NOVEL WEB Exploiting Hollywood 1980.
Chapter 38 Stunt Models
Chapter 38 Stunt Models
Walking out of the New World office building, Ronald happened to see Gail, the assistant to the president, there. She was competing with the car. She started it several times, but it couldn't start.
"Gail, where are you going?" Ronald walked down the steps, "What's wrong with your car? It seems that there is a problem with the spark plug."
"Oh, Ronald." Gail simply gave up trying, got out of the car and grabbed Ronald. "Can you take me to the stunt company? My car broke down and I can't find the driver."
It was 1979, and American cars were still prone to break down, and they often had to find a mechanic for maintenance.Otherwise, if you drive a long distance, it is easy to break down halfway, and you can only call for an emergency call to call a tow truck.In contrast, the quality of German cars and Dongying cars is more stable.
Ronald opened the car door, picked up Gale, and drove to the New World stunt where Cameron worked.
New World Stunt Company is an independent company newly established by Roger Corman, specializing in the production and shooting of stunt model shots in preparation for the new film "Clash of the Stars".
Roger Coleman heard that the production progress of the model was seriously behind, but he had no skills, so he called Gail, the assistant to the president, and asked her to inspect the site.
Ronald went to a stunt company for the first time.Gail pointed to the road. The stunt company was in Santa Monica Beach, a little north of Venice, where Ronald lived.
The car drove to the office of New World Stunt, which was in an abandoned port cargo warehouse.When I entered the door, I saw all kinds of weird models, some were made of silicone, some were made of plaster, some were made of plastic, and some looked like metal, which weighed very lightly, and were made of wood and painted.
"Jim," Ronald saw Cameron, who was buried in a large workbench, "Look who's here?"
"Gail, Ronald, are you here?" Cameron was very happy, took off his bib, wiped his hands with a rag, and shook hands with them.
"Where's the person in charge and other employees here?" Gail asked as soon as he came up.
"They had a meeting in the cubicle and said they wanted to find a way to solve the problem of the texture of the spaceship model." Cameron shrugged. Like that."
"Really? Why didn't the stunt director do that?"
"He prefers to make a full-scale model, the kind that people can enter. After it is done, the actors can directly perform and the camera can shoot directly," Cameron explained.
"It's too slow to do that, it would be much faster with a model."
Gail looked at the unfinished models placed on other workbenches. Various materials and molds were placed on the table.Only Cameron has a few completed models here, and an alien mask he is processing seems to be almost finished.
"Roger sent me to see why we're behind schedule," Gail asked Cameron.
"If you want me to say, it's the problem of the special effects director. He has never made a movie, he has never done it on the set, and he doesn't know the magic of the camera. For example, when the monster talks, his head will split open. We only need to take a close-up of the face first, and then Just cut to the other actors reacting, then cut back and replace it with a headgear that splits the head. There is no need to make a mechanical model with the head splitting automatically”
Cameron talked eloquently.
"The same goes for a spaceship model."
"There is absolutely no need to create a model that can really perform all functions. You see the robot R2D2 in 'Star Wars', it's not about letting a dwarf put on the shell of a robot and perform in it. It's not necessary to build a model A remote-controlled robot that slides by itself."
Gail took out a small book and recorded the production progress of the model.Then I found the special effects director and other special effects workers who were in a meeting, learned about the explanation of the special effects director, and conveyed Roger Coleman's concerns.
The situation is indeed not optimistic, and the progress is greatly behind.The design and manufacture of the model is the hardest hit, as Cameron complained, they don't quite understand that movies are an art of counterfeiting.
While Gail was meeting with the special effects director in the cubicle, Ronald and Cameron were chatting outside. Cameron had a long beard, messy hair, and a lot of paint and dirt.
"Jim, looking at you, has your wife Sharon abandoned you?"
"Hey, don't mention it. During this period of time, she disliked me for working too much overtime and told me not to go home. She didn't quite understand my devotion to movies. Sometimes she missed my days as a truck driver even more." Kame Long complained a few words to his old friend.
"Actually, I have known Sharon since I graduated from high school. She was a waiter at the restaurant and encouraged me to pursue my dream of film. But when I actually worked in the film industry, she felt that I was too devoted to my work and ignored her feelings. "
"So you really didn't go back to live, but lived here?" Ronald was a little confused about Cameron's thoughts and his obsession with movies.
"Of course not. I have already apologized to her and asked for her forgiveness and understanding. This was just a rush yesterday." Cameron pointed to his hair.
