301-305

Chapter 301: A Child, One Hundred Million

"How was the movie?" Frank asked in his office.

"Not bad, it's very meaningful, and the actors performed wonderfully," Richard replied after some thought.

"It is good indeed. Director Coppola has made a great film, and it has a good chance of competing for an Oscar," Frank said, pouring a cup of black tea and placing it in front of him.

"Is it that good?"

"Yes, the company held three internal screenings before, inviting many industry insiders to watch, most of whom are members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Their scores are basically between B+ and A-, not much worse than 'Crash'," Frank said with a smile, holding his teacup.

"That's good news. I hope the box office of the movie can be as amazing as 'Crash'."

"Crash" had an investment of 7 million and currently has a global box office of 173 million, blinding countless people.

"Lost in Translation" has an investment of 4 million. If the box office can exceed 100 million, New Century Pictures will surely rise to another level.

"It's unlikely. 'Crash' has you and Sandra Bullock, especially you, with a super high topic. 'Lost in Translation' doesn't have any A-list actors, and the topic is even lower. Our estimate is between 20 million and 30 million."

"That's not bad either."

Any project that doesn't lose money is a good project.

Then the two discussed the reconstruction of the New Century Production Center. Last year, New Century made a profit of over 70 million, and the company's shareholders received dividends for the first time.

Richard got more than 20 million, and his previous investment was almost recovered.

Gwyneth got more than 4 million, and her investment was almost recovered. Norman, Frank, producer Copeson, and Ms. Jane Wilson also got 1 or 2 million each, which was a great harvest. The company's employees' year-end bonuses were not less than 20,000 US dollars, and everyone was happy.

After the dividends, the company still had more than 20 million in development funds, part of which was used to continue to improve the distribution channels, and part of which was used to build a production center, including studios, editing studios, recording studios, etc.

If the company wants to grow bigger, while improving the upper-level structure, it cannot ignore the construction of infrastructure. In the past, when making movies, many scenes that needed to be shot indoors often required renting studios from other production companies, and post-production was also outsourced to other companies.

This production method belongs to the production model of small and medium-sized production companies. Large production companies have their own film cities, studios, and production centers under their scripts.

If New Century wants to grow bigger, it should strengthen infrastructure construction as soon as possible so as not to be controlled by others. This is the proposal of producer Copeson, supported by Frank and Ms. Jane Wilson. Of course, Richard and Gwyneth did not object either, as the company was not short of money anyway.

This matter was mainly handled by Ms. Jane Wilson, Gwyneth, and producer Copeson. They selected a medium-sized studio with an offer of 12 million, and negotiations are currently underway.

With the production site, New Century's production capacity will be stronger in the future.

Richard was originally going to acquire a few cinemas and set up a small theater chain to improve New Century's distribution capabilities.

This proposal was first rejected by Frank and others, and then by Ellie, who also joked that his proposal was at least half a century late.

Before the 1950s, the Hollywood giants were not only the largest production companies but also controlled several of the largest theater chains, controlling the channels for movie releases and the lifeline of countless filmmakers.

In 1928, the Justice Department prosecutor filed an antitrust lawsuit. In 1948, the Justice Department targeted the monopoly behavior of the film industry and issued the famous "Paramount Case," which believed that the integration of production, distribution, and theaters by several giants was an industry monopoly and required production companies to give up film distribution and cinema screening businesses.

After the enactment of the bill, Paramount Pictures sold its theaters and focused on production and distribution. Other Hollywood companies followed suit and divested their theater businesses.

In the past, large companies with theaters could engage in industry monopolies. Now, even with theaters, they cannot engage in monopolies, and their profits have been greatly reduced.

Ellie believes that buying cinema stocks is better than buying cinemas and recommended a few.

Richard took a look and found that the profits were too small, not even as much as BAA's dividends, so he gave up the idea of acquiring cinemas.

However, after greeting Paris and Eva, he spent 50 million to acquire some Hilton Hotel stocks and Trump Real Estate stocks. Both companies also control two small theater chains, taking the high-end luxury route.

In the future, he plans to continue buying stocks of these two companies. First, Hilton hotels are more comfortable to stay in, and second, Trump is more humorous. He is very optimistic about Trump's development and wants to invest in advance.

"Richard, the production department is preparing to launch a sequel to 'Crash'. What do you think?" Frank asked, taking out a document.

"Crash sequel? Turning it into a racing movie?" Richard asked curiously.

"No, it's the same type of film, reflecting racial issues and social conflicts. Generally, when a movie is successful at the box office, there will be sequels. 'Crash' was particularly successful. If we don't make it, even if we sell the sequel rights, we can still get a lot of money."

"Whatever, don't ask me about projects under 10 million. I'm particularly busy this year," Richard waved his hand.

---

Leaving the company, Richard drove to Ms. Theron's villa. Last week, the main filming of "Monster" was also completed. Ms. Theron finished filming and was at home frantically losing weight.

Walking into the villa, a plump and beautiful woman was running on the garden path outside the house, wearing a white sports headband on her forehead, a white sports tank top, and black tight leggings, wrapping her curvy figure. Her two long legs and tank top were soaked with sweat.

