King of Hollywood
Chapter 302 - Chapter 302 Chapter 27 Became a Gold Medal Screenwriter

Chapter 302: Chapter 27 Became a Gold Medal Screenwriter Chapter 302: Chapter 27 Became a Gold Medal Screenwriter Unsurprisingly, with 2500 theaters, the weekend box office hit $37 million; such are the figures for “Interview with the Vampire”. Very impressive indeed–the only other summer blockbuster that could match it was “Twisters”. One must admit, the vampire theme is an evergreen subject in European and American literature and cinema, which also demonstrates the immense popularity of Anne Rice’s novel.

The response from the critics, for a change, varied somewhat from that of previous films. While “Interview with the Vampire” was still largely commercial, the original novel did delve deeply into human nature and loneliness, topics that naturally featured in the critiques.

“Even though Neil Jordan altered some of the plot, the film gained a humane quality, offering additional material for reflection and afterthought. I have to say, the actors caught me by surprise. Whether it was Tom Cruise’s Lester, Brad Pitt’s Louis, or Kirsten Dunst’s Claudia, they were all stunning. Antonio Banderas might have had fewer scenes than they did, but he shone nonetheless, and even River Phoenix, who made a cameo as a reporter, left a deep impression.”–This is predominantly praise.

“Okay, if you see the director’s plot changes as making the film more accessible to a broader audience, that’s acceptable. But regarding the casting, I still think that Tom Cruise as Lester was a mistake. Yes, he does have a sinister charm, but let’s not forget that in Ms. Rice’s original, Lester is described as a beautiful young man with an angelic face, something I just can’t see in Tom Cruise. The young girl, though, Kirsten Dunst, was sensational. If I had to pick the best performance, she would get my vote.”–This came with criticism.

Overall, the reviews were more positive than not, especially after Anne Rice’s lengthy critique appeared.

“…I had expressed dissatisfaction with the changes made to some parts of the script, but Adrian told me that literature and film are two different things. They may share similarities, but they also have their distinct differences–not all text is suitable to be visualised.

I finally compromised, although reluctantly so at the time, just as I believed Tom Cruise was not the right choice for Lester but was unable to change the film crew’s decision.

Now, it has proven that Adrian’s views were correct. He suggested making minor changes to the plot, which everyone now loves. He proposed casting Tom Cruise as Lester, and Tom did an impeccable job.

Yes, he was phenomenal, as were Brad, Kirsten, and Antonio. They all performed excellently, especially Kirsten. During filming, we couldn’t help but wonder if a 35-year-old soul was hidden in her body several times. But Tom was the most outstanding of all, matching Lester’s characteristics both in appearance and acting….”

This was Anne Rice’s extensive review published in the New York Times. She had claimed after the pre-screening that she would write a lengthy critique when the film was released, and she truly liked this version of the adaptation, which is why she used the word “masterpiece” in her article.

With the original author giving such praise, critics had little to add. Who else had more authority to speak than Anne Rice? Cruise was certainly basking in success, reaffirming his talent once again. It must be acknowledged that in the early to mid-1990s, he starred in quite a few outstanding films.

Brad Pitt also took this opportunity to further solidify his status as a rising star. However, it is difficult to predict his future, as Adrian’s emergence has left it fragmented.

He should continue on the path of a heartthrob; leave everything else aside. That was the niche given to him by Adrian.

Kirsten finally got the thing she had dreamed of; all media praised her performance endlessly. With “No Reservations” released earlier this year, Adrian also made full use of the media he controlled for the promotion, transferring all the lavish praises that had been reserved for Natalie onto Kirsten.

“She’s the most talented young girl I’ve ever seen, and Ms. Rice is right–she harbors the soul of a 35-year-old,” said the well-known film critic Harrison Hyman, a sentiment that was widely recognized by many media outlets.

“I’m really grateful for everything you’ve done; I hope to continue being grateful in the future,” Kirsten said, giggling pleasantly over the phone to Adrian, despite being excited and proud because of the countless spotlights that had started to converge on her.

“Of course,” Adrian replied succinctly, watching her grow in his hands, training her to become what he wanted before devouring her. This was also a matter that gave him a profound sense of accomplishment.

However, what surprised Adrian the most was River Phoenix’s role as a journalist. As some media had put it, even though he only appeared at the beginning and the end, he still left a strong impression. Funnily enough, many reporters, seizing upon last Halloween’s events, claimed River finally stepped out of the shadow of drug abuse, completely ignoring that his scenes had been shot before October 30th.

Additionally, Adrian hadn’t expected River to secure a role in “Heat,” a movie starring the two great stars, Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, a role that was supposed to belong to Val Kilmer. This was, of course, partly due to his agent’s influence, but River’s own acting skills were indispensable as the director of the movie, the famously finicky and meticulous Michael Mann, was full of praises after seeing his audition.