"By the way, why are you free to come to my place today?"
"I'm here to ask you for a favor," Ronald took out a typed letter and asked Cameron to sign it.
"I hereby certify that Ronald V. Lee, who worked as the second-team director of the Rock and Roll High School crew, has demonstrated qualified competitiveness..."
"Have you received the application from the Directors' Union?" Cameron happily signed it and handed it to Ronald. "Don't forget to go to the court or the bank and have it notarized by a notary."
"Thank you." Ronald took the supporting documents and handed over another envelope. "This is for you." "I was admitted to New York University. I am the first generation of college students in my family. I will give you some gifts as usual."
"Wow," Cameron opened it up, "Thanks, Ronnie."
Inside were 10 McDonald's gift certificates that Ronald had placed, and a large book of coupons.
Cameron turned out to be the same as Ronald, living off McDonald's coupons, but he was not polite and put away the gifts.
"Your progress here seems to be a bit slow?" Ronald asked looking at the messy model, silicone, paint, mold, dirty rag, and a McDonald's French fries box on the table.
"On the contrary, it's almost finished." Cameron said proudly, pointing to various models and introducing them to Ronald.Basically, there are only one or two processes left.
Ronald's intuition was wrong, but he couldn't say exactly what was wrong.
"Why did I think you were slow when I came in?"
"Maybe I put some materials and tools on the same table?"
Ronald thought about it. This is the reason. If you clean up a table and put all the models on that table, the look and feel will be much better.
"You should do this...Jim. If the boss, Mr. Coleman, comes to inspect and feels the same as me..."
"Oh Shxt, you're right, I'm going to prepare a table to display the model." Cameron reacted, beckoned the staff to work with him, and cleared out a special table for the boss to watch the results.
……
Here, Gail has finished understanding the situation quietly, and is preparing to report back to the company with Ronald. In the parking lot, she also gave a few instructions to Cameron alone.
Ronald drove Gail to the office of New World Productions.On the way Gail asked:
"Ronald, what do you think of Cameron's stunt model technology?"
"I don't know special effects model making, but I think Jim is right. There is no need to make a real full-scale full-featured model, we can use photography technology to cooperate."
"Do you think Jim can handle the modeling?" Gail asked.
Ronald felt that Gale had the idea to recommend a coaching change to Roger Coleman, so that Cameron would take charge of all model manufacturing.
He had a hunch that something was wrong. Cameron worked much harder than the others, and he was asked to lead a group of people who were more senior than him... Maybe there would be a fight.
After thinking for a moment, Ronald said:
"Of course, Jim has a genius idea and ability to realize. I believe he can guarantee the completion of the model on time. However, special effects photography is not just about models. If you shoot according to Jim's ideas, you need close cooperation between the model and the photographer."
Ronald took the principle that the whole is greater than the part that he had learned in the editing before, and used it again.
Gail nodded when he heard the words, and Ronald went on to say:
"The model director's concerns are not completely unreasonable. If there is no photography director who is familiar with special effects, then the best way may be to make a full-featured, full-scale model, so that the photographer will not be worn out no matter how he shoots."
"Now the progress can't catch up. If Jim's method is used instead, then the photography department and the special effects department need to maintain excellent communication, so that the things shot can have a consistent style."
"The part must be in harmony with the whole. If the coordination is not good, what may be shot may not be as good as the original stunt director's idea."
Ronald concluded with the principles he had just learned.
Gail thought for a while and agreed, "I will report to Roger."
After sending Gail back to the company, Ronald took three letters of certification to the Los Angeles County Court, and asked a clerk with a notary license to have it notarized.A fee of $5 per letter will be exchanged for a notarized stamp.
I wrote a check for the entrance fee of $750, and a check for the annual fee of $50, and couriered them to the Film Directors Guild together with the application materials.
Then fill out the Confirmation of Enrollment form, attach a check for the $200 deposit, and mail it to NYU.
Two big things ended.
The two major events that started the director's career, Ronald is considered complete.Get a director's union card, and you will have more opportunities in the industry in the future.Go to the film department of a well-known university to lay a solid foundation of knowledge.
I, Ronald, the new generation of great directors in Hollywood, here I come!
The next time in Los Angeles is relatively free.Ronald intends to visit all the sights around Los Angeles with Mara.Waiting to see the preview of "High School of Rock" by the way,
Enrollment in the fall is still early, and I still have plenty of time.
