บท 118: Chapter 118: Next Projects
Madchen Amick had her own unique charm and allure. Arthur believed that she was now perfect for femme fatale roles.
According to Arthur, she could now be considered a smaller version of Nicole Kidman!
"Arthur, have you been happy these days?" Madchen Amick asked, laying in Arthur's arms in the Addison Hotel's bedroom.
Arthur nodded, "Yes. Are you going to report to the film crew soon?"
Madchen Amick had to prepare for the filming of Sleepwalkers, so she couldn't stay in New York for long.
"Yes, after I finish filming, I'll come back to keep you company. Just call me, okay?" Madchen Amick said while snuggling against Arthur.
"I will look for you," Arthur said, lifting his head to look at Madchen Amick. "If any producers or directors make unreasonable demands, just refuse them outright. And if that doesn't solve the problem, you can contact me directly!"
"Okay, I'll listen to you..." Madchen Amick said, and then she kissed Arthur proactively.
While The Silence of the Lambs was being released, Arthur's production company, Orion Films, had several projects like The Bodyguard, A Few Good Men, and Scent of a Woman in the formal development stage!
In the afternoon, Jennifer Aniston, who had just returned to New York, came to see Arthur at Orion.
"You heartbreaker! You've been away for so long without coming to see me?" Jennifer Aniston sat on Arthur's lap, playfully tapping his chest with her small fists.
"Mmm," Arthur kissed the woman directly, hugging Jennifer Aniston tightly.
After a long, passionate kiss, Arthur stroked Jennifer Aniston's delicate body and laughed, "After filming Scream, you went straight back to the TV set. I've been in New York these past few days, but you weren't here filming. I've been alone in the hotel, so pitiful!"
Jennifer Aniston pouted and said shyly, "Is a five-star hotel not better than my rental apartment?"
"It's not the same without you," Arthur laughed.
"Hmph, what about Winona Ryder? You two looked like a perfect match at the Oscars, and the newspapers are saying how well-suited you are." Jennifer Aniston was clearly jealous.
"Alright, I'll take you next time, it's just the Oscars," Arthur said, kissing Jennifer Aniston's cheek. "Aren't you staying in New York now?"
"Yeah," Jennifer Aniston cuddled up to Arthur's neck and said sweetly, "I'll be in New York unless I need to go to California for filming. I might also need to join the Scream promotional activities."
"Festivals like the Screamfest and genre film festivals," Arthur nodded. "Scream is scheduled for an August release to provide a change of pace after the summer blockbuster season. Young and beautiful actresses, a comedic yet terrifying killer, there's definitely a market for it."
As he spoke, the hand Arthur had around Jennifer Aniston's waist caressed her gently. "Sweetheart, I think you have a real knack for comedy. Scream could use more humor."
"When the Scream trilogy is done, I'm planning to launch a comedic series spoofing various horror movies. I've already got the name Scary Movie!"
Jennifer Aniston laughed, "You're really thinking far ahead. Scream isn't even released yet, and you're talking trilogies. But my character died, so I won't be in the sequels. If this movie does well, I'll gain some recognition."
"Don't worry. Scary Movie is still within the horror genre. You're just starting; this is just a stepping stone," Arthur said, blowing into Jennifer Aniston's ear. "You're my American sweetheart, a star everyone will come to love!"
"Really?" Jennifer Aniston began to caress Arthur's chest. "I'm not money; how can everyone love me? I just need you to love me. Besides, I'm already quite fulfilled with TV, stage plays, and the movie roles you've arranged. I found I have a lot to work on."
"I told you to take it slow," Arthur said, patting the Jennifer Aniston in his arms. "I bought a house in the High Line Park; let's go check it out. You won't have to rent anymore. You can enjoy the view of the Hudson River. Remember you said you liked that area when you worked as a waitress in a cafe there?"
Jennifer Aniston smiled sweetly and got up, "Actually, the apartment in the East Village isn't bad either. Don't you owe the bank a lot of money?"
"That's the company's debt; this is my personal income. It's different," Arthur smiled. "Let's go!"
Soon, Jennifer Aniston was driving the vintage Mercedes-Benz 280SL that Arthur bought for her, heading from Orion to the High Line Park.
Arthur, sitting in the passenger seat, watched as Jennifer Aniston drove slowly. "Sweetheart, you can speed up a little."
"This car is well-maintained. It's not as fragile as you think."
"No, vintage cars are meant to be driven slowly. I crashed it once last year and had it repaired," Jennifer Aniston said stubbornly, still driving slowly. "Don't be too impatient."
"Alright, alright," Arthur relented...
The house was located to the west of the High Line Park, near the Hudson River. It was a double-story detached apartment building. Jennifer Aniston was quite satisfied with the renovation after seeing it.
"Arthur, how much is this house?" she asked.
"$600,000, with a total of 3,400 square feet. It should be enough for you to live in," Arthur replied as he wrapped his arm around Jennifer Aniston after showing her the house and sat down on the sofa.
"You're really not short of money now?"
"Very soon I won't be. Once Scream is released, I'll be even better off," Arthur said confidently, thanks to the steady success of The Silence of the Lambs at the box office.
