Silent Film

Lucas scanned the script of "The Artist" with growing interest. As he read, he glanced up at Michel, his eyebrows raised in curiosity. "This script doesn't have any lines," he observed. "It's all about the actions and expressions."

Michel smiled, nodding in agreement. "That's right."

Lucas furrowed his brow, "Why choose this approach?"

Michel took a sip of his wine before responding, "Tell me, Lucas, are you familiar with silent films?"

Lucas thought for a moment, "Of course. I've seen a few. Charlie Chaplin comes to mind when I think of silent movies."

"That's right," Michel said, a nostalgic glint in his eyes. "The charm of those films was in the physicality and expressions of the actors." He smiled, taking another sip of his wine. "I've always dreamed of producing a silent film. That's why I wrote this script."

Lucas's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Really? A silent film? In this day and age?"

Michel leaned forward, his enthusiasm palpable. "Why not? I think silent films still hold a certain charm. I'm confident I can make a film that will captivate audiences. I believe many people would love it."

Lucas skimmed through the script, his interest piqued. After a few minutes, he looked up and nodded. "When do you plan on starting production?"

Michel's eyes lit up, surprised but delighted. He had been searching for the right actor to play the lead role, and here was a rising star in indie films, right in front of him. "I'm glad you're interested. We're aiming to start filming in two months."

Lucas handed the script back to Michel, a smile playing on his lips. "I'm intrigued. I've never been part of a silent film before. It'll be a new experience."

"Unfortunately, I won't be able to make it," Lucas said, sighing. "My schedule is packed tight. I don't think I can clear my commitments in two months."

Michel frowned, disappointment evident on his face. "You mean you're unavailable even if we pushed the start date back by a month or two?"

Lucas shook his head apologetically. "I'm sorry, Michel. I wish I could, but I don't see how I can fit this in with my current projects."

Michel considered the situation for a moment before speaking up, "Filming is scheduled to start in two months, but I might be able to push it back to three or four. Would that work for you?"

Lucas was taken aback. "You'd postpone the entire production just for me?"

"Of course," Michel replied, his eyes twinkling with determination. "I've seen your work in those indie films, and I know you're a fantastic actor. Initially, I had my sights set on a French actor for the role, but after seeing your performance, I knew I had to at least try my luck and ask you. And look, here we are." He gestured around them, a smile on his face. "And to top it off, you just won an Oscar. That speaks volumes about your talent."

Not only that, the production company backing the film project was also keen on having Lucas on board. They knew his involvement in the project would draw more attention and, hopefully, bigger box office returns.

Lucas handed Michel his manager's business card. "Once you finalize the dates, feel free to reach out to Neil. We can discuss the details then."

Michel grinned, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Lucas."

"The pleasure's mine," Lucas said, shaking Michel's hand.

As they finished their conversation, Harvey Weinstein approached them, a glass of wine in hand. "Ah, Michel, I see you've met my good friend, Lucas."

Michel nodded. "We were just discussing my project, 'The Artist.'"

Harvey turned to Lucas with a wide smile. "Is he interested in being a part of this project?"

Lucas couldn't help but notice the familiarity between Michel and Harvey. He decided to ignore Harvey for now and focused on Michel. "You know him?" he asked, nodding in Harvey's direction.

"Yeah, actually, he's one of the investors for my project," Michel said, oblivious to the tension between the two.

"I see," Lucas said, his expression neutral.

Harvey extended his hand for a handshake. "Lucas, it's been a while. Congratulations on your Oscar win. How does it feel to have your first and last Academy Award?"

Lucas took Harvey's hand, his grip firm but not too tight. "I'm doing well, Mr. Weinstein. And as for whether this will be my first and last Oscar, only time will tell."

Harvey smirked, "Come on, Lucas. You don't honestly think you would've won without my approval, do you?"

Lucas knew Harvey was flaunting his perceived power over the Academy Awards, but he refused to give him the satisfaction of a reaction. "So, you're taking credit for my win?"

"Now you're catching on," Harvey said, attempting to pat Lucas on the shoulder. Lucas evaded the gesture.

"I know you're influential in the industry, Mr. Weinstein, but I don't think you're that powerful," Lucas said with a chuckle. "Unless someone else helped me, right?"

