Hollywood Drawing

In fact, after signing the contract with Wayne, Jimmy regretted it soon. Maybe the genius that Professor Anderson calls is just a genius in learning?

He had seen some of Wayne's experimental short films, which contained a lot of bloody scenes and dark themes, which made him feel very uncomfortable. Just when he had basically given up on Wayne, he received a call from him again today.

"It's not that kind of experimental film. This time I made a complete plan and script. It's a real feature film, and I need to use it for my graduation film."

Wayne knew that he made the other person feel bad, otherwise he would not have not contacted him for several months. However, the other party is still a qualified agent. At least he has not shied away from asking him for help in renting equipment or the like.

"You want to shoot a feature film? Wayne, I have to remind you that shooting a feature film is completely different from the things you did before. This is not something you can do alone. Well, you need my help. Who are you recruiting?”

Jimmy reminded him seriously. Seeing his firm eyes, he felt that these were not his concerns. He was just his agent.

"I'll contact you in a few days. I need basic crew members, lighting, makeup, props, scenery, and I can do the photography myself. Of course, I don't need those who are famous in the industry. I can't afford their salary. I just need professional ones." That’s fine.”

"Okay, CAA has everything you need. Are you going to gather your own crew and produce independently?"

"Yes, so I have to raise funds for filming first. I really hope that a company will invest in me. I will only do the work of a director, but it is basically impossible."

When Jimmy heard what he said, he resisted the urge to roll his eyes, drank the coffee in one gulp, took out the money and pressed it under the cup.

"Okay, I'll wait for your call. I have other things to do, so I'll leave first."

Wayne watched Jimmy walk out of the coffee shop. Maybe he thought he was talking crazy? He also put the money under the cup, got up and went out to sit in the car. He looked at the document bag placed on the passenger seat.

After finalizing the script and project, the next most important thing is to raise funds for filming. As the teacher said, many very old directors are stuck at this step.

Don’t those directors who run around here and there every day looking for funding for filming have no talent? This is actually a strange circle. No one will invest in you until you prove your ability, and you can't prove your ability without investing.

He is almost 60 years old in his two lifetimes. He understands that funds are the most important thing. You have all the conditions for success. If you don’t have money to produce, you only have the conditions for success. There are many, many Hollywood companies that meet this condition.

Driving to the downstairs of the apartment, he went upstairs and took down a box of packed materials and put some clothes in the car. Then drove straight to Ventura County in the greater Los Angeles area, where Wayne's home is.

Ventura County, like Orange County, is also primarily suburban, with most of its development and growth coming through Los Angeles. But the northern part of the county is dominated by a vast expanse of undeveloped Los Padres National Forest, where the Wayne family farm is located.

The central and southern parts of the county were originally small towns along the Pacific Coast. However, after the expansion of U.S. Highway 101 to the San Fernando Valley, the cities involved in the master plan began to develop rapidly, and the entire county became increasingly urbanized. .

The San Fernando Valley here is another film and television industry base in North America. But unlike Hollywood, the movies shot here are all for adults, *****.

The key is that the scale of this industry is larger than Hollywood, which has a global market. Behind every film and television company, there is the shadow of large North American capital. You can imagine how profitable it is.

Country music was playing in the car as he drove along the road, thinking about whether he was adequately prepared and whether there was anything he hadn't considered yet.

Soon he arrived at the Los Padres National Forest in Ventura County. He had grown up on a farm next to this forest since he was a child. Looking at the plants in the ground and the cattle in the distance, it had never changed. This place had always been able to A place where people can feel at ease.

After entering the farm and greeting several cowboys along the way, Wayne parked the car in front of a wooden villa.

My father was sitting on a lounge chair under the porch, a pipe in his mouth, and two golden retrievers lying at his feet. When he opened the door and got out of the car, two dogs rushed around him.

"Dad, where is mom? I have something to discuss with you when I come back this time."

Wayne rubbed the dog vigorously and sat next to his father.

"Well, your mother is preparing dinner. I heard that she is new to the beef stew with potatoes. There is a guy in the herd who is always provoking fights. I asked James to put him down yesterday."

Old Greenberg looked at his son, who seemed a little thinner than before when he came back, and hoped that he had not taken any illegal drugs. He understood young people, and the elder Greenberg himself had smoked some leaf cigarettes when he was young, so he was afraid that Wayne would get involved in them.

"While mom is making dinner, dad, let's go to your study. I have something I want to talk to you about."

