Exploiting Hollywood 1980

During his vacation in New York, Ronald lived very comfortably and had a sumptuous Christmas dinner with his aunt and cousin on Christmas Eve.

Perhaps due to the long time of preparing and directing the filming of the movie, Ronald was somewhat out of touch with real life. He moved to his aunt's apartment and stayed at home for many days. He talked and chatted with his aunt every day, using the warmth of family to temporarily forget the movie he had just shot. .

Early that morning, Ronald was watching TV in the living room again.

In order to watch the leader's speeches and new trends at any time, Aunt Karen paid for a cable TV connection at home. In addition to local channels and the three major wireless TV stations, the TV at home can watch dozens of channels from all over the country.

This practice of moving local channels to national cable TV networks so that cable TV subscribers across the country can watch them is called syndication. Many TV shows that were originally local have become popular after being syndicated.

Ronald picked up a small rectangular box and pressed it on the TV. The TV followed his gestures and changed channels. This is a remote control device that comes with the cable TV viewing box. You can change TV channels while sitting. Ronald likes it very much.

"Hey, what is this?"

Ronald discovered that a picture of the Apollo moon landing appeared on the TV, but the flag on the moon was changed from a national flag to a flag with a capital m on it.

Then a beautiful host began to announce, "Welcome to the Channel, the world's first music television channel, which plays the best pop music in the world for you day and night in stereo."

Then the screen changed, and the station started playing Lord Stewart's music video, and Ronald became interested. This kind of music video that was shorter than normal TV programs was very interesting, and he would change songs every few minutes.

Their editing rhythm is much faster than that of movies and much faster than that of TV series.

Ronald stared at the TV and watched several music videos that were popular on the charts. He found that he had no difficulty in understanding this fast-paced plot. Perhaps it was because the music and lyrics helped the audience understand the plot. Understand, it doesn’t take a long time to build up like a movie.

"Next is the Rolling Stones' latest concert," the host said.

"Oh, Ronald, you should go for a walk instead of staying at home and watching TV."

Aunt Karen couldn't bear that Ronald stayed at home eating, sleeping and watching TV every day. She came over and got him up from the sofa, "Go out and buy a copy of the New York Times. It'll be good for you."

"All right\

,"Ronald got up from the sofa, put on his coat and got ready to go out.

At this time, the phone rang. Aunt Karen picked up the phone and handed the receiver to Ronald, "The person calling for you, Ronald, is a girl."

"I'm Ronald, who is this?"

"I'm Helen, Helen Slater. I did a chewing gum commercial. Do you remember me?"

"Of course, hello Helen." Of course Ronald remembered that before the filming of "Fast-paced Richmond High" started, Ronald even wanted to let the girl audition, but her father Gerald, who was on the TV station, dismissed her as Helen. Under 18 refused.

Speaking of which, the New Year is coming soon, and Helen is now an adult.

Sometimes there are many seemingly inconspicuous factors that affect a movie. If Helen had been a few months older, or if the movie had started filming later, maybe Helen Slater could have been in the role.

"Ronald, I would like to invite you to be my best man at the De Tonto dance. Would you like to do that?"

"What?" Ronald didn't understand the name of the dance.

"It's debutante, which means 'debut' in French. It's a dance where American girls make their first social appearance. They must have a male partner."

"Prom? I have no experience. Didn't Gerald arrange any other suitable candidates for you?"

Gerald Slater, who was listening to the phone next to Helen, couldn't help it. He took the phone receiver and said, "Hi, kid. My daughter wants you to be her male companion. Is there anything else you don't want to do?"

"Gerald, hello. That's not what I meant. I have never attended a debutante ball and don't know how to perform my duties. From what Helen said, it seems to be a very formal occasion." Ronald was from a lower class background and was not interested in the atmosphere of this upper class society. Not very interested.

Gerald lost some of his anger after hearing Ronald's reasons. It seemed that this lucky silly boy paid great attention to his daughter's coming-of-age ceremony.

"It's not so formal. It's a small-scale dance in our TV and movie circles. The real international debutante dance is held every even-numbered year, and princesses from many European countries will attend.

We want to create an environment for our children so that young people who are interested in entering the entertainment industry can get to know some people in the industry when they grow up. Helen was the first person who thought of you when she invited her, and you can also get to know some young people in the circle. "

"It's my pleasure."

"Remember the concierge's request, there will be an appearance ceremony in the morning, and there will be a guest gathering after lunch..."

On the day of the adult debut dance for the children of senior film and television professionals, Ronald wore a dark blue navy double-breasted suit with metal buttons, a dark red pocket square, and gray trousers. He combed his hair neatly and went to China. Hotel Astoria.

This old hotel is the venue for the International Adult Ball held every even-numbered years. Jerad and the others also set the dance party here with the intention of improving their daughters’ quality.