"Goddess, wait for me!" Richard took off his jacket and quickly caught up, running side by side with her.

"Go home and watch TV. Don't bother me exercising here."

Ms. Theron said, panting.

"I won't talk, I'll just run with you," Richard laughed.

Ms. Theron snorted softly and didn't say anything more, continuing to run at a steady pace on the path.

The garden path outside the villa wasn't big, less than three hundred meters per lap. Ms. Theron ran another ten laps, her breathing became rapid, and her footsteps gradually stopped.

Richard also stopped and handed her a bottle of water. "You can lose weight slowly, no need to rush. Actually, it's fine even if you don't lose weight. I like you fleshy like this."

"Get lost!" Ms. Theron bumped his shoulder.

"I'm not lying. You're tall, and 140 or 150 pounds is quite well-proportioned. It's very comfortable to hold you while sleeping," Richard said, putting his arm around her shoulder.

"Humph, Giselle is 180 and so thin. Why don't you make her a big fatty?"

"I used to tell her to eat more meat and gain some weight, but she's a model, and she has a lot of endorsements, so she has to maintain her figure. But now that she's pregnant, she's gained 8 pounds in a month. In a few more months, she should be as fleshy as you."

Ms. Theron pursed her lips. "You're going to be a father. Congratulations."

"Thank you. I really like children. Last time you said you wanted to have children, when are you planning to have them?"

"Isn't it enough for Giselle to have children for you?"

"Not enough. I earn so much money, and it will all be left to my children in the future. So I plan to have at least ten children. Em~, how about this, you have one child, and I'll give you and the child one hundred million, as compensation for lost work, youth subsidy, and mental distress. How about it?" Richard chuckled.

"One hundred million?" Ms. Theron chuckled. "What if I have ten?"

"Ten hundred million!"

"Hehe, big talker. Your net worth is only ten hundred million. Can you really give it all to me and the children? Don't lie to me in the future." Ms. Theron bumped his stomach with her elbow again.

"God as my witness, I will never lie to you. Currently, my net worth is ten hundred million. It will take at least ten years for you to have ten children, right? Six years ago, I had nothing. Now I have ten hundred million. Ten years later, guess how much money I'll have?" Richard laughed.

Google was about to go public, and Google had good development prospects, with a market value of over 80 billion US dollars.

After several rounds of financing, Richard's investment company still owned 19.2% of Google's shares. After going public, his wealth would rapidly expand. He couldn't estimate how much it would expand for now, but not to mention ten children, a hundred should be no problem.

Ms. Theron rolled her eyes at him. "Don't get too cocky. Have you heard of the financial crisis? Don't think you're rich now. When the financial crisis comes, you'll become penniless. In the future, maybe your children will have to give you living expenses. Oh, I understand. This is your real purpose for having children, right?"

Richard shook his head. "Dear Sally, don't forget how I got my wealth. I earned it with my fists. Even if I become penniless right now, give me a year, and I can become a billionaire again. Making money has never been a problem for me."

"Show off! It's just a few hundred million. What's so great about it." Ms. Theron shook off the claw on her shoulder and strode towards the villa.

"Hey, Sally, when are we having children?"

"Get lost! Go have them yourself."

Richard smiled and followed her.

---

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 302: Switching to Selling Motorcycles

Clap clap~

"Sally, wake up. I've warmed up some milk and bread. Do you want to eat some?"

"Ugh, no!" Ms. Theron replied wearily, 趴ing on the pillow.

Richard smiled and helped her wipe the sweat-drenched hair with a towel.

"Sally, is this kind of fitness method more effective than running?"

"Humph, you just know how to bully me, you bastard!"

Ms. Theron glanced at him and closed her blue eyes again. Suddenly, she opened her eyes, "Help me turn over, I want to lie down."

"Okay!"

Richard held her and laid her on her back, then covered her with a blanket.

"Also, bring me a pillow, two of them."

Ms. Theron waved her fingers.

"What for? Do you want to lean on them?"

"Put them under my waist."

Ms. Theron stretched her lazy waist.

"Is your waist uncomfortable? I can give you a massage."

"Stop talking nonsense. Just do as I say. It's all your fault for being such a jerk and making me lose all my strength," Ms. Theron said impatiently.

"Okay, okay. You're lucky to have met me. If you had met someone who likes domestic violence, you would definitely be beaten to death with your temper."

"Haha, get lost. Put the pillow a little lower."

Ms. Theron shifted her hips and let out a soft breath.

"What are you doing?"

Richard looked at her posture, finding it a bit strange.

"This makes it easier to conceive, don't you understand? Humph, you said it yourself, one hundred million per child. Not having one would be foolish. I won't just have one, I'll have ten and make you poor," Ms. Theron said fiercely.

"Haha, no problem. That's hard work for you then."

Richard rubbed her hair and smiled.

"Humph, liar."

Ms. Theron hugged his shoulder and fell asleep.

---

"Richard, what have you been busy with these days? I've asked you out so many times, and you always say you don't have time. Are you busier than the president?"

