"Well, she is Stella Adler. There are also short-term training courses for actors." Julia Taylor picked up her notebook and copied a number to Ronald: "Here is the phone number. You can ask ask."
"The agent?"
"Meg doesn't have an agent? You can ask her to call Eddie. The agent must be chosen by herself." Julia Taylor copied another agent Eddie's phone number and gave it to Ronald.
"Thank you, Ms. Taylor."
As soon as he turned around, producer David Da Silva also came to find Ronald.
David da Silva is a tall, middle-aged man with most of his head bald and a mustache on his upper lip. He was wearing relatively rare suspender trousers, which were very old-fashioned.
"Ronald, Alan asked me to sign an agreement with you. He will hire you as a casting assistant, in the name of driver and car rental, for $200 per day for one month. If the casting is not over yet, it will be postponed. .”
"Thank you, Mr. da Silva."
"But I still have my conditions. Have you read the script?"
"I have not."
"Here is the latest version of the script. Take it and read it carefully. All eight protagonists must be focused on. If Director Parker tries to choose an actor who is obviously inconsistent with the script, you must notify me. Do you understand?"
Producer David da Silva said to Ronald seriously.
"What?" Ronald thought to himself, why is there so much intrigue in this crew? When he was at New World Company, the crew was very harmonious?
"Remember who pays you, Ronnie. I talked to Julia and I know you're a smart kid."
David da Silva spoke threateningly, and Ronald had no choice but to obey.
"Okay, Mr. da Silva, I will do what you ask. At the end of the day, I'm working for you, Sir."
"You are very nice. Let's sign the agreement. Take this check and remember to give me a copy of the receipt for buying the car." Da Silva took out a check for US$6,000 and handed it to Ronald.
"Just remember to buy a nicer one, Ronnie."
"Am I a double agent?" Ronald thought to himself.
"Read the script carefully, Ronald." Director Alan Parker came over to guide him again.
"Remember your gut, this movie is a realistic movie that reflects the real dark side of high school life. Should David have told you about his request?"
"Yes, Director Parker. He asked me to stay true to the script." Ronald hinted.
"You are very good, I like to deal with smart people." Alan Parker understood.
"But always remember that the script is just a creation on paper. When the director selects actors, he must have imagination and rely on his own intuition and judgment to imagine the actors and the final effect of performing the script. After all, the audience is going to the cinema to watch the film. , rather than reading a script.”
"So when casting, you have to base it on the director's judgment, not exactly what's described in the script. Do you understand?"
"Okay, Mr. Parker, I'll do whatever you ask. After all, I'm working for you, Sir."
"Now it's three sides."
Director or producer, which one of these two is more effective?
I called and asked about the actor training class at Stella Adler Studio. You can join it even if you have no basic knowledge. The fee is 260 yuan/8 classes, which is not expensive.
Then call the agent named Eddie.
Eddie was very positive. After asking about the situation, he offered to come to sign the contract tomorrow. Ronald finalized a time with him and then went to the car market to look at the car.
Since the political turmoil in Persia caused international oil prices to soar, the price of gasoline at gas stations has increased by more than 50%. Ronald wanted to pick up a fuel-efficient European car, like the last Volkswagen Hare.
But at the newsstand next to the subway station, Ronald saw the back cover advertisement of Time Magazine.
"Honda Accord, a new generation of four-door compact car, with power steering, central trunk switch, and electric windows."
It seems that Japanese cars are also pretty good.
Take the subway to the dealer and take a look: the four front headlights are very powerful. Although it is a compact car, it has a lot of interior space.
It's him. After spending $5,600 in exchange for a light green Honda Accord, Ronald drove back to the artist's apartment.
Parking the car downstairs, Ronald first went to ask Meg to have dinner together, and then planned her agent and acting classes together.
But Meg also had plans, and she began to talk about her arrangements as soon as she saw Ronald.
After a long phone call with her sister Jennifer in Los Angeles, Jennifer arranged for Meg to have an agent with William Morris through her own connections. Come and sign the contract tomorrow.
"This...don't you discuss this with me? I asked Julia for advice and have already found an agent named Eddie to discuss it in detail tomorrow."
"William Morris' agents are very famous in the industry. I have already made an agreement with them." Meg saw Ronald's expression turned ugly as she spoke, "Are you angry? Ronnie, I can't find him at once. As for you, you agreed upon hearing the name William Morris."
"I'm not angry. Your sister introduced you to a big company. It's just that I have to apologize to Eddie tomorrow for making his trip go in vain." Ronald was relieved after Meg hugged her arm and shook her twice. .
