Exploiting Hollywood 1980

   Chapter 51 This is a group play

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

   "Yes, her face is suitable for a movie."

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

   "I studied ballet at Skidmore College."

   "Huh?" The director raised his eyebrows, "You must dance well."

   "She hurt her back and can't dance professionally in ballet anymore, so she turned into an actress." Ronald hurriedly explained to Meg.

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

   However, if you add the experience of being injured and suffering a major setback, it will be closer to the character.

   "It's okay, let's try her play."

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

   It happened that he needed someone to help him stare at the casting. The director thought to himself: "Wait for the next casting and ask him to come, and try to see if he has an idea today, or if he really has talent in casting."

   So it's not a bad idea to give his girlfriend a small role. Anyway, he is also studying ballet. There are many ballet scenes in the movie.

   "You are playing a ballerina who flirts with a boy you like." Director Alan Parker did not give Meg a script, but directed it on the spot, "You do this first...then..."

   "Ronald, you come to match the show, when the time comes..."

  Ronald put down the script he was reading, and the new script he had just copied still had some heat.

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

   Meg, a little nervous, did two ballet moves to warm up, then raised her hands in a ready position to signal that she was ready.

  The director got her started.

   Raising her hands up, Meg danced two ballet spins, then stood still with one leg raised, like a proud swan.

   Ronald is admiring, "Fortunately, she's wearing the right shoes today."

   Then Meg took up her posture, picked up the packet, and walked past Ronald. A little physical contact was deliberately made lightly.

   Ronald looked at her unexpectedly.

   Meg stopped at the door and gestured to Ronald with a look, not following.

  Ronald was stunned for a moment, then half a second later he suddenly realized a smile, and followed him out.

   Meg's acting was a bit deliberate, and the flirting scene was unnatural.

   After all, it has not been polished by an actor training class, Ronald thought.

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

   "I'm studying directing, and I know portrait photography." Ronald hurriedly denied it, but still gave Meg the chance.

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

   "Mr. Director, Meg's experience suits your film very well. She is a good candidate for a ballet student. Your film needs a lot of young, ballet extras."

   It is estimated that Meg's acting skills will not meet the requirements of the main role for the time being, but for a group performance, it is enough to mix 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 Alan, or Mr. Parker, not Mr. Director." Director Alan Parker smiled beside him, "I don't want to be called an old studio man."

   "There are still some problems with her acting skills. During this time, you asked 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 I will automatically enjoy the same treatment as a union member for the next month. One month was enough for my union application to be approved."

   In order to enter the entertainment industry, Meg thoroughly studied the details of these careers.

   "It's the name of the congressman who passed the bill that year, as we usually call it in the industry." Margaery of the casting studio added to Ronald.

   "I'll 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 the group acting.

  Alan Parker took out two standard contracts from his bag, filled in Meg Tilly's name, and a day's performance time, according to the union's minimum wage, filled in a daily wage of $225. It was then handed over to Meg Tilly to sign.

"This is a one-day employment contract. If you hold this contract, there will be an agent willing to represent you. After asking him to sign it, give me another copy so that you can use it to apply for the actor's union qualification. already."

   Meg took the contract and hugged Ronald excitedly.

   "It's still a while before the hot lunch starts, Meg, you learn to act first, and if you make progress, you can audition for the main role."

   "Thank you, Mr. Parker."

After going out to call Meg for a while, a bunch of photos were put on the table again. Ronald glanced at them. Sure enough, the people in the photos were not as beautiful and confident as the original ones. They were all a little "Loser". loser temperament.

   "I like this, this, and this..." Mr. Director drew aside some of the photos, "These, we can arrange auditions."

   "I'll arrange it, but I don't think that's enough, especially for group performances. Do you want to consider auditioning those students from the performing arts high school?" Margery replied.

   "Yes, yes, I need some real people, the students of the Performing Arts High School are performing in their own right, which is good, we will invite interviews as soon as possible."

   "Okay, but most of them didn't join the Screen Actors Guild. We don't have their audition photos. I'll arrange a live audition with the school."

   "Come with me, Ronald, we need your photography skills." The older employee stopped Ronald and followed her to another room.

   "I'm Julia Taylor and I work in a casting studio." She introduces herself to Ronald.

