306-310

Chapter 306: You Foolish Pig

On the afternoon of March 23, the 75th Academy Awards ceremony was held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, with over 30 films nominated.

Some of the most popular films included Chicago with 15 nominations, Gangs of New York with 9, The Hours with 9, The Pianist with 7, Crash with 6, and The Lord of the Rings with 6.

The nominated films were all strong contenders, making the competition fierce. In the end, Crash took home the awards for Best Picture and Best Film Editing.

Gwyneth and director Paul Haggis were so excited when they went on stage to receive the Best Picture award that they were speechless. Previously, as an actress, she never had the chance to stand on stage and accept an award, but now as a producer, she had finally earned her Oscar.

Although Crash won the top prize, the biggest winner of the night was Miramax.

Last year, Miramax released several hit films, including Chicago, Gangs of New York, and The Hours.

These films garnered 33 nominations and won 9 Oscars, including Best Director, Best Actress, and Best Supporting Actress.

Despite the success, Miramax boss Harvey Weinstein was not pleased. He stormed out of the Dolby Theatre, ignoring the reporters who wanted an interview.

Once inside his stretch Lincoln, he angrily kicked his brother Bob.

“Harvey! Why did you kick me? Have you gone mad?” Bob, about to get into the car, nearly fell over and cursed while grabbing the door.

“You deserve it! I put you in charge of lobbying for awards, and look what you did!” Harvey huffed, his thick neck puffing up like a toad.

“Our films won nine Oscars! Didn’t I do well enough?” Bob retorted.

“Well enough, my foot! We had three films nominated for Best Picture, and yet some low-budget trash made for less than $7 million won the award. That damned Richard’s movie got Best Picture, and Gwyneth strutted up there all smug. You swore we’d win Best Picture. What happened, you incompetent pig?” Harvey spat, his short, stubby fingers jabbing at Bob.

Harvey had worn his best suit to the ceremony, expecting to stand on the podium and raise the Oscar, basking in the adoration of the stars and being surrounded by actresses. He loved that feeling of being the center of attention.

But tonight, he was disappointed. He had waited through the entire ceremony for the final grand prize, only to see his three films lose to Richard’s small film, and Gwyneth, of all people, go on stage to accept the award. To him, it was a massive humiliation.

“This wasn’t my fault. Even if you handled it, there’s no guarantee we’d have won Best Picture,” Bob said, unhappy.

“What did you just say?” Harvey glared at him.

“I’m telling the truth. I talked to a few members of the Academy earlier. The Producers Guild gave Crash 805 votes, over 40 more than Chicago. Their explanation was that, with racial tensions running high over the past couple of years, Crash had a greater social impact, a stronger message for the times, and wasn’t of lesser quality than Chicago, Gangs of New York, or The Hours. The voters clearly preferred a film dealing with racial conflict. You’ve worked with them before—you should know that.”

“I know that, but that’s not an excuse for your failure. The voters’ standards aren’t set in stone. They can be influenced, which is why we do PR. While Crash had a slight advantage in subject matter, we’ve been in the industry for over 20 years, and no one can beat us at lobbying for awards. But this time, we lost to Richard and New Century—a rookie and a small company. Doesn’t that show how incompetent you are?” Harvey raged.

Bob wiped the spit off his face. “Harvey, calm down. I know you have a problem with Richard and have been going after him for a while. As your brother, I don’t like him either. But we have to admit something: Richard is one hell of a bastard. He’s not just a top star and athlete, but also a damn billionaire.

From what I’ve heard, Richard’s investment firm threw a party in early February and invited several Academy members with voting rights. Those same members are also clients of some big Wall Street asset management firms. Richard’s connections are on par with ours.”

Harvey’s face darkened. “Are you saying Richard could threaten our status?”

“Well, Richard’s net worth is higher than ours, and he’s a superstar in both sports and entertainment. I’d say his status is already above ours, wouldn’t you?” Bob reminded him.

“I’m talking about Hollywood,” Harvey snapped.

“That’s impossible. In Hollywood, it’s not just about money. We’ve been here for over 20 years, working with almost every major studio and filmmaker. Our network can’t be matched by someone like Richard.

Sure, New Century’s been doing well these past couple of years, but remember Carolco Pictures? They were once on par with the Big Six, but one flop—Cutthroat Island—brought them down. So don’t worry, brother. Hollywood is yours, and so are the actresses. Richard and New Century won’t last long. Maybe their next project will flop, and they’ll be out.”

Bob lit a cigar, grinning.

Harvey exhaled slowly, his neck and belly shrinking back down. He took a puff from his cigar. “We can’t underestimate that bastard Richard or New Century. Richard’s got money and connections, and New Century has Copposon and Frank, who’ve been in the industry longer than I have.”

“You’re right. What’s the plan?” Bob asked, rolling down the window to let the smoke out.

“Keep an eye on New Century. See what their next move is. If you can sabotage it, do it. Make sure they can’t get a film made, and no one wants to work with them.”

