Chapter 360: Chapter 84: This is the Vision of the Miracle Director

“Adrian is crazy!” That was the phrase most circulated within the major film studios in late August, and all the executives, managers, and bosses mentioned it, either proactively or in passing, at meetings, luncheons, and parties.

In an era when a 100-million-dollar investment in film was considered huge, someone was making a movie with a 200-million-dollar budget, and it was the well-known story of the Titanic, at that. If the person wasn’t stupid, then they must certainly be insane. Adrian’s talent and vision were equally well-known, so he could only be the latter.

“Adrian obviously thinks he’s so wealthy that he can afford to squander money without worrying about the consequences,” Michael Eisner said with a face full of scorn and sarcasm, not hiding his attitude.

“But you have to admit, Mike, he’s got guts. Not just anyone can pull off such a grand gesture,” chuckled Summer Redstone, chairman of Viacom, clearly amused. How could he not guess what his old rival was thinking?

“Of course, Adrian is always unpredictable, and it’s not surprising that someone supports him in making such an astonishing move,” said Matthew Seville of Warner, looking over at Claude. “Isn’t that right, Claude?”

“This has nothing to do with me; he made the investment in a personal capacity.” Claude, impeccably dressed and holding a wine glass, shrugged his shoulders, and many faces immediately darkened–even Redstone’s surgically altered face showed a clear change of expression.

Indeed, this was not a film studio making the investment, but Adrian, who had personally raised the 200 million to give to Cameron to splurge. Such an investment might not be “unprecedented,” but it certainly had no precedent. Although it was called a fundraising, Adrian always talked about it light-heartedly in front of reporters, without a trace of feigned composure. From this, it was clear how much his actual net worth might be, and how much AC Media could mobilize. Consequently, many began to look even more unfavorably upon Disney.

“You really should have attended that party; the expression on Eisner’s face was priceless.” Claude laughed heartily over the phone to Adrian, delighted to have vented the frustrations from earlier in the year.

“Enjoyable as it is, don’t get complacent; let’s celebrate once we’ve got it in hand,” Adrian cautioned. He knew that Claude, sitting in that position, would certainly not be complacent, but a little reminder was always good.

Besides, it wasn’t just the bold 200-million-dollar investment that caused such a shift in the attitudes of these executives, but also the reputation Adrian had built up over the years. Precisely because of the “Miracle Director’s keen eye,” the entertainment media, despite thinking that spending 200 million dollars on a film was insane, were still careful with their words when commenting.

Initially, the UK media had doubted his decision to shoot “Howards End” was a grave mistake, but what had the results been? Not to mention Al Pacino, who finally achieved a longstanding wish, and Tom Hanks, who was now the reigning Best Actor, as well as other directors like Jean de Bont, Michael Bay, and David Fincher, whom he had backed and who then achieved success.

Now he was backing Cameron with such a vast amount of funding. If it failed, they would naturally be overjoyed to kick someone while they were down, but if it was successful, then the mockery would turn into biting satire against themselves. The media might have thick skins, but they couldn’t withstand several such incidents.

“Maybe we should wish him luck; after all, it’s unprecedented in film history, and it really might bring about a pleasant surprise,” speculated even the tabloids, which could derive earth-shaking conspiracies from trivial matters–as long as they weren’t the completely fabricated kind. They, too, left themselves an out with such a statement after various speculations.

On top of these factors, Adrian had cooperated by appearing on a talk show–not on his television station but Fox’s–and proclaimed, “James and I had discussed the concept of Titanic quite a while back. We both believed we could try some new things on a comprehensive scale, like new technology and storytelling. He even rented a submarine to dive close to the wreckage of Titanic in the Atlantic, and unfortunately, I was unable to join due to other commitments, which is a huge regret. I think, living in this world, we always need to try new things that others haven’t before. Some people love mountain climbing, striving to conquer treacherous peaks around the world; some enjoy diving and wish to explore every reachable seabed; and me, I want to make the most classic and grand films in the world. The journey surely won’t be smooth sailing, but since I’ve decided upon this path, I’ll keep going. What ultimately matters is not the outcome, but the journey.”

Such a statement naturally received much applause, but still, there were dissident voices. During the audience call-in segment, for instance, a caller asked him whether spending 200 million dollars on a movie was too extravagant and why not donate that money to charity to help more people.

“Charity is a long-term endeavor, ma’am. I already have several charitable foundations and donate a substantial amount each year, monitoring every disbursement carefully – you needn’t worry on that account. As for investing in movies, I believe it’s a concurrent, non-contradictory pursuit. Don’t you agree?” Adrian responded aptly and was met with another round of enthusiastic applause. After the show aired, it also received a lot of approval from the general public.

“What Adrian does is his business, even though this unprecedented investment is quite a surprise, he has never let anyone down, has he?” said a movie fan during an interview.

