396-400

*Chapter 396: We're Getting Engaged*

“Do you know what Quinn was doing in that building?”

On set, in the police station office, Luca wore a black shirt with a tie, his face cold, on the verge of exploding.

“No, I don't know!”

Matt Damon shook his head.

“Then why the hell did you have someone tail him?”

Luca pointed at him angrily.

“I had my reasons for having someone follow him.”

“Why?!”

Luca was breathing heavily, furious.

“This is an internal investigation, it’s none of your business!”

“F*** you!”

Luca punched Matt Damon in the face.

Everyone around them paused for a moment before rushing in to break up the fight. The scene was chaotic.

This scene was about the death of Quinn, the head of the Special Investigation Unit.

In the previous scene, Quinn and Leonardo’s character, Billy, met on the rooftop but were unfortunately spotted. To protect Billy, Quinn stayed behind and was eventually pushed off the roof by the mob, landing right in front of Billy with a splatter of blood.

Quinn was being tailed because he was betrayed by none other than Colin, played by Matt Damon.

After finding out about Quinn’s movements, Colin had the police follow him while secretly informing the mob of his whereabouts. When the mob couldn’t identify the mole, they killed Quinn.

Luca’s character, Dignan, was Quinn’s close ally. After learning about Colin’s betrayal, he confronted him in the office, leading to an intense fight scene.

“You son of a b***h! Bastard!”

Luca's face turned red with anger as he punched Matt Damon several times. Damon kicked him back and cursed at him. Both actors seemed genuinely enraged, veins bulging on their foreheads.

“Alright, break it up!”

The people around them quickly separated the two.

“Bastard, internal investigations are my job. I’ll investigate whoever I want without explaining it to anyone,” Matt Damon shouted, struggling.

“Come on, investigate me!”

“F***, I don’t care what you think. I have reason to believe Quinn was killed by his own undercover.”

“Bullshit!”

Luca cursed.

“There are encrypted files on Quinn’s computer, and I need those files,” Matt shouted, pointing at him.

“Fine, I forgot the password. If you have the guts, meet me in the garage. I'll tell you there.”

“You’re lying!”

“Who the f*** are you calling a liar?”

Luca rushed forward again, ready to throw another punch.

“Luca’s performance is full of passion!”

Behind the monitor, director Martin stroked his beard, commenting.

“Yeah, I heard he watched a soccer match before this scene—Brazil vs. Argentina. Brazil lost, and he almost smashed his computer. He’s probably still angry about it,” screenwriter William Monahan laughed.

“Ha! He used to be on the Brazil team. He has every reason to be upset!”

“Cut!”

Just as they were talking, something went wrong on set. Luca and Matt exchanged a few more insults before throwing punches again. This time, Luca got too excited and rushed too fast. They couldn't stop him in time, and he almost hit Matt for real.

Director Martin quickly called for a break. The two actors reset, and they reshot the scene.

They spent most of the day filming this sequence, wrapping up Luca’s scenes around 4 p.m.

“Ha ha~ Luca, you were really hyped today. Were you on something?”

Leonardo arrived on set that afternoon, sitting on the sidelines with his legs crossed, reading a newspaper.

“You think I’m like you, needing drugs to stay energized?”

“I’m not, okay?”

Leonardo responded, displeased.

Luca shrugged and sat down next to him.

It was a hot day, and after a full day of shooting, Luca had gone through three shirts, now drenched in sweat again.

Tony handed him a cold towel and a glass of warm water. Luca took off his shirt, drank the water, and finally felt comfortable again.

“Luca, you’ve bulked up a lot.”

Looking at his muscular physique, Leonardo was a bit envious. “With your build, you’re perfect for action roles. Have you ever thought about switching to action films?”

“Action films are great, but I haven’t found the right role yet. Got any inside info, Leo?”

“Yeah, Zack Snyder's working on something. Wait, why should I tell you?”

Leonardo quickly clammed up.

“Aren’t we friends?”

Luca spread his hands, joking.

Leonardo didn’t respond, flipping through the newspaper instead. “Whether it’s action movies or not, you’re always in the news. Even if you stop filming, your scandals keep you relevant, right Luca?”

The paper had an article claiming that Luca’s rise to fame was fueled by scandal, and Leonardo was teasing him about it.

Luca smirked, pointing to the newspaper. “It says here you and Gisele had a fight. Are you two breaking up?”

Leonardo frowned, annoyed. “What’s it to you? Why do you care?”

“Oh, don’t get me wrong. I was just curious after reading the news, not trying to pry into your private life.”

Luca spread his hands in mock innocence.