"Hmm," Jennifer Aniston nodded in agreement as she leaned into Arthur, "I heard you had a conflict with Mel Gibson. What was that about?"
Arthur whispered into her ear, "I beat him up in the parking lot!"
"He's one of Hollywood's tough guys, and you dared to get physical with him?"
Arthur laughed, "When it comes to fighting, even Schwarzenegger and Stallone can't beat me. Why would I fear Mel Gibson? If someone bullies you in the future, I'll take revenge for you too!"
"But you've changed now. Why are you still so impulsive?" Jennifer Aniston shook her head, "You're not a student anymore."
"Don't worry, I won't get involved in fights personally anymore," Arthur reassured. Given his current stature, fighting like a street thug wasn't his style.
"The Silence of the Lambs is still performing well, and Galaxy is planning several new movies this year," Arthur said as he handed Jennifer Aniston the script for Emma. "This is a script adapted from the British author Jane Austen's novel Emma. The lead actress is Winona Ryder. You could play a supporting role in this literary film, which will greatly enhance your acting skills!"
Jennifer Aniston laughed, "Aren't you afraid that Winona Ryder and I will argue on set?"
"No," Arthur whispered into her ear again, "You'll be shooting in Britain. Are you going to argue in a foreign country?"
"Alright, I won't argue with her," Jennifer Aniston conceded and then asked, "Do I still need to frequently participate in stage plays?"
Arthur thought for a moment and explained, "If it's a classic stage role, that's fine. But for now, it's better to focus on film and TV roles. You have Scream coming out later this year, and then you'll need to go to Britain to shoot Emma. You probably won't have much time to participate in Broadway stage plays! Okay, get some rest and read Emma when you have time," Arthur said, kissing Jennifer Aniston on the cheek.
"Alright, I'm going to take a shower," Jennifer Aniston said as she put down the script and stretched before heading to the bathroom.
"Darling, let's go together," Arthur said, running over to sweep Jennifer Aniston into his arms.
As The Silence of the Lambs continued its run in theaters, Galaxy's new project The Bodyguard was starring Oscar-winning director Kevin Costner and American diva Whitney Houston!
"A budget of $32 million," Amy Pascal handed the budget proposal for The Bodyguard to Arthur, frowning, "Isn't that a bit much?"
Arthur shook his head, "Kevin Costner is worth it at this point. His fame is well established, and his titles for Best Picture and Best Director at the Oscars add significant value. Dances with Wolves has already grossed over $100 million in North America and more than $200 million overseas!"
"Alright," Amy Pascal relented because Arthur was on board, "Regarding A Few Good Men, director Rob Reiner and Tom Cruise have already met with Anthony Hopkins in Los Angeles. Assigning the role of the base officer to Anthony Hopkins shouldn't be a problem. For the female lead, we have recommendations from the agents of Linda Hamilton, Demi Moore, Jodie Foster, and Julia Roberts."
Arthur laughed, "It looks like they're all hot actresses right now, but Julia Roberts isn't quite right for such a serious role. The others, their paychecks aren't cheap, right?"
Demi Moore starred in last year's Ghost, which was a global sensation. Jodie Foster, an Oscar-winning actress, also received critical acclaim for The Silence of the Lambs. As for Linda Hamilton, her performance in the upcoming summer blockbuster Terminator 2: Judgment Day is highly anticipated by fans!
"$3 million," Amy Pascal said, shaking her head with a hint of frustration, "With our $35 million production budget, we'll need them to take significant pay cuts."
The budget for A Few Good Men was tight at $35 million, especially since the military base's negative content wouldn't receive support from the Department of Defense. Budget constraints led them to choose Anthony Hopkins over Jack Nicholson, saving over $4 million.
Arthur closed his eyes and thought for a moment, "With Tom Cruise on board, the North American market shouldn't be a problem. For the female lead, maybe we can look for top European actresses who might fit the role."
Amy Pascal nodded, "I'll first talk to their agents to see if they're willing to lower their fees. If not, we'll search in Europe."
That evening, Arthur went to the cafe at 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, where Elizabeth Hurley was waiting for him.
"Elizabeth, what's up?" Arthur asked after sitting down. The hotel was near the Brooklyn Bridge, offering views of both the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges.
Elizabeth Hurley smiled, "Arthur, I got a Hollywood script. When will your Emma start filming?"
Elizabeth Hurley was also a supporting actress in Emma.
"It should start soon, probably in August or September. Is there a scheduling conflict?"
Shaking her head, Elizabeth Hurley explained, "I accepted a role in an action thriller. I'm playing a female robber. It's called Passenger 57, directed by Kevin Hooks, and the lead is Wesley Snipes!"
Passenger 57 was an action film featuring a black director and a black male lead, copying Die Hard's format with hijacking and robberies.
Arthur nodded, "When does Passenger 57 start filming?"
Elizabeth shook her head, "Probably towards the end of the year, but it's not confirmed yet."
"Don't worry, it won't affect Emma," Arthur assured. Emma's budget was only $5 million, so the filming period wouldn't be long.
"Thanks," Elizabeth Hurley said, then looked at Arthur, "How about we go for a drink?"
*****
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