(End of this chapter)
Walking out of the New World office building, Ronald happened to see Gail, the assistant to the president, there. She was competing with the car. She started it several times, but it couldn't start.
"Gail, where are you going?" Ronald walked down the steps, "What's wrong with your car? It seems that there is a problem with the spark plug."
"Oh, Ronald." Gail simply gave up trying, got out of the car and grabbed Ronald. "Can you take me to the stunt company? My car broke down and I can't find the driver."
It was 1979, and American cars were still prone to break down, and they often had to find a mechanic for maintenance.Otherwise, if you drive a long distance, it is easy to break down halfway, and you can only call for an emergency call to call a tow truck.In contrast, the quality of German cars and Dongying cars is more stable.
Ronald opened the car door, picked up Gale, and drove to the New World stunt where Cameron worked.
New World Stunt Company is an independent company newly established by Roger Corman, specializing in the production and shooting of stunt model shots in preparation for the new film "Clash of the Stars".
Roger Coleman heard that the production progress of the model was seriously behind, but he had no skills, so he called Gail, the assistant to the president, and asked her to inspect the site.
Ronald went to a stunt company for the first time.Gail pointed to the road. The stunt company was in Santa Monica Beach, a little north of Venice, where Ronald lived.
The car drove to the office of New World Stunt, which was in an abandoned port cargo warehouse.When I entered the door, I saw all kinds of weird models, some were made of silicone, some were made of plaster, some were made of plastic, and some looked like metal, which weighed very lightly, and were made of wood and painted.
"Jim," Ronald saw Cameron, who was buried in a large workbench, "Look who's here?"
"Gail, Ronald, are you here?" Cameron was very happy, took off his bib, wiped his hands with a rag, and shook hands with them.
"Where's the person in charge and other employees here?" Gail asked as soon as he came up.
"They had a meeting in the cubicle and said they wanted to find a way to solve the problem of the texture of the spaceship model." Cameron shrugged. Like that."
"Really? Why didn't the stunt director do that?"
"He prefers to make a full-scale model, the kind that people can enter. After it is done, the actors can directly perform and the camera can shoot directly," Cameron explained.
"It's too slow to do that, it would be much faster with a model."
Gail looked at the unfinished models placed on other workbenches. Various materials and molds were placed on the table.Only Cameron has a few completed models here, and an alien mask he is processing seems to be almost finished.
"Roger sent me to see why we're behind schedule," Gail asked Cameron.
"If you want me to say, it's the problem of the special effects director. He has never made a movie, he has never done it on the set, and he doesn't know the magic of the camera. For example, when the monster talks, his head will split open. We only need to take a close-up of the face first, and then Just cut to the other actors reacting, then cut back and replace it with a headgear that splits the head. There is no need to make a mechanical model with the head splitting automatically”
Cameron talked eloquently.
"The same goes for a spaceship model."
"There is absolutely no need to create a model that can really perform all functions. You see the robot R2D2 in 'Star Wars', it's not about letting a dwarf put on the shell of a robot and perform in it. It's not necessary to build a model A remote-controlled robot that slides by itself."
Gail took out a small book and recorded the production progress of the model.Then I found the special effects director and other special effects workers who were in a meeting, learned about the explanation of the special effects director, and conveyed Roger Coleman's concerns.
The situation is indeed not optimistic, and the progress is greatly behind.The design and manufacture of the model is the hardest hit, as Cameron complained, they don't quite understand that movies are an art of counterfeiting.
While Gail was meeting with the special effects director in the cubicle, Ronald and Cameron were chatting outside. Cameron had a long beard, messy hair, and a lot of paint and dirt.
"Jim, looking at you, has your wife Sharon abandoned you?"
"Hey, don't mention it. During this period of time, she disliked me for working too much overtime and told me not to go home. She didn't quite understand my devotion to movies. Sometimes she missed my days as a truck driver even more." Kame Long complained a few words to his old friend.
"Actually, I have known Sharon since I graduated from high school. She was a waiter at the restaurant and encouraged me to pursue my dream of film. But when I actually worked in the film industry, she felt that I was too devoted to my work and ignored her feelings. "
"So you really didn't go back to live, but lived here?" Ronald was a little confused about Cameron's thoughts and his obsession with movies.
"Of course not. I have already apologized to her and asked for her forgiveness and understanding. This was just a rush yesterday." Cameron pointed to his hair.
"By the way, why are you free to come to my place today?"
