Chapter 789

"Why? Is there a problem?" Adriaan, who was dressed casually and wearing a cap, looked at Blanchett with a smile.

"I didn't expect you to pick me up." Blanchett looked at him curiously.

"That's sad." Adriaan suddenly looked hurt. "I said it on the phone."

"Really?" Blanchett was a little surprised. After a long flight for several hours, she even slept on the plane. She certainly couldn't remember what she said on the phone before.

"Don't worry about that. Let's talk as we walk." Adriaan said as he came to her side, took the suitcase from her hand in a gentlemanly manner, and then made a gesture to invite her out.

Blanchett smiled and walked out with him. After putting the luggage in the back of the car and getting into the car, she asked, "Why are you dressed like this, Eide?"

"To avoid unnecessary trouble." Adriaan smiled and told the driver, Glover, to drive.

"Unnecessary trouble?" Blanchett was a little puzzled.

"The airport is very busy today. Just now, the Baldwins entered the boarding gate with reporters chasing after them. If they see us, although it's not a big problem, it will be a little troublesome," Adriaan explained.

Blanchett nodded in realization. Apparently, she recalled those scandals about him. For some reason, her gaze suddenly became a little strange. Adriaan shrugged indifferently and reminded her, "By the way, where should we go?"

"Oh, sorry, please send me to Merry Hotel on Brandon Avenue," Blanchett said to the driver.

"Merry Hotel on Brandon Avenue? Not a bad place. " Adriaan rubbed his chin and recalled. "It's next to Mackenzie Street. Transportation, shopping, and sightseeing are very convenient. The service is good, and the price is moderate. You have good taste."

"Thank you. Your memory is also very good, Eide," Blanchett said immediately, and the two suddenly laughed together.

During this conversation, the car soon arrived at the destination. After sending Blanchett to her room, Adriaan said goodbye.

"After flying for a few hours, you must be very tired. You should rest early. We'll contact each other in a few days. It just so happens that the movie needs a few days to finish preparing," said Adriaan.

"Finished preparing? Shouldn't we audition first? "Blanchett asked in surprise.

"There's no need." Adriaan shrugged. "According to what we talked about on the phone, about the plot and the heroine, I can be sure that you are the most suitable, Kate."

"You … Do you really think so?" Blanchett looked at him, a little at him, not knowing what to do.

"Of course." Adrian smiled and naturally reached out to stroke the hair on her temples. "My taste is never wrong."

"You seem to say that every time." The corner of Blanchett's mouth twitched as if she wanted to laugh. Adrian didn't say anything else. He bowed politely and turned to leave. But then he thought of something and turned back. "By the way, Kate, my new movie will premiere in a few days. Would you like to attend?"

"The premiere of a new movie?" Blanchett hesitated. "It doesn't seem appropriate, does it?"

"It's nothing. Just treat it as a party. Besides, both the male lead and the director will be attending. You guys can also exchange a few words at the premiere, right?" Adrian laughed. "That's settled then."

After leaving the hotel, Adriaan got into his car and told the driver to go back to the villa. He leaned back in his seat and let out a long sigh. Blanchett had come to Hollywood. As long as she came, it would be fine. This was his turf.

His attention shifted to the upcoming "This Killer Is Not Too Cold." The movie was supposed to be released in early January, but because the company's resources were focused on "The Piano Class," "Philadelphia Story," and "Schindler's List," the promotion was not as good as expected.

The reporters only knew that Director Miracle had a new work, but they did not pay too much attention to this new work — this "too much" was relative to the movies "Schindler's List". After all, those three movies had their own gimmicks, such as female directors, homosexuality, and the Holocaust. Of course, "This Killer Is Not Too Cold" also existed. The relationship between the eccentric uncle and the little lolita was the best gimmick. However, the problem was that unless it was like "Lolita", which clearly depicted the relationship between an adult and a minor. Oh, it should be said that it was a work that depicted abnormal love between an adult and a minor. If other films were to touch upon this topic, it would definitely be boycotted.

Luc Besson's failure in the United States was not unrelated to this. Because of this, Adriaan deliberately played down this relationship when he copied it, making it seem more plausible. If he still used this gimmick to promote the movie, wouldn't he be shooting himself in the foot?

Anyway, many blockbusters that were released during the Christmas and New Year period still occupied the major cinemas, so it was not a big deal to push it back. Anyway, the schedule between mid-January and the end of February was not as popular as the Christmas and New Year period, but it was not bad. Many romantic comedies were released on February 14, such as "Delicious."

It didn't matter. As long as the story was good, the audience would like it. Adrian looked out of the window as he thought of something and curled the corner of his lips.

