"Arthur, thank you for the recommendation. I got the role." In the evening, Arthur received a thank you call from Brad Pitt after returning to Northridge.
"No need to thank me; the role suited you." Arthur didn't actually want the role. One reason was the low pay offered by the production team, only $6,000.
Arthur's pay for his role in Sleepless in Seattle was $100,000!
"But still, thank you. As you said, they did ask me to take off my shirt during the audition, so your thoughts were spot on."
Arthur laughed, "Alright, just do your best in this role. We'll have more opportunities to work together."
The next day, Jennifer Aniston arrived at the Los Angeles set of Sleeping with the Enemy. With only two simple scenes, it wasn't too difficult for the inexperienced Jennifer Aniston.
It took four days to finish the two scenes involving her.
In North Hollywood, Jennifer Aniston arrived at Galaxy Productions on Burbank Avenue, which had completed renovations.
"Is Sleeping with the Enemy the first production by Galaxy Productions?" Jennifer Aniston asked as she sat on the sofa, putting down her bag.
Arthur shook his head and handed Jennifer Aniston a cup of coffee. "Not really. The Silence of the Lambs is the first major production. Orion and Columbia TriStar are responsible for North American and international distribution, respectively.
We'll start shooting at the end of the month. In a few days, I'll head to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The crew will primarily film around that area," Arthur said as he leaned back in his chair, massaging his temples. "The director, actors, and crew are almost fully recruited. We'll start shooting directly then."
Jennifer Aniston walked over and began massaging Arthur's head. "You've had a lot on your plate recently. Must be exhausting?"
Arthur smiled, resting his head in Jennifer Aniston's lap. "It's just been busy lately, with a lot on my mind!"
"Dear, is there anything I can do to help?" Jennifer Aniston kissed Arthur's forehead.
"Don't worry, it's just a bit busy," Arthur said as he pulled Jennifer Aniston into his lap.
"Aren't you going to shoot for a TV show? How did the audition go?"
"I got the role," Jennifer Aniston smiled reluctantly. "Although it's still a supporting role, there was a lot of competition. My dad had a word with the show's producer. There's tough competition in this industry.
I remember the girl who advanced to the final round with me looked so crestfallen when she found out the result. Her expression stuck in my mind. Maybe she wouldn't know that the role was pre-decided."
Arthur stroked Jennifer Aniston's face. "Don't forget, when you went for auditions before, many roles were already taken. You were just there to go through the motions. That's how this industry works!"
"I know, it's just..." Jennifer Aniston hugged Arthur. "It doesn't feel right."
Arthur laughed. "Hollywood isn't a place for kind hearts. Your mindset won't work here."
Jennifer Aniston shook her head. "That's not what I mean. I just don't want my roles to rely on family connections. If I can't even secure a small part by myself, I'll feel like a failure!"
Arthur kissed Jennifer Aniston, "This industry lacks opportunities. Every day, countless young people come here. Whoever lands a role can stand out. Is Meg Ryan really that talented? Do you think you're any worse than her?"
Jennifer Aniston looked at Arthur and shook her head. "I don't know."
"This kind of film doesn't require outstanding acting skills," Arthur laughed. "Does Hollywood lack blonde, blue-eyed, sweet, and cute beauties? No, Meg Ryan was unnoticed in Hollywood for years. She only got her break with When Harry Met Sally... at 28. That's what an opportunity is.
If I had cast another actress in Sleepless in Seattle, it would have been successful too. Maybe the box office would be slightly lower, but it wouldn't have been worse than When Harry Met Sally...."
Arthur stood up and said, "Next month, Paramount Pictures will release a romantic film called Ghost. The lead is Demi Moore. She's not famous now, but she'll become an A-list actress after Ghost. Newcomers are just one good script away from stardom!"
"So," Arthur placed his hands on Jennifer Aniston's shoulders, "in Hollywood, it's all about seizing opportunities. To stand out, newcomers will do whatever it takes. I get calls and advances from young women at the Sleeping with the Enemy set every day. They all just want to use me to get a chance!"
"Arthur," Jennifer Aniston hugged Arthur's waist, "I understand. Do you want me to be like them too?"
Arthur shook his head and smiled. "Most girls end up losing themselves for nothing, maybe landing a minor role. But, Hollywood produces so many movies every year. Only a few make money. Roles for newcomers only go to a lucky few. Dear, with me around, your future is destined to be bright. Now you need to build a solid foundation; an actor must have certain qualities."
Jennifer Aniston smiled, "In just a year, you've already arranged roles for me. If I don't work hard, I'll be left behind by you!"
Arthur checked his watch, "Let's go out and eat. At least I'm a millionaire now, so let's have something nice."
Arthur then drove Jennifer Aniston to the rooftop Perch restaurant near Pershing Square in downtown Los Angeles.
Located on the 15th floor, Perch is a French restaurant offering a view of the Los Angeles skyline while dining.
"Sit," Arthur pulled out a chair for Jennifer Aniston. "This place is great: good view, excellent food."
"Mm," Jennifer Aniston noticed the live band playing nearby and thought Arthur's taste in life had really changed.
Arthur nodded and returned to his seat, but he made eye contact with Hugh Grant across the room.
"Arthur, what a coincidence," Hugh Grant walked over with a smile.
"Yeah, it is," Arthur glanced at Hugh Grant's date, who wasn't Elizabeth Hurley.
Hugh Grant also noticed Arthur's companion wasn't Winona Ryder.
"Isn't Hurley still in the States?" Arthur inquired with a laugh.
"She's shooting an ad. Who's that?" Hugh Grant pointed to Jennifer Aniston.
"That's my friend. She has a cameo in Sleeping with the Enemy. Finished shooting today," Arthur smiled. "Alright, enjoy your date!"
