NOVEL NEXT Exploiting Hollywood 1980.
Chapter 62 Veterans
Chapter 62 Veterans
"Hi, this is 'Good Morning, America'. Every morning at [-]:[-] EST, bringing you the news on time..." Ronald became more and more like a New Yorker, busying himself with breakfast while listening to ABC's morning news. news.
"Meg, I've made you an egg sandwich, and here's the orange juice."
After experiencing the changes of the previous few days, Meg became more silent than before.
"Thanks, Ronnie, I'm all right." Meg picked up her breakfast, and took a bite.After a while, I took another bite.
"Drink some orange juice. It's the sweet tree brand advertised by the rugby star nicknamed 'Orange Juice'. It tastes very good." Ronald handed over the orange juice.
"Thank you" Meg still ate slowly.
"Rona Barrett, what do you think of 'Apocalypse Now'? Can he compare to the two parts of 'The Godfather'?" The TV was talking about "Apocalypse Now", and Ronald looked back.
"Good Morning, America" is not just a news program, but also invites some guests to talk about current affairs every day.Today I invited a gossip entertainment reporter.
"I think it's a disappointing flop, it's Coppola's Waterloo..."
She lashed out at director Francis Coppola on a nationally broadcast show.
"I'm done, Ronnie"
Ronald turned his head and looked at Meg who was still a little numb, feeling a little sad in his heart.
"I'm going to help you sign up for Stella Adler's training class today, can you go with me?"
"Yes, Ronnie, I can go." Hearing about the acting class, Meg regained her spirits.
Help to sign up for Stella Adler's actor training class, $280/8 lessons.You can also go to the training class to practice when there is no class, and the price is much higher than that of Lee Strasburg.
Meg happened to meet Irene, and Irene pulled her in for a chat, and then made an assessment to see if Meg's mental state could participate in acting studies normally.
With nothing to do, Ronald went out and looked for some newspapers at the front desk.
"Daily Variety" published an article in support of "Apocalypse Now," calling it Coppola's weird and magical masterpiece worth the wait.
"It's okay, Meg has basically come out of that blow, and you must never use the emotional memory method in the future. You have to take care of her carefully these few days, Ronnie." Irene saw that Meg recovered His attitude towards Ronald has changed a lot.
Afterwards, Meg went to the acting center almost every day. In fact, there were not many acting lessons, and what was needed was more practice.
While Stella's program was comprehensive and safe, like any orthodox training method, it was slow at first.Meg has to do a lot of homework every day, imagining herself as a chicken today, and walking like an elephant tomorrow.
After browsing the teaching materials that Meg brought back to the apartment, Ronald also gradually understood that being an actor is a profession that requires experience. If you have not experienced it, you must also have a strong observation ability and absorb nutrients from others.
The method of emotional memory is actually a bit opportunistic.
Meg is Ronald's peer and has always liked ballet classes since she was a child. She uses ballet to escape her stepfather.Because he practiced a lot and danced well, he won a scholarship to enter the ballet school.
After spending a long time in ballet training, Meg actually didn't come into contact with many people and things.Many of the so-called experiences were learned from her sister Jennifer.
Like when going to the Lee Strasburg School of Drama together for a refund.Originally, according to the advertisement, Meg could refund the tuition fees for the courses that had not been taken.But the staff there quibbled that Meg quit by herself, which was not within the scope of the refund.
Meg was so angry that she argued with the staff, saying that the emotional memory method caused her own psychological damage, which was caused by their performance method.She was robbed by the staff, saying that she was not qualified enough to comprehend.
Ronald pulled Meg, who was still going forward to debate, and said softly that he would solve the problem.
As Erin taught, I made a call to the FTC, the Federal Trade Commission, to report the Lee Strasburg Academy of Drama ads as deceptive.Because they don't advertise it, voluntary withdrawal from study does not qualify as a refund.
The next day, I waited until the college took the initiative to call to apologize, and sent back a check for the full amount.
