Ronald drove to Van Nuys High School early in the morning.
Last night's dream didn't seem like a dream but more like a memory from his past life. The images of the first three minutes were so clear, as if a TV was playing in his head.
In his dream, he was not watching "Rock 'n' Roll High School" in a movie theater. There were far fewer people sitting there than in a movie theater, and the screen was much smaller. The black box that the machine spit out at the end seemed to be a VHS tape, a new toy invented by a Japanese company.
It seems that the movie "Rock 'n' Roll High School" must be quite successful; otherwise, it would not have been released overseas.
It's a pity that the movie was interrupted after only 3 minutes...
Ronald thought as he filled out his shooting log.
Date: Saturday, December 16, 1978
Location: Hollywood Van Nuys High School, Los Angeles
Assembly Time: …He raised his wrist to check the watch. It was 5:30. He continued to write in his diary: 05:30.
Los Angeles is not cold in winter. He only wore a jacket over his white T-shirt and had a waist bag hanging around his waist. He put the ballpoint pen into the waist bag, took out a small notebook, and turned to a folded page. On it was the sunrise time he had asked the weather station yesterday - 06:48.
Ronald looked at his watch again. It was 5:31. He sighed and frowned. The director had not arrived yet.
Walking to the first assistant director of the crew: "Ahem..." Ronald cleared his throat and was about to speak.
Jim ran over from the other side and asked what he wanted to ask first: "Where is Director Allen? Where is Joe Dante?"
The credited director of the crew is Allan Arkush, but in fact, the two are co-directors. Sometimes, Joe Dante can even make the decision on how to shoot. So much so that there are rumors on the set that they are "good friends".
The first assistant director shrugged, saying he didn't know where the two were going. This assistant director was a bit weak and only did what the director told him to do. Ronald sighed and was about to speak when Jim pulled him.
After the two walked aside, Jim whispered, "You didn't come last night. I saw the director go to the Roxy Bar with the Ramones after the party. I heard they had a crazy time there."
Jim told me a piece of gossip that was circulating in the crew. There was always a lot of gossip in the crew, some true and some false. If you want to get ahead in the crew, you have to keep your ears open and make friends widely.
Ronald was not used to Jim's long "Beatles" style hair, so he cut his hair a little shorter, but he hadn't shaved his beard for a long time since the filming started, and now he has a full beard.
Although he looks like someone from the "artistic circle", he doesn't smoke with the crew (maybe they smoke other things too), and he doesn't like to talk about spirituality, anti-nuclearism, yoga, etc. So when it comes to gossip, he's not as well-informed as Jim.
"Well, it looks like the director will be late today," Ronald said as he took out the shooting log and handed it to Jim.
Jim took it, and the two of them reviewed today's shooting schedule, confirming each item one by one.
After aligning the log, Ronald took out a few pencil drawings and handed them to Jim.
"What's this?"
"The storyboard I drew last night."
Ronald replied that he drew the first three scenes of the movie according to the inspiration in his dream after he woke up from the shock last night.
Storyboards, or storyboards for short, are pictures of the content described in the script, like an enlarged picture book. Directors use them as references to set shooting schedules, guide post-production editing, etc. If filming a movie is like building a house, then storyboards are the blueprints.
Jim was greatly impressed and kept praising Ronald for his excellent painting, saying that he could take a photo of it.
The two were not just ordinary assistants who came here to do some work. They wanted to use this opportunity to enter the film industry. So they came early and left late, observing and learning while making coffee.
The two directors saw this and did not treat them as ordinary crew assistants. In addition to doing odd jobs, they also let them participate in some filming-related matters.
Jim usually follows the director and observes him telling the actors the scenes;
Ronald was responsible for a lot of chores, such as organizing the rehearsal of extras, filling in the shooting log, helping the director shout commands, recording the number of people eating lunch, etc.
If there is time, the two directors will give them some advice and talk about some shooting techniques and experiences.
"The two directors haven't arrived yet. Today, we have to take advantage of the light before and after sunrise to shoot. We have to prepare first, otherwise, we will miss the shooting window." Jim said after looking at the time on the shooting log. He always thinks about problems as if he were a director.
"OK. Let's go talk to the assistant director... Never mind. It's no use looking for that obedient assistant director. Let's go find the director of photography first." Ronald said as he and Jim went to find the director of photography, Dean Cundey.
The director of photography is the head of the photography team. He and his three guys are installing the camera's jib.
Ronald asked, "Mr. Cundey, the director hasn't arrived yet. If we don't start rehearsing now, we won't be able to catch the sunrise. Will the shooting be delayed?"
The director of photography was reluctant to answer such elementary questions to his two assistants, but after seeing Ronald's amazing performance yesterday, he pursed his lips and signaled his first assistant photographer, who was also the focus puller and the chief camera operator, a red-haired guy, to answer.
"The magic light is only 20 minutes before and after sunrise. During this time, the sky is bright, but the sun is not shining directly on you. It's like nature is providing you with background lighting. You won't be able to capture that kind of scene after this time."
"Then we must start preparing for the shoot now. I'll go coordinate the rehearsal with the extras. Jim will go ask the three leading ladies to move in, and Mr. Dean, you start preparing the camera. Is this arrangement okay?"
The bearded director of photography was quiet and waved his hand to indicate his approval of Ronald's arrangement. Ronald looked at Jim and said, "OK!"
Nearly 30 extras came today, all of them students from Van Nuys High School. They were filming the opening of the high school, with the drama club, science club, football team and others setting up a stage to welcome the new students, and some dancing scenes.
Ronald picked up the bullhorn and began to shout to the extras: "Boys and girls from Van Nuys High School! Thank you all for coming to the filming of the "High School Life" movie. We are going to shoot the freshman welcome today. Are you all ready to show your faces on the screen?"
"Ready!"
"Okay, let me divide you into groups. You, you... stand over here; you, you... stand over here; those who wear skirts, two of you who wear skirts stand in the front row; the football team is here...;
you, you, you, the four good-looking ones stand behind the stage of the drama club; the few of you who look like academic masters and wear glasses stand in the science club...
OK, does everyone know their place?"
"Football team, all you have to do is pick up one of our actors who plays the freshman and carry him along this road...
Others are at their reserved booths, talking to each other."
"Let's rehearse it..."
"Very good. Everyone remember, don't look at the camera! I repeat, everyone, don't look at the camera! We are filming you talking to each other, not filming you looking at the camera and grinning. If anyone looks at the camera, I will cut his picture, understand?"
"If you want to be in a movie, if you want your parents and your boyfriend or girlfriend to see your face in the cinema, if you want to be the most popular person in the class, then don't look at the camera! Let's practice it again..."
"Very good. Now, everyone changes their clothes, and the girls touch up their makeup. It is now 5:45, I will give you 10 minutes; in 10 minutes, it will be 5:55. Everyone, wear your costumes and gather here."
After temporarily dismissing the extras, Ronald quickly walked towards the group of people gathered around the camera, "Has anyone seen the script supervisor? Has anyone seen the script supervisor, Jenny?"
"Ronnie, I'm here." A female voice came from behind.
Ronald looked back and saw Jenny holding the shooting log in one hand and writing in a large notebook with the other.
The script supervisor, also called the continuity supervisor, is responsible for ensuring that the props and costumes of each scene are consistent to prevent mistakes. This is a meticulous job.
Ronald walked over, picked up the clapperboard, pointed at the words on it, and lowered his voice: "Jenny, the title here has to be changed. It can't be called 'Rock 'n' Roll High School', it has to be called 'High School Life'."