The director picked up the viewfinder hanging around his neck and stared at Meg Tilly for a while.
"Yes, her face is suitable for filming."
"Where did you study acting at?" the director asked Meg.
"I'm a ballet major, studying at Skidmore College."
"Huh?", the director raised his eyebrows, you must be a good dancer.
"She suffered a back injury and will no longer be able to dance professionally in ballet, so she transformed into an actress." Ronald quickly explained to Meg.
The director wanted to find some less successful "loser" actors to film "Hot Lunch", so Meg Tilly's professional ballet background was not an advantage, but a disadvantage.
But if you add the experience of injury and major setbacks, you will be closer to the character.
"It doesn't matter, let's try her acting."
Ronald's answer reflected his understanding of the film, which made the director very satisfied.
It just so happened that he needed someone to help him keep an eye on the casting. "I'll ask him to come over for the next casting and see if he has an idea today or if he really has a talent for casting."
So it wouldn't be a bad idea to give his girlfriend a small role. She is a ballet student anyway, and there are many ballet scenes in the movie.
"You play a ballerina who flirts with the boy she likes." Director Alan Parker did not give Meg a script, but directed her on the spot, "You do this first...and then..."
"Ronald, come and act as part of the show, then it will be like this..."
Ronald put down the script he was reading. The new script he had just copied still had some heat left in it.
He walked to the door and stood there, looking at Meg Tilly with a smile.
Meg was a little nervous. She did two ballet movements to warm up, and then signaled that she could start.
Meg raised her hands in a ready position, and the director signaled that she could start.
Raising her hands, Meg danced two ballet pirouettes, then stood still and raised one leg to freeze, like a proud swan.
Ronald was making an appreciative gesture, "Fortunately, she wore suitable shoes today."
Then Meg lowered her posture, picked up the small bag, and walked past Ronald. She intentionally and gently created a little physical contact.
Ronald looked up at her.
Meg stopped at the door and motioned with a look to Ronald not to follow.
Ronald was stunned for a moment, then smiled in realization for half a second and walked out.
Meg's acting was a bit deliberate and the flirting scenes were not natural.
After all, he has not been polished by the actor training class, Ronald thought to himself.
"Ronald, you did a good job. Are you studying acting?" The director seemed to appreciate Ronald's acting skills more.
"I studied directing, and I also know how to take portraiture." Ronald quickly denied it, but still wanted to give Meg the opportunity.
"Meg has not received professional acting training. She was previously a contracted dancer with the Connecticut Ballet, but she had no choice but to retire due to injury." Ronald explained to the director.
"Mr. Director, Meg's experience is very suitable for your movie. She is very suitable to play a ballet student. Your movie needs many young, ballet dancing extras."
It is estimated that Meg's acting skills are not up to the requirements of the main role for the time being, but being an extra and getting a union card is enough. A one-day contract that meets the minimum wage of the union will make her eligible to apply to join.
Screen Actors Guild.
"Call me Allen, or Mr. Parker, don't call me Mr. Director." Director Allen Parker laughed next to him, "I don't want to be called the old man of the studio."
"There are still some problems with her acting skills. During this time, you ask her to sign up for an acting training class. Anyway, I will at least give her a Taft Hartley." the director promised.
"What Taft Hartley?" Ronald didn't understand.
Meg Tilly quickly pulled him and explained in a low voice: "Taft Hartley means equal treatment. The director will give me a one-day contract, and after one month I will automatically enjoy the same treatment as a union member.
.One month was enough for my union application to be approved.”
In order to enter the entertainment industry, Meg thoroughly studied all the details of entering the industry.
"It's the name of the congressman who passed this bill that year. We in the industry generally call it that." Margery from the casting studio added to Ronald.
"I will sign her up for an acting training class, Mr. Parker." Ronald assured the director that if he could be one of the protagonists, it would be a hundred times better than acting in an ensemble cast.
Ellen Parker took out two standard contracts from her bag, filled in Meg Tilly's name, a day's performance time, and a daily wage of US$218 based on the union's minimum wage. Then she handed it to Meg Tilly.
Lee signed.
"This is a one-day employment contract. If you take this contract, there will be an agent willing to represent you. After he signs it, bring another copy to me so that you can use it to apply for Screen Actors Guild qualifications.
Already."
Meg took the contract and hugged Ronald excitedly.
"It will be some time before Hot Lunch starts filming. Meg, you should learn acting first. If you make progress, you can also audition for the main role."
"Thank you, Mr. Parker."
After going out to call Meg, a lot of photos were placed on the table again. Ronald took a look and found that the people in the photos were not as beautiful and confident as the original ones. They were all a bit "loser".
Loser temperament.
"I like this, this, and this..." Mr. Director pulled some photos aside, "We can arrange auditions for these."
"I will arrange it, but I think these are not enough, especially for the extras. Would you like to consider auditioning for those students from the Performing Arts High School?" Margery replied.
"Yes, yes, I need some real people. The students of the Performing Arts High School are performing in their true colors, which is good. We will invite interviews as soon as possible."
"Okay, but most of them have not joined the Screen Actors Guild. We don't have their audition photos. I will arrange an on-site audition with the school."
"Ronald, come with me, we need your photography skills." The older employee stopped Ronald and followed her to another room.
"I'm Julia Taylor and I work at the casting studio." She introduced herself to Ronald.
"Nice to meet you, Ms. Taylor. I'm Ronald Lee."