“Got it. I’ll have someone keep tabs on them.” Bob nodded. He asked if there was anything else, but Harvey didn’t respond. Bob turned to see Harvey staring out the window.

Outside the theatre, two stunning women in evening gowns, having shaken off the reporters, were walking toward a Rolls-Royce Phantom, escorted by assistants and bodyguards. One, with fiery red lips, was glamorous, while the other, elegant and poised, held an Oscar in her hand. The two women, arm in arm, were laughing and chatting.

“It’s Jolie and Gwyneth. Want to talk to them?”

“Hmph. Let’s go,” Harvey said coldly as the car slowly pulled away from the curb.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 307: You've Lost Face for All Women*

"It seems like that’s the Weinstein brothers' car."

Angelina Jolie said as she watched the car drive away.

"Who cares, let’s get in."

Gwyneth Paltrow climbed into the car, holding her trophy.

"Is this your new car? Why would you get a Rolls-Royce? I remember you didn’t like this kind of car."

Jolie asked as she looked at the interior after getting into the car.

"I didn’t like it before, but now I love it because Richard gave it to me as a gift."

Gwyneth smiled softly.

"Richard again. Every time we talk, you can’t go three sentences without bringing him up. Are you under his spell?"

Jolie teased, crossing her legs.

"Yes, I am under his spell."

Gwyneth nodded with a smile.

Jolie shook her head and looked at the trophy in Gwyneth’s hand. "Congratulations! No one expected you to go on stage and win that award tonight. It was such a surprise. When you walked up and grabbed that trophy, every woman in the audience, including me, was wide-eyed. I think we all had very mixed feelings."

"Haha, it’s no big deal. I was just accepting the award on behalf of Mr. Copeson."

Gwyneth laughed.

"I wish I could accept an award on someone’s behalf, but you need to have that chance first. When I first heard you and Richard were investing to start a film company, I didn’t think you’d succeed.

Hollywood has so many production companies, and the industry is pretty monopolized. It’s really tough for small companies to break through. But here you are, less than three years later, and your movie is winning major awards. After tonight, New Century Films is going to be on everyone’s radar, and you’re only going to get more successful. What can I say, I’m jealous! What should I do?"

Jolie leaned against Gwyneth’s shoulder, playfully burying her face in her chest.

"Haha, stop messing around."

Gwyneth pushed her head away. "For the last two years, I’ve barely been involved with the company. It’s been mainly Copeson Productions, Frank, Jane, and Richard handling things. Richard’s been the key. He made the call on Crash and handled the awards PR with the team. I’m just as surprised as anyone that we won the award. Haha, Richard is amazing; he’s unstoppable."

"If Richard’s so important, why didn’t you thank him specifically in your acceptance speech? Or confess your feelings for him publicly?"

Jolie teased again.

"I’m not that dumb. Gisele is pregnant, and if she sees that, she’ll be upset. If it affects the baby, Richard wouldn’t be happy. How could I do something to upset him?"

Gwyneth shook her head.

Jolie looked at her in surprise and pinched her chin, inspecting her closely.

"Gwyn, something’s off with you. You’re really off. As a normal woman, you should be doing everything you can to sabotage your rival Gisele and steal Richard for yourself. But here you are, carefully considering both Richard and Gisele’s feelings. That’s not normal at all."

Jolie said.

"It’s pointless. Richard and Gisele have a deep connection. I couldn’t come between them even if I tried, and making a scene would only make Richard hate me. He’d push me away, and I don’t want him to hate me, so I won’t do it."

"That’s so pathetic. Is a man really worth lowering yourself for?"

Jolie scoffed.

Gwyneth smiled softly and looked at her. "It’s been three or four years, and I always thought you and Richard had slept together already. But I guess you haven’t."

Jolie frowned. "Why would you say that?"

"If you had, you wouldn’t be asking such silly questions. He’s strong, dominant, and intense. Even if you’ve dated a hundred great men, they wouldn’t compare to one night alone with him."

"Haha, that’s over the top. I don’t know why you’re so obsessed with him, but I won’t let him control me like he controls you. I like trying new things."

Jolie shook her head.

Gwyneth didn’t argue. "It’s not just in bed—Richard gives me everything I want outside of that too. Money, career, fame, happiness. I have it all."

"For women, marriage is the most important thing."

"Yeah, and you’ve been married twice. What did you get out of it? Experience spotting jerks or a bloody lesson?"

Gwyneth joked.

"Hmph! It’s still better than being 30 and unmarried."

Jolie turned her head away. Her first marriage had ended in divorce after only two years, and her second marriage was also on the rocks, with separation and an imminent divorce.

"I’m not chasing marriage. I just hope Richard agrees to let me have his child, and then I’ll be completely satisfied," Gwyneth said with a smile.

Jolie rolled her eyes. "You’re beyond saving, Gwyneth."

"Probably."