Harvey sipped his wine, a smug look on his face. "It seems you have your own backers, huh? Now you realize you're just another nepotism baby, don't you?"

Lucas chose to ignore Harvey's jab and instead turned to Michel. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Michel. I'll have my manager get in touch with you about the project."

Michel sensed the tension between the two men and decided not to pry. "Thank you, Lucas. It was a pleasure meeting you too. I hope we can work together soon."

Lucas bid them both goodbye and walked away, leaving Harvey with a sour expression on his face.

---

As Lucas made his way to his rented limousine, a swarm of fans surrounded him, hoping for autographs and selfies. His bodyguards, Jack and Simon, quickly formed a barrier around him, clearing a path.

Lucas did his best to sign shirts and pictures as he could, but after a minute, he had to duck into the waiting car. He rolled down the window and waved to the remaining fans.

The fans waved back, chattering among themselves. "Man, not every famous person would take the time to interact with their fans like that."

"I know, right? He's so down-to-earth. He tried to sign as many autographs as he could, even though his guards were rushing him along."

"He's really sweet. I'm glad he won the Oscar."

As the limousine carried him away from the buzzing event, Lucas leaned back against the plush leather seat, lost in thought. "I wonder who could have helped me win the Oscar," he mused in his mind. "It couldn't have been my father. He's basically the same as Dr. Seuss, and just as terrible of a person."

---

In March 2012, the animated film "The Lorax" premiered to much anticipation. Moviegoers flocked to the theaters, eager to see the big-screen adaptation of the beloved Dr. Seuss book.

As the opening scene began, the citizens of Thneedville started singing a catchy tune, and the audience was immediately hooked. When the main character, Ted, voiced by none other than Lucas, joined in with a surprisingly catchy rap, the audience was taken by surprise.

Throughout the film, the audience was captivated by the story's message and Lucas's impressive voice acting. While some felt the songs after the initial "Thneedville" number didn't quite live up to the same standard, it didn't dampen their overall enjoyment of the movie.

When the credits rolled, the audience filed out of the theater mostly satisfied, buzzing about the film's important environmental themes and the standout performance by the young actor who brought Ted to life.

However, not everyone shared the same enthusiasm for the film. Some middle-aged parents took to social media platforms like Facebook to voice their discontent.

"I only watched 'The Lorax' because my teenage daughter wanted to see it because of Lucas," one parent wrote. "But honestly, I didn't like a single bit of the story. Not because of the voice cast or animation, but because it was made by a despicable man, Dr. Seuss."

Another parent commented, "I don't care if 'The Lorax' is a good story. I don't even care if that so-called Lucas or Taylor is in it. I just hate it to the bones. Dr. Seuss was a terrible person."

The hatred for "The Lorax" wasn't solely directed at the film itself; many older women and men harbored a deep-seated dislike for all of Dr. Seuss's works due to his problematic past.

Some clueless users chimed in, asking, "Why do some people hate Dr. Seuss? What's going on?"

A group of older individuals stepped in to answer their questions. They explained that Dr. Seuss, the author of 'The Lorax,' was a terrible man who cheated on his wife, who had cancer, with her best friend. To make matters worse, his wife, consumed by her illness and heartache, took her own life, leaving behind a note expressing her undying love for her husband—the man known as Dr. Seuss.

To the dismay of many, Dr. Seuss showed no remorse for his actions and went on to marry his mistress, his late wife's best friend. As word spread among the younger generations, they too began to despise him. "Thanks for ruining our childhood for us, folks," some sarcastically tweeted.

Despite the hatred for the film "Lorax" due to its association with Dr. Seuss, a man with a tainted past, it didn't stop people from supporting it. Ironically, their support stemmed from the fact that one of their idols voiced a character in the animated movie.

After several days of "Lorax" screenings, the catchy "Thneedville" song and its accompanying animated scenes became quite popular on YouTube. The residents of Thneedville sang about their city's harsh truths, with Ted, voiced by Lucas, joining in. Additionally, a song featuring Audrey, voiced by Taylor, garnered much attention as well.

Meanwhile, Lucas spent most of his time bonding with the cast of his current project, "Gravity." He was very serious about this project, as he had always been interested in taking on a film set in space or about the universe.