Hollywood What If Chapter 201
So many actors actually tried to invite Kazir to their parties but Kazir always declined.
For someone like Ben Affleck who didn't have a connection with Kazir Grey, this was a rare chance to talk to the director.
Yet it seemed that Ben Affleck was not the only one who thought about that. The fact that there were famous actors in this theater alone was amazing.
"Looks like it will be troublesome to you, Ben." Mat Damon shrugged and Ben Affleck nodded solemnly.
He had so many rivals who wanted to work with Kazir Grey. It was a good thing and a bad thing.
Bad because Ben Affleck had so many opponents who wanted to get the role.
Good because many actors were confident that Kazir's next movie would be successful. Only a few people knew about this but Kazir's next project was called Wanted. A movie where all of the protagonists of the Continental Cinematic Universe make an appearance! Surely this movie would be huge.
While this was happening, Kazir was talking to the higher-ups of Paramount. Cameron Diaz was standing on his side, hugging his arm. The woman was wearing an elegant dress, smiling.
The two were still keeping their relationship in public. However, the couple already decided when to part. They were adults and knew that this relationship was only a fake one.
Of course, while in a relationship, the two were having fun. Kazir Grey was a nice lover and Cameron Diaz could testify. In truth, she wanted to continue the relationship but she knew that Kazir Grey didn't want to. She was hurt, but she knew how this works.
At least her fame improved after The Bourne Identity. She had more projects. Even Charlie's Angels would be released next year and she spent most of her time in the set. So yeah, she didn't have the time to enter a serious relationship.
After Kazir and Cameron talked to Brad Grey and the people from Paramount, the two returned to their seats.
Then, they found Matt Damon and Ben Affleck approaching them.
Matt Damon greeted the couple. He shook Kazir's hand and hugged Cameron Diaz.
Then, Matt Damon introduced Ben Affleck to them. Ben Affleck was an actor and he had good roles in the past few years. Still, he was nothing compared to Bruce Willis, Brad Pitt, or Tom Cruise.
"Oh yes, I know you, Mister Affleck," Kazir answered. He knew Ben Affleck very well.
The man who took the costume of Daredevil.
The man who flew the plane in Pearl Harbor.
The husband who was looking for his wife in Gone Girl. By the way, this movie was directed by David Fincher.
Last but not the least, Ben Affleck was famous for his role in Batman vs. Superman: Dawn Of Justice. He took the mantle of Batman.
Even though Ben Affleck was much younger, Kazir Grey still recognized him.
Ben Affleck smiled when he realized that Director Grey had an idea about him.
Based on their reactions, Kazir deduced their intention.
'Let's see... I have no specific actor to choose as Wesley Gibson, the protagonist of Wanted.'
James McAvoy, the original actor, was already acting in 1995 and he had a role in a British film called The Near Room.
Kazir Grey could contact the man and invite him to the role of protagonist. However, James McAvoy was still young, only 19 years old.
He didn't fit the role of a depressed office worker. He was too young to get the role.
Brad Pitt's agent expressed that Brad Pitt was interested in his next project.
However, Brad Pitt was too much for Grey Pictures to handle. Brad Pitt's status leveled up after the success of F* C*. They could pay Brad Pitt around $4 to $7 million for the first movie, but it would be hard for Grey Pictures to sign a trilogy with Brad Pitt.
Brad Pitt and his team would never agree to it. For a famous actor like him, it would be detrimental to be tied to a project for a few years, especially if the salary was not advantageous.
In that case, Grey Pictures had to choose actors who were known but not famous. Someone who won't give them trouble. Someone they could sign a trilogy. Someone they can cast and had no problem with the salary they offer.
Ben Affleck fits the category. At the least, salary won't be a problem once they cast him.
As for his acting capability, Ben Affleck could do it. The guy didn't have explosive acting but he had enough experience to take the role.
Of course, Ben Affleck had to pass the 3rd round of audition first. The crew had to make sure that Ben Affleck was right for the role.
Grey Pictures won't put their eggs in one basket.
They have other actors to choose such as Christian Bale. This sigma actor was trying to break through in Hollywood by taking a crazy role in American Psycho.
Another actor was the handsome Orlando Bloom.
Ewan McGregor could be invited as well. The upcoming young version of Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Grey Pictures had a lot of actors to choose from. Now that their studio was producing great movies, many actors were interested in cooperating with them.
The actors that Kazir preferred were still nobody and Kazir was sure that these actors would be happy to get the role no matter what salary. For small actors like them, exposure was more important than salary. That was the only way for them to get more jobs.
Ben Affleck did his best to give a nice first impression. He didn't want this chance to be wasted. His friend already helped him and it was his time to do his part.
Taking a deep breath, Ben Affleck tried to talk to Director Grey.
"Director, may I know if you--"
"Don't worry, I will send the script to you tomorrow. Of course, you have to sign a non-disclosure agreement."
Before Ben Affleck could even say his part, Kazir Grey already replied.
"Y- Yes. Thanks, Director Grey."
Ben Affleck didn't deny Kazir's goodwill. Having the script meant he had a better chance of performing at the audition.
[I post a poll. You guys can choose which actor you want to be the protagonist of Wanted.]
Hollywood What If Chapter 202
After talking to Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, Kazir Grey and Cameron Diaz returned to their seats.
Director Fremont Smith sat next to Kazir. His expression was mixed with nervousness and excitement. He greeted so many people. His agent, Salvatore Barlowe, told him to form a connection as early as possible.
Fremont understood the importance of making a connection with the important people in the industry.
In fact, the main reason why he got his position was because of his connection with Director Kazir Grey. And for that, he was thankful. He knew that it would be impossible for someone like him to get this mantle easily after working in the industry for almost four years.
Some of his co-workers who started the same year as him were actually jealous and cursing at him. There was an instance that he tried to invite them to work for him and be part of his newly assembled team, however, some of them declined his offer.
They didn't feel right working with someone who was on the same level as them just a year ago. On top of that, Fremont Smith was just a new director and this would be his first project, no one was confident in him.
It was a miracle that he became the director of Taken 2. He thought the cinematographer Renner Hector would direct this movie, yet Fremont got it.