"I'm here to ask you for a favor," Ronald took out a typed letter and asked Cameron to sign it.
"I hereby certify that Ronald V. Lee, who worked as the second-team director of the Rock and Roll High School crew, has demonstrated qualified competitiveness..."
"Have you received the application from the Directors' Union?" Cameron happily signed it and handed it to Ronald. "Don't forget to go to the court or the bank and have it notarized by a notary."
"Thank you." Ronald took the supporting documents and handed over another envelope. "This is for you." "I was admitted to New York University. I am the first generation of college students in my family. I will give you some gifts as usual."
"Wow," Cameron opened it up, "Thanks, Ronnie."
Inside were 10 McDonald's gift certificates that Ronald had placed, and a large book of coupons.
Cameron turned out to be the same as Ronald, living off McDonald's coupons, but he was not polite and put away the gifts.
"Your progress here seems to be a bit slow?" Ronald asked looking at the messy model, silicone, paint, mold, dirty rag, and a McDonald's French fries box on the table.
"On the contrary, it's almost finished." Cameron said proudly, pointing to various models and introducing them to Ronald.Basically, there are only one or two processes left.
Ronald's intuition was wrong, but he couldn't say exactly what was wrong.
"Why did I think you were slow when I came in?"
"Maybe I put some materials and tools on the same table?"
Ronald thought about it. This is the reason. If you clean up a table and put all the models on that table, the look and feel will be much better.
"You should do this...Jim. If the boss, Mr. Coleman, comes to inspect and feels the same as me..."
"Oh Shxt, you're right, I'm going to prepare a table to display the model." Cameron reacted, beckoned the staff to work with him, and cleared out a special table for the boss to watch the results.
……
Here, Gail has finished understanding the situation quietly, and is preparing to report back to the company with Ronald. In the parking lot, she also gave a few instructions to Cameron alone.
Ronald drove Gail to the office of New World Productions.On the way Gail asked:
"Ronald, what do you think of Cameron's stunt model technology?"
"I don't know special effects model making, but I think Jim is right. There is no need to make a real full-scale full-featured model, we can use photography technology to cooperate."
"Do you think Jim can handle the modeling?" Gail asked.
Ronald felt that Gale had the idea to recommend a coaching change to Roger Coleman, so that Cameron would take charge of all model manufacturing.
He had a hunch that something was wrong. Cameron worked much harder than the others, and he was asked to lead a group of people who were more senior than him... Maybe there would be a fight.
After thinking for a moment, Ronald said:
"Of course, Jim has a genius idea and ability to realize. I believe he can guarantee the completion of the model on time. However, special effects photography is not just about models. If you shoot according to Jim's ideas, you need close cooperation between the model and the photographer."
Ronald took the principle that the whole is greater than the part that he had learned in the editing before, and used it again.
Gail nodded when he heard the words, and Ronald went on to say:
"The model director's concerns are not completely unreasonable. If there is no photography director who is familiar with special effects, then the best way may be to make a full-featured, full-scale model, so that the photographer will not be worn out no matter how he shoots."
"Now the progress can't catch up. If Jim's method is used instead, then the photography department and the special effects department need to maintain excellent communication, so that the things shot can have a consistent style."
"The part must be in harmony with the whole. If the coordination is not good, what may be shot may not be as good as the original stunt director's idea."
Ronald concluded with the principles he had just learned.
Gail thought for a while and agreed, "I will report to Roger."
After sending Gail back to the company, Ronald took three letters of certification to the Los Angeles County Court, and asked a clerk with a notary license to have it notarized.A fee of $5 per letter will be exchanged for a notarized stamp.
I wrote a check for the entrance fee of $750, and a check for the annual fee of $50, and couriered them to the Film Directors Guild together with the application materials.
Then fill out the Confirmation of Enrollment form, attach a check for the $200 deposit, and mail it to NYU.
Two big things ended.
The two major events that started the director's career, Ronald is considered complete.Get a director's union card, and you will have more opportunities in the industry in the future.Go to the film department of a well-known university to lay a solid foundation of knowledge.
I, Ronald, the new generation of great directors in Hollywood, here I come!
The next time in Los Angeles is relatively free.Ronald intends to visit all the sights around Los Angeles with Mara.Waiting to see the preview of "High School of Rock" by the way,
Enrollment in the fall is still early, and I still have plenty of time.
(End of this chapter)
Tip: You can use left, right, A and D keyboard keys to browse between chapters.