The relationship between the two became closer, and Ronald could eat with Meg every night.
This is mainly because negotiations between the "Hot Lunch" crew and the Performing Arts High School have not progressed.Throughout May, I had to be busy interviewing candidates recommended by various agencies.
As an assistant and driver, Ronald's main job every day is to take Polaroid snapshots and organize files.Just in time to go home with Meg, who is in acting training class.
Over time, the crew has accumulated a lot of qualified actor files and settled on several secondary roles.However, the audition of the eight protagonists has not yet found a suitable candidate.
Meg's progress in acting was recognized by director Parker, who upgraded her role from a group performer to a higher-level resident role.The short-term labor contract of $225 per day was replaced by a long-term employment contract of $785 per week.
Don't think it seems that the daily wages have dropped, but the long-term contract means that as long as you are on the crew, you will get money regardless of whether there is a show that day.After Meg is promoted, she has more roles, which can run through the entire shooting time, and can get a lot of money.
Inspired by Meg, she wanted to move up another notch, to a minor role or lead role.She's also more active going to Stella's studio.
On the last weekend in May, Ronald took time off from the director and returned to Staten Island to help Aunt Karen prepare for the Memorial Day party.
Contrary to the general social respect for World War II veterans, Vietnam War veterans are quite discriminated against in America. They generally cannot find good jobs and have no social status.
The anti-war movement in the whole society lasted as long as the Vietnam War.The government used conscription to force the sons of the people to go thousands of miles away to fight a war that had nothing to do with America.This kind of resentment was inexplicably transferred to the veteran.
The main body of soldiers in the Vietnam War was still ordinary middle-class children. The older people responded to them with a pitiful attitude, but they were resistant to the news that the army killed innocent people in Vietnam.
The younger generation dislikes the participation of veterans in an unjust war, and is more in favor of anti-war people like "Hanoi Jane".
The veterans of the Vietnam War have become marginalized people in society, and returning to their families and society has become their greatest wish.
The party was hosted by the Hansen family, a large landowner and factory owner in Tottville Town. Douglas Hansen Sr. was a World War II veteran and regarded it as his family’s bounden duty to serve the country. One of his sons died in the Vietnam battlefield, so He attached great importance to the old soldiers and widows in the town, and the factory also employed many of his own people.
Under his influence, the attitude of Tottville Town towards veterans is not bad.
Old Douglas' grandson, Douglas Hansen III, is a classmate of Ronald's. He will work in the family business in the future, so he also attends the public high school in the town, and gets along well with his classmates.
He was forced to join the wrestling team by Old Hansen, and was Ronald's classmate and teammate.Speaking of which, Ronald's first Volkswagen Hare was a second-hand car he bought from Little Hansen.
The commemorative event was held on the lawn of Hansen’s home. The pastor led everyone to read a passage from the Bible, then a veteran dressed in military uniform gave a thank you speech, and finally a widow in black dress gave a speech on behalf of everyone, remembering the deceased.
Then everyone disperses the gathering, and the parents briefly talk about the situation in the past year.Aunt Karen made a point of bringing the cookies she baked for everyone.Ronald also put on a suit and tie and spent the day socializing with his aunt.
Little Hansen was also very happy to see Ronald back, and when he learned that he had entered the film industry, he quickly dragged him aside:
"There are not many beautiful women in the film industry. Have you met Farrah Fawcett?"
Farrah Fawcett, the blond angel in the popular TV series "Charlie's Angels" a few years ago, is the girl of Hansen's dream.Withdrew from TV series last year and entered the film industry.
"No, Hollywood is big, and I'm just working on a small crew."
"My boy, when will your movie be released? When you become a big director in the future, don't forget to introduce me to a big star." Little Hansen punched Ronald, and the two seemed to be back in the wrestling team. years.
Aunt Karen also became very talkative and energetic, as if she had returned to her youth.Ronald knew that on this day of the year, Aunt Karen was the carefree girl, and the rest of the time, she was occupied by work and motherhood.