Gwyneth nodded and pulled out her phone. "Jolie, I want to call Richard and share the good news, but I don’t want to disturb his rest. What should I do? Maybe I should text him? No, he might be too busy to see it…"

"Shut up! I’ve never seen a woman like you before. You’re embarrassing all of us!"

Jolie poked her in the face.

"Haha, but I’m so happy! What can I do?"

Gwyneth laughed and decided to make the call.

---

"Best Picture? That’s great news."

At the hotel, Richard leaned against the windowsill, holding a can of beer, gazing at the beach in the night.

They had just wrapped up a night shoot at 7 p.m., and after getting back to the hotel and showering, Richard received a call from Gwyneth, telling him that Crash had won Best Picture and Best Editing. They had received six nominations and won two—pretty good odds.

Since the film’s release last year, the company had been working on awards PR, mainly handled by Ms. Jane Wilson.

Apart from attending a few Stralem Company and Den Wintie parties and networking with industry insiders, Richard hadn’t done much. The film’s quality had played a big role in winning the awards, as had Jane Wilson’s excellent PR work.

After chatting with Gwyneth for a bit, Richard received more calls and texts congratulating him on the Best Picture win.

He texted Copeson Productions, Ms. Wilson, Frank Marshall, and Director Haggis to congratulate them as well. He also had a chat with Sandra Bullock, thanking her for her support. Sandra mentioned she was prepping a new movie and invited him to make a cameo, which Richard agreed to.

After finishing his work, Richard called Gisele to catch up.

They were almost done filming, with just about a week left, so he asked when she and Patria would be coming.

Gisele joked that Patria was having too much fun in New York, speeding around in a sports car and racking up four traffic tickets. She might have forgotten about their trip altogether.

Richard laughed and told her it was up to them.

After a good night’s sleep, Richard continued filming the next day. They were shooting a big scene where the Greek army surrounded Troy, and Hector led his army out to face them. The Greek leaders were King Agamemnon and the Spartan king, who had lost his wife.

At the front of the lines, the Spartan king and Prince Paris argued.

Prince Paris suggested they settle their dispute with a duel. If he defeated the Spartan king, the Greeks would retreat, and the Spartans could no longer demand Queen Helen back.

The Spartan king accepted the challenge, but Paris was all talk—he looked tough but couldn’t fight. After a few rounds, he was beaten badly.

The duel was supposed to end in death, but Paris wasn’t ready to die. He crawled away, retreating back into his army.

"Haha, is this the kind of man you left me for?"

The Spartan king roared at the walls of Troy. On the walls sat the Trojan king, his ministers, and Helen, all watching in disappointment as Paris fled.

"Fight me! Stand up! You’re not fit to be a prince!"

The Spartan king shouted as he chased after him.

Paris scrambled back into his army, grabbing onto Hector’s leg for protection.

Richard, playing Hector, looked down at the terrified Paris with a mixture of disappointment and pity. His lips tightened slightly.

"Paris, stand up and fight him!"

Richard said softly.

"No, no!"

Paris shook his head, clutching Hector’s leg tightly.

Richard’s expression darkened. He clenched his fist, then slowly relaxed. He gently patted Paris’s head and faced the Spartan king.

"The duel is over!"

"No, Prince Hector, step aside. I will kill this coward."

The Spartan king gripped his sword.

Richard shook his head slightly. "He’s my brother."

"Kill!"

The Spartan king roared, swinging his sword down hard.

Richard drew his sword swiftly, stepping forward, and with a sharp thrust, stabbed the Spartan king through the back. With a firm push, the blade sank deeper.

Blood sprayed as Richard sheathed his sword, and the Spartan king’s body fell heavily to the ground, his eyes fixed on the crawling Paris, who flinched and crawled a few more steps.

"Wow, that was smooth! Richard’s action scenes never disappoint."

Director Petersen exclaimed in admiration.

"Yes, it wasn’t just the action scenes. The way he handled his emotions when facing Paris just now was very delicate—love and hate, frustrated by his lack of ambition, but in the end, he chose to bear the burden himself. It was brilliant," said screenwriter Benioff.

"It was the right choice for him to give up playing Achilles. His portrayal of Hector has a lot of depth," added assistant director Klein, nodding.

"I heard he’s aiming for an Oscar. Maybe it won’t take many years," director Petersen laughed.

"Cut!"

"Prepare for the next scene!"

The King of Sparta is killed, and the Greek allied forces begin their assault on the city. However, Troy’s high walls and deep moat make it easy to defend and hard to attack.

Under Hector’s leadership, the Trojan army successfully repels the Greeks, achieving many victories.

Richard, on horseback, continuously slashes through the crowd, completing more than ten action scenes. It took four straight days of filming to finish.

After this segment, Richard has only two fight scenes left, while Bundchen and Patrícia have also arrived in Los Cabos.

(End of chapter)

*Chapter 308: Past the Age of Judging by Looks*

"Dear, are you feeling airsick?"

At the airport, Richard hugged Giselle and asked.

