286-290

*Chapter 286: What If I Don't Want to Go on a Date with Theron?*

The next day, Luca flew to Berlin.

It was winter in Berlin.

As soon as he got off the plane, the cold wind hit him, and Luca shivered for a full five seconds.

"Damn, it's cold!"

Back in Brazil, it was the height of summer, hot enough to fry an egg, but Berlin was still in the dead of winter, dry and freezing cold.

Right now, the thing he wanted most was to sneak into a mixed-gender sauna and enjoy a nice steam. Such saunas were common in Germany.

But considering how much attention he'd draw, he figured it wasn't worth the risk.

He adjusted his wool coat and followed the crew out of the airport.

There were five of them from the crew this time—him, the cameraman, a translator, and two people in charge of distribution.

According to the news from Babank in Berlin, Buried Alive had gotten a pretty good response after its release, earning praise from various media outlets and attracting attention from international film distributors.

Three distributors had already approached Babank, all wanting the rights to distribute Buried Alive.

Luca's trip to Berlin wasn't just about attending the awards ceremony. He was also hoping to sell the film for a good price. If they could get an extra million or two for it, the trip would be well worth it.

"I was planning to take the film to Sundance; there are more distributors there, but we ran out of time," said Babank, the bald man reclining on the sofa at the H4 Hotel at Alexanderplatz in Berlin, with a cigar between his fingers. He glanced at Luca.

Luca smiled slightly. Was Babank blaming him for not doing enough?

Sundance Film Festival was held at the end of January every year, but by the time they wrapped up, Sundance had already ended.

He took a sip of hot coffee. "What's the highest offer so far?"

"Mr. Kelly, Lionsgate is offering $2 million for the North American distribution rights," Babank’s assistant said.

Luca thought for a moment.

Lionsgate was a solid independent American film distributor. They had a massive hit with Saw this year, which boosted their interest in horror films.

They had also recently distributed House of 1000 Corpses, Open Water, and Undead, all of which performed decently at the box office.

Now they had their eye on Buried Alive, which was no surprise.

But $2 million was too low.

The main character in Buried Alive was American, the film was in English, and the plot would definitely appeal to American audiences.

Plus, Luca was somewhat of a celebrity in the U.S. entertainment world, which came with its own draw.

And Babank was the most famous director in Brazil, even having been nominated for an Oscar for Best Director.

This offer didn’t do them justice.

"Can we negotiate for more?" Luca asked Babank.

Babank took a puff of his cigar and slowly said, "If we win an award, they'll naturally raise the offer. If we don't, they might even lower it. It's a gamble."

"Do we have a chance?"

Luca frowned.

"We do, but not a big one. Brazilian films haven't made much of an impact internationally in recent years, not even compared to our neighbors like Argentina and Peru."

This year, an Argentine film called Lost Embrace was also in the main competition.

It had even been nominated for the Golden Bear.

The film was about a Jewish man searching for his family, and it had received a good response upon release.

The media speculated that it could be the biggest winner of the festival, and its lead actor, Uruguayan Daniel Hendler, had a good shot at Best Actor.

By comparison, Buried Alive, a thriller, had slim chances.

"So should we sell it now?"

Since their chances of winning an award weren't great, selling early seemed safer.

"Let’s wait a bit. Buried Alive is solid, and you should have more confidence in the film," Babank said with a chuckle.

"Alright!"

Luca looked at the old man. Could it be that Babank was confident about winning an award?

But thinking about it, it made sense.

The man was old and had come all the way here in the freezing cold despite his illness. Wouldn't it be a bit heartless if the organizers didn’t give him at least a small award?

After chatting for a while, Luca returned to his room. He had planned to go out for a walk, but the cold wind made him retreat inside.

Having just arrived in Berlin, he wasn’t used to the cold yet.

Ring ring~

Ed was calling.

Luca lay in the bathtub and started chatting.

"How come you've only been back a few days and already managed to make a movie and enter a film festival without saying a word?" Ed said, sounding exasperated over the phone.

Luca smirked. "Would you believe me if I said I didn't know? I was still on set when the assistant director suddenly told me the movie had been selected for the Berlin Film Festival’s main competition. Can you imagine how I felt?"

"Hahaha, attending a film festival before the movie is even finished?"

"Exactly! The director and the entire crew kept it a secret from me. Do you know how tough that is?"

Luca said, covering his forehead.