Keanu Reeves complained in the villa.

Richard glanced at him, finished talking to Giselle, hung up the phone, and then replied, "Compared to me, what's the big deal about the president? Tell me, what's the matter?"

"It's about my career."

Keanu Reeves poured a cup of tea, pointed to the seat opposite him, and asked him to sit down and have a serious chat.

Richard shook his head. "What's wrong with your career? Are you in a crisis?"

"No, after finishing filming 'The Matrix' series, I felt an unprecedented emptiness," Keanu Reeves sighed, shaking his head.

"So?"

"I want to change careers."

Richard chuckled, took the cup, and took a sip of tea. "Switch to selling motorcycles?"

"Get lost. I'm planning to become a director and producer. What do you think?" Reeves asked, crossing his fingers.

"Not a bad idea, you can give it a try," Richard nodded and said. He had also thought about becoming an action director, producer, executive producer, etc.

But as his workload increased and his free time decreased, he abandoned those tiring ideas and chose a more leisurely and comfortable lifestyle.

"Richard, I need your support," Reeves said seriously.

"Do you need investment?"

"No, I want to make a documentary about 'The Champ' to practice my skills. You're the main character, and the content of the documentary mainly includes your daily training, fighting skills, and it would be best if we can capture your daily life."

"Enough, you can leave now," Richard pointed to the door and said.

"Richard, many people around the world are very curious about what you usually do, how you train, whether you have really changed your genes, and what you're like outside the boxing ring. Through this documentary, wouldn't it be great to let boxing fans get to know you better?"

Keanu Reeves shrugged.

"Why should I let boxing fans know me better? An idol with a sense of mystery is a good idol. Besides, you have no fewer fans than me, why don't you film yourself?" Richard said unhappily.

"I want to shoot it myself, so I need to shoot someone else. Among my friends, you're the most famous, and the effect will be the best."

"Really? From now on, we're not friends anymore," Richard said.

"Richard, you're too stingy."

Keanu Reeves shook his head and stood up, patting his thigh. "Let's go, Jennifer bought a lot of seafood and asked me to come and get you. Are you going?"

"Oh?"

Richard took out his phone and called Jennifer to confirm. Jennifer said it was true.

"OK, let's go!"

"Richard, I'm very disappointed in you," Keanu Reeves said with a dark face.

"Same here."

Richard smiled.

After having a seafood feast at Reeves' house and accompanying Ava to the aquarium to cultivate their father-daughter relationship, he went to BAA company in the afternoon.

In the few days he had been in Los Angeles, Anthony had called several times, saying that he had time to go to the company to talk about work.

He was about to return to New York, and if he didn't go again, this guy would definitely complain afterward.

"Is the schedule for the second half of the year arranged?" Richard asked after entering the office.

"Yes, filming 'Troy' from February to March, you have a match in May, 'Fast and Furious 2' will be released in June, filming 'The Bourne Supremacy' from June to August, and 'National Treasure' from September to October. The release date for 'Collateral' hasn't been set yet, Richard. There's still free time in November and December. How about taking on another movie?" Anthony smiled.

Richard glanced at him. "Fatty, you better not find me any more trouble, or I won't answer your calls in the future. If you have something, just contact Anna."

"Okay, okay, just kidding."

Anthony poured him a cup of tea. "I'm looking for you because I really have something to discuss. CAA is planning to acquire our BAA, and other investment companies are also contacting me. What do you think?"

"Really? How much are they willing to pay?" Richard asked with interest.

"They valued our company at 80 million, and Amp Investment Company invested 60 million, getting 55% of the shares."

"Sounds good."

Amp Investment had a lot of investments in Warner, Disney, and CAA. They never made a move without profit, and their willingness to invest also showed that BAA was developing well.

"What are your plans? I respect your choice," Richard asked.

"If the company wants to grow and develop, it can't just rely on your investment alone. I think we can take out about 20% of the shares for financing. Once we have the money, we can sign a few more good newcomers. At the same time, with the money, we'll have more leverage in public relations and awards," Anthony said.

Richard nodded slightly. In the past two years, the company started to make profits, with a few million in dividends every year. Although it wasn't much, it was still something. With the dividends, Richard didn't take them and continued to invest in BAA, and so did Anthony.

Currently, Richard still held 35% of BAA's shares, Anthony held 28%, Norman was preparing to leave the company, leaving 20% of the shares, Naomi held 6%, and Jessica held 5%. Their shares were mainly transferred from Richard, and the rest were given to the company's backbone agents and artists.

"You can handle it. Before the financing, inform the company's artists. Maybe someone is very optimistic about the company's development and is willing to invest in the company," Richard said.

"I also have that plan. Currently, besides you, Naomi and Jessica are both quasi-A-listers, James Franco and Lisa are B-listers, Diesel, Evans, and Amy Adams are not yet B-listers, but they all have good potential. I want to keep them."

Richard nodded. "The company is your career, you can handle it. Sally's contract with her agency is about to expire. I will invite her to transfer over."

