It was almost noon when the black Mercedes-Benz sedan drove along the widened mountain road into the film studio plot purchased by Daenerys Entertainment.
Although it was Saturday, people were still busy in the mountain valley, which had become a construction site, and the surroundings were no longer overgrown with bushes as they initially were.
Nancy Brill stopped the car at the edge of the construction site and got out, and Amy Pascal came over to greet her.
Nancy surveyed the terrain, which was surrounded by ridges on both sides and bordered a cliff on one, and said to Amy as she approached, "Judging from the selection of this plot, our young boss must be a guy who lacks a sense of security deep down".
Amy asked with a smile, "Why do you say that?"
Nancy raised her hand and gestured around, then made a hugging motion, saying, "It's so obvious, a defensive terrain choice full of reclusive tendencies. So, it's no wonder he likes women older than himself".
Amy was a bit helpless with Nancy's bluntness and reminded her, "We're having lunch with Janette later, so don't say anything out of line".
"Of course not, and besides, an Oedipus complex isn't something to be ashamed of; many people have that mindset. Given our young boss's upbringing, it's even more normal for him to develop such a mentality".
Amy, however, became even more helpless.
After yesterday's incident, the rift between her and Nancy had significantly reduced, and they could now discuss topics beyond work: "If you keep saying things like that, I'll secretly report you to Simon and have you kicked out of the company".
Nancy sensed Amy's protectiveness of Simon and cleverly ended the previous topic, asking, "Has he responded about yesterday's matter?"
"Simon agreed, but he asked you to first draft a more detailed proposal, and he also warned you to communicate well with Blockbuster to avoid a repeat of what happened at yesterday's board meeting," Amy said, checking her watch.
"It's almost time, let's go to Point Dume".
Nancy hadn't expected Simon to agree so easily and was a bit pleased, saying, "I'll ride in your car, and we can talk on the way".
With that, Nancy returned to her black Mercedes, took out her shoulder bag and a thick folder from the car, and got into Amy's passenger seat.
Since this was a Daenerys Entertainment construction site, she wasn't worried about leaving her car there; she could just drive it away on her way back.
Due to the 18-hour time difference, it was already Sunday morning in Australia, while it was still Saturday noon here.
Amy waited for Nancy to settle in, and just as she was about to start the car, her cell phone rang.
She gestured to Nancy, and the two naturally swapped places, with Nancy driving and Amy sitting in the passenger seat to answer the phone.
Nancy started the car and drove onto the U-shaped mountain road.
After turning onto the coastal highway, she waited for Amy to finish her call before asking, "The Meg Ryan thing?"
Amy nodded, her brows slightly furrowed in thought about the recent development.
Even though Daenerys Entertainment had a contractual option that bound Meg Ryan, the company couldn't simply prevent her from taking on other film roles after their fallout with CAA.
While doing so wouldn't violate their agreement, it would put Daenerys Entertainment in a very passive position regarding public opinion within the industry.
Shelving actors was a relic of the old studio system.
If Daenerys Entertainment were to take such measures against a top-tier actress now, it would surely arouse apprehension and dissatisfaction among other Hollywood stars.
So, Amy adopted a strategy of attrition, continuously using various projects that were never intended to sign Meg Ryan, thereby wasting her time.
The two sides discussed 'Pretty Woman' for a month last month.
CAA, perhaps having gotten wind of some inside information, proactively requested a script change.
Then, this month, the topic between them became 'Ghost'.
With more than half a month gone, CAA likely fully understood Daenerys Entertainment's intentions.
Meg Ryan's agent, Josh Lieberman, had just called, stating that if the two parties couldn't finalize Meg Ryan's next film contract within a week, he hoped Daenerys Entertainment would allow his client to take on other films.
Otherwise, CAA would sue Kirstie Alley to prevent her from starring in 'Look Who's Talking', a collaboration between Daenerys and Warner.
Kirstie Alley was the actress who had replaced Meg Ryan as the female lead in 'Look Who's Talking' some time ago, and she was also the original female lead in the film.
Moreover, Kirstie Alley was originally a CAA client, and WMA had poached her from CAA before she took on 'Look Who's Talking'.
