Director in Hollywood

Returning home that evening, Gilbert handed Noriko Sakai over to Martha, the housekeeper.

The Japanese woman was initially speechless with amazement as she took in the luxurious Melon Estate. But soon, her courage grew, and she began wandering around the estate to explore.

"Excuse me, this is the study. You're not allowed inside."

At the door of a study on the fourth floor, a tall and muscular woman who resembled a servant blocked Noriko Sakai.

"Is this Mr. Landrini's study?" Noriko asked curiously.

"Yes..." The servant was curt, her demeanor suggesting she valued silence.

"Can I just take a look? I promise not to touch anything," Noriko pleaded, her curiosity piqued.

But the servant refused. "Sorry, you're not allowed in, and even if you tried, the door is locked."

Knowing she was a guest of Gilbert, the servant spoke politely.

In truth, she wasn't a full-time maid. Leveraging his good relations with the Pentagon, Gilbert had recruited a dozen retired female soldiers to handle the estate's security.

With adequate compensation, these women proved loyal and efficient, resolving their employment concerns—an arrangement that was perfect.

Noriko Sakai, however, did not see herself as a mere guest. From the moment she was brought to America and presented to Gilbert, she understood that she now belonged to him.

"Who usually goes in there? Someone must clean it occasionally, right?" Noriko pressed.

"Only the boss and the three ladies are allowed inside," the woman replied.

The "three ladies" referred to Gilbert's rumored girlfriends.

Noriko Sakai pouted and muttered to herself in Japanese, "One day, I'll get in there too…"

Before going to bed that night, Noriko called her friend Shizuka Kudo back in Japan to recount her recent surreal experiences.

"So, have you slept with Landrini yet?" Shizuka asked bluntly.

Noriko replied honestly, "Not yet. He just hugged me all night like a pillow."

It was already late at night in Los Angeles, but in Japan, it was still daytime. Shizuka, taking a rare break from work, was free to chat with her friend.

She laughed. "Maybe he's not interested in you and was just being polite."

"Who knows?" Noriko pouted. "If it were just courtesy, he didn't have to humor Mr. Onogi. But he still accepted me."

"You're so lucky, getting noticed by a big shot from America," Shizuka said enviously.

Noriko then shifted gears. "I think you'd have a chance too. You're even more beautiful than me; I'm sure he'd like you."

"What's this? Are you trying to set me up with him?" Shizuka laughed. "Aren't you afraid I might steal him from you?"

"Relax!" Noriko said confidently. "He's too much for one person to handle. Besides, even without me, you'd still have to contend with three top Hollywood actresses.

They're the cream of the crop in Hollywood beauty standards. Honestly, your chances don't look great."

Noriko's father was a member of Japan's Yakuza underworld, the Yamaguchi-gumi. Influenced by him, Noriko had developed a bold, rebellious personality.

Starting her career at a young age and experiencing the highs and lows of the entertainment industry after her father's death, she had grown less traditional.

In contrast, Shizuka Kudo was the quintessential "good girl," with a more traditional outlook on life. She had told Noriko that her greatest wish was to find a good man, settle down, and focus on family life.

Noriko had scoffed at the idea, declaring that the entertainment industry was no place to find a decent man.

Despite their differing personalities, lifestyles, and life goals, the two remained close friends.

However, Noriko kept one thought to herself: she was considering introducing some Japanese beauties to Gilbert as a way to strengthen her standing with him.

Many in Japan's entertainment industry served as intermediaries for the elite, and Noriko herself had been drawn into such arrangements, losing her innocence to an aging tycoon.

Noriko thought that if she could play the same role, perhaps introducing Shizuka to Gilbert, everyone would benefit.

Shizuka would be grateful for avoiding older men, and Gilbert—undoubtedly a handsome and desirable man even by Japanese standards—would surely be pleased.

Gilbert, unaware of Noriko's scheming, had just finished an intense night with Cameron Diaz, appeasing the jealous actress.

Lying in Gilbert's arms, Cameron mentioned, "I recently enrolled in an MBA course. I'm planning to go back to school."

Gilbert, playfully pinching her soft skin into various shapes, asked, "Does that mean you're quitting acting?"

Cameron, squirming under his teasing hands, swatted them away. "Initially, I thought acting was my dream. But now that I've made it, it doesn't seem all that fulfilling.

I've decided to retire once the time is right and pursue a career as a corporate professional."

"That sounds great, Michelle," Gilbert said supportively. "If that's what you want, I'm all for it. You could even help manage my company someday."

"You're not letting me go that easily, are you?" Cameron teased.

"Letting you go?" Gilbert flipped her over, pinning her beneath him. "You're not escaping me."

"Bring it on! I'm not scared," Cameron challenged, licking her lips provocatively.