"Haha, that's great. Sally is an A-list star, and many companies want to cooperate with her. Richard, please talk to Sally more and ask her to consider our company more."

"Okay!"

"As for Naomi and Jessica, hehe, please put in more effort so they won't be poached."

"Get lost!"

---

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 303: Greek Mythology

After staying in Los Angeles for two days and finishing his company matters, Richard returned to New York.

He was about to go to the set to film and might have to stay there for a few more weeks. He was worried about Giselle and planned to spend more time with her before leaving.

"Don't worry, I'm fine at home. I have a nanny and an assistant. When I go to the company, I'm surrounded by people. Angela even jokes that I'm a noble lady," Giselle said, walking arm in arm with him on the lawn.

"It's safer to have people around. You're more than a month pregnant now, and the fetal position is not stable enough. Try to go to work less and don't wear high heels. Also, listen to the nutritionist about your diet. Don't go on a diet anymore, or you might give birth to a skinny little monkey."

"Haha, you're talking nonsense. Our child will definitely be very, very beautiful, white and chubby, not skinny at all. Also, I've gained a lot of weight, 12 pounds heavier than last year. If this continues, I really will become a big fatty."

Giselle pinched the flesh on her arm. Her arms, waist, and legs used to be very slender and slim, without any excess flesh. Now, she could pinch some flesh.

"Honey, you've worked hard."

Richard hugged her shoulders and kissed her.

"Haha, stop it. When you go to Mexico, be careful. I heard it's quite chaotic there, with many gangs and drug dealers."

"Okay, I'll bring a few more bodyguards."

"Be careful when filming action scenes too. Use a stunt double when necessary and don't try dangerous moves. Don't forget you're about to be a father," Giselle said, touching her belly.

"Okay, I'll listen to you."

Richard smiled and then remembered something. "When is Patricia coming over? Should we arrange for an assistant to pick her up?"

"Pick her up? She's a grown-up, does she need to be picked up? She said she'll come after the carnival. I don't know if she can arrive on time. That's just her personality, very annoying."

Giselle waved her hand.

Richard smiled gently and held her hand. "Don't be so strict with her. Eighteen or nineteen is the age to have fun. You can't expect her to be like you, a strong woman since childhood."

"Humph, I feel like I shouldn't have let her come to the United States," Giselle said with a smile.

"Why?"

"She's already very willful, and you spoil her. I don't know what she'll become."

"It's okay, don't you have you to manage her?"

Richard wrapped his arm around Giselle's shoulder and smiled.

---

After staying in New York for three days and being urged by the crew, Richard took his assistant and bodyguards and flew to Los Cabos, Mexico.

Los Cabos is located at the southernmost tip of the Baja California Peninsula, a famous tourist city.

There is a famous scenic spot there, the Arch of Cabo San Lucas. It was originally a rock wall isolated in the sea, which was eroded by waves and wind for many years, forming a stone arch.

After arriving in Los Cabos, Richard and his assistant and bodyguards took a yacht tour and took many photos to send to Giselle.

The environment here was good, with beautiful scenery, white sandy beaches, clean seawater, blue sky, bright sunshine, and abundant marine life. It was very suitable for tourism and settling down. Richard planned to bring Giselle here for their honeymoon after she gave birth.

"Hey, Richard, we meet again."

Arriving at the set, Richard first met Orlando Bloom.

This guy played the troublemaking prince Paris in "Troy." Paris was the son of King Priam of Troy and the younger brother of Hector.

In Greek mythology, when Paris was born, the Queen of Troy dreamed that he turned into a fire and burned down the entire palace.

The prophet believed he was an ominous person, so the Queen handed him over to the slaves to deal with. The slaves threw him on the mountain, and a mother bear encountered him and raised him.

After growing up, he returned to the palace of Troy and followed Hector on a mission to Greece.

He was naturally handsome and flirtatious, and liked to mess around. In Greece, he met Helen, the Queen of Greece, the most beautiful woman in the world. The two eloped back to Troy, which led to the Greek coalition forces and the outbreak of the Trojan War.

The city of Troy was tall and deep, with abundant resources. The Greek coalition forces besieged it for ten years but couldn't conquer it.

Later, the commander of the coalition forces, Achilles, came up with the "Trojan Horse" strategy, hiding Greek soldiers inside a giant wooden horse.

When the Trojans pulled the wooden horse into the city as a trophy, the Greek soldiers sneaked out of the wooden horse and opened the city gates, leading to the fall of Troy.

During the capture of Troy, Achilles destroyed the temple and statue of the sun god Apollo. The sun god was furious and used Prince Paris to shoot Achilles with an arrow.

In mythology, Achilles was the son of the sea goddess and the grandson of Zeus. When he was born, his mother dipped him in the River Styx, making him invulnerable except for his heel.

In the "Troy" script, Prince Paris's first arrow hit Achilles' heel, and the last few arrows killed him.

In the movie, both Achilles and Hector, the two most powerful warriors, died, and the troublemaking Prince Paris safely escaped from the city of Troy.

However, in Greek mythology, Paris was shot by the Greek archer Philoctetes with a poisoned arrow. Paris was poisoned and sought help from his wife, Oenone.

