Chapter 17: Watch Samples

The samples are the result of daily filming, developed and printed. Original unedited and uncut appearance. Then a clapboard appeared on the screen and clicked. This is the recorder Jenny, Ronald thought to himself.

The first shot was filmed by directors Allen and Joe. In the end, no one asked to stop for a long time. Dai Yang looked at the camera amused, and Ronald's voice could also be heard shouting, "Cut!"

Immediately after was Ronald's second shot after the board hit, the scene was almost the same as the previous one; Kate, played by Day Young, was scared by the muscular man and stepped back as the football team passed by. Step by step, the expressions became more realistic.

It wasn't just that Ronald felt good about himself; he also heard owner Julie in the front row say, "The second one is better."

Then the director took measures and threatened to kill the students to scare the monkeys. Everyone fled.

After degrading the filming and playing it at normal speed, the extras, like the first actors of silent cinema, quickly escaped the playground with strange movements, inevitably colliding and dodging, and some even screamed.

"This is good," said director Joe Dante. Roger, in the front row, turned around and asked, "Did you come up with this, or was it Alan's decision?"

"It was Jim's idea to downgrade, and it was my idea to let them run in the opposite direction," Ronald replied.

"Oh, that's very interesting…" Roger wanted to continue, but with a bang on the board, the third element began to play. Everyone looked back.

…

In the dark screening room, Ronald couldn't see everyone's expressions, but from the low voices, it seemed that the response was good.

A shot of two beauties dancing was shown, and Jerry Zucker shouted, "Wow," and then whistled loudly.

Roger turned and asked, "Is this the shot I saw yesterday? These two dancers are very photogenic and dance well."

"This is Sianna the Dancer. I discovered her in an extra performance at Van Nuys High School. I thought they had a good image, so I gave them a close-up, followed by a medium shot of them from the side."

The next shot is of the male protagonist, Tom, leaving the building and walking among the crowd to the dining table for breakfast. Roger Corman couldn't stay still any longer; he turned and said, "This is really a cool shot. The loneliness in the crowd directly conveys an emotion of alienation. How did you do it?"

"I kept the male protagonist Vincent in the center of the image, but deliberately walked half a beat slowly, so as not to keep pace with the others…"

…

The sample film was projected very quickly. After showing the shot of Liv Randall and Kate Lambeau, two best friends, walking together toward the lawn under the sunset, the screening room cut the image and turned on the ceiling light.

Roger Corman seemed to be in a good mood. Joe Dante especially approached to hug Ronald: "That's a good shot, good boy." He patted him on the back.

"Thank you, Joe."

"In which film school did you graduate, Ronald? Your name is Ronald, right?" That Jerry also approached and asked.

"Me? I didn't go to film school; I graduated from high school." Ronald was a bit surprised that Jerry was talking to him.

"What? You must be joking after graduating from high school. Did your high school art teacher teach you, Spielberg? Or did you date Francis Coppola's sister in high school? Or is your grandfather John Ford?"

The names Jerry Zucker mentioned are all famous directors. For a moment, Ronald didn't know if he was joking or being sarcastic.

"I'm just joking," Jerry explained when Ronald was more embarrassed, and then he started telling jokes again:

"Honestly, did your dad buy you a Super 8 camera? Have you been making films since you were in eighth grade? Did you let the cheerleaders come to your house to film? Hahahaha."

Super 8 is a home camera produced by Kodak, using Kodak film. Not counting the camera, a roll of film costs $5, and Aunt Karen can't afford it.

Ronald replied, "No, I didn't…"

"Hahaha, I get it. Your house must be a cinema, and you sell tickets at the door. Two tickets, two cups of Pepsi-Cola, a bucket of salty popcorn, five yuan fifty-eight cents, your change, sir." "Jerry Zucker is very good at stealing the conversation and making jokes that are both false and true. If you feel offended, just say 'I'm joking.'"

