351-355

*Chapter 351: Presenting Mr. Luca Kelly*

“Hey, Luca, you’ve been in the spotlight lately!” Ryan Gosling said with a grin, swirling his cocktail at their booth in Sunset Bar.

“Are you teasing me?” Luca asked, clearly displeased.

“No, I’m serious. You've been in the news so often lately—doesn’t that mean you're pretty hot right now?”

“You’re definitely teasing me.”

Most of the news about Luca was just gossip—rumors linking him with Britney Spears and even claims that he was somehow affecting Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt’s marriage. None of it was exactly the good kind of attention.

Luca shook his head and glanced at Heath Ledger, who had been sitting quietly.

“Heath, when did you wrap up Brokeback Mountain?”

“Uh, over a month ago,” Heath mumbled, scratching his head and then falling silent again.

Ryan chuckled. “Luca, don’t bother. Ever since Heath finished Brokeback Mountain, he’s been even moodier. He’s got all these quirks now—spacing out, laughing to himself, and completely avoiding physical contact with other guys. One time, I put my arm around his shoulder, and he pushed me so hard I almost fell over.”

“Uh, Ryan, I didn’t mean to do that,” Heath said slowly.

“Alright, Heath, I accept your apology,” Ryan replied, patting Heath on the shoulder. “But seriously, you can’t keep this up. The movie’s done. You need to move on. If you stay in character too long, it’ll take over your life—or worse, destroy you. You understand?”

Heath stiffened when Ryan patted him but resisted the urge to pull away.

“See? This makes it awkward for me!” Ryan said, throwing up his hands in mock exasperation.

Luca laughed. “Heath’s a great actor. He always takes on challenging roles—criminals, killers, and even playing a gay man. It’s only natural for him to get so into it.”

“So, by your logic, only actors who get totally absorbed in their roles are good actors?” Ryan asked with a smirk.

“Pretty much!” Luca chuckled. “Heath, what are you working on right now?”

“Yeah, The Brothers Grimm and The Lord of Dogtown. I’ve still got some scenes to shoot.”

“Lucky you. You’ve still got projects lined up this year, while I’m struggling. I’ve been blacklisted, and now it’s almost impossible for me to get a role,” Luca sighed, raising his glass.

“Wait, you’re still blacklisted?” Ryan asked, surprised.

Luca nodded. “Yeah, I auditioned for a few films recently, but none of them worked out. I even had two roles lined up, but they fell through at the last minute.”

“Wow, that sucks,” Ryan said, patting Heath on the shoulder again. “Hey, Heath, as his friend, shouldn’t you say something to cheer him up?”

Heath smiled faintly and raised his glass. “Luca, you’re already incredible. You’ve only been in the industry for two years, and you’ve already won a Silver Bear Award. Some people work for decades and never achieve what you have.”

“Wait, are you talking about me?” Ryan clutched his chest dramatically. “I started acting at twelve, and it’s been thirteen years! I’ve been in tons of movies, and I still haven’t won any major awards. Are you trying to rub it in?”

Heath looked puzzled. “This has nothing to do with you. I’ve been acting for over a decade too, and I haven’t won any major awards either.”

“Stop!” Luca interrupted, annoyed. “You two need to stop being so modest. Should I Google how many awards you’ve won? I bet it's at least five Best Actor trophies. And don’t start with the whole ‘I’ve been acting for ten years’ thing. Are you trying to show off? If you want to compare, I’ve been playing soccer for sixteen years. Am I bragging?”

Ryan laughed. “Luca, I guess that makes you the senior around here. Let’s drink to the veteran!” He raised his glass, and Heath followed suit.

“Hey, aren’t you guys going to dance?” Rachel McAdams walked over with Michelle Williams, Heath’s new girlfriend and Brokeback Mountain co-star.

The two of them had just finished dancing, sweat dripping down their faces, looking like they’d had a great time.

“I don’t dance,” Luca shrugged.

“Don’t be modest!” Rachel teased, remembering how Luca had pretended not to know how to dance at a previous party, only to get Lindsay and Amanda to teach him—taking full advantage of the situation.

“I’m serious. I don’t dance in places like this. There’s no room for me to really show off my moves,” Luca said smugly.

“Is that so?” Ryan’s eyebrow shot up as he stood and yelled, “Hey, everybody!” The music in the bar slowly quieted down.

“Ryan, what are you doing?” Luca felt a sinking feeling.

Ryan grinned and took a microphone from a nearby waiter. Jumping onto the couch, he shouted, “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Sunset Bar! Sitting right next to me is none other than the best soccer-playing model in the world, the finest catwalk strutting screenwriter, and the actor with the slickest game—Mr. Luca Kelly! Give it up for Luca!”

Applause filled the bar as people turned to look.

Luca’s face twitched, but he still stood up and waved at the crowd, shaking hands with those nearby.

“And now, I present to you—Luca Kelly’s dance performance!” Ryan declared loudly.

The crowd clapped eagerly as the DJ cranked up the music, and the bar came to life.

“Luca! Luca! Luca!” Ryan cheered from the couch, quickly joined by the rest of the bar.

Rachel and the others laughed, clapping along.

Luca pointed at his friends, then shrugged off his jacket and stepped into the dance floor.

