Made in Hollywood

"George was my inspirational teacher on the road to film. When I was less than ten years old, I was often in and out of the Star Wars set."

Standing in the banquet hall dedicated to media reporters, Duke looked at George Lucas next to him and said to the reporters surrounding them, "It was the magical scene that George created that inspired all my enthusiasm for movies. , that's how I entered the California Institute of the Arts..."

This is to promote the two films, Duke generously praised Lucas, and what George Lucas said later was also praise.

"Since '95, I've been trying to convince Duke to be the director of Nova Wars, without success."

Just in the amazed eyes of all the reporters, Lucas continued, "Until I read his script for "The Matrix", I finally understood why Duke rejected Star Wars. I believe that what he is shooting is a great movie. He created a world that belongs to him alone, and when the film is released next year, it will definitely open a new era of science fiction films!"

"An epoch-making sci-fi film is being born!"

After saying this, George Lucas and Duke left the banquet hall where the media reporters were entertained, and gave the rest of the time to the actors of the two crews.

They bypassed a corridor and entered another smaller banquet hall. This is where the main cast and crew of the cast and crew held parties. Since most of the people were in the media press room to promote the movie for themselves, except for a few behind-the-scenes people, Actually not many people.

Sitting at a table, Duke shook his head and said to George Lucas, "You are too complimented."

"I believe you have such strength." George Lucas seemed to have more confidence than Duke. "You have never let anyone down."

Duke could only smile and change the subject voluntarily. Chatted with George Lucas about the shooting of Star Wars.

"I think the months of waiting were well worth it!"

The topic turned to the heroine Padmé Amidala, George Lucas was obviously very satisfied with the Jewish girl, "In the setting of the film, Queen Amidala is only fourteen years old, but she is a successful Although there are not many outstanding young actresses in Hollywood. But we all know that Duke. It is difficult to find young actresses who can have above average looks and show the mature and wise temperament of the queen. , Natalie far exceeded my expectations."

"I've seen her in 'Leon' and 'The Wire'." Duke suddenly thought about it later, "I have to admit, she's an acting genius. But, George. Do you think of Anakin as an adult? Is Skywalker's candidate? If the young actor chosen is too poor in acting, she will be completely suppressed by her, causing the film to be unbalanced and directly affecting the audience's sense of the couple."

Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala from the Star Wars prequels are arguably one of the most well-known and incongruous couples on screen. The performance of the Canadian actor in front of Natalie Portman, described as appalling, is a compliment to him.

George Lucas nodded lightly, "It's not a good thing for the heroine to be too good."

He frowned, "Actors generally mature late. Even a recognized acting genius like Daniel Day-Lewis doesn't realize it until he is 30 years old. I want to find an actor with excellent acting skills in the same age group..."

Duke shrugged, how to find a suitable actor, that is what George Lucas should consider.

Even if he can't find it, it doesn't really matter. The influence of Star Wars on this land is beyond his imagination. As long as this is a Star Wars series with a lot of investment and production, there will never be a shortage of audiences.

Seeing an actor walk into the banquet hall, Duke left the table and walked towards the thin girl, who seemed to be thirsty, went straight to the bar and asked for a glass of juice.

"Hi, Nat."

While saying hello, Duke sat on the high chair next to him. Natalie Portman turned her head and smiled, "Hi, Duke."

"A martini, thank you."

Asking for a glass of wine first, Duke said to Natalie, "Why are you back so soon?"

Natalie said of course, "I'm not an adult yet, I don't want to be harassed by the media too much, and those people are too annoying."

Duke showed a questioning look, and Natalie Portman continued, "They only asked a few questions about the movie, and they asked if I had a boyfriend at school..."

She shrugged again, "Some reporters even asked me if I was a virgin!"

Seemingly angry, Natalie picked up the juice, took a big sip, and whispered indignantly, "I'm not Drew Barrymore and Kirsten Dunst!"

"It's normal, you'll get used to it in the future." Duke put down his glass. "If you don't ask that, they're not entertainment reporters."

The sixteen-year-old girl suddenly rolled her eyes and asked tentatively, "Duke, can I ask you a question?"

"Um?"

Duke was puzzled at first, and then said, "It's my honor to be asked by a talented girl like you."

Natalie frowned and glanced at him again, and then said, "How did you deal with the reporters when asked about this?"