Previously, he had abandoned Oenone for Helen, and Oenone was heartbroken and did not save him. Paris died from the poison.

In the adapted screenplay of "Troy," most of the plot follows Greek mythology, but with many adjustments.

The Greek coalition forces besieging the city for ten years was changed to just a few days in the screenplay. In the original story, the Greek gods played an important role, but they were completely absent in the screenplay.

The deaths of several main characters were similar to the mythology, but for those who are not familiar with the story, it might seem confusing.

"Orlando, we have a lot of scenes together. Let's rehearse together when we have time," Richard said.

"Haha, okay. Richard, we're really destined. In less than three years, we've collaborated on three movies. In 'The Lord of the Rings,' we were teammates in the Fellowship of the Ring. In 'Black Hawk Down,' we were comrades in arms, and here we've become brothers. Haha, this is amazing," Orlando laughed.

"Yes, it's amazing."

After chatting for a while, they arrived at the filming location, in a nearby valley.

Today, they were filming a big scene. More than two thousand people were mobilized on set, forming two armies. The protagonist was Achilles, played by Brad Pitt, fighting against the enemy's first warrior, a particularly tall and strong man.

After the filming started, Brad Pitt jumped up and stabbed the strong man in the neck with a sword. The strong man fell to the ground, and the whole army cheered loudly. Brad Pitt then walked in front of the enemy camp, flaunting his power, making the thousands of enemy soldiers afraid to raise their heads. It was quite arrogant.

Richard raised his eyebrows. So many people, such a big scene, and it ended just like that? Was it too hasty? He hoped the following action scenes wouldn't be filmed like this.

"Richard, they're done filming. Do you want to go over and chat?" Bloom asked.

"Let's go!"

---

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 304: Enjoy Tonight to the Fullest

"Hey, Richard, you made it."

On set, Brad Pitt strode over in armor.

"Pitt, that move earlier was cool."

Richard shook his hand as he spoke.

"Haha, yeah, I practiced that move for a week. By the way, we have a big fight scene coming up. Let’s find time to practice together."

"No problem."

Richard smiled. Then, he met with director Wolfgang Petersen, screenwriter David Benioff, along with a few assistant directors, producers, and cinematographers.

The "Troy" project had a whopping $200 million investment, worth more than many public companies, and there were a lot of people on set. Aside from the thousands of extras, the crew itself consisted of more than 450 members. These people were divided into several groups, busy on set, which resembled a huge construction site.

"Richard, we discussed the issue you raised during a meeting with the production team and the directors. We’ve decided to follow your suggestion. When the two characters first meet, they’ll exchange a few blows to build anticipation for their face-off."

David Benioff, the screenwriter, walked over and said.

"That’s great news, David. You're an amazing writer."

Richard smiled.

Benioff chuckled, a little unwilling to accept the compliment. The main reason the crew was willing to adjust the script was that the production company valued Richard highly and took his opinions seriously.

Over the past two years, Richard's popularity had soared, and most of the films he starred in did well at the box office. His latest movie, "XXX," which premiered at the beginning of the month, had grossed $124 million in three weeks, with domestic box office numbers solidly surpassing $150 million.

Seeing Richard’s strong box office draw, the production company made sure to keep him happy. As long as it wasn’t a major issue, the crew would consider his suggestions.

"Richard, we’ll get the revised script to you as soon as possible."

"Sounds good."

—

After spending a day with the crew, the next day the set was ready, and the crew began filming his scenes.

The first scene was a group scene. Hector and Paris were sent to the Greek city of Sparta to negotiate with King Menelaus. At the banquet, Paris becomes infatuated with Helen, the Queen of Sparta.

Helen was played by German actress Diane Kruger, a model who had received decent reviews for her supporting role in last year’s "The Pianist."

Kruger wasn’t well-known in the film industry, considered a third-tier actress, so her landing the lead role in "Troy" surprised many, especially since the film was said to feature the three most handsome faces in the world.

Rumor had it that she was Wolfgang Petersen’s choice, as both were from Germany, and the director thought she was beautiful, so he gave her the role.

"Cut! Makeup, let’s fix Richard’s beard."

The director called a halt to the filming.

This scene was directed by second unit director Simon Crane, while Wolfgang Petersen was outside shooting large-scale scenes. The indoor scenes were handled by assistant directors to speed up production.

The makeup artist came over to Richard and used a clip to adjust his beard.

Richard had grown an inch of facial hair, but the director felt it was too short. They wanted it to be as long as Aragorn’s beard in "The Lord of the Rings," so they added some extensions to give him a more regal look.

During filming, Richard often touched his chin. With the hot weather, his hands would sweat, and he accidentally pulled off a few strands.

"Mr. Pitt, please be gentle when touching your beard. It’s just for show, not very sturdy."

The makeup artist reminded him.

Richard nodded slightly, thinking it would be easier once his actual beard grew longer in a few days.

"Scene 5, Take 3, second try, action!"

Filming resumed, with more than 200 actors, including extras, gathered around tables, drinking and feasting, while a group of Greek women danced nearby.