Holding the things he had moved from the car, he called his father and together they went to the study room on the second floor, which was also his father's workshop. There is a row of old-fashioned shotguns in this room, and a large stuffed deer head hangs on the wall.

My father sat behind the big oak table, took out a huge revolver, and wiped it skillfully. Ever since he moved here to start a farm, the old Greenberg loved hunting and guns. No matter what he did, he couldn't do without a gun.

"Tell me what you want to talk to me about. Don't tell me which girl you made pregnant. I might consider using this big dick to give you a shot."

He looked at his father helplessly. After so many years here, he still couldn't adapt to American father-son communication. He will never forget that when he was thirteen years old, his father came to his room at night, gave him a Playboy magazine, and wanted to teach him about healthy sex.

"Dad, look at this, I made it."

Wayne opened the folder and handed the script and plan to his father.

My father took the plan first and put the thick script aside. Seeing his son take out these, Old Greenberg already understood what was going on. It was about a father-son agreement.

He didn't want toys or pocket money since he was a child. He cleaned his father's guns every weekend, hunted with him, and watched football with him until he went to college in Los Angeles. The price was that his father had to put aside a sum of money to invest in one of Wayne's movies after he graduated.

After reading the plan, Old Greenberg picked up the script and turned it over. He only read it roughly once and then put it down.

"Listen, Wayne. My style is outdated. I was a producer before you were five years old. I have never been in this industry again in all these years. If you want that money, I will contact you tomorrow. Accountant, but you only get one chance, and if you screw up, I’ll find you an internship at a company.”

Old Greenberg looked at his son seriously. The only way he could support his son now was to give him money.

"Dad, what's your opinion? If it were the way it was when you opened a film company in the past, would this project get your investment?"

He did want to get the investment his father had promised since childhood, but he also wanted to know if his father would invest in this project if he were still a producer.

The father thought for a while and said to him:

"From my perspective, you won't get investment. Although your plan is good and you don't need much money, normally I would never invest in a novice like you, not at all.

Maybe you can invest in a few small companies to give it a try, but don't have any illusions. Look, I'll pay for your first movie just because your last name is Greenberg, no second reason. "

Wayne was not disappointed when he heard this. He had already thought of it, and this was the way it was in this circle. This is what his father said more euphemistically. If it were a film company, he probably wouldn't even be able to meet the executives. It would be great if he could put down the script and plan and go back to wait for news.

"Okay, I'll show it to my mom later, maybe she can give me some advice. Dad, you know how long I've been preparing for this day, and I don't want any problems to arise."

"Of course, sometimes I think you may be too hasty. Maybe you can wait until you graduate to find a job on a film crew. After studying and working for a few years, you will have enough experience before you can make your own movie."

How could he not be in a hurry? Seeing that 1991 was coming soon, he knew that with every passing year, his chances would be reduced by one year.

"Okay, I'm going to see how mommy's beef is doing and put things back in my room."

Wayne carried the box back to the room at the end of the corridor on the second floor. Just like when he left, his mother should always clean it for him. There is still a small nest at the foot of the big bed that he once made for the two golden retrievers, but it is definitely no longer useful because they are too big.

The whole house is simple and warm. There is a desk next to the balcony, and a wooden bookshelf stands beside it. In addition to a few books, there are also toys from Wayne's childhood, various comic books and a guitar.

The box he brought back contained about seven or eight video tapes of experimental short films shot by the university in the past few years. After tearing off the tape on the box, Wayne neatly placed the video tapes on the bookshelf. He took a satisfied look before closing the door. Go upstairs to the kitchen.

"Mom, I smelled the aroma before I even entered the door."

His mother looked much younger than his father. She was of British descent, about 1.75 meters tall, with blond hair on her head. She was stirring the pot with a spoon.

"Oh, Honey, how was school? I watched the potato goulash on TV. Looks like I didn't mess up."

The mother put down the spoon and turned around to hug him.

"It's still the same as before. I already have enough credits. But this year I told the professor that I will use the remaining time to shoot my graduation project."

"You will definitely become a great director in the future, and you will be the pride of your mother. Go ahead, call your father over, and tell him that dinner will be served soon. If he is still playing with those broken guns, I will take all his toys Throw it away.”

"Hey, honey, I'm already down here, and it looks like you're going to find another reason to throw away my collection."

As soon as his mother finished speaking, Old Greenberg had already walked into the restaurant.