Made In Hollywood

In a mansion in Beverly Hills, Megan Ellison picked up the invitation letter specially delivered by someone from Warner Bros., sat on a brand-new rattan chair, opened it and looked at it, then curiously looked across.

"Are you going, David?" she asked her brother.

David Ellison reached out to take the invitation and said with a bit of pride, "Why wouldn't I go?"

"Don't you really dislike Duke Rosenberg?" Megan Ellison said.

"That's exactly why I must go." David Ellison said as if it was only natural, "I really want to see what Duke Rosenberg looks like after a box office flop. Will he be as disgusting as that Roger Ebert guy?"

Megan Ellison had just picked up her glass of water and almost spat it out when she heard that, but thinking of the rumors she had heard after entering USC's School of Cinematic Arts, she couldn't help but say, "So narrow-minded that he nearly died of anger disgusting, indeed."

Even though she had only just stepped into the film industry, she also looked down on those so-called professional film critics who tried to sell themselves at a high price while acting all pure and noble.

"I'm not just going to see Duke Rosenberg make a fool of himself." David Ellison's face rarely showed a trace of seriousness. "According to my estimates, the projects he's holding onto have great investment value. But as long as he keeps succeeding, I have no chance to step in. Only by breaking his so-called myth of success will Marvel, DC, and Warner possibly accept my investment."

His battle with Duke Rosenberg was not just about venting there were real interests hidden behind it.

"I think you should throw a party after the first weekend box office numbers for Batman: Begins come out, then invite Duke Rosenberg over…"

At this point, Megan Ellison asked, "What's their box office estimate for the opening weekend?"

"Warner's estimate is $45 million!" David Ellison's lips curled slightly. "Presales are at $25 million, but after the Anne Hathaway incident blew up, it's impossible to reach that target."

"You did a good job," Megan Ellison praised him for once.

David Ellison looked slightly proud. "The North American media are also commercial enterprises. Why would they go against money?"

As long as you're willing to throw money, quite a few media outlets have no bottom line when it comes to slinging mud.

Though he inherited his arrogance from Larry Ellison, David Ellison was very aware of what his greatest capital was in the relatively unfamiliar world of film and media.

"Exactly," Megan Ellison agreed. "Any problem money can solve isn't really a problem."

David Ellison nodded. "The spending now is all for future returns."

The siblings chatted a bit more, and Megan Ellison asked, "I remember premiere guests can bring a date. Let me go with you."

"You want to go?" David Ellison was a bit surprised.

Megan Ellison put down her coffee cup and said, "I also want to develop in the film industry. Don't forget, I've already enrolled in USC's School of Cinematic Arts. Once I reach the age where I can access my trust fund, I'll also invest in Hollywood."

After hesitating a bit, David Ellison slowly nodded. "Then let's go together."

With only one day left until the premiere, entertainment journalists from all over the U.S. and reporters from the entertainment sections of major media outlets flocked to Chicago for the Batman: Begins premiere. Guests invited to the event also began to arrive.

Among them were many of Duke's old friends, such as Irene Lauder.

"What's this?"

After welcoming her into the hotel suite's living room, Duke couldn't help but feel curious when he saw the gift box she handed over. "When did you get so polite with me?"

The two of them, like most close friends, occasionally exchanged gifts, but what Irene Lauder had given him before was mostly items from her namesake men's product line. This gift box was unusually exquisite, and its contents were surely valuable.

Especially since Duke found the gift box very familiar.

Irene Lauder stuffed the gift box into Duke's hands and sat down on a single sofa. Only then did she explain, "I came from Los Angeles, and before I left I met with Ivanka Trump. She asked me to pass this on to you."

Hearing Irene's words, Duke more or less guessed what it was. Sitting across from her, he opened the gift box. Just as he thought, inside was a Patek Philippe haute couture watch, and from every angle, he could see Ivanka's facial silhouette on the dial.

This was the gift Duke had given Ivanka for her 21st birthday.

Now that it was back in his hands, the message was very clear. Duke shook his head lightly and wasn't surprised. He closed the gift box and handed it directly to Tina Fey, who was nearby.

"Find an auction house and sell it," Duke said straightforwardly. "Donate the money to hungry children in Africa."

