good treatment, and the movies filed by the union will give priority to you. If you are not a member of the union, you must work for a certain number of days in the film registered by the union before you can apply for membership (except for the director's union, which is an invitation-only system). The problem is that in Hollywood, non-union members have little chance to make union-registered films.

   This is like the novel "Cat. 22" that Ronald read in high school. When making a movie, it is a priority to hire union members. To join a union, you must have made a movie. This is a logical dead end. The only way out is for bosses like Roger to be willing to hire non-union newcomers like Ronald in union programs.

   Ronald raised his hand to greet Gale. Let Jim, who was already waiting outside, go in. Jim is very relaxed, and he was flirting with Gale just now.

Seeing that Gail was not very busy, Ronald asked tentatively, "I brought a camera today, and I want to take some pictures with Jim. If you want, I will also take some portrait pictures for you." He took out the sample and spread it out on the table for her to see.

   "Wow, your photo is very good, today I wear this kind of clothes, will it look good in the photo?" Gail immediately began to look at the matching of his clothes and shoes.

   After Gale saw the photo, Ronald also pulled a chair and sat down, "Gail, you see a lot in the film industry, do you know what's going on with the Directors Guild?"

Gail raised his head and glanced at him, took a piece of paper from the table, picked up a pen and wrote while saying, "The Directors Guild is an invitation-only system. If you want to join, you don't need to apply. As long as you can leave a name in the project, the Directors Guild You'll get a list and send you an invitation letter."

   "The members of the director's union are divided into three levels: film director, assistant director, director assistant/second group director, each level should have different membership fees, you can go to the library to check the specific information."

   As he spoke, he folded the paper in half, and handed Ronald the director's union-level materials.

   "Is Aaron Akush also a member of the Directors Guild?"

   "He's a second-tier assistant director, of course. Joe Dante directed 'Piranha' last year and was promoted to the highest level of director."

Ronald took the paper written by Gale, put it in his pocket, and thought: It seems that his judgment is good. The reason why Roger Coleman can make ultra-low-cost productions is because of his insight and ability to use Union membership card holder.

   Likewise, the two paths Roger Coleman chose for himself would have to be exploited by him for several years before he could have the opportunity to direct a low-budget film on his own. If he went to college, Roger would have nothing to lose, but if he was obsessed with his dream of making movies and wanted to direct a movie himself, then it would be difficult to refuse a visible path given by Roger.

   No wonder Roger asked himself the first question he asked about his dream. This set of sales techniques, as long as you have a movie dream, and you are from the bottom, who lacks opportunities, who can stop them?

   Ronald shook his head. Even if he went to college, if he didn't forget his dream, he would have to come back to Roger in all likelihood. It's too difficult to get into the film industry.

   At this moment, three people suddenly came up the stairs and rushed towards Roger Coleman's office.

   One of the people who came was Jerry Zack, and of the other two men, one had similar features to Jerry, and the other was slightly taller. The three wanted to go straight into Roger's office.

  Gail hurriedly got up and stopped them, "I'm sorry, the two Mr. Zacks, this... Mr. Mr. Coleman is meeting guests, please wait outside for a while."

   "No, please don't stop me, Gail. This is between me and Roger." Jerry Zack pushed Gail's hand away and wanted to continue inside.

   Seeing the three people getting emotional, Ronald hurried forward, trying to help Gale stabilize them.

  Jim also opened the door and came out to check, and it seemed that Roger Coleman had also heard the movement outside.

  The accident happened suddenly...

   (end of this chapter)