"No, I'm not that fragile."

Giselle smiled.

"Alright."

Richard then looked at Patrícia. The girl, wearing a baseball cap, was staring at her feet, looking upset for some reason.

"Patrícia, I thought you'd be as cheerful as a little bird when we saw each other again. What's wrong today? Did someone bully you?"

Richard patted her on the cap.

"Brother-in-law~"

Patrícia pouted, glanced at Bündchen, and then lowered her head again, looking aggrieved.

"Hah, do you even have the right to be upset?"

Bündchen pinched her cheek. "Richard, do you know what this girl did? She got into a fight at a bar with gang members yesterday and even injured someone."

"That jerk tried to mess with Selena. I was just stepping in to help."

Patrícia lifted her head and said confidently.

"Who’s Selena?"

Richard chuckled.

"A new friend she made. A Brazilian woman who works as a hostess and sells drugs at the bar. When she saw Patrícia driving a sports car, she thought she'd found an easy target. And Patrícia, being all naive, thought they were friends and fought to protect her. If it weren't for the bodyguards, she might have been sold off without even realizing it. I can't believe someone as smart as me has such a silly sister."

"You're the silly one, you vain Gisele."

Patrícia rolled her eyes.

"Haha, let's get in the car first."

Richard ushered them into the car, which slowly started and drove along the coastal road toward the villa.

The weather was great today, with the summer sun shining brightly. The blue sky blended into the ocean, and the white sand beach was dotted with vacationers in light clothing. Some were surfing, some were playing sports, and others were lounging under umbrellas enjoying the view.

"This place is awesome, I love it here."

Patrícia leaned out of the car window, letting the wind blow through her hair as she laughed.

"Our place isn’t far from here. You can come anytime you want."

Richard smiled as he drove.

"Brother-in-law, do you shoot movies in places like this? It’s so beautiful—sunshine, sea, and sand every day. Acting really is the best job! Do you think I could be an actress?"

Patrícia blinked playfully.

"If you want to, why not? There's nothing stopping you. If you're not afraid of hard work, you can come to the set and give it a try. You might not get a big role, but a small part should be doable."

"Really?"

Patrícia excitedly grabbed his arm. "Brother-in-law, I can really play a small part?"

"Don’t get ahead of yourself."

Giselle pulled her down. "You’re a total newbie, what are you going to do on set?"

"Brother-in-law said I can, didn’t you?"

Patrícia asked expectantly.

"Yes, there’s a palace scene where we need lots of maidservants. You’d get a few seconds of screen time. Want to try?"

"Yes! Thank you, brother-in-law!"

Patrícia said sweetly.

"No need to thank me."

Richard chuckled.

After about ten minutes, the car returned to the villa where Richard was temporarily staying—a seaside villa near Casa Cunit beach. The villa had its own private beach, a dock, a yacht, and a playground. From the rooftop, you could even see the Pacific Arch in the distance. The view was spectacular.

Richard took Bündchen and Patrícia on a quick tour, tasting local Mexican dishes and fresh Atlantic seafood.

The next day, Richard had a big scene to shoot—Hector mistakenly kills Achilles' cousin, and Richard needed to be there.

He left Ana at the villa with Bündchen and took Patrícia and another assistant to the set.

"Brother-in-law, I heard Brad Pitt and Orlando Bloom are on the set too, right?"

Patrícia asked excitedly in the car.

"Yep, want to meet them? I can introduce you."

"Of course!"

Richard smiled. As soon as he entered the rehearsal room, he saw Brad Pitt smoking in the corner. Despite always talking about quitting, he was sneaking a smoke while alone.

"Careful not to set yourself on fire."

Richard joked.

"Haha, Richard, you’re here. I only had one puff. Quitting smoking is torture."

Pitt dropped the cigarette and stomped it out.

"I get it, I quit once too."

Richard laughed and pulled Patrícia over. "Let me introduce you. This is my sister, Patrícia. She’s a big fan of yours."

"Wow, Richard, I didn’t know you had such a beautiful sister."

Pitt said in surprise.

Patrícia blushed immediately. "Mr. Pitt, hello, I’m Patrícia Bündchen. I love your movies."

"Oh, I see. Nice to meet you, Patrícia. Any friend of Richard’s is a friend of mine. We’re like family. There’s a barbecue later with the crew. Want to join?"

Pitt smiled.

Patrícia glanced at Richard, who grinned. "Sure, Gisele is coming too. The more, the merrier."

"What are you guys talking about?"

Orlando Bloom, dressed in armor and holding a sword, walked in.

"Orlando, this is my sister, Patrícia. She’s a big fan of yours."

Richard smiled.

"Really? With a brother as handsome as Richard, why be a fan of anyone else?"

Orlando laughed and, in a gentlemanly manner, greeted her, "Patrícia, I’m Orlando Bloom. Welcome to the set."

"Thank you, Orlando. You’re very handsome."

Patrícia smiled.

