Chapter 59: The Wind Rises

Simon, hearing the question from the *Variety* reporter, merely nodded lightly: "Yes, the reasoning is quite simple. If I had not actually done those jobs myself and still put my name on them, I would definitely face a lot of trouble in the future."

Hearing Simon's response, many in the audience who had similar doubts were suddenly enlightened.

In every industry, including Hollywood, there are ghostwriters, but considering the quality of *Run Lola Run*, the probability that a dozen highly skilled Hollywood professionals were ghostwriting for a young man was extremely slim.

Moreover, although most people were still unaware of Simon's background, whatever his identity might be, he had no reason to falsify such claims. Movie production skills are too easily verifiable and too risky to fake.

However.

If the extensive behind-the-scenes work of *Run Lola Run* was truly done by the young man on stage, it was simply too incredible to believe.

The *Variety* reporter seemed to feel this incredulity and immediately followed up: "Then, how did you manage to do it?"

Simon, with a smile, said: "Ms. Trevor, your question is quite hard to answer. However, if I start from when I first wrote the script, I spent six whole months busy with this movie. During this time, I encountered many setbacks but also met many who were willing to help, like Bob, Jenny, Catherine, Director Brian De Palma, Mr. David Giler, my agent Jonathan, and so on. Reflecting on it, I feel very fortunate because many filmmakers who harbor dreams rarely get such an opportunity. Here, I want to thank them all again and also hope that I can help others in the future."

Although Jane Trevor did not receive the satisfying answer she hoped for, she nodded seriously and sat back down.

Then, under Robert Redford's prompting, many more hands shot up.

The media journalists who could make it to Park City were few, and Robert recognized most of them. He was not in a hurry and randomly picked a young boy sitting in the back row next time.

The boy, not waiting for the microphone to be passed to him, eagerly said: "Simon, your movie is really cool, and I hope one day I can make such a film too. So, I want to know, how did you learn all this, or which film school did you attend?"

Simon shook his head, smiling: "I didn't attend film school. As for film-related skills, I suppose you could say I'm self-taught. However, my personal situation is a bit different from others. So, if you want to be a director, I still recommend attending a professional film school."

There are many self-taught directors in Hollywood, even Robert Redford, who sat on the stage, could be counted as one.

However, hearing Simon's response, many in the auditorium still looked surprised.

Although Simon's exact age was unclear, he appeared very young. If he had been trained at a top film school, mastering a range of skills to produce *Run Lola Run* would seem reasonable.

But to be self-taught and undertake such a project, those who have tried know the difficulties involved, the detours one must take, making his achievements almost unbelievable.

While the audience was astounded, Jenny, quietly sitting next to Simon, blinked and suddenly remembered the huge pile of film-related books Simon had haphazardly bought a few months ago.

That little rascal, he must be bluffing.

But.

It really is strange.

After the boy sat down, Robert Redford again handed the opportunity to ask questions to another media reporter.

The Q&A session lasted until noon when the *Run Lola Run* premiere at Sundance finally concluded.

The film was scheduled for several more screenings during the remaining days of the festival, but Simon was not required to attend again. Indeed, many filmmakers typically leave Park City after the weekend premiere and only return if they receive a winning notification at the festival's closing ceremony.

Sunday afternoon, Simon touched base with Peter Butler about his upcoming exclusive interview. In the evening, he saw Jennifer Reubold and Lisa Collins off on a plane back to Yale in New Haven, Connecticut.

However, Simon had no time to rest.

Right after the premiere of *Run Lola Run*, he was surrounded by several independent film distributors who had come to Sundance hoping to find gems. Various probing offers and relationship-building exchanges took place.

One hefty man even boldly started with an offer of two million dollars to buy the rights outright, more generous than Fox, but wanted to pay only two hundred thousand as a down payment, with the remainder to be paid after the film's release.

Simon internally cursed Harvey, the big swindler, and then stopped paying him any attention.

Monday morning, just after waking up, Simon received a call from Catherine in Los Angeles. Soon after, Robert Redford also called, asking him to visit the Sundance Institute

.

Simon drove into town, returning from the Sundance Institute with a thick stack of newspapers featuring reviews of *Run Lola Run* and grabbed breakfast on the way.

Back at the resort apartment by nine in the morning, the weather in Park City was still cold, and with no outsiders around, Jenny finally revealed her true lazy nature, refusing to get out of bed. Seeing the newspapers Simon brought back, she perked up and excitedly asked him to hand them over, eagerly flipping through them.

"Variety, hmm, the obscure Sundance suddenly showcases a stunning anti-genre masterpiece, *Run Lola Run*. Directed and written by newcomer Simon Westeros, the film vividly presents the concept of the 'butterfly effect' to the audience through an interesting three-act movie pattern. It also explores the numerous possibilities of life, leaving much to ponder. Blah blah blah, let me switch to another."

Jenny read a few lines, quickly scanned the rest, and eagerly picked up another newspaper: "This one, *The Hollywood Reporter*, seems impressive too. What surprised the writer the most was Simon Westeros's skillful handling of a series of cinematic techniques. The entire film achieves a top-tier level in cinematography, color, music, and editing, not at all like a low-budget film under one million dollars. It is said that many of these tasks were personally completed by Simon Westeros. I feel like I'm seeing another rising genius in Hollywood. Well written, let me see, hey, Peter wrote a review too, didn't you agree to publish it after the festival ended? Oh, this is just a review."

