System in Hollywood

However, in terms of overall strength, among the directors Wayne had chosen, she was still ranked first. So, Wayne didn't hesitate much before making his decision.

"Nancy Meyers it is!"

"I knew you would pick her," came Mike's slightly sleazy voice from the other end of the phone, leaving Wayne speechless.

"What the hell are you thinking?"

Though Nancy Meyers was undeniably a beauty in her younger years, with her looks and charm rivaling Naomi Watts, she's 51 now!

Not everyone can pull off what Marisa Tomei does, looking like she's still in her thirties even at 52.

"Heh," Mike chuckled again, then explained, "I just thought, with Nancy Meyers as the director and Tina Fey as the writer, that might be a selling point."

Wayne was speechless once more.

Sure, Tina Fey is a rare beauty for a screenwriter, prettier than 80% of Hollywood actresses, but who cares about how a screenwriter looks? Isn't Scarlett, Anne, and Megan beautiful enough?

"But I should remind you, Nancy Meyers doesn't come cheap these days. If she doesn't take a share of the box office, her fee is at least $6 million," Mike reminded Wayne in a serious tone, dropping the jokes.

Wayne shrugged, unconcerned. "Don't worry, as long as it's reasonable, money's not an issue."

After a few more reminders, Wayne hung up the phone. Finally, the main cast for both films was locked in.

About twenty minutes later, the car arrived at the set of *The Dark Side*, a 40-year-old but well-maintained vacation villa located in the suburbs.

There are many such vacation villas here in the U.S., and in Hollywood, these villas are often rented not only by middle-class families looking for a relaxing getaway but also by production crews for filming.

Yes, the kind of place you often see in horror movies.

Last time he chatted with James Wan, Wayne had learned that in the past decade, this villa had been rented by over 30 crews, with seven or eight of those films hitting the theaters. It's a "star" film location, you could say.

Without waiting for the driver to open the door, Wayne got out of the car. Beside him, Hannah got out as well, opening the trunk and taking out the still-steaming donuts and macarons she had prepared.

"Ah, darling, you're here!"

Martina, wearing a bathrobe and flipping through a script by the large floor-to-ceiling windows on the first floor, noticed Wayne right away. Her face lit up, and she quickly put down the script and ran over.

"Yeah, I came to see you," Wayne smiled, opening his arms and spinning her around when she rushed into his embrace. Ignoring the eyes of the people around them, he kissed Martina's glossy lips before holding her close and looking inside the villa.

They were in the middle of filming.

The male lead, Adrian, played by Matt Damon, had just returned home, exhausted. On the staircase, Fabiana, the female lead, had finished her bath and was wearing a seductive robe, exuding an alluring aura. Adrian smiled instantly and walked up to embrace her.

The scene then turned into a playful, flirtatious conversation about last night's storm and the sudden power outage in the villa, with some not-so-family-friendly physical gestures.

Of course, the real female lead was with Wayne. The one in Matt Damon's arms was just a body double from nearby San Fernando Valley, with a figure similar to Martina's.

And for only $800 a day—San Fernando Valley really is a good place.

Wayne didn't disturb the shoot. Only after James Wan called "Cut" a few minutes later did Wayne, still holding Martina, walk over.

"Good job, that's a wrap. Actors, take a ten-minute break. Camera crew, reposition. Set designers, change the set," James Wan gave instructions before turning to Wayne, clearly having noticed his arrival earlier.

"Hey, James. Looks like I didn't interrupt anything, right? I brought donuts and macarons," Wayne smiled as he hugged Wan.

"Not at all, you came at the perfect time. I could use some sweets to recharge and boost my dopamine levels," Wan returned the warm smile. After a brief exchange, they got down to business, discussing the progress of the shoot.

"I've been tied up with other things, so I haven't visited in a while. How's the shoot going?" Wayne asked.

"Everything's been going smoother than expected. Garcia is a talented and hardworking actor. Matt Damon's been giving 100%—he's probably looking to use this film as a comeback. As for Ms. Green and Ms. Hathaway, their performances have been spot on. Most scenes don't take more than three takes," Wan explained with a grin, complimenting nearly every actor Wayne had chosen, which made Wayne chuckle.

As for other aspects, Wan didn't bring them up, and Wayne didn't ask. After all, producer Serra was in charge, and with her decades of experience, there was nothing to worry about for an independent film like this.

"What about the progress?" Wayne asked, his main concern.

"Things are moving much faster than planned," Wan said confidently with a smile. "At this rate, we'll finish filming in just three days."

Wayne's eyes lit up at the news.

"Just three days? That means we'll wrap by the 13th. Even with post-production taking five days as scheduled, everything will be done by the 18th."

"That's fantastic! James, working with you was definitely the right call!" Wayne praised with a laugh.

James Wan grinned as well. Wayne not only paid well but also gave him full creative control. For a film with a budget of over $10 million, having final cut rights was a rare opportunity.

Plus, Wayne was the one who discovered him.

With those three factors combined, Wan was more than happy to work with Wayne.

Wayne didn't stay long. After receiving this great news, he quickly left the set and headed back to Wayne Manor.

(End of the Chapter)

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