Chapter 2: Success is close to zero

"Caa will soon sign a formal contract with me to help me make a complete future plan."

Turning the coffee cup in his hand, Rick Solomon made no secret of showing off, "Lovett also won a supporting actor for me in caa's packaging project "Alien 3". Success is very simple for me."

He looked up and down Panduke, "And you, Duke Rosenberg, I heard Lovett say that you went on and off the set when you were five, and you played a small role in the movie when you were sixteen. What about you now? Seventeen movie characters, but no lines, no frontal shots, and no names appearing in the media. You are a total loser!"

With his hands folded on the table, Duke looked at Rick Solomon faintly, occasionally showing his eyes like he was watching a circus clown.

Probably stimulated by Duke’s attitude, Rick Solomon raised his voice slightly, "What can you be proud of? Want to be a director? Wake up, don’t dream! Tell you, Lovetken signed you back. It’s just because your family has a good relationship with George Lucas and you have some connections in Hollywood, just because of this shameful nepotism!"

++ "Robert Solomon should be your father?" Duke suddenly said, his voice is not loud but very harsh, "If I remember correctly, he is the executive vice president of Warner Bros. According to your statement, caa signed you……"

"That's because I have talent and potential, but you don't!"

When he waved to interrupt Duke, Rick Solomon was not a fool, and he quickly changed the subject, "In the beginning, you squeezed me out to become the main quarterback with despicable means, so what? Can you enter the Major League Football? Can I participate in the Super Bowl? Also, Anne Bennett has promised to be my girlfriend..."

He thought that the joy of prying the corner had not yet flowed out, and Duke asked in a strange tone, "Sorry, who is Anne Bennett?"

In Rick Solomon’s wide-open eyes, he patted his forehead, "Oh, I remember, it turned out to be the blond cheerleader back then. I only spent two nights with her and threw her away. I didn’t expect you to pick it up now."

Hearing this, Rick Solomonjo stood up, "Boy, I..."

Pointing to his chest, he said, "I will become a big star in the future, I will participate in Oscars, and my name will resound all over the world."

He clicked on Duke in the air, "And you, you will be unknown in your life, you will be a shameful loser!"

"I believe the first half of your sentence."

Without waiting for the other party to say anything, Duke got up and walked towards the door. He didn’t have to entangle with this kind of person. Rick Solomon in another world is indeed very famous, although not as famous as the heroine in the video tape, it is still considered Known to the whole world.

"Don't think that you can be a director by making two inexplicable experimental films!"

Because of the very quiet relationship of the cafe, Duke vaguely caught Rick Solomon’s voice before going out. Perhaps this is the most reliable sentence the other party said today. If you make a few experimental films, you can enter Hollywood as a director. Then he won't waste it till now.

This is really not a pleasant meeting!

When he drove the second-hand Chevrolet back to the apartment, Duke was still thinking about the content of the conversation. As a thigh, Caa did not hesitate to abandon him as an unknown person. What should I do next?

Looking for the crew to accumulate qualifications, waiting for opportunities, or...

Back at the apartment, Duke continued his own packaging. Hundreds of almost ripped books, hundreds of video tapes, dozens of rolls of film tape, and a 16mm camera and small film kit were taken by him. Divide them carefully in several boxes, and store them one by one, only to be shipped tomorrow.

These are the wealth he has accumulated and witnesses of his years of study and practice.

Early the next morning, Duke and the landlord settled the lease transfer problem of the apartment. When the moving company arrived, he moved all his luggage onto the truck, and then drove his Chevrolet, followed the truck, and drove out of Valencia together. , Go straight to Santa Monica, a small coastal city on the west side of Los Angeles.

This small city is not only a tourist attraction, but also a place where wealthy people like to buy a place. The Rosenberg’s villa is in a good location, not far from Santa Monica’s marina area, although it is not too big, with a vestibule and a small garden. Counting it is not an acre, but with the unique sophistication and elegance of French architecture.

When it arrived, it was almost noon. Duke skillfully parked the Chevrolet into the garage and asked the servant to direct the workers of the moving company to temporarily put the luggage into the storage room next to the house, settle the expenses with them, and wait for the truck to leave. Behind the main entrance, I looked at this very familiar off-white building, stepped on the stone steps of the same color, and walked in.

Although he hasn't returned for a long time, this is where he grew up and Duke has no strangeness.