“Hmph, we’re fine. No need for you to worry,” Leonardo said with a blank expression.

“Okay!”

Luca was just curious. He was surprised the two had been together for three years without breaking up. Was it because of his influence?

“We’re getting engaged.”

Leonardo lifted his chin proudly.

“Engaged? Ha, everyone in the industry has been guessing when you’d get married. Didn’t expect it to be this soon. Congrats, Leo!”

Luca raised his glass in a toast.

Leonardo smirked slightly. “When are you getting married?”

“Definitely before you!”

“Heh~ Wanna bet?”

“OK!”

Luca smiled. He didn’t believe Leonardo and Gisele would get married, and he didn’t think he’d get married after Leo either.

“Leo, get ready!”

The assistant director came over.

“Got it!”

Leonardo and Matt headed back to the set. The crew resumed filming, shooting their first scene together.

After the mob boss’s death, Leonardo’s character wanted to reclaim his position as a cop but ran into Matt’s character, who had risen through the ranks. Leo uncovered Matt’s true identity, but Matt destroyed all evidence.

Both actors were strong performers.

However, Leonardo’s performance stood out more. Matt’s character needed to be clever, slick, and charming, but he lacked that flair. His movements weren’t smooth, and his eyes didn’t have the sharpness of someone sly.

He didn’t quite measure up to the original actor, and he wasn’t even as good as the Brazilian version of the character.

Apparently, the role was originally offered to Brad Pitt, but after his scandal last year, he turned it down, and Matt was brought in.

If Pitt had been cast alongside Leonardo, the movie might have been more exciting.

“Luca, phone call!”

Tony came in quietly to inform him.

“OK!”

Luca gestured and went outside. The call was from director Nolan.

The casting for The Prestige was starting, and he asked when Luca would be available to meet with Christian Bale for a quick screen test.

Luca checked his schedule. Besides filming, he had to help with image branding with Ed, so he was quite busy.

He settled on going to Los Angeles the day after tomorrow.

Nolan agreed.

“Tony, I’m heading to L.A. the day after tomorrow. Book my flight.”

Back in the car, Luca told Tony.

“Got it!”

“And check what projects Zack Snyder is working on lately.”

“Will do!”

Tony made a note and started the car.

On the third morning, Luca arrived in Los Angeles, where he met with Nolan and Christian Bale at Warner Bros. Studios.

Nolan arranged a special screen test where the two actors rehearsed a couple of scenes from the script to see their chemistry.

Afterward, Nolan reviewed the footage, deep in thought.

“Luca, do you have time? We need to discuss the audition.”

Nolan called him.

“OK, see you tomorrow!”

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 397: What Did I Do to You Last Time?

"On July 12th, the 58th Cannes Film Festival concluded. The Belgian film The Child won the Palme d'Or, American indie director Jim Jarmusch earned the Jury Grand Prix with Broken Flowers, and the Chinese film Shanghai Dreams, directed by Wang Xiaoshuai, took home the Jury Prize."

In the morning, at Bra Studios' office in Los Angeles, Luca sat in his chair, holding a newspaper and reading the film festival news.

This year’s Cannes Film Festival pretty much lined up with his memories.

China had three films in the main competition: Hong Kong’s Election, Taiwan’s The Wayward Cloud, and mainland China's Shanghai Dreams.

In the end, only Shanghai Dreams won an award.

Reading the news, he thought of that beautiful woman again.

He glanced at the time—it was just after 8 AM in LA, but Beijing was more than ten hours ahead, so it was already dark over there.

He picked up his phone and made a call.

“Hello~ Who is this?”

The woman’s voice on the other end sounded a bit groggy.

“Yuanyuan, are you asleep?”

“Ah~ Luca, it’s you! How dare you call me?! You jerk, you’ve ruined everything for me!”

Her voice had been sleepy just a moment ago, but now it turned angry as soon as she recognized him.

“How did I ruin everything for you?” Luca asked, confused.

“Hmph, you awful jerk! What you did last time was unforgivable.”

The woman ground her teeth over the phone.

“Last time?”

Luca rubbed his temples, completely clueless.

“What did we do last time? Why are you so mad?”

He needed to get to the bottom of this. He didn’t want to be blamed for something he didn’t understand.

“Hmph! Last time, we were spotted shopping together, and it made headlines here. It caused such a scandal.”

“And?” Luca chuckled.

“You know what! I didn’t even want to go shopping that day, but you insisted. Then we got photographed, and now people are talking! I’m a decent girl with a boyfriend—how do you think this looks?”

The woman sat up in bed, clutching her blanket angrily.