Ed laughed again. "What's the vibe at the festival? Do you have a shot at winning?"

"Maybe."

Luca thought it over. Buried Alive was about a man trapped in a coffin during the Iraq War, saying goodbye to his friends, lover, and family before his death.

In some ways, it was an anti-war movie.

Opposing war, advocating for world peace—those themes weren’t inferior to other films.

Plus, Brazilian cinema hadn’t been represented at the festival in years. Wouldn't the organizers want to give the crew, who had traveled all the way here, something?

He just couldn’t guess which award they might win.

Besides Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor and Actress, and Best Music, the main competition also had two commemorative prizes—the Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Contribution and the Alfred Bauer Silver Bear Award.

Considering everything, Best Director or one of the commemorative awards seemed most likely.

"Do you have a shot at Best Actor?" Ed asked.

"Not really."

For one, he was too young. The youngest person to win Best Actor at Berlin was Leonardo DiCaprio, who won at 23 for Romeo + Juliet.

And then there was the fact that he was Brazilian.

Since the Berlin Film Festival began, no Brazilian actor had ever won Best Actor. It was hard for Brazilian actors to get recognition at other international festivals too.

Breaking that history would be tough.

Luca shook his head. Being a Brazilian actor was even harder than being an actor from China, probably because soccer was so dominant. With everyone focused on playing football, who had time to perfect their acting skills?

Ding dong~

He got a text. It was from the gorgeous Charlize Theron.

Luca quickly hung up on Ed and started texting the beauty.

Theron had arrived today too, but two hours earlier than him.

She asked what he was doing.

He said Berlin was too cold, and he was soaking in the bathtub to stay warm. Then he asked what she was doing.

She said she wouldn’t tell him.

Luca was at a loss for words. After thinking for a bit, he forwarded the message to Kate and then forwarded Kate’s reply to Theron, essentially becoming a message relay station.

Somehow, Theron agreed to watch a movie together with him.

"…"

Luca frowned and texted Kate, "It's way too cold. I don’t want to go. What should I do?"

"Go!" Kate responded immediately.

"Berlin is seriously freezing. I just want to stay in bed."

Luca tried again.

"Wouldn’t it be warmer to cuddle up with Theron tonight?" Kate said.

"…"

That actually made sense.

But it was so freezing outside that he really didn’t want to go out.

"Go, or I’ll beat you up!" Kate pushed.

"… Fine!"

If it weren’t for Kate’s threats and intimidation, nothing would’ve made him take on this unpleasant task.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 287: Theron's Greeting Gift*

Since they had decided on a date, it was time to take it seriously.

Under Kate’s suggestion, Luca changed into a more low-key outfit: a down jacket, casual jeans, sneakers, and a scarf.

Although his outfit was simple, Luca's stylish and handsome appearance, along with his tall, muscular build and strong, straight legs, made him stand out even in a crowd, regardless of what he was wearing.

He put on his watch, ran his fingers through his hair, casually tousling it. His deep eyes, high nose bridge, and sharply defined features gave him an effortlessly cool look.

“Man, I’m too good-looking for my own good!” he muttered, admiring himself in the mirror for a few more seconds before reluctantly leaving his room.

Kate and Theron had agreed to meet at the Hilton Hotel where Theron was staying, and from there, they would head to the Berlin Film Palace next door to catch a movie.

Luca grabbed a cab to the Hilton and sent a message to Theron.

She replied that she’d be down soon.

However, after more than ten minutes, there was still no sign of her.

Luca was a bit annoyed. Even a big star is no different from regular girls—always making you wait. 

"Don’t rush. The longer a girl takes, the more she cares about you," Kate texted back.

"Alright," Luca muttered, though he wasn’t so sure. No matter how the date went, he felt like he’d be the one getting the short end of the stick.

After another five or six minutes, a woman who looked like Theron finally appeared on the street.

She was tall and slim, dressed in a white down jacket, blue jeans, a big black scarf, and sneakers. She wore a white knit hat that covered most of her face, giving her a youthful, trendy, and vibrant look. From a distance, she could have passed for a college student in her twenties.

But her brisk walk, icy demeanor, and piercing blue-gray eyes fixed on him like sharp swords betrayed her older, more intense vibe.

For some reason, Luca started feeling nervous. His feet instinctively wanted to retreat, but he still stretched out his arms in a friendly gesture.