Walking across the smooth marble floor, Duke skillfully turned into the large living room of the main house. As expected, his mother, who had always been busy at work, was waiting for him.

This is a middle-aged woman with almost exactly the same color of hair and eyes as Duke. She is tall and has a distinctive Jewish face. Despite the common problem of large Western women’s skeletons, she deserves to be beautiful. Especially the maintenance is very good, it looks like it is in his early thirties.

"Mom, I'm back."

Looking up at Duke, Leah Rosenberg nodded slightly, "Well, let's eat."

She put down the fashion magazine in her hand, stood up and walked towards the restaurant, Duke hurriedly followed, and walked on Mrs. Leah's side.

Duke has long been accustomed to his mother's attitude. His mother is shrewd and capable, but she doesn't talk much, and is especially strict with him. Even if she really misses herself, she seldom expresses it between her words and demeanor.

But Duke knows that she really loves herself, otherwise she will not give up busy work and prepare lunch and wait for her to go home. He also respects his mother enough, and he has spent 21 years getting along, even if it is a stranger. Will cultivate deep feelings, let alone people with blood relations.

First, I went to the bathroom next to the restaurant and washed briefly. Duke walked into the restaurant and habitually sat on his mother’s left hand position. Lunch was not considered rich. Simple vegetable salad, barley bread, potato roast beef and oatmeal. He just tasted it and knew that it must have come from his mother.

"You have officially graduated."

Their family doesn't have so much dining etiquette. After only a few bites, Mrs. Leah asked with concern, "Have no changes in her thinking about the future?"

"No, Mom." Duke looked at his mother and said very seriously, "I want to be a film director! And it's the kind of success!"

In fact, he knew that according to his mother, he should go into business.

"Do you know how difficult this road is, Duke?" Mrs. Leah said a few more words, "are you mentally prepared?"

"I've been prepared for a long time, Mom." Duke's determination has never wavered. "Only you know how much time and energy I have put in for this, and what hard work I have made for this. I have been Towards this goal."

"Tell me about your plan." Mrs. Leah knew very well that although Duke was an activist, he was not an impulsive one.

"In the next few weeks, I will be here..."

Pointing to his head, Duke continued, "An idea that has appeared long ago turns into a suitable script, and then looks for investment and directing opportunities."

Looking up at his mother, twenty years of getting along is enough to make him read his disapproval from that beautiful face, "Mom, I know that I have only made two experimental films. Seniority and age are both issues."

"But don't forget, Hollywood is not without young directors. Last year, Columbia Pictures bought the script for "The Block Boy" from John Singleton and made him a director. How old was he? He was only 22 years old. He is still a black man!"

"Hollywood has never lacked scripts!"

Because its advertising agency has many business dealings with Hollywood, Mrs. Leah knows this very well, "John Singleton will only become an exception, not a common phenomenon."

Duke knew that his mother was reminding him to move forward steadily. He thought about it and said, "According to the normal Hollywood law, I should enter the TV or advertising crew after graduation. Starting from an assistant director or even lower position, I can accumulate experience and can Waiting for the opportunity. But, Mom, time is really tight for me. I have many ideas to realize, and I can't wait endlessly."

"Duke."

As a businessman, Mrs. Leah always keeps her head calm, "Now your chances of success are infinitely close to zero!"

"I understand that 99.99% of people in Hollywood are on the road to success."

Although he has not really entered Hollywood, he has after all the struggle experience in the same circle in another country, and difficulties will never make Duke back down, "Mom, if I try, the chance of success is infinitely close to zero; if I don't try , The probability of success is definitely zero!"

The practical experience of more than ten years in the previous life and the learning and practice of more than ten years in this life have given Duke a certain degree of confidence in himself, and it is worth working hard for it. If there is a chance, it is his luck. If there is no chance , He will not have a particularly big loss, at most he has become a joke for many Hollywood companies and investors, and he is even not qualified to be discussed by them.

This is a road full of hardships, even more difficult than running an advertising company from the class that took over his mother in the future, but Duke has long decided to go on this road, even if he encounters a bloodshed and does not shrink back.

First of all, he has to come up with a script. Even if he agrees with his mother, he will not regret it unless he has worked hard.

This is certainly a successful precedent, and it is also a film that Duke has studied with a deep heart. Of course, it is also the type he is best at shooting.