After being with Louis, Elisa belatedly discovered the post he had made on Twitter. The words couldn’t hide the affection between them; Louis’ careful liking for someone was openly admitted. He seemed to like her even more than she had imagined, yet he lacked confidence. Despite them being together now, Louis still lacked a sense of security. Despite being a highly popular movie star and a national heartthrob, he would fumble in front of Elisa. Louis wanted to present all the beauty of the world to Elisa. Knowing she liked sweets, he collected famous desserts from around the world, even hiring a five-star pastry chef for their home. Whenever he found something interesting, he bought it for Elisa. Even when he saw ants moving, he couldn’t help but take a photo to show Elisa. Finally, Elisa had found the right person to love and understood the true meaning of love, just like Louis-encountering all the beauty in the world and unable to resist sharing it with her. She would think of him when the sun rose, wondering if he had woken up; at sunset, she would wonder if he had rested; seeing smoke rise from a chimney, she would wonder if he had eaten. In her once empty world, he now filled every corner.
…
After Elisa publicly released the termination letter last time, many companies sought to sign her for a high price due to her influence, but she turned them all down. A rumor surfaced online that Elisa was going to leave the entertainment industry after filming “Revenge and Love.” Elisa was currently focused on making money and did indeed have plans to retire, dedicating herself to film and television investments, acting only for pleasure. She had not announced her retirement yet because she wanted to film with Louis. This way, their fans of “Elisa White drama” would have more fodder and video clips. Regarding the “Elisa White drama” tag, Elisa saw it on Louis’s phone, noticing how he would foolishly smile at it.
…
After the completion of the “Revenge and Love” production, Elisa began preparing for her next job, planning the first movie she would act in with Louis, a horror film called “The Ghost.” The film company Elisa invested in initially started with small skits. The team’s company was called “Peanut Entertainment.” They had released three comedy films in a row, but due to insufficient funds and expertise, each one performed worse than the last, earning the title of “The Weirdest Comedy Films in History” on popular review platforms, pushing ethical boundaries. The company, on the brink of collapse, was given a new lease on life with Elisa’s ten million dollar investment. For “Peanut Entertainment,” the CEO of the AW Group was their savior, and today they were finally going to meet their fairy godfather. The original skit team of Peanut Entertainment had disbanded, leaving only a few willing to stay. After all, who would want to work tirelessly in a small, failing company?
…
Elisa currently sat in a Japanese restaurant, its interior elegantly designed, with private booths providing excellent privacy. Sitting across from her were the two directors of “Peanut Entertainment,” Mr. Rook and Mr. Barlowe. The two directors often contacted Elisa to report on work progress and scriptwriting. This was the first time they had met the executive director of “AW Group,” the generous benefactor who had bought their failing company and invested in a script for them. Initially, when they received the horror script, they couldn’t believe it. Letting a comedy team film a horror movie seemed like a crazy investment to anyone. But after reading the script, they were captivated by the story, deciding to go all in and treat it as the final act of their careers. After two months of preparation, including the script, filming locations, contracts, and supporting actors, all that remained were the lead actors. Today, they had come to meet the benefactor and confirm the lead actors.
As soon as they heard a sound from outside, the two directors stood up abruptly to see a waitress leading someone in. A woman? With a ponytail, wearing a hat and a face mask, she had a slender figure. They couldn’t believe this was the same person they had been exchanging messages with. “Miss Powell?” Elisa responded with a simple “Yes.” The two directors scrambled to offer her a seat: “Miss Powell, please sit here. Would you like something to drink?” “Just tea.” Mr. Rook quickly poured her a cup of tea, his attitude respectful, stealing glances at her, feeling her voice was oddly familiar. Elisa removed her hat and mask, her cold gaze meeting the astonished faces of the directors. “Surprised to see me?” The two directors were indeed stunned. They couldn’t fathom that the person who had bought their failing company was Elisa. Elisa and the CEO of “AW Group,” the only person they could contact, were probably the same person as Names Powell. Both directors had climbed up from the bottom and seen much in the world, so after a brief moment of shock, they quickly realized that they couldn’t afford to offend Elisa.
Elisa didn’t have the spare energy to guess the thoughts of these two directors. She started working directly and professionally. “Miss Powell, about the script…” “Is there a problem with the script?” “No problem,” Mr. Rook said, “we just wanted to meet the author of this script, or the screenwriter, to see if there are any suggestions she can give.” “You should respect the original creation and not make unauthorized adaptations.” “Naturally, we respect the original creation, but during filming, we hope the screenwriter can occasionally visit the set.” “She can’t come.” “Why?” Both directors asked curiously. “Can we ask the name of the screenwriter?” “Aoife.”
