During his vacation in New York, Ronald lived very comfortably and even had a sumptuous Christmas dinner with his aunt and cousin on Christmas Eve.
Perhaps due to the long time of preparing and directing the filming of the movie, Ronald was somewhat out of touch with real life. He moved to his aunt's apartment and stayed at home for many days. He talked and chatted with his aunt every day, using the warmth of family to temporarily forget the movie he had just shot.
.
Early that morning, Ronald was watching TV in the living room again.
In order to watch the commander-in-chief's speeches and new trends at any time, Aunt Karen paid for a cable TV connection at home. In addition to local channels and the three major wireless TV stations, the home TV can also watch dozens of channels from all over the country.
This practice of moving local channels to national cable TV networks so that cable TV subscribers across the country can watch them is called syndication. Many TV programs that were originally only local have become popular after being syndicated.
Ronald picked up a small rectangular box and pressed it against the TV. The TV changed channels according to his gestures. This is a remote control device provided with the cable TV viewing box. You can change TV channels while sitting. Ronald
De likes it very much.
"Hey, what is this?"
Ronald discovered that a picture of the Apollo moon landing appeared on the TV, but the flag on the moon had been changed from a national flag to a flag with a capital m on it.
Then a beautiful host began to announce, "Welcome to MTV, the world's first music television channel. During the day and night, the best pop music in the world will be played in stereo for you."
Then the screen changed, and MTV began to play Lord Stewart's music video. Ronald became interested. This kind of music video that was shorter than normal TV programs was very interesting. He changed songs in a few minutes.
.
Their editing rhythm is much faster than that of movies and much faster than that of TV series.
Ronald stared at MTV and watched several music videos that were popular on the charts. He found that he had no difficulty in understanding this fast-paced plot. Perhaps it was because the music and lyrics helped the audience understand the plot.
To understand it, it doesn’t take a long time to prepare for it like a movie.
"Next is the Rolling Stones' latest concert," the host said.
"Oh, Ronald, you should go out for a walk instead of staying at home and watching TV."
Aunt Karen couldn't bear that Ronald stayed at home eating, sleeping and watching TV every day, so she came over and got him up from the sofa, "Go out and buy a copy of the New York Times. It'll be good for you."
"Okay", Ronald got up from the sofa, put on his coat and got ready to go out.
At this time, the phone rang. Aunt Karen picked up the phone and handed the receiver to Ronald, "The person calling for you, Ronald, is a girl."
"I'm Ronald, who are you?"
"I'm Helen, Helen Slater. I did a chewing gum commercial. Do you remember me?"
"Of course, hello Helen." Of course Ronald remembered that before the filming of "Fast Richmond High" started, Ronald also wanted to let this girl audition, but her father Gerald, who was on the TV station, dismissed her as Helen.
Rejected for under 18 years old.
Speaking of which, the New Year is coming soon, and Helen is now an adult.
Sometimes there are many seemingly inconspicuous factors that affect a movie. If Helen was a few months older, or if the movie started shooting later, maybe Helen Slater could also participate.
"Ronald, I would like to invite you to be my best man at the De Tonto dance. Are you willing?"
"What?" Ronald didn't understand the name of the ball.
"It's debutante, which means 'debut' in French. It's a dance where American girls make their first social appearance. They must have a male partner."
"Prom? I have no experience. Didn't Gerald arrange any other suitable candidates for you?"
Gerald Slater, who was listening to the phone next to Helen, couldn't help it. He took the phone receiver and said, "Hi, kid. My daughter wants you to be her male companion. Is there anything else you don't want to do?"
"Gerald, hello. That's not what I meant. I have never attended a debutante ball and don't know how to perform my duties. From what Helen said, it seems to be a very formal occasion." Ronald was from a lower class background and was not interested in the atmosphere of this upper class society.
Not very interested.
Gerald lost some of his anger after hearing Ronald's reasons. It seemed that this lucky silly boy paid great attention to his daughter's coming-of-age ceremony.
"It's not so formal. It's a small-scale dance in our TV and movie circles. The real international debutante dance is held every even-numbered year, and princesses from many European countries will attend.
We want to create an environment for our children so that young people who are interested in entering the entertainment industry can get to know some people in the entertainment industry when they grow up. Helen was the first person who thought of you when she invited you, and you can also get to know some young people in the entertainment industry.
"
"It's my pleasure."
"Remember the concierge's request, there will be an appearance ceremony in the morning, and there will be a guest gathering after lunch..."
On the day of the adult debut dance for the children of senior film and television professionals, Ronald wore a dark blue navy double-breasted suit with metal buttons, a dark red pocket square, and gray trousers. He combed his hair neatly and went to China.
Hotel Astoria.
This old hotel is the venue for the international adult dance held every even-numbered years. Gerald and the others also set the dance here with the intention of upgrading their daughters.