Truly deserving of being the youngest Best Actor in Venice, Adrian thought to himself when he heard this news. He was curious to see how much River would shine beside the two movie legends once “Heat” was released. Then he could start arranging suitable projects for him. Joaquin Phoenix and Silver Phoenix could already start now.

Two weeks later, entering September 1994, “Interview with the Vampire” had already swept up $60 million in box office revenue in North America, firmly sitting at the number one spot on the charts, though its heat had visibly weakened. Compared to “True Lies” and “Twisters,” “Interview with the Vampire” had a smaller audience base.

But soon, an article from the “Los Angeles Times” brought its attention back to the initial high, and those movies that had begun to fade from public sight also attracted quite a few eyes, because–

“Now a Gold Medal Producer?” This was the headline from the “Los Angeles Times,” as if to add credibility, the letters were both bold and black, occupying nearly half the page.

“We all know he’s Hollywood’s superstar screenwriter, Hollywood’s Miracle Director, and perhaps now we should add the title of Gold Medal Producer. If we look a little closer, we’ll discover that five of this summer’s box office hits were produced by Bossworth Film Company. Although the two biggest productions were co-invested and distributed by 20th Century Fox and Warner, interestingly, there is one familiar name that persistently appears in the producer column–Adrian Cowell!”

This report used detailed data to illustrate the achievements of the five films produced by Bossworth Film Company this summer. Furthermore, it also dragged out last year’s “Philadelphia Story,” “The Piano Lesson,” as well as this year’s early releases “The Professional” and “No Reservations,” highlighting Adrian’s name in the producer column.

Although in most cases his name appeared at the end, especially for independent films like “The Piano Lesson,” which everyone knew was just a nominal credit, the connection was not so simple when all were seen together.

“I think that’s appropriate, Ed is a very perceptive person. He recommended Holly Hunter to me and provided a lot of help, along with numerous suggestions for the plot,” the article quoted Jane Campion, the director of ‘The Piano Lesson’.

While it’s alright for one person to say this, it becomes quite surprising when you hear similar praise from first-tier directors like James Cameron, as well as veteran directors Neil Jordan and Jonathan Demme, or newcomers like Michael Bay and Jean de Bont–the information isn’t exactly a secret, it can be discovered by anyone who looks into it. When you link this to the article by Anne Rice, it’s really quite astonishing.

“I don’t know if Adrian has been blessed by God, but his judgment is clearly unrivaled. When he says someone has got what it takes, that person definitely has. Just think about last year’s Oscars, with Al Pacino and Emma Thompson, and then think about this year with Michael Bay and Jean de Bont, as well as Natalie Portman and Kirsten Dunst, Monica Bellucci, Julia Roberts, and so many others. It’s as if he has a Midas touch; when he starts to wield it, everyone hopes they’re the ones he’ll point to.” That’s what the last paragraph of the report said.

Though this isn’t a secret within the industry, not everyone is well-acquainted with Adrian. Some details are also prone to distortion, so it’s natural for people to be astonished by such a detailed report. However, the public was the most astonished. Generally, ordinary people pay the most attention to actors or certain stars, choosing movies based on who is in them. Then they might consider well-known directors. Very few pay attention to producers, so naturally, they aren’t very familiar with Adrian’s remarkable achievements. Now that it’s all laid out by the newspapers, exclamations of surprise are inevitable.

Indeed, if it had been someone else, there would have been amazement, but not to the extent that Adrian has caused. As I said before, ordinary people rarely look into who produced a movie, unless it’s those famous directors who take on the role simultaneously. Besides, there are so many producers in Hollywood, and it’s not uncommon to see one producing five or six films a year–let alone those who just have their name at the end as a formality. If people are unfamiliar, they naturally lack a sense of connection, so even if a few films sell well, they only become topics of casual conversation.

But Adrian is different. Not to mention the several imaginative cult films he previously made that left people full of praise, or the media frenzy between the UK and US in ’92–no need to bring that up again. But the fact that he made three movies in one year, became the youngest nominee for Best Director, and helped Al Pacino and Emma Thompson climb to their reigning positions as leading actor and actress, is still vivid in people’s minds. This young man thus earned the title of Miracle Director.

Although he became silent without any new works last year, until he released ‘The Professional’ at the beginning of ’94, which also caused controversy due to the depiction of a relationship between a middle-aged man and a young girl, it does not mean that people have forgotten him. Therefore, when the newspapers revealed this news, everyone felt an unexpected yet reasonable sense of surprise and excitement: if he could become the Miracle Director in three years, then becoming a Gold medal producer also seemed quite natural.

