Paul Thomas Anderson stood in front of this café called "Love Letters", he couldn't help but feel a little irritable, and the nervousness in his heart made him feel cramped and uneasy, and he felt his pockets for a while, cleared his throat for a while, scratched his head for a while, and finally turned around and walked to the red mailbox next to him, took a cigarette out of his pocket, lit one, and swallowed the clouds.

Paul thought he wouldn't be nervous, he had never been the kind of person who followed the rules, he was expelled from school in sixth grade for bad behavior, and two days after entering the film department of New York University, he chose to drop out of school, and after filming "Casino Ride" for an independent film company, the company fired him because of a conflict over the concept of editing, and refused to release his director's version......

Starting out as a television assistant and music video director on the set, Paul has been in the Hollywood industry for nearly five years, and he's seen many top stars - "Casino Ride" starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Samuel L. Jackson and other big stars, he's met many industry pundits - he made a short film with New York University's tuition refund, which was critically acclaimed at Sundance, and he has experienced many setbacks and trials - "Unruly Night" From the lack of interest in the preparation stage to the sudden hot and then to the temporary stranding...... Paul prides himself on being accustomed to Hollywood under the spotlight.

As it is, when today's meeting with Hugo Lancaster was finally confirmed, Paul didn't feel anything, he just wanted this nightmare to end soon - he wanted Hugo to give an answer, accept or reject, and then confirm the actor and immediately plunge into the filming of "Unruly Night". To be honest, he doesn't mind who will play it, as long as it is an actor above the level, he is confident that he can shoot this work well.

On the way to Long Beach just now, Paul complained constantly, thinking that Hugo was really too troublesome, and actually asked him to drive all the way to Long Beach just to meet. If it weren't for the insistence of New Line Film Company, he would have shouldered the burden a long time ago, and he would rather go to the office of the Screen Actors Guild and shout twice, maybe he would have good luck.

However, when he actually stood in front of the agreed café, Paul couldn't contain his inner irritability, which was really bad, and when he realized that his irritability was due to nervousness, it made him a little angry - he didn't even feel anything special about facing a master of cinema like Mike Nichols, and he firmly believed that only Stanley Kubrick could make him tremble.

"He's just an actor, an actor who has achieved some box office results and won two statuettes, and nothing else." Paul shrugged his shoulders and muttered to himself. In this way, Hugo really doesn't have anything, because he doesn't care about the box office, and he doesn't have any special fanaticism about the little golden man, "so he's no different from other actors, just an arrogant guy who started playing big names after some results." ”

Paul pursed his lips, thought about it carefully, and found that he had said it correctly, which made him nod contentedly, and took a hard puff of his cigarette, and his agitated mood finally calmed down by the nicotine, and when he was sure that he was ready to enter the café, Paul turned around and took a step.

However, Paul was startled when he took a step, and he took half a step back, and the cigarette in his hand was almost dropped on the ground. Looking at Hugo with an embarrassed smile on his face, Paul didn't know what to do - because Hugo's expression was obviously saying that Hugo had heard what he had just said. One was caught off guard, so that Paul was directly stunned.

Hugo did hear what Paul had just said, and he could have pretended not to hear it if he had to, but he felt that there was nothing wrong with being so honest. No one is perfect, and no one can be liked by all, at least Paul didn't curse him, and that's a good thing.

Paul in front of him looks too young, and the baby face, which was already very immature, is more like a young man who has not yet graduated from college because he has shaved his beard clean. Compared with the talented directors who were later sought after in the industry, there is still a bright and sharp vitality in his eyes, and his vigorous ambition and flamboyant personality are clearly visible, outlining his arrogance little by little.

Of course, Paul always did, even in the days that Hugo knew. However, after the precipitation of time, Paul's edge has become introverted, and the personality in his bones is no longer outward, nothing more.

"So, are we going to meet inside, or are we going to meet outside?" Hugo raised his eyebrows slightly, and asked politely. But Paul didn't seem to react, just frowned and looked questioning. Hugo quickly explained, "Sorry, I seem to be late, I'm Hugo Lancaster, the guy who plays the big name." "Playing big starts with being late.