"Hey, Sally, long time no see!" he greeted her with a charming smile, moving in for a typical Brazilian hug and cheek kiss—the customary greeting in his culture.

What he didn’t expect, though, was her response.

Without a word, Theron raised her fist and punched him straight in the stomach.

Bam!

Luca doubled over, clutching his stomach, unable to breathe, his handsome face twisted in pain.

"Why the hell did you hit me, Sally?" he gasped, feeling wronged. He was sure he hadn’t done anything to offend her, so why the sudden attack?

"You jerk! After what you texted me, I told you I’d hit you, and I always keep my word," Theron said coldly.

Text?

Luca was completely baffled. It was Kate who flirted with you, not me. Why am I getting punched?

"Sally, I’m sorry!" Luca apologized immediately. The number one rule for men in danger: apologize first, no matter who’s right or wrong.

"Hmph!" Theron snorted, lowering the leg she had been about to kick him with, and stormed off.

Luca rubbed his sore stomach and reluctantly followed her.

Standing at 6'3" in shoes, with Theron just an inch shorter in her footwear, the two of them, dressed similarly, looked like a couple as they walked together.

Theron walked in silence ahead, while Luca trailed behind, unsure of what to say. Apart from chatting briefly in a bar one night, they hadn’t really gotten to know each other. Theron wasn’t as lively as Britney or as warm and funny as Aniston.

She was cool and reserved—and had just punched him, leaving Luca even more at a loss for words.

"Theron, are you okay with the cold here?" he asked.

Before she could answer, he shrugged and added, "I’m really struggling. It’s over 30 degrees colder here than in Rio. I almost froze to death getting off the plane today."

Theron’s lips curled into a brief smile before she went back to her usual expressionless look.

Luca took a step closer, walking alongside her as he spoke. "As soon as I got to the hotel, I filled a tub with hot water and soaked in it for ages before I started to feel normal again. When you texted me, I was still in the bath. I had planned to stay in there all day."

"Are you saying I interrupted your bath?" Theron asked, frowning.

"Of course not. I just wanted to say that I’m very clean now," Luca replied with a mischievous smile.

Theron paused for a moment, her eyes narrowing, before she lifted her leg and aimed another kick at him.

Luca laughed and easily dodged. Just as Theron was retracting her leg, he stepped forward, cupped her face in his hands, and kissed her lightly on the lips.

Theron froze, eyes wide with shock, not expecting the timid rabbit to turn into a cunning wolf so suddenly.

But she wasn’t one to stay stunned for long. In less than three seconds, she snapped out of it. Clenching her fists, she pulled her arm back half a foot before launching it forward with all her might toward his stomach.

But Luca was too quick. With a sly smile, he backed away just in time, avoiding her punch.

"Sally, I’m so glad to see you. Consider that kiss my gift to you. Did you like it?" he teased.

"You! Are! Dead!"

Theron, enraged at being toyed with by this cheeky guy, dropped all pretense of being the composed celebrity and charged at him in a fury.

Luca wasn’t about to stick around and get punched again. He took off running at a speed just fast enough to stay ahead of her but slow enough to keep her chasing, always just out of reach.

Their playful chase down the street soon caught the attention of passersby, who thought they must be a sweet couple, playing around like this out of genuine affection.

If Theron had known what they were thinking, she’d have been furious. She wasn’t playfully chasing him—she really wanted to beat him up. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t catch him.

After running a hundred meters or so, they reached the Berlin Film Palace, the main venue for the Berlin Film Festival.

During the festival, the palace was a bustling hub of activity, with crowds of people flocking there for the film screenings. Over 400 films were being shown, all for free.

Luca and Theron were here to watch a movie too.

As they approached the entrance, Luca stopped and turned to her with a grin. "Sally, there are a lot of people and reporters around. Be careful not to get recognized."

Theron stopped as well. Her cheeks were flushed, making her even more striking, but the fierce glint in her eyes made her look dangerous.

Luca chuckled softly, pulling his hat down and raising his scarf. "Sally, can you still recognize me?"

"Childish!" Theron scoffed, giving him a disdainful look before pulling up her own scarf and heading inside.

"Don't get lost in the crowd," Luca said, taking her hand as they navigated through the throng of people like a couple.

Suddenly, he felt a sharp pinch on his waist. He winced, realizing the "farmer and the viper" analogy all too well.

"You okay?" Theron asked coolly.

