Chapter 322: Doesn’t Sound Good
Chapter 322: Doesn’t Sound Good
“Eric, take a look. The situation isn’t as simple as you imagined. Carole Bouquet, Nastassja Kinski, Isabelle Huppert, and Isabelle Adjani—these first-line European actresses either rejected the invitation outright or expressed strong interest in the story while hoping you would significantly reduce the sex scenes,” Jeffrey said in the office as he handed a stack of mail to Eric.
Eric accepted the letters and silently reviewed their replies one by one. After a long while, he shook his head with a bitter smile.
“Looks like I really oversimplified things.”
“Of course. Finding a first-line actress with strong acting skills willing to star in Basic Instinct is very difficult. Even these European actresses, although they can accept the film’s level of explicitness, if they have any intention of developing in Hollywood, they absolutely won’t casually take on this kind of movie. Otherwise, it would greatly affect their image in Hollywood. And if they have no intention of developing in Hollywood, then there’s even less to say. The tone of your film doesn’t really fit the tastes of most European actresses who are used to artistic films.”
“Oh, right,” Eric suddenly lowered his head and looked through several of the letters in his hand. “Carole Bouquet’s agent said she’s very interested in this film. Contact them and see if she can fly to Los Angeles for an in-person discussion.”
Jeffrey glanced over Carole Bouquet’s information and smiled.
“Eric, this French actress’s image really does match Catherine Tramell’s character setting the best. However, she just won the César Award for Best Actress this March. I think persuading her will be even harder.”
“Then bundle it together,” Eric said. “I happen to have another film in my plans whose female lead she could try for. It’s also a major production, with an investment of no less than sixty million dollars.”
“How come I don’t know about it?” Jeffrey immediately became interested. “Tell me about it?”
Eric smiled and shook his head.
“That’s confidential for now. Besides, it may not necessarily become my next film. I’ve already asked Stan and the others to begin preliminary technical development for Jurassic Park while they handle the effects work for Ghost. So after Ghost, my specific work schedule hasn’t been finalized yet. Maybe I’ll begin preparing Jurassic Park, or maybe I’ll shoot some simpler special effects films first to accumulate experience.”
“Alright, I won’t ask then,” Jeffrey said. “However, Disney is very dissatisfied with the progress of Ghost. They hope you can begin filming as soon as possible.”
“They’re not unaware of my shooting speed,” Eric replied. “Although this movie uses special effects, they aren’t especially complicated. I’ll first shoot the scenes requiring effects and hand them over to Stan’s team for post-production. It won’t even take a month. According to the schedule, everything will be completed by mid-June, leaving almost a full month for promotion. That’s more than enough.”
“That’s exactly what I told them,” Jeffrey said with a smile. “Still, Eric, I think we should prepare a backup plan. Quite a few second- and third-tier domestic actresses have submitted materials. You might as well choose from among them. I think there are actually several very good candidates.”
“Then leave me a copy of their information before you go. I’ll choose some and arrange a simple audition,” Eric said.
While the two were talking, Jeffrey’s assistant knocked on the door.
“Mr. Hansen, Mr. Williams, Mr. Roger Spottiswoode and Mr. Don Johnson have arrived.”
“Let’s head over,” Jeffrey said to Eric. “At least the director and male lead are finally settled now.”
Eric and Jeffrey walked together to a small reception room. The three people inside quickly stood up. When Eric saw Melanie Griffith there, he was briefly surprised, but quickly understood. Melanie Griffith was Don Johnson’s wife.
Honestly speaking, Don Johnson had always only been a television actor before this. In terms of fame, he was far less famous than his wife, Melanie Griffith. Most likely she had come along to support her husband. The two had only been married for a little over a year, and their marriage was still in its honeymoon phase.
Eric had only chosen Don Johnson as the male lead of Basic Instinct because of a certain movie from his memories.
