Whoosh... At Tel Aviv Airport, a plane soared into the clouds—it was a flight bound for Los Angeles.
In a little over ten hours, it would land at Los Angeles International Airport.
"What? You mean you knew all along that I would choose to go to Los Angeles?"
In the first-class cabin, in an adjacent seat, Gal Gadot folded her arms across her chest and looked at Eric with a scrutinizing expression.
"Of course, I saw a certain quality in you, and people with that quality all become big stars.
Charlize Theron, Cameron Diaz, Meryl Streep, and others—they all possess that quality."
Gal Gadot gave him a 'don't try to fool me' look: "So, you're not just a vice president, you're also a part-time fortune-teller who can see people's futures?"
Eric smiled: "Why not? If I hadn't appeared, your future would have been joining the army, then beauty pageants, and after that, you would still have come to Hollywood to develop."
"You would first play some small supporting roles, but you would make a splash and leave a deep impression, then become a lead, and find your destined role. I've always believed that some actors are destined to play certain roles."
"Just like Marlon Brando to The Godfather, Anthony Hopkins to hannibal, Charlie Chaplin to the Tramp, and Travolta to Moreno."
Mesmerized by Eric's words, Gal Gadot couldn't help but ask, "Then what role do you think I'm destined to play?"
"wonder woman!"
"What?"
"wonder woman, wonder woman, don't you know her?"
Gal Gadot frowned: "I think I've heard of her, but I don't really have any specific impression."
From the back seat, Bar Refaeli's voice chimed in: "I know her. wonder woman is a comic book character, from DC Comics, right?"
"You're a comic fan?"
Judy asked curiously. In her impression, people who liked comics were all otakus—that's prejudice.
"Not really. I was once dragged to a comic convention, and they made me dress up as wonder woman, but unfortunately, we only got second place. The first place one had much bigger... assets!"
"Cool!"
Indeed, besides Gal Gadot, Bar Refaeli also came to Los Angeles.
The day before yesterday, after Eric handed the watch and contract to Gal Gadot, she rushed back to her hometown, Rosh HaAyin, a small town south of Tel Aviv.
Upon returning home, the family looked at the contract and fell into a heated debate. This family was not wealthy or influential; their life, though comfortable, was completely unfamiliar with the entertainment industry. Gal Gadot, who modeled part-time, was the only one with any connection to it.
But even Gal Gadot had never seen such a contract and couldn't tell if it was real or fake.
The family had no idea what the outcome would be if their daughter really went to Los Angeles.
It wasn't until the watch appeared that the old man made the final decision, letting Gal Gadot choose for herself, and she chose to follow her heart.
As for Bar Refaeli, although she was also a beautiful model, there were too many beautiful models like her in Hollywood. Just take a stroll through Beverly Hills, and you'll find a ton.
If Gal Gadot possessed a blend of softness and resolve, capable of both strength and sweetness, Bar Refaeli, on the other hand, lacked any distinctive characteristics.
Although Eric felt the girl's name sounded familiar, he didn't plan to bring her to Hollywood.
However, Judy seemed genuinely taken with this girl and hoped Eric could help. After all, there were plenty of roles in the walking dead; just find one for her. He considered himself a pretty good brother.
On the plane, the two whispered and chatted until the world outside the window was completely dark.
The next day at noon, a Boeing landed at Los Angeles International Airport. Seeing the people waiting to pick them up and the expensive-looking stretched Lincoln nearby, the two women couldn't help but click their tongues.
"Eric, only now can I finally believe that you really didn't lie to me. You really are a vice president at MGM."
"What? If you doubted me, why did you still come along?"
Gal Gadot shook her head and looked at her best friend: "I don't know, Refaeli, what about you?"
"I had my doubts too, but I didn't want to miss this opportunity. In Tel Aviv, I probably would never become a supermodel, never stand on a bigger stage."
Judy playfully pinched her nose: "Don't worry, with me and Eric helping you, you'll become a big star very soon!"
"Really?"
"Of course! Eric, isn't that right?"
Eric glanced at them: "For Judy's sake, I'll give you a good role, but whether you can seize the opportunity is up to you."
"Can I also star as the female lead in a movie?"
Eric hesitated for a moment: "That still depends on the producers and directors, after all, the set isn't solely my decision."
"But you're a vice president, who can defy your decisions?"
Refaeli pressed on, a little unwilling to give up. She also wanted a promise from Eric, just like Gadot.
