hollywood system: art

The process of selecting movies is considerably strange. Often, roles are cast even before the script is finalized. Some writers draft their scripts with a specific actor in mind, or directors envision how an actor should perform. It's the way things endure—the relationships, the delayed shooting schedules, the extended production timelines. It's unpredictable every single time.

-I don't think it's a good idea for you to take part in that movie, - commented Jim Waiit knowingly. He continued, -It's not right for the Titanic role. You're risking too much—trading a lead role for a supporting one doesn't matter. You'll land better films later. The British press adores you; they'll use your name for some movie with a borderline pornographic plot. Sure, the script is good and ready, but nothing above the general rule. I promise we can secure better opportunities!-

-It doesn't matter, - replied Billy, grabbing a bit of seafood from the table. He was once again at another meeting, this time in the heart of Manhattan. At least he could use his hotel as a base of operations. Raimon had picked one of the best in Manhattan, valued at $44 million. The Paramount Hotel opened in 1926, features 597 rooms and offers a range of amenities, including the Paramount Café, conference rooms, a gym, and the Sony Hall—a basement venue historically used as a nightclub and theater. Currently, the entire hotel is undergoing renovations in line with designs approved by Paradise Hotel, Billy's hospitality company. The building incurs an annual property tax of $500,000, which climbs to $800,000 with additional costs. They've upgraded the restaurant with high-end chefs, and plan to install saunas, luxury suites, and VIP areas—all of the top-tier quality.

Net revenues from Hawaii alone range from $15 million to $25 million. However, Billy constantly reinvested in the company and maintained credit lines, given the inherent uncertainty of the hotel business—or so he believed.

-I heard this hotel is yours, - Jim said, shifting the conversation.

-I bought it a few days ago, - Billy replied, taking in the entirety of the hotel.

-As if it were as casual as discussing the weather, - Jim remarked, glancing around. -Don't you think you should align it with the schedules of some of the people here?-

-It's partially booked. Just a few days remain. This hall used to be a storage area we remodeled for more events. It's supposed to open next month. We've got some weddings, birthday celebrations, and hotel events lined up almost year-round. This space will host cocktail parties and be reserved for the Golden Globes, Oscars, BAFTAs, Nebula Awards, and Andy Awards, - Billy explained.

-The price per night? - Jim asked.

Billy laughed. -For you, it's $50,000 for the entire night until 3:30 a.m. That includes hors d'oeuvres, decorations, 40 bottles of wine, and 40 bottles of champagne. It's an economical price—for you.-

Jim shook his head at the exorbitant figure. But this was Manhattan, where everything was of the highest quality. Renting the hall cost Billy between $18,000 and $24,000, while the service fee hovered around $60,000. The venue included a kitchen, separate bathrooms, and furnishings.

-It's a fair price, after all. Many times, people break glasses, there's cleanup, overtime, staff wages—and, of course, for an additional $20,000, you can provide a meal for 60 people. Every 10 extra guests cost $1,500, - Billy noted.

-Making money has never been easier, - Jim sighed, convinced the price was utterly unaffordable.

Waiters poured drinks liberally as Billy greeted guests who came over to congratulate him. The hall was more crowded than he initially expected, with people coming and going. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted producer Arnon Michan, one of the most prolific figures in the business.

-Billy, I heard the hotel is yours, - Arnon said, shaking his hand. Rumors spread fast, like wildfire, in the tight-knit entertainment circle.

The atmosphere was pleasant, but Billy could only see the hotel's flaws—the curtains weren't perfectly hung, and a lightbulb in the back section was out.

-Well, it's not surprising, - Billy commented.

-What about filming movies here? - Arnon asked.

-We could do it, but everything would need to be organized months in advance—at least a few months. It's still being adapted. For now, we're keeping Mondays open for two months each year and reserving at least one Wednesday a month, - Billy replied.

-It's always business. Let's relax a little, - Arnon said, though he should have been on the set of Donnie Brasco by then.

…

Winona was somewhat drunk. Her intelligence faltered, overtaken by the excess of champagne, as she chatted with a handsome guy who had managed to sneak into the event. She laughed and nodded, laughed and nodded.

-Hard to believe we're just drinking champagne, - the guy said. -Have you seen…-

She nodded and smiled at him, too intoxicated to respond coherently. It was no surprise she ended up at a nightclub, dancing with Juliette, and woke up around six in the morning with a splitting headache. These situations left her feeling miserable. Yet again, her struggles with alcohol and long nights of partying were catching up to her. The following day, she needed to be in Los Angeles.

…

Rachel was immersed in her Anne Rice romance novel, filled with vampires and the supernatural. She enjoyed it. The flight to Korea was seven hours, enough time to finish the book. She sipped on a glass of juice and nibbled on whole-grain crackers.

The plane had just landed, and she had about 50 pages left in her novel. She had read faster than she expected—a shame, as she had another seven-hour journey ahead of her.

Akom Productions was one of the companies responsible for animated shows, ranging from Hercules to Timon and Pumbaa, along with some original series created by their animators.

-Miss, - Rachel's contact in Korea addressed her. He was someone who had assisted Raimon with the factories in Thailand that produced toys—at least those that met the minimum requirements of the Geneva Convention and child labor treaties. On paper, it was challenging to ensure compliance, as work was often outsourced under the radar.

-Let's hurry. I don't want to stay here longer than necessary. I hate sleeping in hotels, - Rachel said candidly.

She was there to review the company's financial results, performing these tasks for Jun-Seo, who spoke three languages fluently—Korean, English, and Japanese. His Japanese wasn't perfect, but he could handle some conversations and business matters.

-The rush, the rush—you Americans are always in such a hurry. You arrive today and want to leave today. Everything is express. It reminds me of a talkative person who taught me English, - Jun-Seo said, more accustomed to casual conversation and dialogue.

-Let's just get the work done, - Rachel sighed deeply as they walked to the car waiting for them.

...