They had met a few times at Cannes, growing closer, and had even taken a trip to Paris, shopping and taking pictures along the Champs-Élysées.

She had always wanted to visit the Champs-Élysées, but had been too shy to go alone, feeling out of place. When Luca invited her, she hesitated but eventually agreed.

Luca, a former supermodel, had worked in Paris for a while and knew the area well, especially all the luxury stores along the avenue.

They had spent most of the day together, and she had had a great time.

But trouble came afterward.

Someone had snapped six photos of them shopping, which ended up in several major Chinese newspapers and on entertainment TV shows.

The photos showed them walking down the bustling Champs-Élysées.

Luca looked dashing in his understated luxury outfit—tall, handsome, and exuding a supermodel’s aura. He looked fantastic in those photos.

As for her, she was wearing a white Rebecca Taylor summer dress with light blue T-strap heels, looking fashionable, youthful, and radiant.

At first glance, it seemed harmless.

But she had been so happy that day, she hadn’t even noticed when Luca held her hand.

In the photos, she sometimes blushed, sometimes beamed with joy, clung tightly to his arm, or gazed dreamily at his profile, like a lovestruck girl.

When the photos were exposed, she was mortified.

That day, Luca had been so charming, more perfect than the partner she had always imagined. She had let her guard down and shown that infatuated look without realizing it.

She hadn’t expected anyone to photograph them.

Once the photos went public, the rumors exploded.

There were reports about “Yuanyuan and Luca finding love in Paris,” “Yuanyuan secretly meeting Hollywood heartthrob Luca Kelly during the film festival,” and even “Yuanyuan as the third wheel,” or “The rising star Yuanyuan smitten with Luca, willing to leave her current boyfriend.”

Chinese media didn’t blame Luca at all. Instead, they criticized her for being inappropriate—dating a foreign heartthrob while having a boyfriend. Some even speculated that Luca was Britney Spears’ boyfriend, calling her the homewrecker.

She had been miserable, unable to eat or sleep well, nearly driven mad by it all.

Now, just hearing Luca’s voice made her want to vent.

If he hadn’t held her hand and charmed her so much, she wouldn’t be in this mess.

“Hmph! It’s all your fault!”

Why did a man have to be so handsome? It wasn’t fair.

“Yuanyuan, so it was just a rumor? I thought you were pregnant! You scared me.”

Luca sighed in relief.

“Pregnant?! What are you talking about?”

She was stunned. They hadn’t done anything, so how could she be pregnant? She realized then that Luca was teasing her.

“Luca, you jerk! What nonsense are you spouting? If you were here right now, I’d tear you apart.”

Blushing, she bit her lip.

“Haha, Yuanyuan, I’m not making it up. A Chinese friend once told me that some Chinese women have such sensitive bodies that they can get pregnant just by holding hands. We held hands for quite a while that day.”

“Pfft! What nonsense! How could you get pregnant from just that? You got tricked, you fool!”

She rubbed her forehead, exasperated yet amused.

“Really? My Chinese friend also said that women there are so sensitive that they cover up completely when they go out, just to avoid being seen. If someone sees their legs or hips, it’s like losing their innocence—they have to be locked in a pigsty.”

“That was in the past!”

She rolled her eyes, noticing something odd at the door. It seemed like there was movement outside.

Holding her phone, she got out of bed and yanked the door open.

“Ah!”

Her mom stumbled forward, nearly falling. Behind her was a shadow quickly retreating.

Three sweat drops formed on her forehead. “Mom, what are you doing?”

“Huh?”

Her mom looked around, confused. “Oh, I was just heading to the bathroom, but somehow ended up here. Oh dear, my brain’s a mess. I must be getting old and forgetful.”

Yuanyuan slapped her forehead, exasperated. How could someone get lost in their own home, after living here for three or four years?

“Mom, the bathroom is right next to your room.”

“Oh, right, right. Yuanyuan, it’s almost 10. You should get some sleep.”

Her mom walked to the door, giving her a quick glance, “By the way, Yuanyuan, if something’s bothering you, just talk to your dad and me. Whatever it is, we’ll figure it out together. We support you, no matter what happens with Zhang.”

“Thanks, Mom! Don’t worry, I’ll handle it,” Yuanyuan said, hugging her mother, touched.

“That’s good.”

Her mom patted her back, hesitated, then added, “Sweetie, you’re 26 now. I’ve heard that getting rid of a baby can make it harder to have one later.”

“Uh…”

Yuanyuan froze, releasing her hold.

“Mom, what are you saying?”

“If you’re pregnant, just have the baby. It’s a life after all. I can stay home and help take care of it. We’ll tell everyone it’s your brother’s. You need to take care of yourself, don’t catch a cold.”

