Chapter 5: Filming Begins

The director Allen approached slowly, followed by his inseparable good friend Joe Dante. Standing almost 5 feet 6 inches tall, Dante resembled a basketball guard dribbling behind the center. 

Walking ahead of everyone, Joe's head peeked from behind Allen. His hair was parted in the middle, though it couldn't hide his rapid hair loss. He grabbed the arm of director Allen with one hand, pointed at Ronald with the other, and shouted: "Ronnie, Ronnie, how are your preparations today?" 

"I just organized two group rehearsals. The lead actors finished moving and touched up their makeup. We're waiting for director Allen to confirm the lead actors' costumes with you. We can start a makeup rehearsal in 5 minutes. The cinematographer said we could begin right on time at 6:30." 

Saying this, Ronald handed over the storyboard he had drawn yesterday. 

Joe Dante took a look at it: "Is this a storyboard you drew?" 

He was unusually proactive today, assuming the director's duties. As he carefully examined the storyboard drawings, he ordered, "Bring Allen's chair." 

Ronald noticed the director wasn't looking well. He quickly fetched a chair—a director's chair with a name written on the back. Ronald helped Allen, taking him from Joe's arm, and assisted him in sitting down with difficulty. 

The director was sweating on his forehead, his face pale, and he looked unwell. Ronald leaned close to the director's ear and quietly asked, "Would you like a cup of hot coffee, director Allen?" 

Allen nodded. Ronald called over his assistant Jim and gently asked him to bring a cup of hot coffee. 

"Very well, we'll shoot according to your storyboard today. PJ, the one in red," said Joe Dante, handing the storyboard to the cinematographer. The two began discussing shooting details: 

"The camera starts with a close-up of the new students, then pulls back, rises to give a panoramic view of the playground, and finally moves toward the science club's welcome platform where the good girl stands..." 

The two continued their discussion as Joe approached and spread the storyboards in front of Allen. Allen nodded in agreement. 

At that moment, the group actors returned to the playground one after another. Ronald grabbed the electric megaphone and guided the group actors to their positions. 

The red-haired camera assistant began placing a black cloth over the film box to prevent exposure, installing the film by touch in the darkness. 

The cinematographer called over two strong assistants, who checked the installed camera dolly, raising and lowering it several times for testing. 

In less than a minute, the redhead installed the film inside the black fabric bag in the darkness. He grabbed a roll of black tape and sealed the edges of the film box. With low-budget films, everything is rented second-hand, and no one can be sure of the equipment's quality. So, they sealed any gaps with black tape to prevent accidental light leaks that could ruin the film. 

After wrapping the film box, the cinematographer directed the assistants to mount the camera on the crane arm and began testing the up-and-down movement. Since the crane arm was also rented and second-hand, testing was essential to prevent malfunctions. 

Co-director Joe Dante began discussing Dai Yang's role as the good girl... 

The crew operated like a large machine, with every member functioning like a gear, moving smoothly under the director's orders. 

Ronald appreciated this order. A good director is like a general, the film crew like soldiers, and making a movie is a team effort requiring leadership skills. 

The lead and supporting actors took their positions, ready for rehearsal. Joe Dante continued discussing details with Allen, who was seated in the director's chair. 

Ronald grabbed the megaphone and organized the group actors, positioning them as human background. "Van Nuys High School students, we are about to begin the full rehearsal. Please stand in the positions you determined earlier. Please take your pre-determined positions..." 

"Rugby team members, come over here. Your game uniforms look great. Stay here at the beginning, and when I give the signal, run to the map and prank the freshman, okay?" 

The director signaled Ronald to start the rehearsal. The actors began rehearsing dramatically, saving their best performances for the official shoot. The cast worked well together, though one or two actors glanced at the camera. 

Cinematographer Dean Cundey personally handled the camera, climbing onto the crane arm to follow the official camera movement path. The director expressed satisfaction. 

Ronald took the electric megaphone and said, "All extras, please return to your starting positions." 

Everyone cleared the camera area, waiting patiently and expectantly. 

Joe Dante gave Dai Yang a few more acting pointers. The crew held their breath, waiting for the "magic light" to arrive. 

Shortly after 6:28 AM, the light in the sky began to shift like a sprinter at the starting gun. The sun hadn't yet risen, but it gradually brightened the sky and background. 

It was a beautiful hue. The metallic body of the camera gleamed with a pale blue shine, as if covered in a layer of armor. 

The hair clips worn by several high school girls and the large black-rimmed glasses of the obedient honor student also began to shimmer in the light. Everyone seemed to hold their breath, waiting for the magic light. 

The red-haired assistant sprinted to the actor to take a light reading, then rushed back to the camera, reporting the reading to adjust the aperture. 

The man holding the long boom pole lifted it above the actors' heads, trying to get as close as possible to capture sound without being caught on camera. 

"The light is perfect!" shouted the cinematographer. 

Receiving a glance from Allen, Ronald grabbed the megaphone and announced, "Alright, let's get ready for our first official take!" 

Jim blew the whistle three times: "Beep... Beep... Beep..." signaling the restricted area. 

Everyone stopped whispering and awaited orders. 

Ronald looked at Allen and received the go-ahead from Joe Dante. Ronald announced through the megaphone: 

"Sound?" 

"Rolling!" responded the sound crew. 

"Camera?" 

"Rolling at full speed!" The redhead indicated the camera motor was running at 24 frames per second, ready to shoot. 

Holding the clapboard, Jenny ran to the camera and announced, "Scene 127 of 'High School Life,' take one, first attempt." 

She clapped the board and quickly stepped out of the shot. 

"Action!" 

Seated in his chair, Allen Arkush quietly gave the command. 

"Action!" 

Ronald relayed the director's order through the megaphone. 

The performance began. 

A freshman studied the map on the wall. A red cross marked, "You are here." 

"Where am I?" the freshman asked himself. 

The cinematographer directed the camera to move laterally, pulling back slowly. The frame expanded from the freshman's upper body to a full-body shot. Three rugby players entered from the right. 

"Oh, a new student!" "Freshman, freshman!" 

Dressed in game uniforms, the rugby players rushed to grab the freshman extra. 

"Where are you taking me?" 

"To the locker room!" 

"No, don't throw me in the locker room!" 

The camera arm rose steadily, shifting to a bird's-eye view as the rugby players dragged the freshman out of frame. The camera then panned to the science club platform, where the obedient honor student stood. 

The camera framed Dai Yang's character—one of the film's heroines—then descended slowly, focusing on the table in front of her. 

The table displayed various bottles filled with red, green, and blue liquids. A sign read, "Science Club, Kate Lambeau, Chemical Reaction Demonstration." 

Ronald stood behind the camera, watching the shoot. This was a rare highlight in the low-budget film, costly to produce and destined for the movie's opening scene. 

The first take seemed to go well. Ronald mentally compared the footage to his dream visions, nodding in approval. 

But Allen wasn't calling "cut"—was he aiming for an extended shot for easier editing, or did he have another artistic reason? 

No, the shot was dragging on too long. The actors' expressions stiffened, and Dai Yang began glancing at the camera, searching for direction. 

Why isn't he calling "cut"? 

Ronald turned toward Allen, only to see the director slumping in his chair. 

Was he trying to adjust the camera angle from this position? No, how could... 

"Cut! Cut! Cut!" Ronald shouted urgently into the megaphone. 

Everyone turned, startled by his sudden outburst. 

"The director has fainted!"

End of chapter