“Wow, awesome! Let’s go!” Ryan yelled.

The lights flashed, and lasers cut through the air as the music pulsed. Luca matched the rhythm with breakdancing, busting out impressive moves like a windmill, flare, handstands, and head spins. His complex and fast-paced dance moves synced perfectly with the explosive music and flashing lights, making the performance even more electrifying.

A few breakdancers joined him, and soon, the six of them were dancing in sync, their moves becoming even cooler as they fell into rhythm with each other.

The audience cheered and clapped nonstop, the atmosphere at its peak.

“See, Heath?” Ryan nudged Heath. “Luca always acts all proper, but deep down, he’s wild. This guy’s the definition of low-key flamboyance.”

“I don’t think so. I think Luca’s really talented. It’s like he can do anything,” Heath said, watching the dance floor intently.

“Yeah, Luca’s amazing,” Rachel agreed, clapping.

“Hey, babe, how can you compliment another guy right in front of me?” Ryan complained.

“I can compliment you too. Want to go in there and dance a bit?” Rachel teased.

“Uh, no thanks. I’d rather not throw my back out trying to keep up with Luca,” Ryan said, shaking his head.

“Don’t be silly,” Rachel laughed and continued clapping.

Clap, clap, clap—

As Luca finished his routine, he wiped the sweat from his brow and made his way back to the booth, stopping along the way to sign a few autographs for fans.

“Luca, you’re a fantastic dancer! What’s your secret?” Ryan asked with a grin.

Rachel handed Luca a cold beer.

“It’s simple—just practice breakdancing for half an hour every day, and you’ll be a pro in no time,” Luca said, taking a gulp of the beer.

“Half an hour every day? That’s too much. My willpower could never handle that,” Ryan admitted.

“Luca, that’s not your real secret, is it?” Rachel asked playfully.

“Oh? Rachel, do I have some secret I’m not aware of?” Luca looked puzzled. He’d started learning breakdancing on the set of Honey, practiced a bit during the promotional tour, and then again while preparing for Step Up. Over time, his breakdancing skills had steadily improved.

“Luca, isn’t your real secret having a beautiful coach? Like Jessica Alba, perhaps?”

“Hahaha!” Everyone burst into laughter.

(End of the chapter.)

*Chapter 352: The Night Visitor*

That evening, Luca returned to the estate and called Kate, Lima, Britney, and Aniston to wish them goodnight.

He also made a call to Mr. Ross, discussing the idea of producing Little Miss Sunshine. After a moment of hesitation, Mr. Ross agreed, saying he would head to Hollywood once the theater rehearsals were finished.

After the calls, it was nearly eight o’clock. Luca prepared a few small plates of fruit for dinner, poured half a glass of red wine, and sat on the rooftop terrace. He gazed out at the brightly lit Malibu coast in the distance, enjoying the cool evening breeze while listening to soft music. The atmosphere was peaceful and relaxing.

He thought sitting like this all night wouldn't be a bad choice.

*Ring, ring!*

Suddenly, his phone rang, an annoying interruption. He picked it up, and just hearing the voice on the other end made him sit up straight.

“How do you have time to call me? Yes, I’m alone. Wait, what? You’re at the gate of my estate? What are you doing here at night?”

Luca quickly stood and walked to the other end of the terrace. From there, he saw a woman in black leather riding a sleek motorcycle at the gate. She wore a black helmet, looking like a ghost rider in the night.

“Alright, alright, I’m coming to open the gate!”

Luca went downstairs, unlocked the estate’s gate, and let the visitor in.

*Vroom!*

The motorcycle roared into the estate, and the rider did a quick loop on the main driveway.

The woman dismounted the bike with a swift and graceful move, swinging her long legs down. She took off her helmet, letting her wavy hair fall free, revealing a beautiful face and seductive red lips.

“Miss me, little monster?”

Ms. Julie smiled slightly.

“Julie, your entrances are always so stunning and unexpected!” Luca stepped forward to hug her.

Julie laughed brightly and playfully punched him in the chest. “Little monster, it’s been five months since you answered my call. Have you been avoiding me?”

“Shouldn’t we keep our distance? You and Pitt are in the middle of a passionate romance, and I have a reputation as a notorious playboy. If we get too close, it might affect your relationship.”

“What does it matter? Love is love, and games are games. Can’t I play games while being in love?”

“Keep playing?” Luca wasn’t sure he understood.

“Of course! The game is my idea, and until I say it’s over, we keep playing. Don’t think you can just end it like that.” Julie wrapped a soft cord around his neck and pulled him inside the villa.

Luca sighed and went along with the whims of this headstrong woman.

Once back on the rooftop terrace, the music still drifted on the night breeze. Julie looked around and commented, “This place is really nice!”

“Yeah, when I stay here, I love sitting here and looking out at the scenery. It helps me forget all my worries,” Luca replied. He poured her a glass of red wine. “Want something to eat? I made a fruit dinner—fruit stew, fruit salad, kumquats with fresh ginger, and almonds.”

“Looks great,” Julie said, picking up a fork and tasting everything. “Delicious. You’re quite handy. If you were a bit older, I might go after you for real.”