Julia is a middle-aged lady, slightly older, with a very kind smile, just like that aunt everyone has. She always has a way of making the person she talks to feel at home.
"I heard from Margery that you haven't met Director Alan Parker before?"
"Yes, I saw him for the first time today."
"Did you know he was the director of last year's movie 'Midnight Express'? The one whose screenwriter Oliver Stone won the Oscar for best screenplay."
"Oh, it's him." Ronald smiled sheepishly, "I worked in a film crew last year, and I haven't had time to watch many movies."
"It doesn't matter. On behalf of the casting studio, I can give you the position of a special photographer. I will come here once a week to take photos of actors who need to update their audition photos. It is 40 US dollars per person per time. It starts with the audition of the Hot Lunch crew.
.”
"The price is quite reasonable. I don't have to think about finding customers or doing marketing anymore. I just need to take pictures." Ronald thought to himself.
"Thank you Ms. Taylor, I will provide you with first-class audition photos."
"Director Alan Parker seems to like you very much. He has offered to ask you to participate in the next audition of the Hot Lunch crew, if you are willing to agree, and..." Julia Taylor paused and looked directly at Ronald.
Ronald didn't quite understand what Julia meant, "If there's anything I can do for you, Ms. Taylor..."
"Director Alan Parker is an Englishman, and we hope to provide him with thoughtful casting services and try our best to recommend good New York actors to him.
In New York, no one knows film casting better than us, so if the director goes to meet with other casting companies, he may not be able to get professional services..."
"I will record the names of the people Mr. Director met at other casting companies and get back to you, Ms. Taylor."
It turns out that I'm afraid that competition will poach customers. It's okay to report secretly. Who asked me to work for you?
Julia Taylor showed a satisfied smile, "Come here, we will sign a cooperation agreement with you."
"Generally, in casting work, we first select from the actor pool, and then recommend about 5 actors for each role to the director. The director decides who is suitable and then invites them for interviews."
After signing the agreement, casting director Julia Taylor explained the work process to Ronald.
"But this time the hot lunch is an ensemble show. There are eight protagonists and a dozen minor roles. The extras require hundreds of people, so we will organize a special audition with the high school of performing arts in New York.
Let the director choose among high school students."
"You have to take photos of every student who auditions on site. Those selected by Director Alan Parker must be specially recorded and brought back to us for archiving. We will call you with the specific time schedule. What is your phone number?"
Ronald reported his phone number and also wrote down the phone number of the casting studio. He checked with Julia one by one and clarified the content of his work.
"Go ahead, you can celebrate with your girlfriend today."
Ronald found Meg Tilly, who was chirping happily to Margery like a little bird. The two said goodbye to the director, exchanged phone calls, and then jumped out of the casting studio.
"Have you been selected? What are the director's requirements?"
"Why can they go in? It's not fair."
The boys and girls at the door surrounded the two people and became concerned.
Seeing that he couldn't get away for the time being, Ronald simply announced loudly, "I am a photographer, not an actor. I am here to deliver audition photos."
"I heard from someone at the casting studio that there will be an open casting call for this film, and all students from high schools specializing in performing arts will have the opportunity to participate."
After a loud bang, the crowd started discussing, and some people quickly ran to the phone booth nearby to make calls.
Ronald took the opportunity and scurried away with Meg Tilly.
…
"Hahahaha" Meg was as happy as a little dove along the way, raising her hands and running quickly on the road. Ronald chased after him, picked up Meg, and the two of them spun around several times.
The two stopped and looked at each other for a long time.
"Ronald, thank you." Meg's voice became extremely soft, and Ronald seemed to feel her beating heart.
"You're just here to say thank you. It's nothing. It's you who is suitable for the film industry."
Meg simply put her arms around Ronald's neck, jumped up, and kissed Ronald hard several times.
"I'm so happy, Ronald, it's like a dream." Meg looked into Ronald's eyes and said softly.
Ronald held Meg in his arms and smelled all the pleasant smells coming from her body, and he couldn't help but be intoxicated for a while.
"Yesterday I was just a desperate former ballet dancer. Today I have got a formal contract with the crew, and I have entered the industry. You helped me do this. Thank you." As she spoke, Meg became a little emotional again and leaned her head against Rona.
The head of virtue.
"Maybe you will be a big star tomorrow." Ronald hugged her gently and the two kissed each other.
The casting studio was not far from home, and the two of them, who were running fast, had actually reached the artist's apartment, but Meg didn't want to go upstairs yet.
"Ronald, can you go with me to visit the pier on the South Bank of Manhattan first? I've been working hard on dancing since I came to New York, and I haven't been to the Statue of Liberty yet."
"Okay, no problem. I often take boats by the Statue of Goddess and can be your tour guide." After the tour in the afternoon, we can go to a movie and then buy some food and wine in the evening to celebrate your entry into the industry.
"Ronnie, you are so kind..."
On the other side, in the afternoon, in the casting studio, two casting directors, Julia Taylor and Margery, saw off director Alan Parker.
"What do you think Ellen is up to? Why did she give us the wrong script?" Margaery asked.
"I still can't figure out what he means. Maybe the script has been revised, or maybe he wants to replace us with other casting directors." Julia Taylor changed her previous smile and said seriously.
"Then we...continue to cast him according to the revised plan?"
"Continue. Don't worry too much. I have already arranged an insider beside the director."