NOVEL WEB Exploiting Hollywood 1980.
Chapter 30 Classified Advertising
Chapter 30 Classified Advertising
On Christmas Eve morning, Ronald walked out of the apartment.
At the newsstand not far from the apartment, I bought "Daily Variety" and "Hollywood Report", two professional Hollywood newspapers, plus a copy of the Los Angeles Times.
"Merry Christmas!"
"Merry Christmas!"
Greeted the stall owner and Ronald looked it up on the way home.He wanted to study three newspapers and advertise some portrait photography on them.
Ronald looked through two professional newspapers. There were very few advertisements, and the price was probably not cheap, so he couldn't afford it.Picked up the Los Angeles Times again and flipped to the classifieds.
There is a thick stack of classified advertisements, and these columns are for individuals to post, and each person only has a big piece of dried tofu.Weddings, obituaries, marriage proposals, and finally turned to the page of services.
"Hollywood portrait photographer, 120 yuan, available on the day."
"10 years experience in portrait shooting, good at guiding subjects"
"If you're good looking, don't have the cash, and want an audition photo call..."
……
Ronald felt that the market was good and promising.
After finding out the hotline for publishing classified ads, Ronald found a phone booth and called to ask for the address of the nearest intermediary office. It was not far away, so Ronald simply walked there.
While walking, I flipped through the daily variety shows, which were dedicated to reporting Hollywood newspapers. Of course, the content was full of such and such a production crew starting up, such and such a production crew reported that the female lead and the director were at odds, that a certain male actor fell in love with the actress of the same show, and openly made a double date. , Wait for the gossip news.
"Jane Fonda's new movie wedding ring is controversial. Is it appropriate for a married woman to appear in a movie if she cheats?"
That’s talking about this year’s blockbuster, “Coming Home.”
Jane Fonda plays the wife of a Vietnam War officer in the film. While her husband was serving in Vietnam, he still wore a wedding ring and had an affair with a former high school god and now a disabled soldier.
Ronald remembered that Aunt Karen disliked the movie, complaining on the phone that "Jane Hanoi" had ruined the honor of their Vietnam Veteran wives.
"The Deer Hunter is critically acclaimed, can it have a head start in the Oscar nomination race?"
This one is about the new movie "The Deer Hunter" that Demi Moore wants to see.The report said that the film was only screened for seven days, which was intentional and met the minimum screening requirements for the Oscars.
Not many people have seen the film, everyone just talks about it.It seems that only those who have seen it are those who have relationships and friends, real insiders.
This is marketing, raising the audience's expectations.Ronald secretly admired it. Now that the film's reputation is overwhelming, it is estimated that the Oscar nomination is expected.
When he arrived at the intermediary company that released the classified advertisements, Ronald asked about the price and bought four positions in a row.
"What do you want to publish? You can write it here," the staff handed over a piece of paper.
Ronald picked up his pencil:
"A full member of the Directors' Union, explain how to take audition photos in order to win the director's favor."
"The author has worked as a screenwriter, assistant director, stills photographer and other positions, and has rich experience."
"Contrary to common people's understanding, the audition photos are not the more beautiful the better."
"Indoor or outdoor? Black and white or color? The author analyzes in detail."
"The basic package is 99 yuan, and the upgraded package is 149 yuan."
"Please call for details..."
"Can I have a photo?" Ronald asked.
"Yes, but only in black and white."
Ronald took out the reprinted small photo of Demi Moore and handed it to the staff, "Just put it in the upper left corner. The text starts under the photo."
The staff accepted the photo and asked, "How many days do you want to post it?"
"Three days."
It happens to be a holiday, people are at home, and there will be more people reading newspapers.Moreover, there are few weddings at Christmas, and there are many vacancies in newspapers to choose from.Ronald wanted to take the opportunity to work for three days in a row.
Holding the receipt from the staff with the publication date of the advertisement on it, Ronald returned to the apartment.
It was Christmas Eve, and Ronald hung up on Aunt Karen to say hello, and then found himself with nowhere to go.
Thinking that after the advertisement is published, many people may call to inquire, and he will go to work to study editing after the holiday, so Ronald considers whether to buy an answering machine.
Pull out the phone book and look up the number for RadioShack, an electronics store.The staff of Ruisha said that the cheapest one was 1000 US dollars, and Ronald hung up the phone immediately in fright.