When Kazir offered him to be the director, Fremont knew that it was his chance to take things seriously. So he immediately agreed.
Fremont felt bad that Renner Hector didn't become the director. He knew that Renner Hector was good at camera angles making beautiful shots.
Yet, Renner Hector encouraged him instead. Telling him that he should have fun instead of getting worried.
Well, Fremont indeed had fun, but the pressure was still strong and he struggled to keep his mind calm.
"Fremont? Fremont?"
"Huh?"
Fremont Smith returned to reality when he realized that someone was calling his name.
He turned to his side and found his mentor, Director Kazir Grey, calling him.
"Fremont, are you okay? I'm calling your name but you are not responding."
"I'm sorry director, I guess I'm just too stressed right now."
"That's normal. I'm nervous as well before the premiere. However, I started to love the pressure and stress of filmmaking. Once you get used to it, you will seek every time." Kazir chuckled.
The stress before the release of his movies was indeed suffocating. But once the box office result was released, this stress and nervousness transformed into euphoria. An addicting pleasure that he didn't want to let go of.
"Thanks, director... Although I'm still nervous."
"That's good. That means you love what you're doing. If you're not nervous, it means you don't love your creation."
Fremont Smith nodded, learning another thing from his mentor.
While they were having a conversation, a person approached the two and greeted them.
"Hello, director Grey and director Smith."
Scarlett Johansson showed up. Unlike two years ago, the little girl was now taller and she seemed much more mature.
After greeting the two directors, the teenager glanced at Cameron Diaz and gave her a sweet smile before greeting her.
A few minutes later, Scarlett Johansson left to greet other people.
"Are you okay, Cam?"
Kazir glanced at Cameron Diaz and realized that the woman had a change of expression.
"Me? I'm fine." Cameron Diaz chuckled and kissed Kazir's cheek and leaned closer.
"Now that I think about it, are you having trouble working with Scarlett Johansson? That brat is very uncooperative."
Kazir talked to Fremont Smith. Working with Scarlett Johansson made Kazir promise that he would never work with underage actors ever again. They were very troublesome.
"No," Fremont Smith shrugged. "She is actually very sensible and humble. In fact, she is always on time unlike Liam Neeson and Brianna Evans who has 30 minutes of grace period before starting the work."
Fremont Smith bitterly smiled. His position in the set was weaker than Liam Neeson and Brianna Evans. He was already thankful that the two were respectful towards him. Or else, the filming might take a while to complete.
"..."
'What? Scarlett Johansson is acting like a reasonable child? What is happening in the world?'
Kazir Grey was stunned inwardly but he kept his expression normal.
It was possible for a person to change, but his opinion of Scarlett Johansson was quite solid after working with her. That little girl was troublesome. Kazir didn't intend to work with her again as long as she maintained her bratty attitude. Not even if Salvatore Barlowe begged him.
After having a conversation, the theater turned dark. A few seconds passed before the screen lit up.
Movie trailers that Paramount promoted were shown before Taken 2 started.
Two movies caught Kazir's attention.
Mission Impossible was set to be released next year, perhaps in summer. It seemed that Paramount put so much resources into this movie because they were already promoting it.
The second movie that caught his interest was What Women Wants starring Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt. He didn't have a close relationship with Mel Gibson but the actor had shown a strong impression to him. Particularly that time when Mel Gibson warned him about Jeffrey Epstein. And for that, he respects the guy.
After the movie trailers, Taken 2 started.
An animation logo of Grey Pictures greeted the audience. Then the next was the iconic animation logo of Paramount Pictures.
The audience became quiet as the movie started.
Hollywood What If Chapter 203
[The first scene was about a father grieving over the death of his son and relatives. Unlike the Arabic person last time who looked like a wealthy person, this old father looked simple and solemn with an unkempt beard and short grey hair.]
[He was the father of one of the people that Bryan Mills(Liam Neeson) killed.]
[Their family had business related to crimes such as human and drug trafficking.]
[While the father was grieving over the death of his family, a phone call erupted and woke him from his depression.]
[When the father answered the call. He talked to the cell phone for a few seconds before he nodded.]
["I understand... I will go with your plan". He answered and ended the call.]
The audience felt like Bryan Mills' enemies this time were not simple. The people who watched the post-credit scene of The Bourne Identity last time knew that an Arabic man who seemed to be part of the so-called High Table intended to kill Bryan Mills.
Yet now, it looked like another group was joining the battle. Even though Bryan Mills was related to the CIA as a retired agent, his presence alone was not enough to face a whole organization of criminals, much more two!
After those small bits, the title of the movie appeared, "Taken 2".
[Bryan Mills was cleaning a car when someone offered him help. The person was none other than Kazir Grey!]
[Bryan Mills just smiled and said "Thanks, but I can't do it alone."]
The audience knew that every Continental movie had a part where Director Kazir Grey would show up! It was already an obvious fact.
In fact, the audience was waiting for the moment when Kazir Grey would show up. But who would expect that Director Grey's cameo would happen within five minutes of the movie?
The people clapped and started screaming Kazir's name. Kazir Grey was already a famous director and many people recognized him. Now that he has shown his face in every movie of Continental Cinematic Universe, more people recognize him.
While looking at the screen, Kazir Grey touched his chin and chuckled.
When they filmed this scene, Kazir Grey still had a beard and he looked much older.
[After cleaning the car, Bryan Mills went to Lenore's place. Lenore(Brianna Evans) was Bryan's ex-wife. They had a divorce because Bryan Mills was too focused on his job that he forgot about his family.]
[When Bryan Mills knocked on the door, he found Lenore and gave her a hug.]
["Where's Kim?" Bryan Mills asked about his daughter.]
["She's with her boyfriend." Lenore said and invited Bryan to enter the house.]
[The two talked. Lenore said that her relationship with her husband was crumbling and it seemed that they were going to have a separation.]
"Looks like Bryan has a chance."
One of the audience chuckled after knowing that Lenore's relationship with her husband was unstable.
They were watching the movie and Bryan Mills was the protagonist, of course they would support him.
[The two talked and Bryan Mills exited the house. Before Bryan Mills left, Lenore reminded the man not to track Kim. Lenore knew that Bryan Mills became overprotective after the incident.]