Her mom tugged down her nightgown to cover a bit of exposed skin.

“Ugh…”

Yuanyuan sighed deeply, speaking in a serious yet helpless tone, “Mom, I’m not pregnant!”

“I know, I know. Just go to sleep. Remember to cover your belly.”

Her mom smiled and left, closing the door gently behind her.

Yuanyuan slumped against the door, speechless.

“Yuanyuan, are you okay? I heard someone talking. Was that your boyfriend?” Luca asked over the phone.

“No!”

Yuanyuan had meant to say “Yes,” but the words came out as “No.”

She let out a soft humph. She did have a boyfriend, but after this whole scandal, their relationship had been on the rocks.

It was partly her fault. In the past, she would have cherished the relationship and immediately explained any misunderstandings, seeking her boyfriend’s understanding.

But ever since she met Luca, she didn’t seem to care anymore. She knew her boyfriend was angry, but she couldn’t muster the energy to explain. The love she had once held so dear, now felt so... ordinary.

She didn’t see herself as someone who was easily swayed, so why had she changed?

The culprit was clear—Luca, that irritating man.

He was like a dream that had intruded into her reality, throwing her life into chaos.

Yuanyuan felt troubled, but also secretly enjoyed it.

“Hmph, enough with the nonsense. You’ve been talking for ages but haven’t even told me why you called,” Yuanyuan said, playfully scolding him.

“Em... If I said I missed you, would you be offended?”

“...”

Yuanyuan’s heart skipped a beat, then started racing like a little deer running wild.

“Be serious, or I’ll hang up.”

"Let's talk seriously, or I’m hanging up," Yuanyuan said, her face flushed.

"Alright, seriously then. I think you're the main reason. The secondary reason is that I saw news about the Cannes Film Festival in the newspaper. Qing Hong won the Jury Prize, and I wanted to congratulate you."

"Hmph, what’s the big deal? Didn’t you already guess that? I was really looking forward to the film festival, but you completely ruined it for me."

Yuanyuan pouted.

"Alright, my bad!" Luca chuckled. "Yuanyuan, there's a lot of buzz about us now. If it’s bothering you, you can come to the U.S. for a vacation, or even go to Brazil. The more you travel, the more you'll see how big the world is. There are so many interesting places and fascinating people out there."

Yuanyuan quietly listened to him speak, suddenly realizing how nice his voice sounded—gentle yet magnetic, with a touch of domineering confidence, carrying an elegant kind of allure.

She curled up under the blanket, listening in silence. Every now and then, she’d softly murmur “mm-hmm” in response. After a few responses, she unknowingly drifted off to sleep, slipping into an embarrassing yet sweet dream.

Sigh~

Chapter 398: The Company’s Routine

"Yuan Yuan? Yuan Yuan?"

Luca called softly but got no response, only hearing light breathing over the phone.

"Good night!"

He chuckled, hung up the phone, and started his day's work.

The movie Step Up had been in theaters for over two months, grossing $132 million worldwide. The first revenue share for the company had been deposited, amounting to $17.5 million, with two more payments expected, totaling over $10 million.

The company’s return on investment was about $30 million, and Luca personally earned around $18 million, which was more than the combined earnings from his previous three films. This was his most profitable project to date.

With this sum, the company could accomplish a lot more.

Knock, knock~

There was a knock on the office door.

"Come in!"

"Boss, do you have a moment? I’d like to discuss the upcoming work schedule."

The company's new general manager entered with a stack of files.

His name was Mr. Scott Greenstein.

He was a slightly overweight, middle-aged white man in a sharp suit, looking serious and a bit rigid.

He had previously been a production manager at Miramax Films.

Miramax was once the gold standard for independent film companies.

Since its inception in the 1980s, Miramax had not only dominated the Oscars but also achieved remarkable commercial success, frequently producing low-budget box office hits. The company’s profitability was even higher than Hollywood’s major studios.

After Miramax joined Disney in 1993, it reached new heights. Statistics show that in the past decade, Miramax films were nominated for nearly 200 Oscars, winning over 50.

This success left other studios in awe. It became common knowledge that to win an Oscar, you should collaborate with Miramax. The company's founders, the Weinstein brothers, were dubbed the "Oscar Kings."

However, the brothers grew discontented with making so much money for Disney. In March of this year, Harvey and Bob Weinstein left Miramax to start their new company, The Weinstein Company.

Miramax’s top executives soon followed, joining other major film companies.

Luca hired a headhunting firm and managed to recruit five people, the highest-ranking being Scott Greenstein. He had joined Miramax in the 1990s and became a key assistant to the Weinstein brothers, often referred to as "the third Weinstein."