Paul saw the apologetic smile on Hugo's face, and didn't know why he suddenly wanted to laugh, inexplicably, so Paul stretched out his right hand, "No, you're definitely not late, in fact, there are still ten minutes before our appointment." First time we met, nice to meet you, I'm Paul Thomas Anderson - the who says bad things about others behind his back. Person. ”

Hugo smiled, his eyes showed a sudden realization, nodded his chin, and then took Paul's right hand, "Nice to meet you." Here's the thing, I'd like to make a point of apologies to you, I've decided to take on another film, and I regret to turn down 'Unruly Night' - although I really like this work, especially the setting of the male lead. Hugo pursed his lips and nodded sincerely, but obviously there was something in his words, so that Paul, as a screenwriter, understood at once, and the smile on the corner of his mouth outlined, "But because of me, it delayed your filming time, and the meeting was postponed several times in a row, so I think, I owe you an explanation, and an apology." I didn't expect it, but because of my personal reasons, I asked you to drive to Long Beach, and it seems that my apology should be endless. ”

Paul was stunned, but then he laughed, and had to say that he liked Hugo like this, "Wait, so you say, you like my script, do you mean it really?" I mean, except for the talented part of the male lead. ”

"Of course. I've read it several times, but I don't think the personality of the male protagonist is delicate enough, you know, a lot of times it's a little detail that can make a character full, maybe just one or two shots. It's like when Eddie first appeared, I felt that his lines could be changed, and the way he relate to other people, set the stage for his arrogance, confidence, and transformation......"

Before Hugo could finish his words, Paul nodded, "Yes, yes," and then took over, "You mean, showing the vigor of Eddie's personality." ”

"I think we should be a little more detailed, the self-confidence that comes from excessive inferiority -- he has to use self-confidence to cover up his inferiority. I used to think that a man like Eddie, who could almost say that he had nothing to do, no education, no family, no skills, and even bad eloquence, but like all young people, he wanted to make a career and make other women want to be favored, so he had to show that confidence, but he ......"

"But it seems that the confidence is insufficient." Paul took Hugo's words again, and this time Hugo smiled and nodded, "Yes, that's what I meant." Therefore, the personality change when Eddie faces a dilemma in the later part will not only become more convincing, but also give the actors more room to play and make the plot of the movie fuller. Of course, this is just my personal opinion, from the standpoint of an actor, every actor wants to have room for himself, doesn't he? ”

"Of course......," Paul nodded, muttered for a moment, looked at Hugo carefully, and then smiled widely, and said again with certainty, "Of course! Paul couldn't help but tighten his right hand and shook it excitedly, only to realize that he was still holding Hugo's right hand, so he shook it vigorously twice, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Lancaster." ”

"Hugo, Mr. Lancaster is in Wyoming now." This made Paul laugh again, and then let go of Hugo's right hand. Paul noticed that he still had a cigarette in his left hand, and it was rumored that Hugo had never been very interested in cigarettes, so he quickly threw it into the sewer next to him, "Sorry, please forgive me for my rudeness." ”

"It's a public area, that's your right." Hugo said with a smile, then pointed to the coffee house next to him, "That's why I made an appointment to meet here." "There is a big "no smoking" sign hanging at the entrance of the café, which is very conspicuous. Paul couldn't help but laugh awkwardly.

Hugo looked left and right, and said politely again, "Well, I think my meaning has been reached, and you must be eager to get back to work, so I won't bother you." I hope that this faux pas will not affect our future cooperation opportunities. ”

Paul was somewhat flattered by Hugo's humility, but more often than not, Paul was completely surprised by the fact that the two of them had met for less than five minutes. Looking at the back of Hugo leaving, Paul stood there and thought about it, and couldn't help but chase after him again, "Hugo, hey, wait!" ”

Paul ran up to Hugo, his eyes looking into Hugo's eyes seriously, "I mean, I was expecting you to be the hero of my work...... At least that's what New Line Pictures expects - but now it seems obviously impossible, I wonder if you can solve the big problem of our crew? ”