Chapter 115: The Small Director

These days, I have to practice driving. My driving test is on the 16th, so I can only post two to three updates temporarily. Today, there will be three updates! Also, seeking subscriptions! Seeking monthly votes! Seeking recommendations! The book has just been launched, and your support will be my greatest motivation!

At Fox Searchlight, after Tony Guzman saw Murphy and Bill Rossis out of the meeting room, Godin Clyde asked Riley Fields beside him, "What do you think?"

Riley Fields looked quite serious. "Although we can't verify the actual offers from the other companies, from what I've gathered, their internal screenings had very high evaluations for Saw."

With the company's poor performance, the pressure on him as the head of the Market Research Department was immense. "I believe this film has a clear target audience and a precise market positioning. At the very least, it's a very smart piece of work with significant potential."

Godin Clyde stood up and walked around. "Get the marketing department to do a forecast report."

"I'll get it done as soon as possible." Riley Fields also stood up.

Outside, the sun was shining brightly. Murphy squinted against the sunlight reflecting off the glass of the Fox building opposite, shielding his eyes with his hand as he followed Bill Rossis to the Ford car.

Just as they got in the car, Bill Rossis received a call. After a few words, he hung up and turned to Murphy. "Information from our company's channels indicates that Fox Searchlight had a very poor performance in the first quarter, and 20th Century Fox is quite dissatisfied. They applied pressure on them two weeks ago."

Murphy, having learned about this from Kara Faith, had also informed Bill Rossis. Although Rossis was just an ordinary agent at CAA, he could still utilize the company's resources and channels appropriately. Now, it was confirmed that Fox Searchlight was indeed facing a situation that could be advantageous for them.

"Keep in touch with Fox Searchlight," Murphy started the car. "Given the current situation, we not only need to put in the effort but also seize the right opportunities. Keep communications open with other companies besides Lionsgate."

Even when dealing with Harvey Weinstein, there was some room for negotiation. Milton Johnson's hardline approach had caught Murphy off guard. This senior executive from Lionsgate, who was quite amicable in social settings, showed no leniency in business.

Whether in terms of sincerity or the offered price, Lionsgate would only be a last resort.

After dropping Bill Rossis near CAA's office building, Murphy checked the time, sent a text message, and drove to the valley area of Santa Monica. He stopped in front of a three-story building surrounded by green trees, rolled down the window, and saw people walking out through the open iron gate.

This was a common type of acting school in the Los Angeles area, but the one Bill Rossis had contacted was reputedly very good, and, of course, quite expensive. The course of less than five months had nearly exhausted Carey Mulligan's earnings from two films.

"Aren't you coming with us, Carey?"

Two girls walked out of a building. The blonde one, adjusting her short hair, asked Carey Mulligan, "Everyone's going to the party tonight. You're the only one missing. Are you standing us up?"

"I told you I don't have time," Carey Mulligan kept looking towards the iron gate ahead, her steps quickening. "My boyfriend is coming to pick me up."

"Is it that director boyfriend of yours?" The girls behind her quickened their pace. As they passed by, hearing Carey Mulligan's words, a brunette girl at the center turned her head to look at her. "The one you bragged about so much?"

Her tone carried obvious sarcasm.

Carey Mulligan turned her head, her gaze becoming sharp. If looks could kill, that girl would have several holes in her body.

"What do you mean?" Her tone was hostile.

Having had conflicts shortly after joining the acting class, the two girls, similar in age, couldn't stand each other for reasons unknown.

Carey Mulligan's words changed the atmosphere instantly. Besides the brunette girl, the others also glared at her.

The brunette lifted a strand of curly hair. Her angular face showed even more mockery. "A big director, huh? With a production budget of..."

Her voice was shrill and loud as if afraid others couldn't hear, "Thirty thousand dollars!"

The other girls burst into laughter, as if this was something disgraceful.

Though both were from the UK, they didn't like each other. Carey Mulligan and the brunette had been at odds for a while.

Otherwise, the brunette wouldn't have made fun of her upon hearing her speak.

Carey Mulligan continued walking, turning her head and saying, "Thirty thousand dollars isn't much, but it earned one hundred and forty-eight thousand dollars at the North American box office, a return on investment of five to one."

As the group walked out of the gate, Murphy, waiting in the car, saw them immediately and got out to greet them.

"A film shown in less than two hundred theaters," the brunette continued, "and you call that a feature film?"

Carey Mulligan was about to say something when the blonde girl intervened, "Kayla, enough. Don't always target Carey."