Back home, changing clothes, she would be the waitress again.
Sure enough, when Aunt Karen returned home, she changed into the sweater she knitted and resumed her housewife attire.She asked Ronald to wait for her in the living room.
Aunt Karen took a bag of old clothes from the closet.He took out a file bag from the bedroom, which contained various coupons she had collected around.At the end was a stack of coins and one dollar bills, about $50 less.
"This is for your Uncle Steve's black comrades, the Bud Davis family." Steve and Bud were members of the same combat squad.Mrs. Davis, also a widow, took care of her three children.
Although Aunt Karen was in a difficult situation herself, she always collected some coupons and old clothes for them.This time, I asked Ronald to deliver it to them, as well as a box of biscuits that I baked myself.
Ronald wanted to give some more money, but Aunt Karen said that she couldn't give too much, because she didn't have a man in her family, so it's not good to give too much money.Ronald thought for a while, and added a few small notes.
I found out the address of the Bud family, in Harlem, north of Manhattan.
Thinking of all the horror legends in Harlem, and his experience of being robbed in downtown Los Angeles, Ronald hesitated for a moment.
Aunt Karen saw his hesitation:
"Don't be afraid of the children. Harlem is full of poor people like ours, just with a different color. It's the rich people who live on the Upper East Side that should be afraid."
"In the past few years, I sent them by myself. You have to show your identity and the person you are looking for. The people there are very friendly. As long as you don't go before sunrise in the morning or after sunset in the evening, don't go to those government-built buildings. public housing estates will do.”
said Aunt Karen.
"Don't go in the morning, don't go in the evening, you can't go to the public housing." Ronald thought, this is scary enough, I don't know why Aunt Karen is not afraid.
Yesterday, some readers reported that they could not find a place to vote for recommendations on the app.On the interface of voting for monthly votes, switch to the left to recommend votes.Continue to ask for a day's recommendation, thank you everyone.
(End of this chapter)
"Hi, this is 'Good Morning, America'. Every morning at [-]:[-] EST, bringing you the news on time..." Ronald became more and more like a New Yorker, busying himself with breakfast while listening to ABC's morning news. news.
"Meg, I've made you an egg sandwich, and here's the orange juice."
After experiencing the changes of the previous few days, Meg became more silent than before.
"Thanks, Ronnie, I'm all right." Meg picked up her breakfast, and took a bite.After a while, I took another bite.
"Drink some orange juice. It's the sweet tree brand advertised by the rugby star nicknamed 'Orange Juice'. It tastes very good." Ronald handed over the orange juice.
"Thank you" Meg still ate slowly.
"Rona Barrett, what do you think of 'Apocalypse Now'? Can he compare to the two parts of 'The Godfather'?" The TV was talking about "Apocalypse Now", and Ronald looked back.
"Good Morning, America" is not just a news program, but also invites some guests to talk about current affairs every day.Today I invited a gossip entertainment reporter.
"I think it's a disappointing flop, it's Coppola's Waterloo..."
She lashed out at director Francis Coppola on a nationally broadcast show.
"I'm done, Ronnie"
Ronald turned his head and looked at Meg who was still a little numb, feeling a little sad in his heart.
"I'm going to help you sign up for Stella Adler's training class today, can you go with me?"
"Yes, Ronnie, I can go." Hearing about the acting class, Meg regained her spirits.
Help to sign up for Stella Adler's actor training class, $280/8 lessons.You can also go to the training class to practice when there is no class, and the price is much higher than that of Lee Strasburg.
Meg happened to meet Irene, and Irene pulled her in for a chat, and then made an assessment to see if Meg's mental state could participate in acting studies normally.
With nothing to do, Ronald went out and looked for some newspapers at the front desk.
"Daily Variety" published an article in support of "Apocalypse Now," calling it Coppola's weird and magical masterpiece worth the wait.
