Chapter 219: The Candidates

Daenerys Entertainment Headquarters.

Simon Westeros arrived outside his office, where six men and women had already been waiting in the outer lounge. Among the four women and two men, the three tall and beautiful ladies were the candidates Simon had chosen for the role of Wonder Woman. The other three were clearly their agents.

Upon seeing Simon, one of the ladies raised her hand to greet him: "Hi, Simon."

Approaching them, Simon eyed Helena Christensen, whom he hadn't seen for over half a year, and smiled, "How have Cindy and the others been lately?"

"Pretty good," Helena Christensen replied, her eyes revealing a hint of playful grievance: "I thought you had completely forgotten about us."

At Simon's twentieth birthday party at the beginning of the year, he happened to meet several supermodels from his memories, including Cindy Crawford, Helena Christensen, Paulina Porizkova, and Stephanie Seymour.

Simon remembered leaving his contact information for the ladies, but after a series of diligent calls, he did not respond very actively, and the women, knowing the score, did not contact him often thereafter.

If it weren't for this occasion, Simon had no intention of reaching out to them.

"Of course not, I have a very good memory."

Jokingly, Simon greeted the others.

Besides Helena, the other two candidates for Wonder Woman were Famke Janssen and Erica Anderson.

Famke Janssen was known for her role as the first generation Phoenix in the "X-Men" series and had also played a Bond girl in "GoldenEye."

Among the candidates, Simon was inclined towards Famke Janssen, whose qualities were comparable to those of Gal Gadot, with an even stronger presence as Phoenix than Gadot's.

Famke Janssen, 23, came from a Dutch acting family.

Simon's plan for "Wonder Woman" was to start shooting in three years and release within five, mainly due to the typical five-year copyright agreement. Thus, Janssen's age was perfect. At 28, after years of grooming, she would be at her peak in both looks and aura.

Erica Anderson was as stunning as Helena and Famke but less famous. Simon remembered her most for a film she would star in years later alongside Nicolas Cage called "Wild at Heart."

Simon chose Erica based on a sporty style audition tape she submitted.

Helena Christensen caught Simon's eye with her healthy and wild Nordic charm. She was the youngest of the three, just twenty years old. If she got the opportunity, she would be perfectly aged at 25 in five years.

The room became somewhat crowded as the six followed Simon into his office. The seating arrangement, a long couch flanked by two single seats, could only accommodate five, forcing two agents to bring chairs and sit by the side.

Once everyone was seated, Simon looked at the three women on the couch and said, "First off, it's best if you don't disclose our conversation today. Whoever leaks it will be out."

Before this, various talent agencies had submitted candidates based on Daenerys Entertainment's casting call, guessing but not certain until now.

Hearing Simon's serious tone, the three women and their agents perked up.

Simon's words hinted at the rarity of this opportunity. The three agents, closely monitoring industry trends, had almost figured it out, given Daenerys Entertainment's recent acquisition of Wonder Woman's rights.

However, they shared a common regretful thought: lack of bust size.

Whether in comics or the iconic portrayal by Lynda Carter in the 1970s, Wonder Woman was notably well-endowed, which seemed not to be the case with these candidates.

Could they have guessed wrong?

Or was Simon Westeros into this type?

Figuring out the preferences of someone so influential was always tricky.

Simon, of course, remembered Lynda Carter's Wonder Woman, but even without Gal Gadot for reference, he wasn't interested in selecting a mere figurehead based on bust size.

After everyone nodded in understanding, Simon continued, "You've probably guessed by now, yes, I am selecting the actress for Wonder Woman." Before the women could rejoice, he added, "However, Daenerys Entertainment isn't planning to start filming this movie anytime soon. You'll need to wait three years. If we can reach an agreement today, Daenerys Entertainment will arrange some opportunities for you over the next three years to help you hone your acting skills. Honestly, you probably don't have much right now."

Given their backgrounds as models, the three women didn't lack camera presence, a common dual career path in Hollywood's early stages. However, modeling skills and acting talent were entirely different matters.

Nodding in agreement, the women were more excited than anything.

Given the choice between acting and modeling, they would undoubtedly opt for the former, as most in the fashion industry would.

Models typically retire before thirty unless they've made a significant name for themselves. They either marry well or switch careers.

In contrast, acting offers a longer-term career.

Successful entry into Hollywood, even as a supporting actress, far outweighs the fame of a well-known model, extending their career and providing more opportunities.

Moreover, the pay difference between the two professions is stark.

Thus, many models attempt to break into Hollywood.

For instance, Michael J. Fox's "The Secret of My Success" featured top models like Cindy Crawford in brief, non-speaking roles, something A-list actors wouldn't consider lowering themselves to.

After briefing them, Simon discussed specifics: "If there's no issue on your end, we can sign an agreement soon. For the next few years, you'll need to follow Daenerys Entertainment's arrangements."

The women paused, and Erica Anderson, who had been relatively quiet, asked, "Simon, what if we don't get the role in three years?"

"Even if you don't play Diana Prince, 'Wonder Woman' will need many Amazon warriors. Plus, after the next three years, I believe you'll be well-established in Hollywood or able to return to fashion without issue," Simon reassured, mentioning Erica's recent role in "A Nightmare on Elm Street 5."

Upon confirmation, Simon advised Erica to drop the role, noting that the "Nightmare on Street" series' quality wouldn't benefit her career.

Despite the role's minor significance, Erica's agent decided to decline it, recognizing the greater opportunity Simon offered.

After discussing more details, Simon dismissed them.

Sending off the group, Jennifer entered with a box of scripts and videotapes from Mr. Doitchman, containing potential projects and indie films.

Placing Helena Christensen's secretly left business card on his desk, Simon noticed Jennifer's fleeting gaze and smiled, focusing back on the scripts.

Soon after, Amy Pascal entered to discuss the negotiations with Wes Craven for the "Scream" sequels. Simon proposed a $15 million deal for two sequels, indicating a firm stance on the budget and emphasizing the replaceability of directors in genre films like horror.

Amy shared Simon's view, recognizing that while Wes Craven's contribution was valuable, it wasn't indispensable, especially considering the financial demands and the inherent limitations of horror films.

As they concluded their meeting, Simon's pragmatic approach underscored his strategic vision for Daenerys Entertainment's future projects, balancing artistic ambition with financial prudence.

___________________

(Support with power stones, comments or reviews)

If you guys enjoy this story, In support me on Patreon and get access to +200 advance Chapters

Read Ahead

Patreon.com/INNIT