Arriving at the hall where the ball was held, Ronald felt a little regretful. The male companions who came were not well-known people in the industry, and most of them were second-generation stars. He also saw the second-generation star from New York University who wanted to get him into the fraternity.
The pace of the debut dance is very slow. Each girl walks down the stairs alone. Each girl will have 10 minutes to appear. The host introduces the girl's family background information and the boyfriend's family background. Then he introduces the family background information to everyone present.
Show dress.
After waiting for more than two hours, almost noon, the host finally announced Helen's name.
"Miss Helen Slater, her father is Gerald Slater, the vice president of PBS station itself..."
Ronald stood up quickly and looked up the stairs.
I saw a girl about five feet eight inches (1.73 meters) appearing at the exit of the corridor on the stairs. She was wearing a milky white dress, a white hat in the style of the 1920s and 1930s on her head, and a pair of blue pants.
The eyes are shining with hope.
There were two sparkling pendant earrings hanging on her ears, and a string of pearl necklaces around her neck.
It was Helen Slater whom Ronald had not seen for a long time.
They hadn't seen each other for more than a year and only had a few phone calls. Ronald felt that he didn't know Helen a little bit.
Girls in America are at this age when their appearance changes rapidly. In addition to Helen's eyebrows and eyes, she is still as charming as before, and her figure has become even more outstanding, giving Ronald the feeling of a neighbor girl suddenly growing up.
The feeling of beauty.
Helen walked down the stairs, looking around, looking for her male companion Ronald. She saw Ronald dressed in a navy uniform, with trimmed hair and beard, and she was obviously very satisfied.
Came over and took his arm.
After the host's introduction, it was time for the photographer to take photos. Ronald faithfully acted as Helen Slater's male model and took several sets of photos. Then the two of them went to their seats and sat down.
"You are outstanding today, Helen. You can say that you are the most beautiful girl at the ball." Ronald felt that for the first time when he praised the girl, he did not add any exaggeration.
"Giggle..." Helen smiled, "You are also very handsome."
The two looked at each other and smiled.
"Have you been waiting here for a long time?" Helen asked.
"Exactly. Fortunately, I saw you last and didn't waste my time. You guys are in the lounge upstairs, do you have to wait too?"
"Yes, but we have spies, haha..." Helen laughed again, "We have friends who are constantly peeking at the door to tell us who has the most handsome male partner."
After chatting and joking for a while, the two continued to wait for the remaining girls to come down the stairs.
"Aren't you bored? Let's go first?" Helen said to Ronald beside her after waiting for two or three girls.
"Didn't I say there will be guests this afternoon?"
"A few very boring people are the sons and nephews of the former commander-in-chief JFK. I heard from my father that they want to enter the entertainment industry and become actors."
Ronald didn't believe it. The former first lady would not allow his son to become a movie actor. Although there were news footage on TV of JFK going to college, he was indeed good-looking enough to be a leading actor.
"What, you want to see him?" Helen asked when Ronald didn't move.
"No, I was just wondering if this would be rude."
"Don't think about it. This is not a real international adult dance. We can sneak out through the back door and wait for me to change clothes first."
Helen pulled Ronald and sneaked out through the back door of the hotel lobby. She secretly took out a bag from behind the door, and then went into the bathroom to change clothes.
It seemed that she had already planned to run away.
After changing out of her dress, Helen put on jeans and a men's jacket, and put her necklace into her bag, leaving only two earrings. From the socialite style just now, she suddenly became a common high school girl on the streets of New York.
"I want to go to the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Would you like to go with me?"
"Okay, the task that Gerald gave me is to accompany you for a day."
"Hahaha, don't you think so?"
"Of course, it's my honor." Ronald put up his arm for Helen to step on, and the two walked out of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel.
The New York Museum of Modern Art is very close to the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. It only takes ten minutes to walk from Lexington Avenue. After passing Rockefeller Avenue and Fifth Avenue, you can see the unique appearance of the New York Museum of Modern Art.
This is a high-end area in New York. There are many beauties and handsome guys dressed in fashionable clothes along the way. The walking pace is much slower than that of the elites in lower Manhattan.
"Actually, I don't want to come to this dance, but I have to deal with Gerald a little bit." Helen kept talking as she walked. "He promised that if I was willing to come, he would give me a chance to perform on the ABC TV station, but
My mother encouraged me to find opportunities on my own."
"Gerard also found me an agent, but he always told my father everything about me. My mother asked me to find another agent so that I could get rid of his tyranny. But I didn't want him to be sad."
Helen looked at Ronald, the director who directed her first TV commercial and made her last appearance on the TV station, feeling a little kindly in her heart, and talked about all the troubles of entering and leaving the entertainment industry.
"Actually, an actor can hire more than one agent. There is no law prohibiting this. This is what I do."
"Really? That's good." Helen nodded and changed the subject, "Is my dress beautiful? My mother helped me choose it. There are many second-hand dress stores in New York. Many women will wear a designer dress once.
