"Simon, I've read the script for L.A. Confidential carefully. It's absolutely brilliant. I even attended one of Mr. De Palma's casting sessions. To be honest, I'd love to join a project like this. The paycheck isn't an issue, but I'd still prefer to audition for the role of Bud."
"I'm glad you're willing to be a part of this, Brad. But the condition remains unchanged—you'll only play Ed."
"Mr. De Palma already explained your concerns, Simon. You're worried that Bud might overlap with Superman in certain ways. But I don't think so. Bud is, at his core, a violent and even cold character. His sense of justice stems from his childhood trauma, which makes him a little obsessive. And by the end of the story, both Bud and Ed have compromised with reality in their own ways."
In the indoor bar of the mountaintop villa, Simon leaned against the counter. Listening to Brad Pitt's argument, he smiled and shook his head.
"Looks like you've studied the script in-depth. But, Brad, precisely because of your argument, you're not suitable for Bud. Superman has left too deep an impression on audiences. If you play Bud, it'll be hard for viewers to approach the complexity of the character without preconceived notions. Bud is meant to be raw and morally gray, and your portrayal might unintentionally shift audience perceptions too much."
As Pitt was about to respond, Simon cut him off.
"Brad, this is my final decision. And honestly, Ed is the better fit for you. His personality and transformation are vividly drawn in the story. His eventual compromise and moral descent offer a strong contrast that allows for excellent character development. If you nail it, you might even earn yourself an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Alright, that's settled. Have fun tonight."
With that, Simon wrapped his arms around Fernanda Lima and Chrystele Saint Louis Augustin, heading toward the dance floor.
As for the Best Supporting Actor nomination, it was historically absent, but Simon didn't feel guilty about making an empty promise. Brad Pitt agreeing to take a pay cut to join L.A. Confidential was already a win for the film. A little casual flattery cost Simon nothing. After all, in Hollywood, who hasn't hyped someone up? And who hasn't been hyped up in return? It's all part of the game.
Of course, if Pitt's performance ended up exceptional and even outshined Bud, played by the first male lead, a nomination next year would be a matter of simple PR—something well within Danerys Entertainment's capabilities.
Brad Pitt watched as Simon walked off with the two supermodels, soon surrounded by more women gravitating toward him. Pitt felt disappointed but couldn't help envying Simon's unparalleled magnetism.
With Pitt's good looks and current status in Hollywood, attracting women was no challenge—he was a known playboy. But compared to Simon Westeros, he paled in comparison.
Even Pitt's current girlfriend, Gwyneth Paltrow, couldn't help but gaze toward Simon with complicated emotions. Leveraging her family's deep Hollywood connections, she had had a few opportunities to interact with Simon. At a party last year, in this very same bar, she even managed to sit next to him.
But Simon had shown no interest in her.
Her mind drifted to Shakespeare in Love, a film she had been eyeing for over a year. At 24, Paltrow's career had been steady but unremarkable. She had hoped the widely anticipated project would be her breakthrough. However, she had recently heard that the lead role had gone to Kate Beckinsale, fresh off her star-making turn in Charlie's Angels.
The influence of a certain man was all too evident.
The more she thought about it, the more frustrated she became.
Taking a sip of her cocktail, Paltrow turned to Pitt and asked, "So, are you going to take the role?"
Pitt shrugged helplessly. "Of course."
"But Ed is the third male lead—it's practically a supporting role."
Pitt wasn't just a pretty face. He had climbed from being a hotel bellboy to his current position by being strategic and understanding the industry. He replied, "Even so, it's worth doing. L.A. Confidential's script was personally overseen by Simon, which means it's likely to be a major contender in next year's awards season. You heard him just now—a nomination for Best Supporting Actor isn't out of the question."
Hearing this, Paltrow, a second-generation Hollywood insider, understood.
Hollywood had always been fiercely competitive, and it had only become more so in recent years. Danerys Entertainment's high-profile projects were the most sought-after opportunities in the industry. Compared to others, Pitt wasn't irreplaceable. When a good opportunity presented itself, it had to be seized.
Otherwise, someone else would.
If, by next year, an actor similar to Pitt in style earned an Oscar nomination—or even won the award—for L.A. Confidential, Pitt would undoubtedly face stiffer competition in Hollywood.
As Paltrow came to terms with Pitt's decision, her thoughts returned to herself.
If not for Kate Beckinsale, landing Shakespeare in Love would have been a breeze with her family's connections.
Her gaze drifted back to the dance floor.
Under the strobing lights and thumping music, Simon was surrounded by a group of stunning women. At one point, he playfully lifted a woman high into the air, prompting a wave of cheers and laughter. It was an odd sight at first glance, but then she remembered—Simon was only 28 this year. In contrast, her boyfriend, Pitt, was already 33.
