"Mr. Ross, I asked you out today because I have something I'd like your help with," Luca said after a moment of hesitation.
"Go ahead, what is it?"
"Well, recently, I partnered with someone to open a film company."
"A film company?"
Mr. Ross burst into laughter but accidentally inhaled some smoke, which sent him into a coughing fit.
"Luca, you're just a newbie in the industry. You're not even qualified to be an actor, and now you're opening a film company? Do you have that much money?"
"Not really, I only invested around two million."
"Two million is *not* a small amount! Are all models this rich? I've acted my whole life and never made that much. Being good-looking sure has its advantages," Mr. Ross said sourly.
"We're talking about the film company!" Luca emphasized.
"There's nothing more to say. Say goodbye to that two million; you'll never see it again."
"Is it really that brutal?"
"Of course it is! This is Hollywood we're talking about!" Mr. Ross sighed, looked up at the ceiling, and began recounting his story.
At 23, Ross graduated from NYU and worked as an opera actor on Broadway for four years, earning a bit of fame in the theater world. In the 1980s, when Hollywood was booming, he couldn't resist the temptation and moved there. He acted in over a dozen films, made some decent box office earnings, and even got an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
After more than ten years in Hollywood, he had earned over a million dollars, became a millionaire, and married a beautiful actress.
But, unable to resist his friends' encouragement, he partnered to start a film company.
The ending was tragic.
His wife left, his savings of over ten years were gone, his house and car were mortgaged, and he ended up owing tens of thousands. In the end, he slinked back to New York, scraping by on Broadway.
Every time he thought about it, he regretted it. Over a million dollars, gone in a blink.
"*Sigh*, if only I had known better!"
Mr. Ross finished his coffee in one gulp. "Luca, before you go any deeper, you need to have a clear understanding of Hollywood.
Right now, there are nearly a thousand film companies in Hollywood, and fewer than 50 make real money. New companies open every day, but more go bankrupt just as quickly.
You see the big seven studios in Hollywood? Well, there's really only one. They're united in their interests: they make money off audiences on the outside and off small film companies on the inside.
It's a monopolized industry. You think you can make money off of them?"
Ross shook his head and swallowed the words "You're being naive," then simply said, "You're still too young. You underestimate how deep Hollywood goes."
"But I've already jumped in. 2.2 million— I've mortgaged my house."
"You're braver than I am!" Ross teased.
Luca shrugged. "So, things are already tough. I've prepared to lose money. My goal now is to complete the project and minimize my losses."
Ross nodded slightly. "So, what did you want my help with?"
"Well, I heard you have a lot of connections in the industry. I was hoping you could recommend someone who knows the ins and outs of film production— ideally someone with producer experience. I don't have much time to spend at the company."
The film was about to start shooting, and Luca was one of the producers of *Step Up*. But he hadn't given up on acting and didn't have time for all the administrative work. He needed someone reliable, preferably someone Ross knew well.
"And... what's the salary?" Ross asked after a moment.
"Standard producer salary, with standard benefits!"
"Well, what do you think about me?"
"You?" Luca was surprised. "Mr. Ross, aren't you in the middle of rehearsing a new play?"
"Yes," Ross shrugged, "I've organized another stage play, but we're halfway through rehearsals and running out of funds, so I had to pause. Otherwise, why do you think I have the time to sit here and have coffee with you?"
"Mr. Ross, this job is exhausting. Are you sure your health can handle it?" Luca hesitated.
"I run 5 kilometers every day; it's part of being an actor."
"Then, we've got a deal!" Luca smiled, extending his hand.
Before coming to New York, Luca had spoken with his mentor, Nia, and learned about Ross's situation. He needed someone reliable, and despite Ross's artistic inclinations, he hadn't turned his nose up at the paycheck— American dollars are still pretty tempting.
Ross was experienced and had a wide network of connections in the industry. His joining put Luca at ease. They spent the rest of the afternoon discussing the company's plans and the details of *Step Up*.
It was almost 6 PM when they finally wrapped up the conversation.
"Wait a minute, Luca!" Ross hesitated as Luca was about to leave. "Want to work on your acting?"
"Of course! My goal is to win the Best Actor Oscar."
"..." Ross was stunned for a moment. "You're still holding on to that unrealistic dream?"
"Of course! My goal is unwavering," Luca said earnestly.
Ross shook his head. "Fine, if that's your goal. But if you want to be a real actor, you should start on Broadway. Do you know that more than 80% of Oscar-winning actors and actresses have performed in small theaters?"
Luca nodded. "I know that. Only the strongest actors dare perform in small theaters."
"Exactly. Small theaters are incredibly challenging for actors. The demands are high, and the improvement you can achieve there is enormous. Do you know the biggest difference between stage acting and film acting?"
"Tell me!"
"Immediate feedback!" Ross explained. "In film, it can take over a year to know if you did well. But on Broadway, you get that feedback immediately from the audience's reaction. You can adjust on the spot.
In a small theater, the audience has a high level of aesthetic appreciation. They're even more critical than professional film critics. If you perform well, they'll applaud you. If you're terrible, they'll boo you off the stage, and sometimes they might even throw a shoe at you. They are your harshest teachers, supervisors, and critics."
Luca nodded in agreement.
Broadway was like traditional drama back in his home country— it was considered high art, catering to a cultured audience. The actors were all highly skilled, and it was almost impossible to fool the crowd.
"Luca, up for the challenge?" Ross asked with a sly smile.
Luca frowned in thought for a moment. This was a great opportunity.
It was hard for ordinary actors to get on a small theater stage to hone their craft. Competition was fierce, and only high-quality productions survived, which was why Ross hesitated earlier.
"Thank you, Mr. Ross!" Luca smiled.
"Don't thank me. You'll be crying later."
"I won't!"
"We'll see."
(End of Chapter)