Bra Films secured Scott with a $500,000 annual salary plus a 5% equity share.

In his three months on the job, Scott had excelled, using his strong leadership to organize the once-disjointed company, fostering a great team spirit and creativity.

With Scott in charge, along with Mr. Ross and Annie, Luca could take a more hands-off approach.

The reason Scott sought him out was simple: the internal restructuring of the company was complete, including the adjustment of shares, management, and departments.

After the restructuring, Luca owned 70% of the company, Annie held 12%, Billy had 6%, and the remaining 12% was shared among Scott, Mr. Ross, and other senior management.

With this new shareholding structure, the company could handle investments independently, without Luca having to personally oversee projects, like he did with Little Miss Sunshine.

The company currently had two projects. The first was the sequel to Step Up, for which the company held the rights. As long as they didn’t botch it, the sequel was bound to succeed.

However, Billy and Scott disagreed on the choice of director. Billy claimed he had already expressed interest in directing the sequel and was confident he could do it well.

Scott, however, disagreed, arguing that prior notice didn’t matter. Bra Films was a legitimate company, and all projects had to follow proper procedures.

Billy, now a production department head, could still direct the sequel, but only if he competed for the role like other directors, presenting the best plan to convince the management.

The same applied to the upcoming film The Proposal. Annie Fletcher wanted to direct, but she had to follow the rules too.

If directors were chosen based on casual promises, who would be responsible if the project lost money?

Future film projects should also be decided through company meetings, rather than shooting just any script that came in. The risk was too great.

At the last company meeting, Scott proposed a reform plan.

Mr. Ross was the first to agree, Annie followed suit, and the rest of the management supported it as well. Luca didn’t object, and the plan passed.

"Scott, I have no objections to the plan you and the production team proposed. Ms. Fletcher will be the executive producer for Step Up 2, Mr. Ross will remain the producer, and the director, budget, and other details will be up to you."

Luca signed the first document, then opened the second one, which outlined the project plan for the company’s second film, The Proposal.

The production team believed that since the company was still relatively new, handling two projects at once was too risky. They recommended delaying the second film by six months, a suggestion Annie agreed with. She promised to submit a complete plan soon, hoping to direct the project.

The third document was an investment proposal.

This year, Summit Entertainment was planning a major project called Deadly Assassination, similar to Mr. & Mrs. Smith.

Last month, Mr. & Mrs. Smith was a box office hit, grossing over $300 million globally. Summit wanted to capitalize on that success with a big-budget film, estimated to cost $110 million.

Summit announced that they were tight on funds and were looking for partners, submitting a collaboration proposal to Bra Films.

After reviewing it, the production team deemed it a high-quality project worth investing in, leaving the final decision to Luca.

“Deadly Assassination?”

Luca frowned as he read the title, unable to recall such a film. Could the name have been changed?

“Scott, do we have the script?”

“Yes, their materials are very thorough.”

Scott pulled out a folder containing the script, shooting schedule, budget breakdown, and other detailed information.

After reading the script, Luca was confused.

The story was about a couple of assassins assigned to kill a politician. However, the female assassin falls for the politician, and she and her ex-boyfriend engage in a love-hate relationship. It was a well-written script that could potentially rival Mr. & Mrs. Smith if done right.

But Luca had no memory of this film, meaning it was either never made, flopped, or was a disaster.

“Scott, forget this project.”

Luca said bluntly.

“Boss, may I know why?”

Scott spread his hands. “The production team spent a week assessing it and found it to be a solid project.”

“The reason is simple. During the making of Step Up, Summit pulled out halfway, nearly causing the project to collapse.

In my book, their credibility is zero. Plus, their production head, Akiva Goldsman, once threatened me. With a company and person like that, how could we work together?”

Luca replied calmly.

“I understand, boss. It was an oversight on our part. We’ll be more cautious when considering partners in the future.”

Scott said seriously.

"Good."

After approving a few more documents and discussing company plans, Luca stretched his neck and looked out the window. The weather outside was nice.

"Luca, the car is ready. Shall we leave now?"

Tony called from outside the door.

"Let’s go!"

Luca was heading to meet with director Nolan for a movie discussion. Hopefully, the audition results would be good.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 399: Director Nolan's Decision*

"Milton has gotten too complacent. Ever since he became famous, his magic hasn't changed at all. It's gotten boring. He refuses to take risks with new tricks, instead relying on these second-rate gimmicks to fool the audience's enthusiasm," Christian Bale said.

"These are classic routines, and a lot of the audience loves them," Luca chuckled.