And so, Adrian was thrust into the limelight. Reporters began appearing outside his villa, and various TV stations started extending invitations hoping he would appear on their shows, especially TBS under AC Media, which was expanding and keen to leverage its advantage by persistently persuading their own boss to use the opportunity to gain more fame for their talk show.

“I don’t want to accept any interviews right now, Roger. I’m not some big star. Even if I want to acknowledge this, let’s wait until the end of the year, alright? There are two more films coming out by the end of the year; will I have to go on shows again then?” Adrian instructed his agent Roger over the phone.

He has always been handling his scripts and directorial affairs, although there isn’t much he can actually do, and often it’s just a formality. After all, the film company is Adrian’s; there’s no need for an agent to fight for rights or anything like that. As for other matters, Adrian has always been discreet and there’s usually nothing special that needs handling. Even if there is, it’s only to follow his instructions, such as managing last year’s scandal. After all, who’s the boss?

Additionally, Roger often acts as Adrian’s eyes and ears, scouting out various types of news. An agent’s social network is quite broad. But this doesn’t make him dissatisfied. Being a competent agent is about knowing what to do when, and it’s precisely because of this that Adrian hasn’t shortchanged him.

Back to the main topic, Adrian didn’t harbor any resentment towards this sudden article. Such information was bound to be unearthed sooner or later as journalists aren’t just there for show, and he certainly didn’t have the power or influence of Murdoch or Redstone–no matter the clout and position, controversy would still be widely reported by the media. It’s already quite good that he’s managed to stay low-profile for so long.

Moreover, this article wasn’t useless. At the very least, it further demonstrated his capabilities to industry insiders and those aspiring to enter the entertainment world. Possess the Midas touch? Indeed, if you want to become famous, come and find me. Adrian flexed his fingers with this thought and then let out a soft chuckle. The enticing images of his women rendered blissfully helpless under the touch of his fingers quickly came to mind. After all, “golden fingers” have another meaning too.

But Adrian soon sighed. If there was any trouble with the report, it was that he wouldn’t be able to date his women as recklessly as before for quite some time.

“Is that really a problem? When you used to date Monica and Julia, didn’t you manage to avoid the journalists just fine?” Charlize scoffed at his concerns.

“That’s true, as long as I’m careful there shouldn’t be an issue,” Adrian said after some thought, agreeing that there are many ways to lose the journalists–don’t underestimate the paparazzi, but don’t overestimate them either.

Then, with interest, he watched Charlize and wrapped an arm around her waist, “Besides, I’ve got you by my side, right?”

Charlize rolled her eyes at him, “You better be careful, Ed. This is the living room. If the reporters outside are using telephoto lenses, tomorrow you’ll end up in the newspapers accused of sexually harassing your own assistant.”

Adrian burst into laughter. He really liked Charlize the way she was now, disingenuous in her concern for him. The more she acted like this, the less he wanted her to leave his side.

Though he turned down various interview requests, Adrian still issued a brief statement about the report, indicating that he simply provided some suitable suggestions and that the success of the movie was mainly due to the hard work of the director and actors, among others. Like many official statements, it was verbose with little substance, no wonder a talk show host joked about it being like a routine White House press briefing.

The media, though dissatisfied, were helpless. If Adrian deliberately avoided them, they couldn’t catch a trace of him. And when he didn’t avoid them, his answers were always the same.

“Clearly, the credit should go to Jerry and Michael. At most, I simply picked them from a selection of potential candidates.”

“To be honest, I had my concerns. Having never directed a feature film, whether he could handle this disaster movie was an unknown. But if you don’t give people a chance, how would you ever know if they could succeed or not?”

“Holly is a fantastic actress, and it was a friend of mine who recommended her. I liked the suggestion and passed it on to Ms. Campion, so my role was actually very minimal.”

The journalists were as frustrated as they could get. They wanted the inside scoop, gossip, and anything they could sensationalize. But how to spice up these things–after all, Adrian was different from ordinary celebrities, and while the report only briefly mentioned AC Media and didn’t go into detail, most journalists knew he was a person of status. So, even if they could embellish on the content of the interview, they had to make it look somewhat plausible.

In the end, under these circumstances, the heat generated earlier started to slowly subside, but it would still take some time to return to previous levels. Adrian could only continue his current style. After all, as Charlize had said, these troubles were only small problems, like bicycling on a road littered with pebbles–though somewhat bumpy, not really a big deal.

If all else fails, when the reporters get too intrusive, there are many parties or events to attend, and one might even encounter surprises. Like now, Adrian and Claude were attending a party thrown by Paramount CEO Gerard Oxun at his villa, a potential big surprise right in front of him–whether he could secure it depended on him.