"Haha, Patrícia, which one of us three do you think is the coolest?"

Orlando puffed out his chest.

"My brother-in-law and Mr. Pitt are cooler."

Patrícia laughed.

"Why not me?"

Orlando protested.

"Because that question wasn’t cool at all."

"Ugh!"

Orlando looked embarrassed, and Richard and Pete burst into laughter.

"Patria, what do you think of Orlando? Do you want to go on a date with him?" Richard asked after leaving the rehearsal room.

"Go on a date with the elf prince? Haha, I never thought about it," Patria laughed.

"If you like him, just talk to him more. Orlando's a pretty good guy."

"By the way, brother-in-law, do I get to act today?" Patria asked excitedly.

"Yes, today the B team has an indoor scene. They need a few maidservants. I’ve already spoken with the assistant director. You’ll be filming in the house, and if you need anything, you can find Vivian."

Vivian was Richard’s second assistant.

"Okay, brother-in-law! I’ll do my best!" Patria said with a fist pump and a smile.

"Good luck!" Richard patted her on the shoulder, made some arrangements on set for the B team, and then drove to the beach for the outdoor shoot.

King Agamemnon and Achilles had a dispute. Achilles refused to fight, leading to a heavy loss for the Greek coalition during the siege.

After the battle, Achilles still refused to fight for King Agamemnon. His cousin, Patroclus, tried to persuade him but failed, so he secretly took Achilles’ armor and weapons. He intended to impersonate Achilles to boost morale and fight the Trojans.

In Greek mythology, Patroclus is believed to be the son of the king of Sparta. Some say he was Achilles' cousin, nephew, friend, or even lover.

In the script, he’s portrayed as the cousin.

Patroclus, thinking he was skilled, fought fiercely on the battlefield and soon encountered Hector.

Because Patroclus was wearing Achilles’ armor and a half-covered helmet, Hector mistook him for Achilles and fought with all his might.

However, after only ten rounds, Hector slashed Patroclus across the neck, blood gushing everywhere.

Hector removed his opponent’s helmet, realizing it wasn’t Achilles.

“Cut!”

The fight scene was done, and director Peterson called for a break to review the footage. Richard, who also worked as the action coordinator, joined the director’s area to watch. During this period, whenever there was an action scene, Richard would come to check the shot for any needed improvements.

“What do you think, Richard?” Director Peterson asked, valuing Richard’s opinion on action sequences.

“Could you rewind a bit? Let’s take another look at the swordfight.”

“Sure!” The assistant director replayed the scene.

“Stop here. My shield reaches first, but Patroclus' sword is a beat too slow, like it deliberately hit the shield. The timing was off, and it looks too loose,” Richard pointed out.

Director Peterson studied the footage and saw the issue too.

“Alright, let’s do it again.”

“Everyone, reset.”

Richard returned to the set and had another go with the actor playing Patroclus.

Filming fight scenes on the beach was tricky. The second take was better but still had minor issues. The team reshot the scene six times before wrapping it up.

"Brother-in-law, help!" Patria cried out after work, a pitiful expression on her face.

Richard laughed heartily, seeing her sad look and knowing exactly what had happened.

---

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 309: The Gleaming Golden Opportunity*

By evening, the film crew was hosting a barbecue party to reward the hardworking staff after a long day of shooting. Richard had invited Giselle to join the fun.

"Where's Patria?" Giselle asked as she arrived on set.

"Haha, she's in the car," Richard replied. He walked over to a car, opened the back door, and there lay Patria, motionless in the back seat.

"What happened to her?" Giselle asked curiously.

"Patria was playing a palace maid today. The crew spent the entire day filming indoors, and she had to hold a fruit platter the whole time. After the shoot, she was crying for help," Richard said, laughing.

"She ended up like this just from standing all day?" Giselle shook her head. "Patria, sit up. If you can't handle this, how do you expect to be an actress?"

"Sis..." Patria yawned, trying weakly to sit up. She failed the first time, collapsing back down before slowly propping herself against the seat on her second attempt, wiping sweat from her brow as if she were utterly exhausted.

Giselle rolled her eyes. "Stop pretending. Richard trains with weights for three or four hours a day and doesn't complain. I used to practice walking the runway for two or three hours a day, and during rehearsals, standing on stage for seven, eight, even ten hours wasn't unusual. You've only stood for a few hours, and you're already whining?"

"Who's trying to compare themselves to you two?" Patria muttered as she shakily stepped out of the car.

Richard laughed heartily and helped her. "Patria, will you be back tomorrow? Director Klein said your performance as the maid was outstanding. He thinks you have potential."

"I'm not coming back! No way. It's too hot and too tiring. Being an extra is way too hard," Patria grumbled, frowning.

"You're not the only one playing a maid, are you? No one else looks as miserable as you after a shoot," Giselle teased.

Patria scratched her cheek. "I've always been weak. I can't handle too much strain."

"Get lost!" Giselle playfully knocked her on the head.

