"This is indeed a beautiful city, and it has one of the best beaches in the world. It's very suitable for a vacation. The French really know how to enjoy life. They've arranged for the film festival to be held here." Standing at the entrance of the balcony, Adriaan shook the wine glass in his hand and looked at the scenery outside. The red liquid swayed back and forth in the glass, as leisurely as his current mood.
"Yes, it's beautiful. This is my first time in Cannes — I mean, as an actor." Sitting not far from him, Naomi was also holding a glass of wine. Nicole, who was sitting a little further away, didn't say anything. She crossed her legs and focused on the red wine in her hand, as if everything around her had nothing to do with her.
"It'll be a regular thing in the future, my dear Naomi." Adrian turned his head and smiled. "You'll soon find out that there's not much difference between coming here as an actor and a tourist. In fact, you might as well come here as a tourist. You'll have more freedom if you come here as an actor."
Speaking of this, he inadvertently glanced at Nicole. Unfortunately, she was still tasting the wine in her hand. Even if he called Naomi a more affectionate name, it wouldn't change that.
"I completely believe that. These days, as long as I leave the hotel, I'll be surrounded by reporters. I can only walk around a few times." Naomi sighed and looked into the distance through the balcony, tapping her fingers gently on her face.
"Don't worry. The film festival opened yesterday, and 'Mulholland Pass' premieres tonight. In a few days, this place will slowly become lively. Even if there are reporters following us, there won't be as many as there are now." Adriaan comforted her. Then he thought of something and sat down next to Naomi. "By the way, Naomi, have you analyzed yourself? What roles are you good at, what roles are you not good at, and how do you play to your strengths and avoid your weaknesses? "
Naomi thought carefully, then shrugged helplessly. "You know, from the beginning of my acting career until now, I've almost always played a small supporting role. How can I do this kind of analysis?"
"Alright, then I have two ideas. I'll tell you now for your consideration." Adriaan immediately said, "The first one is similar to most actresses, romantic comedies. You are so beautiful and charming, so delicate and lovable, and you have very good acting skills. I believe you can use the same method to walk a different path, and I happen to have such a role here."
As he spoke, he raised Naomi's chin and gently stroked her beautiful face. Although his action was frivolous, his expression was very serious. Naomi couldn't help but lower her head, not daring to look him in the eyes.
"And the other one." Adrian continued, "It's a thriller. You know, Mulholland Drive is a crime, suspense, and thriller movie. Since you've shown good acting skills in this kind of movie, it's a good choice to continue to expand your advantage. There's also such a role here."
You know, 'Mulholland Pass' belongs to the crime, suspense, and thriller genre. Since you have shown quite good acting skills in this kind of movie, it is also a good choice to continue to expand your advantages. And there is also such a role here. "
Nicole, who was a little further away, finally raised her head at this time. She just took a glance here and then quickly turned to the other side, but her subtle biting of her lip did not escape Adriaan's eyes. Naomi thought for a moment and sighed. But judging from the way she rolled her eyes, she seemed to have made a decision. "I don't have any experience."
"It's okay. You have enough time to think and analyze." Naomi chuckled, and a trace of pride suddenly appeared on her face. "Even if you choose the wrong path, I can let you start over."
Naomi chuckled, but her head was lowered. After a while, she raised it again. "What about Nicole? What have you arranged for her? "
Although she had only had a threesome so far, and it was for the filming of "Mulholland Pass", Naomi had already guessed Nicole's situation, so there was no need to worry about asking. Anyway, the other party should also know about her own situation, so there was nothing to be ashamed of. Besides …
What a smart woman. Adriaan secretly praised her in his heart. No wonder she said that even though she already had a choice. He immediately looked at Nicole and said, "You should have read the script, Nicole. What do you think?"
"A single mother lives in the manor with two children, and then hires a few weird servants. Strange and terrible things keep happening in the house, as if ghosts are invading, but in the end, they find out that it is herself and her children who have died." Nicole turned her head, and coldly summarized the content of the script, and then shrugged. "I really don't know which 'genius' came up with this idea."
The word "genius" sounded very sharp, and obviously meant the opposite, but Adriaan replied without hesitation, "Thank you, this is my idea."
"This is also a thriller movie, right?" Naomi, who heard the content very clearly, asked.
"Yes, although Nicole has made some good movies before, in these movies, she only has one label, and that is — — a vase!" Adriaan stood up, walked behind Nicole, and put his hands on her shoulders. Nicole put down the wine glass and didn't do anything else. She looked very calm.
"Just like you, Naomi, you have made cameo appearances in many TV series and movies, but they are all unvalued vases. It's just that for some reason, Nicole's starting point is higher." Adriaan continued, "Because you are all too beautiful, so beautiful that people want to possess you, so beautiful that people ignore everything else. In addition, no one is willing to stimulate your hearts, so there is this awkward situation now."