It's better to pay someone to answer the phone.
Just thinking about her own business, Mrs. Weber next door knocked on the door, "Ronald, are you there? Come to my house today for Christmas dinner. I made a turkey."
Mrs. Weber is also a single mother. Her daughter is in the twelfth grade of high school. Mrs. Weber used to work as a waitress in a restaurant, but now she is a secretary in a small company.With similar family backgrounds, Mrs. Weber and Ronald communicate more often.I knew Ronald was alone in Los Angeles, so I invited him over for Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve.
Ronald was very happy, he had nowhere to go today.
Cameron went home to accompany his wife Sharon. This workaholic doesn't usually go home, and his wife has a lot of opinions.Gail went back to his parents' house, and other colleagues and friends were also natives of Los Angeles, and Ronald hadn't gotten to know them well enough to have been invited to a family dinner, and couldn't go.
He was invited to various rave parties of young people, but Ronald didn't want to go, and alcohol and drug abuse made him avoid them.
He went out and bought a bottle of red wine, wrapped it in a paper bag, and gave it to Mrs. Weber as a present.
When she entered, Mrs. Weber was coming out of the kitchen with a roast chicken.Ronald stepped forward to help.The three sat down at the dining table:
"For the food of our hunger,
To let us rest in peace,
For a home haunted by memories,
We are grateful for these”
Mrs. Webb said the prayers, folded her hands together, and prayed to God.
"Amen," Ronald and her daughter responded, and the three of them made the sign of the cross before eating Christmas dinner.
"Ronald, what have you been doing lately? I see you are rarely at home."
After the meal, Mrs. Weber brought coffee, and the three of them were chatting, waiting for the TV station to broadcast the annual Christmas Eve repertoire: the movie "It's a Wonderful World (It's a Wonderful World)".
"I work in a film crew, but then I will start a portrait photography business. If I earn enough money, I may go to university. It depends on the admission results in February next year."
"Ronnie, can you take a picture? Can you take one for me?" asked Mrs. Webb's daughter.
"Of course, tomorrow you and your mother come to my apartment and I'll take a picture of you both."
"You are too kind, Ronald," said Mrs Weber.
"It's okay, we working people in Venice Beach, we have to help each other."
"Yes, help each other." Mrs. Weber nodded, "We still come from very close places. My parents' home is in New Jersey, very close to Staten Island."
"Really? That's a coincidence." Ronald took a sip of coffee.
"That's right. In fact, your Staten Island is closer to New Jersey, and is connected by interstate highways. However, you have to take a ferry from Stanton to Manhattan, the center of the universe."
"Yeah...A few years ago, Aunt Karen took me to Manhattan by ferry to see a doctor. Donna also made a noise to go, which made Aunt Karen very distressed..." Ronald recalled the past, and suddenly his heart moved, and he looked at the doctor. Mrs. Weber's daughter, a little girl who is already in the 12th grade.
"Mrs. Webb, I advertised for portrait photography in the newspaper, but I don't have a suitable operator. During the holidays, would your daughter be willing to be my temporary operator? I can pay you $5 a day."
"What do I need to do?" the little girl asked eagerly.
You just have to write down the name and phone number of the person calling while I'm taking the photo and I'll call them back when I'm done taking the photo. "Then you can rest.
Mrs. Weber thought about it and agreed. If her daughter worked in a fast food restaurant, she could earn the minimum wage of $2.65 an hour, but it would be much harder.
The next day, Christmas, is when the classifieds are published.
Ronald got up early and converted the living room into a reception and reception.Put a table, pull out the phone, Daben's notepad is spread out on the table, and two ballpoint pens are parked beside it.everything's ready.
Oh yes, and this.Ronald took out copies of the audition photos of Demi Moore and Natasha Kinski, put them in wooden frames, put them on the table, and adjusted the position repeatedly so that customers could see them at the first sight when they walked in.
The daughter of Mrs. Weber, the neighbor, also came to help, and it was the first day of work.As a high school student, she wanted to be called Miss Weber so much, she picked up the phone and put it down again, imitating it many times.
"Good morning, this is Ronald's portrait studio." Ronald taught the little girl how to say it.Then let her practice it a few times.
Just after 9:50, the calls started coming in.Ronald signaled Miss Webb to stay still, and he answered the first call himself...