Given Simon's wealth and power, 28 seemed astonishingly young.
She couldn't help but feel a pang of self-pity.
How was she any less capable than those brainless, pretty-faced models?
For those invited to this party, aside from established industry figures, the presence of newcomers signaled one thing: Danerys Entertainment had noticed them. However, Simon rarely discussed business at such events anymore. It was mostly about having fun.
The celebration, attended by hundreds, stretched into the early hours of the morning. By then, another emerging tradition had taken root—the option to stay overnight.
Of course, this was limited to women.
The criteria for staying were somewhat ambiguous. Even those fortunate enough to receive an invitation weren't guaranteed to spend the night.
That said, there were quite a few women who stayed over at the mountaintop villa that night.
Simon woke up the next morning amidst a tangle of limbs, with some women even sprawled out on the carpet beside the bed.
A quick glance around revealed familiar faces: Chrystele Saint Louis Augustin, Fernanda Lima, Eva Herzigová, Daniela Pestová, Carla Bruni, Roberta Chirko, Annelyse Schoenberger, Heidi Klum, Karen Mulder, Tricia Helfer, Melania… Lesser-known names didn't even make it into this room.
If an image of this scene ever leaked, it would undoubtedly shock the world.
But that, of course, would never happen.
The public's imagination was always constrained by a lack of transparency. It wasn't about wealth—it was about "information." Without direct evidence, even the wildest truths were often dismissed as fiction. Just like Howard Hughes, whose string of relationships—rumored to include 164 girlfriends, encompassing nearly every leading lady of his era—was widely regarded as exaggeration due to the lack of concrete proof.
Carefully disentangling himself from the women around him, Simon nearly stepped on Heidi Klum and Karen Mulder, who were curled up together on the carpet. The sky outside was still dim. Gesturing to the few who were waking up to go back to sleep, he quietly slipped into a guest room next door to freshen up.
Skipping his usual morning workout, Simon was in the downstairs dining room by 7:30 a.m.
When Carmen Kass, attending her first Sundance as Simon's assistant, brought him his coffee, her expression was difficult to read.
She had witnessed the parade of women entering her boss's bedroom the previous night.
Simon took a sip of the perfectly tempered coffee and glanced at her, a teasing smile playing on his lips. "You know, Carmen, staring at me like I'm some kind of god won't get you a raise."
Carmen's mouth opened slightly in silent protest before she quickly realized she might have overstepped. She scrambled to defend herself. "Boss, I wasn't—"
"Well, in that case, there's even less chance of a raise."
"…"
"I'm really not a god, you know. Just a regular guy."
Simon casually picked up a cookie from the tray Carmen had brought over, took a small bite, then put it back, repeating the process with another cookie, and then another. He only stopped when Carmen's face turned bright red. "Alright, where are my papers and the documents I need to review today? Hurry up and fetch them."
After breakfast, Simon attended the premiere of Following later that morning.
The premiere of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels was scheduled for two days later, but Simon wouldn't be able to attend that one.
Realistically, neither film had much chance of winning any awards.
The problem was obvious.
Both films relied heavily on narrative techniques. For newcomers in the industry with limited resources, using non-linear storytelling was an effective way to grab attention. But overuse of such techniques would inevitably wear thin over time.
This was one reason why Christopher Nolan had struggled to gain recognition from the Oscars in his original timeline.
The premiere of Following was scheduled for 10 a.m. After breakfast
, Simon left the villa and joined Robert Redford and a few others to discuss festival-related matters before heading to the Egyptian Theatre.
Unlike the quiet, early days of Sundance, the festival had grown significantly over the past decade. Even on a chilly morning, the streets of Park City were bustling with activity, and long lines had already formed outside the Egyptian Theatre.
Simon's attendance at the premiere wasn't disclosed in advance. Even so, the enthusiasm of the crowd outside hinted at Sundance's current popularity.
Inside the Egyptian Theatre, Christopher Nolan and lead actor Jude Law introduced the film. Despite their nerves, the event went smoothly, thanks in part to Simon's quiet presence in the audience.
The lights dimmed, and the film began.
Following opens with Jude Law's character, Bill, a writer seeking inspiration. He spends his days observing strangers on the street. One day, he becomes fixated on a mysterious man named Cobb, whom he follows. Cobb, it turns out, is a thief. After discovering Bill's tail, Cobb confronts him. Learning that Bill is harmless and merely a writer looking for material, Cobb invites him to join in on a heist.
Their target is a woman's apartment.
Reluctantly, Bill agrees, setting the story into motion.
If you're a cinephile familiar with the earlier In the Heat of the Sun from the East, you might recognize some parallels in its thematic undercurrents.
But Following is far more intricate, diving deep into twists and psychological tension.
The audience was captivated. For Simon, it was clear—Christopher Nolan was a talent worth betting on.
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