"I mean..." She did it on purpose at all, "There are often scandals between you and other female stars in the media and magazines... I'm sorry... I don't mean anything else..."

"It's ok."

Now that he has done it, there is nothing to admit, Duke raised his eyebrows, "Just ignore them, because no matter what you say, what appears in newspapers and magazines in the end either has nothing to do with your original words, or is A hundredfold exaggeration."

"Actually, I've always liked your movies."

The girl's mind was very smart, and she deliberately warned Duke from the side, and then began to ease the relationship, "When you were filming "Independence Day" in Central Park, I went to see it."

"It's a pity I didn't know you at the time." Duke laughed. "I've always liked the role of Matilda."

Duke snapped his fingers to the bartender behind the bar, "Make a drink for a girl."

Turning his head, he said to Natalie, "I'll buy you a drink to make up for this regret."

Natalie picked up the juice she had only had half a glass of. "Sorry, I think it suits me better, I'm not yet eighteen."

"No reporters will come in here..."

After the bartender brought a glass of wine, Duke pushed Natalie's side, "It's just sweet wine, it won't be intoxicating. You haven't been to a bar yet?"

Although North America as a whole tends to be conservative. But it is unimaginable that a girl has not had a drink by the age of sixteen.

"I..." Natalie hesitated, and finally said, "Just a taste."

She picked up the glass, took a sip, and seemed to feel fine, then took another sip.

"How does it taste?" Duke asked.

"Better than any Sydney liqueur I've had before..."

Speaking of which. Natalie suddenly covered her mouth, her eyes turned to Duke's face again, and she said solemnly, "Don't tell other people, especially my mother and agent!"

Duke nodded quickly. "It's our secret."

Whether in the East or the West, wine is a good tool for bringing people closer together.

"Where's your mother?" Duke looked around. "Why didn't you see her?"

"I made a lot of promises." Natalie lifted her glass. Taking another sip, "she just stayed in the room. I'm not a child who doesn't understand anything."

"In the eyes of all mothers." Duke leaned a little closer. "Your children will never grow up."

"Mrs. Leah sees you like that too?" Natalie asked with raised eyebrows.

"Yeah." Duke nodded and said casually, "My mother always said my thinking was childish."

"Childish?" Natalie looked him up and down. Doubt in his eyes.

She is not a simple girl who doesn't understand anything, and some things in the circle have also been mentioned by the agent, especially some things that happened between the other party and CAA and Mel Gibson, which were regarded as a model by the agent to educate her, If such people are very simple, then Hollywood is really full of angels.

"Mom always said that I love fantasies, and these fantasies are unrealistic." Duke of course knew that the other party would not believe this kind of words, and quickly said, "But she always encouraged me, encouraged me to put these childish ideas. into a movie."

"So it is." Natalie nodded.

In addition to the necessary entertainment, Duke spends most of the time sitting here chatting with Natalie, and this girl's style is also somewhat different from the actresses in the circle, whether it is the agency or her own strategy, She's rarely social, and looks like an oddball among actors.

Before the party was over, the two walked out of the banquet hall.

"Although I live in a hotel." Duke asked as he walked towards the elevator, "but I rarely see you."

"I stay in my room most of the time." Natalie kept a sufficient distance from Duke. "I still have school to finish, and I don't want to give up my studies because of acting."

The two walked into the elevator, just as an elevator came up and someone came out, Duke hurried into the elevator, waited for Natalie to come in, and asked, "What floor is your room on?"

"I'll come by myself."

Natalie Portman came over, pressed it herself, and stepped back, "Duke!"

"Um?"

Duke turned to look at her. The girl's face was flushed red, as if it was caused by the glass of wine she was drinking. "Is something wrong, Nat?"

"Why did you follow me out?" She asked sideways, and before Duke answered, she said firmly, "I won't let you go to my room, so don't even think about it!"

"Hey dear!"

Duke couldn't help shaking his head, this is Sydney, and Natalie is only sixteen years old, "I'm just tired and want to go back to rest."

"And..." He suddenly took a step over there, taking advantage of his height, and said, "Don't you want to see the difference between me and George when I was directing? You can go to me at any time to see."

When the elevator door opened, Duke left first and walked towards his room without looking back. (To be continued ~^~)

PS:  This month's monthly pass is over 1,000 soon, brothers, let's get a few more and make up a whole number!