"Classic routines? How about something fresh? He doesn't even dare to try catching a bullet with his bare hands."

On the screen, a recording from Luca's audition for The Prestige was playing. He and Christian Bale were auditioning for the lead roles of Angier and Borden, respectively.

The film is set at the end of the 19th century. The two main characters initially perform together as part of the same magic troupe, like brothers.

Angier comes from an aristocratic background, with elegant and sophisticated magic tricks.

Borden, on the other hand, comes from humble beginnings, is competitive, and loves taking risks.

Both rely on their ingenuity to achieve great success in the world of magic, but their disagreements grow deeper and deeper.

In their quest to become the top magician, their rivalry turns into an all-out battle, throwing friendship and morality aside, eventually leading to a series of tragic events.

The segment they auditioned for was the scene where the two first begin to disagree.

In this scene, Bale's Borden is aggressive, smart, bold, and impatient, expressing dissatisfaction with the current magic tricks.

Meanwhile, Luca's Angier is calm and collected, smiling warmly, never quick to offer his opinion.

This scene clearly shows the contrast between their personalities.

"Chris, Luca, what are your thoughts after watching this?" Director Nolan asked as he turned off the recording and looked at the two.

Luca didn't know what to say.

In his memory, the actors for this scene were Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale, so replacing Jackman with himself felt a bit awkward.

He looked at Bale, thinking it was best for his senior to speak first.

Christian Bale spread his hands and smiled. "Nolan, you're the director, and the king of this production. If you have any feedback, feel free to share it directly."

"Yes, Director Nolan. If it's my issue, please just say it. I think I can handle it," Luca added.

He had a bad feeling ever since he got the call yesterday.

It was just him and Bale auditioning. Bale, being an acting veteran with superb skills, was clearly favored by Nolan. So, Luca figured if there was a problem, it had to be with him. He had prepared for the worst.

"Emm~ My suggestion is..." Nolan looked at the two, thought for a moment, and said, "Luca, you're younger and more energetic. Chris, you're more introverted and mature. I think the two of you should swap roles. Luca, you'll play Borden, and Chris, you'll play Angier. I'd like to arrange another audition to see how it works. Are you okay with that?"

Luca was surprised. He thought Nolan was going to tell him he wasn’t a good fit, but it was just a role switch.

"I don't mind!" He then looked at Bale.

Bale leaned back on the couch, smiling. "OK, I don't have a problem with that either!"

"Alright, I'll set up the audition then."

Half an hour later, the second audition began, this time with Luca as Borden.

He was now playing a working-class magician, for whom magic was the key to entering high society.

He was willing to take risks and had an obsession with creating new magic tricks. To achieve this, he gradually walked a path devoid of morality and emotions, becoming a madman obsessed with success.

To portray this character, the key changes were in the eyes and dialogue. At first, his gaze was rational and calm, but over time, it became more and more unhinged.

This role was quite challenging, even more so than Angier.

"Are you ready? OK, action!" Director Nolan said as he started the camera, watching the two perform.

Bale sat in a chair, a slight smile on his lips, effortlessly exuding aristocratic charm.

Luca stood in the middle of the set, talking and gesturing passionately, full of energy and determination.

"Catching a bullet with your bare hands is suicide. All it takes is one smart aleck slipping a real bullet into the barrel, and you're done for."

"So what? As long as we use a good plant, there won't be a problem."

Luca shouted back.

"But we can't use a plant for every show. What if someone from the audience wants to load the bullet?"

"Fine, then we won't do the bullet-catching trick. My point is, a real magician should always innovate, creating tricks that leave audiences stunned, while making rivals scratch their heads trying to figure out how it's done. That's what a magician should be doing."

Luca pointed his fingers, strongly expressing his view.

"Emm~ Interesting," Nolan said from off-screen, folding his arms as he carefully observed their performances.

"Their acting is solid, but the age gap between them is too obvious. They don't quite match as rivals," said Nolan's wife, Emma.

"That's true. But Luca carries himself in a way that makes him seem older. His eyes, movements, and demeanor all suit a more mature character," Nolan replied.

"Just 'suit'? If Luca isn't right for the role, you could always cast someone else. Why insist on him?" Emma asked, puzzled.

Last month, Warner Bros. announced the casting for the film, and many male actors were eager to work with Nolan.

Actors like Hugh Jackman, Ryan Reynolds, and Edward Norton—A-listers, B-listers, and even C-listers—were all interested.

But soon after, rumors spread that the roles had been pre-assigned to Luca and Bale.

While no one questioned Bale's talent and fame, many were unhappy about Luca landing the part.