"To the gods!"

"To the gods!"

Richard raised his cup and poured a little on the ground.

"Strong arms indeed. Thanks to the gods for peace, though I’ve seen many warriors lose such fine arms."

The King of Sparta slapped his arm as he spoke.

"Let’s hope it doesn’t happen again."

Richard smiled faintly. Dressed in sleeveless armor, his muscular arms were fully on display, giving him an imposing and powerful presence.

"Richard would actually make a great Achilles," said Simon Crane, the second unit director. "He’s got both the ruggedness and the good looks, and he has this natural heroic aura and an unbeatable swagger."

Achilles was the greatest warrior in Greece, and Richard, known as “invincible” in boxing, would need a truly commanding actor to play Achilles to overshadow his performance as Hector. Brad Pitt was great, but matching Richard’s presence would be tough. If Pitt couldn’t match him, the film could fall flat.

"Warner Bros.’ first choice for Achilles was Richard, but he turned it down. He felt Hector had more depth as a character," said Benioff as he flipped through the script.

"Haha, makes sense."

Crane laughed as he focused on the camera, noting that Richard’s presence was so commanding that he easily overshadowed the actor playing the King of Sparta.

After thinking for a moment, Crane signaled to the cameraman, “Let’s reduce the face-to-face close-ups between them. The contrast is too stark and might overpower the scene. Try filming Richard from the side instead.”

"Got it!"

The cinematography team discussed and adjusted the framing.

"Bring in the actresses!"

A crew member shouted, and the dancers swayed their hips as they approached Hector and the Spartan king.

"See that woman? I picked her out just for you."

The Spartan king patted Hector’s shoulder.

A beautiful dancer approached as she performed.

Richard glanced at her and chuckled, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty, but my wife is waiting for me at home."

The King of Sparta, surprised, gestured toward Helen, "My wife is over there waiting for me. A wife is for having children; tonight is for enjoying yourself."

Richard laughed heartily, raising his cup, "I prefer fine wine over beautiful women, and your wine is the finest in all of Sparta, Your Majesty."

"Hahaha!"

The Spartan king laughed and clinked glasses with him.

"Cut!"

The crew adjusted the positions of some extras and the angle of the lighting, then continued filming.

At the banquet, Prince Paris and Helen were secretly meeting upstairs, while Hector quietly waited in the living room.

"Paris!"

Seeing Paris come downstairs, Richard walked over with a stern expression.

"Do you know why we came to Sparta?"

"For peace," Paris replied with a smile.

Richard stared at him coldly. "Then you should know that the King of Sparta is a powerful man, and his brother, King Agamemnon, commands all the Greek armies."

"And what does that have to do with his wife?" Paris asked indifferently.

"Listen, Paris!" Richard grabbed his brother's face, speaking sternly, "You are my dear brother, but if you do anything to endanger Troy, I will tear that handsome face right off your handsome skull."

Seeing Paris's flicker of fear, Richard softened his expression, gently patting his brother's cheek. "Go to bed, we have an early day tomorrow."

"Cut!"

"Great job, Richard. Your emotional switch was excellent, very captivating," praised director Klein.

"Thank you!" Richard then gestured towards Orlando's face. "Sorry, Orlando, I went a little too hard there."

"Richard, your look was terrifying, like you were really going to tear me apart," Orlando said, rubbing his cheek.

"Your reaction was great too, very timely."

"No, no, that was my real reaction. I was genuinely scared!"

"Haha, alright!" Richard patted him on the shoulder and went off to prepare for the next scene.

——

The next day, the Trojan delegation sailed home, and Paris secretly brought Helen aboard the ship, bringing disaster upon Troy.

In Greek mythology, Paris was tempted by Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty, which led him to fall for Helen.

According to legend, at the wedding of Achilles' parents, Peleus and Thetis, the goddess of discord, Eris, presented a golden apple as a gift, inscribed with the words "For the fairest."

At the wedding were three goddesses widely regarded as the most beautiful: Hera, wife of Zeus; Athena, goddess of wisdom; and Aphrodite, goddess of beauty. The gods argued over who was the fairest.

Zeus appointed the most handsome man, Prince Paris, to make the decision.

Each goddess tried to bribe Paris: power, glory, and the most beautiful woman. In the end, Paris chose Aphrodite's offer, and with her help, he took Helen, wife of the King of Sparta, triggering the Trojan War.

The crew filmed indoors for several days before moving to shoot scenes at sea and on the shore. Every day, they enjoyed the blue sky and ocean, and when there was free time, they swam underwater, collecting colorful seashells and seafood. It was a wonderful experience.

"Hey, Richard, what are you up to?" Gwyneth called.

"Sunbathing on the beach. This beach is gorgeous," Richard said, holding a wooden sword and gazing at the distant sea.

"Are you alone?"

"There are a lot of people. The crew is filming on the beach."

"Alright, the Oscars are about to start. Are you coming back for it? Crash has a good chance of winning an award," Gwyneth asked.

"Nah, I wasn’t nominated. Why go? I heard Arnold’s sick. If Crash wins Best Picture, you’ll have to accept it on our behalf."