As for the original version’s Michael Douglas, Eric felt the man was too old. Although his acting skills were excellent, Eric always felt his presence was somewhat weaker and failed to fully embody Nick’s fiery-tempered detective character.
As he shook hands with the couple, Eric suddenly thought of another person.
Based on the timeline, Eric’s rebirth should not have affected this person’s existence—that was Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith’s daughter, Dakota Johnson.
In the parallel timeline, Dakota Johnson had starred in a very famous movie called Fifty Shades of Grey.
Speaking of which, Melanie Griffith’s family could barely be considered part of Hollywood’s film aristocracy, though their influence was nowhere near that of the Coppola or Fonda families.
“Mr. Williams, is there a problem?” Don Johnson asked curiously when he noticed Eric studying the couple with interest.
“Oh, sorry. I suddenly remembered something.”
Eric smiled before turning toward the other man, Roger Spottiswoode.
A thin-faced, bespectacled middle-aged man in his forties, Roger Spottiswoode’s most famous film in Eric’s previous life was probably Tomorrow Never Dies.
However, although Roger Spottiswoode was already forty-five now, he had never really broken through as a director and had no particularly outstanding films to his name.
After Jeffrey recommended him, Eric had specifically watched some of his movies and discovered that the man was particularly skilled with drama thrillers like Basic Instinct.
More importantly, Roger Spottiswoode was inexpensive and did not demand final cut rights, so Eric quickly settled on him.
After exchanging pleasantries, the three sat down.
“Mr. Spottiswoode, you’ve already studied the script for several days now. Why don’t you first talk about your thoughts on this film?”
“Of course, Mr. Williams,” Roger Spottiswoode nodded. “I believe that on the surface, Basic Instinct is about the investigation of a perverted murder case, but in reality, it portrays a kind of primal desire, a kind of wild passion.”
“From the script, it’s clear that Detective Nick and the murderer Catherine Tramell are actually the same type of people. Deep inside both of them lies a primitive destructive tendency. That’s why Nick accidentally kills an innocent tourist during his undercover operation after becoming emotionally agitated.”
“After the rock singer is murdered, Nick already determines from the start that Catherine Tramell is the real killer. Then after that interrogation scene, Catherine’s provocation awakens the desires deep within him, leading to his later rough treatment of Beth…”
Although Roger Spottiswoode had remained mediocre as a director for ten years, he had clearly put tremendous effort into understanding this script.
Everyone in the room listened while nodding repeatedly.
Eric also realized that Roger Spottiswoode was probably similar to Jonathan Demme back then.
Jonathan Demme had become famous in one stroke because of Eric’s The Others and had now become a first-line Hollywood director.
Roger Spottiswoode probably also wanted to tightly grasp this opportunity.
Although Basic Instinct was extremely unconventional compared to Eric’s other scripts, it was still personally written by Eric. Even if controversy erupted in the future, the majority of criticism would definitely target Eric himself.
As long as the movie succeeded, Spottiswoode, as the director, would naturally rise further as well.
The group discussed every aspect of filming Basic Instinct for the entire afternoon.
After work, Eric returned to Point Manor carrying a thick stack of alternative actress files.
The moment he pushed open the villa door, a petite figure greeted him.
“Hi, Vicky. When did you get back?” Eric asked as he embraced the woman and kissed her.
“At ten-thirty this morning. It felt terrible. I never want to sit on such a long flight again,” Virginia Madsen complained while clinging to Eric’s arm.
The woman had gone to Europe to attend a film awards ceremony.
Originally, the organizers had wanted to invite Eric as well, but he could not spare the time. Besides, if he personally attended every award ceremony, he would be exhausted to death.
Since Jonathan Demme was busy filming The Silence of the Lambs, Virginia ended up making the trip instead.
“Actually, I also hate long flights. That trip to Venice was awful,” Eric said with a smile. “Since you’re back, stay here for a while. I’m going to New York in a few days anyway, so you can help me watch the house.”
