Hollywood has countless parties every day, especially on weekends.

Some time ago, the box office success of "Lola Run" became more and more successful, in addition to Orion's official celebration banquet, Janet also proposed that Simon hold a party or two in the Palisades mansion to thank everyone, and Simon agreed.

It's just that it hasn't had time to implement yet, so there will be no more for the time being.

The purpose of the Robert Redford Family tonight's party was to celebrate the official launch of several Sundance Institute-funded solo films.

The black Chevrolet SUV pulled up outside a mansion halfway up Beverly Hills, and Simon told Neil Bennett, who was the driver, to pick him up at ten o'clock and pushed the door to get out of the car.

It's twilight.

Simon entered Redford's mansion, and the courtyard was already crowded with people, men and women in groups of three or five chatting with each other. Robert De Niro hadn't arrived yet, so Simon was naturally not in a hurry, and quickly blended into the crowd under Robert Redford's introduction.

"This is a film that explores the gap between ideals and reality, called "The State of Dreams". Dani has been a nerd since he was a child, always eager to prove himself, and when he grows up, he decides to wander the world, which is the most daring decision he has made because of his cowardly nature. During Dany's wanderings, he meets Beve, an unrestrained and daring girl who seems to see his other half, so one day he suddenly proposes to her......

In the courtyard, Simon listens intently as a director named Michael Hoffman, the first feature film funded by the Sundance Institute, tells his upcoming story.

After Michael Hoffman finished speaking, Simon turned to another woman who was listening around him, with a smile on the corner of his mouth, and said, "Meg, do you want to try the role of Beve?"

The woman is none other than Meg Ryan.

Simon didn't expect that the two would meet again in the evening.

Meg Ryan was wearing a black slip dress, perhaps because of heavy makeup, or because of the night, and she didn't look as haggard as she did in the afternoon.

As soon as she saw Simon appear, Meg Ryan had the expression of seeing a ghost, and at this time she tried to calm herself down, and replied casually, "Yes, Wei ...... Simon, what do you think?"

As she said this, the woman raised her chin slightly in protest.

The men and women standing together did not expect Simon to know Meg Ryan, and listening to the conversation between the two, they all showed curious expressions, waiting for Simon's answer.

"Bev is supposed to be the kind of flamboyant and unscrupulous character, and according to your acting style, this character can get silly," Simon just shrugged, looked the other man up and down, and added to the surprised gazes of several people around him, "So, go to my side tomorrow." ”

Abominable man.

Looking at the changing expressions of several people around her, Meg Ryan thought hatefully and a little frustrated, this guy said this in front of the director, it is basically impossible for him to fight for this role.

Mustering up her courage, Meg Ryan was about to say a few words to each other when Robert Redford came over and said to Simon, "Bob is here, Simon, let's go." ”

Simon nodded to the crowd and followed Robert to a living room in the mansion.

As one of the four talented actors in Hollywood in the 70s, Robert De Niro is already middle-aged, and his peak has long passed.

However, although it is difficult for Hollywood to eat for a lifetime with one or two works, Robert De Niro's four-time nomination and two-time Oscar honor is too big, and he is still Hollywood's hottest top superstar over the years.

Like many of the other party's screen images, Robert De Niro is also a very quiet and even shy person in private, who is not good at words and greetings.

After a few brief introductions, the three of them sat down on the sofa in the living room, and Robert De Niro asked directly about "Vulgar": "Simon, I have read the script several times, but I am still very confused, I don't know what you want to express?"

Since he helped with the introduction, Robert Redford naturally read the script, and when he heard De Niro's question, he also looked over curiously, obviously with the same confusion.

Even after "Vulgar" is completed, many people still don't know what is good about it, and Simon is not surprised by the expressions of the two.

After a moment's consideration, Simon replied: "Bob, I didn't want to express anything through this film, it's just a story, as the name suggests, 'vulgar', an absurd, bizarre, uncertain postmodernist black comedy. ”

Robert De Niro heard Simon say this and wondered, "Postmodernism?"

Simon explains: "You can understand it as an anti-traditional, anti-authority, anti-continuity, anti-values artistic expression. ”

Robert De Niro nodded as if he didn't understand, and said, "Simon, maybe you already know your movie, but to be honest, it's hard for me to understand. I even found the script to be very clumsy, the completely confused plot, the sudden appearance of characters, and the large number of undisputed dialogues, all of which seemed inexplicable. You want me to play Butch Coolidge, right? After reading your script, I don't even know how to construct this character, because I don't feel any point in this person's existence, as if he is there, but at the same time, he seems dispensable. ”

"Bob, you already understand the story, and it's very profound," Simon smiled, repeating what De Niro had just said, "He's there, but it's dispensable." ”

Robert De Niro shook his head: "Simon, I don't quite understand. ”

"Actually, life doesn't have any meaning in the first place, Bob. Just like us, we are talking about a film, and if a cooperation is reached, the next thing will be signed, and then filming will start, and it will be released, and we will wait for the reaction of the audience. That's how we live. In the same way, other people have other people's lives, and they are all doing their own thing. But in fact, for this world, or the entire universe, we are also dispensable. We're just here, living our lives, and doing our things. ”

Robert De Niro's expression finally had a little more realization.