"Just... some cramps," Luca replied with a strained smile, wiping the sweat from his brow. "So, what movie are we watching?"

Inside the palace, an electronic display listed the films showing, including Going All the Way, 20 30 40, Winter 25 Degrees, A Kiss of Love, Beautiful Homeland, and Intimate Strangers—along with films featuring the two of them, Monster and Buried.

"Let’s watch your movie. I want to see how bad the judges had to be to put your film in the main competition," Theron teased.

"Hey, I didn’t do too badly," Luca protested.

"Yeah, sure," she replied with a smirk as they headed into the theater to watch Buried.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 288: Would You Like to Have a Cup of Coffee?

"Paul, Paul, is that you? I'm so sorry, darling. I shouldn’t have left my phone at home, I missed your call."

"It’s okay, Linda. Listen, those people are coming for you. Leave the house and go to the police—they’ll protect you. Everything will be fine."

"Thank God! I was so scared I’d lose you. I love you, I love you so much."

"I love you too. I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you. I shouldn’t have come here."

"I don’t care about that; I just want you to come home, come back to me. I love you—I can’t live without you."

"Darling, I’ll come home, I swear. I’ll definitely come home."

Inside Berlin Film Palace Theater 3, Buried was playing.

On screen, Luca’s character, Paul, was lying in a dark wooden box, calling his wife Linda.

The ground kept trembling, and fine sand fell from the cracks in the box, gradually covering his body, making the situation more and more dire.

Holding back tears, he kept repeating, "I love you," and promised, "I’ll definitely come home." His tears wet the yellow sand at the corner of his eyes, leaving a dark, damp trail.

It was a very moving scene.

Soft sobs could be heard from the audience.

Luca glanced around.

There were over 50 people in the theater.

As the plot reached its climax, everyone was focused on the screen, tension filling the room.

In the reflected light from the screen, many had tears in their eyes. Some faces were streaked with tear marks, and a few women covered their mouths, weeping softly into their boyfriend’s shoulder.

Meanwhile, the woman beside Luca, Ms. Theron, remained expressionless, occasionally blinking her long, wet eyelashes.

Luca smiled slightly, satisfied with both the audience's reaction and his own performance.

This version had been filmed on that Monday, and it was his first time seeing it—he was pleasantly surprised.

Compared to the original version, this one heightened the action and emotions, making them feel more authentic, as though they were actually happening rather than being acted out.

At the same time, he felt a bit helpless.

"If I had to do it again, I’m not sure I could do better than this."

“This must be my peak performance,” he thought.

As the movie neared its end, fate played a cruel joke on the protagonist.

Just when he thought the rescue team had found him, they told him they had the wrong person.

With a series of "Sorrys," the protagonist resignedly said, "OK, it’s fine."

The sand slowly covered the glow of his phone, the bright light shrinking from the size of a fist to a tiny flicker like a firefly. Finally, the screen went completely dark.

The movie ended.

Sighs echoed through the theater, lamenting the protagonist's misfortune.

Some in the audience cursed the screenwriter, calling them cruel for not writing a happy ending, feeling that their tears were wasted, and expressing how depressed and uncomfortable the film made them. Others thought the ending was brilliant.

"Did you write the script?"

Outside Theater 3, Ms. Theron paused and asked.

"Yes. What did you think?"

Luca turned his head to look at her profile.

"It was… alright."

Ms. Theron nodded slightly.

Luca smiled. Knowing her well, he understood that "alright" meant "very good."

"And what did you think of my performance?"

He asked again.

"You passed," Ms. Theron said casually, wrapped in her scarf.

In her language, "passed" translated to "excellent."

Luca silently thanked her for the compliment. "Do you think I have a chance at winning Best Actor?"

"You?"

Ms. Theron was about to speak but then blinked, her eyes smiling as she said, "Why don’t I ask for you?"

"Ask who?"

Luca was puzzled.

Theron didn’t answer. She walked straight over to a middle-aged woman with short hair.

The woman was slim and looked somewhat familiar.

Luca studied her closely for a moment and suddenly remembered.

The woman was Frances McDormand, a famous American actress known for works like Blood Simple, A Streetcar Named Desire, and Fargo.

She had won an Oscar for Best Actress, been nominated three times, and had countless other awards—a true veteran of the industry.

She was also the head of the jury for this year's Berlin Film Festival.

In addition, Ms. Theron was the lead actress, and Frances played the second lead in the upcoming film Northern Winds.