“I’m not helping you watch the house,” the woman said coquettishly. “Oh right, this afternoon a man named Michael Klaus delivered sample copies of your new book. I already read it. The story is wonderful, just a bit short.”
As she spoke, Virginia briefly left before returning moments later carrying a hardcover book.
The cover design had been specifically requested by Eric. Amid streams of green digital code were the words “The Matrix.”
Eric nodded while looking at the cover.
“Not bad. I didn’t expect it to be published this quickly.”
After sitting down on the living room sofa, Eric flipped through the book.
Virginia quietly put away Eric’s coat and briefcase before walking over and sitting beside him, leaning against his body.
Eric naturally wrapped an arm around her waist.
Virginia giggled softly before smoothly lying down across the sofa, using Eric’s thigh as a pillow.
When she felt a pair of large hands slip into her collar and gently knead her chest, her cheeks quickly flushed red and her breathing became slightly faster.
“Have you decided on your next movie yet?” Eric casually asked.
“Not yet. I’ve received a lot of scripts, but they’re all horror films. The Others just ended. If I keep acting in horror films, it’ll become very difficult to transition later, so I want to try other genres.”
As she spoke, the woman pushed the book aside and gazed at Eric with sparkling eyes.
“Alright, I’ll help keep an eye out for you,” Eric said casually.
“Mhm. Or maybe… write another script for me?”
Eric smiled and lightly pinched the woman’s cheek.
“You’re pretty greedy. Want to act in Basic Instinct?”
Virginia happened to have seen the script for Basic Instinct before. She glared at Eric coquettishly and provocatively said:
“If you ask me to act in it, then I will.”
Pretending to be angry, Eric flipped Virginia over and smacked her backside several times.
Virginia let out two soft hums before going limp across Eric’s legs.
“Alright, get up,” Eric said helplessly.
“That hurts. You’re awful. Not considerate at all,” Virginia complained while turning her flushed face away, though she quickly climbed back up.
“I just don’t have a suitable script for you at the moment, so you should still let Kapoor help choose for you as much as possible. Or you can bring some over and let me take a look,” Eric explained.
When the woman nodded, he continued:
“Oh right, help me get the briefcase from earlier. I still have some work to handle.”
“But it’s already after work,” the woman said, though she still stood up and brought the briefcase over.
Eric took out the stack of actress files and began flipping through them one by one across his knees, occasionally setting aside those he thought looked promising.
“What are these for?” Virginia asked curiously as she picked up one of the files.
“Candidate list for the actresses in Basic Instinct,” Eric replied. “The first-line actresses in Europe have basically all rejected it, and the first-line actresses in Hollywood won’t take it either, so I can only choose from second- and third-tier actresses.”
“Actually, there are many second- and third-tier actresses with very good acting skills.”
“Of course,” Eric said. “But I don’t have the time to search for pearls in sand right now. If I can safely use first-line actresses, then naturally I should. At least it provides some box office assurance.”
Virginia sighed softly and suddenly felt how fortunate she really was.
“Eric, then you work. I’ll make dinner. What do you want to eat?”
“Anything. Just make whatever you want,” Eric replied without even raising his head.
Virginia knew he was telling the truth. Eric had never been picky about food.
Thus she stood up and walked toward the kitchen.
Eric had only gone through about half the files when the telephone behind him rang.
He stood up, grabbed the cordless phone, and pressed the answer button.
Jeffrey’s voice came from the other end.
“Jeffrey, what’s up?”
Jeffrey spoke for a while on the other end.
After thinking briefly, Eric said:
“Alright then, let’s discuss it over the phone. Give Carole Bouquet’s side my phone number here.”
After another short exchange, Eric hung up and placed the cordless phone on the coffee table before continuing to review the actress files.
More than ten minutes later, the phone rang again.
Eric casually answered it.
A woman’s voice with slightly imperfect English pronunciation came from the other side.
“Hello, Mr. Williams. This is Carole Bouquet.”
