章 460: Chapter 461: Habits
[Chapter 461: Habits]
Nicole quietly listened to Eric's conversation with John Woo. Though John did most of the talking, Eric occasionally chimed in with phrases like "That's not going to work..." or "I think maybe we could try it this way...". Nicole quickly realized that the rhythm of their dialogue was still controlled by Eric, which put her at ease.
Even though Nicole had only been in Hollywood for two or three years, her rising fame and status had made her feel like a part of the industry. Like many others, she instinctively harbored a distrust of newcomers entering Hollywood. If this project hadn't involved Eric, and if the producers insisted on hiring a Hong Kong director, she would have already pulled out of the crew.
As time passed and the sky outside darkened, a satisfied Eric remarked, "Mr. Woo, let's wrap it up for today. I'm glad we found so much common ground on our filming ideas. I believe our collaboration ahead will be very enjoyable."
John smiled and stood up, "I hope so too."
Although many of Eric's feedback had rejected John's filming ideas, the current situation was far better than he had anticipated. At least Eric personally promised that if both parties could agree on the filming concepts before production, he'd ensure John would wield enough power during the shoot. This was precisely what John wanted.
After all, in Hollywood, directors were often just slightly higher-ranking workers than the rest of the crew. Particularly on large productions, directors faced constraints from producers and had to accommodate big-name actors. Eric's promise made John confident that his authority would not simply be diluted during filming. This young man, despite his age, was one of the most powerful figures in Hollywood.
As they walked out of the conference room together, several people, including Nicole, lagged behind. Eric said to John, "Mr. Woo, I'm sure you did thorough research on Hollywood before coming here."
John nodded, unsure why Eric suddenly brought this up.
Eric continued, "I know there are many excellent filmmakers in Hong Kong, but Hollywood can be very exclusionary. The bias against people of color is even more pronounced. You will certainly encounter this when filming."
Unlike the people of color from the American context who faced all sorts of subtle discrimination, John rarely experienced such issues, and thus he didn't fully grasp the deeper meaning behind Eric's words. He simply replied, "Don't worry, Mr. Williams. If such a situation arises, I will prioritize the bigger picture."
"No, being accommodating won't help," Eric shook his head. "The only way to gain recognition in Hollywood is to bring enough profit for the studios. As long as you can make the film companies money, it won't matter if you're Asian or Black; they will treat you like a VIP."
"I will do my best," John said, his tone betraying a hint of insecurity. Any film was essentially a gamble on investments; who could guarantee success?
"I've seen few of your films such as A Better Tomorrow, as well as last year's Once a Thief. That's why you landed this movie contract. However, the reason I rejected many of your filming ideas is that while they might suit Hong Kong cinema, they'd simply not work in Hollywood. So, even after we come to an agreement, I hope you can maintain your distinctive style but still adapt more to Hollywood's rules. You also know my identity. I can afford the success or failure of a movie, but you can't."
John could tell that Eric's advice came from a good place. Though they were just meeting for the first time, he felt gratitude toward this young Hollywood mogul. "Mr. Williams, rest assured, I will not betray your trust."
Eric smiled and didn't add anything more. If John really messed up Mr. & Mrs. Smith, he would have to return to Hong Kong with his tail between his legs.
...
Once the director was in place, it was time to decide on the lead actor. The male and female leads in Mr. & Mrs. Smith made up eighty percent of the film's total length. Therefore, the male lead needed not only to be handsome but also to possess sufficient acting skills and presence.
Since it was a script personally penned by Eric, and he was also producing the film, practically every first-tier male star in Hollywood who was available and met the criteria expressed interest in participating. Even several second- and third-tier actors with wide-reaching connections had reached out to Eric.
"Eric, I believe Mel Gibson would be a great pick. He's the lead in Warner's big summer release, Lethal Weapon 3, and would definitely boost the box office of Mr. & Mrs. Smith," Peter Guber suggested at the discussion on the male lead.
The age limit for the male leads in Mr. & Mrs. Smith was set between thirty and forty. Hollywood male stars often had considerable longevity, and this age bracket tended to reflect their peak male attractiveness. Eric listened to Peter's suggestion while flipping through the materials in front of him. So far, the crew had shortlisted potential leads, including Mel Gibson, Bruce Willis, Liam Neeson, and Kevin Costner. Even Sylvester Stallone's agent submitted an audition request.
After the colossal flop of Rocky V, Stallone had been in a career slump for two years. While the offer from his agent was sincere, Eric quickly declined. Yes, Stallone was an action star, but his nearly expressionless face would be a disaster for a comedy-infused action film.
"No, Peter, Mel Gibson won't work. He has too wild and reckless a vibe. The male lead I want should ideally be sexy yet possess a gentlemanly demeanor, and Mel Gibson doesn't fit that bill," Eric shook his head. While Mel Gibson had become notorious for his anti-Semitic remarks in this timeline, that didn't concern Eric. In Hollywood, those with moral scruples often struggled to survive. He simply believed Mel wasn't the right fit.
"What about Bruce Willis?" Peter suggested, throwing another heavyweight actor into the ring, as Bruce was at the height of his career with several action films.
