King of Hollywood

Lili light rain fell from the sky without warning, which lowered the temperature of the weather that was supposed to be getting warmer, but in this way, the thick fog that shrouded the ground gradually dissipated, and the surrounding scenery became clearer There are quite a few, and the small English-style manors located in the outskirts are looming in the mist and rain.

The driver turned the steering wheel and drove off the road into the manor, and stopped in front of the villa around the flower bed in the vestibule.

"Hello, Mr. Payne." The lady who had been waiting at the door greeted Payne Clarkson who got out of the car.

"Hello, Jonathan," Clarkson, who was wearing a windbreaker, nodded, and then introduced to Adrian who got out of the car with him: "Ed, this is Anya Kubrick, Stanley's eldest daughter."

Then turned to the lady: "Anya, this is the director Adrian Cowell I mentioned to you before."

"Glad to see you, Mr. Kewell, I've heard of your name." Anya stretched out her hand with a decent smile, but there was still a hint of carelessness in her tone.

"Me too, Ms. Anya, I hope our presumptuous visit didn't disturb Mr. Kubrick's rest." Adrian shook hands with her, not paying attention to her perfunctory point.

"Please follow me," Anya made a gesture of invitation, and then walked into the room first.

"How is Stanley?" Clarkson asked after him.

"After my father came back from the hospital, although his consciousness was very clear, his emotions were not very stable. He always stared out of the window for a long time. You know that this kind of blow is very big to him." Anya said while walking.

"Yeah, it's a terrible thing, God forbid, I hope he can pull himself together," Clarkson echoed.

The three of them quickly came to the upstairs bedroom, An Ya asked them to wait outside for a while, and they went in for a while before coming out again.

"In view of father's current situation, I hope you don't disturb him for too long. Ms. Betty is outside, please call her if you need anything." Anya said and pointed to the middle-aged woman dressed as a housekeeper who came out with her.

"Thank you, I promise it won't be too long." Clarkson nodded. He didn't pull Adrian into the room until Anya's back disappeared into the corridor.

On the large bed, an old man who looked to be in his seventies was leaning against the head of the bed. He had a large area of ​​baldness in front of his forehead and a gray beard. He turned his head to the side and looked numbly at the raindrop.

"He's aging really fast, you know he's not even seventy years old." Clarkson couldn't help but said lightly.

Although the voice was very soft, there was no other sound in the bedroom at the moment, so the old man on the bed turned his head with difficulty and looked coldly at the two visitors.

"Hey, Stanley, I didn't expect to see you like this again. It's too bad." Clarkson coughed a little awkwardly.

"Hello, Mr. Kubrick, I'm Adrian Cowell, I believe you should know why I'm here." Adrian patted Clarkson on the shoulder, and then took the initiative to speak, Clarkson also knew He took a step back and completely handed over the scene to Adrian.

Kubrick didn't express anything, and still had that cold, indifferent expression, but occasionally there would be a blank expression.

"If you agree, I hope to sit next to you and explain to you, may I ask?" Adrian looked at him with a calm expression.

The old man suddenly opened his eyes, with a little anger, as if he wanted to see something out of him, but finally nodded after so long.

"Thank you." Adrian bowed gracefully, then sat on the bench next to the bed, put the briefcase on his lap, and took out a folder that was not very thick.

"I have seen and analyzed all the films you directed and produced. You are very good at using colors to outline the screen to express emotions and spaces. You like to use classical music as the soundtrack, and you use it very well, whether it is in line with what the screen wants to express. The meaning is still completely opposite, both can achieve a strange balance..." Adrian began to talk eloquently.

Kubrick had a serious look at first, but soon became a little absent-minded, but when Adrian took out a few pictures, he immediately narrowed his eyes.

"Is it familiar? This is designed according to the opening scene of your "Strip Orange", with red and gold as the main tone, but it seems a bit depressing in a small space. It is very suitable for Dr. William who came to rent a dress Psychology, isn't it?" Adrian explained the picture in this way, "Of course, because I was in a hurry, I didn't draw very well, and some places may not be perfect, but I believe it should be able to express some feelings."

Looking at the face somewhat similar to Tom Cruise's edges and corners in these color-added sub-shots, coupled with Adrian's commentary, the old man on the bed finally began to feel a little moved.

Adrian quickly changed to a new picture, and then continued to talk, Kubrick finally put his attention on him, and the state of talking and listening continued like this. During this period, Anya came to see a few Once, there were some other relatives, and they had a few conversations with Clarkson, but they never disturbed them.