…
Half an hour later, Virginia emerged from the kitchen to call Eric to dinner, only to find him still holding the phone and pacing around the open space beside the floor-to-ceiling windows, gesturing animatedly while speaking.
She did not dare interrupt him.
After quite a while longer, Virginia finally saw Eric hang up the phone, casually toss the cordless receiver onto the sofa, and collapse onto the couch looking utterly exhausted.
The woman walked over to him and asked thoughtfully,
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. It’s just that the French actress I invited earlier, Carole Bouquet—I wanted her to star in Basic Instinct, but she still refused.”
Virginia originally wanted to tease him gleefully, surprised that there were still actresses who would reject Eric’s invitation.
However, seeing Eric sprawled on the sofa looking overwhelmed, she quickly suppressed the impulse and instead comforted him:
“Then just keep choosing slowly. It’s not like nobody is willing to do it. Hmm… Carole Bouquet… wasn’t she the Chanel No. 5 spokeswoman a few years ago?”
“Yes,” Eric nodded. “She also played a Bond girl.”
“I remember now. I heard she’s a very individualistic woman. After becoming a Bond girl, she didn’t want to continue being a decorative vase, so she went back to France to act in artistic films.”
“Forget about her. A rejection’s a rejection,” Eric said dejectedly.
After all, most Hollywood productions were like this. Casting was always full of twists and setbacks.
Even people like Steven Spielberg or James Cameron were no exceptions.
Eric remembered that in his previous life, Cameron had spent several months convincing Fox to let Leonardo play Jack in Titanic.
“Then let’s eat first,” Virginia said.
Eric nodded and stood up, heading toward the dining room.
It was already past ten at night.
Virginia, dressed in pajamas and hugging a pillow, leaned against the large bed while watching Eric continue pacing around with the actress list in hand, making phone calls.
“…I don’t care about that. Not scheduling them for tomorrow morning already gave them enough time. If they can’t make it, then that’s simply unfortunate… Tomorrow I’ll finalize the female lead of Basic Instinct on the spot. New York called an hour ago. Royce and the others have already been waiting there for a week, and both lead actors have arrived as well. I can’t continue wasting time like this. That’s it, I’m hanging up.”
Letting out a long breath, Eric hung up the phone and placed it on the bedside table before collapsing exhaustedly onto the bed.
He wrapped his arms around Virginia’s soft body and greedily inhaled the fragrance emanating from her, instantly easing much of the irritation in his heart.
Virginia gently massaged Eric’s temples with her small hands and softly asked:
“Eric, does it really have to be this rushed? You’re already so outstanding. Why tire yourself out this much?”
“These were originally all plans for the first half of the year, but because of what happened at the start of the year, more than three months were wasted for nothing. That’s why things ended up like this,” Eric explained weakly. “I always feel like time is too tight. There’s too much I want to do.”
“I really wish I could help you. Unfortunately, I can’t do anything,” Virginia said softly.
Eric smiled and tightened his arms around her waist.
“You actually can help me. Be my giant body pillow. I like sleeping while holding a woman.”
“Just sleeping while holding me?” the woman asked in a suggestive tone.
She reached over and turned off the bedroom lights, plunging the room into darkness.
Because the soundproofing was excellent, although there was wind outside, the sound of waves could not be heard. Everything around them was utterly silent.
“Yes. Just sleeping while holding you,” Eric said while embracing the woman and resting his head against her full chest.
Without realizing it, his eyelids had already begun fighting each other, and he soon drifted into deep sleep.
Virginia stared blankly for a while before tenderly pulling up the blanket to cover both of them.
…
Inside Firefly’s audition room, a woman wearing a simple jacket sat down in a chair and casually crossed her long legs.
She calmly pulled a cigarette from her pocket, maintaining a faint, indifferent smile throughout.
“You can’t smoke in here, Ms. Tramell,” the assistant behind the camera said according to the script.