"Ring ring ring ring..."
(End of this chapter)
On Christmas Eve morning, Ronald walked out of the apartment.
At the newsstand not far from the apartment, I bought "Daily Variety" and "Hollywood Report", two professional Hollywood newspapers, plus a copy of the Los Angeles Times.
"Merry Christmas!"
"Merry Christmas!"
Greeted the stall owner and Ronald looked it up on the way home.He wanted to study three newspapers and advertise some portrait photography on them.
Ronald looked through two professional newspapers. There were very few advertisements, and the price was probably not cheap, so he couldn't afford it.Picked up the Los Angeles Times again and flipped to the classifieds.
There is a thick stack of classified advertisements, and these columns are for individuals to post, and each person only has a big piece of dried tofu.Weddings, obituaries, marriage proposals, and finally turned to the page of services.
"Hollywood portrait photographer, 120 yuan, available on the day."
"10 years experience in portrait shooting, good at guiding subjects"
"If you're good looking, don't have the cash, and want an audition photo call..."
……
Ronald felt that the market was good and promising.
After finding out the hotline for publishing classified ads, Ronald found a phone booth and called to ask for the address of the nearest intermediary office. It was not far away, so Ronald simply walked there.
While walking, I flipped through the daily variety shows, which were dedicated to reporting Hollywood newspapers. Of course, the content was full of such and such a production crew starting up, such and such a production crew reported that the female lead and the director were at odds, that a certain male actor fell in love with the actress of the same show, and openly made a double date. , Wait for the gossip news.
"Jane Fonda's new movie wedding ring is controversial. Is it appropriate for a married woman to appear in a movie if she cheats?"
That’s talking about this year’s blockbuster, “Coming Home.”
Jane Fonda plays the wife of a Vietnam War officer in the film. While her husband was serving in Vietnam, he still wore a wedding ring and had an affair with a former high school god and now a disabled soldier.
Ronald remembered that Aunt Karen disliked the movie, complaining on the phone that "Jane Hanoi" had ruined the honor of their Vietnam Veteran wives.
"The Deer Hunter is critically acclaimed, can it have a head start in the Oscar nomination race?"
This one is about the new movie "The Deer Hunter" that Demi Moore wants to see.The report said that the film was only screened for seven days, which was intentional and met the minimum screening requirements for the Oscars.
Not many people have seen the film, everyone just talks about it.It seems that only those who have seen it are those who have relationships and friends, real insiders.
This is marketing, raising the audience's expectations.Ronald secretly admired it. Now that the film's reputation is overwhelming, it is estimated that the Oscar nomination is expected.
When he arrived at the intermediary company that released the classified advertisements, Ronald asked about the price and bought four positions in a row.
"What do you want to publish? You can write it here," the staff handed over a piece of paper.
Ronald picked up his pencil:
"A full member of the Directors' Union, explain how to take audition photos in order to win the director's favor."
"The author has worked as a screenwriter, assistant director, stills photographer and other positions, and has rich experience."
"Contrary to common people's understanding, the audition photos are not the more beautiful the better."
"Indoor or outdoor? Black and white or color? The author analyzes in detail."
"The basic package is 99 yuan, and the upgraded package is 149 yuan."
"Please call for details..."
"Can I have a photo?" Ronald asked.
"Yes, but only in black and white."
Ronald took out the reprinted small photo of Demi Moore and handed it to the staff, "Just put it in the upper left corner. The text starts under the photo."
The staff accepted the photo and asked, "How many days do you want to post it?"
"Three days."
It happens to be a holiday, people are at home, and there will be more people reading newspapers.Moreover, there are few weddings at Christmas, and there are many vacancies in newspapers to choose from.Ronald wanted to take the opportunity to work for three days in a row.
Holding the receipt from the staff with the publication date of the advertisement on it, Ronald returned to the apartment.
It was Christmas Eve, and Ronald hung up on Aunt Karen to say hello, and then found himself with nowhere to go.
Thinking that after the advertisement is published, many people may call to inquire, and he will go to work to study editing after the holiday, so Ronald considers whether to buy an answering machine.
Pull out the phone book and look up the number for RadioShack, an electronics store.The staff of Ruisha said that the cheapest one was 1000 US dollars, and Ronald hung up the phone immediately in fright.
It's better to pay someone to answer the phone.