Luca laughed and sat down on the opposite sofa, sipping his wine, the scene almost unchanged from earlier—except now, there was a seductive woman across from him.

“Julie, are you serious about Pitt?” Luca asked, curious.

“Of course! When I do something, I do it for real. This time, I’m definitely serious,” Julie said between bites.

Luca swirled his wine. “If you’re committed to Pitt and plan to be with him long-term, why keep playing games? It’s risky.”

“It’s fine. He won’t find out. Are you going to tell him?”

“Of course not. Pitt already has a deep misunderstanding of me because of Aniston. If he found out about us, he’d probably kill me,” Luca said, shaking his head.

“Haha, speaking of Aniston, have you slept with her?” Julie asked, tilting her head playfully.

“Oh, definitely not. Aniston helped me with some ad campaigns before, and we’re working on a movie together. There’s nothing like that between us. Besides, you know how controlling Pitt can be. He has people watching her. If something improper happened between us, he’d know.”

“Really?”

Julie smiled, unconvinced. She set down her fork and sat next to him, gazing at the distant sea. “He won’t find out about us either.”

“You sound so sure,” Luca said, doubtful.

Julie smiled seductively. “A few days ago, didn’t you audition for The Black Dahlia and Stay? I heard you made it to the third round for The Black Dahlia.”

“Yeah, how did you know?”

Julie’s lips curled into a sly grin. “Because I used my connections to make sure they didn’t hire you.”

“What?!”

Julie laughed. “Yep! I told more than one person that the actor I hate most is a Brazilian named Luca Kelly—young, ambitious, and a homewrecker. So, I joined Pitt’s camp and helped blacklist you.”

Julie teased him, lifting his chin with her fingers, her face glowing with amusement. “So, darling, does that news make you angry? Feel like teaching me a lesson?”

“You’re good!” Luca took her wine glass, pushed her down on the sofa, and unzipped her leather jacket, kissing her neck.

“Hahaha, that’s the spirit!” Julie laughed, running her fingers through his hair. “Pitt hates you, and so do I. I’ve even taken part in blacklisting you. Do you think he’d suspect me? By the way, on TV the other day, I mentioned having a steady lover, and it’s you!”

“We’re just game partners, not lovers, alright?”

“Fine, whatever you say. Sometimes, a partner is more reliable than a lover.”

Julie suddenly pushed him away and stood up. She walked to the edge of the terrace, slowly unzipping her leather jacket and pants, revealing a body clad in a seductive, wild black lace outfit.

“Well? What are you waiting for?” She turned to him, her face flushed with excitement.

“Julie, here? Isn’t it a bit too exposed?” Luca gestured around. The city lay in the distance, and the terrace felt like an open-air stage—too cool for this kind of game.

“Isn’t it more exhilarating here? Behind us are vast wilderness and mountains, and in front of us is the bustling, civilized city. We’re right between nature and civilization, free to be our true selves.”

Julie let her jacket fall and stretched toward the horizon, her long hair dancing in the night breeze. Her slender waist and legs, along with wild tattoos, made her look even more rebellious and untamed.

Luca stepped forward and embraced her.

“So, let’s begin!”

The night deepened. The terrace lights cast a dim glow, and amidst the chaotic shadows, a beast bared its fangs.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 353: Luca, It's Your Turn to Take the Stage

“Mr. Kelly, I’m sorry, but the audition for Hollywood Manor is over, and your name isn't on the cast list.”

“Alright, I understand.”

“Mr. Kelly, the production team thinks Mr. Banderas is more suited for the role of Zorro, so… I’m really sorry.”

“OK, I get it!”

“Mr. Kelly, I regret to inform you…”

Luca had been in Los Angeles for five or six days, auditioning for six different roles. When the results came in, without exception, he had been rejected for all of them.

Somehow, word of this got out, and it became a joke in the industry. People said he was like an unemployed worker, constantly interviewing, but with no results.

Some entertainment papers even joked that the Hollywood Reporter's pick for the most promising young actor earlier in the year was now facing unemployment.

Friends like Aniston, Ms. Theron, Rachel, and several others heard these rumors or saw the news, and called him to ask about it.

“Luca, are you bored? Do you really want to act that much?”

“No, I just wanted to try. I didn’t expect to fail every time,” Luca said, somewhat regretfully.

“Stop trying! Didn’t you just land a role a few days ago? Why are you in such a hurry? If you take on too many roles in one year, can you really do any of them well?” Ms. Theron scolded over the phone. “You know, every time I hear about you failing another audition, it embarrasses me.”

Luca could only keep apologizing, saying that the auditions were over and there wouldn’t be any more awkward news.

Aniston sighed, calling Brad Pitt overbearing, and told him to hurry back to New York because the crew was ready and they’d soon be heading to South Carolina for filming.

Luca agreed.

Even Leonardo called, saying that there was a small part available in a crew and asked if he wanted it.

Luca said yes.

Leonardo then apologized, saying the part had been cut by the writers.

Luca cursed, “Fuck!”

Leonardo laughed even harder, clearly enjoying it.

Luca was helpless.

Jolie also called, asking him what he was trying to do. Knowing full well that he’d been blacklisted, why was he still pushing forward? Was he looking to get hurt?