"It's okay, Meg has basically come out of that blow, and you must never use the emotional memory method in the future. You have to take care of her carefully these few days, Ronnie." Irene saw that Meg recovered His attitude towards Ronald has changed a lot.
Afterwards, Meg went to the acting center almost every day. In fact, there were not many acting lessons, and what was needed was more practice.
While Stella's program was comprehensive and safe, like any orthodox training method, it was slow at first.Meg has to do a lot of homework every day, imagining herself as a chicken today, and walking like an elephant tomorrow.
After browsing the teaching materials that Meg brought back to the apartment, Ronald also gradually understood that being an actor is a profession that requires experience. If you have not experienced it, you must also have a strong observation ability and absorb nutrients from others.
The method of emotional memory is actually a bit opportunistic.
Meg is Ronald's peer and has always liked ballet classes since she was a child. She uses ballet to escape her stepfather.Because he practiced a lot and danced well, he won a scholarship to enter the ballet school.
After spending a long time in ballet training, Meg actually didn't come into contact with many people and things.Many of the so-called experiences were learned from her sister Jennifer.
Like when going to the Lee Strasburg School of Drama together for a refund.Originally, according to the advertisement, Meg could refund the tuition fees for the courses that had not been taken.But the staff there quibbled that Meg quit by herself, which was not within the scope of the refund.
Meg was so angry that she argued with the staff, saying that the emotional memory method caused her own psychological damage, which was caused by their performance method.She was robbed by the staff, saying that she was not qualified enough to comprehend.
Ronald pulled Meg, who was still going forward to debate, and said softly that he would solve the problem.
As Erin taught, I made a call to the FTC, the Federal Trade Commission, to report the Lee Strasburg Academy of Drama ads as deceptive.Because they don't advertise it, voluntary withdrawal from study does not qualify as a refund.
The next day, I waited until the college took the initiative to call to apologize, and sent back a check for the full amount.
The relationship between the two became closer, and Ronald could eat with Meg every night.
This is mainly because negotiations between the "Hot Lunch" crew and the Performing Arts High School have not progressed.Throughout May, I had to be busy interviewing candidates recommended by various agencies.
As an assistant and driver, Ronald's main job every day is to take Polaroid snapshots and organize files.Just in time to go home with Meg, who is in acting training class.
Over time, the crew has accumulated a lot of qualified actor files and settled on several secondary roles.However, the audition of the eight protagonists has not yet found a suitable candidate.
Meg's progress in acting was recognized by director Parker, who upgraded her role from a group performer to a higher-level resident role.The short-term labor contract of $225 per day was replaced by a long-term employment contract of $785 per week.
Don't think it seems that the daily wages have dropped, but the long-term contract means that as long as you are on the crew, you will get money regardless of whether there is a show that day.After Meg is promoted, she has more roles, which can run through the entire shooting time, and can get a lot of money.
Inspired by Meg, she wanted to move up another notch, to a minor role or lead role.She's also more active going to Stella's studio.
On the last weekend in May, Ronald took time off from the director and returned to Staten Island to help Aunt Karen prepare for the Memorial Day party.
Contrary to the general social respect for World War II veterans, Vietnam War veterans are quite discriminated against in America. They generally cannot find good jobs and have no social status.
The anti-war movement in the whole society lasted as long as the Vietnam War.The government used conscription to force the sons of the people to go thousands of miles away to fight a war that had nothing to do with America.This kind of resentment was inexplicably transferred to the veteran.
The main body of soldiers in the Vietnam War was still ordinary middle-class children. The older people responded to them with a pitiful attitude, but they were resistant to the news that the army killed innocent people in Vietnam.
The younger generation dislikes the participation of veterans in an unjust war, and is more in favor of anti-war people like "Hanoi Jane".
The veterans of the Vietnam War have become marginalized people in society, and returning to their families and society has become their greatest wish.