Just thinking about her own business, Mrs. Weber next door knocked on the door, "Ronald, are you there? Come to my house today for Christmas dinner. I made a turkey."
Mrs. Weber is also a single mother. Her daughter is in the twelfth grade of high school. Mrs. Weber used to work as a waitress in a restaurant, but now she is a secretary in a small company.With similar family backgrounds, Mrs. Weber and Ronald communicate more often.I knew Ronald was alone in Los Angeles, so I invited him over for Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve.
Ronald was very happy, he had nowhere to go today.
Cameron went home to accompany his wife Sharon. This workaholic doesn't usually go home, and his wife has a lot of opinions.Gail went back to his parents' house, and other colleagues and friends were also natives of Los Angeles, and Ronald hadn't gotten to know them well enough to have been invited to a family dinner, and couldn't go.
He was invited to various rave parties of young people, but Ronald didn't want to go, and alcohol and drug abuse made him avoid them.
He went out and bought a bottle of red wine, wrapped it in a paper bag, and gave it to Mrs. Weber as a present.
When she entered, Mrs. Weber was coming out of the kitchen with a roast chicken.Ronald stepped forward to help.The three sat down at the dining table:
"For the food of our hunger,
To let us rest in peace,
For a home haunted by memories,
We are grateful for these”
Mrs. Webb said the prayers, folded her hands together, and prayed to God.
"Amen," Ronald and her daughter responded, and the three of them made the sign of the cross before eating Christmas dinner.
"Ronald, what have you been doing lately? I see you are rarely at home."
After the meal, Mrs. Weber brought coffee, and the three of them were chatting, waiting for the TV station to broadcast the annual Christmas Eve repertoire: the movie "It's a Wonderful World (It's a Wonderful World)".
"I work in a film crew, but then I will start a portrait photography business. If I earn enough money, I may go to university. It depends on the admission results in February next year."
"Ronnie, can you take a picture? Can you take one for me?" asked Mrs. Webb's daughter.
"Of course, tomorrow you and your mother come to my apartment and I'll take a picture of you both."
"You are too kind, Ronald," said Mrs Weber.
"It's okay, we working people in Venice Beach, we have to help each other."
"Yes, help each other." Mrs. Weber nodded, "We still come from very close places. My parents' home is in New Jersey, very close to Staten Island."
"Really? That's a coincidence." Ronald took a sip of coffee.
"That's right. In fact, your Staten Island is closer to New Jersey, and is connected by interstate highways. However, you have to take a ferry from Stanton to Manhattan, the center of the universe."
"Yeah...A few years ago, Aunt Karen took me to Manhattan by ferry to see a doctor. Donna also made a noise to go, which made Aunt Karen very distressed..." Ronald recalled the past, and suddenly his heart moved, and he looked at the doctor. Mrs. Weber's daughter, a little girl who is already in the 12th grade.
"Mrs. Webb, I advertised for portrait photography in the newspaper, but I don't have a suitable operator. During the holidays, would your daughter be willing to be my temporary operator? I can pay you $5 a day."
"What do I need to do?" the little girl asked eagerly.
You just have to write down the name and phone number of the person calling while I'm taking the photo and I'll call them back when I'm done taking the photo. "Then you can rest.
Mrs. Weber thought about it and agreed. If her daughter worked in a fast food restaurant, she could earn the minimum wage of $2.65 an hour, but it would be much harder.
The next day, Christmas, is when the classifieds are published.
Ronald got up early and converted the living room into a reception and reception.Put a table, pull out the phone, Daben's notepad is spread out on the table, and two ballpoint pens are parked beside it.everything's ready.
Oh yes, and this.Ronald took out copies of the audition photos of Demi Moore and Natasha Kinski, put them in wooden frames, put them on the table, and adjusted the position repeatedly so that customers could see them at the first sight when they walked in.
The daughter of Mrs. Weber, the neighbor, also came to help, and it was the first day of work.As a high school student, she wanted to be called Miss Weber so much, she picked up the phone and put it down again, imitating it many times.
"Good morning, this is Ronald's portrait studio." Ronald taught the little girl how to say it.Then let her practice it a few times.
Just after 9:50, the calls started coming in.Ronald signaled Miss Webb to stay still, and he answered the first call himself...
"Ring ring ring ring..."
(End of this chapter)
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