Feeling the atmosphere become a bit awkward, Judy quickly put her arm around Refaeli's shoulder and said, "There's no rush for these things. After all, movies aren't just made on a whim. Since it's your first time in Los Angeles, I'll take you shopping first. Gadot, you come too."
Gal Gadot smiled sweetly: "OK!"
...After seeing the three off, Eric didn't return to MGM but went directly to AK Films. The preparations for sharknado were almost complete, and someone was currently waiting to meet him.
Additionally, Keenen Ivory Wayans, the director of Scary Movie, had already read the script for sharknado and decisively rejected it.
Wayans' original words were: "While I enjoy making parody films, there's a difference between parody and a bad movie."
"And this sharknado you've cooked up, please forgive my bluntness, but no matter how I look at it, it's a pile of steaming garbage, a stinking dog turd. Whoever wants to film it can film it, but I won't."
According to Bema Hardy and Warren, if the director's fee was increased by 2 million US dollars, it might be possible to secure Keenen Ivory Wayans.
However, it was already a low-budget film, so exceeding the budget by 2 million US dollars was out of the question. Moreover, the difference in director skill for such a terrible movie was actually minimal, so it was better to save the money.
Pushing open the office door, the person in the guest chair immediately stood up. Eric was all too familiar with this face; it was Ryan Reynolds.
"You look very young, Mr. Reynolds."
Ryan Reynolds was momentarily stunned. Shouldn't a first meeting involve polite greetings like 'hello'? What the hell is 'you look very young'!
He extended his hand proactively: "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Cooper. I'm Ryan Reynolds."
As Eric sized up the young Deadpool, the other man was also observing him.
"It's really the person from the newspaper. He must be even younger than me. He's quite handsome. Damn it, what am I thinking!"
Eric gestured for him to sit: "Have a seat, let's talk. Warren said you wanted to see me. Is there something you need?"
Ryan Reynolds once again organized the words he had pondered for a long time: "Mr. Cooper, I've read the script for sharknado, and to be honest..."
Seeing the other party hesitate, Eric spoke for him: "Illogical, utter nonsense, right?"
Ryan Reynolds nodded awkwardly, thinking, 'So you're well aware of it.'
"Yes, I'm very clear about that. That's the characteristic of sharknado, the path we're taking."
"Mr. Cooper, I'm afraid I don't understand."
Ryan Reynolds, despite knowing sharknado was a terrible movie, still waited to see him, naturally harboring a glimmer of hope. What Eric needed to do was convince him.
"Mr. Reynolds, let's take an example. In the entertainment industry, if you want to become famous, would you say it's more advantageous for someone who is handsomely mediocre, or someone who is uniquely ugly?"
Ryan Reynolds pondered for a moment: "Are you talking about character actors?"
"You could roughly understand it that way. Hollywood produces too many movies every year. Films like The Godfather are extremely rare, and films like the room are equally rare."
"the room? What movie is that?"
"A historically bad movie, no..."
Eric suddenly realized that the room hadn't been released yet, just like Perfume hadn't been released either.
He could fool Gal Gadot, who didn't understand, but he couldn't fool Ryan Reynolds.
"To put it another way, movies like Plan 9 from Outer Space are also extremely rare."
Ryan Reynolds nodded: "Ed Wood's films. Although I don't appreciate them, they have indeed become an art form of badness. I think I somewhat understand what you mean."
"Exactly! Good actors shouldn't be afraid to take on bad movies. If you truly have skill, you can still break out even from a bad movie!"
"Mr. Cooper, what you're saying has some truth, but I have one last question."
"Please, go ahead."
"Mr. Warren said that if I star in sharknado, MGM's other films would also consider me. Is that true?"
This was the question Ryan Reynolds truly cared about. Although van wilder could only be considered a mediocre work, it was an opportunity he had waited ten years for. He didn't know how long he would have to wait for another such opportunity.
Since MGM had extended an olive branch, he wanted to seize it.
"If there's a suitable role, I will consider you. I can promise you at least the male second lead in a blockbuster in the future, how does that sound?"
Upon hearing this, Ryan Reynolds was ecstatic. The male second lead in a blockbuster was far more important than the male lead in a low-budget comedy like van wilder, which had an investment of only tens of millions. The two were not on the same level.
"In that case, Mr. Cooper, I don't think I have any reason not to accept your invitation."
The two shook hands.
"Pleasure working with you!"
"Pleasure working with you!"