Naomi's hands trembled slightly, and she was a little lost in thought. Although Adriaan's words were explicit, he also said what they really wanted in their hearts.
"So I arranged this movie for Nicole. Generally speaking, it is easy to highlight the actors' acting skills in a thriller movie. That kind of fear can be a sharp contrast to their usual appearance. As long as this kind of fear looks believable, it will receive a very good reputation. Of course, if you overuse it, it is easy to collapse your performance. This depends on the actor's grasp of the situation. And if you want the actor to grasp this degree as much as possible, in addition to the director's explanation, the actor's own analysis, and the state of the shooting, the actor's compatibility with the role is also very important. The role I prepared is very compatible with Nicole, "said Adriaan as he sat down next to Nicole and put his hand on her shoulder.
"Naomi, at first, you gave me the feeling that you are weak and need to be protected, so the role in 'Mulholland's Lane' was created. And Nicole left the deepest impression on me because she is cold and elegant. Her face is pale and a little neurotic. She has a kind of morbid beauty, so I got the role now, "said Adriaan with a smile.
He finally stopped talking, and the room suddenly became quiet. Naomi and Nicole began to be a little lost in thought. After a long time, Nicole's voice sounded again, "Is that the impression I gave you?"
Although she tried her best to keep her tone cold, the turmoil in it was obvious.
"For the time being, but I believe that as time passes, this impression will slowly change, right?" Adriaan chuckled, and the hand on her shoulder slid down, and finally went through her armpit and held under her nipple.
Nicole turned her head and looked at Adriaan with her blue eyes, and a complicated and somewhat absent-minded look flashed across her eyes. Then she stood up and said, "I want to go back and clean up for the premiere tonight."
As she said that, she strode out of the suite. Adriaan gave Naomi an apologetic look, and after Naomi responded with a look of "don't worry", he then got up and followed Nicole out. Watching the two leave the suite, Naomi sighed softly, sat silently on the chair for a moment, then stood up again and poured herself another glass of red wine.
She shook it twice and took a small sip, staring at the red liquid in the glass for a while, then smiled and shook her head. Then she focused on the evening premiere, which was the first international premiere of a movie she starred in.
"You seem a little angry?" Following Nicole to her suite, Adriaan immediately asked.
Although she booked three suites, Naomi basically stayed with Adriaan, and she would only leave when someone wanted to see him. And Nicole basically stayed in her room and did not meet the two unless Adriaan invited her.
"No, I just … think that the script you gave me is not easy to evaluate." Nicole shook her head. She originally wanted to refuse him to go in. Last night, Adriaan wanted to come over and "talk" with her, but he went back after she refused. But when the words were on the tip of her tongue, she didn't say it, especially when she thought of Naomi's beaming face when she opened the door at Adriaan's place today.
"Actually, the technique of this script is very similar to a movie a few years ago." Adriaan chuckled, pulled her into his arms, and sat on the sofa bench. Now that it was only the two of them, he naturally became bolder.
Nicole struggled a little, but in the end, she obediently fell into his arms. "Really?"
"Of course, you should remember the story of a psychologist and a little boy." Adriaan hinted, and when Nicole was about to say the name after thinking, he said it first, "Yes, that's right, Bruce Willis and Silver Phoenix's' The Sixth Sense ', it was also my idea. Don't you believe in my judgment? And that story has a lot of logical loopholes, but the mystery revealed in the end was too shocking, so people ignored the logical loopholes. This script will be more perfect with that story as a reference. "
As he spoke, he lowered his head and gently kissed her cheek. Then, he smiled and said, "Actually, you don't have to be angry. As I said, this is the impression you gave me in the past, and the impression is always changing."
"Is that so?" Nicole, who showed some hope just now, sneered and sat up. "But the first impression is also very important, isn't it?"
She brushed her hair behind her ear and said in a proud tone, it was self-evident what she was referring to. Adriaan smiled good-naturedly, then sat in front of her again, and stared into her beautiful eyes. "Yes, I still remember when you handed the Palme d 'Or to me here a few years ago. I still remember you wearing a black evening dress, your tall figure, your beautiful face, and when you almost fell off the stage, when I grabbed your arm, that touch has always been lingering in my heart. From then on, I had the thought of making you my own. "
For the first time in a few days, Nicole looked surprised. She stared at Adriaan and did not know what to say. Her momentum was completely suppressed by him.
"Just wait and see, Nicole. Sooner or later, you will be mine. From the beginning to the end, inside and out, you will be mine." Adriaan said with a smile, as if he was announcing something.