Luca laughed, saying he just wanted to do something nice, maybe make Mr. Pitt happy. Not getting a role wasn’t a big loss for him, but it would cost Pitt a favor.

Jolie called him “boring” and hung up.

After a few more days in Los Angeles, Luca boarded a plane back to New York.

Rabbit Hole had been rehearsing for two months and was about to premiere. Mr. Ross had invested a lot of time, effort, and money into this production. If it didn’t do well, Ross would be heartbroken.

To look after Ross’s heart, Luca had no choice but to spend even more time rehearsing. He’d go to Broadway every morning, often staying until evening, sometimes even being forced to work overtime by Ross.

Finally, September 25th arrived, and Rabbit Hole made its Broadway debut at the Cabaret Theatre.

“Luca, hurry up, it’s your turn to go onstage!”

Backstage, in a dim hallway of the theater, Ross was sweating nervously.

“Mr. Ross, whether it’s good or bad, it is what it is now. What’s the use of being nervous?”

Luca smiled as he walked out of the dressing room.

“Don’t give me that. Tonight has to go well.”

Ross frowned. “Did you memorize your lines? Once you're on stage, stay calm. If anything goes wrong, or you forget a line, don’t panic. Just give Natasha a look. She should be able to help you. Remember, ‘improvise.’ Even God makes mistakes, so humans definitely will. The most important thing is to recover from those mistakes.”

“Don’t worry, Mr. Ross. I don’t have many lines. I won’t forget them.”

“Alright, then. It’s your turn to go on. Remember, no matter how many people are in the audience, don’t get nervous, okay?”

“OK!”

Luca gave a thumbs-up, adjusting his outfit—a blue suit that looked like a school uniform, making him appear younger.

At the side of the stage, the stage manager gave a signal, counting down with his fingers. “Three, two, one, GO!”

Luca strode onto the Broadway stage.

Broadway theaters are typically divided into three categories. The biggest are for-profit theaters, seating 500 to 2,000 people. The smaller ones, with fewer than 500 seats, are often free, used for experimental plays.

Tonight, Rabbit Hole was being performed in a large theater with around 1,000 seats. Luca glanced out and saw that about half the seats were filled.

In the front two rows, he spotted some familiar faces—Kate, Lima, Miranda, Britney, and Fanny were all there. Not far off, Aniston and Ms. Nia were seated as well.

Seeing all these familiar faces made Luca a little nervous. Normally, after a movie was filmed, he’d watch it with them, and while he might feel a bit awkward watching himself on screen, he wouldn’t be this tense.

But today was different. He was performing live for them, which added a lot of pressure.

Seeing Miranda and Fanny waving at him nonstop, Luca quickly snapped back into performance mode.

He looked at his co-star, Natasha Richardson, who was playing the lead. She was 40 years old and had starred in several musicals like The Ballroom and The Woman from the Sea, winning two Tony Awards, making her very experienced in stage performances.

As Luca entered, Natasha was delivering a monologue. After their child died in an accident, her husband chose to avoid the pain, while she bravely confronted it. She wanted to clear out everything in the house that reminded her of their child and start a new life.

This difference of opinion had led to a heated conflict between them. As she left the house, she met Jason, the man Luca was playing, who had caused the accident.

When Natasha finished her monologue, Luca sat down on the bench onstage and began his own.

“That day, as I was driving down that road, the speed limit was 30 miles an hour. I might’ve been going 31, maybe 32 or 33. I don’t know. But as I was driving, a dog suddenly darted out, and I swerved immediately. I swerved really fast, really sharply. I managed to avoid the dog, but then, out of nowhere… he was there. Ugh, I’m such an idiot. I should have been more careful. I must have been speeding, I’m sure of it.”

On the bench, Luca started quietly, speaking in a calm tone. Slowly, though, his emotions built, and he became more animated, grabbing at his messy hair, looking frustrated and anxious, his body language growing more intense.

“Hey, do you feel your scalp tingling?”

In the second row, Miranda whispered while covering her face.

“Yes, I feel it too,” Fanny responded, scratching her cheek. “Luca is usually so composed. Seeing him act like this feels… strange.”

“Kind of like he’s losing it, huh?” Miranda chuckled softly.

“Stop laughing. You two know him too well, which is why you’re struggling to see him as the character. Just forget who he is, and you’ll get used to it soon,” Lima said with a grin.

“Lima, are you used to it yet?” Kate asked.

“Getting there,” Lima replied with a smile.

Kate smiled, turning to Britney. “What do you think, Britney?”

Britney raised an eyebrow and laughed. “It’s interesting, but I’m still confused about their relationship. Luca’s character killed her kid—shouldn’t she be furious when they meet? Why is she so calm?”

Kate chuckled softly. “Maybe Luca’s too handsome to hate?”

“Hmm, that could be it!” Britney giggled.

Not far behind them, Aniston and Ms. Nia were also discussing the performance.

“Luca seems a little nervous onstage,” Aniston said with a small smile.

“For his first public performance, it’s natural to be nervous,” Ms. Nia replied with a laugh.

“Haha, did Luca mess up just now? It looked like he skipped a line and tried to make up for it,” Aniston chuckled as she noticed Luca faltering briefly.