["Don't worry, I'm not going to do a thing." Bryan said and bid farewell.]
[A transition happened. In this scene, Kim Mills was kissing her boyfriend.]
Yup, underage actors can do a kissing scene. Although it had a lot of restrictions most of the time, the filming crew needed approval from the parents.
The crew could use a body double for the kissing scene if the parents didn't agree. They could also erase the kissing in the script as well.
This time, the kissing scene was brief and not sensual at all. Just enough to send a message that Kim Mills was older.
[Right after their kiss, a knock on the door caught their attention and the couple stood up.]
[Kim's boyfriend opened the door and found a stranger. A man who seemed to be in his 40s, he looked ordinary but there was something about him.]
["Hi, I'm Bryan Mills. I'm Kim's father." He greeted the boyfriend.]
[The boyfriend was surprised at first but he introduced himself as well. Kim showed up, a bit surprised and mad at her father.]
["Remember, you told me to teach you how to drive, so that you can get your driver's license." Bryan said and Kim nodded. Still, she didn't like it when her father showed up unexpectedly and disturbed her time with her boyfriend.]
["I can't believe you did that. Did Mom tell you?" Kim Mills talked to her father while carefully driving.]
["Look at the traffic lights. No, your Mom never told me about your boyfriend's address." Bryan replied.]
["I see... so you tracked me using GPS."]
["Kim, you have to understand. I'm trying my best. I don't want that to happen again."
["I understand... Thanks, Dad." She couldn't blame her father. Kim knew that her father was worried about her.]
[She witnessed how her father saved her from the hands of criminals. She knew how far her father would do just to make sure that she was safe.]
After the incident in France, their lives returned to normal. Although that peace won't last that long.
[A few days later, Bryan Mills visited Lenore's house again to teach Kim how to drive. A car came out of the house and passed him. Bryan recognized the person who was driving the car, it was Lenore's husband.]
[When Bryan Mills looked at the door, he found Lenore in tears. He approached the woman and asked her about her problem.]
[Lenore said that to fix their relationship, she asked her husband if he wanted to go to Istanbul, Turkey, and have some fun. Everything was already set and prepared. Yet, today, her husband said that he had things to do and he wanted to cancel the vacation. It made Lenore heartbroken. She prepared this vacation for them to reconcile.]
Hollywood What If Chapter 204
[Author's Note: The movie summary this time might be longer since I'm trying to expand the plot of Continental Cinematic Universe.]
[Watching Lenore's pitiful appearance, Bryan Mills decided to invite her to Istanbul instead. Of course, Kim, their daughter would be with them.]
[While the family started to reconnect, the scene changed to a place where a group of people prepared snipers and guns. They seemed professional but their appearances didn't look uniform. One of these people was Marcus, the hitman from "John Wick" who saved John from death.]
[Marcus received a mission from the Fraternity to kill a retired agent. His relationship with the Fraternity was complicated but he still accepted the mission. After all, the power of Fraternity, one of the pillars of High Table just like the Bowery and Continental Hotel was tremendous.]
[A single man like Marcus could never face a dangerous organization like that, even if he was a highly regarded hitman. He specialized in using sniper rifles. Perhaps if he joined forces with John Wick, eradicating the Fraternity would be possible.]
[However, John Wick didn't have any valid reason to destroy the Fraternity.]
[In terms of close combat, John Wick was far better than him.]
[In this mission, there were actually two groups. The first was the Fraternity and the other was a group seeking revenge. Apparently, their relatives were killed by the target and they were trying to kill him and his family to get equal.]
[If there was one thing confusing about this mission, it was the fact that the High Table sent so many people to kill a father and his family. High Table even resorts to contact the Fraternity. Perhaps someone from the High Table was eager to end the target's life.]
[As for what reason, Marcus had an idea. Probably a person died and someone from the High Table wanted revenge.]
[Anyway, his relationship with the Fraternity was getting worse and he wanted to end his career after this. Yep, just like John Wick did.]
[Leaving this dark secret world was not simple. It was already a miracle that John Wick had a chance to do so. Unfortunately, a bastard killed John Wick's dog, causing the Baba Yaga to return to this accursed world.]
[Marcus wanted to do that same. He wanted to stop this job and completely end his career of being a hitman. He wanted a new life.]
[With this as his last mission, Marcus intended to accomplish it.]
"Hey, who do you think will win, Marcus or Bryan Mills?"
That was a question that caught their attention. If the audience was right, in this movie, Marcus and Bryan Mills might have a face-off.
Well, if Marcus had the advantage in distance, he might win. He was good at using sniper rifles.
But if the battle happened at a close distance, enough for the two to have a gunfight or hand-to-hand combat, then Bryan Mills might win.
Anyway... the outcome will be decided tonight.
[The family of three had a vacation in Istanbul and so far, their vacation was fun.]
[However, this fun ended abruptly. While walking in the hotel, Bryan Mills felt like someone was looking at him. At first he thought it was nothing.]
[But his gut feeling changed after he and Lenore decided to go on a date. The two left Kim Mills in the hotel.]
[While in a taxi, Bryan confirmed that a car was actually following them. He deduced their intentions and decided to escape.]
[Bryan Mills and Lenore each went in different directions to escape. Then, the action officially started.]
[Bryan fought criminals related to the traffickers, successfully killing some of them.]
[However, he couldn't fight freely because there were snipers. Someone almost shot his head, thankfully, Bryan ducked and escaped their visions. It seemed that the snipers were only five at best.]
[While hiding from snipers, Bryan Mills killed the criminals one by one.]
[Unfortunately, Bryan Mills surrendered when he realized that the enemies caught Lenore. He called his daughter and informed him about their situation before he dropped the gun.]
[Kim Mills, who heard her father's seriousness, became alert and nervous at the same time. She recalled when two years ago in France.]
["Listen to me carefully Kim... Your mother and I are gonna be taken. People are gonna come for you too. Leave the place calmly. Go now." Bryan destroyed the phone after calling his daughter.]
[Left with no choice, Bryan dropped the gun and the enemies started beating him.]
[Perhaps because of their intentions, the criminals didn't kill Bryan and Lenore. They wanted Bryan to suffer the way they suffered. They would kill his loved ones in front of him.]
