King of Hollywood
Chapter 647 - 55: The Year-End Approaches Again

Chapter 647: Chapter 55: The Year-End Approaches Again

But as time went on, Jessica’s path narrowed. In "Save the Last Dance," her dancing was indeed outstanding, and her dance moves in "Honey" were also impressive. However, the brief craze for youth musical films had already passed, and combined with a mediocre script and director, the box office performance was quite poor. Now things were different. Although "Save the Last Dance" didn’t make her a household name in films, as a work heralding the beginning of youth musical films in the early 21st century, it was bound to leave a small mark in the annals of film history.

Yet musicals, after all, catered to a niche audience. Jessica remembered that although the first two years of the 21st century saw a revival—with Adrian arranging musicals for both Nicole and Naomi, and all kinds covered, from youthful to retro—the number that could continue to develop was quite limited. So that mark might be even smaller than expected. If Jessica could become a top star and maintain that status, people wouldn’t mind occasionally bringing up this film for a chat, but as said before, her path was only getting narrower, and her excellent dance skills couldn’t cover up her relatively weak acting chops.

It was an inevitable situation. Latinos might not be as discriminated against as Asians, but they still occupied a very small position in the mainstream. Although Adrian remembered that the Latino population in the United States would surge quite dramatically in a few years, with major TV networks putting in a lot of effort to attract these consumers, the impact on the film industry wasn’t so significant. Having already tasted the sweetness of films, would Jessica go act in TV shows?

If she were willing to remain simply a pretty face, that would be fine, but unless she hit a few walls, would she agree to it? The idea of an art-house "pretty face" was not bad, but it had already been applied to Liv. Even if two such figures were set up, where would so many art-house films with roles suitable for Jessica come from?

Well, it was still too early to consider these things. Jessica’s life had already been changed by him, and what would happen in the future was still hard to say. Moreover, Adrian had more ideas for musical films because of "Save the Last Dance." Perhaps it couldn’t completely upend the status quo, as the other side had decades of heritage, but sharing the market was possible.

So, better to do something enjoyable, such as, when the time was right, fill Jessica’s bedroom with the sweet scent of milk. Of course, in the middle of the night, he couldn’t avoid dragging his tired body up to change Mary’s diapers.

Released in the same month was "Traffic," directed and produced by Soderbergh. Looking like it lacked commercial value, there was no premiere arranged, and even the first batch of theaters showing it totalled only 50. Unexpectedly, the weekend box office exceeded $4 million! Even though this was over five days, it didn’t diminish the fact it was only in 50 theaters.

Critics also gave high praise. A column in "USA Today" wrote: "Despite a plethora of characters and a complex plot, the threads were very clear, with each character distinct and representing one aspect of drug trafficking and efforts to combat it, without any confusion. The screenwriter was excellent, dialogue crisp without being dull, and Soderbergh’s photography style changed with the scenes: for instance, Mexico had only a dusty yellow hue, while the drug dealing scenes on American streets adopted a drug-users’ visual effect. From the upper echelons of the White House to the streets of little towns on the Mexico border, each environment had its own rhythm and color, giving the film strong realism and artistry!"

"Congratulations, Steven, I said this would be an excellent movie," said Adrian in his call to Soderbergh.

Although "Traffic" had achieved such success after release partly due to Adrian’s insistence on a certain level of promotion, the director’s brilliant control and actors’ spectacular performances played a significant role. If it were ten years later, Soderbergh’s somewhat slow-paced rhythm might not be as well received—an example of this is Michael Mann. As social pace quickened, especially with the rapid development of the internet, audiences increasingly lost patience with lengthy exposition, so "Heat" was praised in ’95, while "Miami Vice" ten years later saw a steep drop in reputation.

Of course, Soderbergh handled it rather well; it was neither five nor six years later, and the actors also coordinated beautifully. For instance, De Niro’s Supreme Court Justice, perhaps lacking Douglas’s refined air, but the toughness displayed in declaring war on drug traffickers and his shock and agony upon learning his own daughter was using were very well captured, matching Douglas’s performance. And Zetajones, although not pregnant as in her previous life, portrayed a wife who learns her husband is a drug lord with appropriate transformation and temperament, giving the movie plenty to engage with, so the success it enjoyed was no surprise.

So "Ocean’s Eleven" could now start its preparation. After the initial decision was made, the remake rights were quickly secured, and Soderbergh had been resting for some time and should be ready to direct the new movie. Even if he had other affairs, it wouldn’t matter, Adrian didn’t need the film to be released next year. Moreover, looking at the production cycle of "Traffic" by Soderbergh, it was clear that as long as the film didn’t require massive sets or a lot of CG, his efficiency wasn’t low. Perhaps they could still premiere the movie by the end of next year if they started filming early in the year.