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

  Julia is a middle-aged lady, a little older, with a very kind smile, like that aunt everyone has. She always has the ability to make the conversation object feel like a spring breeze.

   "I heard Margery say, you haven't seen Director Alan Parker before?"

   "Yes, saw him for the first time today."

   "Did you know he was the director of last year's movie 'Midnight Express'? The one for which 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's okay, I can represent the casting studio and give you a job as a dedicated photographer, come here once a week and focus on the actors who need to update their audition shots. $40 per person per shot, starting with the Hot Lunch crew audition ."

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

   "Thank you Ms. Taylor, I'll give you top-notch audition shots."

   "Director Alan Parker seems to appreciate you, and he offered to ask you to audition for Hot Lunch's next audition, if you would agree, and..." Julia Taylor paused, looking directly at Ronald.

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

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

  In New York, no one understands movie casting better than us, so if Mr. Director goes to see other casting companies, I am afraid that he will not be able to get professional services…”

   "I will record the names of other casting companies that Mr. Director has seen, and come back to tell you, Ms. Taylor."

   It turned out that I was afraid of competitors poaching customers. It is no problem to secretly inform, who asked me to work for you.

  Julia Taylor showed a satisfied smile, "Come here, we will sign a cooperation agreement with you."

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

   After signing the deal, casting director Julia Taylor explained the workflow to Ronald.

"However, this hot lunch is a group show, with 8 protagonists and a dozen secondary characters. The group performance needs hundreds of people, so we will organize a special audition with the High School of Performing Arts in New York to let the director play in the high school. Choose among the students."

   "You have to take pictures of each student who auditioned at the scene. The ones selected by Director Alan Parker must be specially recorded and brought back to us for archives. We will notify you of the specific time schedule. What is your phone number?"

   Ronald quoted the phone number and took down the phone number of the casting studio. He checked with Julia one by one to clarify his job description.

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

  Ronald found Meg Tilly, who was chatting happily with Margery like a bird, and the two said goodbye to the director, exchanged phone calls, and popped out of the casting studio.

   "Have you been selected? What are the requirements of the director?"

   "Why they can go in, it's not fair."

  The boys and girls at the door surrounded the two and became concerned.

   Ronald couldn't get away for a while, and simply announced loudly, "I'm a photographer, not an actor. I'm here to send audition photos."

   "I heard from the casting studio that the film will be cast publicly, and all students from high schools specializing in acting will have the opportunity to participate."

   banged, the crowd was still discussing, and some people hurried to the phone booth on the side to make a call.

  Ronald took the opportunity and trotted away with Meg Tilly.

  …

   "Hahahaha" Meg was happy like a little pigeon all the way, raised her hands and ran fast on the road. Ronald chased after him, picked Meg up in his arms, and the two turned around several times.

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

   "Thank you, Ronald." Meg's voice became extra soft, and Ronald seemed to feel her pounding heart.

   "You patronize and thank you, it's nothing, you are suitable for the film industry."

   Meg simply wrapped her arms around 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 softly.

   Ronald hugged Meg and was intoxicated for a while by the pleasant smells coming from her.

"Yesterday I was a desperate former ballet dancer. Today I got a formal contract with the crew, and I'm in the industry. You did it for me, thank you." Meg was a little emotional as she said that, and leaned her head against Rhona. De's head.

   "Maybe tomorrow will be a big star." Ronald hugged her gently, and the two kissed together.

  The casting studio was not far from home, and the two who were running fast had actually reached the artist's apartment, but Meg didn't want to go upstairs yet.

   "Ronald, can you and I go to the pier on Manhattan's South Shore first? I've been dancing hard when I came to New York. I haven't been to the Statue of Liberty yet."

   "Okay, no problem, I often pass by the goddess by boat, and I can be your tour guide." After the tour in the afternoon, we can also watch a movie, and then buy some food and wine in the evening to celebrate your entry.

   "Ronnie, you're so kind..."

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

   "What the **** do you think Ellen is up to? Why give us a wrong script?" Margaery asked.

   "I still can't figure out what he means. Maybe the script has been revised all the time, 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 ahead. Don't worry too much, I'm already by the director's side and have arranged an insider."

   (end of this chapter)