Chapter 105: Accent Enthusiast

Nicole Kidman, along with a rather effeminate stylist, stood poised in the office. After Simon saw Amy out, he returned to size up the young actress before him.

Like the original Uma Thurman, Nicole was dressed in a long-tailored shirt and black casual pants, but their hairstyles were distinctly different.

Uma Thurman's hairstyle in the film was a bob cut with bangs, whereas Nicole now sported jet-black, shoulder-length tousled hair with long bangs that swept across her eyebrows, a style Simon had refined several times.

At just 20 years old, black hair gave Nicole a more mature appearance than blonde. Known for her distinctive eyebrow shape, which lent her an aggressive demeanor, this was not the vibe Mia should embody.

Now, under the sparse long bangs that partially concealed her features, Nicole's natural assertiveness was completely softened, transforming her into a different person—exotic, wild, and tantalizing.

Although a stark contrast to Uma Thurman's style, she still fit Simon's aesthetic.

No matter how much "Pulp Fiction" was analyzed by audiences for its underlying meanings, it fundamentally remained an exercise in technique and style.

On these minor, non-essential details, Simon preferred to follow his own preferences. After all, if a director feels no connection to the characters in his frames, it's hard to invest much emotion in the film.

"Tony, her hair is still a bit too long. I want it to flutter freely when she dances, so make sure it doesn't touch her shoulders," Simon inspected Nicole for a moment and instructed the stylist standing behind her. After getting an affirmative nod, he stepped back and told Nicole, "Take off your shoes; I want to see."

In just a few days, Nicole Kidman had gone from switching agencies to auditioning, signing a contract, and, almost unbelievably, becoming the leading lady of one of Hollywood's most anticipated new films.

Upon hearing the young director's request, Nicole didn't hesitate to slip off her high heels and stand barefoot on the cool floor.

Simon looked down, assessing, then nodded in approval, "Very nice."

Though he didn't share Quentin's pronounced foot fetish, Simon still found women with attractive feet very appealing.

Nicole felt a bit odd about the situation but responded politely to Simon's compliment, "Thank you, Mr. Westeros."

Just as Simon was about to speak again, his desk phone rang. He walked over, picked it up, and leaned against the desk, signaling Nicole with a gesture as he spoke to the person on the other end.

Nicole found herself understanding Simon's gestures all too easily. Seeing his matter-of-fact demeanor, she almost felt like making a grimace at him.

Of course, she only thought about it, instead unbuttoning her shirt as instructed.

Simon, while listening to his accountant Charles Peyton inform him that the funds from the sale of "Run Lola Run" distribution rights had been fully received, chatted amiably and glanced casually at Nicole as she unbuttoned her shirt.

Given the scene in "Pulp Fiction" where Mia is injected with adrenaline, the lead actress definitely needed to have a noticeable chest, but naturally, Nicole was more on the slender side.

Now, seeing Nicole's reasonably effective effort to enhance her appearance, Simon nodded in satisfaction and casually motioned for her to dress again.

Really, no allure at all?

Nicole, noticing Simon's indifferent gesture, felt a bit dejected as she buttoned up her shirt.

After a brief conversation, Simon hung up and turned to Nicole, "Very good, that's enough for today. Come back tomorrow, trim your hair a bit more, and then we'll take the final makeup photos. The film schedule is tight, and we'll keep you updated on other matters."

Nicole, hearing Simon's instructions and glancing at the stylist still in the room, hesitated but then asked, "Mr. Westeros, may I invite you to dinner? I haven't yet thanked you for giving me this role."

Simon looked Nicole up and down with a smile, "Just call me Simon. Dinner will have to be a no, things are a bit messy lately."

With the rumor mill churning about Simon and Sandra's romance for a whole week, and paparazzi still doggedly trying to snap photos of the pair, Simon was not in the mood to stir up more speculative stories.

After Nicole Kidman left, the clock neared five in the afternoon.

However, Simon wasn't ready to leave work just yet. He returned to his desk to reorganize the progress of three films under Daenerys Studios: "Final Destination," "Pulp Fiction," and "When Harry Met Sally," with start dates set for May, July, and September, respectively, each with a filming period of about two months.

"Final Destination" was all set to begin shooting next month, with a release date already scheduled for late

 October.

Following Artisan Entertainment's confirmation and the arrival of funds, all main creatives for "When Harry Met Sally" had signed their contracts this week. The next four months of preparation were more than sufficient.

As for "Pulp Fiction."

The circle of African American actors was indeed not very large, and after the major agencies sent over another stack of profiles, Simon quickly identified Samuel L. Jackson.

Born in 1948, Samuel L. Jackson was now 39 years old.

After earning a degree in dramatic arts in the early 1970s, he had spent a decade on Broadway in New York and started appearing in minor roles in Hollywood during the 1980s, but he remained relatively unknown.

The role in "Pulp Fiction" was a tremendous opportunity for Jackson, who accepted without hesitation and signed the contract the previous day.

Following Jackson, casting the supporting roles was straightforward, except for the taxi driver, for which Simon had yet to find a suitable actress.

Wondering if he had a preference for accents, Simon found that among all the female roles in "Pulp Fiction," the taxi driver left the most lasting impression. Therefore, he was exceptionally particular about this casting choice.

After rejecting all recommended candidates from the previous week, the agencies had indeed sent a list of European actresses. Simon held auditions on Tuesday.

It turned out he had made a mistake.

Besides looks and charisma, Simon sought an actress with an imperfect grasp of English and an accent. However, all the auditioning actresses came with various strange accents, leaving Simon unable to discern who was genuine and who was putting on an act.

Plus, Simon felt something was missing in those who auditioned, so he rejected this batch of candidates as well.

Now, Simon no longer expected to find a naturally accented taxi driver; he just hoped for an actress who perfectly fit his vision in terms of appearance.

As for the accent, it could be coached during filming.