If Theron asked her, there was a chance she’d get an answer.

More than ten minutes later, Theron returned.

"Well?"

"What?"

"Did you ask about my chances of winning?"

"I didn’t ask, but your chances aren’t great."

Theron smiled, tucked her hands in her pockets, and walked into Theater 5.

"Alright then."

So much for that hope.

Luca shrugged and followed her inside.

The two watched several more films, including Eva’s True Love’s Kiss, Sylvia Chang’s 20 30 40, and Intimate Strangers. All were good films.

But they all had intimate scenes—quite explicit ones, at that.

It made for a steamy atmosphere.

During a particularly passionate scene between Sylvia Chang and Ren Xianqi, some couples in the audience couldn’t resist making out, accompanied by moans and whimpers, turning the place into a scene straight out of a zombie movie.

Luca shook his head, finding it all a bit too much.

He glanced at Ms. Theron beside him. In the dim light of the theater, she had lowered her scarf, her lips looking red and tempting.

Before any bold thoughts could form in his mind, Ms. Theron shot him a warning look.

He had no choice but to keep quiet.

At around 6 PM, the two left the film palace.

Night was falling, and the streetlights cast a cold glow. Only the neon lights outside the bars and clubs looked warm and inviting.

"Sally, this bar looks lively. Want to go in and have a seat?"

Luca suggested.

"No."

"How about a cup of coffee?"

As they passed a café, Luca asked again.

"No."

Ms. Theron continued walking, her hands in her pockets.

After passing through Gendarmenmarkt, the Hilton Hotel’s sign glowed golden in the twilight.

"Alright then."

It seemed like the date was a failure.

Even though they didn’t know each other well before, they still didn’t seem to connect. Luca had no idea what kind of relationship Kate and Theron had through their text messages, but it was clear this in-person meeting wasn’t going well.

Luca shrugged. If it was a failure, so be it. At least nothing went wrong today.

They walked in silence for a while.

As they were about to part ways, the leaden sky began to snow, soft flakes floating down.

"Sally, see you tomorrow! I had a great time today."

Luca stopped and said.

Theron nodded, pulled her scarf up, and walked toward the hotel.

Luca exhaled a breath of cold air and turned to walk down the steps.

"Would you like to come up for a cup of coffee?"

Suddenly, a voice called from behind.

The voice was so soft, quieter than the falling snow, but Luca heard it.

He stopped and looked at Theron’s figure—tall and alluring, more mesmerizing than the snowstorm.

She paused on the steps for a moment, then continued walking forward, as if she hadn’t just extended an invitation.

Should he go or not?

Luca hesitated for a second, then followed.

It’s just coffee, nothing inappropriate about that.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 289: Dream Come True?*

"How was your date last night?"

"Not great. Women are all liars. She invited me upstairs for coffee, but it turned out to be just that—coffee. After we finished, she kicked me out."

In the car, Luca was texting Kate on his phone.

"And then you just left?"

Kate sounded disappointed.

Luca smirked. "No, it was snowing in Berlin last night, and it was pretty cold. I didn’t feel like running around, so I asked if I could crash on her couch for the night."

"Did she agree?"

"Of course!"

Luca laughed.

"Hah, I knew it. Theron’s interested in you. There's no way she’d let you go that easily. Come on, tell me what happened next—I want details!"

Luca chuckled and was about to dive into the details when someone tapped him on the shoulder.

"Luca, time to get out."

Director Babank reminded him.

"OK!"

The car stopped at the entrance of the Berlin Film Palace.

It was February 15th, the closing day of the Berlin Film Festival.

Invited by the organizers, the crew of Buried Alive and more than 40 other film crews arrived at the Film Palace to attend the closing ceremony and award presentation.

As the car door opened, the crew members stepped out one by one.

"I’ll tell you later," Luca texted back, helping Babank out of the car.

The scene outside was bustling. A red carpet, more than ten meters long, stretched across the entrance of the Film Palace.

Outside the barriers on both sides of the carpet, a large crowd gathered—fans, media from various countries, and onlookers, all bustling with excitement.

"Luca!"

Many people shouted loudly.

Luca waved and flashed a charming smile.

"Luca, look over here!"

Photographers snapped away at him non-stop.

Last year, Luca became a hot topic in the U.S. thanks to numerous rumors.