[With utmost focus, Bryan Mills did his best to remember their route by using his senses.]
[Then, the two were put in different rooms. Bryan Mills was alone in the room with his hands tied up.]
[But the man was always prepared, he had a small gadget(phone) that he could use to contact people. He tried to contact his friend first, but he didn't answer. Then, Bryant called his daughter and Kim Mills immediately answered.]
[Kim tried to ask about her mother and Bryan assured her, although Bryan himself was clueless about Lenore's current situation.]
["Kim, listen to me very carefully. Take the case..."]
[Even though it was dangerous, Bryan instructed his daughter to help them escape.]
[Kim Mills started running around and throwing grenades to set locations so that Bryan had an idea where exactly he was. He confirmed that his location was not that far from the hotel since he could hear the three explosions.]
Hollywood What If Chapter 205
[The father/leader of the criminals entered the room. He talked to Bryan Mills and the two had fierce interaction.]
["You killed my son!"]
["He kidnapped my daughter."]
[That was their exchange but the two were both determined. Unfortunately for Bryan Mills, he was at a disadvantage in this situation.]
[The leader sent Lenore into the room. Then, he wounded her throat!]
The audience gasped and thought that Lenore would immediately die.
[However, Lenore didn't die quickly. Instead, she was hanged upside down as blood escaped from her neck.]
To make the scene less gruesome and pass the MPAA rating, Lenore's face was wrapped in a brown fabric sack. To hide the suffering that the woman underwent. Of course, the person who was getting hanged upside down was actually a body double.
Still, it was heartbreaking to see Lenore hanged upside down while the brown sack slowly turned red as the blood further dyed the fabric.
[Bryan Mills' expression was horrible but he controlled himself. He then contacted Kim after he identified his location. He successfully escaped from his bondage and instructed Kim to throw a gun down the chimney.]
[Kim Mills was sensed by the sniper and tried to shoot her. Thankfully, Kim Mills already stopped throwing grenades and started hiding. She followed her father's instructions.]
[Bryan Mills checked his ex-wife and sighed in relief after he confirmed that Lenore was doing fine.]
[After that was another action sequence. Bryan Mills came out of the room and started blasting people.]
[Two of the five snipers were resting in the place and they failed to use their rifle in close distance. They died in the hands of Bryan Mills.]
[Bryan Mills was almost shot in the head if he didn't duck. He looked around and found a man on top of a three-storey building. The location was not that far.]
[Determined to finish what he started, Bryan Mills sprinted into the three-storey building. He didn't know that his opponent this time was Marcus.]
[Marcus and Bryan Mills had a confrontation and they started shooting in the stairwell. They dodged each other's bullet with no hassle.]
[But the situation changed once Bryan Mills successfully reached Marcus and fought him in hand-to-hand combat. Even though Marcus was a professional hitman, he was weaker against someone like Bryan Mills. Someone who had a particular set of skills.]
[In the end, Marcus escaped the building but he was wounded in his left leg. Clearly, Bryan Mills won this battle.]
The audience had mixed emotions in this one but most of them cheered for Bryan Mills.
In this situation, Bryan Mills had the upper hand from a morality standpoint while Marcus was a clear enemy. In this movie, they found the duality of Marcus' character.
Marcus was a good friend to John Wick, he saved his life. But it didn't change the fact that Marcus was a hitman. Perhaps Marcus wanted to end this career but for now, his status was clear as one of the enemies in this movie.
The audience had a great time watching their battle because both Marcus and Bryan Mills were experts. The action choreography in the scene was satisfying.
In the corner of the theater, Tae-Won Park could not help but smile as he watched the product that he made. He was the stunt director of Taken 2 and The Bourne Identity and his name was getting famous. Lately, more people have been trying to recruit him to join their projects.
Unfortunately, Tae-Won Park declined all of them. He knew that the Hong Kong film industry and Hollywood were having a negotiation about hiring talents. Tae-Won Park didn't want to join this troublesome stuff.
[Fighting Marcus didn't leave Bryan Mills unscathed. He was injured in his right arm but it was not fatal. At least he could move it with no problem.]
[Another group of criminals rushed to Bryan Mills and the protagonist didn't have a choice but to escape. He met Kim Mills on the way and found a car.]
[The two went to Lenore's location, only to realize that Lenore was abducted again!]
[Bryan Mills and Kim left the place but they were chased by the enemies. Just as expected, another car chasing scene and this time, the scene was much cooler.]
Not going to lie, the crew spent almost 2 million dollars just to make this scene happen. They rented a place in Istanbul, let the cars set free running, destroyed dozens of cars, and recorded it.
This was the outcome of that one week of filming. A very adrenaline-pumping scene, where cars were dashing forward and crashing into concrete walls or rolling over. There was something about cars exploding that made men entertained.
[Kim and Bryan Mills' car entered the U.S. Embassy although their car was half broken.]
[Once Kim Mills was safe in the Embassy, Bryan Mills decided that this should end. Using the connection he formed and his experience, he successfully located the place where Lenore was.]
[He entered the house and started killing people, in a very swift but cool way. Gaining the attention of the male audience.]
[Bryan Mills found the leader of the criminals and gave him a choice-- peace or death. The leader/father chose death and Bryan kicked him to the wall where a sharp protruded blade stabbed the leader.]
[Then, Bryan Mills proceeded to save Lenore and peacefully left Istanbul. That vacation was something that the whole family would never forget.]
Even the audience would never forget this movie because the interactions between the characters were getting clearer. In this movie, Marcus from John Wick fought Bryan Mills and lost, escaping from the protagonist!
Hollywood What If Chapter 206
The theater turned dark for a second before the ending credits showed up.
The audience clapped their hands but they didn't stand up. They already knew the standard procedure. They remained in their seats as they waited for the post-credit scene.
The influence of Taken on the female population was quite good and the audience this time had many females, unlike John Wick and The Bourne Identity.
The Continental Cinematic Universe was heavily based on male audiences but the effect of Taken on females gave the theater a good male and female ratio.
If Taken 2 was highly regarded, then the next movie of Continental Cinematic Universe would have a huge amount of female audience as well.