So, although the news had spread far and wide, effectively publicizing the newly commenced filming of “Titanic,” the negative coverage wasn’t excessive–such was the influence of the “Miracle Director’s” keen eye.

“This is the eye of the Miracle Director, you should have faith,” said Adrian.

But the response was a splash, and amidst the scattering droplets, Liv giggled like a nimble mermaid weaving her way through the swimming pool. Adrian shook his head with a smile, flexed his robust body, leapt into the pool as well, and splashed through the water, catching up with Liv in a few breaths.

The girl let out a yelp, attempting to speed away, but Adrian didn’t give her the chance, surging forward to catch and hold her tightly. They began to frolic in the water, their laughter and splashes echoing in the indoor pool room, creating a lively scene.

“Alright, had enough?” he teased, after Liv, having exhausted herself, clung to Adrian like an octopus. “Look, your bikini is about to come off.”

The palm-sized triangle of fabric at her chest had come loose during the frolic, and the stimulated grapes were standing proud in the open air.

“You would look there,” Liv retorted with feigned annoyance, yet she reached behind to untie her top and tossed it onto the poolside, sprinkling water droplets along. She then proceeded to slip off her bottoms as well, shaking them in hand before flinging them beside the pool.

“You’re trying to tempt me, Liv, and that could be dangerous,” Adrian half-jokingly warned, no longer surprised by her bold actions.

The girl made a playful face, then wrapped her arms around Adrian’s neck, pressing her lips to his, while her legs clung to his waist, gently gyrating her hips. However, once she felt Adrian’s response, she quickly let go, giggling as she swam away, the picture of mischief triumphing, irresistibly impish.

“That’s not my problem. Mom thinks I’m not suitable for an R-rated comedy right now,” Liv said as she swam to a corner, propped her hands on the edge, and lifted her legs to kick at the water’s surface, creating a glimmering play of light.

“But baby, finding the right movie for you right now is no easy task,” Adrian said, wiping his face and swimming back to her, placing her legs on his waist.

“Is that so?” Liv asked, grinning nonchalantly.

“First off, you’re too tall, so many high school flicks wouldn’t suit you,” Adrian explained as he held her close and caressed her cheek, “Secondly, your acting skills are still a bit green, so you can’t play those cunning characters well; next, you’re a bit young for some roles that might not fit until you’ve grown a bit; and lastly, although there’s one role that’s perfect for you right now, and I’ve adjusted the script specifically for you, the right director isn’t available at the moment, and I don’t trust anyone else with it, so…”

He shrugged and didn’t finish his sentence, but Liv was intrigued by the fourth point, curiosity immediately showing in her azure eyes: “You’ve adjusted the script for me? Can I know what it’s about?”

“Oh, sorry, I can’t tell you. I want to surprise you,” Adrian replied, his eyes deepening as he looked at her, “I hope you’ll like it, regardless… after all…”

He hadn’t finished speaking, but Liv had already sensed something, her expression subtly changing, and she gently bit her lip. Fortunately, she quickly regained her composure and steered the conversation back: “So basically, the only movie that fits me is ‘Wedding Crashers,’ the R-rated comedy?”

His tone still carried hints of teasing, nonchalance, and indifference, yet if one listened carefully, they could detect something more.

“Though I hate to admit it, it’s true,” Adrian shrugged, “Okay, Liv, even though it’s an R-rated comedy, the female lead is still a pure and cute character, without much vulgar dialogue. It’s not exactly similar to your role in ‘Sleepy Hollow,’ but it’s very suitable for you.”

“Ha, I finally get it, you’re saying I can only be a pretty face, right?” Liv pouted unhappily.

“What’s wrong with being a pretty face? You don’t need to think too much, don’t need to care about what others think, it’s easier to find your place.” Adrian cupped her cheek, “Besides, you’re so beautiful that even if you show off your acting, critics will label you as a pretty face. So why not be a pretty face for a few years, gain enough popularity, and then hone your acting in low-budget films–you haven’t had systematic training, and your talent isn’t that remarkable–then think about what’s next.”

“So you really see me as just a pretty face.” Her pouting lips remained unpacified, tempting one to take a bite.

“Of course, by being a pretty face, I can keep you by my side,” Adrian said with a half-smile, pinching her chin.

“You’re really greedy.” The girl huffed lightly, tightening her legs around his waist, and Adrian didn’t hesitate to kiss Liv passionately.

Speaking of which, he wouldn’t mind giving her a semi-pretty face role to showcase some acting, but roles that really suited Liv now were indeed scarce. As mentioned before, her height, age, and acting were her limitations. If she really wanted to take on a role, it wasn’t impossible, but the outcome might be significantly compromised. Adrian had a memory bank, but he couldn’t waste it so recklessly, right? Maximizing benefits was the best choice.

