Walking out of the New World office building, Ronald happened to see Gale. She was struggling with the car. She started it several times but it just wouldn't start.
"Gale, where are you going?" Ronald walked down the stairs. "What's wrong with your car? It sounds like there's something wrong with the spark plugs."
"Oh, Ronald." Gale simply gave up, 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 a driver."
In 1979, American cars still broke down easily and often needed to be serviced by a mechanic. Otherwise, it was easy to break down on a long drive and you would have to call a tow truck. In comparison, the quality of German and Japanese cars was more stable.
Ronald opened the door, picked up Gale, and drove to where Cameron worked.
New World Stunts is a newly established independent company by Roger Corman that specializes in the production and shooting of stunt model shots in preparation for the new film "Battle of the Stars".
When Roger Corman heard that the production of the model was seriously behind schedule, but he was too busy to handle it, he called Gale, the president's assistant, and asked her to go to the site for an inspection.
It was Ronald's first time going to the Stunt Company. Gale pointed to the road. The Stunt Company was located on Santa Monica Beach, a little north of Venice, where Ronald lived.
The car drove to the office of New World Stunts, which was located in an abandoned port cargo warehouse. As soon as he entered the door, he saw all kinds of strange models, some of which were made of silicone, some of plaster, some of plastic, and some that looked like metal but were very light and made of wood and painted.
"Jim," Ronald said, seeing Cameron working on a large workbench, "look who's here?"
"Gale, Ronald, you're here?" Cameron was very happy. He took off his bib, wiped his hands with a rag, and shook hands with them.
"Where are the person in charge and other employees?" Gale asked as soon as he came up.
"They were meeting in a cubicle, trying to figure out how to solve the problem of the texture of the spacecraft model." Cameron shrugged. "As long as the lens is designed well and the illusion of perspective is used, it can be indistinguishable from the real thing, just like in my short film."
"Really? Then why doesn't the stunt director do that?"
"He would rather make a full-size model, the kind that people can enter. After it's finished, the actors can perform directly and the camera can shoot directly," Cameron explained.
"This is too slow. It would be much faster if we used a model."
Gale looked at the unfinished models on other workbenches. Various materials and molds were placed on the table. Only Cameron had a few completed models. He was working on an alien mask, which seemed to be almost finished.
"Roger sent me to see why we're behind schedule?" Gale asked Cameron.
"If you ask me, it's the stunt director's problem. He has never made a movie or worked on a set, so he doesn't know the magic of the camera. For example, when the monster talks, its head will split open. We just need to shoot a close-up of the face, then cut to the reaction shots of other actors, and then cut back to change to a headgear with a split head. There is no need to make a mechanical model whose head will split open automatically."
Cameron talked freely.
"The same goes for the spaceship model."
"There is no need to build a model that can perform all the functions. Look at the robot R2D2 in "Star Wars". It's just a dwarf who puts on the robot shell and performs inside it. There is no need to build a remote-controlled robot that can move by itself."
Gale took out a small notebook and recorded the production progress of the model. Then, she found the special effects director and other special effects workers who were in a meeting, learned the special effects director's explanation, and conveyed Roger Corman's concerns.
The situation is indeed not optimistic, and the progress is far behind schedule. The design and manufacturing of the model is the most lagged area. Just like Cameron complained, they don't quite understand that film is an art of the camera.
While Gale was meeting with the special effects supervisor in the cubicle, Ronald and Cameron were chatting in the outer room. Cameron had a very long beard and messy hair, which was covered with a lot of paint and dirt.
"Jim, look at you. Has your wife Sharon left you?"
"Hey, don't mention it. Recently, she complained that I was working too many overtime hours and told me not to live at home. She didn't quite understand my dedication to movies. Sometimes, she says she missed the days when I was a truck driver." Cameron complained to his old friend.
"I have known Sharon since I graduated from high school. She was a waitress at the time and encouraged me to pursue my dream of becoming a movie star. But when I started working in the film industry, she felt that I was too devoted to my work and ignored her feelings."
"So you didn't go back to live, and you live here all the time?" Ronald didn't quite understand Cameron's thoughts and the extent of his obsession with movies.
"Of course not. I have already apologized to her and asked for her forgiveness and understanding. I was just catching up on the progress yesterday." Cameron pointed to his hair.
