Chapter 55 Intrigue

"Alright, she is Stella Adler. There are also short-term training courses for actors." Julia Taylor took out her notebook and copied a number for Ronald: "This is the phone number; you can ask."

"The agent?"

"Doesn't Meg have an agent? You can ask her to call Eddie. The agent must be chosen by her." Julia Taylor copied another agent's phone number, Eddie, and gave it to Ronald.

"Thank you, Ms. Taylor."

As soon as he turned around, producer David Da Silva also came to find Ronald.

David Da Silva is a tall, middle-aged man with most of his head bald and a mustache on his upper lip. He wore relatively rare suspenders, which were very outdated.

"Ronald, Alan asked me to sign an agreement with you. He will hire you as a casting assistant, in the name of the driver and car rental, for $200 a day for one month. If the casting is not finished, it will be postponed."

"Thank you, Mr. Da Silva."

"But I still have my conditions. Have you read the script?"

"I have not."

"Here is the latest version of the script. Take it and read it carefully. You must focus on the eight main characters. If Director Parker tries to choose an actor who obviously does not fit the script, you must notify me. Do you understand?"

Producer David Da Silva said to Ronald seriously.

"What?" Ronald thought to himself, why is there so much intrigue in this team? When he was at New World Company, the team was very harmonious.

"Remember who pays you, Ronnie. I talked to Julia, and I know you're a smart kid."

David Da Silva spoke threateningly, and Ronald had no choice but to obey.

"Alright, Mr. Da Silva, I will do what you ask. After all, I am working for you, sir."

"You are very kind. Let's sign the agreement. Take this check and remember to give me a copy of the receipt for the car purchase." Da Silva pulled out a check for $6,000 and handed it to Ronald.

"Just remember to buy a nicer one, Ronnie."

"Am I a double agent?" Ronald thought to himself.

"Read the script carefully, Ronald." Director Alan Parker approached to guide him again.

"Remember your instinct; this movie is a realistic film that reflects the true dark side of life in high school. Should David have told you about his request?"

"Yes, Director Parker. He asked me to stay true to the script," Ronald hinted.

"You are very good; I like dealing with smart people." Alan Parker understood him.

"But always remember that the script is just a creation on paper. When the director selects the actors, he must have imagination and trust his own intuition and judgment to envision the actors and the final effect of the script's interpretation. After all, the audience goes to the movies to see the film, rather than read the script."

"So when you do the casting, you have to rely on the director's criteria, not exactly on what is described in the script. Do you understand?"

"Alright, Mr. Parker, I will do what you ask. After all, I am working for you, sir."

"Now there are three sides."

Director or producer, which of the two is more effective?

I called and asked about the acting training class at the Stella Adler Studio. You can participate even if you have no basic knowledge. The fee is 260 yuan for 8 classes.

Then I called the agent named Eddie.

Eddie was very positive after asking about the situation and offered to come sign the contract tomorrow. Ronald finalized a time with him and then went to the car market to look at cars.

Since the political turmoil in Persia caused international oil prices to soar, gasoline prices at gas stations have increased by more than 50%. Ronald wanted to acquire a fuel-efficient European car, like the latest Volkswagen Hare.

But at the kiosk next to the subway station, Ronald saw the ad on the back cover of *Time* magazine.

"Honda Accord, a new generation of four-door compact car, with power steering, central trunk switch, and electric windows."

It seems that Japanese cars are also quite good.

He took the subway to the dealership and took a look: the four headlights are very powerful. Although it is a compact car, it has plenty of interior space.

It's him. After spending $5,600 in exchange for a light green Honda Accord, Ronald drove back to the artist's apartment.

Parking the car downstairs, Ronald first went to invite Meg to have dinner together, and then they planned together their acting classes and her agent.

But Meg also had plans and started talking about her plans as soon as she saw Ronald.

After a long phone call with her sister Jennifer in Los Angeles, Jennifer made arrangements for Meg to have an agent with William Morris through her own connections. Come and sign the contract tomorrow.

"This... don't you talk about this with me? I asked Julia for advice and already found an agent named Eddie to discuss it in detail tomorrow."

"William Morris agents are very famous in the industry. I already made a deal with them." Meg saw Ronald's expression turn ugly as she spoke: "Are you angry? Ronnie, I can't find it immediately. As for 'You agreed when you heard the name William Morris.'"

"I'm not angry. Your sister introduced you to a great company. It's just that tomorrow I have to apologize to Eddie for making his trip in vain." Ronald felt relieved after Meg hugged her arm and shook her twice.

"What about your acting training class?"

"Jennifer told me a lot of common sense. She said it's better to learn the acting method when making a movie. If I were in Los Angeles, I would introduce myself to an acting teacher named Paige Fury."

"Los Angeles..." Ronald frowned again.

"For New York, she suggested I go to the Actors Studio."

"I've heard of that place; some say it's the best," Ronald heard Natasha Kinski say. "I'll send you to register when I have time."

Seeing that Meg had done everything, Ronald didn't feel sad at all, but felt that he hadn't done any good: "Fortunately, I didn't help her enroll in the Stella Adler training class."

The two began to talk about each other.

