Chapter 13: What Is Your Dream?

"Ronald, you said those girls' dream is to be on the movie screen, so what is your dream?" Gale asked after they cleaned up the trash together.

"My dream? I guess I haven't found my dream yet. All I want right now is to get my name in the credits of Rock 'n' Roll High so I can charge higher prices for my portrait photography business, taking photos of handsome men and women auditioning in Hollywood."

"Why? You obviously have a lot of talent in this industry." Gale was a bit confused that Ronald's dream was so practical and had little to do with filmmaking.

"To be honest, I don't know if I have talent in this industry, but I do know that people without talent can't make money here. Only those at the top of the pyramid make a lot of money. Most people in this industry earn very little, and I need money. I need to earn some to go to college."

"Oh? How old are you, Ronald?" Gale looked him up and down, a bit skeptical.

"Yeah, it's hard to believe. This kid just graduated from high school this year. He's four or five years younger than us. He's using his gap year to work and save for tuition," Jim added with a smile. "I was surprised too when I first found out."

"Do you really know how to take portraits?" Gale asked Ronald.

"Yes, I take audition photos, wedding photos, family portraits, and more in New York. But since I don't know people in Hollywood or Broadway circles, clients don't trust me, so I can only charge between 30 and 50 USD for each set of audition photos. That's why I took my gap year to try my luck in Los Angeles. New World Productions was hiring screenwriters, so I applied. Unexpectedly, I got in and later became an assistant on Rock High School."

"Why not take some crew photos and use them for future marketing? I'll talk to Mr. Coleman. By the end of today, you won't just be a temporary director, and you'll make more money here," Gale suggested.

"I'd be thrilled if I could take photos of the crew and stars to display in my studio. Thank you, Gale." Ronald smiled gratefully.

"It's nothing." Gale shook his hand. "So, Jim, what's your dream?"

"Me? I hope to make a sci-fi film like Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey one day. When I was at community college, I watched it during its re-release. I was fascinated, watched it multiple times, and told myself: 'Jim, you have to make a movie like this.'"

"I then came to Los Angeles and self-studied in UCLA's library, copying every book on filmmaking I could find. As you all know, I got 12 dentists to invest in my short film, hoping to finance it through tax rebates. Unfortunately, after seeing the samples, they rejected the plan to fund a feature-length movie."

"And you, Gale? What's your dream?"

"Me? I love movies. After graduating from Stanford, instead of going into finance like my classmates, I came to work as Mr. Coleman's assistant at New World Productions. I've learned a lot here, and I'd rather become a producer than a director. I enjoy the financial, negotiation, and marketing aspects because my father is an investor. I hope to become a producer of blockbusters in the future." Given her prestigious education, well-off background, and passion for cinema, Gale's dream seemed perfectly logical.

"To all our dreams coming true!"

"Yes, dreams come true."

...

Lunchtime flew by, and the crew and extras gathered again. Ronald planned to rehearse the two remaining scenes and shoot them during the golden hour at sunset.

Ronald approached Mary Woronov, who played Principal Toga. "Ms. Woronov, we've designed the shot like this: You and two security guards walk from a distance while students are still dancing to disco and rock music blasting from speakers. Your mood should convey that you..."

"Want to cut the cables and isolate the students." Mary Woronov, appearing aloof, gestured with a downward sweep of her hand.

"You're in character. You're a great actor," Ronald praised her. He then pointed to the grass across the playground. "When the time comes, you and the guards will walk along the lawn. I'll position a few female students dancing on either side, so when you look at them, there will be eye contact, ending in a close-up."

"This scene is well-designed," Mary nodded.

"This will be your entrance shot. Later, we'll take a close-up of your final expression. We'll capture the long shot of you approaching at sunset, after four o'clock, so..."

"No problem, I'll cooperate for the rehearsal first."

Unlike the strict principal she played, Mary Woronov was a progressive individual. In fact, she was the actor most fond of rock music. Yet her performance was flawless, portraying a principal who despised rebellious rock and sought to clean up the campus.

Her control over facial expressions was particularly impressive. She effortlessly conveyed a blend of contempt, hatred, and eagerness to ban rock music. Ronald wasn't an expert in acting, but he could tell she was talented.

Perhaps she embodied the legendary "method acting" technique?

Next, they rehearsed the final scene of the day: The protagonists, the sexy rocker Liv Randall and the good girl Kate Lambeau, were punished by Principal Toga with detention. It was Kate's first time being punished, and she wasn't pleased. Liv tried to comfort her, saying, "Detention's no big deal. I stay after school all the time."

The two slowly walked toward the school building. Liv played Ramones music from a portable recorder, teasing Kate to lift her spirits. Eventually, they walked together into the sunset, sisters in solidarity.

This part of the script, along with the director's lens design, was of surprisingly high quality—not typical for a low-budget exploitation film. Roger Corman had a knack for finding truly talented people willing to work for minimal wages.

After rehearsing the two shots multiple times, the cinematographer, Dean, felt ready, and Ronald announced the crew was on standby.

In other productions, it was common to wait for the perfect light all day. But on Roger Corman's set, waiting for ideal lighting was a rare luxury.

The actors retreated to the dressing rooms, and the extras went inside the school building. Only a few crew members stayed on set. Ronald didn't sit in the chair marked with director Allen's name, even though, as the temporary director, no one would have minded if he did.

As he thought about returning to being a crew assistant the following week, Ronald felt deeply satisfied. Commanding a crew, with everyone waiting on his decisions, was intoxicating. He wanted to bottle this feeling and revisit it whenever he wished.

The winter sun was gentle, and the Aley 35 BL camera sat quietly on its pan-and-tilt mount. The clapperboard, boom mic, and other equipment lay nearby. For a moment, Ronald wondered: Were these tools or the people operating them the true protagonists of the film?

What is my dream? Will I ever get the chance to become a real film director? Directing is such a hard profession to break into. It took Allen and Joe more than five years...

Maybe I could try being an actor or a photographer instead? After tasting filmmaking, I desperately want to do it again. Few other professions offer this sense of heroism.

In peacetime, you command a crew, spend a fortune, and wait for the premiere day. The box office, reviews, victory, or defeat—all are determined in an instant. Perhaps filmmaking is the closest profession to leading an army into battle.

No wonder everyone wants to be a general or a director. It's a profession born to be loved by men.

End of chapter