"By the way, how come you have time to come here?"
"I came to you for a favor." Ronald took out a typed letter and asked Cameron to sign it.
"I hereby certify that Ronald V. Lee has demonstrated qualified competence in the role of Second Unit Director for the Rock High School production crew..."
"Have you got the application from the Directors Guild?" Cameron signed happily and handed it to Ronald. "Don't forget to ask a notary to notarize it."
"Thank you," Ronald took the certificate and handed over an envelope. "This is for you." "I was admitted to New York University. I am the first generation of college students in my family. It is customary to give you a gift."
"Wow," Cameron said after opening it. "Thanks, Ronnie."
Inside were 10 McDonald's gift certificates that Ronald had placed there and a large book of coupons.
Cameron, like Ronald, lived on McDonald's coupons, so he didn't hesitate to accept the gift.
"Your progress seems to be a little slow?" Ronald asked, looking at the messy models, silicone, paint, molds, dirty rags, and a McDonald's french fry box that was not thrown away on the table.
"On the contrary, it's almost done," Cameron said proudly, pointing at various models and introducing them to Ronald one by one. There are only one or two processes left.
Ronald had a feeling that something was wrong, but he couldn't tell exactly what was wrong.
"Why did I think you were progressing slowly when I came in?"
"Maybe I put some materials and tools on the same table?"
Ronald thought about it and realized that this was the truth. If he had cleaned the table and placed all the models on it, the look would have been much better.
"You should do this... Jim. If the boss, Mr. Corman, comes to inspect and feels the same way as I do..."
"Shit, you are right. I will prepare a table to display the model." Cameron reacted and called on his employees to work with him to clear out a special display table for the boss to see the results.
…
Gale had already understood the situation without making a sound and was preparing to report back to the company with Ronald. In the parking lot, she also spoke a few words to Cameron alone.
Ronald drove Gale to the New World Productions office. On the way, Gale asked:
"Ronald, what do you think of Cameron's stunt modeling skills?"
"I don't know much about stunt model making, but I think what Jim said is right. There is no need to build a real full-scale, fully functional model. We can use photography technology to cooperate."
"Do you think Jim could take charge of the model-making?" Gail asked.
Ronald felt that Gale was thinking of recommending to Roger Corman a change of coach, allowing Cameron to take charge of all model manufacturing.
He had a feeling that something was wrong. Cameron worked much harder than the others, and asking him to lead a group of people with more experience than him... There might be a fight.
After thinking for a moment, Ronald said,
"Of course, Jim has genius ideas and the ability to realize them. I believe he can ensure that the model is completed on time. However, stunt photography is not just about the model. If we shoot according to Jim's ideas, it requires close cooperation between the model and the photographer."
Ronald put into practice the principle of the whole being greater than the part that he had learned in editing.
Gale nodded when he heard this, and Ronald continued:
"The concerns of the model supervisor are not entirely unreasonable. If there is no photography director familiar with stunts, then the best way may be to make a fully functional, full-size model so that the photographer will not be exposed no matter how he shoots."
"We can't keep up with the schedule now. If we use Jim's method, we need to maintain excellent communication between the photography department and the stunt department so that the style of the film can be consistent."
"The details must be coordinated with the whole. If the coordination is not good, the final product may not be as good as the original stunt director's idea."
Ronald concluded using the principles he had just learned.
Gale thought about it and agreed, "I'll report to Roger."
After sending Gail back to the company, Ronald took the three certification letters to the Los Angeles County Court and had them notarized by a clerk with a notary public license. Each letter was charged $5 in exchange for a notary stamp.
He wrote a check for $750 in membership fees and a check for $50 in annual fees and sent them to the Directors Guild along with the application materials.
Then, he filled out the admission confirmation form, attached a $200 deposit check, and mailed it to New York University.
Two major things were accomplished.
Ronald has accomplished these two major things to start a director's career: getting a Directors Guild card, which will give him more opportunities in the industry in the future, and attending a film department at a well-known university to lay a solid foundation of knowledge.
I, Ronald, the new generation of Hollywood director, am here!
Ronald and Marla will have more free time in Los Angeles. He plans to visit all the attractions near Los Angeles and wait for the preview of "Rock n Roll High School" to finish.
It's still early for fall enrollment, so he still has plenty of time.