Jessica Alba seemed to have something on her mind. Her lips moved slightly, but she didn't say anything.
The crew was about to enter the screening room, a perfect moment to display sisterly affection. Michelle Rodriguez pulled her aside and asked with unusual concern, "Jess, you can't go in like this."
Shielded by Michelle Rodriguez's strong physique, Jessica Alba finally couldn't hold it in anymore. She slipped a hand inside the high slit of her dress and scratched vigorously. A look of relief spread across her sweet face, as if the issue troubling her had eased significantly.
Michelle Rodriguez's eyes lit up. Even if she wasn't particularly bright, she knew Jessica Alba wouldn't be foolish enough to self-soothe in public. Besides, Jessica, known for her wild ways, was never short of male companions.
"Could it be..."
Growing up in a chaotic Latin community, Michelle Rodriguez had seen similar situations in other women and quickly formed a guess.
Soon, another thought struck her. If her suspicion was true, wouldn't this be a great chance to edge Jessica Alba out of the spotlight?
However, Michelle Rodriguez wasn't willing to take too big a risk. After all, Jessica was introduced by James Cameron.
After a moment's thought, she asked with concern, "Jess, is something wrong down there?"
Jessica Alba initially shook her head, but thinking of Michelle Rodriguez's care for her, she hesitated before nodding slightly. "I'm not sure what's going on..."
"Jess, you can't ignore these kinds of issues," Michelle Rodriguez urged. "You should see a gynecologist."
"Well..." Jessica Alba hesitated.
Michelle Rodriguez offered a reassuring smile. "I've had similar problems before. I went to the Decinay Medical Center, and it was resolved quickly."
Their voices lowered as they continued to talk, with Jessica Alba nodding repeatedly in response to Michelle Rodriguez's words.
Finally, the two entered the screening room like close sisters, and Fast and Furious began its premiere.
During the screening, Michelle Rodriguez found an excuse to step out. She went up to a lounge on the second floor, took a phone out of her bag, and dialed a number.
"Amir, want some hot gossip? Spend the next few days watching Decinay Medical Center..."
After hanging up, a faint smile appeared on Michelle Rodriguez's lips.
At the end of the premiere, Jessica Alba became the media's focus thanks to her eye-catching "vase" performance in the film. During the subsequent press conference, she faced a barrage of questions from reporters, far surpassing the attention she had received for her TV dramas. She began to taste the sweetness of fame and even saw the hope of becoming a huge star.
Although there was a party afterward, Jessica returned home obediently. Despite her love for fun, she knew her producer boyfriend was more important.
"Hi, honey, I'm back."
As soon as she walked into the apartment, she saw Christophe Rokenkort on the phone. She leaned over and gave him a kiss. "Did you miss me?"
Christophe Rokenkort responded with action...
Despite the itchiness returning, Jessica Alba didn't refuse Christophe Rokenkort's advances.
As the sun rose, another weekend began. Duke also returned to Los Angeles. Initially, he planned to stay in New York longer to meet his mother, who had returned from Europe. However, her plans changed, and she flew directly from Paris to Dubai, with no immediate return. So, Duke left New York early.
By the time he arrived at Los Angeles International Airport, it was already Friday afternoon. After taking a short break at Duke Manor, Nancy Josephson came by.
"I have an offer here," Nancy said. Her urgency suggested the matter was significant. "You should take a look at it yourself."
She handed Duke a detailed project plan, which even included a script.
"Napoleon the Great"?
Though unfamiliar with the project, Duke didn't find it strange. After all, there were countless Hollywood films he didn't know about. However, the production budget raised his eyebrows.
The initial production cost was estimated at $160 million!
Was there ever such a movie? Duke frowned in thought but couldn't recall anything.
Still, Duke knew he couldn't possibly remember every detail of Hollywood. So, he patiently reviewed the project plan and script.
The plan was incredibly detailed, clearly crafted by a top-tier industry producer. It even accounted for the challenges of filming on location in France and proposed preliminary solutions. Even someone like Duke, who had overseen multiple large-scale projects, could find little fault.
