System in Hollywood

"Mr. Anderson."

"Just call me Wayne."

"Then I won't be too formal. Wayne, thank you again for giving our Christine such a great opportunity."

Reality teaches us that judging people by their appearance is wrong. Otherwise, how could the elegant and poised Jules Stewart have such a wild side?

In the parallel world, Christine became so bold later on, probably partly due to her influence.

Wayne couldn't help but think to himself.

Through some deep conversation, he learned that Mrs. Stewart was also involved in the Hollywood film industry and was even a director. However, due to her lack of fame, she had not yet had the opportunity to direct independently. Her best accomplishment was serving as the first assistant director on a low-budget film that cost $1 million and grossed $2.2 million.

So, her eagerness wasn't just for little Christine; it was also for her own career.

After reviewing the complete script, the budget, and the cast, Mrs. Stewart, feeling confident about the film's box office potential, wanted to join the directing team. Even if she couldn't actually direct, having her name as the first assistant director would be a considerable boost to her resume.

Wayne initially wanted to refuse such a request. However, Mrs. Stewart worked hard to prove to him that her skills were solid, and she ultimately convinced him.

The next day, Mrs. Stewart signed with the production team, becoming the first assistant director of the film. Of course, Steve Buscemi still remained in charge of the actual directing, which gave him some temporary relief.

However, with the introduction of competition, and given that some less important scenes—like a college party with a bunch of extras acting wild and partying hard, or the scene where the fake dean hired by Bartleby gives a speech on the lawn while people sit around, seriously listening to his nonsense—were handed over to Mrs. Stewart to direct, the efficiency of the crew noticeably increased.

"At this pace, the original 25-day shooting plan might be shortened by a week!" This was the latest progress report Wayne received.

Of course, the shooting process couldn't always be as smooth as the first two scenes on day one, but since it was a campus comedy with only three or four major locations and not much demand for high-caliber acting, the whole process went quite smoothly.

However, Wayne, the lead actor, was extremely busy during this period. He was shooting during the day, feeding Mia and Jessica at night, and occasionally taking care of Natalie Portman and Mrs. Stewart. If it weren't for his enhanced body, with superhuman stamina and recovery, he might have collapsed long ago.

"Welcome back, Bartleby!"

"Cut!"

"Great! That's a wrap!"

With the director's shout, the camera froze on the image of Bartleby being joyously tossed into the air by the crowd after his release from jail, marking the end of filming on the nineteenth day of production. The film now entered post-production.

To ensure the quality of the film, Wayne, holding the final cut rights, closely monitored the entire process.

With the original version as a reference and no special effects, the editing team completed the first cut in just two days. The dubbing and soundtrack were also straightforward, especially the music, which consisted of popular DJ tracks. After paying for the rights, they could use them immediately, so that part was done in three days.

"The rest is in your hands, Director Buscemi."

"No problem, Wayne. Leave it to me!"

Another three days passed. Wayne, lying in bed with Jessica, caressing her smooth, milky skin in the rented apartment, had just woken up when he suddenly heard the system notification of new funds arriving in his mind.

[Name: Wayne Anderson]

[Age: 20]

[Current Investment Funds: $30 million]

Wayne opened the system panel with a thought, smiling at the sight of the newly arrived $30 million.

A $30 million budget was considered a mid-to-large production in the year 2000. With this kind of budget, it was easy to hire A-list stars.

"So, how should I spend this $30 million?" Wayne was just about to ponder his next project when Sarah called.

"Wayne, post-production is complete. When do you want to schedule the internal screening?"

Wayne glanced at the clock and noticed it was almost 10 a.m., so he set the screening for 2 p.m.

"By the way, besides Portman and Mrs. Stewart, could you invite Warner Bros. to join us if they have time?"

Sarah hesitated briefly: "Shouldn't we review the film ourselves first?"

"No need," Wayne confidently replied, "I'm sure about our film. Let's not waste time."