“Yes, but it’s okay. Natasha’s a great partner. Look, she picked it back up,” Ms. Nia said, crossing her arms as she watched for a moment longer.

“Luca’s still getting used to the stage, so his performance isn’t quite polished yet. But it’s good enough,” she concluded.

“Yes, I agree,” Aniston nodded in agreement.

“Jen, do you think this story could be adapted into a movie?” Ms. Nia asked.

Aniston thought for a moment. “It’s a good story. A movie adaptation could be even more powerful.”

“Would you consider playing the lead? The role seems quite challenging,” Ms. Nia suggested.

"Not, not, not—I would never play that kind of role!"

Realizing her reaction was a bit too strong, Aniston quickly explained, "Uh, I mean, it's not really my thing. I'm a comedy actress."

Nia nodded, agreeing with her.

Aniston gave a small smile, her hand instinctively resting on her belly.

"So, this is just the sad version of us?"

"I think so," said Luca from the stage.

"But there are other versions of us."

"In those other versions, maybe we're baking cookies or at a water park. In any case, we're having a great time in those other versions."

Applause

Around six in the evening, the first performance of Rabbit Hole concluded, and director Mr. Ross, along with lead actor Weber Lloyd, lead actress Natasha Richard, supporting actor Luca, and three other key creators, came on stage to take a bow.

The audience erupted into applause.

"Performing a stage play is no easy task—it's more exhausting than playing a full soccer match," Luca sighed as they left the stage. He had made two mistakes during the performance, but fortunately, they were minor, and he managed to recover, avoiding any serious mishaps.

Several veteran actors nearby chuckled softly.

"Luca, your performance was better than many newcomers. Don't dwell on those small errors. Just make sure not to repeat them next time," Ross said, patting him on the shoulder.

"So, does this mean we were successful?" Luca asked with a smile.

Mr. Ross nodded first, then shook his head. "You can't tell from just the first show. We'll know after the second one. If more people come to see it, then we can say we succeeded."

"Don't worry, Ross, it'll only get better," lead actor Weber said with a cigarette in hand.

"Let's hope so!"

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 354: I'm Really Not Shakespeare*

The second performance took place the following afternoon. Compared to the first show, the turnout was a bit quieter, but there were still more than 500 people in the audience.

In an era where Broadway theater attendance is steadily declining, getting 50% of the seats filled and over 500 people showing up for a single performance was considered quite a success.

Over the next ten or so days, the crowd ranged from 700-800 people on some nights to just 200-300 on others.

In the media, theater critics declared that Mr. Ross' direction of Rabbit Hole was a massive success, or rather that Natasha's latest work had once again achieved tremendous success. Some praised Luca's debut Broadway show, saying it was met with great enthusiasm, and that his performance marked a clear breakthrough in his acting.

"Is having a few hundred people buy tickets really considered a huge success?"

Luca shook his head as he read the overly enthusiastic praise in the papers. It felt like Mr. Ross had paid for some of these flattering reviews.

"Of course it's a success. If you check out other theaters right now, you'll hardly find venues with more than 400 people. Our Rabbit Hole had 42 performances with an average audience of 380 people per show. That's impressive," Mr. Ross said with a grin, holding the newspaper.

"Alright," Luca replied, still confused. "So, Mr. Ross, how much did you earn from this?"

"Uh..."

At this question, Mr. Ross's face fell as he stroked his beard. "Well, ticket sales only brought in about $180,000, and I invested nearly $200,000. It's going to be tough to break even from ticket sales alone."

Luca nodded. With $180,000 in ticket sales, they would need at least $250,000 to cover theater rental fees and make a profit. Mr. Ross would have to hope for more.

Thinking about it, Luca shook his head. Mr. Ross had been busy for over a year, dragging Luca along for more than a month, with newspapers hyping them up. But after crunching the numbers, they were still running at a loss. It didn’t seem like a great business.

Wait!

Suddenly, something crossed Luca’s mind. "Mr. Ross, do you have the film adaptation rights for this play?"

Mr. Ross smirked. "Yes, yes, I do. Haha, you thought of it too, huh? The play’s a hit, and the next step is to adapt it into a movie. As long as I hold the rights, I won’t lose, haha~"

Sneaky!

Luca felt like he was being used.

"Mr. Ross, how much are you planning to sell the film rights for?"

"At least a million!"

Mr. Ross raised one finger. "Interested?"

Luca shook his head. The film adaptation didn’t seem like it would do well, and the roles didn’t suit him. Besides, he had plenty of scripts and didn’t see a need to buy it at a high price.

"If you want, I can give you a discount—friendship price!" Mr. Ross said, smiling.

"Alright, let’s talk when I’m interested."

"You better hurry, someone else has already contacted me."

"OK!"

Luca smiled and left the dressing room. The show was about to start, and he was headed back to the stage.

The attendance for Rabbit Hole was still decent, so Mr. Ross decided to add a few more shows to make a little extra profit.

However, as time went on, each performance only attracted 100-200 people, and criticism began to surface in the newspapers, particularly aimed at Luca.