He was named the most talked-about actor of 2003 by The Hollywood Reporter. After that, he attended Paris Fashion Week, making quite a name for himself in Europe.

This time, he brought his new movie Buried Alive to the Berlin Film Festival, and it even made it into the main competition, a hot topic indeed.

"Luca, are you confident you’ll win a Silver Bear?"

A reporter called out.

Luca smiled slightly but didn’t answer.

There were many guests at the closing ceremony today, and the organizers hadn’t set up an interview area on the red carpet.

After striking a few poses, Luca followed Babank into the Film Palace.

"Mr. Babank, I’ve heard that only crews informed beforehand come to the ceremony to receive awards. Those who don’t get notified leave early to avoid embarrassment. Did we get any notice?"

"Nope," Babank glanced at him. "Do you really want to win?"

"Don’t you?"

Luca raised an eyebrow and smiled.

"No, it's all about participation."

"Heh~"

Yeah, right.

The award ceremony was held in the main hall.

The hall was grand, luxuriously decorated, with a red color scheme that gave off a festive vibe.

There were over a thousand seats on the lower level, most of which were already filled.

The front rows were reserved for film crews, with the Buried Alive team in the second row, right next to the Argentine team from Lost Embrace.

Nearby were the Korean crew from Samaritan Girl, the South African crew from Country of Skulls, and the Hong Kong team from 20 30 40.

Director Babank, well-known in the film industry, was greeted by several people after sitting down.

Luca, bored, played Tetris on his phone.

After a while, the hall buzzed with excitement—it turned out that Charlize Theron had arrived.

She wore a stunning golden gown, glittering and dazzling, drawing everyone’s attention. Many rushed over to greet her.

A true star among stars.

Ms. Theron sat in the middle of the front row, directly in front of Luca.

"Hello, Ms. Theron. Nice to see you!" Luca greeted her politely.

Theron had already noticed him and gave him a brief, cold glance, her eyes full of displeasure.

"Hmph."

Clearly, she wasn’t too fond of him.

Luca grinned mischievously. Did he go too far last night?

Soon, the award ceremony began.

As usual, the organizers started by presenting other awards before moving on to the main competition categories.

The first award was the Honorary Golden Bear for Lifetime Achievement, given to Argentine filmmaker Fernando Solanas, an elderly man with white hair.

Next came the Blue Angel Award for Best European Film, the Golden Bear for Best Short Film, the Silver Bear for Best Short Film, and the Peace Award.

After about ten awards, Buried Alive had won nothing.

Then came the most important awards of the festival.

First up, the Golden Bear for Best Film.

Unfortunately, it went to a German movie, Straight Ahead. Keeping it in the family, huh?

Luca didn’t even bother to comment.

The next award was the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize.

It went to the Argentine film Lost Embrace.

The crew next to them celebrated with hugs.

Luca felt a bit envious. If they had won that prize, their film could've earned several hundred thousand dollars more.

The third award was for Best Director.

"Mr. Babank, they’re about to announce the Best Director Award," Luca reminded him.

The old man opened his eyes and shook his head.

"No chance?"

Sure enough, Best Director went to Kim Ki-duk for Samaritan Girl.

The fourth award was for Best Actress.

This year, it was a tie.

The winners were Charlize Theron and Catalina Sandino.

Theron’s win was expected—she wouldn’t have come to the closing ceremony otherwise.

Catalina Sandino, a Colombian actress, had garnered numerous award nominations this year for Maria Full of Grace, including an Oscar nod for Best Actress, so her win was also well-deserved.

"Mr. Babank, could there be a tie for Best Actor too?"

"Impossible. From what I know, there’s only one Best Actor this year!"

Babank said confidently.

"Really?"

Luca glanced at Daniel Hendler from the neighboring crew—it seemed the award was his.

After Theron received her trophy, French actress Valeria Bruni stepped onto the stage with a small card to announce the Best Actor.

The nominees included Oscar-winner Michael Douglas;

The 52nd Berlin Best Actor Jacques Gamblin;

American actor Samuel L. Jackson;

Argentine actor Daniel Hendler;

And Brazil’s most handsome man, Luca Kelly.

Aside from Luca, the rest were all veteran actors. Luca didn’t expect much.

"Luca, did you prepare an acceptance speech?" the old man suddenly asked.

"Why would I do that?" Luca asked, puzzled.

"Just listen!"

"The winner of the 54th Berlin Film Festival’s Best Actor is Mr. Luca Kelly."