"Alright, I'll get in touch with them."

Sarah, after a brief hesitation, agreed. Wayne was the boss, so naturally, it was his call to make.

That afternoon, when Wayne arrived at the company with Jessica, the small screening room was already filled. Besides Sarah, Mia, Steve Buscemi, Mrs. Stewart, Natalie, and her agent, two well-dressed, professional-looking men in their forties were also present.

"Let me introduce you. This is Mr. Andrew Wiggins, and this is Mr. Stephen Wilson."

Though they were from Warner Bros., a Hollywood giant, neither man held particularly high positions. One was a deputy director in the marketing department, and the other was a senior acquisition expert. As such, they were quite courteous, especially towards Wayne.

Most Warner Bros. films were produced through joint investments. Even $10 million could buy a stake in an A-list Warner Bros. production.

To be practical, Andrew Wiggins, the deputy director, had a salary of only $200,000 a year, while Stephen Wilson, with his bonuses, earned around $100,000 annually. Wayne's $10 million might have been "pulled together," but it was still impressive to raise such a sum.

"Gentlemen, your time is valuable, so let's not waste any. Let's begin the screening as soon as possible."

"Very well, Mr. Anderson."

As the movie began, the professionals Wiggins and Wilson pulled out their notepads, becoming serious as they prepared to assess the film.

"Hey, everyone, get your money ready. We don't have much time."

As in the original, the first scene of the movie showed Bartleby and his group of friends making fake IDs for some classmates in the school's home economics room. This immediately highlighted Bartleby's rebellious nature and showed that while they were slackers, they were also quite capable.

Then came the conversation between Bartleby and his sister and the scene at the dinner table where he tried to convince his parents that not going to college was okay, only to be threatened into silence by money and force. He soon began to think of alternative plans.

For middle-aged men like Wiggins and Wilson, in their forties, it was hard to relate. Bartleby's sharp humor and the gags made them chuckle, but they didn't take it too seriously.

However, as the plot progressed—especially when Bartleby opened the door to find hundreds of students who had been rejected by all universities and looked down on by their peers, showing up at "South Harmon Institute of Technology"—they started to feel a little shocked.

Then came the fake dean's speech, seemingly crude and illogical but, upon closer thought, containing some truth.

Their expressions began to change.

They still didn't fully connect with the protagonist, but the film's storyline kept them engaged, making them reflect as family men with children of their own. Wiggins, in particular, was deep in thought—his eldest son was already 17, soon to be applying to college, but his grades weren't great, which had been worrying him.

After watching the film, however, Wiggins furrowed his brow, suddenly wondering if college was really that important. How many famous Hollywood actors, directors, and producers had even gone to college?

"Maybe… I should let him pursue his passion for baseball. If he fails to make it as a pro, he can start from the bottom in Hollywood. With my connections, if he works hard, his future might not be too bad," Wiggins thought to himself.

Meanwhile, Wilson, the senior acquisition expert, was taking rapid notes on the film's analysis and selling points, genuinely praising, "This is a fantastic movie!"

Compared to the original, this version of *Accepted* had a shorter production time, but with an increased budget, the cast, sets, and costumes were much better.

Of course, compared to award-contending films, this one was far from the mark. And compared to big-budget blockbusters, its commercial appeal was also lacking.

But in the realm of teen campus comedies, this film was certainly excellent.

After praising the film, Wilson immediately pulled Wiggins aside for a brief conversation. When they returned, Wiggins proposed that Warner Bros. increase the film's marketing budget, converting this additional expense into a share of the overall investment, allowing them to participate in box office and DVD sales revenue.

Clearly, they saw great potential in *Accepted* and wanted more than just a slice of the marketing fee.

"Sorry, I'll need to discuss this with my producer," Wayne replied without giving an immediate answer. After seeing the two men off with Sarah, he sent Jessica home and then returned to the small conference room with Sarah and Mia to discuss the proposal.

(End of Chapter)