The party was hosted by the Hansen family, a large landowner and factory owner in Tottville Town. Douglas Hansen Sr. was a World War II veteran and regarded it as his family’s bounden duty to serve the country. One of his sons died in the Vietnam battlefield, so He attached great importance to the old soldiers and widows in the town, and the factory also employed many of his own people.
Under his influence, the attitude of Tottville Town towards veterans is not bad.
Old Douglas' grandson, Douglas Hansen III, is a classmate of Ronald's. He will work in the family business in the future, so he also attends the public high school in the town, and gets along well with his classmates.
He was forced to join the wrestling team by Old Hansen, and was Ronald's classmate and teammate.Speaking of which, Ronald's first Volkswagen Hare was a second-hand car he bought from Little Hansen.
The commemorative event was held on the lawn of Hansen’s home. The pastor led everyone to read a passage from the Bible, then a veteran dressed in military uniform gave a thank you speech, and finally a widow in black dress gave a speech on behalf of everyone, remembering the deceased.
Then everyone disperses the gathering, and the parents briefly talk about the situation in the past year.Aunt Karen made a point of bringing the cookies she baked for everyone.Ronald also put on a suit and tie and spent the day socializing with his aunt.
Little Hansen was also very happy to see Ronald back, and when he learned that he had entered the film industry, he quickly dragged him aside:
"There are not many beautiful women in the film industry. Have you met Farrah Fawcett?"
Farrah Fawcett, the blond angel in the popular TV series "Charlie's Angels" a few years ago, is the girl of Hansen's dream.Withdrew from TV series last year and entered the film industry.
"No, Hollywood is big, and I'm just working on a small crew."
"My boy, when will your movie be released? When you become a big director in the future, don't forget to introduce me to a big star." Little Hansen punched Ronald, and the two seemed to be back in the wrestling team. years.
Aunt Karen also became very talkative and energetic, as if she had returned to her youth.Ronald knew that on this day of the year, Aunt Karen was the carefree girl, and the rest of the time, she was occupied by work and motherhood.
Back home, changing clothes, she would be the waitress again.
Sure enough, when Aunt Karen returned home, she changed into the sweater she knitted and resumed her housewife attire.She asked Ronald to wait for her in the living room.
Aunt Karen took a bag of old clothes from the closet.He took out a file bag from the bedroom, which contained various coupons she had collected around.At the end was a stack of coins and one dollar bills, about $50 less.
"This is for your Uncle Steve's black comrades, the Bud Davis family." Steve and Bud were members of the same combat squad.Mrs. Davis, also a widow, took care of her three children.
Although Aunt Karen was in a difficult situation herself, she always collected some coupons and old clothes for them.This time, I asked Ronald to deliver it to them, as well as a box of biscuits that I baked myself.
Ronald wanted to give some more money, but Aunt Karen said that she couldn't give too much, because she didn't have a man in her family, so it's not good to give too much money.Ronald thought for a while, and added a few small notes.
I found out the address of the Bud family, in Harlem, north of Manhattan.
Thinking of all the horror legends in Harlem, and his experience of being robbed in downtown Los Angeles, Ronald hesitated for a moment.
Aunt Karen saw his hesitation:
"Don't be afraid of the children. Harlem is full of poor people like ours, just with a different color. It's the rich people who live on the Upper East Side that should be afraid."
"In the past few years, I sent them by myself. You have to show your identity and the person you are looking for. The people there are very friendly. As long as you don't go before sunrise in the morning or after sunset in the evening, don't go to those government-built buildings. public housing estates will do.”
said Aunt Karen.
"Don't go in the morning, don't go in the evening, you can't go to the public housing." Ronald thought, this is scary enough, I don't know why Aunt Karen is not afraid.
Yesterday, some readers reported that they could not find a place to vote for recommendations on the app.On the interface of voting for monthly votes, switch to the left to recommend votes.Continue to ask for a day's recommendation, thank you everyone.
(End of this chapter)
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