She turned to Carey, "Kayla speaks her mind. Don't take it too seriously."

"Liz," Carey Mulligan seemed to have a good relationship with her, "don't you think she's gone too far?"

Murphy joined them at the gate, hearing Carey Mulligan's words. He quickened his pace, arriving by her side and looking at her angry face with concern. "What's wrong, dear?"

Carey Mulligan glared at Kayla, clearly upset but not wanting to bother Murphy with such trivial matters, knowing how busy he was. She forced a smile, "Nothing. Everything's fine."

Murphy glanced in the direction Carey Mulligan was looking. A few feet away, four girls stood together, whispering, with one girl in the center whose angular face looked familiar.

"Hello," the blonde woman looked at Murphy with interest. "Are you Carey's boyfriend?"

Carey Mulligan hugged Murphy's arm and replied first, "Liz, this is Murphy."

"Hello," Murphy greeted Liz with a polite smile and introduced himself, "I'm Murphy Stanton."

The blonde woman nodded. "Elizabeth Banks. Carey's classmate. Just call me Liz."

Carey Mulligan shook Murphy's arm. "Liz takes good care of me."

"Nothing much..." Elizabeth Banks began, but another girl's voice interrupted, "Carey, is this your boyfriend?"

She moved to Elizabeth Banks' side, constantly scrutinizing Murphy. Her narrowed eyes and the faint mockery in them were quite uncomfortable.

Murphy glanced at the familiar face, confirming he hadn't mistaken her. Although it was their first meeting and they hadn't spoken, he could tell her personality wasn't great.

The girl quickly pursed her lips. "Besides being tall and strong, there's nothing special about him."

Carey Mulligan, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, nearly jumped up. She wanted to say something but, after looking at Murphy, swallowed her words.

The girl named Kayla didn't seem ready to give up. This wasn't their first confrontation. "A small actor and a small director. You make a perfect pair."

"You..." Carey Mulligan's cheeks puffed up in anger.

"Kayla..."

Elizabeth Banks tried to mediate, but Kayla's words came out sharp and fast, "You think you're a princess, but you're just a sparrow."

Her age matched Carey Mulligan's, and she was equally spirited. Having had many of her moments stolen by Mulligan, she had to regain them. "Tuck away your pathetic little wings and stop flaunting here."

But she wasn't done. She raised her head, lifting her sharp chin. "What do you have to compare with me? I've been in a nine hundred million dollar box office film. What about you?"

Murphy turned to Carey Mulligan, asking what they were comparing. Carey Mulligan scratched her golden hair, shaking her head slightly, full of confusion.

What's with this girl? Murphy frowned. Even if she had conflicts with Carey, she didn't need to be so relentless, did she?

He knew that women's conflicts often lacked reason, but this was too much.

More people had gathered around, watching the scene. Apart from the initial girls, others had arrived. Murphy heard murmurs about "Carey and Kayla again," understanding that Kayla's targeting of Carey wasn't new.

Elizabeth Banks tried to pull Kayla's arm and say a few words to defuse the situation, but Murphy whispered something in Carey Mulligan's ear, making her eyebrows arch.

"So what if I'm a small actor?" Carey Mulligan clung tightly to Murphy's arm. "I play my own roles. Unlike some people, who are just body doubles in a nine hundred million dollar blockbuster. Don't think you're really Queen Amidala. You're just Natalie Portman's double. We..."

She pointed at the people around, "Everyone will remember, you..."

Her voice rose, "You're just Natalie Portman's double! Even in twenty years, this won't change!"

As soon as she finished, Murphy pulled Carey Mulligan. "Let's go."

This matter was enough for Carey Mulligan to vent. There was no need to let others continue watching the show.

They didn't even look at Kayla, heading straight to the Ford car.

Kayla's face turned pale, teeth clenched tightly, but she couldn't say a word, seemingly struck by Carey Mulligan's words.

She took a few deep breaths, glaring at Murphy and Carey Mulligan's backs.

It wasn't until the Ford drove away that she exhaled, "Damn small director!"

Clearly, the words Carey Mulligan had just said weren't something she could think of

. Otherwise, she would have said them the first time they clashed, not waiting until today. This was obviously due to that small director whispering in Carey Mulligan's ear.

In the moving car, Carey Mulligan leaned over and gave Murphy a big kiss. "This is your reward!"

Murphy smiled, about to say something when his phone rang. He picked it up, and his expression changed instantly after a few words. "What? Bill, is this true?"

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