Well, Taken 2 leveled up this time and the audience could clearly feel the adrenaline. This movie was great!
Then, the post-credit scene appeared after a few seconds of the credits rolling.
[Marcus was walking, limping as he groaned in pain. He was near shore where he had a yacht ready to use in case he met a dangerous situation.]
[This time, he realized that the enemy was quite strong. Perhaps the retired agent could go head to head with his friend John Wick.]
[Before Marcus could reach the shore, he stopped his feet near the cliff. Beneath the cliff was a strong current of waves that could engulf everything.]
["Hehe, I guess you guys showed your real intentions." Marcus could not help but chuckle.]
[He looked at the two people, his remaining teammates for this mission. There were five but two were killed by the retired agent.]
["Your relationship with the Fraternity is getting sour and Slone didn't like that."]
["Is it because I want to retire from this job?" Marcus grimaced. His wound in his left leg was aching.]
["That's one of the reasons."]
[The two Fraternity members raised their guns. Marcus was shot in the chest but he could still move. Marcus determined to survive and jumped down the treacherous cliff.]
[The post-credit scene ended when Marcus disappeared into the waves.]
That scene was a bit of a shock since they thought Marcus' appearance in the movie ended already. Now, the audience became interested in the Fraternity and how this organization would affect the next movies.
The audience clapped and people started standing up, leaving the theater in excitement. Some of them were greeted by the people from CinemaScore to tally up the ratings of the movie.
In the Paramount Theatre, the cast of Taken 2 stood up and received a standing ovation from the audience.
It was known that the cast and the director of the movie would be interviewed after the premiere.
Most of the time, the questions were pointed at Liam Neeson and Brianna Evans. These two actors had good performances this year and their box office appeal was getting appreciated.
Of course some reporters and movie critics asked Willem Dafoe and Scarlett Johansson some questions.
They were curious about Willem Dafoe's role in the next movie, considering that the post-credit scene was about him.
Willem Dafoe was actually clueless about his role next movie. Although he knew that his screen time in the next movie would be a lot. Director Kazir Grey assured him about that.
As for Scarlett Johansson, the questions about her were pretty mild since she was still underage.
The other star of this movie was none other than the director, Director Fremont Smith. This young director proved that he could handle the pressure and successfully made a big-budget movie.
"I just want to thank Director Grey for giving me a chance to direct this movie. God knows how happy I am right now. Of course, I like to thank my parents for believing in me. Mom, Dad, being an athlete and a rapper are not the only futures for someone like me. I believe that with strong determination and great hard work, I can do everything. I must dream higher and bigger."
Fremont looked at his parents who attended the premiere. His mother was crying, while his father was rubbing his wife's, smiling and proud of his son.
Fremont Smith smiled and waved his hand, trying his best not to tear up.
Now, the premier ended and the first hurdle ended.
Everything would be determined once the midnight and first-day box office arrived. The professionals would determine the forecast of the movie based on this data. Of course, the outcome might not be 70% or 80% right.
The critics and even the professionals in the industry thought that Titanic was a huge box office flop after gathering the data in the first week.
However, instead of decreasing, the box office of Titanic had an upward trend instead.
No one knows the future.
...
...
...
November 4, 1999.
Two big-budget movies were released at midnight. The first was Taken 2 of Grey Pictures, distributed by Paramount Pictures.
The second was The Bone Collector which was distributed by Universal Pictures.
In its first 24 hours, The Bone Collector grossed $7 million. Making that amount of money in just a day was impressive.
Unfortunately for The Bone Collector, they were facing a strong opponent.
The first-day box office of Taken 2 was a whopping $17 million. So many people watched the people on its first day alone. On top of that, the reputation of the movie was strong as well.
Using this as a basis, they concluded that the first-week box office of Taken 2 would be huge, ranging from around $55 to 60 million. Only huge movies with highly invested promotion could get the same treatment of grossing $60 million in a week.
However, most of these big projects were released in the summer. Taken 2 had a good performance despite the schedule, even though its promotion was not heavily invested. It seemed that people just wanted to watch the movie.
Hollywood What If Chapter 207
"I guess this is the end for us." Cameron Diaz smiled bitterly as she put down the tea she sipped. Just like her expression, the tea was bitter as well.
They decided to go to a cafe and talk about their future. Knowing the outcome of this meeting, Cameron Diaz felt like drinking tea.
"Cam, you're a beautiful and great woman and I believe that you deserve better," Kazir replied honestly.
"Indeed."
Cameron Diaz didn't deny it. Her status these days was getting prominent and people acknowledged her capability as an actress. With that as leverage, she could easily marry a millionaire...
However, there was something about Kazir Grey that satisfied her as a woman. Kazir was a good lover, yet he never put importance on her and their relationship.
As a woman, Cameron Diaz wanted to prove herself and make sure that Kazir would fall in love with her. Perhaps it boosted her ego, or perhaps she was truly interested in Kazir.
Still, the man across the small table didn't show any interest. As if everything was business to him. The only time that Kazir looked sincere and happy was when he was working on his movie projects.
As if Kazir closed his heart, intending to never open it. It was hard for him to trust a woman.
Cameron Diaz regretted that fact. If they met earlier, perhaps she had a chance in his heart. But reality was a cruel thing.
"Then, I hope you will meet someone who can make you happy."
"Thanks, Cam. If you need help, you can contact me. I'll try to help as much as I can."
"That's what I like about you." Cameron Diaz giggled. The contract that she signed helped her a lot.
She knew that Kazir Grey could recognize the potential of a movie just by reading a portion of the script.
In fact, Cameron Diaz gathered scripts from her agent and let Kazir Grey read them. She wanted to hear his opinion because she felt like Kazir had this premonition thingy that could deduce the outcome of the movie. Of course, she did her best and 'paid' him for saying his opinion.
In the end, out of all the scripts that she passed to Kazir. The talented director told her the scripts that caught his attention.
Bridget Jones Diary. Kazir said that this movie might have sequels if done right.
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. Kazir said that action movies starring women would have a good performance at the box office. However, Cameron Diaz already starred in The Bourne Identity and she had a role in Charlie's Angels as well. She didn't want any action movies for the time being.
