Chapter 26: Hollywood's Hidden Barriers

During their initial meeting, neither of them rushed into business matters, simply chatting casually instead.

More than ten minutes later, after Simon had fixed the bicycle tire and washed his hands, he reassessed Sandra Bullock standing before him.

In the timeline Simon knew, compared to Hollywood actresses like Julia Roberts and Nicole Kidman, whose careers seemed smooth sailing, Sandra Bullock was a late bloomer.

Born in 1964, Sandra Bullock was already 30 when she starred in her breakthrough film, "Speed."

However, thanks to her popular "girl-next-door" image and her diligence and productivity, Sandra had managed to keep her acting career vibrant for over two decades from her breakout role.

In 2013, while actresses like Julia Roberts were beginning to fade from the public eye, Sandra Bullock still managed to earn a record $70 million for a single movie with "Gravity," establishing herself as a true box office queen in Hollywood.

The Sandra Bullock Simon was meeting was only 22 years old.

Indeed, "only."

Simon had called Sandra after returning to Los Angeles on Friday evening but did not set their meeting for yesterday since it was July 26th—Sandra Bullock's birthday, something Simon had noted from her resume.

From her resume, Simon also learned that Sandra had graduated with a degree in Drama from the University of North Carolina. This was largely why he had nearly decided to cast her as the lead in "Run Lola Run" without an audition.

Due to the industry's low entry barrier, Hollywood stars often seem to have the illusion of being naturally talented actors without needing formal training, but this is far from the truth.

In Hollywood, nearly all stars need to undergo various forms of acting training during their rise to fame. Take Meryl Streep, often referred to as the 'Oscar Nominee Queen,' for example. Most people only see her frequent Oscar nods but fail to realize she graduated from Yale University's Drama School.

Those who think a pretty face alone can climb to the top in Hollywood are usually gravely mistaken and might end up in the 'Valley' instead.

No film company in Hollywood would casually cast an inexperienced newcomer in a multimillion-dollar movie. Similarly, for Simon, who was eager to break into Hollywood, selecting the female lead for "Run Lola Run" was anything but casual.

His invitation to Courteney was also based on several casual conversations during which Simon learned that she had been in Hollywood for three years and had just acted in a TV show, making her experienced and qualified enough for the role.

Now, Sandra Bullock, with her formal dramatic training, fit the bill as well.

After all, it was just a low-budget production of around $100,000, and Simon hoped to spend more on the film production than on a well-known, expensive actress. The girl in front of him was just right.

And sufficiently familiar.

Under the motel awning, dressed somewhat formally in a shirt and casual trousers for their afternoon meeting, Sandra noticed Simon's unapologetic scrutiny. Realizing the 'audition' might have already begun, she straightened her posture and tried to meet his gaze.

However.

This boy had a pair of striking blue eyes.

Something she lacked.

Thinking this, she instinctively tilted her head, remembering the scar above her left eye from a childhood accident, and her posture relaxed completely.

Simon, however, missed these subtleties in Sandra's expression. After a final glance at her flat sandals, he walked over to his bicycle, patted the handle, and said, "Let's go. I have some errands to run, and I can tell you about them on the way."

Hearing Simon speak, Sandra quickly nodded.

Then, feeling somewhat foolish for her automatic response, she pointed to Simon's bicycle, "Are we riding this?"

Simon nodded, "It's just near Douglas Park. You can leave your car here."

Sandra, remembering the distance she had just covered from there, did not object further.

Simon greeted the Spanish old man still watching the spectacle, and then he and Sandra left the motel.

Although it was the weekend, the street outside the motel was still quite empty. Simon wheeled the bicycle down to the road, mounted it, and handed his backpack to Sandra, instructing, "Hop on."

Sandra subconsciously took Simon's backpack, feeling a bit dazed as she sat behind a boy on his bicycle.

Sitting on the back seat, clutching a dusty canvas backpack, Sandra looked back at the receding roadside greenery, her thoughts swirling chaotically until they finally formed a coherent idea: Dad, your daughter is about to be whisked away by a poor boy on a bicycle!

A small voice in her heart shouted this, causing Sandra to burst out laughing.

What a silly thought.

Hearing laughter from behind, Simon asked, "What's up?"

"Nothing, nothing," Sandra quickly shook her head, grabbing the hem of Simon's T-shirt

, volunteering, "You can call me Sandy."

"Alright," Simon responded.

"So, Simon, why not tell me about the film?"

"It's a bit long to explain in a few words. We've agreed to have dinner later, we have the whole afternoon, right?"

"Okay, but there should be a story, right?"

"The story is simple. A small-time thug, Manny, loses $100,000. His girlfriend Lola has to come up with the money in 20 minutes, or Manny is probably going to be killed by his boss."

"Sounds thrilling."

"It will be even more thrilling to shoot, and very exhausting, so you should be prepared."

"I haven't agreed to star in your film yet, have I?"

"Imagine years from now, you start writing your memoirs: 'When Simon Westeros invited me to star in his first movie, it felt like fate, and I immediately agreed.' Isn't that legendary?"

Sandra laughed again, "I don't know about legendary, but I definitely met a megalomaniac today."

"Hmm, maybe leave that part out of your book."

"Heh."

As they began to discuss the film more, the topic naturally continued to evolve.

As Simon detailed more about "Run Lola Run," Sandra gradually realized that this was definitely going to be a very cool film.

For the sake of the girl behind him, Simon did not ride fast.

It took about ten minutes before Simon led Sandra to a store called 'Strang Clock Shop' near Douglas Park.

Unlike other clock shops, this one offered custom handcrafting services.

Simon had gotten the information about this shop from Jonathan's assistant, Owen Wright. Apparently, many Hollywood movies also sourced their clock props from here.