Eric sighed, raising his head. "Peter, we need a suitable male lead, not just someone based on box office pull. Would you substitute Bruce Willis for Arnold Schwarzenegger as the Terminator, or switch Mel Gibson in for John McClane in Die Hard? Do you think those films would have been successful?"
Peter waved his hand. "Fine, Eric, but you must at least have a candidate in mind. We've been discussing this for a week; we can't just let it drag on like this."
Eric gathered the materials in front of him and stood up. "That's all for today. I will think it over and arrange auditions in the next couple of days, and if that doesn't work, we can broaden our search."
...
Upon returning home to the estate, Eric had just stepped out of his car when a red Ferrari zoomed down the driveway, creating a gust of wind as it whizzed by him.
Once the Ferrari came to a stop, a tall woman clad in a tight black leather outfit didn't get out immediately. She leaned over the steering wheel, removed her sunglasses, and flashed a captivating smile at Eric. "Hey, darling, can't recognize me?"
Eric chuckled and shook his head. Seeing Famke Janssen's wild smile, he felt a fleeting spark of inspiration in his mind that he couldn't grasp.
Unaware of Eric's thoughts, Famke opened the car door and linked her arm through his. "Come on, what are you standing around for?"
"Wait, I think... let me think for a moment."
Famke halted, looking at Eric curiously as she patiently waited.
"Forget it, let's go," Eric eventually conceded, guiding Famke toward the villa. "What brings you here today? The Oscars are coming up soon -- don't you need to attend any PR parties?"
"Why would I go to the parties if I'm not nominated?" Famke replied with resignation. While Thelma & Louise garnered numerous Oscar nods, it was highly unlikely that both lead actresses would get nominations. Famke had originally hoped to secure a Best Supporting nomination based on her performance to boost her visibility, but they only submitted a nomination for Susan Sarandon as Best Actress. They argued that even if Famke got nominated, it didn't guarantee her a win and would waste PR resources. Famke knew that Elisabeth and her friends had been scheming against her. If Eric hadn't put in a good word for her, she probably wouldn't have landed a role in Thelma & Louise at all. Yet, Famke didn't feel the need to unload all of this on Eric.
However, seeing Famke's gloomy visage, Eric could mostly guess how things had unfolded. "You did exceptionally well in Thelma & Louise. I will talk to those three; they shouldn't treat you like this."
"Pfft, as if you cared -- there are three of them!" Famke teased lightheartedly.
Eric wrapped his arm around Famke's waist and replied sincerely, "In my eyes, each of you is unique; it's not about weighing one against the other."
"You really do talk big, huh?" Famke was about to continue but was silenced by Eric's kiss.
After a moment's embrace, as Eric's hand slowly slid down her waist, Famke abruptly pushed him away. "No, wait! We're outside!"
"Then let's go back to the villa, and I'll personally whip up a delicious meal for you tonight. How does that sound?"
"Sounds like... not much to look forward to," Famke responded with a laugh. Eric's cooking was just mediocre, and his cooking didn't align with the tastes of the women around him.
Eric feigned indignation, "Come on! How inconsiderate! I spent an entire day working, and I come home to cook for you. You should at least give me some praise, right?"
"Let's skip it; I'll handle dinner," Famke said.
"Then we'll do it together."
The two laughed as they entered the villa. After dinner, Eric retreated to his study, with Famke following closely behind.
...
"I haven't seen this wall in ages," Famke remarked, admiring the wall covered in drafts. She occasionally plucked one to scrutinize before dutifully placing it back.
Eric quietly acknowledged her, sitting at his desk and going through the list of male actors for auditions while occasionally making notes with a pencil.
In Hollywood, scripts were often the longest component of the process, subject to countless revisions. However, Mr. & Mrs. Smith had bypassed that grueling stage, and with both major studios giving it the green light, the film's preparation could be described as rapid. Now, they just needed to finalize the lead actor to enter the pre-production stage.
Famke wandered about the study before finally settling beside Eric's desk. She leaned against the table and hopped lightly onto the spacious desk, pulling a pencil and paper cutter from a nearby holder while also bringing the ashtray closer to her as she carefully sharpened the pencil.
"Hey, why do you always use a pencil?" Famke asked curiously, fiddling with a newly sharpened pencil she held.
Sensing her soft fragrance, Eric nonchalantly replied, "It's a habit. It sets me apart, and occasionally, I can use it to charm the ladies. See, I've already caught one!"
Famke paused for a moment, quickly grasping what he meant, then playfully nudged him with her leg. "Can't you be serious for once?"
"Being serious is just a habit; nothing more," Eric chuckled, setting aside his documents as he turned his chair to look at her. "Okay, you've been fidgeting like you want to say something. So, what is it?"
Famke hesitated, ultimately feeling a bit sheepish, "Haven't you just started another movie recently?"
"Brad Pitt?" Eric asked with a knowing smile.
"Alright, you figured it out. He took me out to dinner yesterday," Famke said quickly, noticing Eric's reaction. "But it was with his agent. You really freaked him out last time; he's too scared to be alone with me now."
Of course, Eric had considered the original male lead for Mr. & Mrs. Smith, but even if he wanted to go against past grievances and accept, Fox, holding half the rights to The X-Files, would certainly disagree. If Brad Pitt became a star because of this film, what would happen to The X-Files?
*****
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