Crash had six nominations, and the producers nominated were Cathy Schulman and director Paul Haggis. If they won, the two would go onstage to accept.

"Okay, I’ll go. If we win, I’ll let you know right away."

"Sounds good!"

Richard hung up and continued shooting.

"Richard, we’re starting the main storyline this weekend. Hector and Achilles meet at the Temple of Apollo, and there's a sword fight. You’ll need to practice before we shoot," said one of the crew members.

"No problem, I’ll be ready," Richard replied.

——

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 305: Richard’s Powerful Presence

“Kill!”

Achilles led his men into the Temple of Apollo, looting and destroying everything in their path. They killed the priests and wrecked the temple, with Achilles slicing off the head of Apollo’s statue.

“Mr. Brad, it’s your turn,”

The stage manager reminded.

“Got it!”

Richard, clad in armor, wielding a sword and shield, stepped onto the set.

He originally had a metal helmet, but the director, concerned it would cover his face and make it hard to distinguish him from the soldiers behind him, told him not to wear it.

Holding his sword and shield, Richard led a group of warriors into the Temple of Apollo.

“Charge!”

A group of Greek soldiers, who had been lying in ambush inside the temple, suddenly rushed out.

Richard’s expression remained calm. He shoulder-bashed one enemy away, thrusting his sword into another’s heart. Someone behind him swung a sword to strike, but without turning, Richard swept his sword sideways, brutally knocking the opponent’s blade away. He followed up with a horizontal slash, decapitating the enemy instantly.

“This arrangement seems to have a problem!”

Behind the monitor, Wolfgang Petersen watched Richard’s movements with a hint of unease. Richard’s every sword swing exuded an immense, commanding presence. His power was visibly overwhelming.

Compared to him, Pitt’s portrayal of Achilles seemed weak in both presence and movements. This wouldn’t do—if they continued filming like this, the audience might end up seeing Richard as the real Achilles.

“Cut!”

Wolfgang Petersen scratched his head, grabbing his walkie-talkie to summon stunt coordinator Davis.

“Director, you called for me?”

Davis asked.

Petersen gestured at the screen, replaying the footage.

“Director, is there a problem?”

Davis watched Richard’s performance, secretly impressed. It was incredible—working with someone like this made things so much easier.

“There’s a big problem, Davis. Why did you choreograph flashy moves for Pitt but give Richard realistic, brutal ones? His attacks look like they could kill.”

Petersen frowned.

Davis hesitated for a second before offering a wry smile, “Director, you’re being unfair. Pitt’s the producer; do you think I can just give him anything?”

“Isn’t that obvious?”

Petersen pointed at the screen.

“Director, this isn’t on me. It’s between Richard and Pitt. I gave them the same style of choreography. But Richard’s swordsmanship is on another level.

Give him any set of moves, and he’ll execute them perfectly.

Even what should’ve been a flashy routine became brutal under his hands—his slashes feel vicious and powerful. His presence, strength, and even his gaze have a sense of historical weight. He has an incredible ability to turn something ordinary into something spectacular in action scenes. I can’t control that.”

Davis spread his hands.

“Director, maybe ask Mr. Brad to tone it down a bit? Otherwise, it’s stealing the scene.”

The assistant director, Peale, suggested.

Petersen scratched his head and looked at Davis, “What do you think?”

Davis frowned, “Director, if you were an audience member, which fight scene would you prefer? Which one would seem cooler to you?”

Petersen furrowed his brow too. If he were an audience member, of course, he’d prefer Richard’s wide, brutal slashing style. It was a beautiful mix of power and swordsmanship, full of battlefield bloodshed—a fight fitting for an epic film.

But Richard’s portrayal of Hector, a mortal hero, was already so intense. Achilles, the descendant of Zeus and the world’s greatest warrior, had to be even more intense.

If Achilles’ fight scenes ended up looking weak, and Hector still died at his hands, it wouldn’t make sense logically, and the audience wouldn’t buy it.

“We can’t continue filming without reigning in Richard.”

Peale said.

“We could tone him down a bit, but not too much. We’re shooting an epic film, and we want the actors to perform at their best. If someone’s doing great and we hold them back, it’ll drag down the quality of the film.”

Assistant director Simon Klein chimed in.

Petersen agreed with both, but they were only offering opinions without providing solutions.

“Pitt, come over here.”

Seeing Pitt chatting with Richard, Petersen decided it was time to address the issue. As the producer and investor, Pitt’s input on how to proceed was important.

“Director, is there a problem?”

Pitt asked.

“Take a look for yourself.”

Petersen played two sequences: one of Pitt’s fight scene and one of Richard’s.

Watching Richard’s performance, Pitt’s brow furrowed deeply.

While filming, he hadn’t felt anything was off. But in comparison to Richard, his own fight scene looked overly dramatic and flashy, lacking the raw, brutal realism Richard brought to his.

It was like a professional actor performing alongside a real champion fighter—the difference was immediately clear.

“Pitt, we have two options: either we tone down Richard’s scenes or you adjust your fighting style to be more aggressive so you can match him. What do you think?”