"I think it would be good to use Shostakovich's "Second Waltz" as the soundtrack for this passage. The lazy tune complements the glitz, frivolity and depravity of the upper class." Adrian finally After explaining the final drawing, he stopped to take a sip of water to moisten his throat, and then looked at Kubrick who was about to start meditating.

"I know that, as a director, I really don't like others to judge my own stuff, and I actually don't, otherwise I wouldn't be a producer on every production. But, Mr. Kubrick, you have done it for this The film has been planned for a long time. I believe you have thought a lot about it. You have handled almost every preparation work by yourself. Would you like to leave regrets?

Yes, I am not you, although I have studied your works, but I will not understand what you are thinking, what you are thinking, what you want to express, however, there are a thousand Hamlets for a thousand people, you want to express It may have a different meaning in the eyes of others. You have also said that the meaning of the movie is left to the audience to guess.

So why can't I try it? I have read through your script several times, you have considered all the details, I believe I can capture the essence of you on the screen, I don't think anything else, I just want to pay tribute to you, if it doesn't meet the production If you want, you can ask the film not to be shown - what do you think? "Adrian concluded in a very sincere tone.

Although Kubrick still maintained his expressionless face, he soon showed a look of hesitation.

An imperceptible smile flicked across the corner of Adrian's mouth, and he immediately sat up straight: "It takes time to decide this kind of thing, so let's leave these things here, you can think about it for a while, but whether you agree or not Please call me or Payne, please?"

After a long time, the old man finally nodded reluctantly, and then closed his eyes.

"By the way, the movie doesn't seem to have a name. I looked at the ones they provided, and they didn't seem to be very good, so I thought about it, what do you think of the name "deshut" (it also means closing your eyes)? "Adrian, who stood up and was about to leave, suddenly said so again.

Kubrick immediately opened his closed eyes, and Adrian smiled and bowed, and Clarkson left the bedroom, and declined Anya's persuasion.

"To be honest, I've never seen Stanley like that." After returning to the car and leaving the small English-style manor, Clarkson said with emotion.

"It's normal, not everyone will be paralyzed by a stroke." Adrian said jokingly.

"Come on, Ed, you know that's not what I'm talking about. Stanley will never tolerate someone interfering with his directorial powers. It's a miracle that you can get him to agree to think about it," Clarkson shrugged, followed by another Looking at him with interest, "Tell me, how sure are you that Stanley will agree?"

"do not know."

"do not know?"

"Yes, I don't know. I have done everything I can. Now it depends on Kubrick's mind. It doesn't matter to me whether I agree or not, doesn't it?"

Hearing such an answer, Clarkson smiled wryly and muttered twice, but Adrian turned his head to look behind the car window where the rain had stopped, and the smile on the corner of his mouth grew stronger. This world is really wonderful. Unexpectedly, the famous Stanley Kubrick would be paralyzed in bed due to a stroke and could not even speak, and left a mess. This should have been his last life. works.

In my memory, Kubrick did not survive into the 21st century. It seems that after finishing his last work, he died of a heart attack in his sleep. There is no rumor that he had a stroke. But then again, who can be sure about this kind of thing? No matter how powerful the tabloids were, they couldn't get Kubrick's medical report. After all, he was about to turn 70, and he looked very fat. It should be normal to have a cerebral hemorrhage, but this last work is obviously unfinished.

Although Adrian made up his mind to take a good rest this year, and although Kubrick was not the kind of director he hated, he was not much better, but it was "Eye Wide Opener" after all, and "Big Eyes" was well prepared in every way. Open your eyes! Even if Lian asked Clarkson subconsciously at the time if he would let himself take over—something has clearly become instinctive—but after thinking about it carefully, taking over this movie is very worthwhile no matter from which angle you look at it.

But Warner didn't plan to do this at first. Kubrick's works have hardly sold, and they will invest in his new movie in order to gain fame. wedding dress. However, Adrian immediately stated that he would not seek anything, but just wanted to replace Kubrick as the director to pay tribute to this great director.

"I want to imitate Kubrick's style as much as possible. I want to direct Kubrick's movies, not mine." Adrian said this when he contacted Clarkson again.

Warner's attitude immediately turned around. Which Hollywood film company doesn't want to cooperate with the director of Miracle? It's a pity that he has either bought the script from him or co-invested in a certain film. He only directs the film for his own film. Regardless of the reason for further cooperation this time, the gimmicks and impact it will bring are definitely no less than investing in Kubrick’s new film. After all, the audience for Kubrick’s works is too small. There's something about Kubrick's new work that's pretty eye-catching.