Robert Redford also showed a faint appreciation on his face, and said with a smile: "Simon, I didn't expect you to be a philosopher." ”

Simon just smiled and continued, "So, Bob, with Vulgarity, what I'm trying to build is a world where Butch, Vinson, Jules, Mia, Marsha, Jimmy, Wolf, and even the female taxi driver you might find abrupt, they're all just seriously living their lives, which don't make sense, but they're there. You think the plot is too messy, there is too much dialogue, and the characters are too abrupt, but that's not the case. If you look at it as a real world, you get the impression that all people exist very legitimately. In the future, I will add more and richer details to improve the world and make it more believable. ”

Robert De Niro subconsciously nodded along with Simon's explanation, but finally asked, "What about the audience, Simon, do you think the audience would be interested in such a story?"

"That's the other side of it, Bob. Will the audience be interested? I don't know. All I need is for them to go into the cinema and watch two impromptu robbers discuss robbery in a restaurant, the female robber who spoils her boyfriend like a little girl and suddenly becomes a crazy she-rabbit, and sees Vinson and Jules discussing hamburgers on the road like normal office workers, and then waiting politely for a moment when they arrive at their destination before breaking into someone's house and reading the Bible , pull out a gun and kill people, watch Butch silently accept the training of the gang boss Masha like a wrecked boxer, and then suddenly kill his opponent in the ring and take his girlfriend to death, look at the arrogant and lonely Mia, look at Lance who dresses up like Jesus but sells drugs, and watch Jimmy who is more worried about his wife than the police in the face of murder. When they've seen all this absurd, bizarre, and crazy and broken people, if they start to think about whether Butch and his little girlfriend will get away with it? Will Jules or Mia get revenge on Vincent? Will some female taxi driver with a soft accent go berserk like a bunny? Will Simon Westeros make a sequel? Then, when the time comes, I'll open my arms in my heart and say to them out loud: "Friends, welcome to the postmodern world of Vulgarity." ”

After Simon's words, which were as infectious as a speech, Robert De Niro had a somewhat heartfelt expression. Even Robert Redford couldn't help but say: "Simon, hearing you say this, if I can't play a cameo role in such a movie, I will definitely regret it in the future." ”

Simon had previously given the script to Robert Redford, and he had this idea in mind.

However, although his achievements in awards cannot be compared with De Niro, in recent years, Robert Redford's films have far surpassed the box office performance of the other party.

For example, "Out of Africa" two years ago ranked fifth in the annual box office list in North America that year. In contrast, from the beginning of Robert De Niro's entry into the 80s to the present, although the films he participated in were basically big productions, none of them had a work that grossed more than $20 million in North America.

In Hollywood, box office results mean coffee spots.

Robert Redford's current salary is obviously higher than Robert De Niro's.

Such a star joining "Vulgar" is definitely a thing that cannot be desired. Simon hasn't been arrogant enough to make audiences flock to it by fully enabling a bunch of newcomers.

But on the other hand, Simon only has a budget of $8 million, and Robert Redford can only reduce his salary if he participates, or even give a cabbage price. Friendship is friendship, Simon knows that if he takes the initiative, it will be too abrupt, and this matter can only be said by Robert Redford himself.

Now, hearing Robert Redford say this, Simon nodded without hesitation and said, "Bob, if you can participate, I am naturally welcome." But I have to confess that Orion didn't give me much of a budget. ”

Robert Redford didn't know about Simon's contract with Orion, so he just said lightly: "It's just a cameo, Simon, don't mention the salary, which role do you think I'm more suitable for?"

Simon didn't hesitate anymore and smiled, "Of course it's Mr. Wolf." It's funny that the former 'Haw Par Tyrant' lives in seclusion in Los Angeles and becomes a legend by all the low-level thugs, isn't it?"

"Haw Par Overlord" is Robert Redford's famous film that year, and the Sundance Film Festival takes its name from this film.

"Then Mr. Wolff," Robert Redford nodded dryly, looked at Robert De Niro again, and got up, "I'm going out for a guest, Bob, Simon, you two can talk about it." ”

Robert Redford saw that Robert De Niro was already excited, and he would definitely talk about the issue of salary next, so he took the initiative to avoid it.

Among the four talented actors in Hollywood in the 70s, Robert De Niro is definitely the most maverick among them. Over the years, Robert De Niro has never had an agent, and the salary contract and the like are communicated with the producer by himself.