Chapter 352: Every Cut Deadly

On the day of the premiere for "Kingdom of Heaven" held by 20th Century Fox, not only did Matthew attend, but Helen Herman was also there, as she had recently signed a second star client after Matthew.

At the end of April, Helen successfully recruited Eva Green, the leading actress from "Dreams of Paris." Matthew didn't comment much on this. As Angel Agency expanded, it was natural for Helen to sign new clients, and since Eva was an actress, she wouldn't divert resources away from him.

Besides, with his current status and box office draw, if he felt it wasn't suitable, he could always switch agencies. Both CAA and William Morris had contacted him.

"Matthew, this is Tom Rosman."

Inside the VIP lounge of the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, Helen was introducing Matthew. "Tom is the head of production and distribution at 20th Century Fox."

Matthew quickly stepped forward to shake hands with the middle-aged man in glasses, exchanging pleasantries.

"We almost worked together once," Tom Rosman said with a smile. "20th Century Fox was supposed to distribute 'Mr. and Mrs. Smith,' but Peak Entertainment changed plans at the last minute."

He looked at Matthew and said seriously, "When will you work with 20th Century Fox on a film?"

Matthew understood that this was an effect of his recent string of successful movies and replied politely, "There will definitely be opportunities."

After exchanging a few more niceties, Tom moved on.

Watching him walk away, Helen commented, "If 'Kingdom of Heaven' fails, he'll probably bear most of the blame."

"Why?" Matthew asked curiously.

"Haven't you heard?" Helen looked at him and explained, "The version Uncle Scott initially edited isn't what's being premiered today. Tom Rosman was very dissatisfied with Scott's cut and personally ordered it to be re-edited, cutting about fifty minutes. Scott was furious but couldn't do anything about it."

Matthew nodded, "I heard something about this from Orlando."

Helen shook her head slightly, "I think this film is in trouble. The feedback from the two test screenings wasn't good."

As the VIP room began to fill up, Matthew and Helen greeted Ridley Scott and hugged Orlando Bloom. With Bloom's introduction, Matthew also met the tall Liam Neeson.

Seeing Liam Neeson reminded Matthew of a movie forum comment he had once read, where Neeson's daughter and Keanu Reeves' dog were listed as the most untouchable characters in cinema.

Then, Helen introduced him to Eva Green.

"Hello, Miss Green," Matthew said, shaking hands with Eva, who responded with a smile.

"May I call you Matthew?"

"Of course," he replied. "Miss Green, your English is impeccable; I can't detect any French accent."

"Call me Eva," she said with a smile. "I studied at NYU and worked on my accent there."

Matthew didn't know much about the actress but complimented her in the universal way, "Eva, you're truly beautiful."

"Thank you," Eva, new to Hollywood, knew the importance of networking.

Matthew discreetly observed Eva; her long black hair was obviously dyed, and her pale skin contrasted with her black dress.

Frankly, her features didn't conform to traditional Western beauty standards—somewhat unusual, yet aligning with Matthew's aesthetic that was softened by Eastern influences mixed with Western tastes.

Eva's large, drooping eyes and slightly downturned mouth gave her a distinctive beauty—one with a sinister, mysterious allure.

If he had to describe her, he would say her beauty was enchanting, almost wickedly so.

After some small talk, Matthew deliberately distanced himself from Eva. Her allure was too strong, and though he wasn't rigid, excessive contact might lead to inappropriate thoughts, something he couldn't afford given the agreements for "Mr. and Mrs. Smith." Complications from media exposure were the last thing he needed.

He knew how to prioritize, especially at crucial moments.

Besides, Eva had signed with Angel Agency...

Soon, the guests in the VIP lounge moved to the auditorium to watch "Kingdom of Heaven."

Sitting with Helen, Matthew spoke quietly, aware of the delicate timing. "Don't stir up trouble now."

Helen knew him well and nodded slightly, adding no further comment. Matthew was always serious and responsible when it came to work.

As the movie began, Matthew focused on the screen. He had seen this film before and knew that many felt the theatrical version and the director's cut were entirely different.

The version now playing was starkly different from the one he remembered.

Watching the film unfold, Matthew felt it was bland, lacking the stirring impact typical of epic films. The editing was clearly problematic, even to someone of his limited technical expertise, with poor coherence in the plot and a vague presentation of the star-studded cast.

Even compared to child-friendly films like "National Treasure,"

 the characters on screen were pale and unconvincing. Eva Green and Orlando Bloom were reduced to mere eye candy. Jeremy Irons and Liam Neeson, despite their acting prowess, lacked presence. Only Edward Norton, who wore a mask throughout the film, left any impression.

Hollywood's unconventional actor, Edward Norton, impressed Matthew with his strong performance, outshining everyone else despite his masked appearance.

Matthew vaguely remembered that the original version had more fleshed-out characters, which were now completely missing, likely cut by 20th Century Fox.

Matthew sensed that Orlando Bloom had missed a chance to shine—not due to his own failings but because his efforts had been cut.

When bad luck strikes, it seems even birds flying overhead might drop trouble into one's mouth.

Ridley Scott, however, seemed to be the unluckiest of all, with a butchered film that sacrificed much of its substance. The core weakness rendered even the glorious battle scenes dull.

Matthew had worked with Ridley Scott and could guess this wasn't what he intended. Helen had told him that Scott truly wanted to make "Kingdom of Heaven" a traditional epic. Now, it looked more like a disaster.

As the credits rolled, Matthew turned to Helen, "What do you think?"

If judging a film's market potential based solely on viewing, he was far less skilled than a seasoned agent like her.

Helen sighed and shook her head, "Ridley Scott got shafted by 20th Century Fox and Tom Rosman this time."

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