The Hollywood Reporter mentioned how Luca had repeatedly failed auditions in Hollywood the previous September, with six rejections in a row. The article, written with a mocking tone, claimed that Luca’s Hollywood career had taken a nosedive, forcing him to retreat to Broadway. They even said he might be the fastest-rising and fastest-falling star in Hollywood.

The Hollywood Post criticized his lack of theatrical skills, calling his acting immature and unsuitable for Broadway. It also highlighted several mistakes he made during the performances, accusing him of dragging down the whole cast.

Luca could only laugh after reading these reviews. They were nitpicking for no reason.

“Luca, don’t laugh. I heard that Director Nolan is a very serious man, especially about films. When he arrives, try to be more serious. You mentioned before you wanted to work with him. I’ve made some connections to set up this meeting,” Ed said, reminding him over coffee.

“Ed, thank you,” Luca replied.

“No worries, it’s my job,” Ed said, though internally, he was frustrated at signing such a troublesome actor.

Luca smiled lightly. Rabbit Hole had just wrapped up, and he was preparing to report to the set of The Blind Side, which had already started filming.

But before he left, Ed called, telling him that he had a connection with up-and-coming director Christopher Nolan, asking if Luca was interested in meeting him. Nolan had a new film project in the works.

Knowing it was Nolan, a future big-time director, Luca came right away.

He had seen in the news that Nolan was working on Batman Begins, though he wasn’t sure if this meeting was related. Could it be a role in Batman?

No way. A Brazilian Batman? That wouldn’t happen.

Luca shook his head as he saw a round-faced, medium-built man approaching.

Ed stood up to greet him, shaking his hand.

“Director Nolan, please have a seat. This is Luca.”

“Mr. Nolan, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” Luca greeted. At this point, Nolan was in his early 30s and had directed just four or five films, with a total box office take of around $100 million—not exactly a huge success yet.

It wasn’t until years later when The Dark Knight Rises grossed $1 billion that Nolan became a household name and a hotshot director.

“Mr. Kelly, nice to meet you. I’ve seen your news,” Nolan said with a smile.

Luca pursed his lips. “Director Nolan, are you referring to those gossip articles? Honestly, I’m a bit troubled by them. People seem to target me, which is why there’s more gossip about me than most.”

“Mr. Kelly, I was referring to your film reviews. Based on them, you’ve mostly acted in romantic films, while I direct suspense, thriller, and crime films. I don’t think you’re a good fit for my next movie.”

Luca was a bit taken aback by how blunt Nolan was, so he decided to be straightforward as well.

“Director Nolan, in January I starred in Buried, a thriller, and I think I did quite well. I don’t believe the genre should be an obstacle for us to collaborate.”

“Haha~”

Nolan chuckled noncommittally and took out a script. “Mr. Kelly, I’ve heard you’re also a well-known screenwriter. Could you take a look at this script and tell me the basic storyline?”

Luca raised an eyebrow. Was this a test?

Nolan’s films were known for being mind-bending, often requiring multiple viewings to fully grasp, like Memento, The Prestige, and Inception.

But testing a seasoned screenwriter like this? Was that appropriate?

“Director Nolan, is this your new film?” Luca asked.

“Yes.”

“Oh, fantastic! That’s great news for your fans.”

Luca quickly glanced at the script. On the cover, it read The Prestige. He smiled and began flipping through it at a fast pace, skimming over each page.

Seeing Luca speed through the script, Nolan couldn’t help but frown. His scripts were complex; most people would take ten days or more to understand them. What could Luca grasp by skimming like that?

With this attitude, who would want to work with him?

Luca’s gossip-filled reputation also suggested he didn’t put much focus on acting. Nolan had no interest in collaborating with an actor who lacked professionalism.

Ed noticed Nolan’s expression and began to worry. He discreetly nudged Luca under the table, hoping he would take things more seriously, at least for show.

“Huh? Ed, what’s up?” Luca asked, then turned to Nolan. “Sorry, I spent a little too long reading.”

“You’ve finished reading?” Nolan asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Yes, I’ve got the general idea,” Luca replied.

“Ha.”

Nolan felt insulted. He and his brother had spent over a year crafting this intricate script, and Luca claimed he understood it in just eight minutes. That was a blatant sign of disrespect for their work.

“Mr. Kelly, could you explain your understanding of the script?”

Sure, go ahead. The moment you speak, I’ll point out every mistake. You weren’t serious, and you didn’t respect our work.

Nolan’s gaze turned cold.

“Certainly!”

Luca paused for a moment before launching into his explanation.

The film tells the story of two magicians who were childhood friends but became bitter rivals due to jealousy and suspicion. They use courage to replace morality, technique to replace science, and ambition to replace friendship. To outdo each other and prove who is the top magician of the era, they ultimately destroy each other, with one ending up dead.

Luca pointed out the hidden traps in the play and the three steps needed to perform the magic: "verification," "displacement," and "misdirection." The Nolan brothers applied the same principles when writing the script.

Based on these three principles, Luca started to unravel things, discussing the outline of the script, the story's structure, points of conflict, climactic moments, and plot twists.

As Luca explained, Director Nolan's eyes widened. It had only been eight minutes, and Luca had already picked up on so much. Could it be that our script was too simple, too elementary?