As for that movie, it was suitable, but a certain director was busy with a new project. Switching directors was doable, Jean de Bont would be a good fit, but with the same consideration for maximizing benefits, Adrian still decided to postpone it. So, after weighing his options, the R-rated comedy ‘Wedding Crashers’ was relatively suitable. Sex comedies and youth campus comedies always had their market, albeit with much bigger ups and downs compared to the latter.

The box office of youth campus comedies was the most stable; even if they were huge hits, they couldn’t compare to the big productions, but they hardly faced any losses. Whereas a sleazy sex comedy with a good story could easily become a box office hit, but more often they were cheaply made, and even if they flopped, the loss wouldn’t be too great. Plus, there was always video distribution.

So, although the female lead in ‘Wedding Crashers’ wasn’t very striking, Adrian still decided it for Liv. At least the movie had a guaranteed box office. If he looked for another role later, the time gap could potentially backfire, in short, things would get better after getting through this awkward period.

“Ed!” Just as Liv was kissing Adrian and rubbing her legs against him to tease, a cool voice suddenly came from the doorway of the swimming room. Charlize, dressed casually, was standing there at some point, watching them with an expressionless face.

“What is it?” Adrian turned around and asked nonchalantly, while Liv, who had willingly clung to him, let out an indifferent snort and still clung tightly to him without saying a word.

“Sarah’s here, she wants to see you,” Charlize said in a calm tone, then turned and left without lingering.

A bit surprised, Adrian wanted to ask more, but Charlize’s figure had already vanished before he could speak, leaving him to grumble, “Really, can’t she finish what she’s saying before leaving?”

“Is this not the first time, does your secretary always talk to you like this?” Liv smiled meaningfully.

“Occasionally, but Charlize usually has a good sense of propriety.” Adrian raised his eyebrows at this and gave a squeeze on her firm softness, “Don’t you know this?”

“I also know she’s slept with you and which positions she likes the best,” Liv cooed, her legs showing no intention of unwinding, “So she’s jealous, which is why we might as well go out a few minutes later tonight.”

As she spoke, her lower half began to sway again. The arousal that had been stirred up hadn’t subsided, and her movements were like adding fuel to the fire. Nevertheless, Adrian let go of her, apologizing with a smile, “Sorry, Liv, Sarah rarely comes directly to the villa. I think she must have something important, so I need to go see her.”

Liv immediately revealed a displeased expression. Yet as disgruntled as she was, she knew that once Adrian made up his mind, he would not change it. She could only sulkily follow him out of the water.

“Hey, Sarah,” Adrian quickly changed his clothes and greeted Sarah in the living room, dressed in a simple outfit.

She wore a white T-shirt with a denim jacket, black trousers, and leather shoes, her hair tied back in a ponytail, looking lively and cute.

“Ed,” Sarah, who had looked troubled, immediately brightened up when Adrian arrived. She leaped up and opened her arms as if to throw herself into his embrace, but after taking a couple of steps, she seemed to remember something and stopped.

Adrian, however, didn’t care that much. He quickly walked up to her, embraced her, affectionately kissed her cheek, and then smiled at Mrs. Galen, who was passing by.

Mrs. Galen sighed without saying anything. She knew from the time Adrian kept bringing one woman after another home and started living with his secretary that those old habits had started again, only this time more intense than before, as he had never gotten a woman pregnant before. But then again, when it came to his career, he had done a complete about-face. Even Mrs. Galen, who didn’t follow the entertainment industry closely, knew that Adrian had a reputation as a Miracle Director, so why should she bother too much?

“What’s the matter?” Adrian asked once he was seated again.

“Well…” Sarah pursed her lips, “You know, ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’ has finished filming, although… but… but…”

She got somewhat annoyed, waved her fist, and couldn’t continue.

But Adrian had already guessed her thoughts and immediately laughed, “To put it simply, you still find it somewhat hard to pull the trigger, right?”

“It’s not that…” Sarah hurried to defend herself, but upon meeting Adrian’s eyes, she felt somewhat embarrassed and lowered her head, “You know, the filming is over… ”

“You must be Sarah, right?” Finally changed, Liv arrived in the living room and extended her hand warmly towards Sarah, “I’m Liv, Liv Tyler. Ed might have mentioned me to you.”

“Um… yes, nice to meet you.” Sarah shook hands with her, her words not entirely genuine. She rarely met with Adrian’s other women, except when unavoidable, like with Charlize, so this was their first encounter.

“All right, Sarah, let’s talk somewhere else,” Adrian said, immediately standing up before Liv could speak. He gave her a warning look, then walked upstairs with Sarah, who had also stood up.

Liv pouted, watching their retreating figures, then revealed a sly smile. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to cast your recommendations and monthly tickets on wuxiaworld.site. Your support is my greatest motivation.)