Simon gestured to Valerie Golino for a moment, picked up the microphone and said, "Joe, what's the matter?"

On the other side of the phone, Jonathan Friedman had heard the news that Daenerys Films was conducting surprise drug tests on the last ten candidates for the actor in "Batman", and called to help intercede.

After listening patiently to Jonathan Friedman, Simon's tone was not much negotiable, and said: "Joe, before the casting began, Daenerys Pictures had specially reminded them that if they couldn't clean themselves up during the casting period, I really don't think there was any reason to give them a chance...... I know this kind of thing is very common in Hollywood, but this is the way this world is, those A-list celebrities who have already made a name for themselves can go directly between the Bedford Rehabilitation Center and the movie set, and they can go to shoot drug rehabilitation public service announcements without giving up, but they can't, they are just small people, and small people should have the consciousness of small people, so, I regret it...... Valerie, she's already here, sitting across from me...... So, I'll see you when I have time to chat. ”

Hanging up the phone, Simon looked at Valerie Golino opposite.

The Italian actress with beautiful curly hair and cat-like eyes is only 22 years old, but her acting resume is anything but simple. Two years ago, Valerie Golino won the Best Actress Award at the 43rd Venice Film Festival for the Italian film "Love Story".

It's just that in the original time and space, except for the heroine of "Rain Man", Valerie Golino has not starred in other well-known films, even her famous work "Love Story" is only a very low-profile literary film.

Simon also has some gossip about Valerie Golino and Julia Roberts competing for the heroine of "Pretty Woman," and she and Roberts are the last two candidates. The reason why the actress was not selected was made public was because her accent was not standard enough, and more inside information was unknown.

Because of her poor development in Hollywood, the actress with a high starting point later returned to the European film circle like many European actresses who failed to enter Hollywood.

Across the desk, Valerie Golino pressed the satchel on her knees with both hands, patiently waiting for the young man opposite to look at her for a moment before she said softly: "Mr. Westeros, may I ask you to ask me to come over for something?"

Simon didn't answer, just asked, "Have you seen 'Batman'?"

Suddenly received an invitation from Simon Westeros, and Jonathan Friedman, the agent and the vice president of the company who was close to Westeros, did not know the reason, and Valerie Golino had just been very nervous.

After coming to Hollywood for more than a year, Valerie Golino didn't get many film contracts, but she heard a lot of gossip, and there were many bigwigs in the circle who liked to summon her to her side for reasons such as negotiating work and attending parties, and then something came naturally. She's just recently appeared in "Rain Man," and Simon Westeros is said to watch the film every week, and he's definitely noticed himself in the process.

However, after receiving this invitation, after only a little hesitation, Valerie Golino rushed over.

In any case, men like beautiful women, and in the same way, women like beautiful men. Simon Westeros, a handsome, talented, young and golden guy, really can't arouse any disgust from women.

Hearing Simon Westeros mention "Batman", Valerie Golino's original nervousness suddenly relaxed.

It turns out that there is really something serious.

Or is it something that the whole of Hollywood is looking forward to.

It's just that there are some emotions in my heart that I don't know if it's disappointment or something else.

After being stunned for a moment, feeling Simon Westeros' patient eyes looking at him, Valerie Golino quickly reacted, shook her head honestly, and said, "Sorry, Mr. Westeros, I haven't watched "Batman", I grew up in Italy. ”

Simon just nodded and asked, "Do you have any other films on you now?"

Valerie Golino remembered the heroine role of the costume masterpiece "Spring in the Rapids", which was about to be negotiated for two years by Polish director Jerz Skolimowski, and just hesitated for a moment, then shook her head decisively and said, "No." ”

"Here's the thing," Simon said, not pushing anything else, "I've seen your performance in 'Rain Man,' as well as the material from your previous films, and it's outstanding." So, I want to invite you to play the heroine of "Batman", what do you think?"

Valerie Golino remembered Daenerys Films' powerful audition for the leading actor in "Batman", and subconsciously asked, "Don't you need an audition?"

"As I said, I've seen your show. ”

"So, Mr. Westeros," asked Valerie Golino again, "what role am I going to play?"

"Catwoman," Simon said, "you know what?"

As a popular anti-hero female character who appeared in the first issue of "Batman" that year, although she has not read the comics, Valerie Golino has heard of some. After carefully recalling the information about Catwoman, Valerie Golino nodded, "Selena Kyle." ”

"That's right, Selena Kyle," Simon nodded, "If you're going to play this role, you can read some comics next." However, the information about Catwoman's character origin in DC Comics is very confusing, so you still need to figure out the character according to my script in the end. ”

The development of Hollywood, which is very exclusive to European actresses in their bones, is not easy, Valerie Golino remembered the young man's miraculous directing resume, and no longer hesitated, and said: "Mr. Westeros, then, what next?"

Simon smiled and said, "Do you know why I chose you?"

Valerie Golino was stunned and shook her head.

"It's important that your acting skills are good enough, because the Selena Kyle I want, the ordinary vase actress is very difficult to play well. I watched the demos of "Rain Man" again and again before I decided to let you try this role, because you are younger than Cruise and Hoffman, but in the demos, you show an almost maternal soothing power, and you are able to calm both restless protagonists. Bruce Wayne in "Batman" is a character who has experienced childhood trauma, and although he is very powerful, he is only a human after all, and he will be hurt and need to be appeased in the fight against evil, so I hope that you can continue to retain this emotion in "Rain Man" when you play the character of Catwoman. ”

After Simon finished speaking, he looked at Valerie Golino again, who still had a bit of a girlish look on her face, and said, "In addition, you are only twenty-two years old, which is also very important, Selena Kyle is a skilled female thief, in the comics, she has a gymnastics background and is also proficient in martial arts. In order to play this role, the actor must undergo a certain intensity of physical and combat training, which is often difficult for older actresses to bear, but it is not a big problem for you, of course, the process will definitely be very hard, are you willing?"