Richard chuckled and pulled five dollar bills from his pocket. "Here, your payment."

"My payment? Oh yeah! I totally forgot I get paid! Five hundred? How come it's so much? The other extras only make sixty bucks a day."

"Richard, don't give her money. She'll just waste it," Giselle said.

"It’s not from me. The base pay for extras is 60 dollars, but since Patria had a close-up shot, it's different. Each shot is worth 100 dollars. The crew paid her 500 dollars for the day. There's a record of it. Patria, do you want it? If not, I'll take it."

"I want it! Haha, I can't believe I earned 500 bucks just for standing around all day. This is awesome!" Patria laughed, holding the money and spinning around in excitement. "Dear sister, brother-in-law, let me treat you to barbecue!"

"Alright, but we want you to grill it yourself. Later at the beach party," Richard said, hugging Giselle with a smile.

"No problem! I'll do it right away!" Patria dashed off toward the beach.

"What a kid," Giselle sighed, shaking her head.

"Isn't it great, though? When our kids grow up, I hope they can be as carefree and happy as Patria," Richard said with a smile.

"Richard, Giselle, come grab some barbecue!" Orlando called out.

"On our way," Richard said, leading Bündchen toward the party.

That evening, over 300 crew members gathered on the beach for a barbecue and beer party. The crew was full of talent—some played guitars and sang, others wrestled, and the props team even built sand sculptures.

Seeing how lively the party was, Patria no longer felt tired. She lifted her skirt and danced a samba on the sand, with a group of girls joining her.

Richard and Bündchen sat on a bench, enjoying fruit and beer, watching the bustling crowd on the beach, feeling quite content.

"Hey, Richard, Giselle, welcome!" Brad Pitt greeted them, holding a beer.

Giselle smiled warmly in response.

"Richard, looks like you're almost done with your scenes, right?" Pitt asked as he sat beside them.

"Yeah, the duel between Hector and Achilles is coming up. If all goes well, we should finish in two days," Richard replied.

"Time flies. Richard, it’s been great working with you," Pitt said, raising his beer bottle.

"Same here," Richard said, clinking bottles with him.

The two began chatting about the film industry, especially about production. Last year, Pitt and his wife founded Plan B Entertainment, with Pitt taking the lead in production. He had big ambitions for the film business.

Meanwhile, Richard's New Century Productions had been doing well in the independent film sector. Recently, Crash unexpectedly won the Academy Award for Best Picture, beating out many high-profile films. This victory brought even more attention to New Century.

While there were rumors that the award had been bought by a wealthy tycoon, it didn't stop many from wanting to collaborate with New Century—Pitt included.

In Hollywood, independent production companies either had to align with the big six studios or partner with other successful independents. Richard's New Century was an attractive option for Pitt, especially since Richard was not only talented and easy to work with but also incredibly wealthy—a golden opportunity.

Richard, understanding the importance of building connections in Hollywood, welcomed Pitt's friendly overtures. He had learned the hard way that too many enemies and too few friends had slowed his progress in the past. Pitt was one more valuable connection.

As night fell, Richard and Bündchen led an excited Patria home.

The next day, Richard was back on set for his final big scene—the duel where Hector, having mistakenly killed Achilles' cousin, is challenged by Achilles to a fight to the death.

They faced off at the gates of the city, battling fiercely for three hundred rounds. In the end, Hector was defeated and killed by Achilles.

This scene was crucial. Richard and Pitt had trained for it for half a month, rehearsing more than 30 times. The choreography was flawless, and the first take went smoothly. Director Petersen was pleased.

But Richard wasn’t. Although the fight choreography was good, it lacked the intensity and tension of a life-or-death struggle. Having experienced actual fights in the ring, Richard knew something was missing. He called for a reshoot.

As Richard had been hired as part of the artistic team, serving as a stunt coordinator, he had the authority to request a redo.

"Alright, let’s go again," Pitt said.

"Pitt, how about we fight for real this time? We need that life-or-death thrill. These aren’t real swords, so no one’s getting seriously hurt," Richard suggested.

"Sounds good! Just take it easy on me," Pitt laughed.

"Deal. How about we make it interesting? Whoever accidentally hits the other pays a $100 fine," Richard joked.

"Haha, I like that. You can start," Pitt said, taking up his sword and shield.

"Here I come!" Richard swung his sword with a determined look.

Bang! His sword hit Pitt's shield hard, forcing Pitt to step back. Realizing Richard was serious, Pitt stopped holding back and focused.

"Kill!" Richard roared, his muscles tense, veins bulging in his neck, his eyes filled with a fierce intensity. He looked terrifying.

"Wow, that’s chilling," Director Petersen said.

"Now that’s a duel," Assistant Director Klein praised.

"Kill!" Pitt roared back, counterattacking, swinging his sword at Richard repeatedly. In a real fight, Pitt would stand no chance, but since Achilles was supposed to be invincible, the choreography favored him. Richard’s every attack was blocked, while Pitt’s strikes landed, his sword slamming into Richard’s armor with bloody results.