Suddenly, a name that stunned him echoed through the speakers.

Luca froze. "Are they calling me?"

"Haha, of course, kid! Get up there!" Babank laughed heartily, patting him on the shoulder.

"Luca, congratulations!"

"Luca, the youngest Best Actor in Berlin Film Festival history. Congratulations!"

"Luca, stop standing there! Go get your award!"

The crew members came over to congratulate him.

Everyone around him turned to look, and in that moment, he was the center of attention.

Luca hugged his team and floated up to the stage.

Holding the Silver Bear, gazing at the familiar faces below, it all felt like a dream.

Did I really become the Best Actor in Berlin?

No doubt about it—it was real.

"Thank you!" Luca took a deep breath, smiling as he held the microphone. "Thank you, Berlin Film Festival, thank you to the committee. I never expected to win this award. This feeling is amazing.

I want to thank Director Babank. I wrote this script.

After finishing it, I approached many directors, but when they heard I wanted to play the lead, no one believed I could pull it off.

Only Director Babank supported me.

Mr. Babank, thank you for believing in me. I told you I’m just as good as anyone!"

Luca raised his trophy.

Applause!

A round of applause filled the hall.

Director Babank grinned widely, his efforts not in vain.

"That kid’s pretty cocky!" Ms. Theron smirked slightly.

"I also want to thank everyone in the crew for your help and support. Finally, thank you to my sister, Kate, and my girlfriend, Lima."

Applause!

"Luca, stop dreaming! We’ve arrived in Rio!"

Luca had been sleeping when someone suddenly woke him up. He opened his eyes, and a blinding light made him fully alert.

"Finally home. It’s always more comfortable in Rio!"

Stepping out of the plane, Luca stretched out with a big yawn, feeling utterly refreshed.

"Luca, there are hundreds of reporters waiting to interview you outside the airport. Are you ready?"

Mr. Babank chuckled.

"Interview me about what?"

"Brazil’s first Berlin Best Actor, and the youngest one at that."

"Uh... Did my dream come true?"

Luca looked at the swarm of people outside the airport, long lenses aimed at him, and grinned widely.

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 290: A Small Profit

On February 15th, the Berlin Film Festival concluded, and major media outlets worldwide reported on the event.

Two topics stood out as the hottest:

First, Charlize Theron was crowned Best Actress at the Berlin Festival.

Second, Brazilian actor Luca Kelly won the Silver Bear for Best Actor, making him the youngest Best Actor in the history of the Berlin Film Festival.

Theron winning an award was well-deserved.

Her stunning performance in Monster earned her nominations for both the Golden Globe and the Oscar for Best Actress, so winning Best Actress at Berlin came as no surprise.

However, Luca winning Best Actor left many people puzzled.

Last year, after Honey Dance was released, American critics slammed his acting, saying it hurt the movie's box office and that he wasn’t fit to be an actor, even suggesting he quit the industry.

Luca went into a three-to-four-month retreat after that.

People thought he would fade away and become a fleeting star in the entertainment world.

But no one expected that, after four months of silence, he would suddenly be crowned the youngest Best Actor at the Berlin Film Festival.

What is this? A comeback victory?

As soon as the news broke, it made headlines in numerous newspapers. While the Brazilian press praised him, American papers were skeptical.

They speculated that the festival committee may have intentionally created a controversial buzz to boost the festival's international influence.

However, critics who had watched Buried voiced their support for Luca.

The News commented, "The entire movie is 90 minutes with only Luca as the actor, confined in a small coffin with just a few simple props. Yet, he delivers a gripping solo performance, keeping the audience glued to their seats without a dull moment. It's arguably the most creative and thrilling film of the past decade."

The editor-in-chief of Movie Weekly added, “What’s impressive about Luca isn’t just his acting, but his talent. The brilliance of Buried lies in both the screenplay and the performance.

“And Luca wrote the screenplay himself. He crafted the most thrilling story with his pen and brought it to life with his superb acting. He truly deserves the Silver Bear.”

Jury president Frances said: “Luca’s performance is intense, like a chisel driving every expression and action straight to the heart. I love such profound acting.”

Director Babank also praised him in interviews, calling him one of the hardest-working and most promising young actors of his generation.

Thanks to the rave reviews for Buried, the public’s focus shifted from “Is Luca an overrated actor?” to “Where can we watch Buried?”

These discussions sparked interest in the film.