However, Warner agreed, but Kubrick didn't agree, and Adrian still didn't want to take over the movie. Kubrick had been preparing for this movie for several years. It is basically impossible to get this old man to agree. This guy is also a tyrant on the set. According to the memories of actors who have worked with him, when he needs you, he will talk to you in a friendly manner, but once you don’t If you can meet his requirements, he will mercilessly reprimand you with the loudest voice.

In fact, every great director has an arbitrary side, such as Spielberg, Coppola, Cameron, and Adrian. How can Kubrick be an exception? Since this is something he fancy, even if it is taken to the grave, no one else will touch it, so Warner's inquiry was immediately rejected.

But Adrian did not give up. He spent a lot of time on preparations and asked Spielberg to help with the project.

"I don't want you to help me convince Mr. Kubrick, Steven, I just want to get a chance to persuade him in person." Adrian said to Spielberg.

The relationship between Spielberg and Kubrick has always been good. A few years ago, Kubrick also hoped to be directed by Spielberg and he would produce it, and the science fiction novel called "A Summer's Super Fantasy Toy" Adapted into a film - yes, the later film "" - so there is no better candidate than him.

"I have studied his works carefully, and I just want to pay tribute to him and help him complete this work." Adrian explained his behavior in this way.

Although Spielberg didn't completely believe his rhetoric, he was convinced by him after he showed what he had prepared during this time. With Spielberg as a lobbyist, and Warner also spared no effort to do it, Kubrick finally let go, so there was the previous scene.

"From my personal point of view, the possibility of Kubrick agreeing is more than 10%, but even if he refuses, I have nothing to lose. Those are Warner's affairs." After returning to the hotel, he recounted today to Charlize During the process, when the female secretary asked about the possibility, Adrian shrugged.

"Is there really no loss?" Charlize asked with a half-smile.

"Of course," Adrian raised his eyebrows calmly, "Is there any problem?"

"No, it's nothing, I forgot that you always have a lot of means, and some people are willing to jump off automatically." Charlize stood upright with her chest upright. What are you thinking.

"Unfortunately, can you explain in detail, dear Charlie?" Adrian looked back from the floor-to-ceiling windows of the hotel room, staring at her pretty face with interest.

"Are you so sure that Kubrick will agree? According to the information I have collected, he is also a very possessive person." Charlize did not answer but changed the subject.

"Because I caught his preference." Adrian said leisurely, as if he was sure of winning.

You know, those things he prepared, those pictures with a strong Kubrick style are all excerpted from the original version, not to mention the soundtrack, name and so on. Although there are rumors that Kubrick was not satisfied with the released version and planned to re-edit the first version, but went to heaven before it started, but according to his family later, Kubrick liked it very much. movie.

Obviously, his family's statement is more credible, so is there anything more convincing than this to persuade him with something he likes? In addition, he is now paralyzed in bed, and the preparation of the film is nearing completion and can start shooting at any time, he will definitely not be reconciled, so it is very possible to agree.

But Kubrick may also refuse. After all, anything can happen in this world. Since he is paralyzed in bed due to a stroke, it may not be possible to take this movie to the grave.

It doesn't matter, whether it succeeds or not, it won't have much impact. Adrian repeated it again in his heart, but after thinking about it carefully, he smiled wryly and shook his head imperceptibly. This is "Eye Opener".

Adrian doesn't like Stanley Kubrick, as I said before, although he is not the kind of disgusting European director who is always self-righteous, he is not much worse.

It was "Spartacus" that Kubrick completely established himself, but it was the most commercially flavored work of all his works; it was "Space Odyssey 1" that made him completely famous, and today It may be dismissive of the technology shown in the film, but it is indeed surprising in the era. Many people have the idea of ​​​​becoming a director because of this film, such as James Cameron, but the key factor for this film's popularity It is technology, and it is not what the movie itself wants to express.

In fact, Kubrick's films are very niche, and basically they were not favored at the beginning of their release. After a period of time, word of mouth began to slowly improve, even the recognized horror classic "The Shining" Or the best Vietnam War movie, Full Metal Jacket. This has something to do with Kubrick's own aura, just like Woody Allen makes a movie every year, and there is not much difference between each movie, but there are still people who are chasing after him or investing, because Woody Allen's name has already Once established, with this name alone, there will always be people who say good things about him.

However, although Kubrick is also a minority, there is one thing that some directors cannot do. He can always use film technology to the greatest extent in shooting, and he rarely complains that others do not understand.

"Let the audience guess," he always said.

This is another point of view that Adrian does not agree with. He has always believed that for a good movie, the director must clearly express half of the point of view, and then let the audience guess the other half. After all, there are a thousand Hamlets for a thousand people.

Therefore, the key to his enthusiasm is because this is "Eye Opener"!