Exploiting Hollywood 1980

Back in his apartment, Ronald saw that his letterbox was full in the aisle, and the letters made the door of the letterbox bulge, slightly bulging out and deforming.

"I have so many letters?" Ronald was a little puzzled. Usually, no one sent him letters, it was just bills. He was busy editing videos on the night shift a few days ago, and he didn't pay attention. How did he accumulate so much?

"This...is it..."

Ronald rushed to the front of the mailbox and took out the key to unlock it. He was so excited that he stuffed it twice but didn't put it in.

Press the right hand with the left hand to calm down.

Slowly opening the lock, the letterbox door couldn't stand the pressure of the letters stuck inside, and a large pile of letters fell out and spread out on the ground.

Ronald squatted down quickly, gathered up the letters, and tapped the edge of the envelope on the ground to sort it out.

There were four oversized envelopes in total, with several utility bills interspersed.

Stand up and look at the large envelope with the prompt on it.

Rejected

This is UCLA.

Rejected

This is Colombia.

The red refusal stamps on the two large envelopes all at once dashed Ronald's hopes for the most part.

Ronald, nervous, turned out a third large envelope.

Waitlisted

It's USC USC!

Quickly open the envelope, which is a pending notice.

"Dear Ronald Lee,

Hi.

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

However, with the number of applicants this year far exceeding expectations, we have reached the ceiling. We cannot send you an offer of admission, we can only put you and other students on the pending list.

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

That is to say, depending on the situation of the students who were admitted earlier, they may also get several admission notices and choose to go elsewhere. Then USC has a vacancy.

Don't know where you are on the pending list? Can you get on the wheel?

What about the fourth one?

Ronald turned the last big envelope inside out...

A big admission on the cover ()

Hahaha……

As a Chinese soul, the moment of getting the admission letter from a famous university is the happiest moment.

Take it apart, and you will find the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University.

"Congratulations, you have been accepted by the NYU Tisch School of the Arts

Admission to the Department of Film and Television.

 …”

NYU, very close to home, just a ferry ride to Staten Island.

"Please sign and submit the confirmation form by April 30th...

Along with the $200 admission deposit...

If you are applying for dormitory...

Reporting guidelines..."

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

"Ring, bell, bell..."

"Aunt Karen!

I am Ronald.

bingo,

I got hit,

I passed the exam,

I was accepted to NYU! "

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

After years of hard work, my sister's son was finally admitted to a prestigious university. A single mother raising two children, Aunt Karen was a tough one.

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

America's deposit accounts are basically interest-free. Inflation is high now,

It is equivalent to depreciation of more than 10% every year.

The bank then provided a large certificate of deposit (Certified Deposit) for depositors to purchase, which is equivalent to Huaguo's time deposit. 15% interest per year, enough to beat inflation and a bit profitable.

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

The good news is encouraging, and the discomforts of ordinary life in the past few days seem to have been cured. Ronald is like finding someone to share his joy with.

In Los Angeles, though, Ronald didn't have many friends to share his joy with. Except for the Mrs. Weber family next door, other acquaintances and friends are all in the production of New World, and the "Rock High School" crew.

Ronald is a so-called "first-generation college student," neither his father nor his mother went to college. Neither his aunt nor his deceased uncle. Further up Ronald doesn't know.

If it is a normal American family, it is a very honorable thing to have a first-generation college student. Like China, there is a big celebration. Last year, Ronald's wrestling classmates invited him to a dinner celebration, and his parents gave speeches. In short, it was a grand event.

Ronald also wanted to share his joy with more people. Buy some gifts to give, something memorable.

Early the next morning, Ronald went to McDonald's and bargained with the store manager. At a 20% discount, he bought 100 family gift vouchers, and even gave him a large coupon.

Each gift certificate can be used to purchase a Family Fun Package. Also comes with a small badge that can be worn.

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

Going upstairs and seeing Gail also, Ronald hurried forward.

"This is a present for you, Gal."

"Congratulations, Ronald." Gale congratulated him immediately upon seeing him.

"You already know?" Ronald asked curiously.

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

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

"I got an offer from NYU," Ronald said, handing out a McDonald's gift certificate. "Thank you, Gail. Is Mr. Coleman there? I want to thank him in person."

Gail laughed loudly, found an envelope from the drawer and handed it over, "So you got into college, there is a surprise here."

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

Gail nodded.

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

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

"Who's outside?" Roger Coleman asked inside.

"It's Ronald."

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

"Mr. Coleman, thank you for your help." Ronald entered the office and respectfully presented a set of 5 McDonald's Children's Paradise meals and a gift certificate co-branded with Disney. This set was his special choice. Yes, there are Disney character dolls. He knew that Roger Coleman had three children.

"I received an acceptance letter from New York University's film and television department, and I came here to thank you for your letter of recommendation, Mr. Coleman," Ronald said.

"And Gale just told me about the director's union 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 went on to say congratulatory words and some pointers 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, a professor of film at NYU, Martin Scorsese also made a movie for me. Have you seen his "Taxi Driver"? Have a chance to say hello to him for me."

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

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

"Oh, Martin Scorsese," Gale replied.

"The '76 Movie," Gale gestured with a gun, "Are you talking to me?"

Ronald shrugged and said he hadn't seen it.

"Uh, what about 'Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore' in '74?" Gale somewhat despised Ronald's ignorance of Hollywood.

"I've seen this movie," Ronald remembers, going to the Staten Island movie theater with Aunt Karen and Cousin Donna. Movie theaters there often put outdated old movies.

The film tells the story of a single-parent hotel waitress who takes her son to work while searching for her dream and love for a singing career. Aunt Karen was very emotional, she was very excited to see it, and she nagged for several days that the filming was good.

"Ellen Burstyn, who played a single mother, won an Oscar for best actress."

It seems that he is a great director, and he must be in contact with him more and become familiar with him. Ronald made up his mind.

Gale handed over the director's union application, "You can fill it out here." He handed over another pen.

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

"Pulling, not turning." Gale suggested.

"thanks."

Ronald pulled out the pen and started filling out the form. The pen is very smooth to write, fill in your name, date of birth, contact address, application level...

"By the way, the directors of the director's union said that the name Ronald Lee (Ronald Lee) has been used by five or six actors and producers. It is recommended that you add a middle name or a stage name." Er said.

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

American middle names are usually signed with only the initials, as does Ronald's driver's license and checks.

"You still need the endorsement of three members of the director's union, you should be able to find it, right?" Gale asked.

"I think so, thank you." Ronald thanked again, took the application materials for the director's union and went downstairs.

Find the editing room and knock on the door to enter. It just so happened that Aaron Akush, director, and Joe Dante were watching the remixed "Rock High School" dailies. Ronald asked them to sign the letter and hand over a McDonald's gift certificate to tell them the good news of being a first-generation college student.

I received a few more congratulations and hugs.

Allen and Joe also told Ronald that the full remix of "High School of Rock" would be over soon, and that a few copies could be made when it was sent to the MGM laboratory, with a trial in Los Angeles in April. reflect. He must come to see then.

In April, it seems that I will come to the company more to get news.

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