Chapter 73: Screaming Lambs

In the evening, Arthur dropped Nicole Kidman off at her house in Long Beach.

In the car, Nicole Kidman unbuckled her seatbelt and reminded him, "Arthur, I really like To Die For. If Village Roadshow Pictures agrees to invest, can you be the producer?"

Arthur nodded, "Don't worry. As long as the funding is in place, it will develop quickly. This script doesn't have many scenes or characters. And, since Village Roadshow is planning to enter the international film market, Hollywood can't be bypassed. However, are you sure you have influence in Australia?"

Nicole Kidman smiled, hugged Arthur, and gave him a kiss, "That's why I need you. I'm only 23 this year and still a newcomer. You're different!"

"Me?" Arthur said blandly, "I'm only 21."

"But you have production experience. Orion and Columbia Pictures both collaborated with you," Nicole Kidman thought for a moment.

"When the time comes, we can first talk to Village Roadshow's team in the U.S.; maybe we won't need to go to Australia!"

Arthur nodded, "That would be best. As long as there's money, everything will be easy."

"If we actually start filming, why don't you play the role of the delinquent student in it?" Nicole Kidman suggested again.

"Nicole, you sure think far ahead," Arthur said as he lifted her chin, "If you keep this up, I won't want to leave tonight!"

Nicole Kidman whispered, "Wasn't what we did in the Galaxy office enough? If To Die For starts filming, you can join the crew directly. There will be plenty of opportunities!"

Arthur raised an eyebrow, "Are you blatantly tempting me?"

"Well," Nicole Kidman blew into Arthur's ear, "I'm giving you the chance. It's up to you what to do with it."

After speaking, Nicole Kidman grabbed her bag and got out of the car. Arthur watched her back as she walked to the door, feeling she was mimicking the lead actress in To Die For by using her charm to persuade him.

Arthur just chuckled and started the car.

Standing at her doorstep, Nicole Kidman watched Arthur drive away, "He didn't follow?"

Nicole Kidman could sense Arthur Smith was somewhat infatuated with her; however, she had indeed underestimated him before...

After spending a few days in Los Angeles, Arthur went to the The Silence of the Lambs set in Pittsburgh.

"Hello, Kelly," Arthur met Jodie Foster's girlfriend, Kelly McGillis, visiting the set.

"Good afternoon, Arthur," Kelly McGillis reached out and shook Arthur's hand.

Kelly McGillis, who was 33 that year, was known for her role opposite Tom Cruise in Top Gun. After starring alongside Jodie Foster in The Accused, they became close. Arthur could only admire Jodie Foster's prowess!

"The director is looking for me; I need to go," Arthur had received a call from the production team to discuss some matters.

In the office on the set, Jonathan Demme explained directly to Arthur, "I want to add flashback images in Clarice Starling's mind during her prison conversation with Hannibal."

Arthur was stunned, "Wasn't there already a flashback to Clarice Starling's father during their first meeting?"

Jonathan Demme shook his head, "I want Clarice to flashback to her childhood, stealing a lamb, during their second meeting. She was trying to steal a lamb out of a flock to protect it."

Arthur's face darkened as he heard this. An entire flock of sheep, along with lambs... Is this implying another scene to be shot on some big ranch?

"I found out that the Sophia Ranch in Montana has plenty of lambs," Jonathan Demme continued enthusiastically, not noticing Arthur's dark expression. He wanted to film a scene of young Clarice stealing a lamb on a Montana ranch.

In The Silence of the Lambs, Clarice Starling's mother passed away early; her father died in the line of duty when she was ten. It can be said that she, alone, was always following her father's footsteps.

But gender differences and her experience in the FBI made her feel weak under male dominance. She used her tragic experiences to exchange information with Hannibal, like scars being revealed bit by bit by him.

Jonathan Demme wanted to shoot such a "Screaming Lambs" story because Clarice, who lived in the countryside as a child, would hear lambs being slaughtered every morning. She wanted to save them but was stopped, and the lambs were still slaughtered.

This childhood memory always lingered in her mind, causing her to wake up hearing lambs scream in her nightmares, while she could only stay silent - the silent lambs became an unshakable shadow in her heart.

"Ted, come here," Arthur called the screenwriter Ted Tally over. When the script of The Silence of the Lambs underwent changes, Ted Tally was often present.

"What's going on, Arthur?" Ted Tally asked urgently once he arrived.

"Here, during Clarice and Hannibal's second meeting in the prison, Jonathan wants to add some flashback scenes of Clarice's childhood stealing a lamb. I don't think it's necessary. We already watched the samples, and Jodie Foster's expressions and acting are perfect. There's no need to add some disjointed flashback scenes. It's the second meeting, after all. Clarice is much more prepared mentally compared to the first meeting..."

Of course, Arthur also didn't want to go to Montana for filming. Going there would incur significant costs.

The budget for The Silence of the Lambs was really tight. Arthur had to ensure the current funds could complete the movie!

Outside, Kelly McGillis hooked her arm around Jodie Foster's and smiled, "Your young producer seems to have quite a temper. There's quite a commotion coming from the office!"

Jodie Foster's mouth curved upward, "Arthur is a good person. The director probably has some new ideas that cost money. Not many people are optimistic about our project. We don't have a lot of funding, and both Arthur and Jonathan are trying to save money. Arthur is mainly ensuring the movie gets finished, while Jonathan is a bit of a perfectionist."

"Haha, as long as Jonathan doesn't spend too much, Arthur generally supports him. Today, Jonathan's spending probably exceeded the budget; otherwise, Arthur wouldn't be so loud."

Kelly McGillis suggested, "Shouldn't you go in and check? Just in case they...?"

"Don't worry, everything's fine. Arthur, though young, isn't impulsive or unreasonable. They'll calm down once they finish arguing," Jodie Foster patted the back of Kelly McGillis's hand reassuringly.

*****

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