Ronald was interrupted several times when he was about to speak and felt a bit of blood rising. Jerry Zucker not only had a receding hairline but also had rabbit teeth. He approached Ronald and let out another joke.

Ronald got irritated and didn't want to talk to him anymore, but the more Jerry spoke, the more excited he became. He laughed and bent over, "Hahaha, you know, I'm going to tell you something funny, hahaha...", saying that he was going to hook Ronald's shoulder.

Ronald felt a buzzing and blood rushed to his head through the vibration behind his ears. Instinctively, he extended his hand to block Jerry's hand, then stepped forward and inserted his legs to give a strong kick.

Fortunately, reason prevailed, and he controlled the instincts of the fighter. Others only saw Ronald holding Jerry's hand, not allowing him to encircle him with his arm. Only Ronald's ears turned red.

Owner Julie Coleman could no longer stand it, so she rushed to the rescue and separated him from Jerry. "The filming is very good. I haven't seen such a powerful new director in a long time. The last time was when I was producing Martin Scorsese's and made 'The Human Torch.' He is also like you; he knows how to make beautifully drawn storyboards."

Ronald felt a bit embarrassed by Julie's praise and quickly said, "Thank you, Mrs. Coleman. That's very flattering."

"When we finish watching the rest of the samples, come to the president's office. Roger wants to talk to you," Julie whispered.

While speaking, Julie looked at Roger Corman, who was whispering something back to the producer. Julie patted Ronald on the shoulder and signaled him and Jim to go out first. They still wanted to discuss the samples taken two days ago. These discussions were uncomfortable for Ronald and Jim to observe.

Ronald and Jim opened the door of the screening room and went out. Gale also stealthily exited, turned around, and closed the door with her foot to leave a crack, and whispered, "Ronnie, Julie likes you a lot. If you want to leave your name in the subtitles, her opinion is very important."

Ronald gestured in thanks, and Gale went back inside. Ronald looked at Jim and touched his chin: "Does it seem like the sample we took isn't bad?"

"Yeah, I think it's really good," Jim nodded. "I didn't expect that in the scenes you filmed, a normal main shot could also convey an emotion to the audience. I have to think about it carefully. Back then, Kubrick." That's how the movie surprised me."

"Roger seems to be quite satisfied with both of us. Maybe he'll let us do some new work." The two left the office together and chatted in the courtyard.

"Have you decided what to do?"

"I've always been interested in film stunts and like to think about how to shoot the stunts in '2001: A Space Odyssey.' I heard that director Kubrick built a Ferris wheel to film the weightless scene."

When Jim said this, he suddenly turned to a small voice and said, "Gail told me that Roger might be in a big-budget science fiction movie next year. He was inspired by the success of 'Star Wars.' I want to join that group." Making stunt design."

"Really? Is there any plan for the movie?" Ronald was very happy for Jim. His dream was to make a science fiction movie.

"I heard it's a science fiction version of 'The Seven Samurai,' which remakes Kurosawa's story in a Star Wars setting."

"Kurosawa? Seven Samurai?" Ronald seemed confused.

Jim looked at him and knew he had never seen this classic movie by a famous director. "Have you seen 'Magnificent Seven'? The main theme of the Marlboro cigarette commercial is from this movie."

"I've seen this. Thump-thump, thump-thump, thump, thump-thump-thump-thump-thump, thump." Ronald hummed the main theme.

"Yeah, The Magnificent Seven is the remake of The Seven Samurai, and we're going to remake it too." Jim pulled out a cigarette and lit it, "Do you want one too?"

"No, thanks."

"And you? Have you decided what to do?"

"First, I will be a photographer for the Rock and Roll High School crew. The photos I take can be placed in my photography studio in the future."

"Alright, then let's take a photo together and call Gale."

It's a new book for newcomers. If you find it interesting, add it to your collection and recommend it to your friends.

If there's something you don't like, you can publish it in the book circle, and the author will review it carefully.

End of the chapter