Petersen asked.

“Which would be better?”

Pitt responded.

The director stroked his chin, remaining silent. The answer seemed obvious—during shooting, he had sensed something was off. This was supposed to be an epic film, yet the fight scenes lacked the weight and grandiosity he envisioned. Especially after watching the two epic battles in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, he admired Peter Jackson and wanted to capture that same monumental scale. But the way things were going, this was turning into an idol film.

“Pitt, Richard’s fight scenes are exceptional. They feel raw and real. Peter Jackson often praised him in promotions, saying he elevated the quality of the action scenes in The Lord of the Rings.

You should practice with him during downtime. I designed the same choreography for both of you, but the results are different. He’s like a top athlete—few can match his understanding of action.”

Davis suggested.

Pitt nodded, leaving the director’s area.

—

“Richard, a call from Bündchen!”

On set, Richard was sitting on a beach chair reading the script when Anna handed him the phone.

“Alright.”

Richard answered, “Hey, sweetheart, miss me?”

“Hahaha, it’s me, Patricia, not your sweetheart!”

A playful laugh echoed through the phone.

“Stop it!”

Bündchen scolded, taking the phone. “Richard, Patricia’s here, and she wanted to call you.”

“Brother-in-law, when are you coming back? It’s no fun in America without you here.”

Before Patricia could finish, she got smacked, “What do you mean it’s no fun? I’m here too!” Bündchen scolded.

“Waaah~ Brother-in-law, Gisele’s bullying me! Please come back, or I’ll want to leave.”

Patricia said, her tone full of grievance.

Richard chuckled, “I’ll be here for about three more weeks. I’ll come back as soon as I can.”

“Three weeks? What am I supposed to do? Gisele’s always bossing me around—I regret coming here!”

Patricia complained.

“Why don’t you come visit the set? It’s a tourist spot with some amazing views.”

“Really? Can I come?”

Patricia exclaimed, excited.

“No way. You’ve only been in New York for a day, and now you want to run off? If you keep this up, I’ll lock you in the estate.”

Bündchen replied.

“Sweetheart, Fashion Week’s over. Why don’t you come here too? The seaside view is spectacular.”

Richard smiled.

“It’s too far.”

“It’s not far at all!”

Patricia chimed in, “It’s a quick flight, Gisele. Let’s go! I’ve never visited a film set before. Pretty please, sis? Darling sister~”

Patricia begged, her voice sickly sweet.

Richard found it amusing. “Sweetheart, you don’t have much to do in New York. You could take Patricia to Los Angeles for a bit, then catch a flight over. It’s only a three-hour flight—it won’t be too hard on you.”

“Sister~”

Patricia cooed.

“Alright, alright!”

“Haha, you’re the best, sis! Gisele, I love you!”

“Get lost, you’re too much.”

Bündchen laughed. “Richard, are you filming for three more weeks? We’ll come in two, spend a week by the beach—it’ll be perfect timing.”

“Oh, sis, why not come earlier?”

“Shut it, or we’re not going at all.”

Bündchen huffed.

“Mmm…”

Patricia fell silent.

Richard laughed, then asked Bündchen about her pregnancy and health, before chatting with Patricia, encouraging her to explore New York more. He reminded her that there were assistants, bodyguards, and plenty of luxury cars at her disposal, so she could go anywhere she wanted—New York had plenty to keep her entertained.

After chatting for about ten minutes, he hung up.

“Hey, Richard!”

Pitt approached.

“Pitt, what’s up?”

“Yeah!”

Pitt sat down and started talking about the fight scenes, first praising Richard’s combat skills as top-notch before asking if he could train with him to improve his own.

“Richard, how about it? I can pay you—I just want to play Achilles better.”

“No problem. Forget the payment—I learned acting by watching your films. We can learn from each other.”

Richard raised his cup.

“Hahaha, Richard, you’re even more interesting than I heard.”

Pitt laughed, raising his cup as well.

"Thank you!"

Richard smiled. He didn’t ask what the rumors said about him, knowing Pete wouldn’t tell the full truth anyway.

Because in the film industry, his reputation wasn’t exactly great.

On one hand, there were false rumors from the Weinstein brothers' camp—seen by how many veteran actors refused to work with him. On the other hand, there was jealousy. A boxer making it big in the movie industry, stepping on others’ toes—it would be surprising if his peers had anything nice to say about him.

For the next few days, besides acting, Richard also took on the role of fight choreographer, mainly guiding Pete’s swordsmanship and combat style. Pete wasn’t an action star, so his performance in fight scenes wasn’t particularly good.

"Pete, you're doing well. Just like that. When you swing the sword, imagine you're actually cutting someone down. That will make your eyes more fierce and your presence more powerful."

Richard clapped and said.

"Richard, I want to practice too. Can you teach me?"

Orlando Bloom asked, holding a sword.

"Sure, let's do it!"

Teaching one or two people doesn’t make much difference.

After a few more days of shooting, the Oscars arrived. He was curious to see if Crash would win an award.

(End of chapter)