Distributors in various regions hurried to secure the rights.

“Luca, Lionsgate has raised the price to $2.8 million. That’s their final offer. What do you think?”

At noon, Luca received a call from Director Babank.

He rubbed his chin and thought for a moment. The price seemed fair.

The film grossed about $20 million globally, with over $15 million coming from North America.

After deducting the shares for theaters and distributors, investors could take home about $3 million.

“Alright, I have no objections.”

The North American deal closed at $2.8 million, and other regions, including Brazil, sold for $3.5 million.

The movie’s total investment was under $1 million.

By investing his salary and the screenplay rights, Luca earned over $3 million and a trophy—quite a decent haul.

“What’s your next movie plan?”

Babank asked over the phone.

This collaboration took just over a month, netting Luca over $3 million, or more than 10 million Brazilian reais—a huge profit.

So Babank was eager to work with him again.

Luca smirked. “Mr. Babank, are you interested in sci-fi?”

“Sci-fi?”

“Yes, last year in the U.S., I read a sci-fi novel called The Man from Earth. I’ve already secured the adaptation rights, and I’m almost done with the script. Would you be interested in directing it?”

The novel is by American sci-fi writer Jerome Bixby.

It’s about a historian who claims to have lived for 14,000 years, shocking a group of friends. They refuse to believe him, so the protagonist starts laying out facts and reasoning to convince them.

By the end, everyone feels like a fool, as many of their beliefs are turned upside down.

The movie adaptation of the novel had a budget of just $20,000 but grossed $350 million worldwide.

But this time was different.

Last year, Luca spent $500,000 to secure the adaptation rights through Greenwood Press, so the profits might be much smaller.

“You want to make a sci-fi film?”

Babank sounded disappointed. “Unfortunately, I’m not great with special effects.”

“Director Babank, it’s not like that. This isn’t your typical sci-fi film with high-tech effects. The entire plot unfolds through dialogue, like a play.”

Luca explained the plot.

“Can I see the script first?”

“No problem, but this is a low-budget film, with a budget of under $100,000. I plan to finance it myself.”

He was willing to pay Babank to direct.

Babank insisted on reading the script first before making a decision.

Luca agreed.

If Babank wasn’t interested, Luca could direct it himself. The investment was small, so even if it failed, it wouldn’t be a huge loss.

Ring~

Just as he hung up, the phone rang again.

This time it was Ed.

Ed was urging him to return to the U.S.

“Best Actor, several film companies are lining up to offer you roles, including a few major productions. When are you planning to come back?”

Ed was thrilled about Luca’s unexpected win as Best Actor.

Not long ago, he had become the manager of a supermodel champion, and now he was the manager of the Berlin Best Actor. His status had risen so quickly that it made him feel a little giddy.

It wasn’t until he was slapped by Nina a few times that he sobered up and accepted this happy reality.

But he was also a little frustrated.

Recently, all eyes in the U.S. had been on Luca. Film offers, endorsement deals, and media interviews were pouring in, with the company waiting for him to handle a pile of business.

But Luca was hiding out in Brazil, missing a golden opportunity to be in the spotlight.

“Ed, I’ll need about another month before I can return to the U.S.”

Luca looked at his laptop and checked his schedule.

“Why so long? You’ve been there since December, it’s been almost three months. Even if you’re recovering, you should be done by now,” Ed complained.

Luca chuckled. “Ed, I’ve invested in two projects here, and they’re still in the preparation stage. Once things are wrapped up, I’ll head back to the U.S.”

During the filming of Buried, Luca registered a small film company in Rio.

Now that he’d made some money, he planned to continue investing in films, including Saving Ronaldo and the Brazilian version of Infernal Affairs.

These two projects were his way of testing the waters. If they did well at the box office, he’d increase his investments. If they failed, he’d abandon the Brazilian market.

“Alright, just try to be quick. There’s a lot of work piling up here. We’ve got a new season of commercials coming up, and we can’t afford too much delay.”

“I understand!”

After dealing with Ed, Luca dove back into his research. Jose had used his connections to obtain materials from the Rio police department, which included real cases and information on Rio’s gangs.

Luca wanted to use these resources to refine the script for Infernal Affairs, making it feel more grounded, as if it were based on real events.

Time: February 2004, just before Carnival.

Location: A prison in Rio.

Characters: The protagonist Simon and the police chief.

(End of chapter)