After a long time, Nicole's chest rose and fell several times, then she gritted her teeth and said, "Now I'm yours. Even if you want me to blow the trumpet for you now, I won't refuse, will I?"
※ ※ ※
As night fell and the lights were lit, a considerable number of reporters gathered outside the Palos Theatre, which was covered with a red carpet. They were all whispering and looking at the end of the street, obviously waiting for someone.
Soon, a lot of people who attended the movie and were guests of status began to enter the venue from the red carpet. Although there were also a lot of reporters asking questions and taking photos, it could be seen from their slightly absent-minded expressions that they were not the people they were waiting for. Until two cars appeared in people's sight. Two silver Rolls-Royces, and it was said that they were flown in by private plane. There was no need to say who the people were.
"Mr. Adriaan, why did you choose Mulholland Drive to participate in the film festival instead of the other films produced last year?" As soon as Adriaan got out of the car, he was surrounded by these questions. He had not been out of the hotel for the past few days except to attend the opening ceremony, so he was naturally the subject of considerable attention. Nicole and Naomi, who got out of the other car later, did not receive such treatment. Although they did not go out much these days, they did answer a lot of questions.
"It's very simple. This movie was produced on a whim, and the investment was not much, only 15 million. In addition, the production cycle was very short, and it was experimental, so it was used to participate in the Cannes Film Festival." This time, Adriaan answered very readily, and at the same time, he clarified some things without leaving a trace.
For example, the previous rumor that the investment was only a few hundred thousand was really a joke. Although Nicole's current net worth was not high, she had played a supporting role in Batman Forever, and her salary was at least three to four million. Although Naomi's salary was similar to that of a newcomer, Adriaan still paid her 500,000 dollars. After Naomi received the payment, she returned the rent she had "borrowed" and the money used to settle the landlord to Adriaan.
Coupled with all the expenses, how could it be like Two Smoking Pipes, which only had an investment of a few hundred thousand dollars?
"Rumor has it that your movie is difficult to understand. What do you think of it?" a reporter asked ambiguously.
"We'll know when we see it." Adriaan also gave a tactful answer.
"I heard that the inspiration for this movie came from Ms. Naomi Watts. Is that true, Mr. Adriaan?" The questions came one after another.
"That's both true and incorrect at the same time. I had the idea for this movie a long time ago, but I always felt that something was missing, so I never put it into action, until …" Adriaan waited for Nicole and Naomi, who were following closely behind him, to walk to the middle and put his arms around the waists of the two beautiful girls. "Until I met Naomi. She gave me a lot of inspiration, and I made the script more substantial. Then, through her, I invited Nicole. Their performances were very good. Without them, this movie would not be complete."
Zhang Heng's gesture immediately attracted a flurry of flashes. It was not uncommon to see a director hugging the leading actress and supporting actress at the same time, but the question was, who was the one he was hugging?! Although the public could not see the resounding name clearly, the insiders knew it. So, if the reporters missed this opportunity, they might as well buy a piece of bread and kill themselves.
This went on for more than ten seconds. Then, Adriaan let go of the two ladies and walked into the theater. It was one thing to hug them for a photo, but it was another thing to hug them all the way into the theater. The clicking sound continued for a long time before it stopped. Only then did the reporters realize that it was impossible to ask any questions. However, it was worth it to take the photo just now, even if they could not ask any questions. Anyway, Adriaan would definitely stay in Cannes before the closing ceremony, so they did not have to worry about not being able to catch him.
What's more, there seemed to be something in front of them that could be taken. Nicole and Naomi walked into the theater hand in hand. Their intimacy seemed to have exceeded the boundary of friends.
Finally entering the theater, Adriaan breathed a sigh of relief in his heart. Immediately, he chatted with people he knew and did not know. Luc Besson and Jean Renault both came to the premiere, so he naturally had to greet them. In addition, there were producers, film dealers, directors, or actors from various countries, plus people from his own company. There were a lot of these guests. What's more, there were film critics and ordinary audiences. If they were not arranged in the Palos Theater, they might not be able to accommodate all of them.
The premiere here was much simpler than the premiere of commercial films. Soon, people began to enter and take their seats. Adriaan's seat was arranged at the end. This was his own request, because "this was the only way to better observe the audience's reaction." As for whether the other party believed him or not, it was their business. The entire last row was arranged for the crew, and Nicole and Naomi also sat on his left and right sides.
The show was finally on. After the lights in the theater were turned off, Adriaan said in his heart. He wondered how people would react to this movie. It was really curious and expectant.
He glanced at Nicole and Naomi respectively. Seeing that they were both focused on the screen, Adriaan also temporarily restrained his thoughts. Soon, the lights hit the screen, and the Miracle Director's version of "Mulholland Drive" was about to begin.