Luca, a Brazilian, had already taken a lot of great roles, and now he’d snagged another pre-cast slot, leaving many in the industry confused. However, Nolan, being the director, producer, and overseer of the film, had the final say.

The critics could only quietly take jabs at Luca, hoping Nolan would reconsider.

Even Emma had her reservations about Luca, mainly because of his sketchy past, and she was aware that Nolan admired him, which made her take this situation more seriously.

After a moment of thought, Nolan said, "Emma, if you watch Luca’s films, you'll see he's a unique actor. Two years ago, his acting was just average, but this year, he's reached a level of maturity. In Match Point, his performance was on par with any A-lister."

"I spoke to Woody Allen about this recently. He told me Luca has immense potential, is highly adaptable, and has a great work ethic. Allen believes Luca's potential has no ceiling, and that his limit depends on the director's vision. Working with him is a challenge for any director."

"Plus, Luca is an interesting person, and I want to work with him," Nolan added with a soft smile.

Emma nodded, saying nothing further.

Nolan was the director, the heart of this film. She trusted him to take the movie seriously and choose the best actors for the roles.

"OK, that's a wrap!" Nolan called out, pausing the scene and addressing the two actors. "Thanks for today. I'll need to review the footage again, but I’ll have an answer for you by tomorrow afternoon at the latest."

"No problem!" Christian Bale said with a smile as he left the studio early.

Luca thought for a moment and approached Nolan.

"Nolan, do you think I’m right for the role?"

"Haha, Luca, do you think you’re right for the role?" Nolan laughed.

"I think so. I’m confident I can nail it, but your opinion is what matters most. If you don’t think I’m a good fit, don’t hesitate to tell me. Don’t worry about hurting my feelings. You’ve known me long enough to know I’m pretty thick-skinned," Luca joked.

Nolan chuckled. "Luca, filmmaking is serious business. Do you think I’d let personal feelings influence casting?"

Luca raised an eyebrow. "You don’t seem like the sentimental type."

When it came to making movies, Nolan was known for being exceptionally serious. He’d never let personal relationships affect a film's quality.

"Luca, don’t overthink it. Whether you’re right for the role, you'll know by tomorrow."

"OK!"

Luca left Nolan's studio.

The next day at noon, Nolan called him to say he’d passed the audition.

To Luca's surprise, the role he got wasn’t Borden, the character from his second audition, but the original role of Angier.

Nolan explained that he initially doubted whether Luca could handle Angier, which is why they did the second audition. But after seeing his performance, Nolan ultimately chose to trust him.

Luca was deeply touched. He had no words, except to throw himself into the role with his best effort and give it everything he had.

(End of chapter)

*Chapter 400: Wait for Me Tonight*

"Okay, I'll keep an eye on my weight."

In the café, Luca hung up the phone.

"Luca, any good news?" Director Billy asked.

"Congratulate me—I got the lead role in The Prestige."

"Wow, that's fantastic news!" Billy raised his coffee cup and insisted on toasting with Luca.

"Luca, there's been a lot of negative news about you in the media lately. I think they're trying to push you out of the entertainment industry. But this time, you've gone against the tide and landed a major role. A lot of people won't see this coming and will be disappointed when it gets out." Billy grinned mischievously.

"I have to thank Director Nolan for that."

Recently, Hollywood had been rife with xenophobia, with many targeting Luca, a Brazilian actor with a big name. He made an easy target. Unable to find any solid criticisms, they resorted to gossip and harsh words.

This time, Nolan showed real determination, sticking with Luca as the lead despite the noise, which was far more impressive than a certain someone who loves stinky tofu.

"Luca, be careful. Once this gets exposed, some people are going to make a big deal out of it again."

"I understand!"

Luca took a sip of coffee. "Billy, why did you ask me to come here today? If you have something to say, just say it. I have another audition this afternoon."

"Well, it’s about the sequel to Step Up. Last time we talked about it, Scott wasn't here yet, and when he arrived, he overturned our previous plans. He’s gone too far."

Billy shrugged, looking a bit dissatisfied.

Luca sighed softly, rubbing his forehead.

He usually avoided coming to the company to steer clear of internal conflicts. Being a major shareholder and a core figure, whichever side he supported would inevitably win.

Precisely because of this, he rarely voiced his opinion in decision-making, especially regarding company policies. His involvement could have significant effects, possibly destabilizing internal harmony.

"Billy, can I ask why you became a director? Some do it for money, some for fame, others for women or just as a hobby. What about you?"

Billy frowned. "Does that question have anything to do with what we’re discussing?"

"It does. I need to understand you better to answer your question."