"Kill!!"

The two exchanged blow after blow in an epic display of swordsmanship, with the special effects team whipping up wind and dust to heighten the drama.

After more than twenty rounds, Richard knocked off Pitt's helmet, and Pitt disarmed Richard of his shield. Richard was covered in wounds, while Pitt was unscathed, true to Achilles’ mythic invulnerability.

The final clash arrived. With a battle cry, Richard lunged at Pitt, and Pitt swung his sword in return.

Bang! The two collided. Richard’s sword struck Pitt’s shoulder but was blocked by his armor, while Pitt’s sword pierced Richard’s chest.

Richard spat blood.

Pitt withdrew his sword.

Richard collapsed heavily to the ground.

“Cut!”

"That was perfect! Clean and intense!" Director Petersen jumped from his chair.

Applause erupted around the set.

(End of the Chapter)

*Chapter 310: The New Forbes Ranking*

The last duel scene took a day and a half to film. To get the best result, Richard and Pitt fought six rounds, each receiving dozens of hits. Fortunately, the prop swords were made of aluminum, so getting hit wasn’t too painful.

As per their agreement, if one hit the other, there’d be a penalty. Richard gifted Pitt a bottle of French red wine, and Pitt gave him an old model Zippo lighter, symbolizing his decision to quit smoking.

“Richard, your fight choreography is pretty solid. Have you ever thought about directing your own movie?” Pitt asked, cigarette in his mouth.

“No way, directing is too much work. You spend an entire year on one film, and that kind of work doesn’t suit me. I still need to train,” Richard replied with a smile.

“Oh, right! Almost forgot you’re still a super boxing champ. Confident about your fight with Tyson in May? Haha, well, you’ve never lacked confidence—that’s your motto, and everyone knows it.”

After some small talk, the crew resumed filming.

After the fight scene, Achilles killed Hector. In front of the Trojan king, his ministers, and warriors, Achilles tied Hector’s body to his chariot, dragged it around the city walls, showing off, and then left.

With Hector’s death, Richard’s scenes were finished.

In early April, Richard flew back to New York with Bundchen and Patria.

After getting home, he didn’t go out much. He spent his days at home with Bundchen, working out and boxing, as his match against Tyson was only a month away. He needed to prepare.

On April 4th, Lost in Translation had a limited release. The movie was produced and distributed by New Century, with a $4 million budget and a $2 million marketing campaign. It opened in 128 theaters.

On its opening day, it grossed $926,000, with an average per-screen take of over $7,000, surpassing expectations for a small-budget art film.

The invited critics gave mostly positive reviews.

Both the box office and critical reception were good, similar to Crash. The future box office performance would depend on New Century’s promotional abilities.

Jane Wilson, head of promotions, quickly allocated an additional $5 million for marketing. Soon, TV was flooded with Lost in Translation trailers, and newspaper reviews were everywhere.

Much of the buzz was because the film was directed by Sofia Coppola, daughter of The Godfather director Francis Ford Coppola. There was a lot of space to promote their connection, branding Sofia as the most beautiful and talented female director, and the most gifted second-generation filmmaker.

The film's leading lady, Scarlett Johansson, was a popular Hollywood actress with both looks and acting skills, a rising star combining beauty and talent.

In the April issue of Variety, Scarlett surpassed Jessica Alba, Anne Hathaway, Lindsay Lohan, and Katie Holmes, taking the top spot on the Young Actress Potential List.

Other media outlets also ran many stories praising her beauty and acting career.

Lost in Translation was New Century’s third film. Since the first two projects were successful—Crash even won the Oscar for Best Picture—the third one inevitably attracted a lot of attention.

In its first week, Lost in Translation grossed $2.12 million across 128 theaters. In its second week, the film expanded to 1,891 theaters and grossed $21.39 million, becoming the runner-up at the box office that week.

The week’s champion was Anger Management, distributed by Columbia Pictures and starring Adam Sandler and Jack Nicholson, with a production budget of $75 million.

Third place went to Disney’s Holes, and fourth place was Miramax’s The Human Stain, all big-budget productions with over $20 million investments.

The strong second-week performance of Lost in Translation attracted even more attention. Director Sofia Coppola, lead actress Scarlett Johansson, and New Century—known for making successful films on small budgets—became the hottest names in entertainment media.

“Congrats, Richard, your New Century has really made its mark in the industry,” Anthony said, sitting in the manor.

“We’ve only made three films, so we can’t say we’ve established ourselves yet. If we can reach the level of Touchstone, Lionsgate, or Focus Features, then we’ll truly have made it,” Richard replied while reading the newspaper.

“That’s still impressive,” Anthony said, sipping his tea. “By the way, Richard, I need your help with something.”

“What is it? Just so you know, no more work. I’m especially busy this year,” Richard said with a smile.

