For Adriaan, who had foresight, he could use various means to obtain the copyright of the original scripts in his memory. For example, "The Matrix" and "Tomb Raider" were originally adaptations of novels, so it was always easier to obtain the copyright. Therefore, when "The Hours" was published in 1998, Miramax contacted Michael Cunningham under Adriaan's instructions. At that time, he hadn't won the Pulitzer Prize yet, so he easily obtained the film rights.
The director was still Stephen Daldry. He had already proven his ability in "Jump Out of My World" last year, which indirectly helped Nicole win the Best Supporting Actress Award. Adriaan didn't mind giving him the honor he deserved.
However, the distribution of the main roles was a little difficult. Meryl Streep was basically indispensable. Adriaan had watched the original version. Although it was a very dull, purely artistic film, with a slow pace and a long plot, no woman around him could replace her. As for the role of Julianne Moore, Adriaan wanted Julia to try it. It was time for her to change her image. However, she was a housewife, and Julia had always been an independent woman. Even if she wanted to change her image, it couldn't be too sudden. After reading the script, Julia also felt that it was not suitable, so in the end, the role fell on Sophie.
In fact, at the beginning, Adriaan really wanted Sophie to play the role of Streep. At the same time, he could also let Monica play the role of the lesbian lover. However, this was a little too explicit. Because Monica and Sophie often went out together, there were also lesbian rumors. If it wasn't for the fact that people knew that they had an ambiguous relationship with Director Miracle, this kind of scandal would have spread everywhere.
Therefore, after careful consideration, the image of a housewife was more suitable for her to play. In the end, this was all for her to accumulate experience.
As for the key female lead, it was a little difficult. Adriaan kept wandering between Kate and Richel. There was no need to mention Kate. She was the first woman after his rebirth and the mother of his first child. In Adriaan's heart, she was also unique. If he didn't think about her, who would he think about? Even if she didn't win an award, it didn't matter. He had said before that he would let her ascend to the throne of the Best Actress Award. It didn't matter even if he had to spend ten years building the foundation for her.
And Richel, the woman who always said one thing but meant another, was more likely to reach orgasm under his "violent assault and whipping." She could be considered a very special collection on his shelf. Therefore, she deserved the reward. Anyway, Adriaan had his own plans for next year's Oscars.
Cunningham's novel was based on Virginia Woolf and her work, Mrs. Dalloway. Although Woolf was a pioneer of that era, she looked like many women on the surface, and had suffered serious injuries in her heart. So, it was better to find for her to be played by an actress. In the original version, Nicole had to put on ugly makeup. She even had a fake nose to hide her beauty and highlight her temperament.
Kate and Richel both had a different classical temperament, especially Richel. She graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge, and had an indescribable, scholarly aura.
Adriaan, who was in a dilemma, simply let Daldeli decide after the audition. This made the British director feel quite flattered. It should be known that Adriaan had always appointed the female lead in the movies he valued — there was no need to mention the trickery — and these appointed actors had basically been proven to be very suitable during the production and after the release of the movie. Therefore, no director could insist on his opinion on the actors in front of him.
Under such circumstances, he handed the decision over to Dalderi. There was no need to explain what he meant by that. So, Daldeli spent a few days thinking about it. He felt that the script was very good, and he didn't want to lose this opportunity. However, he had to make a decision. So, after thinking about it, he finally chose the one he thought was more suitable. Surprisingly, after informing Adriaan, he didn't say anything. He only expressed his support, which made Daldeli feel relieved. After he began to direct, he immediately put in more effort.
Adriaan didn't know that his action made Daldeli work harder. He only agreed with the director's opinion in his heart. Relatively speaking, Richel was indeed more suitable than Kate. If Adriaan hadn't changed the trajectory of Kate's life, she would have gone to Oxford after graduating from high school. Although she dropped out halfway to act in movies, the atmosphere of Oxford had more or less influenced her. So, even though she liked literature very much, and had won several prestigious writing competition awards when she was in a girls' high school, and even though she still occasionally wrote some small articles to submit, she was much worse than Richel in this aspect.
Moreover, Richel was two years older than her, and his acting skills were better. Back then, when he got the Best Actress Oscar nomination for "The English Patient", he didn't rely entirely on public relations. So, he was indeed more suitable.
It wasn't a big deal. It was just a nomination. Previously, he said that Adriaan had other plans next year, and it was fine to use ten years to accumulate experience for Kate.
Things were settled. After enjoying himself in Los Angeles, Adriaan got up and went to London. Oh, of course, he had to stop in New York midway. First, he went to his uncle's house as usual, and he attended some social events. Second, he naturally wanted to see Little Que'er, who was restless in his hands.