Because her contract with CAA still had a year left, during the transfer, Kirstie Alley and CAA reached an agreement that the commissions from any film contracts she obtained within that year would still go to CAA.
This was a common strategy many stars used when changing agencies, and Hollywood agencies generally accepted this prevalent breakup arrangement.
However, if one were to be serious about it, things would certainly not be so simple.
Seeing Amy nod, Nancy thought for a moment and said, "I recently saw in The Hollywood Reporter that Paramount has signed Tom Cruise for the male lead role in 'The Rocketeer' and the article also said that Paramount is interested in having Meg Ryan play the female lead. Amy, if I'm not mistaken, those two scripts, 'The Rocketeer' and 'Fire Birds' were deliberately leaked by Simon, weren't they?"
Amy looked at Nancy with a surprised expression, then nodded.
Nancy didn't press for the inside story, merely suggested, "In that case, just let Meg Ryan leave. Make her pay a large sum of money, and then have her star in a bad film that might not succeed. This is much better than forcibly dragging her along. There are too many people in Hollywood who want to cause us trouble right now; there's no need to proactively offer them such an easy target for attack".
Amy caressed the cell phone still in her hand, then nodded after a moment, saying, "I'll discuss it with Simon".
"If it were me, I wouldn't even discuss such a small matter with him".
Amy smiled, "You're really eyeing my position, aren't you?"
"Of course, I even covet our boss's position. It's just a pity I don't have his peculiar talent. Amy, I even suspect that the original Simon Westeros is dead, and this one is actually a vampire, one who's lived for hundreds of years. Otherwise, how do you explain how he knows so much at only twenty years old?"
"Next time you see Simon, you can ask him if he's a vampire".
"I don't want to be silenced", Nancy said with a laugh, shrugging her shoulders.
She casually glanced at Amy beside her, noticing the cell phone in her hand, which was much more delicate than the old brick-like models, and immediately became interested.
She raised her chin and asked, "What brand of cell phone is that? I've always wanted to buy one, but they're too bulky".
Amy showed Nancy the black, palm-sized cell phone, which was already comparable to later mobile phones, and said, "Motorola's newly released MicroTAC. I only got it a few days ago".
Nancy looked at it a few times, deciding to buy one that afternoon.
Then she remembered something else and said with a smile, "I think this cell phone will definitely be very popular, Motorola. It seems someone will regret clearing out their Motorola stock last year. Also, recently, I don't think his reduction of Apple stock was very smart; Apple still has great growth potential".
Both were elite professional women, and although they weren't involved in the electronics field, they didn't lack business acumen.
Westeros Company's reduction of Motorola stock last year caused quite a stir, and this year, Motorola released a mobile communication product that might render all other bulky cell phones obsolete.
Subsequently, once Motorola's stock price soared, Westeros Company would inevitably be ridiculed.
"Simon definitely has his own considerations", Amy still sided with her boss.
As she spoke, she patted the folder on her lap that Nancy had handed her when they switched seats, and asked, "Is this your birthday gift for Simon?"
"It's in my bag, I picked out a pen", Nancy shook her head, then explained, "This is the planning proposal for 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,' and some setting samples made by the studio. I plan to have Janette take them to Melbourne for Simon to look at".
Amy opened the folder and looked through it.
Besides a thick stack of various documents, there were also a few computer floppy disks, which should be the game samples Nancy mentioned: "Simon is so busy right now, and you're still giving him so many things. You're practically exploiting your boss".
Nancy brazenly nodded in admission, saying, "Of course, no one said employees can't exploit their boss. What's more, he's a man, and men are meant to be exploited".
Amy paused, then pursed her lips and smiled, "I didn't realize you told dirty jokes".
"Dirty jokes?" Nancy turned her head to look at Amy with a puzzled expression, then understood and glared at her, saying, "I didn't realize you were so vulgar".
Amy's smile didn't fade: "Okay, I'm vulgar".
As the two chatted, they passed the Point Dume estate, which had also become private property and was being fenced off for construction.
They were surprised to see Janette and Kathryn walking out of the estate, so Nancy stopped the car.