There were also some points that Luca mentioned, which Nolan had never thought of before. It felt like he had written a poem, only to have someone analyze emotions and ideas he hadn't realized were there — and the analysis made perfect sense.

This guy's on a whole other level.

"Mr. Kelly, have you seen the script before?"

Director Nolan asked, but then shook his head. There were only two copies of the script — one for him and one for his brother. His brother definitely hadn’t shown it to Luca, and it was even less likely that he had.

"I haven't seen it before, Mr. Nolan, you know that. I'm a screenwriter too. I've read a lot of scripts and written a lot as well. Reading a script isn't difficult for me."

He paused and pointed at the script, "Director Nolan, I just read through it once, and it feels unfinished. Some parts still need revision. Is that right?"

"You noticed?"

Nolan was surprised. The script indeed wasn’t finished, and he hadn’t had a chance to make revisions yet. He was planning to head to the library later today to do more research and complete it.

"Yes."

Luca smirked slightly. "Mr. Nolan, after reading the script, I feel very inspired. If you don’t mind, I’d like to finish it. Would you like to take a look?"

"Huh~"

Finish the script after just eight minutes? Who does he think he is, Shakespeare?

Nolan let out a soft chuckle, pulled a pen and notebook from his bag, and handed them over.

"Mr. Luca, be my guest!"

But don’t blame me if I’m too harsh when it doesn’t turn out well.

"Alright!"

Luca took the notebook and started working on the script.

Ed, standing to the side, was dumbfounded. Weren’t they talking about the movie? How did this turn into Luca writing the script?

Scribble scribble scribble…

Three hours later, as night fell, Luca had finished writing the script and even revised it carefully, making the previously rough story more refined and captivating.

"Director Nolan, please take a look!"

Luca rubbed his wrist as he spoke.

"Okay!"

Director Nolan put down his book, took the script, and began reading. The more he read, the wider his eyes grew, filled with disbelief.

He looked back and forth between the script and Luca, utterly shocked. This revision took the script to a whole new level, making it even more intricate and mind-bending. This guy is incredible. Could he really be Shakespeare?

"Director Nolan, the time was a bit tight, so some parts aren’t fully polished yet."

"No, no, it's excellent, really excellent."

Seeing your writing skills, I suddenly feel like I’m the amateur here.

"Mr. Kelly, it’s a pleasure to meet you!"

Director Nolan shook his hand firmly. Whatever happens, this talented screenwriter was someone he needed to keep close. Even if they couldn’t collaborate, they should at least be friends. If he ever wanted to write another mind-bending plot, he could definitely consult Luca.

"The pleasure’s mine!"

Luca smiled sincerely.

Beside them, Ed let out a breath of relief. Close call.

Chapter 355: Sour for Boys, Spicy for Girls

"You're back? Why do you smell like alcohol?"

Kate put down her magazine and asked from the couch in the apartment.

"I met with director Christopher Nolan this afternoon. We had a great chat and grabbed a few drinks in the evening."

Luca sat down, tugging at his collar.

"You look happy. Did you get a new role?"

Kate massaged his temples as she asked.

"Not yet, but the conversation went really well. I think there's a good chance I'll get the role."

Even though no role had been confirmed, Nolan was amazed by his talent, completely blown away.

Now that the groundwork was laid, collaborating in the future wouldn’t be too hard.

"Oh, by the way, Kate, you mentioned the role of the fourth lead in The Devil Wears Prada. Are you going to take it?"

Luca asked, turning his head.

"The movie will start filming around February or March next year. I should have time. I'd like to give it a try and experience acting."

"Sounds good. Filming is fun. I hope you enjoy your time on set."

Luca smiled lightly.

"I will."

After chatting for a while, the two went upstairs to rest.

Kate had been extremely busy lately, juggling fashion design, new product launches, walking the runway, modeling, guest appearances, and advertisements.

Luca was even busier. After finishing his play, he had to fly to South Carolina the next day to work as a screenwriter.

The next day, October 22, at noon, Luca boarded a plane heading south.

This time, he was traveling alone. Tony stayed behind because his wife was about to give birth, so he needed to be at the hospital.

After a three-hour flight, Luca arrived in Columbia, the capital of South Carolina.

Columbia is the largest and most prosperous city in the state.

The urban area has over 120,000 residents, with 49.22% being white and 45.98% African American. In this city, racial tensions between Black and white communities are apparent. The elites are predominantly white, while African Americans mostly live in poorer conditions.

This environment made it perfect for shooting The Blind Side.

In this movie, the protagonist, Michael Oher, is a homeless African American boy who grew up as an orphan in a dangerous, predominantly Black neighborhood. His mother was an addict who had twelve children with various men.

As a result, Michael grew up without care, repeated grades in the first and second grades, and transferred schools eleven times before ninth grade, constantly moving with no stable home.

Before meeting Mrs. Tuohy, his life was bleak.

When he was 16, he met the kind-hearted Tuohy family.

The Tuohys were billionaires who owned hundreds of chain restaurants, lived happily, and were passionate about sports, representing a typical upper-class family.

After being adopted by them, Michael received a top-tier education and football training at school, eventually becoming a football star.