The last script that caught Kazir's attention was Erin Brockovich. This movie was based on a true story. This kind of movie was the type that the Academy loved to promote. If Cameron Diaz got the role, and Erin Brockovich was a success, then she might get an Oscar.
Honestly, Cameron Diaz was interested in winning an Oscar statue but she knew that her credentials were not enough.
The three scripts seemed good, but Cameron wanted a different role.
"Kazir, I heard that you sold a script to 20th Century Fox."
"Yeah, they have been trying to buy this script from me since a year ago."
"Do you mind if I participate in this movie? I want to be the leading role in the movie that you have written."
Cameron curled her lips, leaning towards him. She heard a rumor that Kazir Grey recommended his 'friend' Reese Witherspoon for the main role.
"That's fine. You can do what you want."
Kazir didn't have a problem.
"Thanks, Kazir. Can you please recommend me to 20th Century Fox as well? Please~" She said in a seductive manner.
"I'll try my best."
Knowing that Kazir always made sure to keep his promise, Cameron Diaz sincerely smiled and thanked him.
By the way, the title of the script that Kazir sold to 20th Century Fox was "Legally Blonde."
Yeah, Cameron Diaz was trying to face Reese Witherspoon head-on this time. Women, they are frightening creatures.
...
...
...
"Are you sure about this?"
Orlando Bloom asked his agent on the phone. Orlando Bloom was still in New Zealand, filming Lord Of The Rings. However, he received a message from his agent that Grey Pictures was interested in working with him.
Grey Pictures was just a new production company but the movies they produced were all box office hits.
For a small actor like Orlando Bloom, working with Grey Pictures was a heaven-sent. The Lord Of The Rings was a famous literary masterpiece but it had so many characters and his screen time was average at best. Furthermore, all he did most of the time was act handsome while pulling the string of his bow.
Well, using his handsome appearance was a good weapon and Orlando Bloom was thankful for that.
Still, Orlando Bloom believed that he needed a better platform.
He already read the script of Wanted and he realized that this movie might be the biggest movie next year. Although this movie would have John Wick, Bryan Mills, and Jason Bourne, the main character was none other than Wesley Gibson. He was the most important character in this movie.
If he had a chance, Orlando Bloom wanted to talk to Kazir Grey personally.
Unfortunately, there was a huge hurdle in this situation.
Orlando Bloom was a client of WMA. Everyone knew the relationship between WMA and Grey Pictures was sourly bad.
It was already a miracle that Orlando Bloom was invited. So he hoped that his agent would do the right thing.
-- Don't worry Orlando, I'm doing this for both of us.
The agent, Franklin Maxwell, assured his client. They were both on the same page and they wanted to be part of Kazir's next project.
"Thanks, Frank." Orlando Bloom said.
However, Orlando Bloom didn't know that agent Franklin Maxwell had another motive why he wanted to meet the director.
Hollywood What If Chapter 208
Kazir just finished talking to Cameron Diaz. They decided to end their relationship today, with no strings attached. In the first place, they signed a contract.
They already extended the contract hoping that Taken 2 would not be affected by their break-up.
Now that Taken 2 was in its second week, the couple knew that it was time to end things between them.
Taken 2 was a sequel of a successful movie and its performance should not be that bad.
On November 14, 1999, Taken 2 already grossed $90.03 million. Making it the fastest-grossing movie in November 1999. In fact, Taken 2 was the second fastest-grossing movie before Star Wars: Episode 1- The Phantom Menace this year.
Star Wars: Episode 1- The Phantom Menace grossed $191 million in its second week... Truly a terrifying franchise. This franchise is already rooted and created a culture in the USA.
The third fastest-grossing movie was Toy Story 2 with $80 million.
The data won't lie and it was clear that Taken 2 was a box office hit.
Kazir Grey let Cameron Diaz leave the cafe first. It would be awkward if they left the place at the same.
After waiting for a few minutes, Kazir Grey decided to leave. He exited the cafe after paying.
Yet before he could reach his car, someone called from behind.
"Director Grey."
Kazir turned around and found a man... He didn't know this guy.
Kazir tilted his head and asked.
"Excuse me? Do I know you?"
He thought this guy was asking for an autograph. Lately, some people have asked him for an autograph. His cameo appearance in movies made people recognize him. Because of that, Kazir Grey always had a pen prepared for this moment.
"Okay, you can give me paper and I'll sign it."
"Huh? N- No, director. You misunderstood. I'm not here for an autograph. I'm agent Franklin Maxwell from William Morris Agency. I'm Orlando Bloom's agent."
Franklin Maxwell extended a calling card to Kazir Grey. The director took the card and confirmed that it was real. He was an ex-client of WMA and he knew about the design and appearance of their calling card.
However, Kazir didn't about this agent. Well, he didn't know much about WMA anyway.
Kazir Grey felt like Orlando Bloom could take the role of Wesley Gibson in Wanted so he decided to invite the guy.
Most of Kazir's actors were from CAA, freelancers, or small agencies. However, he never invited WMA to his project after the trouble with Ed Helms.
This was a very rare moment for WMA. Kazir already lost interest after he found that Carl Morin and Lawlor Dean were kicked out of the company. He was not that petty enough to hold a grudge forever...
"So you're Orlando Bloom's agent? If you are asking for the script, don't worry, we will fax it tonight or tomorrow. Although I want you to remind Orlando Bloom to keep the script confidential."
"I understand Director, I will call Orlando Bloom later."
Kazir nodded and opened his car, he glanced at the agent and he realized that he didn't leave.
"Do you have something to say to me?"
"Director, do you mind if we can talk for at least five minutes? I have something that might catch your interest."
"... Alright." Kazir raised his brow and decided to accept the invitation. He didn't have anything to do today.
The project would start two weeks from now and Kazir was taking his time, relaxing, and living a simple life.
Now that he hired a General Manager to take care of Grey Pictures, Kazir was free most of the time. He never liked the job of being a CEO anyway.
Agent Franklin Maxwell was happy that Kazir agreed. He immediately led him to a restaurant with private rooms.
Kazir was curious about the agent's intention. He already had an idea why the agent was eager to talk to him.