"All right, prepare for a lesson…"

What followed was another passionate marathon that left the bed creaking ominously, as if it might fall apart.

After a couple of days' rest, Gilbert resumed promotional work, embarking on a North American tour with his film crew.

Cameron Diaz returned to work, collaborating with Julia Roberts on a new film project.

During this time, Noriko stayed by Gilbert's side but noticed something strange—he seemed content treating her as a pillow, making no further advances.

This led Noriko to doubt her appeal. Was she too short? Despite claiming to be 5'1", she might barely be 4'11".

Perhaps Gilbert didn't favor her petite, cute type. She instantly thought of Norika Fujiwara, a statuesque beauty, who would likely appeal to Gilbert's tastes.

Determined to solidify her position, Noriko resolved to seek out Norika upon her return to Japan and introduce her to Gilbert.

Meanwhile, Saving Private Ryan continued its impressive box office run, with theaters organizing special screenings for World War II veterans.

Many veterans were moved to tears, praising the film's visceral depiction of the Normandy landings.

The Hollywood Reporter lauded the film, stating, "Saving Private Ryan redefines war movies, setting a new benchmark for the genre. Future war films will undoubtedly be compared to this masterpiece."

After three weeks in theaters, the film's North American box office crossed $130 million.

However, it failed to retain the top spot, losing to Warner Bros. and Universal's disaster film Twister, a high-budget production starring Naomi Watts.

Debuting with $41.26 million in its opening weekend, Twister claimed the week's top spot.

Despite this, Saving Private Ryan maintained its momentum overseas, grossing $246 million globally by its third week.

The film's strong performance left its investors highly satisfied, further cementing Gilbert's reputation as a summer blockbuster expert.

With box office success secured, the film's next target was the Oscars.

Gilbert's public relations expert, Marco Valdez, sought a private conversation to understand his priorities.

"We should aim for Best Picture and Best Director nominations, Marco," Gilbert said.

Marco expressed concern. "The problem is that Miramax is pushing The English Patient, a film that aligns perfectly with the Academy's preferences.

Harvey Weinstein's PR skills far exceed mine. I'm worried we won't win."

Gilbert reassured him, "That's okay. A nomination is enough. Building goodwill for next time is what really matters."

Marco nodded, understanding the strategy.

Gilbert knew his first Oscar nomination wouldn't likely yield a win, but it could earn him sympathy among Academy members, paving the way for future victories.

While the Oscars are a regional award, Hollywood's global reach has elevated them to the pinnacle of cinematic recognition.

Winning an Oscar would affirm Gilbert's position, though not winning wouldn't significantly diminish his influence.

After all, George Lucas never won Best Director but still revolutionized Hollywood and earned a lasting legacy.

The Academy might one day have to honor Lucas with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

On the Miramax front, The English Patient had wrapped production, but the studio wisely chose not to release it during the summer, a death sentence for indie films.

True to Harvey Weinstein's style, the film would likely begin limited screenings before the Oscars and expand only after winning awards.

Though many studied the Weinsteins' Oscar strategies, few could replicate their success.

Years later, after Harvey Weinstein's downfall, his Oscar tactics remained elusive to imitators.

Securing an Oscar is about more than money; it's about knowing where and how to spend it effectively.

With the Oscars still months away, Gilbert's team began early preparations.

Tom Hanks, aiming for another Oscar win, hired his own PR team to bolster his chances. Winning Best Actor often required personal effort from the actor, beyond the studio's influence.

While Tom Hanks focused on the Oscars, another Tom—Tom Cruise—prepared for his new film's release in the fourth week of summer.

At the film's premiere, Cruise invited Gilbert, who attended alone since his girlfriends were busy and Noriko had returned to Japan.

Yet, Gilbert wasn't lonely; Emmanuelle Béart, one of the film's stars, flew in from France to join the festivities.

After walking the red carpet and giving brief interviews, Gilbert expressed his excitement for the film.

"I believe Tom has the potential to become an iconic action star. He shared many of his ideas for the film's stunts with me.

Every stunt in the film was performed by him, which is truly impressive."

Gilbert wasn't exaggerating. Cruise, embracing the "do-it-yourself" philosophy early in his career, performed all the stunts in the film himself.

In one conversation, Gilbert asked Cruise where his ideas for the stunts originated.

Cruise explained, "First, I consulted a safety advisor. I told them my ideas and asked if they were feasible."

"And what did they say?" Gilbert inquired.

"They said no, insisting on using stunt doubles and avoiding dangerous sequences."

"So, what did you do?" Gilbert pressed.

"I hired a new safety advisor until I found one who approved," Cruise replied nonchalantly.

Gilbert was momentarily speechless and could only nod in silence.

...

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