Arriving at the hall where the ball was held, Ronald felt a little regretful. None of the male companions who came were well-known figures in the industry, and most of them were second-generation stars. He also saw the star kid from New York University who wanted to get him into the fraternity.

The debutante dance is slow-paced, with each girl coming down the stairs individually and having 10 minutes each to appear. The host introduces the girl's family background information and the male companion's family background. Then show the dress to everyone present.

After waiting for more than two hours, almost noon, the host finally announced Helen's name.

"Miss Helen Slater, her father is Gerald Slater, the vice president of PBS station itself..."

Ronald stood up quickly and looked up the stairs.

I saw a girl about five feet eight inches (1.73 meters) appearing at the exit of the corridor on the stairs. She was wearing a milky white dress, a white hat in the style of the 1920s and 1930s on her head, and a pair of bright blue eyes.

There were two sparkling pendant earrings hanging on her ears, and a string of pearl necklaces around her neck.

It was Helen Slater, whom Ronald had not seen for a long time.

We haven’t seen each other for more than a year, only through a few phone calls. Ronald felt like he didn't recognize Helen.

American girls, at this age, are experiencing rapid changes in appearance. Apart from her eyebrows, Helen was still as charming as before, and her figure was even better, giving Ronald the feeling of a neighbor girl suddenly growing into a beauty.

Helen walked down the stairs slowly, her eyes looking left and right, looking for her male companion, Ronald. She saw Ronald dressed in a navy uniform with trimmed hair and beard. She was obviously very satisfied and came over to hold his arm.

After the host's introduction, it was time for the photographer to take photos. Ronald faithfully acted as Helen Slater's male model and took several sets of photos. Then the two went to their seats and sat down.

"You are outstanding today, Helen. It can be said that you are the most beautiful girl at the ball." Ronald felt that for the first time when he praised the girl, he did not add any exaggeration.

"Giggle..." Helen smiled, "You are also very handsome."

The two looked at each other and smiled.

"Have you been waiting here for a long time?" Helen asked.

"Exactly. Fortunately, I saw you last and didn't waste my time. You guys are in the lounge upstairs, do you have to wait too?"

"Yes, but we have spies, haha..." Helen laughed again, "We have friends who keep peeking at the door to tell us who has the most handsome male partner."

After chatting and joking for a while, the two continued to wait for the remaining girls to come down the stairs.

"Aren't you feeling bored? Let's go first?" Helen said to Ronald beside her after waiting for two or three girls.

"Didn't I say that there will be guests this afternoon?"

"A few very boring people are the sons and nephews of the former commander-in-chief JFK. I heard from my father that they want to enter the entertainment industry and become actors."

Ronald didn't believe it. The former first lady would not allow his son to become a movie actor. Although there are news footage on TV of JFK going to college, he is indeed good-looking enough to be the leading actor.

"What, you want to see him?" Helen asked when Ronald didn't move.

"No, I was just wondering if it would be rude."

"Don't think about it. This is not a real international adult dance. We can sneak out through the back door and wait while I change clothes."

Helen took Ronald and sneaked out of the back door of the hotel lobby. She secretly took out a bag from behind the door and went into the bathroom to change clothes.

It seemed that she had already planned to run away.

After changing from her dress, Helen put on jeans and a men's jacket, and put her necklace into her bag, leaving only two earrings. From the socialite style just now, she suddenly turned into a common high school girl on the streets of New York.

"I want to go to the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Would you like to go with me?"

"Okay, the task Jerad gave me is to accompany you for a day."

"Hahaha, don't you think so?"

"Of course, it's my honor." Ronald put up his arm for Helen to step on, and the two walked out of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel.

The Museum of Modern Art in New York is very close to the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. It only takes ten minutes to walk from Lexington Avenue. After passing Rockefeller Avenue and Fifth Avenue, you will see the distinctive appearance of the New York Museum of Modern Art.

This is a high-end area in New York. There are many beauties and handsome guys dressed in fashionable clothes along the way. The pace of walking is much slower than that of the elites in lower Manhattan.

"Actually, I don't want to come to this dance, but I have to deal with Gerald." Helen kept talking as she walked. "He promised me that if I was willing to come, he would find me a performance opportunity on ABC TV, but my mother encouraged me to find opportunities on my own."

"Gerrard also found me an agent, but he always told my father everything about me. My mother asked me to find another agent so that I could get rid of his tyranny. But I didn't want him to be sad."

Helen looked at Ronald, the director who directed her first TV commercial and made her last appearance on the TV station, feeling a little kindly in her heart, and talked about all the troubles of entering and leaving the entertainment industry.

"Actually, an actor can hire more than one agent. There is no law prohibiting this. This is what I do."

"Really? That's good." Helen nodded and changed the subject, "Is my dress beautiful? My mother helped me choose it. There are many second-hand dress stores in New York. Many women will wear a designer dress once. Send them in and sell them.”