The next day, Eddie, introduced by Julia, came to visit the artist's apartment as planned. Ronald invited Eddie in and apologized straightforwardly: "I'm sorry, Eddie... sir. I didn't know Meg had found a William Morris agent through her sister to sign. This is mine. It was a mistake, and your trip was in vain."

Eddie is a small man with a very approachable appearance, which is a great advantage in a career like being an agent.

"It doesn't matter; just call me Eddie. I represent a small independent agency. Actors often jump to William Morris after becoming famous. In reality, we have nothing to do. The law stipulates that we can only sign contracts with actors for a maximum of three years."

"If a big company is willing to pay the actor's contract in our hands, we won't oppose it. Because the most famous actors need more powerful agents to fight for resources."

"Julia and I talked about you. In fact, today I am more interested in you."

"Me? I'm not an actor," Ronald said.

"But you might become a director in the future." Eddie was very frank.

"Directors are the scarcest resource in the industry, and even a television commercial director is something we value greatly."

"I have many young actresses who just entered the industry. If you can support one or two in future films, it will be a great help to our business."

"You seem to be too honest, Eddie," Ronald said with a smile. "It's rare for people in this business to suffer their own flaws."

"But wouldn't it be easier for an antique dealer to point out the cracks in the bottom of their porcelain to gain the trust of their customers?" Eddie smiled as well. "This isn't a difficult secret. I try to maintain an honest attitude."

Ronald felt that Eddie was a very interesting person. He also represented some girls from the centerfolds of men's magazines, but his business with the actors was strictly separate.

Driving Eddie back to the office, he bought some copies of the new daily variety show, and along the way, Hollywood Reporter Ronald gradually developed the good habit of reading industry news every day.

"Rock 'n' Roll," which premiered in Georgia with weak box office performance, is another typical teenage exploitation film in the style of Roger Corman that may have to rely on the East and West Coasts to find a broader audience."

Is *Rock 'n' Roll High School* already available?

Ronald called Gail, the assistant to the president of New World, "Gail, I heard that *Rock and Roll High School* was released."

"Ronnie, it's good to hear your voice."

"Yes. *Rock 'n' Roll High School* did not do well at the box office in Georgia and Arizona, and Roger may cancel the plans for a premiere in California and New York."

"It's so bad that I'm still waiting to invite my family and friends to see it."

"It still has possibilities. It depends on the release results in the next states. What are you doing now, Ronnie?"

"I'm waiting for classes to start, and I will work as a casting assistant for the new movie directed by Alan Parker."

"That's great. He directed *Midnight Express* last year, which was a box office hit, and now he is a big success in Hollywood."

…

After hanging up the phone, Ronald began to read the script for *Hot Lunch* carefully and drew portraits of the dream protagonists. If he finds them during casting, he can recommend them to Director Alan Parker.

As for the script of *Hot Lunch*, it is very interesting. The few scenes he dreamed of were all singing and dancing, but this movie is not an

 ordinary singing and dancing film, it is a narrative based on the main character's perspective.

In short, this is a very original work.

The two young men and women in the story are clearly determined to make up for their lives in high school, and the turmoil of a generation is reflected in a nuanced way through the development of their love story.

Then the story of a small group of students of different races meeting to have lunch together, and with the help of a teacher who guides them to start an art practice project, they help each other get through the difficult days of adolescence.

They were not all pretty boys and girls, but they looked very real, which made Ronald feel comfortable.

If there is an opportunity, he will also suggest that Director Alan Parker add a new character to the story—a comic character who can be seen everywhere in American high school movies.

The whole time he worked, he felt that he was gradually entering the mood of the characters, and the audience will definitely accept this casting criteria. 

At noon, he went to the nearby cafe for lunch. 

In the afternoon, he returned to read the script again. After a while, he would have a meeting with Director Alan Parker.

At that time, he would share his creative suggestions with him.

After hanging up the phone, Ronald began to read the script for *Hot Lunch* carefully and drew portraits of the dream protagonists. If he finds them during casting, he can recommend them to Director Alan Parker.

As for the script of *Hot Lunch*, it is very interesting. The few scenes he dreamed of were all singing and dancing, but this movie is not an orthodox old-fashioned musical like Hollywood.

The singing and dancing part actually has a plot. A kind of music plays, and a group of art students starts dancing spontaneously. This makes sense in life and doesn't mean that you will dance when you disagree.

Old musicals, like *Grease*, used singing instead of dialogue and dancing instead of action.

The new generation of young people seems increasingly less fond of old-fashioned musicals and orthodox dramatic dances.

In life, it is truly embarrassing if a person does not speak but sings what they mean, does not walk but dances all the time.

Then, the next day, it was time to go to the High School of Performing Arts in New York to discuss the audition with the school's upper management. Ronald first picked up Director Parker and then went to the High School of Performing Arts.

In the large conference room, Margery from the casting studio, Howard Fehr, partner at Fehr and Lizer Casting, and producer David DaSilva were already waiting.

Ronald took out his notebook and waited in the last row to take notes after the meeting began.

The door opened with a bang, and the director of the performing arts faculty and several professors entered.

End of chapter