MTL - Exploiting Hollywood 1980-Chapter 64 Do you want to make movies?

   Chapter 64 Do you want to make a movie?

   gave Aunt Karen's entrustment to Mrs. Davis.

  Ronald unexpectedly found that the life of Mrs. Davis' family was okay, not as bad as she had imagined. This is mainly because of America's good welfare for the poor.

   Every year the government spends huge amounts of dollars on agricultural and animal husbandry products. Part of it is turned into food stamps to benefit the poor.

  Although Mrs. Davis does not have a serious job and has to raise three children, she will never be short of food, and she has raised little Bard very strong. The old clothes are just in need and can be worn by little Bud's sister.

   The biscuits made by my aunt were the most touching to Mrs. Davis. When their husbands put on military uniforms and went to war together, the military wives of the same combat company often supported each other together, and baked cookies were what Karen often cooked.

   A few years ago, Aunt Karen had to raise an extra Ronald, so she didn't have the energy to make such time-consuming desserts. After eating it again a few years later, Mrs. Davis secretly burst into tears.

After Ronald said goodbye to Mrs Davis, Bud Jr also slipped out of the house and joined him on the street. The two are going to see the ballet dancer.

   Little Bud took Ronald to the Sylvia’s fried chicken shop at the corner of the street, and Ronald ordered the signature fried chicken with muffins. Crispy, juicy fried chicken, served with honey-drenched muffins, and a big glass of Coke is Harlem soul food.

   was eating happily with little Bud, when a voice came from the side, "I heard you are looking for me?"

   Ronald raised his head, it was the dancer wearing the top hat just now.

"Yes, let's make a long story short, my name is Ronald Lee. I'm an assistant director. I'm picking roles for the crew. Do you want to make a movie?" Ronald took out his wallet, pulled out the director's union card and handed it to the dancer , "This is my director's union card, which can prove my identity."

The    dancer was a little surprised, took the union card and put it on the table, pulled a chair and sat down, "Of course I want to shoot, but..."

   "It's okay, we can talk slowly", Ronald asked the waiter to serve him food as well.

   "Let me take a picture of you, what's your name? I see you dancing, you seem to have some ballet basics?" Ronald took out his Polaroid camera and clicked a picture for Gene.

   "My name is Gene Anthony Ray, and I studied ballet at the New York Academy of Performing Arts."

   "Have you studied?" Ronald was a little surprised, but he didn't expect Gene to be a high school student of performing arts.

   "Yes, I studied there for 1 year and then got fired from them."

   "Can I ask why?"

  Gene took the plate from the waiter and began to tell his story while eating fried chicken.

  It turns out that Jean is one of the few black boys who entered the dance department. In the ballet industry, there is still more or less discrimination against black people. The role of classical ballet is rarely played by black people. Black ballet dancers generally dance the modern ballet that is a fusion of jazz and dance.

  Jean's previous public high school in Harlem was of poor quality. His English grades were always poor. After reaching the Performing Arts High School, he repeatedly failed his English.

  Because of this reason, the English teacher suspended his practice qualification and forced him to pass the English test before he could continue into the practice room.

  Gene couldn't improve his English grades, and was deprived of the only dance he was good at. He slapped the teacher in a fit of rage and was expelled from the school board.

   But the English teacher knew afterwards that his grades were poor, not because he didn't work hard, but because no one made up the class and couldn't keep up with the progress, so he took the initiative to plead for the school. However, it seems that there are racists on the school board, who have long wanted to expel Gene, and firmly disagree with the decision to withdraw the expulsion.

   Gene had to go to the worse Julia Richman Performing Arts High School, where the quality of teaching was terrible and only 35% of students graduated each year.

   Apart from the practice room, Jean spends little energy on other subjects. When he doesn't practice homework, he dances on the streets of Harlem.

   "By the way, what dance did you guys dance just now?" Ronald asked.

   "We call him Breakin' (floor dance), and Poppin' (mechanical dance), why don't you white people call him that? What's that called?"

  Gene is a little weird, Ronald can jump.

   "Nothing, that's what we call it."

   "We are looking for 600 group actors and dozens of resident roles for this film. If you are interested, I can recommend you to audition."

   "Sure, what role will I get?"

   "I can't say that. The final decision is made by the director. I just recommend you to audition."

   "What is the movie about?"

   "It's a four-year story about eight art school students, from admission to graduation. In fact, the prototype of the place where the story takes place is the acting high school you attended."

   "Then I'm sure I can play well. I'm a student there, I used to be." Gene said confidently, "Then what are you auditioning for?"

   "It will let you do a dance, and then let you act in a play. If the director is satisfied, he will sign with you."

   "Then when can I audition?" Gene stopped after eating another piece of fried chicken.

  Ronald noticed that he didn't eat muffins and didn't add honey, and as a dancer, he was somewhat self-conscious about maintaining his carb and calorie intake.

"Have you got a phone?"

   "Yes, Gene reported a series of phone numbers. This is the phone number in the corridor of my house. If I didn't answer it, you can just ask Joan's son."

After agreeing on the contact information, Gene was going to go back and wait for the notice. He took the leftover fried chicken and muffins, and the cornbread that came with the restaurant, and held it in a paper lunch box, "I'm going to bring some for my mother to eat. "

   Ronald simply ordered him another fried chicken and asked him to take it with him.

   "By the way, what's the name of your movie?" Gene asked while waiting for the meal.

   "Hot Lunch."

   "HotLunch?" Gene started laughing wildly, and little Bud got under the table laughing too.

   "Why are you called this name? Just hearing the name, I thought you were making an adult movie, hahaha..."

  Ronald was laughed inexplicably, and it was Bud, who whispered in his ear to explain: "In Harlem, black people use their mouth... to solve it, and it's called HotLunch."

   "Hahaha..." Ronald also laughed, "Next time I have a chance, I will talk to the director."

After   Gene left, Ronald picked up the Director's Guild card on the table and put it in his wallet. "It seems that his English is really poor, and he doesn't know how to read."

  Leroy's character is also illiterate. Unfortunately, the script is written by Latinos. If it is black, Gene has a chance to fight for it. Gene's background is very similar to Leroy's.

   "Are you really looking for that B-boy to act in a movie?" Little Bud asked Ronald with a smile.

   "What is a B-boy?"

   "It's the kind of floor dancer we call B-boy."

   "Huh? Then what's wrong with him?"

   "He's a fag."

   Ronald raised his eyebrows: "The director will grasp it. The film is actually his character. As long as he can dance well and play the role well, it's fine."

   Among the eight protagonists, there is a Montgomery character who is Key, and Leroy likes girls. But this is not the scope of his consideration.

   called the waiter and added 4 more food.

   "I can't eat 4 servings, big cousin."

   "This is for your mother and sisters, you bastard." Ronald raised his hand and patted little Bud on the forehead, "Read well."

   "It's useless to study? There are not so many jobs in Harlem that require high school graduates." Little Bard touched his head aggrieved.

   "As long as you can successfully graduate from high school, I will recommend you a job opportunity in the future."

   "Really, big cousin? Don't worry, my grades are not bad and I will definitely graduate."

   (end of this chapter)