"Cut!"
The director threw his hands up helplessly. "No good! Reset!"
A collective sigh swept through the crew. "Ah, hell."
They were inside the Whisky a Go Go on Sunset Strip, rented out by New World Pictures to film the finale of Rock 'n' Roll High School. It was the last shot of a Friday afternoon, and after four takes, the fifth was still a bust.
Nobody could leave, yet nobody dared to vent their frustration aloud. They could only glare resentfully at the Ramones, the punk band starring in the film.
Director Allen Arkush stood up, massaging his temples, and went to find the band's manager. He wanted to replace the bassist, Dee Dee Ramone, who kept flubbing the scene.
Co-director Joe Dante, seated nearby, rubbed his chin, trying to diagnose the problem. It was a simple scene: the guitarist, bassist, and drummer walk into the backstage lounge carrying pizza boxes. Dee Dee had one line: "Pizza! Pizza's here, let's eat!"
How could he screw that up five times? Did he forget the line? Did he trip?
Ronald Lee, a production assistant standing behind the B-camera, had been watching closely. It was strange. Dee Dee was trying..he shouted the line with manic energy every time. But immediately after shouting, as they opened the boxes, Dee Dee would make a clumsy mistake.
It felt....deliberate.
The three musicians sat in chairs, looking sullen. Anyone who got chewed out five times by the director would be demoralized.
Seeing the energy on set flatline, Ronald walked to the craft services table, grabbed three paper cups, and poured some lukewarm coffee. He walked over to the band.
Dee Dee, the most volatile of the four, took the coffee without a word of thanks. He took a sip, his eyes darting toward the other side of the room, a sneer curling his lip.
Ronald followed his gaze. He was looking at the lead singer, Joey Ramone.
Joey's coverage had already been filmed; he was currently in the corner, laughing and chatting with a group of fans. Ronald looked back at Dee Dee. The bassist had turned his back to Joey, radiating jealousy.
A theory clicked in Ronald's mind.
He walked quickly to the director's chair. He greeted Joe Dante and leaned in, keeping his voice low. "Mr. Dante, I think Dee Dee is pissed off at Joey."
Dante paused, looking up. "You sure?"
"Not entirely, but look at them. It's worth a test."
Just then, Director Arkush returned, looking defeated. "No go.The manager says the contract stipulates equal screen time for all four members. We can't give Dee Dee's line to anyone else."
Equal screen time. Ronald and Joe Dante exchanged a glance, that confirmed it.
Dante pulled up a chair for the lanky, exhausted Arkush. He whispered, "Ronald just noticed something. What if we try a different framing?"
Arkush listened, his expression shifting from annoyance to intrigue. "Oh, my God. You might be right." He jumped up, energized, and went to coordinate with the camera team.
Dante went to explain the 'new technical requirement' to Dee Dee, while the makeup artist rushed in to powder the bassist's sweating forehead.
Ronald saw the Director of Photography, Dean Cundey, look at him with curiosity. Ronald just grinned. "Director's trying a new angle."
Moments later, the crew was reset.
"Action!" Arkush shouted.
Dee Dee Ramone, carrying a stack of boxes, burst into the frame. He slammed them onto the table and screamed, "Pizza! Pizza's here, let's eat!"
The other two members, Marky and Johnny, ran in from the sides. They tore open the boxes, grabbed slices, and shoved them into their mouths.
"Cut! Perfect! Print it!"
"Yeah!" The crew erupted in applause. The day was finally over.
Ronald grabbed the clipboard and began circling the set, getting the actors to sign out for their hours.
Finally, he handed the forms to the other PA, a young man with long hair parted down the middle and a thick beard, dressed like a lumberjack Beatle.
James Cameron took the forms, checking the signatures. He leaned in, his voice low. "What did you whisper to Dante? How did you get Dee Dee to nail it in one take?"
Ronald smiled. "When I brought Dee Dee his coffee, I saw he was staring daggers at Joey. The previous setup gave Joey a solo close-up, but this scene was a medium wide shot of the three of them. Dee Dee felt upstaged. So, I suggested we give Dee Dee a solo isolation shot for his line."
James grinned, shaking his head. "Ego. It's always ego."
Ronald checked his watch. "I'm heading out."
"You're not staying for the wrap party?" James asked, surprised. The crew was drinking at the Whisky tonight.
"No, I have to call my Aunt Karen in New York."
"Alright. Don't forget, we're moving location tomorrow. Van Nuys High School for the exterior morning scenes. 05:30 call time." James handed him a call sheet with a map stapled to the back.
Ronald took the sheet, walked out to the parking lot, and climbed into his battered compact car.
As he pulled out, he honked twice at Dean Cundey, who was overseeing the loading of the camera truck and Cundey waved. Ronald turned left onto Sunset Boulevard.
It was December 15, 1978.
Los Angeles was already dark at 6 PM.
Aunt Karen would be waiting. There was a three-hour time difference; it was already 9 PM in Staten Island. Ronald pulled over at a payphone near a gas station.
He fished a handful of quarters from his pocket and dialed. 1-718-317-7157.
It rang once before she picked up. "Hello? Karen speaking."
"Hi, Aunt Karen. It's Ronald."
"Oh, Ronnie! How are you?"
"I'm doing great," Ronald said, leaning against the glass of the booth. "I've been working on set for two weeks now. I'm meeting a lot of industry people. Once we wrap next week, I've got a lineup of actors wanting headshots. The market here is huge, Auntie. At fifty bucks a pop, I'll have my first year of tuition and rent saved in three months."
"That's wonderful. I'm so proud of you, Ronnie. You're a good boy. Your mother and father would be so proud." Her voice cracked slightly. "I... I know it's been hard since I promised your mother I'd get you through college. With Steve gone, and just the waitress tips..."
"Stop that," Ronald said gently. "Don't worry about the money. Public university in New York has tuition waivers. I've got this handled."
"You shouldn't have to handle it alone. You raised yourself after the accident, you dealt with the aphasia..."
"And you took me in," Ronald interrupted firmly. "You and Donna are my family."
The operator's voice cut in, warning of the time limit.
"I'm running out of quarters, Aunt Karen. I have to go. Give Donna my love."
"I love you too, Ronnie."
Ronald hung up. He checked the coin return, pocketed the change, and got back into his car.
As he navigated the LA traffic toward Venice Beach, his mind drifted. Aunt Karen and his cousin Donna were his only anchors in this world.
Literally, this world.
Three years ago, Ronald Lee had been a different man living a different life in China. He had closed his eyes to sleep and woken up in a hospital bed in Staten Island.
The original Ronald's parents had died in the car crash that put him in the hospital. He had been the sole survivor in the back seat. Aunt Karen, a Vietnam widow, had taken the orphaned, shell-shocked boy in.
Ronald gripped the steering wheel tight. He had a second chance at life, and he wasn't going to waste it. He pressed the gas, speeding toward the future.
Authors Note:-
This is a uncensored and edited version of a Hollywood novel based on the 80s.
So i will try to make it worth for all with correct naming and stuff.