“It’s not work—it’s personal. I’m planning to propose to Michelle. What do you think?”

“That’s great! When are you proposing?”

“How about tomorrow? I’ve got a plan, and I’ll need your and Ellie’s help.”

Anthony then explained his plan.

“Sure, leave it to Ellie and me,” Richard replied with a smile.

—

The next day, at a café across from NYU...

“How’s the New Century financing going?” Ellie asked, stirring her coffee.

“Not much progress. Last year, the production studio and distribution department weren’t set up, so the consulting firm valued New Century at $110 million. We valued it at $150 million. The investors were hesitant and wanted to wait and see.

But now that Lost in Translation is out, the investors are coming back to negotiate. We’ve raised the asking price to $200 million, and we’re currently in talks,” Richard said with a smile.

Richard laughed.

"Investing in a film company is always risky. New Century has been around for less than three years, and last year, only two movies were released. Naturally, people are hesitant. But if Lost in Translation continues to succeed, it should boost investors' confidence."

"Yes, a New Century production is always top quality. Investing in us is the right choice."

Richard smiled. Securing financing was a necessary step for New Century. More investors meant sharing the risk and strengthening the company’s resources and connections.

With money in hand, the company wouldn’t need to wait for the returns from one project before starting the next.

"If the financing goes through, including New Century and Amazon shares, your net worth will exceed $1 billion. According to this year’s Forbes Global Billionaire List, you'd rank in the top 470. If we include your offshore assets, you'd make it into the top 200."

Ellie raised her eyebrows and smiled, "A billionaire at 25! Think about it, back in '98 when we first met, you couldn’t even come up with half a million dollars. That was quite the surreal moment."

Richard chuckled. This March, Forbes released its latest billionaire list. Bill Gates was still number one with a net worth of $40.7 billion, followed by Warren Buffet at $30.5 billion. Globally, there were 476 billionaires, with 222 in the U.S.

Forbes valued Richard at $960 million, ranking him second in the entertainment industry, just behind Oprah Winfrey at $1 billion, and first among sports celebrities.

On the list of young billionaires under 30, Richard was ranked 8th, behind a line-up of heirs.

"Ellie, I should thank you. You’re my lucky charm and goddess of fortune."

Richard raised his glass with a smile.

"Haha, I should be thanking you! My grandmother used to say I was a competent CFO but not cut out for investment banking because I was too cautious and indecisive. Your arrival filled that gap.

Every time I made an investment suggestion, you'd make the final call, and we always succeeded. When my grandmother saw the Forbes list, she was shocked. She kept saying it was impossible, that I couldn’t be that successful. It was hilarious!"

Ellie laughed heartily.

"We're both winning."

Richard smiled. Since their partnership began, not only had he become a billionaire, but Ellie’s wealth had also skyrocketed.

From earning hundreds of thousands a year, she was now pulling in tens of millions. Her net worth was approaching $100 million, making her wealthier than her own family.

She also became a senior partner at Stralem Asset Management, giving her more freedom, access to more projects, control over more accounts and funds, and bigger profit shares.

Ellie’s status and influence in the investment world had soared, which was clearly beneficial to Richard. Whenever he wanted to invest in a project, it was easier to access more data and get more accurate insider information.

Additionally, Wall Street investment firms were capital brokers, able to influence various industries, including entertainment, sports, and politics.

"These are a few new investment projects I've selected. The internet sector is bouncing back. Companies that survived the dot-com bubble are expanding rapidly. The internet is a hot area again, so most of these projects are internet-based. Take a look."

Ellie handed him a folder.

"Alright, I'll check it out."

Richard took the folder.

"Hey Ellie, what did you want me for? Oh, Richard, you're here too."

Michelle walked in, carrying a shoulder bag.

"Michelle, you're late," Ellie said, checking her watch.

"I'm not like someone who’s a senior partner and queen of Wall Street, who can clock out whenever she wants," Michelle teased.

"Don’t be so salty. Why don’t you join our team?"

Ellie grinned.

"No way, you want to boss me around? Not happening."

Michelle waved her hand dismissively.

Richard smiled, "Michelle, did you know New Century is planning to raise funds? Interested in taking on the project?"

"New Century? Why not ask Ellie?"

Michelle asked.

"No time, and I'm not interested in small projects."

"Small project? New Century is worth over a billion, and that's still a small project? Ellie, is the ‘queen of investments’ title inflating your ego?"

Michelle laughed.

"Of course! Queens are supposed to have a little ego, right?" Ellie said proudly.

Michelle huffed, "Richard, is this what you called me here for?"

"No, we just wanted to chat. Oh, we haven't been back to NYU in a while. How about we go for a visit?"

Ellie stood up with her bag.

"Why go to NYU? Can’t we chat here?" Michelle asked.

"Gisele is in class at NYU today, and she’s almost done. I was planning to pick her up. Want to talk while we walk?"

Richard smiled as he stood up.

"Fine."

The three of them left the café.

—

(End of Chapter)