This script was written by Aoife. She initially wanted to work as a screenwriter, but inadvertently became an artist. When she had no one to talk to, writing became her only outlet. “The Ghost” was written after Aoife was diagnosed with depression after leaving Finn. She poured all the suppressed sadness, fear, unattainable joy, and happiness from her heart into this script. “Who is Aoife? I’ve never heard of her.” They thought the text was full of spirit and assumed it was written by an experienced screenwriter, but they had never heard of her. “Currently, not many people know her, but more and more people will know her in the future. When the movie is released, her name must be at the beginning, in the most prominent position.” The movie hadn’t even started filming, yet they were already thinking about its release.
A great film is inseparable from a good script and sufficient budget. Both directors have their strengths: Mr. Rook has a keen visual sense, while Director He excels in pacing and creating explosive moments. Before, what they lacked was funding, a script, and outside influence.
An $80 million budget isn’t considered a vast sum within the entire film industry; the major portion is spent on actor fees. It’s impossible to find actors with both talent and a desire to save money. Talented actors with some fame demand exorbitant fees. Even if the total funds amount to $80 million, it might not be enough to afford them.
There are actors with talent who don’t demand high fees, but without sufficient fame, they are of no use. Movies aren’t like TV dramas; they rely on money, appeal, and box office success. It’s about whether the audience is willing to spend this money. If the film solely uses lesser-known actors due to budget constraints, who would watch it?
This industry works in this way. Previously, acting in films was about professionalism and passion. Now, it’s all restricted by popularity. The current popular and rising young actors and actresses are only suitable for TV dramas; they lack the same appeal for films. Meanwhile, actors with strong box office appeal are either too old or demand high fees.
The threshold is like a door; if you can pass through, it’s a door, and if you can’t, it becomes a barrier. They have now encountered a barrier.
Mr. Rook asked first, “Miss Powell, if our film is shot at Quokka, the budget might not be enough. Also, the lead actors haven’t been chosen. Do you have someone in mind, or are you seeking investment from other sponsors?”
No matter how they calculated or saved, the $80 million budget was tight. Elisa didn’t prioritize money as heavily, but every cent spent had to be worthwhile.
“You don’t need to worry about the lead actors.”
How could they not worry? Elisa had just entered the film and television industry, and she might not understand the complicated relationships involved.
The two directors were about to explain when Elisa said, “I’ll play the leading actress.”
“You will?” The two were astonished.
“Is that not acceptable?”
“Of course it is,” Mr. Rook hurriedly explained. “It’s just that, Miss Powell, you’ve taken over such a large group, and there are rumors about you retiring. We didn’t expect you to act in a movie.”
Elisa playing the leading actress was not just good; it was excellent. The role suited her well, and they had seen her acting skills. In “Weekend Show,” she played Brigitta, the third female role in the movie “Age,” and she portrayed the character on stage with more liveliness than the actress in the film.
Bringing a movie to the stage for performance is much more challenging than acting in a professional studio. Elisa’s acting skills were definitely top-notch, and her popularity was rising. Since she had both popularity and acting skills and the movie was her investment, it meant they didn’t need to spend more on actor fees.
But then another problem arose-whom to cast as the leading actor?
Elisa needed an actor who could match her acting abilities; otherwise, it would seem like she was carrying the entire film by herself.
Mr. Barlowe cautiously asked, “Miss Powell, do you have someone in mind for the male lead?”
Elisa said, “Yes, he will be here shortly. Do you have the contracts I asked for?”
“We have them.” Mr. Rook opened his briefcase and took out a folder containing contracts stamped and legally binding.
“Who’s the actor you have in mind? Is he expensive?”
Elisa paused and said, “He doesn’t want money. He’s doing it for free.”
That meant it was a favor. The two directors racked their brains but couldn’t think of anyone.
The success of this movie lay largely in the role of the leading actor. The script called for an extremely beautiful male lead, including nude scenes. Not every actor would dare to appear nude on screen. Additionally, filming a movie heavily depends on an actor’s appearance. Among the many actors in the entertainment industry, the person best suited for this role was undoubtedly Louis.
But Louis… it was best left as a thought. After all, he was a major movie star, demanded high fees, and according to rumors, refused to act in scenes with suggestive content with the female lead or in horror movies.
So… unless he had gone mad, why would he agree to this kind of small, shabby film?
It’s important to have dreams, but not delusions.
The two directors shifted their focus to the actors Elisa was collaborating with. Were they people she met while filming “Revenge and Love”? But how new were they to agree to act in a movie for free?
Elisa looked at her watch and thought, “Whyhasn’t he arrived yet?”
Just then, there was a commotion at the door of the private room.
“He must be here,” Elisa stood up.