And he had already read the script, was quite interested, and had preliminarily agreed. As soon as the casting was complete, they could begin filming anytime. Without a doubt, Clooney would "continue" to play the lead role. For his partner, Dennis, who was currently shooting "Shooter" and was troubled by family affairs and whose wife was pregnant, would definitely be suitable. "Ocean’s Eleven" wouldn’t take much of his time. As for another character, either River or Joaquin would do, and then...

"A con artist’s ex-wife, who then partners up with her former husband to fool her current boyfriend," was how Julia summed up the role.

"Don’t you think you sound just like an entertainment journalist? Every sentence is accurate, but put together, it is the complete opposite of the actual character," Adrian laughed heartily as he wrapped his arm around her waist, followed by a kiss on her lips, "You won’t need much time for this role, and trying to work with more people is always good. Plus, Steven Soderbergh is a director with a great storytelling ability. I believe Kate must have some say in it, right?"

The last sentence, though, was directed at the woman he was embracing with his other arm.

"Yes," Zetajones smiled with a seductive air, "Soderbergh is indeed a director who’s very good at stirring an actor’s emotions, no worse than Adrian."

As she said this, she intentionally leaned into Adrian’s body. Seeing this, Julia couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow, "It seems Kate has some deep insights. Then why don’t you try for the role?"

Before Zetajones could speak, Adrian had already taken over the conversation, "Don’t be hasty, Julia. As long as ’Ocean’s Eleven’ is successful, then in the sequel, I’ll definitely create an opportunity for you to have scenes like this opposite each other. In fact, I already have an idea, and I believe ’Ocean’s Eleven’ will be very popular."

"Alright, then it’s settled," Julia immediately declared.

"Then I’ll be waiting for you, dear sister!" Zetajones retorted spiritedly.

Adrian laughed out loud and then sealed Zetajones’ lips with his in a passionate French kiss, nearly leaving her breathless. Finally, as they parted with a lingering silvery thread, Julia proactively leaned in to continue the wet kisses with Adrian, engaging in another round of lip and tongue warfare. But if you thought that was the end of it, you’d be sorely mistaken. After Adrian and Julia parted, Zetajones moved in front of Julia, and the two women began to passionately kiss each other without any hesitation or awkwardness, clearly indicating that this wasn’t their first time.

Thankfully, the film crew had specially allocated a rest room for him and the actresses; otherwise, the sight would have probably left the crew members agape, and the men green with envy.

This was the set of "America’s Sweetheart." The movie was produced by Billy Crystal, who also took on the roles of screenwriter and supporting actor. To create a buzz, he had specifically invited Zetajones and Julia Roberts to play the lead and the supporting actress simultaneously. Zetajones played a spoiled film star, while Julia portrayed the star’s sister and personal assistant, which is why Zetajones had just referred to Julia as "dear sister."

Though the title "Miracle Girl" carried considerable prestige, in terms of commercial value, Zetajones and Julia had often been compared over the past two years. Many fans online also debated who was more charismatic, and amusingly, their favorite argument was about whom Adrian preferred—the fact that fans talked about him this way was enough to make Adrian proud.

So inviting them both to star in the same movie was definitely an eye-catching idea, it’s just that Adrian wasn’t too optimistic about the screenplay. Billy Crystal was indeed talented; at least the first half of the script was pretty good. It’s a story about Hollywood, or rather, a movie version of Hollywood gossip news, featuring crazy directors, bosses who thrive on chaos, public relations experts who can make or break careers, spoiled and egocentric superstars, and incompetent assistants, among others. While one shouldn’t expect it to paint an accurate picture of Hollywood, if it could maintain its dark humor, it wouldn’t be a bad piece of work.

However, expecting Billy Crystal to produce a comedy that was darkly humorous from start to finish was utterly impossible. So as soon as the supporting actress’s love story began, the sharp edges of the film became increasingly smoothed out. By the time the always-manipulative PR expert showed a human side, the comedy was essentially a failure. After all, no one wants to spend tens of minutes watching stars’ minor troubles, such as endless interviews, promotional events they must attend even if reluctantly, or having to work with people they despise, no matter if Zetajones and Julia are starring—these have been seen enough in regular gossip news.

Crystal might not think so, but Adrian, who could see into the future, knew exactly how this film would fare. However, he didn’t give any advice, even when Crystal politely discussed it with him during his set visit. The reason Zetajones and Julia had taken on this film, and why he had even advised Julia a bit, could be guessed without much thought.

Half of the women around him had already paired up, and Zetajones had been frequently compared with Julia in the media and among fans. Wasn’t this just perfect? Julia had no resistance to the idea. After all, she had played threesome with Adrian and Monica before. As for Zetajones, she had already lost the possibility of refusal. Once it had reached this point, she naturally didn’t care anymore, so when she was pulled into the same room as Julia, she was a bit surprised and resistant at first, but after getting into bed, she quickly adjusted and, after being out-talked by Julia, immediately used her own soft pair to win back a round.

