Chapter 28: The Wanted Director

When Freddy finished filming, he took out $100 to pay for both himself and Demi. Ronald handed him $50, explaining that Demi had already covered her part. If Freddy wanted to show his love, he could give those $50 back to Demi. Ronald winked as he spoke. 

Freddy smiled, gave the remaining $50 to Demi, and went back to the studio to write songs. Demi accompanied Natasha Kinski to her next-door apartment for audition photos. 

Natasha Kinski's apartment had been rented by the director Roman Polanski. 

As a model, Natasha was extremely relaxed in front of the camera. Ronald chatted with her as he adjusted the focus and aperture. 

"Is director Polanski very strict when making films? Does it take that long to shoot a movie?" 

"Yes, sometimes we have to wait an entire day just to get the right light." 

"Tess is a British story. Why did you shoot it in the Chinese countryside?" 

"Oh, you didn't know? The director is wanted by a California court and can't go to the UK to film. He'd be extradited. Fortunately, some rural areas in the southern part of this country look a lot like Dorset, where the story takes place." 

"Are you German? Your English is excellent." 

"Haha, I have a knack for accents. I can imitate several in English, French, and Russian." 

The camera framed Natasha Kinski's face, with almond-shaped eyes and sharp brows, a combination usually reserved for men. This blend gave Natasha a contradictory temperament—sexy, innocent, and noble all at once. 

After capturing the key features of her face, Ronald began taking pictures. 

After several shots, Natasha insisted on changing her outfit before taking more. Ronald took the opportunity to ask Demi, "Why is the California court after Polanski?" 

"Because he seduced a 13-year-old girl, then skipped bail and fled just days before his trial." 

"When did that happen?" 

"Around this time last year." 

"Oh, I was still working on a farm in New York back then," Ronald replied, explaining that he hadn't watched much TV. 

Demi briefly explained the case. 

Polanski, a Polish director who later came to the U.S. to make movies, had earned critical acclaim with several films. In 1977, he was accused of drugging and seducing a 13-year-old girl. Due to insufficient evidence, the judge and lawyers reached a plea deal, sentencing him to probation. 

But while on probation, Polanski went to the UK to start a new film, and photos emerged of him partying with young women. Public opinion turned against him, and the judge decided to revoke his probation and sentence him to prison. Days before the verdict, Polanski fled by plane. 

Since then, Polanski had to avoid any country with automatic extradition treaties with the U.S., like the UK and Canada. 

"Just a few days before he fled, he invited me to dinner at his house. I went with my mom, and he even said he'd let me act in his movie and learn the method acting technique." 

"So, have you joined the Screen Actors Guild yet?" 

"Not yet. To film in Hollywood, productions must hire at least 57 union actors. I can only get a chance if someone calls in sick." 

"But I heard actors can apply for membership as long as they earn a day's wage," Ronald remarked. 

"That's not how it works. Non-union actors usually can't sign daily or weekly contracts. We wait around the set, hoping an assistant director picks us as extras. If we get chosen, we receive a voucher indicating we were hired for a day. You need three vouchers to apply for the Screen Actors Guild." 

"That doesn't sound too difficult," Ronald said, a little surprised. He remembered two beautiful dancers on the set of *Rock and Roll High School* had worked for more than three days. 

"No, the Guild doesn't approve membership based on the number of workdays. They check if the production paid you the minimum wage stipulated by the union. They submit a payroll list to the Guild, which tracks membership eligibility from there." 

Ronald recalled managing actor sign-ins for *Rock of Ages* and realized how critical those forms were for extras. If an extra was fortunate enough to receive three vouchers, they could join the Hollywood Screen Actors Guild. 

As for those two dancers, it seemed no forms were submitted for them. It struck him that even a production assistant could wield significant power. 

"How did Natasha Kinski join the Guild, then? She starred in *Tess*, so she must've joined, right?" 

"She did, thanks to Polanski. He cast her as the lead, so she could take the fast track and join the Guild once she signed the contract. Opportunities like that rely entirely on the director's favor." 

Demi suddenly remembered something. She flipped her long black hair back behind her ears and asked, "Ronald, you said you're joining the Directors Guild soon? Are you planning to make your own movie?" 

"I don't know. It's tough. The director on our team spent five years raising $300,000 for a small production." 

"When you work with other teams in the future, don't forget to recommend me," Demi said. 

"That's the casting director's job, but if I get the chance, I will." 

"You're a good guy, Ronald." 

Demi hugged him again, this time more warmly and intimately than before. 

"You two are really like Superman and Lois!" Natasha teased as she re-entered the room in her new outfit. 

Demi's expression remained unchanged. "Ronald just promised to help me get a role if he can." She smiled playfully. 

Her nose crinkled slightly with her smile, leaving a subtle, fleeting impression on Ronald's heart, like a spring breeze rippling across a pond. 

"Oh, poor Demi. You almost got a role in *Tess*, but the little guy didn't sign a contract with you, so off he went to the countryside," Natasha teased. 

She tilted her head and laughed softly. Her pale blonde hair, styled for *Tess*, revealed the elegant curves of her swan-like neck—a stark contrast to American girls. 

The photo shoot continued, though Ronald's mind began to wander. 

Natasha's casual use of "little guy" for Polanski hinted that she felt she was on the brink of fame. After *Tess*, she would likely be flooded with offers from Hollywood directors. 

Ronald pondered Natasha's choice: knowing Polanski's reputation and his age, she still became his girlfriend to further her career. Was it Polanski's charisma, or just ambition? 

Straightening up, Ronald thought, *Well, at least I'm 6'2". That's 1.88 meters, right?* 

Demi, too, had brushed against the entertainment industry's edges. Cleverly, she had brought her mother along when meeting Polanski. If things had gone differently, she might have secured a role already. 

Beauty's longing for the film industry was like a moth drawn to a candle through a glass window, desperate to break through. 

Only a few lucky ones manage to enter. Ronald mused, *You must work hard to become a director. Then, you can handpick the butterflies, nurture them, and let them shine on stage.* 

And, after all, he thought, I am 6'2"—that's much taller than Polanski. 

End of Chapter