It was practically a flawless project plan.
The script, over 200 pages long, focused not on Napoleon's entire illustrious life but on the final phase of his reign as emperor, centering on the Battle of Waterloo. It was filled with intrigue, scheming, and large-scale war scenes, perfectly aligning with Duke's preferences and style.
In simple terms, this wasn't a biographical script but a typical commercial blockbuster.
In Hollywood, the script itself wasn't particularly valuable. What elevated its worth was the accompanying plan.
Moreover, this script and plan seemed tailored for him.
It felt as if the people behind this had designed everything with him in mind, targeting his style and preferences before even starting.
Every director has a distinct style—James Cameron and Steven Spielberg have theirs, and so does Duke. The creators of this project had clearly studied him in-depth.
Plans made by Charles Roven and Robin Grande were no more precise than this one.
The more Duke read, the more tempted he felt. If Napoleon weren't French, he would have immediately asked Nancy to contact the other party.
But Napoleon was indeed French, which made Duke pause.
Closing the script, he took a moment to calm himself. Once his emotions were steady and no longer influencing his judgment, he finally spoke.
"Who sent this?" he asked.
"A French producer," Nancy Josephson explained, knowing Duke wasn't fond of European cinema or filmmakers. "Though he's French, he's spent ten years in Hollywood. He's well-connected with big stars and producers and has even invested in some smaller productions. He's essentially part of Hollywood."
"If I want this script, what are his conditions?" Duke knew there was no such thing as a free lunch.
"First, he wants a co-production arrangement, with at least 40% of the investment and profit share going to his side..."
Hearing this, Duke nodded. It was a standard condition. If the other party offered the entire project at a bargain price, he'd suspect ulterior motives.
"Second, he must be a producer, at least one of the most influential figures in the crew."
"Anything else?"
These were standard Hollywood practices, well within Duke's comfort zone.
"Yes." Nancy took the coffee Emma, the housekeeper, had refilled, thanked her, and continued, "As a Frenchman, he insists the film be shot on location in France and Belgium. He also knows your Lord of the Rings trilogy isn't finished, so he's willing to wait until after The Return of the King to start shooting. But he wants to adopt a Lord of the Rings or Matrix-style production model, beginning pre-production as early as possible."
"That's not unreasonable."
Shooting a historical war epic is complex, especially one involving a real historical figure. Taking over a year for preparation is the safest approach.
"That's it for now. Details will be discussed during negotiations."
The initial step was gauging Duke's interest. If he showed interest, the rest would be hashed out in detail during negotiations.
Placing the plan and script outline on the coffee table, Duke folded his arms and rubbed his chin, carefully weighing the project's feasibility.
The first condition was bold yet fell just short of crossing his limits. The other two were standard practices. Overall, the plan seemed highly executable.
Napoleon being French was Duke's primary concern.
A film with a French protagonist would not be received the same way in North America as one with an American lead. While international markets were becoming increasingly profitable, the North American market remained Hollywood's foundation, and he couldn't ignore it.
Still, Napoleon was so famous that few Americans wouldn't recognize him.
"Nancy, what's your take?"
Uncertain about a project he had no recollection of, Duke hesitated and sought his agent's opinion.
ICM had a dedicated review department to help its actors and directors choose scripts, ensuring they found suitable works. Clearly well-prepared, Nancy replied, "ICM conducted two weeks of preliminary review and research. This script, in another director's hands, would at most rate an 'A,' but with you, its market potential is 'A+'!"
Nancy's assessment was similar: the project was practically made for Duke.
After speaking, Nancy remained silent. She knew how to deal with her top-tier client. Over the years, aside from offering occasional suggestions, she never made decisions for Duke.
Tapping his right hand lightly on the armrest, Duke's eyes returned to the plan and script.
Suddenly, he realized he had overlooked something. Drawn in by the project, he hadn't asked Nancy who the producer was.
Duke turned and asked, "Nancy, who's the producer?"
...
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