Chapter 6: Temporary Director

I saw that Director Alan Aikush had slipped to the ground, leaning against the director's chair with his long neck. His face was pale, his eyes closed, and he looked exhausted. 

"Alan, Alan!" the "twin" Joe Dante shouted in fear as he ran toward the director and reached out to grab him. "What's wrong, Alan?" 

Ronald stepped forward and held Joe back. "Don't touch him. We don't know what illness the director has. It could worsen his condition. I learned first aid, let me take a look." 

After handing Joe over to Jim, who had rushed over, Ronald moved forward to support the director, who was lying on the ground, and began checking his condition. He placed his fingers under the director's nose. Fortunately, there was a weak but steady breath. The pulse in his neck artery was present. Ronald exhaled a sigh of relief. 

"Jenny, Jenny! Come here and help me," he called to Jenny, the scene recorder, who quickly ran over. "Here, help me hold his head with both hands." With Jenny holding the director, Ronald stood up and moved the director's chair aside. Then, he took Jenny's hand. Director Allen lay on the ground. Ronald unbuttoned the director's shirt, opened his mouth, and checked inside. Fortunately, there was no vomit. 

"Don't worry, he'll be fine," Ronald said as he got up, took off his jacket, folded it in half, and placed it under the director's neck to keep his head elevated. 

"There's no problem with his pulse or breathing. He may have fainted from exhaustion," Ronald announced to everyone gathered around. "Please don't crowd in. Stay 10 feet away to allow air to circulate around the director. Thanks." 

After dispersing the crowd, Ronald turned to speak with Joe Dante, Jenny, and Jim, who remained close. 

"I'm going to call 911. It's best not to move the director now. I'll stay here with him. Joe, you can continue—" 

"No, no, don't call 911," Joe Dante interrupted, regaining his composure. "We'll take him to the hospital ourselves." 

"Huh? Aren't you members of the Directors Guild (DGA)? Doesn't insurance cover this?" 

"It's not about insurance... Just trust me. We'll take care of it ourselves." 

Ronald, Jim, and Jenny exchanged glances. "Okay, since you say so, I'll go get the car." 

Joe Dante pulled a set of keys from his pants pocket and handed them to Ronald. "Silver Ford Granada." 

Ronald ran out of the high school quickly. The parking lot at the entrance was packed with cars, making it hard to spot the right one at a glance. 

"Hey, Ronnie." A man poked his head out from a production van's window. "Where are you rushing off to?" It was Chris, the crew's driver. 

Right! The production driver had been parked there all day watching the van. With nothing else to do, why not let him drive? Moving a nearly 6'6" tall director wouldn't be easy. 

"Perfect timing. Hurry, drive the van over—the director has fainted, and we need to take him to the hospital." 

Chris immediately tossed aside the *Penthouse* magazine he was reading and started the Chevrolet van. Ronald jumped into the passenger seat and said, "Joe told us to take Director Allen to the hospital. It'll be a rough ride, just you and me." 

The Chevrolet van sped into the school and screeched to a halt by the camera setup. Ronald jumped out, opened the van's back door, and called, "Load him in through here." He jumped inside, cradling the director's head. The assistant director grabbed the director's legs. "One, two, three!" Together, they lifted the director into the van. 

The assistant stayed in the van to look after Allen. 

Ronald hopped out and shut the van's rear door. "Where's Joe?" he asked the cinematographer. "I need to return his keys." 

"Over here," Joe Dante's voice came from the front of the van. 

Ronald handed the keys back to Joe, who nodded and opened the passenger door, preparing to get in. 

"No way! How are we supposed to shoot without you?" Ronald exclaimed, surprised. 

"I have to take him to the hospital. The assistant director will come with me. You and Dean can use this magic hour light to finish shooting the scenes according to the storyboards. Call the boss afterward, and he'll handle the rest." Joe looked at the cinematographer, Dean. "You good with that?" 

Dean nodded in agreement. The assistant director climbed into the van, and the Chevrolet turned around and headed toward the school gates. 

"Wait! Which hospital are you going to?" Ronald shouted after the van. 

"Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Beverly Hills," Joe's voice called back as the van sped away. 

Ronald still hadn't fully processed this unexpected turn of events. Jim patted him on the shoulder and said, "Hey, you heard Joe. He trusts your storyboards. I told him your sketches are detailed enough—just find someone to take the shots." 

Ronald looked at Jim, struggling to respond. 

He grabbed the megaphone and called to the extras: "Alright, let's keep shooting. Reset everyone, and we'll go again right away." 

He ran over to the camera and asked the cinematographer, "Mr. Condi, how much longer do we have with this magic hour light?" 

"We can shoot before sunrise. After that, maybe two more takes." 

Ronald turned to Jim. "Quick! I need a 10-1. Keep an eye on things." He dashed toward the school building. 

On set, "10-1" is code for a bathroom break. Ronald splashed cold water on his face in the restroom, standing before the mirror. 

"You can do this, Ronald!" 

"This is your chance—seize it!" 

"When this shoot wraps, Mr. Roger Corman will put your name in the credits." 

He gave himself a pep talk, wiped his face haphazardly, water still dripping from his brows and stubble, and sprinted back to the set. 

The extras were reset. Diane, playing the good girl, stood at the science club's welcome booth. The football team players and freshmen were back in position. 

Ronald approached Diane with a smile. "Diane, we need another take to make sure we have enough footage to edit. What do you think of your performance?" 

Wearing oversized black-rimmed glasses, Diane hesitated. "Well, I think Kate, the protagonist, is a good girl. She'd be overwhelmed when facing the football team bullies, so I tried to play it with that emotion." 

"Great, you did well. Also, unlike the cheerleaders, Kate wouldn't normally socialize with football stars. I thought maybe she'd step back and avoid those muscleheads. What do you think?" 

"Wow, I didn't know you could act, Ronnie. You're right." 

"No, I was just on the high school sports team. I also wanted to date a top student like Kate, but they all avoided me." 

"Haha..." 

Ronald directed Diane based on the completed film he had envisioned in his dream. 

With Diane relaxed, Ronald returned to the camera and asked, "Mr. Candy, are we ready?" 

"No problem. Give the signal." 

"Alright, everyone, we're rolling!" 

Jenny clapped the slate: "Scene 127, close-up, second take..." 

Ronald grabbed the megaphone: "Rolling... Camera..." 

"Action!" 

Maybe it was the new acting direction, or perhaps the cast had grown more comfortable. Ronald felt this take was even better than Allen's. He glanced at the cinematographer, Dean Candy. "How was that?" 

"Perfect. This one's good." 

"Jim, Mr. Candy approved it. This one and the earlier shot should be printed." 

"Got it. No problem." 

With Ronald stepping up as interim director, Jim took on the role of first assistant director, marking the log with "Develop" for the approved shots. 

The camera crew was back in action. 

End of Chapter