"On the contrary, I think the author uses the color red very cleverly. Although it gives people a feeling of anxiety, at the same time, it urges you to continue moving forward with enthusiasm." Adriaan stood in front of a post-modern work that was pieced together with a variety of color blocks in the gallery.
The slightly petite girl wore a brown trench coat and a small bonnet. She looked a little cute, but a pair of boots made her look very stylish.
"If that's what you think … then it's fine." Natalie didn't want to argue at all.
Adriaan shrugged and raised his hand to look at the time. He then took her arm and said, "It's almost time, let's go for dinner. Pinas Restaurant is very strict with its customers. If we go past the time limit, even I can't get them to free up another table."
Natalie looked around and made sure that no one recognized her and Adriaan. She coughed lightly and said, "Sorry, Eide, I suddenly don't want to go to the restaurant. Maybe … dinner at the apartment is better?"
Although she used a questioning tone, Adriaan knew that if he refused, she would immediately start begging, so he raised his eyebrows and said, "No problem, I'll ask them to send dinner over."
They left the gallery together and took a car back to the apartment together. The two didn't talk much. Ever since that incident, Natalie, who always liked to talk during dates, gradually became quiet. The reason was obvious, but now she was trying to change this situation. Otherwise, she wouldn't have taken the initiative to criticize the painting in the gallery. But …
"You have to admit, Pinas Restaurant is completely worthy of the three-star rating. Red wine? Or champagne? " Adriaan said as he opened his wine cabinet. In the dark room, only the candles on the dining table flickered with light. Natalie, who had taken off her coat and was sitting on the chair, looked mysterious and attractive in the candlelight.
When they returned to the apartment, the waiter from Pinas Restaurant had already arranged everything. All they had to do was eat. However, Adriaan declined the wine offered by the restaurant. Although he didn't like to collect all kinds of wine like Claude, there were still many treasures in the apartment.
"Red wine, thank you," Natalie replied lightly.
"Okay." Adrian said as he took out a bottle. After opening it with a bottle opener, he placed a handkerchief under it and carried it to her side with both hands. He gracefully filled the glass in front of her.
"Is it my imagination?" He suddenly asked after he put down the bottle, and then reached out and pinched Natalie's face frivolously. "You seem to have lost a little weight."
"From a psychological point of view, if a person is very possessive, it is easy for him to not tolerate the slightest imperfection in his eyes. So even if some things have not changed, in his opinion, they are still constantly contrary to his will." Natalie still spoke in the same calm tone, "In addition, I am a very trustworthy person. I will definitely do what I promised."
Adriaan chuckled and did not speak. He poured some red wine for himself and sat back in his seat before he said, "It seems that you have completed your studies well. Have you started to prepare your graduation thesis? George has scheduled the second Star Wars prequel for this year's summer vacation. "
"Yes, he also wants me to participate in the publicity this time. I need a lot of time to prepare my graduation thesis, so, I will go back to Boston tomorrow." When she said the last sentence, Natalie inadvertently paused.
"Time flies." Adriaan didn't care. He then began to sigh. "In the blink of an eye, you are about to graduate from Harvard. I really miss the time at Harvard. It's a pity that I haven't been to many places with you, such as the library. Speaking of which, I have been to Harvard and Harvard's famous library before. I still remember that behind the bookshelf in the third row from the back, there is a... "
"No!" Before he finished speaking, Natalie suddenly screamed. Although her eyelids were drooping and the light was not bright, it could be seen from her heaving chest that she understood the meaning behind this sentence and reacted violently.
Adriaan chuckled and calmly took a sip of red wine. He then changed the topic, "Speaking of which, although I have been to the set of 'The Clone Wars' several times, I have never been to George's place in detail..."
Every time he teased her like this, she felt an indescribable pleasure. After the Oscars last year, Natalie gradually changed from the original resistance to the direction of acceptance. However, at the same time, she constantly struggled in her heart. Fear and disgust made her continue to maintain a certain degree of resistance, so she became very conflicted. Therefore, when they were in the gallery, she could start a conversation, but she was unwilling to argue. That was why she said those words just now with hidden sarcasm.
Don't worry, dear Nada, you will agree. Adriaan raised his glass to Natalie and smiled. Also, you will be the one to say the word "library" to me.
After flying from New York to London, Adriaan was not in a hurry to see little Emma. Instead, he went to Richel's house. Although "The Hours" started filming at the end of last year, it was about the story of three women, so there was relatively more free time for filming. Richel had a habit of returning to London for a short period of time after staying in the United States for a long time. When Adriaan arrived in London, she happened to be there. With a dutiful secretary like Ivanka, he was very clear about the whereabouts of women. Therefore, some "torture" was inevitable.