…

"Speaking of which, you are so beautiful tonight." Adriaan retracted his gaze from the window and looked at the girl in front of him with a smile on his face. He did not hide his appreciation.

"Do you really think so?" Natalie, who was sitting across from him, smirked. She was wearing a brown, long-sleeved vest with two skirts folded underneath. Her slender calves were exposed, and she was wearing a pair of flat shoes that were almost the same color as her clothes. She was also wearing a darker lace hat, and her straightened hair hung down from both sides. She looked rather artistic and elegant.

"Of course, do you think I will lie?" Adriaan smiled. "Although we have been in touch through letters, I really did not expect that in just a few months, you have become more beautiful and lovely than before."

"Thank you for your compliment, but … why does this sound a little strange?" Natalie frowned slightly, but she quickly thought of something and blushed. She turned her head to the side uneasily, and at the same time, gritted her teeth and secretly glanced at Adriaan with a mixture of embarrassment, embarrassment, and dissatisfaction.

"I can't wait to see you appear in front of the reporters. They will definitely be amazed." Adriaan did not continue but changed the topic with a sigh.

Perhaps because the car was dim, and the street lights flashed from time to time, he could not see her face clearly. So the little girl decided to shut her mouth and not speak. But unexpectedly, Adriaan immediately said, "I'm glad you can come to Los Angeles to attend the premiere, Nada."

"I can't help it. Someone called my house dozens of times. If I don't agree, maybe he will rush to my house and kidnap me." Natalie rolled her eyes.

"Oh, that's a good idea. Why didn't I think of it?" Adriaan suddenly realized and clapped his hands. "If I flew directly to your house, I wouldn't have to make so many calls."

Natalie couldn't help but roll her eyes again. She looked quite cute. In this strange atmosphere, the RV arrived outside the theater where the premiere was held. Adriaan got off first and then reached out to Natalie in a gentlemanly manner.

As soon as the little girl got off the car, countless flashes went off. Although she was mentally prepared, she was still shocked by the scene. She stumbled and almost fell to the ground. Fortunately, Adriaan, who was standing behind her, reached out to support her small waist in time, so that she could maintain her balance and not embarrass herself.

Natalie, who was good at judging the situation, did not raise her head. She just secretly shook Adriaan's hand to express her gratitude.

"Mr. Adriaan, may I ask why you chose a popular action movie as your new work?"

"Mr. Adriaan, some of the audience who attended the pre-screening thought that some of the views in your new work were a little too unbearable. What do you think of this issue?"

"Mr. Adriaan, does this movie mean that you are going to completely turn to commercial film production?"

The voices of the reporters rang out. In the face of these guys who couldn't wait to grab him and pry open his head to see what was inside, although Adriaan always maintained a smile, he did not answer a single question. He just grabbed Jean Renault, who walked in front of his RV and got off at the same time, and posed with Natalie for the reporters to take photos.

"Aren't you going to say something, Mr. Adriaan?!" After a few minutes of taking photos, seeing that Adriaan and others were about to walk into the theater, a reporter immediately shouted.

"Say something?" Adriaan raised his head and thought for a while. "Okay, then let me introduce again. This is Jean Renault. Those who know something about French movies should have an impression of him. I met him there at the Cannes Film Festival two years ago, and immediately found that he was very suitable for the male lead of the movie I was thinking about. We had already made an agreement at that time. And it turns out that my judgment was correct. His performance is very wonderful. "

As he spoke, he looked at Natalie next to him. "And this is the female lead, Natalie — Miss Portman!"

For example, in order to prevent affecting her family life, Natalie changed her surname and used her grandmother's surname, "Portman", as her name in the film industry. Therefore, Natalie Herag officially became Natalie Portman.

"Thank God, I gave her a second chance to audition. Without her, this movie would lose at least half of its brilliance. She is the smartest, most mature, and most capable girl of her age that I have seen so far!" Adriaan was not stingy with his words of praise. Natalie put her hands behind her back and let the reporters take photos with a smile on her face.

"Okay, that's it. If you have any questions, please ask after the movie is over." Seeing that the reporters were still a little unwilling, Adriaan immediately said so. Then, he led Renault and Natalie into the theater.

"Although this is my first time attending a premiere in the United States, I have to say that the American reporters are a little more well-behaved than the French." Renault sighed as he walked.

"Don't think that the American reporters won't chase after you and stuff the microphone into your mouth. It's just that we walked very fast and didn't give them time to react." Adriaan said mockingly, "If you stay a few more minutes, you will know that they are no more gentlemanly than their British counterparts."

"That's true. The British reporters, or the British tabloid reporters, are probably the craziest guys in the world," Renault said, shaking his head. Renault said, shaking his head. Then, he became angry again. "The French reporters probably learned from them, or those guys are just British reporters who speak French."