"I value fame more. I want to be a big Hollywood director, like Spielberg or George Lucas," Billy said after thinking for a moment.

"That's a great answer! But how does directing Step Up 2 help you achieve that goal? If you want to become a top director, you should start in the indie film scene, make a few excellent low-budget films, and then move on to commercial projects."

"So you don’t support me directing the sequel?" Billy’s face darkened as he caught Luca’s implication.

Luca shook his head. "I still support you, but you need to show some initiative. If you want to direct the sequel, you should present a script and a project plan to convince Annie and Scott. Compared to the competition, you have a huge advantage.

"You directed the first movie, you're familiar with all the projects, and you understand the music scene, which means you know exactly what kind of soundtrack will make the movie pop. Plus, you’re part of the company.

"All of these are your advantages. You should seize them, but it feels like you don’t care."

Luca was a little exasperated. He was telling the truth.

Billy had directed the first movie, so continuing with the second one shouldn’t be a problem.

However, Billy strongly resisted Scott’s new rules.

After finding out that the opportunity was slipping away, he had been lobbying Annie and Ross non-stop, clashing with Scott, and completely neglecting the task of making a good movie.

This attitude was concerning.

"Okay, Luca, I’ll think about it," Billy said, disappointed, as he left the café.

Luca shook his head and called Annie Fletcher, the film's producer, who had the most say in choosing the director.

"Luca, has Billy come to see you again?" Annie asked over the phone.

"Yes, but I didn’t agree to anything. Billy was a bit disappointed," Luca replied helplessly.

"Haha, Luca, don’t worry about him. This is Hollywood. Business is business, and relationships are relationships. We make movies to make money, not to play around. I don’t feel comfortable handing such a big project to someone as irresponsible as him," Annie said, clearly displeased.

They used to have a good relationship, but after Billy walked off a previous project, her opinion of him had changed.

"Annie, has the sequel’s director been decided yet?"

"There are two suitable candidates we’re talking to. We should have it settled by the end of the week."

"And Billy’s not one of them?"

"No, Luca. You know that his last movie, Honey 2, grossed less than $20 million, and even its home video sales were lackluster. That shows audiences don’t really like his films.

"Our sequel, as long as the quality is decent, should conservatively make $50 million at the box office. How can we trust such a big project to him?

"Plus, after the company decided to hold an open director search, he hasn’t come up with any project plans or shooting schedules, just constant complaints. That shows his attitude is all wrong."

"I understand. I support your decision."

Luca hung up the phone.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to help, but Billy wasn’t putting in the effort.

"Luca, the costume is ready. Are you really going to wear this to the audition?"

A while later, Tony came in carrying a Spartan outfit.

"Yes, the audition requires actors to bring their own costumes for on-the-spot selection."

Luca examined the Spartan outfit.

A blood-red cape, triangular leather shorts, a metal helmet, and a long sword—all handmade with exquisite craftsmanship.

He had specially prepared this costume for his audition for 300.

Last time, Leon mentioned that Zack Snyder had a new movie coming up.

After some inquiries, Luca learned about the casting for 300. The film had high box-office potential.

More importantly, starring in this film would give him a legitimate opportunity to show off his perfect physique to the world.

So here he was.

The casting process was simple: interested actors prepared their own gear, arrived on time, and the casting team made their selections on-site.

The audition was at 2:00 in the afternoon.

Around 1:00 p.m., Luca, dressed in his Spartan outfit, arrived at the Warner Bros. production center.

Beforehand, he had worked out for over an hour at the hotel, pumping up his muscles to look full, firm, and well-defined. He appeared both sexy and fierce.

"Luca?"

Just as he entered the production center, he ran into Ms. Jolie stepping out of the elevator, accompanied by her assistant and bodyguards.

Seeing him, Jolie squinted, giving him a once-over. A blush quietly crept up her face.

Luca froze, also blushing a bit.

"Good afternoon, Ms. Jolie!"

"Hmph!"

With people around, Jolie didn’t respond directly. She just snorted and walked away with her entourage.

Luca shrugged and entered the elevator.

Ding!

As he stepped out of the elevator, he received a text message.

"Tonight, wear the outfit. Wait for your queen's arrival!"

"What?"

Luca shook his head and left the elevator.

Whoa!

The audition room was filled with a sea of red capes—around 50 or 60 tall, muscular men. Seeing them, Luca thought this must have been what the Spartan army looked like.

"Tsk, tsk, is this a bodybuilding competition?" Tony said enviously.

Luca raised his eyebrows and confidently strode to the front. Even if it were a bodybuilding competition, he was sure he could place well.

Happy Labor Day, everyone!

(End of chapter)