"You too. Have a great evening..."
*****
https://www.patreon.com/Sayonara816.
At night, at Arthur's house in North Ridge.
"Arthur, was that man just now the lead actor from Sleeping with the Enemy?" Jennifer Aniston asked, holding onto Arthur.
"Yes, British actor Hugh Grant. He's one of the foreign actors I have high hopes for," Arthur said and kissed Jennifer Aniston.
After some time, Jennifer Aniston was lying in bed, propping her head up. She stroked Arthur's hair and said, "I'm about to go to Louisiana for a shoot, and I need to go back to New York first. I won't be able to stay by your side."
"Okay, I have to leave California too. I'll come find you in New York," Arthur said, pulling Jennifer Aniston into his arms. "Let's rest."
The next day, after dropping Jennifer Aniston off at the airport, Arthur went to Tracy Jacobs' office at ITA.
"I inquired for you. The Italian movie script you wanted, Scent of a Woman, they agreed to sell it for $150,000," Tracy Jacobs said. Arthur had previously commissioned her to purchase the remake rights to a 1970s Italian film, Profumo di Donna.
He's about to go shoot The Silence of the Lambs, a thriller, so why does he need an art film script?
"$150,000!" Arthur thought for a moment. "Agree to their terms. Also, Lawrence Kasdan has a script called The Bodyguard. Though Lawrence Kasdan is a famous screenwriter, I heard The Bodyguard was rejected dozens of times. I want to buy it, so get in touch and negotiate a price!"
Arthur had wanted to develop the movie that gave Al Pacino the Best Actor Oscar, Scent of a Woman, which is a remake of the old Italian film Profumo di Donna.
As for The Bodyguard, Arthur remembered it as a future blockbuster starring Kevin Costner. The script existed for a long time, but no one had faith in it!
Tracy Jacobs nodded. "Are you starting to stockpile scripts now?"
Arthur nodded, smiling, "You wouldn't expect Galaxy Pictures to only make my own scripts, and I want the adaptation rights to some novels too. But I lack resources."
"Michael Crichton's newly published bestseller Jurassic Park, everyone knows it's going to be huge. I want it too. Any chance?"
Tracy Jacobs rubbed her temples, her lips twitching. "Arthur, stop joking. Michael Crichton has been preparing this novel for years."
"Last year, he sent the draft directly to the six major studios for competitive bidding. Each studio had its own plans."
Arthur shrugged. "So, without money and fame, I have to look for scripts others ignore."
"Okay, I'll contact them as soon as possible," Tracy Jacobs said, looking at Arthur. "I got you an audition for Thelma & Louise. The director is willing to give you a chance. Why did you decline?"
Arthur sighed. "Not a good fit. Geena Davis is 13 years older than me, and there's a bed scene. Also, I thought the pay would be higher, but it's only $6,000."
Tracy Jacobs was exasperated. "Who cares about the pay for such a role? People offer to pay the crew for a part like this."
"Forget it, it's just a cameo," Arthur said nonchalantly. "I need to visit the set of The Silence of the Lambs in Pennsylvania these days. By the time Sleeping with the Enemy wraps up, keep an eye on Jurassic Park. I'm quite curious."
Arthur knew Jurassic Park was directed by Steven Spielberg, and Universal obtained the adaptation rights by agreeing to fund Schindler's List.
However, Spielberg was currently preparing the fantasy adventure movie Hook and couldn't focus on Jurassic Park.
If Galaxy Pictures volunteered to support Spielberg in shooting Schindler's List, could they perhaps stop Spielberg from making Jurassic Park?
No one wanted to invest in Schindler's List because no studio saw potential in such a movie.
But Arthur knew that Schindler's List could win favor from the Jewish community and be a critically and financially successful film.
Schindler's List is adapted from the novel Schindler's Ark. Spielberg had acquired the adaptation rights early on and approached the Polish-Jewish French director Roman Polanski, who declined.
Spielberg then asked renowned director Martin Scorsese to direct, but Spielberg regretted it this year. As a Jew, he deeply wanted to direct the film about the Holocaust himself.
Consequently, Spielberg exchanged his upcoming thriller-revenge project, a remake of Cape Fear, with Scorsese to regain the directorial rights to Schindler's List.
Schindler's List had been looking for investors. Although Universal had a special relationship with Spielberg, they didn't believe in the film's prospects!
In the afternoon, Arthur arrived at the set of Sleeping with the Enemy in Burbank.
"We'll wrap in half a month. Then we'll enter post-production. It should be done by late July or early August," Director Joseph Ruben explained, assuming Arthur was worried about the film's progress.
Arthur shook his head. "The release of Sleeping with the Enemy is scheduled for November. There's enough time. I need to go to Pittsburgh. Any problems here that need solving?"
"Problems?" Joseph Ruben thought and shook his head. "No real issues."
"That's good," Arthur said. The set had various production managers commissioned by Orion, so Arthur could leave with peace of mind.
Arthur quickly paid $150,000 for the Profumo di Donna script, and Tracy Jacobs contacted the owners of the The Bodyguard script for a price.
In a Pittsburgh hotel, Arthur received a call from Tracy Jacobs. "Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars? For a script rejected 66 times? Can't it be cheaper?"
"$250,000 is the final offer. However, Lawrence Kasdan agreed to help revise the script for a low fee. The script is slightly outdated."
Arthur thought, "I'm a screenwriter myself, and I can make the changes. Buy it for $250,000!"
Did he still want to earn an adaptation fee from me?
Galaxy Pictures' strategy of stockpiling scripts relied on funding. In no time, Arthur spent $400,000!
*****
https://www.patreon.com/Sayonara816.
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