After spending Halloween with his daughters as usual, it was then November, and after the first Tuesday, the electoral votes had been tallied. Although Gore had been leading Junior Bush by a lot in the polls, he had gradually been caught up to in the last month. Therefore, the extremely close vote did not spark much speculation, but the fate of Florida’s 25 electoral votes was still up for debate. Basically, whoever got those 25 votes would take the presidential throne. Hence, Gore and Junior Bush started a fierce battle over these 25 electoral votes.

Gore had a higher support rate in Florida than Junior Bush, and the initial count reflected that. But Junior Bush claimed that the counting procedure in Florida was unconstitutional and filed a lawsuit to the Supreme Court, demanding a recount. The Supreme Court had formally accepted the case and the media had given it the utmost attention, the decision affecting who would enter the White House for the next four years.

But Adrian only took note and didn’t inquire further. A little thought would reveal what would happen next—the Supreme Court would certainly declare the counting process unconstitutional and then determine, with a narrow margin, that Florida’s 25 votes belonged to Junior Bush. Although it was not known how much AC Media had influenced this, it was evident that ABC’s coverage of the election was gradually leaning towards Junior Bush. Claude had also discreetly taken a trip to Texas in mid-October. While the specifics were not yet shared with him, he said he had a pleasant talk with Senior Bush and believed that in the last nearly a month, Junior Bush’s support among the public would rise—AC Media had probably made considerable efforts.

It wasn’t really something to fuss about, so Adrian’s attention was on the promotion of "Winter’s Bone." As the end of the year approached, this low-budget film also ramped up its promotional campaign, with trailers starting to play early on television and online.

The trailer, like the film itself, was replete with a simple and unadorned style. Amidst a deep folk song, the scene shifted from a desolate woodland to the home of the young heroine Ray Dollie. The image of Ray splitting firewood with determination and her siblings frolicking around composed a picture of poverty yet harmony, until the arrival of the police.

"I’m Mike Saintafer, I’m here regarding the bail..." the officer stated in a bureaucratic tone, indicating that if Ray’s father did not appear before the next court session, the house would be seized by the court.

"I’ll find him," was Ray’s response as she deflected the police officer’s persuasion, "I said I can find him!"

The scene began to flash rapidly, and as Ray took action, some characters were also introduced preliminarily. With the captions "What you hear, what you see, holds truths you may not wish to know" appearing successively, the background music grew sharper, with running, fighting, and confrontations with the police. Captions such as "A legendary story about family," "Astonishing," and "Out of the ordinary" also flashed by until the camera darkened as a group of people, holding flashlights, moved toward a lake and the words "Winter’s Bone" emerged from the darkness.

Generally, such low-budget films, even if heavily promoted, struggle to garner much media attention. Hence, these films typically attend film festivals post-production, and even if they don’t win any awards, at least they gain more visibility. However, "Winter’s Bone" was different because of its unusual director.

"The Miracle Director’s new work is finally about to premiere; after exploring science fiction, classical, and fantasy themes, he has now turned his gaze to reality. Although some media reported on his new film earlier in the year, most of it pertained to a movie adapted from real events starring Julia Roberts. The existence of ’Winter’s Bone’ was almost unknown to anyone—a genuine marvel. If he wanted to surprise everyone, he certainly succeeded.

From the film’s synopsis, Adrian describes the journey of a Missouri girl who embarks on a difficult quest to find her father in order to save her family’s home. Although the Miracle Director’s past works dealt with current realities and, except for taking over Stanley Kubrick’s ’Eyes Wide Shut,’ maintained a certain optimism even in their gravity, the bone-chilling coldness revealed in the trailer is a first. Whether this is an illusion or an attempt at something new will be clear after the film’s release. We have reason to believe this will be an exceptional piece," wrote a critic in the newspaper.

Such a review was already quite favorable, and many were surprised by the Miracle Director’s choice of subject matter for his new work. This surprise was a good sign; it bred anticipation.

Of course, there would always be naysayers: "One can’t help but marvel at the Miracle Director’s abundant energy. After nearly a year-long shoot for ’The Lord of the Rings’ trilogy, he has once again embarked on the production of two films. In addition to the collaboration with Julia Roberts in ’Erin Brockovich,’ there’s also ’Winter’s Bone,’ which, surprisingly, seems to have been completed even before ’Erin Brockovich.’ We may not see the film adaptation of the epic ’The Lord of the Rings’ for a while, as Adrian seems dissatisfied, otherwise he wouldn’t be rushing to produce ’Winter’s Bone’ and ’Erin Brockovich’ while putting the post-production of ’The Lord of the Rings’ on the back burner."

They wisely refrained from questioning the quality of ’Winter’s Bone,’ as Adrian had proved doubters wrong countless times already, and they were very cautious in mocking ’The Lord of the Rings.’ Even if the movie was released and succeeded, they could simply remark: The film’s popularity is due to the Miracle Director’s meticulous post-production work.

So, there’s no need to concern oneself with these faultfinders. What remains is simply to await the premiere of ’Winter’s Bone.’ (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to vote for it at qidian.com with recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)