"Why did you buy a second-hand dress?" Ronald knew that Helen's father was a high-level television executive and her mother was a lawyer, so her income was not very low.

"Because of environmental protection, my mother said those flashy things are vanity and illusion, and we should focus on substance. If everyone abandons vanity, the earth's resources will not be depleted due to abuse."

"you're right……"

The two quickly walked to the Museum of Modern Art in New York, which is the largest museum in New York after the Metropolitan Museum. There were still a lot of people near noon, and Ronald bought a ticket to enter.

"I went to see a modern artist's exhibition last time. Which modern artist do you like?" Helen asked Ronald while walking in the hall.

"I don't understand this..."

"You are too modest. Aren't you a film director? Last time my father didn't allow me to audition. I had a fight with him. Later, my mother came forward and talked to him, and he agreed that I could freely audition for the movie. , but we still have to report it to him."

The two entered an exhibition hall, and Ronald also looked at the modern art paintings on the wall.

"This is Van Gogh's Starry Night, this is Monet's water lilies, these are Dali and Cézanne..."

Helen Slater was very familiar with these famous paintings, and Ronald also stood close and looked at the masters' works, admiring them one by one.

"If you feel bored, why not go to the modern installation art exhibition that interests you first?" Ronald felt that Helen was already familiar with these paintings and was afraid that she would be bored.

"It doesn't matter, I'll watch it again with you. A masterpiece is always worth appreciating again and again."

Ronald patted Helen's hand to express his gratitude, and the two looked at each painting.

Ronald had never studied painting, he just looked at the masterpieces as an ordinary spectator. Ahead is a work by another master, the Dutch painter Mondrian's "Red, Yellow and Blue."

As soon as Ronald saw this work, he felt a strange sense of familiarity in his heart. He stopped and stared at the painting for a long time.

There are no characters or scenery in the painting, just some simple black lines dividing the canvas into several rectangular parallelepipeds. There are also some rectangular color blocks filled with red, yellow, and blue colors.

Helen looked at Ronald strangely. He had never been so fascinated by the paintings he had seen before. Next to Ronald was a Chinese-American dressed as an art student. He was holding a paintbrush and copying Mondrian's work on the easel next to him.

"What an interesting rhythm." Ronald muttered to himself after a long time.

"What, can you see Mondrian's rhythm?" the Chinese student glanced at Ronald and asked.

"Yes, although these are lines and color blocks, it gives the impression that the painter is narrating a rhythm."

"Are you studying painting?" The Chinese student looked at him and saw that it didn't look like him.

"No, I make movies. My name is Ronald."

"Just call me Chen." The Chinese student stretched out his hand and shook his hand.

"Few outsiders can tell that Mondrian painted rhythm. They all think Mondrian painted living room decorations."

Chen pointed to Ronald Mondrian's paintings, "Actually, they don't understand the greatness of the master. Look at this brushstroke. His lines are all drawn freehand. Different blacks have different shades, making the lines It has a three-dimensional feel.”

Ronald looked in the direction of his finger, and there were indeed the same black lines, one seemed to be floating above the other. Although the picture is simple, it has a strong appeal to people. This simplicity can only be achieved through comprehensive design and attention to details.

"It seems that simplicity is not so easy to achieve." Ronald sighed. Art is all connected. Many people say that Hitchcock's film narratives are simple, but it is not that easy to achieve such simplicity. Many people cannot imitate his style.

"It seems that you have a good sense of art. The shop at the door sells printed copies. If you like, you can buy one." Chen pointed out to him.

"Thank you. Do you want to sell your copy?" Ronald took a fancy to Chen's copy of the oil painting.

"I can't sell it. Mondrian's paintings are difficult to copy. What I painted doesn't look like them at all." Chen shook his head.

Ronald shrugged and turned back to continue visiting her favorite installation art with Helen.

After viewing the exhibition, Ronald and Helen ate hot dogs on the street. Nowadays, setting up a stall in Manhattan also requires a license. The hot dogs tasted very good with the sauce, and Helen was especially happy to eat them.

"Thank you, Ronald. I had a great time today. I will listen to you and ask my mother to find me another agent. Then maybe I will audition for your next movie."

After sending Helen home, Ronald returned to his aunt's house holding the purchased prints of Mondrian's paintings.

After the New Year holiday, Ronald returned to Los Angeles. He placed a copy of Mondrian's painting on the table in the editing room to remind himself to maintain rhythm when editing.

"This is Eric, the editor of this film, these are his two editing assistants, and this is Ronald, the director." Producer Art Linson introduced the editing team to Ronald. In the next two months, it will be up to Ronald and Eric to work together to edit the finished film.

"Hello, Ronald, the audio and video synchronization has been completed. Do we want to watch it again from the beginning?"

"Okay, thank you, Eric, let's get started."

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