"What about your acting training class?"
"Jennifer told me a lot of common sense. She said that it is best to learn method acting when making a movie. If I were in Los Angeles, she would introduce me to an acting teacher named Paige Fury."
"Los Angeles..." Ronald frowned again.
“For New York, she suggested I go to the Actors Studio.”
"I've heard about that place, some say it's the best," Ronald heard Natasha Kinski say. "I'll send you to register when I have time."
Seeing that Meg had done everything, Ronald was not unhappy at all, but he felt that he had not done any good, "Fortunately, I didn't help her sign up for Stella Adler's training class."
The two began to talk about each other.
The next day, Eddie, who was introduced by Julia, came to visit the artist's apartment as scheduled. Ronald invited Eddie in and apologized to him bluntly:
"I'm sorry, Eddie...sir. I didn't know that Meg had been signed to William Morris through her sister. It was my mistake and cost you a trip."
Eddie is a small man with a very approachable appearance, which is a very big advantage in a career like an agent.
"It doesn't matter, just call me Eddie. I represent a small independent agency. Actors often jump to William Morris after becoming famous. We actually have nothing to do. The law stipulates that we can only sign contracts with actors for a maximum of three years."
"If a big company is willing to pay for the actor's contract in our hands, we will not object. Because more famous actors need more powerful agents to fight for resources."
"Julia and I talked about you. Actually, I'm more interested in you today."
"Me? I'm not an actor." Ronald said.
"But you may become a director in the future." Eddie was very frank.
"Directors are the scarcest resource in the industry, and even a TV commercial director is something we value very much."
"I have many young actresses who have just entered the industry. If you can support one or two in future films, it will be a huge help to our business."
"You seem to be too honest, Eddie." Ronald said with a smile. "It's rare for people in this business to suffer from their own shortcomings."
"But wouldn't an antique dealer who takes the initiative to point out the cracks on the bottom of his porcelain win the trust of his customers?" Eddie also smiled. "This is not a difficult secret. I try to maintain an honest quality."
Ronald felt that Eddie was a very interesting person. He also represented some centerfold girls for men's magazines, but his business with actors was strictly separate.
Driving Eddie back to the office, he bought a few copies of the new daily variety show and Hollywood Reporter on the way. Ronald was gradually developing a good habit of reading industry news every day.
"Rock 'n' Roll," which opened in Georgia to a weak box office, is another typical Roger Corman-esque teen exploitation film that may have to rely on the East and West coasts to find a wider audience. "
Rock 'n' Roll High School is out now?
Ronald called Gail, the assistant to the president of New World, "Gail, I heard that Rock and Roll High School was released?"
"Ronnie, it's good to hear your voice."
"Yeah. Rock 'n' Roll High School didn't do well at the box office in Georgia and Arizona, and Roger may cancel plans for a California and New York release."
"It's so bad, I'm still waiting to invite my family and friends to see it."
"It's not without a chance. It depends on the release results in the next few states. What are you doing now, Ronnie?"
"I'm waiting for school to start, and I'll be working as a casting assistant for the new film directed by Alan Parker."
"That's great. He directed Midnight Train last year, which was a box office hit, and he's now a big hit in Hollywood."
…
After hanging up the phone, Ronald began to read the script of "Hot Lunch" carefully and drew portraits of the protagonists in the dream. If you come across it during casting, you can recommend it to director Alan Parker.
As for the script of "Hot Lunch", it is very interesting. The few scenes I dreamed about were all singing and dancing, but this film is not an old-fashioned orthodox musical film like Hollywood.
The singing and dancing part actually has a plot. Some kind of music plays and a group of art students start dancing spontaneously. This makes sense in life, and it does not mean that you will dance whenever you disagree.
And old-fashioned musicals, such as "Grease," used singing instead of dialogue and dance instead of action.
The new generation of young people seems to be less and less fond of the old-fashioned orthodox musicals and dance dramas.
In life, it is really embarrassing if a person does not speak, but sings what he means; does not walk, but dances all the way.
Then the next day, it was time to go to the Performing Arts High School in New York to discuss the audition with the school's senior management. Ronald first picked up the director Parker, and then went to the Performing Arts High School.
Margery from the casting studio, Howard Fehr, a partner at Fehr and Lizer Casting, and producer David DaSilva, were already waiting in the large conference room.
Ronald took out his notebook and waited in the back row to take notes after the meeting started.
The door was pushed open with a bang, and the principal of the Performing Arts High School and several teachers walked in.