'Perhaps it's related to Orlando Bloom.'
There were many ways to get the role aside from auditioning. Connections were one thing.
Although there was another method, something that Hollywood was trying to hide but it was a clear obvious thing.
Casting Couch...
Yeah, this thing happened a lot, but mostly hidden.
The actors or actresses would sleep with someone from the crew, mostly people who had high positions such as directors and producers. Even casting directors had a fair share of this "fun."
If Kazir was right, this agent would bring her to a private room where beautiful women were waiting to be eaten.
Suddenly, Kazir felt like it might be a trap.
"Franklin, I just want to remind you that I don't want any trouble. But if something happened, someone will definitely pay."
"O- Of course, director. You don't have to worry, my intentions are pure."
'Pure my ass.'
Kazir thought and followed him. He looked around and confirmed that he didn't find any hidden cameras. Of course, hidden cameras were hard to find but Kazir was a director and he knew where to put cameras to get a better view.
So far, he found none.
'Maybe I'm getting confident and believe that I can do everything and overcome everything. Damn, and I thought Hollywood will never affect me...'
When they reached the room, Kazir's conjecture was confirmed.
Franklin Maxwell opened the door and Kazir saw what was inside. He found seven people in skimpy outfits.
Seven people... However two of these people were actually men! Their outfit was disgusting!
'What in the actual fuck?'
Kazir was stunned and looked at Franklin Maxwell.
"Ahem... I didn't know your preference so I decided to add men just to be sure." He blushed in embarrassment.
Kazir Grey had few women in his life and some people believe that Kazir was actually gay.
Kazir shook his head. He looked at the people and he recognized a woman who would be famous a few years later.
However, Kazir never had the intention of playing with this game.
"On the second thought, let's talk downstairs. Where people can see us."
"A- alright."
Hollywood What If Chapter 209
"Director Grey, I promise you that I have no bad intentions. I just want to make sure you are relaxed." Franklin Maxwell realized that Director Grey didn't like his preparation as they left the private room.
Director Grey didn't enter the room at all. After looking at the people inside the room, the director immediately announced that he wanted to talk downstairs instead. Perhaps Kazir was just curious about the agent's intention.
"I know." Kazir nodded.
'Of course, if you tried to blackmail me or release footage of me having fun with five women and two guys, then your future in Hollywood is already done. On top of that, many directors will lose their trust in WMA once they find that one of their agents blackmailed me.'
In this situation, Franklin Maxwell and WMA were at a disadvantage. Kazir Grey was not the person five years ago. His connections run deeper and many people would protect him. Even CAA would make sure that Kazir was in wellbeing.
Kazir's talent was already proven and many people deemed him useful. Furthermore, everyone knows that Kazir would never spend his time in a room with strangers. Unless he was drugged or abducted.
'If you tried to make things difficult, then Orlando Bloom will never have a chance to audition and your career as an agent will be over.'
Kazir was now a powerful person in Hollywood.
WMA usually attack him indirectly and their means were not that extreme, aside from the rape allegations. They would never put themselves in a predicament.
'Perhaps I'm getting used to this life that I can deduce WMA's way of thinking... Money and power are scary things.'
Now that Carl Morin and Lawlor Dean were kicked out of WMA, Kazir understood that the grudge was basically over.
The two reached the ground floor and Kazir sat down at a vacant table. Franklin Maxwell followed suit and sat across him.
"Franklin, let me get this straight. I'm not the type who will say yes just because a top-grade pussy is in front of me. The people you sent in that room will never sway me. So I'll ask you this, why are you doing this?"
Knowing that Kazir Grey was serious, Franklin Maxwell swallowed hard and decided to speak. This was all or nothing.
"Director Grey, I hope you can return to WMA and become my client."
'As expected...' Kazir leaned against the chair. It was obvious. Well, this was not the first time that an agent tried to talk to him about changing agency. He declined all of their offers even though some of them had good conditions.
However, Kazir was free today and he entertained the thought of changing an agency.
"What can I get?" Kazir asked.
"Y- Yes." Franklin Maxwell became excited after hearing the director's response. His face slightly blushed.
He heard that Kazir Grey was contacted by many agencies but he never accepted their deals. He stated that he was happy with the way CAA helped him.
Franklin pulled an envelope out of his suit. It was fresh from his body heat...
The agent gave the contract to Kazir and let him read it. Franklin just wrote the important things that Kazir could get once he signed a contract with WMA. Of course, this contract was not an official one. Most of the time, contracts were as thick as books because of so many clauses and conditions.
Franklin Maxwell just put the conditions that could attract Kazir.
Reading the contract, Kazir raised his brow and read the first line.
'A 2% commission? Damn, that's basically a robbery, from them. Have I reached the point where I can stand equally with Steven Spielberg and James Cameron in terms of importance?'
This kind of contract was usually for top directors like them.
The contract stated that Kazir Grey had full control over his project and he could hire whoever he wanted. Still, they hoped that Director Grey would prioritize the clients of WMA first. A very typical condition.
Except for that, nothing really caught his attention. Kazir was not a picky person and the conditions were within his expectations.
But when he read the last clause, he couldn't help but chuckle.
Every week, WMA will send one of their female clients to his apartment to service Kazir.
'Now that is insane. I'm not even sure if WMA is crazy enough to do that. But it's not impossible, they can send a newbie client who has no foundation in Hollywood and let things be.'
If he was right, this last clause was personally added by Franklin Maxwell.
'I'm sure no actress will disagree with sleeping with a famous director like me. Especially if the actress is still new in this industry and needs to form connections.'
Talent Agents... They were known to have thick faces and shameless behavior. They would do everything just to get a better deal. This time, Franklin Maxwell was using a dirty move.
Kazir could not help but shake his head and laugh.
"Franklin, this contract received an approval from WMA, right?"
"Of course, although I added some conditions to make it better. Don't worry, I believe WMA will do anything just sign you."
"Indeed."
This contract was actually good. Unfortunately, Kazir was not stupid.
If he signed a contract with WMA, then all of the crew members and employees of Grey Pictures would be affected. Most of them were clients of CAA. There might be a chance that most of them would resign. Kazir didn't want to gamble that.