After reading Peter Butler's review published in the *Los Angeles Times* and flipping through the remaining newspapers, Jenny tossed them aside, her body full of excitement as she peeked out from under the covers, revealing a bare and tender body: "Little boy, you're about to become famous, come on, let your sister kiss you first."

Simon pushed Jenny back under the covers, saying: "I don't kiss lazy women who haven't even brushed their teeth."

"Ooh, you're disgusted with me, be careful or I'll call four brothers to beat you up."

Simon laughed, covering the opened corner of the blanket for her, and said: "Call a cousin or something too, make it five, bring baseball bats."

"Hmm, it seems I don't have a cousin."

After fooling around for a while, the phone in the living room rang again. Simon, seeing Jenny bury her face into the pillow, leaned over to kiss her smooth shoulder, saying: "Get up, I'll go take the call."

The call was from Jonathan Friedman, who had just started his workday in Los Angeles. His agent had also seen the rave reviews of *Run Lola Run* in several major Hollywood newspapers and called to congratulate Simon, while also passing on that the president of Orion Pictures, Mike Medavoy, had called early in the morning to inquire about Simon's film, apparently very interested in distributing *Run Lola Run*.

After talking for over ten minutes and about to hang up, Sandra Bullock happened to arrive at Jonathan's office, so they chatted a bit more.

Los Angeles, Camino Street, WMA headquarters.

After Sandra and Simon said goodbye, she gently hung up the phone and sat down across Jonathan Friedman's desk.

"It's like this," Jonathan handed her a document, saying: "Back to the Future 2 has started casting. You're a bit inexperienced, but I saw some good comments about your performance in *Run Lola Run* in the papers this morning. So, get ready, I'll try to get you through the first round of auditions. After that, we'll see how it goes."

*Back to the Future*, the top-grossing film in North America the year before last, produced by Steven Spielberg and directed by Robert Zemeckis, Sandra was well aware of its significance.

Having just appeared in *Run Lola Run*, Sandra had only recently secured a supporting role in a spring TV series.

She flipped through the audition materials quickly, still a bit uncertain: "Joe, is this the audition for the female lead?"

"Of course," Jonathan Friedman nodded with a smile: "But don't get your hopes up too high. The first round of casting will have at least a few hundred girls vying for the role. Also, talk to Simon about cutting a clip of your performance in *Run Lola Run* to give to me by Friday. I'll forward it to the *Back to the Future 2* production team."

"Sure, I will," Sandra nodded, then added: "But Joe, Simon won't be back from Park City until next week. And, I don't know his phone number there."

Jonathan laughed, writing down a series of numbers on a sticky note and handing it to Sandra: "Since it's the film festival, Park City will have all the necessary equipment, and the copies are there too.

 So, have him cut it and either mail it back or have someone bring it."

After a few more words, Sandra stood to leave. Just as she exited Jonathan's office, she encountered another of his clients, Courteney Cox, sitting in the outer office.

Sandra knew that Simon had first invited Courteney to play in *Run Lola Run*, and Courteney was aware that the role of Lola had eventually gone to Sandra. Now, encountering each other suddenly, both felt a bit awkward, casually nodding at each other before passing by.

Courteney was well aware of the reason Jonathan had called her in today. *Back to the Future 2* was starting casting, a major event in Hollywood.

Noticing the audition materials in Sandra's hand, Courteney recalled the review of *Run Lola Run* she had seen in *The Hollywood Reporter* during breakfast, and a strong sense of urgency suddenly surged within her.

*Back to the Future 2*'s male lead would definitely still be Michael J. Fox. Thus, among Jonathan's clients, at least three were suitable for the female lead of *Back to the Future 2*: Elizabeth Shue, herself, and Sandra Bullock who had just left.

Thinking this, Courteney suddenly realized that Elizabeth Shue had starred in *The Butterfly Effect*, and Sandra Bullock in *Run Lola Run*—both films somehow connected to him.

And she.

She could have had a chance.

Now.

She hoped *Run Lola Run* wouldn't cause too much of a stir.

Thinking carefully, it was just a low-budget independent film with such an unconventional theme. Even if it received some praise, it probably wouldn't make much of a splash in Hollywood.

With this thought in mind, she took a deep breath, no longer allowing herself to dwell on these messy thoughts, and pushed the door to enter her agent's office.

Around the same time.

Not far from the WMA headquarters, at Fox Studios.

Fox Studios president Ronald Goldberg called Peter Sanders into his office early in the morning.

The two sat down in the reception area, and Ronald handed Peter a few excerpts from reviews of *Run Lola Run* that his secretary had just organized: "Is this the work of that *Butterfly Effect* screenwriter you mentioned on the phone last week?"

Peter Sanders had already seen the reviews of *Run Lola Run*, pretended to flip through the excerpts briefly, and nodded: "Yes, that's the one."

Hearing Peter's confirmation, Ronald said: "Didn't you already talk to him? Why haven't I seen any results?"

Peter placed the reviews on the coffee table in front of him, saying: "The young man wants a profit-sharing contract."

Ronald, leisurely trimming a cigar, paused when he heard this, then shook his head and chuckled: "Typical of a young upstart. Well, if that's the case, let him find someone else."

Peter hesitated, then added: "Ronald, there's something else about him."

Saying this, Peter briefly shared Simon's age and some of the promotional plans they had discussed that day.

Ronald, after listening, noticed his cigar had fallen to the floor at some point. He picked it up and tossed it aside, his gaze still fixed on Peter: "18 years old, are you sure that's true?"

P.S.: It's a triple post. Can't believe there's still a chance like this. Can't say much, just doing my best to update!