Valerie Golino did not hesitate, and nodded her head a few times as if the chick pecked rice, realizing that her reaction was too eager, and she was immediately a little embarrassed.

Simon naturally didn't mind, and continued: "Also, although I like your accent when you speak, it's hard for North American audiences to accept Catwoman speaking with an Italian accent. So, for the next six months, in addition to physical training, you also need to take accent classes. ”

Valerie Golino showed a surprised expression this time: "Half a year?"

"Yes, half a year," Simon nodded, "and that's what I'm going to say right away, if you agree to star, we'll sign a contract before the end of the month, and then, for the next year, you probably won't be able to get any other film contracts." ”

Hollywood spends a year or two for a role, and Valerie Golino quickly figured out that the heroine of Simon Westeros's new film is completely worth the effort, and she can't have a better choice in Hollywood.

"No problem, Mr. Westeros," Valerie Golino quickly nodded with this in mind, "May I read the script first?"

"The script is still being revised, and, for absolute secrecy, even the actor won't see the full script before filming starts," Simon shook his head and refused: "It's not that I don't trust you, but in this circle, there will always be people who want to get similar revelations by any means, and it's hard for you to guard against." ”

Valerie Golino looked understanding, then didn't know what to say, and looked at Simon with light eyes, and suddenly dodged away. She actually wanted to ask about the salary, but she also knew that it was best for the agent to negotiate this kind of thing.

Simon noticed Valerie Golino's expression changing, just smiled and said, "That's it for the time being, we will contact MA for the next thing, you can go back first." ”

Valerie Golino got up, politely leaned over to shake Simon's hand again, and turned to leave the office. When she came to the parking lot, she still felt a little like she was dreaming.

Simon Westeros's new heroine, or a super blockbuster like "Batman".

It was so easy to get.

The actresses in the company who always laugh at their identity as outsiders must be so jealous that they go crazy.

Feeling a certain irrepressible excitement all over her body, Valerie Golino did not immediately get into the car, but went to a nearby phone booth and dialed a string of numbers.

On the East Coast, it was past work hours, and the call was transferred to a Manhattan hotel and reached the broker.

The agent on the East Coast was visibly overexcited when he heard her finish what had just happened, and told her to stay where she was and stay still, and he flew back from New York immediately.

Hanging up the phone, Valerie Golino's excitement calmed down a little, but she couldn't help but remember the situation when she had just met Simon Westeros.

Inexplicably, there are some regrets.

He said he liked his accent, but unfortunately he didn't say anything else.

What a figurative guy.

Simon was so busy during this time that he didn't have any other thoughts. After the meeting with Valerie Golino, he rushed to Daenerys Special Effects, which had just been reorganized and integrated by the two companies.

There were also important arrangements for the evening, and at about half past five, Simon returned to his mansion in Malibu.

Inside the villa, Simon shouted a few times after entering the door, but received no response, and after searching for a while, he found Janet in the villa's seaside studio. A woman is standing intently at an easel and painting a new work.

On the canvas is a beautiful blue sea and blue sky, a bit like the Malibu seascape outside the floor-to-ceiling windows at this time. However, a long spiral staircase appeared between the sea and the sky, and on the narrow staircase various strange figures were climbing upwards and some diving downwards, looking chaotic and disorderly, and some people were still falling down the stairs in the collision.

Janet has experimented with many artistic genres, but her favorite is this grotesque and eerie surrealist style, which is probably also the reason for her personality.

Simon stood quietly behind the woman without disturbing, and Janet did not greet him, so quietly after more than ten minutes, the woman stopped her paintbrush, turned around and asked Simon, "How is it?"

Simon stepped forward and put his arm around the woman's waist, looked at the painting in front of him, and said: "There is a deep-seated ambivalence in human beings, people in hell look forward to heaven, and people in heaven think that hell may be good, so most people waste their time on the road, and do not hesitate to break their bones. ”

Janet smiled, pecked Simon on the face, then took off his arms and said, "You help me clean up, I'll go and change my clothes." ”

Because of her rich net worth, Janet has always been the kind of character who firmly enjoys life, and originally had the idea of selling some paintings to earn living expenses, but after being with Simon, she gradually lost this kind of thought, just as an interest. The woman is now mainly responsible for the Simon Janet Westeros Foundation established by the two and acts as Simon's housekeeper for various purchases.

In the evening, I will attend the media preview of "Instinct".

There is still a month before the release of the film, and it is usually a bit early to hold a preview screening at this time. However, the promotional strategy that Daenerys Pictures and Fox ultimately discussed was to use the strongly controversial nature of "Instinct" to stir up public attention and interest in the film.

In the original time and space, "Instinct" first appeared at the Cannes Film Festival and sparked strong controversy. But this time, the film was not completed before Cannes, and everyone could only take this kind of advance test screening, Fox specially invited a large number of well-known film critics from the east and west coasts of the United States to Los Angeles to participate in this test screening, and the effect is expected to be no worse than the Cannes premiere.

The preview screening began at seven o'clock.

Since Daenerys Pictures owns half of "Instinct", Simon attaches more importance to this film than "Vulgar", which is currently being screened.

With no intention of changing clothes, Simon helped Janet pack up her painting tools and left the studio.

Janet quickly changed into a close-fitting pale pink dress, with a string of pearl necklaces between her fair neck, white high heels on her feet, and a kun bag in her hand. Coming out of the cloakroom, the woman handed Simon a folder and said, "The detective company's investigation report on Sophia Fesse was just delivered in the afternoon. Very interesting for a woman that you can look at on the road. ”