"... Let me think about it. By the way, tell Orlando Bloom to prepare for his audition. The final round of auditions for the main role will happen 12 days from now."
Kazir felt like playing with WMA and CAA a little bit. Although he already had an idea about the outcome.
"Yes, director!"
Franklin Maxwell was elated when he realized that Kazir was not against it. At least he had a chance to sign director Grey. If WMA heard that Kazir was interested in returning to his "roots", then the agency would welcome him with open arms.
A director who could make blockbuster after blockbuster would be accepted by any agency, no matter what kind of person he was.
[I'm not used to 's new interface. I decided to try the app and I found this community chat but I have no idea how to use it. Anyway, Kazir will meet a new person(female), one of the seven people who wore skimpy outfits. You can decide who it will be, you have one day to choose because I will write tomorrow. Just vote for it on the poll I will post.]
[Another thing, do you guys want Kazir to change from good to worst or worst to good? Readers said that Kazir is too steady and boring.]
Hollywood What If Chapter 210
"Thank you so much, Director Grey!"
Franklin Maxwell bid farewell with excitement. The smile on his face almost beamed the afternoon.
He was a not-so-important agent in the William Morris Agency and his biggest client was Orlando Bloom who successfully got the role of Legolas in Lord Of The Rings.
To be honest, he was still not sure about Orlando Bloom because epic novels with fantasy elements were very hard to replicate in this era. The future of Lord Of The Rings was not clear. Furthermore, Franklin heard that the investment in this movie was quite tight after Miramax passed the project to New Line Cinema.
So he decided to contact Kazir Grey and hoped for the better. He knew that the chance was very low, but Franklin Maxwell was an agent. People like them should have a shameless face.
His first intention was to talk to Kazir Grey and hopefully convince him to cast Orlando Bloom as the protagonist of his new project. That would be a big break for a small actor like Orlando Bloom.
His second plan was to find a way to convince Director Grey to return to WMA and become his client. He honestly felt like this plan would not work.
Still, never say never, he formed a plan and decided to use a beauty trap to entice the director. It didn't work but at least Kazir was not averse to the idea.
Suddenly, when Franklin Maxwell passed the contract to Kazir Grey, he realized that he was interested! Even though it was small, he sensed that Kazir Grey was interested in the conditions laid on the contract!
'I should talk to one of the vice presidents and convince him to agree with the last condition about sending a client to Kazir's apartment every week! It's a win-win situation for both sides.'
Director Grey was the type of person who returned favors. The women who had relationships with him this past few years had good careers.
Reese Witherspoon.
Brianna Evans.
Cameron Diaz.
Two of these women became his girlfriends... Erm, his relationship with Reese Witherspoon was unclear but Franklin Maxwell got the gist of the story. In fact, he believed that Brianna Evans had a fling with Kazir Grey as well.
Any woman who wanted to reach the height of fame would never hesitate to get into his pants! That was the truth.
Walking to the road, Franklin Maxwell could not help but imagine the future once Kazir Grey became his client! He didn't give a fuck about the commission.
He had a means of getting money once Kazir became his client. Not only that, he had so many means to get bitches once Kazir Grey became his client!
Hollywood. The land of Show Business. Where the truth and lies were so hard to discern.
Kazir Grey sneered as he looked in the direction where WMA Agent Franklin Maxwell walked.
'He is stupid if he believes that I'm interested in changing agency. I want stability and CAA gave me that. There's no reason to leave the agency, at least not now.'
Grey Pictures was at the point where they needed stability. The project this time was very important and it would carve the destiny of Grey Pictures.
Next year, there was only one movie that Grey Pictures would release. It was none other than Wanted.
Fremont Smith finished Taken 2 and he intended to direct John Wick Chapter 2 as well.
However, Fremont Smith hoped that he could get at least four months of vacation. Filming a movie was very exhausting and stressful. He wanted to savor the success he got before starting John Wick Chapter 2. The movie might be released in 2001.
The salary that Fremont Smith got in this project was $1.9 million. Smaller than the main actors. It was understandable since this was his first project. It was already a miracle that he got that amount.
Furthermore, Grey Pictures was not that cheap and promised to give him another $1 million if Taken 2 surpassed $200 million, which had a strong chance of happening. If not, Fremont Smith would get $200 thousand instead.
The average salary of men in 1999 was around $36,000 for, a full-time job. Yet Fremont Smith got more than just one movie.
It was true that making movies was a profitable business. Making bad movies was profitable as well once in the videotape market. And making adult movies was profitable too...
Anyway, humans were visual creatures. They prefer watching movies or TV shows than reading or listening to the radio. As long as people consume the products produced by the media, movies will be profitable.
Kazir found his car and entered it. However, someone knocked on the window next to him.
Kazir turned to the window and the first thing he saw was a cleavage of a woman.
The director frowned and opened the window slightly.
"Hello Director Grey, I'm Jessica Alba!"
The woman greeted him with a bright innocent smile. She was so sweet that Kazir was stunned for a second before he could reply.
"Hm, you're the one from the room earlier, together with the other six people."
"That's right," Jessica Alba nodded and leaned closer to the window, giving Kazir a better view of her breast... Kazir realized that the woman was not wearing a bra.
[Author's Note: I'm not sure if I talked about Fremont Smith's salary so I decided to randomly type a number. If I did, that means I forgot about it. I will edit his salary once I confirm it.]
[I honestly thought you guys would choose Hale Berry or Jessica Chastain, but it seems that more of you prefer Jessica Alba. Unfortunately, after doing some slight research and after reading Hollywood Production one year ago, I found a rumor that Jessica Alba has Herpes. This was never confirmed but the rumor is very strong. Google said that Jessica Alba caught the disease back in 2004 from her ex-boyfriend. So I'm gonna ask you again, do you want Jessica Alba to have a sexual relationship with Kazir Grey, yes or no?]
[Another thing, don't take whatever I said/wrote seriously. I'm just a simple Filipino guy who never had a good grade in English and Math when I was at school. Honestly, I didn't even expect that I could actually write a novel. I just want you guys to have fun and be entertained by my stories. I've been busy(out of the house) lately and I can only update HWI. I'll try to write more tomorrow.]