"Yes, dear, I am already in London. I will come over soon." Adriaan was talking to little Emma on the phone. "Nothing, just a little private matter. You said that you will forgive me, right?"
It was indeed a little private matter. For example, he set up a camera next to him, made a woman with outstanding temperament lie on the table, tied her limbs to the legs of the table, and stood in front of her head. It was not a good opportunity to talk to little Emma, but Adriaan forgot to turn off his phone and put it next to him. He even notified the little one before he came.
In the end, he got all over Richel's head and hair. But she did not mind. After loosening the rope, she curled up on the table, immersed in the scene with her blurred eyes, and the corners of her mouth curled up faintly.
Adriaan also half-jokingly asked Richel how he changed — even though he was the one who caused it.
"Who knows? Sometimes, once the devil in one's heart is released, it can't be turned off," Richel answered worriedly.
But it would be a big mistake to think that she was helpless and sad. Maybe she did have that intention two or three years ago, but now, although she often looked at Adriaan with sad eyes, and although she always looked weak and pitiful after being pressed on the bed, it was all so that Adriaan could use all kinds of methods to violate her.
In a sense, what Richel said was correct.
Alright, let's not talk about this. Although little Emma reluctantly agreed to forgive him when they left Los Angeles, and she even repeated it on the phone, when Adriaan finally appeared in front of her, the first thing he got was a big eye roll.
"Hey, dear, you promised me. In order to avoid those guys outside, I had to sneak in through the back door." Adriaan felt wronged.
"Let's not talk about whether there are really reporters outside. Even if there are, you can let me go in!" Little Emma said confidently.
Alright, for an unreasonable little girl, what else could he do other than raise his hands in surrender? But this time, accompanying the little girl was not as casual as before, because there were many reporters waiting on the streets of London.
With the global popularity of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone", the three young actors became completely popular. As a "good" British media, how could they not dig deep into their families? Eric and George were fine, their families were very good, but once little Emma's experience was revealed, many unscrupulous media would make a fuss about it, not to mention that it involved Adriaan.
In fact, the story that her parents had died when she was very young and that she was now adopted by her aunt had now spread all over the world. The efficiency of the British media in this regard was really indescribable. It was said that "The Sun" had already collected this information before Christmas, but considering various factors such as the Children's Act and the fact that they could ensure that it was exclusive news, they chose to publish it after Christmas.
For now, it was a good thing. Once the news was revealed, little Emma immediately received the sympathy of countless people. In addition, according to the news from the media, as well as the cleverness and maturity shown in some of the programs and premieres, people knew that she had not become extreme or eccentric because of the death of her parents. She was a very cute, lively, strong, and sunny girl. Therefore, she became the most popular among the three minor leads.
But little Emma did not realize this, she just felt that everything was very, very annoying.
"Let's not talk about the media, neighbors, friends, classmates, teachers, and even the respectable old actors in the crew, they seem to have changed. They often look at me with admiration, as if I have done something amazing." After using the power of makeup to get to the streets, Emma started to complain non-stop.
"That's because you have indeed done something amazing." Adriaan smiled and patted her head, "There are many children who can walk out of the shadows, but at the same time, grow up happily, never complain, and be strong, kind, and sunny. There are very few children like that."
"That's because I have you by my side." Little Emma suddenly tightened her grip on his hand as she spoke, and looked up at him uneasily, "You won't change, right?"
"Of course, I will never change." Adriaan stopped walking and said with a smile, "Even if those guys exaggerate, I won't change."
"Exaggerate?" Little Emma didn't understand.
"You know, I was the one who suggested you go for the audition." Adriaan thought about it and said carefully, "Sooner or later, the reporters will find out about the connection between you and me, and then they will use this point to make up stories and put some bad things on you. Especially now that you are so popular, they will even use all kinds of unexpected ways to make things difficult for you when you attend events."
"Why would they do that?!" The little girl's eyes widened in shock and anger.
"That's what they do, people like to see it. As long as it can attract attention, they don't mind selling their souls to Satan." Adriaan said as he squatted down in front of her, "I can't be by your side all the time, so if you really encounter something like this, you must be strong, you must not be confused, you must not be led by the nose by them, you must have your own thoughts, you must understand your own goals, and then don't give up, don't let them beat you down, understand?"
The little girl murmured a few words, then her eyes suddenly lit up, and she hugged him fiercely. After a while, she clenched her fists and said firmly, "Yes, I understand, I will never give up on my goals! I will never let anyone stop me or beat me down! "
Her clear eyes stared at him with indescribable passion and determination. Adriaan suddenly realized that the little girl... seemed to have misunderstood.