The woman cast a charming glance toward the assistant’s position and said:
“What are you going to do? Sue me for smoking?”
After saying that, she lit the cigarette, took a drag, and exhaled a thin stream of smoke.
After a brief silence, the assistant spoke again.
“Can you tell me about your relationship with Mr. Boz?”
“I maintained a sexual relationship with him for about a year,” the woman replied while smoking and openly expressing her desires. “I liked having sex with him. He wasn’t afraid to try new things. I like men like that. They can give me great pleasure.”
“Did you two ever play S&M?” the assistant asked again.
The woman still maintained her smile.
“You guessed correctly.”
“Did you tie him up?”
“No.”
“You never tied him up?”
“No.” The woman denied it again. “Johnny liked using his own hands. I liked his hands.”
After delivering that line, the assistant was about to continue when Eric interrupted:
“Alright. That’s enough.”
The woman sitting in the chair immediately revealed a disappointed expression, while inwardly complaining.
Firefly had given far too little preparation time. She had received the audition invitation only that morning and rushed over, leaving her less than an hour to prepare.
Still, despite her complaints, she did not dare reveal them in front of the young man. Otherwise, she would lose any remaining hope.
“Mr. Williams, I think… I can try once more.”
“No need,” Eric said. “Ms. Nelson, although your appearance is very suitable for Catherine Tramell, your performance doesn’t show me much of Catherine’s essence. Your acting just now was too restrained, like someone carefully crossing a tightrope.”
“I understand this may be because you didn’t have enough preparation time. However, the most fatal issue is that I didn’t see potential in you—a kind of potential capable of releasing the aura possessed by a woman like Catherine. So I can only say I’m sorry.”
After Eric patiently explained things so thoroughly, the woman, although still unwilling to give up, did not ask for anything more.
After standing and thanking him, she left the room dejectedly.
Once she was gone, Jeffrey finally could not help speaking.
“Eric, I think your emotional state is off. You’re too impatient. How about we take a thirty-minute break? It’ll also give the actresses another half hour to prepare. There are only eleven people left anyway. We have plenty of time to finish all the auditions.”
Eric sighed and checked his watch.
There really was enough time.
He had already eliminated eight auditioning actresses on the spot. If things continued like this, they would end up with nothing today, and the female lead for Basic Instinct would continue being delayed.
“Notify them. Thirty-minute break.”
Eric stood up and said to Jeffrey:
“I’m going out for some air.”
“Mhm. Go ahead.”
After leaving the room, Eric saw the auditioning actresses waiting on the corridor benches immediately stand up when they noticed him emerge.
“Thirty-minute break. You can go prepare further in the conference room over there,” Eric told the women before walking toward the other end of the corridor.
The remaining women exchanged glances.
Several clearly wanted to chase after him, but ultimately restrained themselves.
When Eric reached the restroom at the end of the corridor and was about to go wash his face to clear his head, a woman suddenly walked out from inside.
She collided directly into him and, having lost her footing, fell onto the floor. Eric also stepped backward.
The woman originally looked somewhat angry, but upon seeing it was Eric, she quickly scrambled up.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Williams. I didn’t mean to.”
“It’s alright. My fault,” Eric said while shaking his head.
He studied the woman before him, who possessed very distinctive eyes.
“You’re Joanna Pacula?”
The woman’s eyes brightened immediately, and she quickly nodded.
“Yes, Mr. Williams. I didn’t expect you to recognize me. Oh right, the audition over there…”
“Thirty-minute break. You can prepare more,” Eric said, then suddenly paused thoughtfully. “Ms. Pacula, could you say it again?”
“What?” The woman heard the audition had been paused and showed no intention of leaving. She keenly sensed this was a good opportunity.
“That first sentence you said just now.”
Joanna Pacula thought for a moment. Although she did not understand his meaning, she still said:
“I’m sorry…”
“Yes. That sentence. Say it a few more times.”