Send them in and sell them."
"Why buy a second-hand dress?" Ronald knew that Helen's father was a high-ranking television executive and her mother was a lawyer, so her income was not very low.
"Because of environmental protection, my mother said those flashy things are vanity and illusion, and we should focus on substance. If everyone abandons vanity, the earth's resources will not be depleted due to abuse."
"you're right……"
The two quickly walked to the Museum of Modern Art in New York, which is the largest museum in New York after the Metropolitan Museum. There were still a lot of people near noon, and Ronald bought a ticket to enter.
"I went to see an exhibition of modern artists last time. Which modern artist do you like?" Helen asked Ronald while walking in the hall.
"I don't understand this..."
"You're too modest. Aren't you a film director? Last time my father didn't allow me to audition. I had a fight with him. Later, my mother came forward to talk to him, and he agreed that I could freely audition for the movie.
, but I still have to report it to him."
The two entered an exhibition hall, and Ronald also looked at the modern art paintings on the wall.
"This is Van Gogh's Starry Night, this is Monet's water lilies, these are Dali and Cézanne..."
Helen Slater was very familiar with these famous paintings, and Ronald stood nearby and looked at the masters' works, admiring them one by one.
"If you feel bored, why don't you first go to the modern installation art exhibition that interests you?" Ronald felt that Helen was already familiar with these paintings and was afraid that she would be bored.
"It doesn't matter, I'll watch it again with you. Master's works are always worth appreciating again and again."
Ronald patted Helen's hand to express his gratitude, and the two of them looked at each painting.
Ronald has never studied painting, he is just an ordinary spectator, looking at the works of masters. In front of him is the work of another master, the Dutch painter Mondrian's "Red, Yellow, Blue."
As soon as Ronald saw this work, he felt a strange sense of familiarity in his heart. He stopped and stared at the painting for a long time.
There are no characters or scenery in the painting, just some simple black lines dividing the canvas into several rectangles. There are also some rectangular color blocks filled with red, yellow, and blue colors.
Helen looked at Ronald strangely. None of the paintings he had seen before were so absorbed. Next to Ronald was a Chinese, dressed as an art student. He was holding a paintbrush and copying Mondrian on the easel next to him.
of this work.
"What an interesting rhythm." After a long time, Ronald muttered to himself.
"What, can you see Mondrian's rhythm?" the Chinese student glanced at Ronald and asked.
"Yes, although these are lines and blocks of color, it gives the impression that the painter is narrating a rhythm."
"Are you studying painting?" The Chinese student looked at him and saw that he didn't look like that.
"No, I make movies. My name is Ronald."
"Just call me Chen." The Chinese student stretched out his hand and shook his hand.
"Few outsiders can tell that Mondrian painted rhythm. They all think Mondrian painted living room decorations."
Chen pointed to Ronald Mondrian's paintings, "Actually, they don't understand the greatness of the master. Look at this brushstroke. His lines are all drawn freehand. Different blacks have different shades, making the lines
It has a three-dimensional feel.”
Ronald looked in the direction of his finger, and there were indeed the same black lines, one seemed to be floating above the other. Although the picture was simple, it had a strong appeal. This simplicity is the result of overall design, and only by paying attention to details can we
achieved.
"It seems that simplicity is not so easy to achieve." Ronald sighed. Arts are all connected. Many people say that Hitchcock's film narratives are simple, but it is not so easy to achieve such simplicity. Many people imitate him.
The style cannot be imitated.
"It seems that you have a good sense of art. The shop at the door sells printed copies. If you like, you can buy one." Chen pointed out to him.
"Thank you, will you sell your copy?" Ronald took a fancy to Chen's copy of the oil painting.
"I can't sell it. It's difficult to copy Mondrian's paintings. What I painted doesn't look like them at all." Chen shook his head.
Ronald shrugged and turned back to continue visiting her favorite installation art with Helen.
After watching the exhibition, Ronald and Helen ate hot dogs on the street. Nowadays, setting up a stall in Manhattan also requires a license. The hot dogs tasted great with the sauce, and Helen was particularly happy to eat them.
"Thank you, Ronald. I had a great time today. I will listen to you and ask my mother to find me another agent. Then maybe I will audition for your next movie."
After sending Helen home, Ronald returned to his aunt's house holding the purchased prints of Mondrian's paintings.
After the New Year's holiday, Ronald returned to Los Angeles. He placed a copy of Mondrian's painting on the table in the editing room to remind himself to pay attention to maintaining rhythm when editing.
"This is Eric, the editor of this film, these are his two editing assistants, and this is Ronald, the director." Producer Art Linson introduced the editing team to Ronald. The next two
Months later, it’s up to Ronald and Eric to work together to edit the finished film.
"Hello, Ronald, the audio and video synchronization has been completed. Do we want to watch it again from the beginning?"