After purchasing Point Dume Park, Simon's replicated 'Iron Man mansion' had recently begun construction.
Janette was going to Australia to celebrate Simon's birthday, and Kathryn didn't plan to go along.
So, Janette had roped her into being the supervisor for the Point Dume estate.
All four women knew each other, and after a few warm pleasantries, they went to a nearby restaurant for lunch.
Amy's intention for coming was actually the same as Nancy's, and she also had to help deliver birthday gifts from other company executives to Simon.
After lunch, Amy and Nancy left, and Janette began packing a large pile of luggage in her and Simon's villa on the west side of the Point Dume estate for her trip to Australia.
The next day, Janette boarded a private jet to Australia at eight in the morning.
After a 16-hour flight, when they arrived in Melbourne, it was already past six in the evening on Monday in Australia.
However, Janette didn't follow the driver from the Johnston family who came to pick her up back to the suburban mansion.
After arranging her luggage, she went directly to the 'Batman' set in the city centre.
Today's shoot was a scene between Batman and Catwoman, located in an alleyway in the Footscray district of western Melbourne.
By the time Janette arrived, the alley had been sealed off by the crew, and it was already getting dark.
When she saw Simon, he was directing three Catwomen.
That's right, three actresses dressed in standard Catwoman costumes.
Although Daenerys Entertainment had arranged sufficient physical training for Adam Baldwin and Valeria Golino in the early stages, many scenes in the film still required stunt doubles.
Because Catwoman's role demanded higher levels of physical combat and acrobatics, the character used stunt doubles more frequently.
In fact, during the filming process, there were a total of seven Catwoman stunt doubles.
Some were used to help Valeria Golino complete potentially dangerous shots, while others performed more complex professional acrobatic movements in her place.
Hollywood's action scenes at the time were generally still at the level of drunken street brawls.
To realize his vision, Simon spent no less effort on the stunt performers than on the actors themselves before filming began.
Catwoman had a gymnast background.
In the setting, two of Valeria Golino's stunt doubles were professional gymnasts who had participated in the Olympics.
Although they didn't win medals, their skills were not to be underestimated, and the acrobatic movements they could perform were far more spectacular than simply doing a few somersaults in some films.
Simon completely referenced the action style of the 'Captain America' series after 'Captain America: The Winter Soldier' in the original timeline, which had matured many years later, for the action sequences in this 'Batman' film.
To prevent the trained team from being poached, Daenerys Entertainment also signed long-term employment contracts with all the action actors involved in this production.
Janette approached Simon and, without hesitation, threw herself into his arms, starting to get affectionate.
After a moment of kissing, Simon gently pushed the woman in his arms away a little, and looked down to ask, "I was going to go to the mansion after work tonight; you didn't come straight from the airport, did you?"
Janette nodded: "Uh-huh".
"Then we're in trouble. Your mom and dad are definitely going to complain about me".
"I've already spoken to Mom and Dad in advance", Janette said, hugging Simon's waist and rubbing against him, finally letting him go.
"You can start working; don't mind me".
"Then be my temporary assistant", Simon said casually, then introduced Janette: "You must know Adam and Valeria.
This is Anna, and Michelle. They are both excellent gymnasts.
Oh, and this is Peter, my directing assistant. He's from New Zealand…"
Janette greeted everyone enthusiastically, quickly integrating into the crew's small circle.
As it grew completely dark, today's filming officially began.
The thrilling, seamless fight scenes on screen often ignite the audience's passion, but in actual filming, these complex close-quarters combat sequences frequently need to be broken down and shot one movement at a time.
Those incredibly cool Captain America scenes actually required detailed deconstruction.
Therefore, a scene that might only be a few seconds long on screen could take several hours to meticulously polish once broken down.
At two in the morning, the crew finished on time.
After arranging the wrap-up work, Simon asked Janette, who had been quietly by his side, whether she wanted to return to the Johnston family mansion or the Kendall Hotel where the crew was staying.
Janette chose neither, claiming she had an apartment in the city centre where they could have some alone time.
Then she had Neil Bennett drive them to a high-rise apartment in downtown Melbourne.