Eric leaned against the wall at the corner and casually took out a cigarette to light.
Hearing Eric ask her to repeatedly apologize, Joanna Pacula instantly became uneasy.
“Mr. Williams, I really didn’t mean to bump into you just now.”
“Wrong. Not that sentence,” Eric shook his head.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry…”
The woman tightly gripped the small red handbag in her hand and repeatedly recited the words.
She felt the young director before her was far too perverted. She had only accidentally bumped into him once, yet he was tormenting her like this.
For a moment, Joanna Pacula felt this role was definitely no longer possible for her today.
She wanted to gather the courage to storm off dramatically, yet still held onto a sliver of hope.
“Alright, stop,” Eric finally interrupted her repetition. “The accent changed. It doesn’t sound good anymore.”
“…”
“I looked over your information carefully last night. You’re from Poland, and you were once an actress at the Polish National Theatre?”
“Yes,” the woman nodded.
“Why come to America? Being at a national-level theater is still better than being a third-rate actress in Hollywood, isn’t it?”
Joanna Pacula fell silent briefly before finally replying:
“Because of political reasons…”
Eric nodded without asking further.
He had absolutely no interest in politics.
After carefully observing Joanna Pacula before him, Eric noted that she was the same age as Sharon Stone from the original Basic Instinct. However, compared to Sharon Stone, the woman before him looked far younger. People would probably believe she was barely in her twenties.
“You really don’t look thirty-three at all,” Eric remarked.
Joanna Pacula’s expression dimmed slightly.
Women generally disliked people focusing on their age.
Especially when she thought about her experiences over the years, a sense of sorrow welled up inside her.
In 1980, due to political unrest in Poland, she had once been placed under house arrest.
After finally immigrating to America, the man who helped bring her there abandoned her and married another woman instead.
These past years, she had drifted alone through Hollywood, feeling like a wandering ghost.
Although she had starred in a low-budget horror film the previous year, the movie earned only a pitiful one million dollars at the box office and brought absolutely no improvement to her career.
The more Joanna Pacula thought about it, the sadder she became.
The more she thought, the more miserable she felt.
She glanced at the man before her.
It had obviously been his fault earlier, yet he still forced her to repeatedly apologize. He was truly awful.
Suddenly she felt the entire world was bullying her.
Without realizing it, tears had already filled her eyes.
“Uh… what’s wrong with you?” Eric asked helplessly when he saw Joanna Pacula suddenly begin crying.
He fumbled through his pocket before finally producing a tissue and handing it over.
“Don’t cry.”
The woman accepted the tissue and wiped her eyes, but the more she wiped, the sadder she became.
Eventually she could not help sobbing.
“You awful Americans… that bastard back then dumped me in America and abandoned me… and you’re also a bastard. I only accidentally bumped into you once, yet you bullied me like that. You bastards… all of you bully me…”
Eric awkwardly raised his hands slightly.
As the woman continued rambling in imperfect English, he gradually lost patience and finally raised his voice:
“Enough. Stop.”
The woman’s voice abruptly halted.
After wiping her tears, she regained some clarity and suddenly realized her current situation.
Regret quickly flooded her.
This opportunity was completely ruined now.
Only after the woman stopped crying did Eric ask:
“By the way, I didn’t look carefully last night. Why do you want to act in this movie?”
“What?”
“I mean Basic Instinct,” Eric repeated.
“So what about it?” Joanna Pacula asked softly in confusion.
After thinking briefly, Eric said:
“I don’t want you acting in this movie. You should be acting in more mainstream films. Since you managed to enter the Polish National Theatre, your acting skills must be excellent.”
“You think I don’t want to act in mainstream movies?” Joanna Pacula replied. “But where am I supposed to get opportunities like that? I’ve attended countless auditions and never succeeded once. They always find all sorts of reasons to reject me. I also can’t compete against local actresses.”
Eric thought for a moment before saying:
“How about this? Don’t participate in today’s audition.”