Tina Fey took the gift box, opened it and glanced inside, wanting to say something but ultimately said nothing.

Though she had a good relationship with Ivanka Trump, her principles of conduct were entirely based on Duke's standpoint.

Seeing Tina Fey put away the gift box, Duke unexpectedly felt a sense of relief. Some of the problems that had plagued him over the past year or so also seemed to dissipate with it.

This was a modern society—breakups between men and women had long been a normal part of the social landscape.

"You're single again."

Hearing Irene Lauder's words, Duke replied the same way, "Don't talk about me, you're single too."

"I'm single because I'm busy with work." Irene Lauder shrugged and said, "My career just passed its most critical early stage. These past years I've been practically a flying machine where's the time for romance?"

Duke spread his hands. "I'm busy too."

Irene Lauder looked at him, adjusted to a more comfortable sitting position, and said, "For people like us, the cost of falling in love is too high."

After thinking for a moment, Duke nodded in agreement. "That's true."

Whether it was Duke's profession as a director or Irene Lauder's status as a businesswoman, time equaled career, time equaled money.

"I've looked over your schedule your future is packed with work." Irene Lauder continued, "Luckily, I've already passed my busiest stage. I don't have to fly around so frequently these next few years."

"Can't be helped," Duke said helplessly, "Even with a mature team, ample funds, and sufficient manpower, making a film still takes a year. For me, there's never enough time."

He wanted to be like the rumors directing two to three films a year, finishing editing in ten days or even a week. But was that even possible? Could something produced under those conditions still be called a movie?

Under such circumstances, the films he directed would only become unwatchable garbage.

If not for his past experience, even the current pace of one film per year would be impossible to maintain.

Hollywood films especially large-scale productions follow their own inherent rules, and making a film involves a lot of work that can't be done by a director alone.

After chatting for a while, Irene Lauder stood to leave. When Duke walked her to the door, he casually asked, "Want to walk the red carpet with me tomorrow?"

"No interest." Irene Lauder shook her head directly. "I don't want to be involved in a scandal with you."

"Good night. Get some rest."

She waved to Duke and walked out. Duke closed the door, returned to his room, and was about to shower and sleep when his phone suddenly rang. When he answered, it was Scarlett Johansson.

"Hi, Duke," she said amid background noise. "I just got off the plane."

Had he invited her?

Thinking for a moment, Duke opened the door and walked toward the study where Tina Fey was. As he walked, he said, "Wait a moment. I'll have someone pick you up."

Entering the study, Duke handed the phone to Tina Fey and conveniently passed the troublesome girl off to her to handle.

Not only the invited guests, but many fans had also rushed to Chicago. Because Batman: Begins adopted a relatively conservative release strategy, there were no advance screenings. Although quite a few unexpected events had occurred beforehand, for Duke and Batman fans, seeing the film as early as possible was still a blessing.

As a die-hard Duke-style fan, Norman Shiller didn't give a damn about Anne Hathaway. To him, she was just a minor actress. Even if she messed around and got AIDS, what did that matter to people who loved Duke's movies?

He had missed the test screening for various reasons, and this time he flew from Los Angeles to Chicago simply because Batman:Begins was a film by Duke Rosenberg!

In contrast, Brad Miller was not previously a fan of Duke's, not even a film lover. But the Lord of the Rings trilogy changed everything. Since then, he had become deeply interested in every film Duke directed, even pushing aside work just to fly to Chicago for an early viewing of this film.

He always believed that Duke would never disappoint his fans just like during the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Marshal was a typical Batman fan. He had already watched the test screening, but even so, he still traveled a great distance to come to Chicago. Because he believed Batman: Begins was the best Batman movie ever made—a masterpiece worth coming to Chicago for.

As a Batman fan, if even such an incredible Batman film isn't worth supporting, then what kind of film is?

A large number of Chicago fans were also stirred up. This was the first time Duke held a premiere in Illinois. When the noonday sun just passed overhead, many fans began gathering at the Chicago Classic Theater. The premiere of the film was about to begin.

The cheers and shouts of the fans, the click of camera shutters from the press—before the premiere even started, the sounds had already drifted through the skyscrapers of the city, reaching every corner of Chicago.

On this day, the protagonist of the city of Chicago was no longer the Chicago Bears, but a gigantic human-shhuman-shap