Although this movie falls under the inspirational genre, The Blind Side differs from others by not overly focusing on racial discrimination or portraying white saviors who pity and help Black people. Instead, it highlights the dignity, goodness, and value in every individual, regardless of race.

This balance is key to the movie's success.

Around 4 PM, Luca arrived at the The Blind Side filming location, a luxurious mansion in Lexington County, east of Columbia.

The crew had been scouting locations since August, and filming officially began in October. By now, they had been shooting for over 20 days.

Currently, they were filming the scene where Michael moves into the Tuohys' mansion.

Having grown up in a slum and constantly moved from place to place, Michael had never lived in such a nice home and faced many challenges adjusting to his new environment.

The Tuohy family also had their challenges. They had two children, a 13-year-old daughter and an 8-year-old son.

The son, Sean Jr., warmly welcomed Michael, the "big guy," as the newest family member.

However, the daughter found it harder to adjust.

In the end, with Mrs. Tuohy's reassurance, everyone in the family accepted Michael.

"Michael, do you want to stay here?"

On set, Jennifer Aniston, playing Mrs. Tuohy, made her entrance. She was wearing a black knit sweater, holding a stack of sheets as she walked down the stairs.

The actor playing the big African American man stood by the couch, looking at her in confusion.

"If you want to stay here for a while, I can get a room ready for you," Aniston said, as she placed the sheets on the couch, adjusting them. "Because you're about to break this $10,000 sofa."

She stood up, looked at Michael, and asked again, "Do you want to stay here?"

Michael hesitated for a moment and then said, "I can't think of anywhere else to go."

Aniston nodded, a slight smile tugging at her lips. "Alright then."

"Cut!"

Director John Lee Hancock called for a break.

John Lee Hancock, 49, had directed movies like The Rookie. He was both the director and, when Luca wasn’t around, also the on-set writer.

In the future, his name would appear under the writing credits.

After watching the footage, Director Hancock called over Quinton Aaron, the actor playing Michael. Aaron, 20 years old, stood 6'8" and weighed 374 pounds—taller and bigger than the real-life Michael Oher.

Before becoming an actor, Aaron had just graduated from school and was planning to apply for a job as a bodyguard for a celebrity.

But when he saw The Blind Side’s casting call on TV, seeking a young Black actor at least 6'3" tall and over 300 pounds, aged between 20 and 25, Aaron thought he fit the bill. With some encouragement from his friends, he sent in his resume.

At the time, the crew was struggling to find an actor for the role of the "big guy." There weren’t any Hollywood actors who fit the requirements, so they even scouted local schools for talent, but with no luck.

John Hancock had even considered Michael Clarke Duncan from The Green Mile, but he was nearly 50 years old, which ruled him out.

Aniston had even complained to Luca, saying that while the script was great, finding the right actor was tough. If they couldn't, the movie would be delayed.

Luca took it upon himself to help and, after going through over 4,000 resumes, he discovered Quinton Aaron and recommended him to Director Hancock.

When Hancock met Aaron, he was thrilled.

Although Aaron had no acting experience, his size, age, friendly face, humble demeanor, and football background made him perfect for the role.

Hancock quickly decided: Aaron was their Michael.

After some training, Aaron joined the cast as a newcomer actor.

"Quinton, you're tall, so be mindful of the camera and don’t zone out,"

Director Hancock said as he helped Quinton refine his lines, expressions, and movements.

Aniston was also nearby, reviewing the scene with the director. After discussing for a while, she came over and greeted Luca.

"Luca, you're finally here!"

"Yeah, about two weeks later than planned. How have you been?"

Luca glanced at her stomach, now over three months along. Her waist was still slim, and her knit sweater didn’t show much of a bump.

Aniston smiled, "I'm doing well. The weather here is warmer, and the air is nice—perfect for relaxing."

Luca nodded, "Yeah, it is warmer here. How's your morning sickness?"

"It's gotten better. Now that I’m past twelve weeks, the nausea is starting to ease up, but I still don’t have much appetite."

Aniston wrapped her arms around her stomach, her face looking a little pale.

"What do you feel like eating? Sour, spicy, sweet? I’ve heard that pregnant women often crave sour or spicy foods. If you like sour things, it means you’re having a boy. If you like spicy, it’s a girl."

"Haha, where did you hear that? Sounds like something from an Amazon tribe! But it's funny."

Aniston laughed softly, covering her mouth.

Luca shrugged, "So, what have you been craving?"

"I think lemon tarts, pickles, and spicy Mexican food sound pretty good. Based on that, can you guess if I'm having a boy or a girl?"

Aniston smiled.

Luca chuckled, "Maybe you're having twins."

"Haha, you're always joking! But twins..."

Aniston imagined it for a moment, then shook her head. "I shouldn’t be too greedy. Having one is already more than enough for me."

Luca smiled.

After a while, the filming resumed, and Aniston returned to the set.

"Luca, come over. Don’t forget you're the writer. You should sit here."

Director Hancock waved his hand, signaling for him to come over.

"Alright, John, I’m coming. I'll be the perfect screenwriter."

Luca spread his hands and took the seat next to the director.

"Hope you like it here," Hancock said, giving a signal to his assistant.

"Scene 5, take 3, action!"

(End of chapter)