Bab 22: Chapter 22: Directors Guild Card
Ronald walked out of the administrative office and saw Gale, her eyes no longer filled with tears, talking with Jim.
"Hey, Ronald, do you know martial arts? You took down two Zachs so easily."
"I was on the wrestling team in high school."
"Oh," Gale imitated Ronald's movements twice, "So, will you still take pictures of me today?"
"Guys, wait for me a bit. I'll go get my camera, take some photos, and then treat you both to dinner."
"What? Is there something to celebrate?"
"Yes, Mr. Coleman asked me to direct the remaining second unit."
…
"Give me an emotion, Gale," Ronald was directing Gale to pose and make expressions. "Think of something random, something happy."
"No, no, what you just thought of was a bit off, think of something else."
"This is good, I like it, keep it, perfect."
Gale suddenly seemed to think of something joyful and gave the camera a beautiful smile. Ronald quickly pressed the shutter and captured it.
Jim walked up behind Ronald toward Gale and handed her a coffee.
"I took a picture with Gale."
"Leave it aside for a bit, so it doesn't smudge my lipstick."
Ronald clicked the shutter a few more times, and they both looked great.
Then he set the shutter on a timer and took a photo of the three of them.
Ronald packed up his camera and tripod. The three of them left the office and got into Ronald's car to head out for dinner.
Without much difficulty, they found a casual restaurant to eat. Ronald felt the atmosphere was very similar to the place where Aunt Karen worked in Staten Island—large bright windows, reserved booths, and not many people eating, perhaps because it was Sunday.
The three took a table, and the waiter handed them menus. They served pasta, meatballs, pizza, and other Italian food, along with pure Italian espresso.
After finishing their main courses, they started chatting about what had just happened.
"…Roger asked me to take over the second unit filming, and then he asked me to get the contact information for the photographer and take over the shoot," Ronald explained briefly what had happened earlier.
"Won't you be using the original second unit from *Rock of Ages*?"
"Roger asked me to film with him. We'll finish the second unit but won't follow Jerry Zucker's shooting schedule."
"So, you formed a second unit to complete the remaining footage?"
"So you're not…" Gale trailed off and looked at Jim beside her.
"It's fine, Jim and I are friends." Ronald took the coffee the waiter brought and placed it in front of Gale and Jim.
"Are you a union member?" Jim asked.
Ronald nodded.
"I already am," Jim said, pulling out his wallet, taking out a membership card, and placing it on the table.
Ronald looked at it. "Teamsters…"
"Oh, not this one. This is my other union."
Jim rummaged through his wallet again, pulled out a different card, and handed it to Ronald.
It was a cardboard card. In the upper left corner was the Directors Guild logo, an eagle with wings spread. Below the logo were the words *1978-1979*, indicating the validity period of the card.
At the top was the phrase *American Directors Guild*, with Jim's name and address typed below it, and the president's signature at the bottom.
It was a simple, unremarkable card. But with it, you could enter the Hollywood industry.
"Did you apply with that short film?" Ronald asked.
"Yes, my short film was funded by dentists for tax rebates, so it had to be registered with the major Hollywood unions to obtain a tax certificate. The Directors Guild sends the application materials once they review the registration."
Gale took the Directors Guild card from Jim's hand, curious.
"Then you need to find three Directors Guild members to vouch for you, notarize the application materials, and send them back to the guild. After approval, they'll send you membership information. You'll need to write a check for the membership fee to get this card."
"That sounds a bit complicated."
"Yeah, and the membership fee isn't cheap. Directors of short films like me belong to a lower tier—along with commercial directors, documentary directors, assistant directors, and stage managers—and have to pay a $750 membership fee. Oh, and there's also a $60 annual renewal fee."
"But there are benefits. They help cover health insurance, and you don't have to pay extra for the lower tier. Compared to other industries, the film and TV unions do a good job."
Ronald felt a bit envious since he didn't have health insurance. But he hoped that next year he could get an invitation to join and start working hard to save money for the membership fee.
Jim took the Directors Guild card from Gale and put it back in his wallet. "How's your college application going? Have you decided?"
"I've applied to two public universities in New York. But I also want to apply to film programs at some schools. I asked Mrs. Coleman for advice, and she said several universities in California and New York have film programs worth considering. She also mentioned that I can contact her and that Roger would write recommendation letters."
"Then you've got a good chance. Mr. Coleman knows some people in the industry, and his recommendation letters carry weight," Gale said, familiar with the process since she graduated from Stanford.
"But tuition isn't as cheap as public schools. I heard you also have to pay to shoot your films at university."
"Don't put too much faith in those college professors," Jim said. "You can read the books there and make some friends, but those professors have never made movies. How can they teach you? They're just following textbooks."
"Instead of paying to study under professors, it's better to work at New World Productions and learn on the job. Few film graduates can shoot better than me."
"You can't say that." Gale still preferred university. "Look at the emerging directors today—they all graduated from college. Lucas, who made *Star Wars*, and Francis Coppola, who made *The Godfather*…"
"But Steven Spielberg, who made *Jaws*, dropped out of college."
Gale slapped Jim's hand to express her annoyance and laughed.
"Gale, can I use the company's copier? I want to prepare my application materials today. Please help me mail them tomorrow—I have to shoot the second unit starting tomorrow, and I'm afraid I'll forget things."
"No problem. Prepare the envelope with the recommendation letter, and I'll remind Roger tomorrow. It's the 17th, close to Christmas. Don't send it through the post office; it's not fast. Use FedEx—they guarantee delivery within two days."
"Thank you so much. I'll give you the postage first." Ronald turned to Jim. "Jim, want to help with the second unit, or would you rather learn from Allen on set?"
"I'll help you," Jim agreed. "Most scenes at Allen's house are interiors, and I read there's a motorcycle chase in the script. Is that part of your second unit?"
"Yes, so I'll let you shoot that scene." Ronald knew Jim was interested in stunts and motorcycles.
"There are also some establishing shots without actors. We need a prop designer to make a school sign."
"Let me handle it," Jim said. "What other scenes and props do we need? We can plan together."
"There's a phone booth scene, a sunrise on a mountain, and a concert entrance scene—all scattered shots. We can go back to the office and go over it in detail."
After finishing their espresso, Ronald left a slightly excessive tip, and the three returned to the New World Production office.
Using the office directory and film industry listings, Ronald found the addresses of four university admissions offices. Gale helped him fill out blank envelopes and reminded him to get recommendation letters from Roger Corman.
"Mr. Coleman writes his own recommendations carefully," Gale said.
"By the way, is your short film at the company? We have time to watch it today," Ronald asked.
"Oh, I left it at home. I'll remember to bring it next time."
End of Chapter
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