"Okay, let's go." Adriaan laughed and patted him on the shoulder. "The entertainment reporters all over the world are the same."

He then turned to look at Natalie on the other side. The little girl's eyes were wide open as she stared ahead in a daze. She was almost subconsciously walking with him. Her breathing was a little rapid, and there was an excited look on her face as if she was still reminiscing about what had just happened.

"How do you feel, Nada?" Adriaan asked after a chuckle.

"Well … it's great, being watched, being chased, as if … as long as you wave your hand … they will surround you and cheer loudly …" Natalie murmured and suddenly held her face in embarrassment. "Sorry, I seem to have forgotten myself."

"Don't mind it, Nada." Adriaan deliberately fell two steps behind Renault. After walking side by side with Natalie, he reached out and pressed her shoulder. "Everyone will be excited when they face this kind of situation for the first time. You know, when facing those reporters just now, you were very calm and responsive. No one can do better than you."

"Really?" Natalie looked up. "Did I do well?"

"Of course." Adriaan laughed. Although he wanted to touch the little girl's smooth and tender face, he restrained himself in the end and just pressed her head. "You are very good, Nada. I know that you are fully qualified to be chased after and cheered for by them. And I am completely sure that in the future, you will be chased after and cheered for more than today. This is just the beginning. "

"Oh, what touching words, but it sounds more like a lover comforting his lover, not a director encouraging his own actor," Renault, who was walking in front, turned around and said teasingly.

"Hey, Renault!" Adriaan said in an annoyed tone.

"Oh, sorry, my bad." Renault, who came to his senses, quickly raised his hand, turned his head and stopped talking.

"It's okay, Renault was just joking." Natalie shrugged, looking very generous. However, Adriaan saw the blush and annoyed look that flashed across her face a few seconds ago.

The group finally arrived at the front hall of the theater. At this moment, the place was already full of people, holding drinks or empty hands, chatting excitedly. Adriaan quickly separated from Natalie and Renault. Although he wanted to stay with Natalie for a while, he still had his own things to do, and some things could not be rushed.

"Hey, how's your conversation going?" He then came to the small circle of two men and one woman.

"It's so nice to meet you, Eide." Keanu Reeves was the first to shake hands with him, his face full of a warm smile. He was so warm because he and Revan Phoenix had become good friends during the filming of "The Unruly Sky." Adriaan had saved Revan, so naturally, he had a good impression of him.

"You're finally here, Eide. We were just talking about you." The second to shake hands with him was the director, Jane de Bont. He also had a smile on his face, although not as warm as Reeves', but still very friendly. When Adriaan specifically asked him to direct "Twister," he had just started as a director not long ago and had not produced a single film. He was still promoting himself everywhere. Suddenly, such a big pie fell into his lap. Naturally, he was very grateful to Adriaan.

"Yeah, I heard a lot of stories about you from them that I've never heard before." The third was naturally Cate Blanchett. She was wearing a decent turtleneck sweater with a jacket over her arm. She was wearing a cotton skirt that reached her knees, black thermal pants, and a pair of high-heeled leather boots. She looked dignified and elegant, yet a little sexy at the same time.

"You're here again, Keanu." Adriaan looked at Reeves and said with some annoyance.

"What's the problem? Didn't you save Revan? Without you, Revan might not be in this world anymore. Isn't that the case? Besides, Jane and Kate are not outsiders. It's not a big deal to tell them, is it? "Reeves' series of questions made Bont and Blanchett laugh.

"Okay, okay, where were you guys?" Adriaan couldn't help but laugh and shake his head, then he changed the topic.

"Some topics about the scene." As the director, Bont said, "It's a brilliant idea to limit the main scene to a bus. Outside the bus, there are blue skies and white clouds, and the scenery is beautiful and pleasant. But inside the bus, there is a tense crisis, and a shadow shrouds the heads of every passenger. Setting the crime scene on a bus that can be encountered at any time in daily life gives people a sense of realism and gravity. "

"Very good, this proves that my choice of you to direct is completely correct." Adriaan laughed, "I hope you don't hate me because I didn't let you have a good rest."

The movie that invited Blanchett to play the female lead was "Speed", which made Reeves famous. As early as last September, Bosworth Pictures received the script of this movie. Adriaan would review the script received by the company every week, and naturally knew the value of this script, so he immediately decided to buy it and put it into production.

But there was another problem in front of him. Who should he choose as the female lead? Adriaan had no interest in Sandra Bullock, so he naturally passed on it. Such a movie should first consider his own woman, but after thinking about it, it seemed that only Julia was more suitable.