Chapter 61: 18 Years Old

For Hollywood, the last week of January 1987 shifted its focus from the upcoming Golden Globe Awards to a youth and his first directorial venture.

"The 3rd Annual Sundance closes successfully, *Run Lola Run* sweeps awards," was the headline prominently featured on January 27th in *The Hollywood Reporter*.

On January 26th, the Sundance Film Festival, founded by Hollywood star Robert Redford, concluded with *Run Lola Run* rightfully earning the 'Jury Prize' and the 'Cinematography Award.'

In the ten days prior, due to its overwhelming popularity, the Sundance Festival committee had to double the screenings for *Run Lola Run*, yet tickets were still in short supply.

At the awards ceremony that day, influenced undoubtedly by *Run Lola Run*, Park City's Egyptian Theatre was packed to the rafters.

Nevertheless.

After all, Sundance is still just a burgeoning festival.

It was evident that during this period, rather than Sundance elevating the fame of *Run Lola Run*, it was the media coverage of the film that, conversely, heightened the festival's profile.

Typically, after participating in such a relatively low-impact festival, the excitement would fade quickly, and everything would return to normal.

However.

For Simon.

For *Run Lola Run*.

Many things were just beginning.

January 28th.

Wednesday.

An article in *The Los Angeles Times* illuminated a name that had been subtly emerging in the public eye, making it dazzlingly prominent.

"18 Years Old"

A title so succinct it almost carried a hint of suspense.

The accompanying image was a set photo from the casino scenes in *Run Lola Run*. The young man, hands resting on the gambling table, furrowed his brow in concentration at the roulette wheel before him. Around him, dozens of people—standing, sitting, leaning against walls, or chatting idly—yet all evidently paying some attention to the young man at the table.

The perfect candid shot displayed a peculiar type of commanding presence. Viewers could instantly discern who was the center of this photographic universe.

Peter Butler was evidently not only a very decent photographer.

But also an excellent writer.

"First, think back to when you were 18. What were you doing?"

"Then, consider another person. His 18th year began in a public mental hospital in Watsonville, a small town near San Francisco. Dilapidated, chilly, bitterly cold—these were my most profound impressions when I deliberately visited. Yet, he achieved another rebirth there. I use 'another' because his life seems filled with countless unspoken resurrections. I've spoken to many who were once close to him, all say he is a very hardworking person."

"But today, I'll only talk about his 18th year."

"In the first four months of his 18th year, he recovered from some sudden mental affliction, then he changed his surname to Westeros. Simon Westeros."

"I asked him what 'Westeros' means? He said he couldn't say, nor would he fabricate a reason to deceive me. Then I asked where he was from, and he was forthcoming, not even hiding his stint in the mental hospital. Clearly, 'Westeros' matters more, but we may never know its significance."

"In his fifth month of being 18, he moved to Los Angeles, armed with two scripts, and successfully persuaded the vice president of WMA to sign him on as their only scriptwriter client."

"In his sixth month of 18, he worked at a convenience store for $3.50 an hour, earning $140 a week. The store's owner said he was a cashier with great potential, but his wage was not enough to cover his rent. So, he borrowed a guitar and made a few hundred dollars one afternoon on Venice Beach. The innkeeper said he was a guitarist with great potential."

"In his seventh month of 18, he sold his first script for $200,000, equivalent to what most screenwriters earn in ten years."

"In his eighth month of 18, he began shooting his first film."

"And so, he became a producer, director, screenwriter, cinematographer, editor, lighting technician, music composer... and finally, the stunning *Run Lola Run*. 'Stunning' is the most fitting word I can think of."

"The first time I met him was in a banquet hall at a hotel in Santa Monica. It was a casino scene, although Santa Monica doesn't have casinos. I asked the film's producer, Ron McMillan, if this wasn't a bug? Ron stumbled over his words, then mimicking someone's tone, told me: 'The director said there should be a casino, so there was a casino.'"

"This joke-like comment stuck with me, and now, I understand it as some sort of profound metaphor."

"Then, I spent an entire afternoon on his set, observing him control the entire crew in

 a manner quite unlike any other director. He didn't shout or patiently explain; he preferred to command. It seemed as though the entire film was firmly planted in his mind, needing only to be replicated onto film. To him, everyone else was merely a prop."

"Including himself."

"The lighting technician couldn't stand his demanding nature and quit after three days; Simon then took over as the lighting technician. Before that, he was already the producer, screenwriter, and director. After that, he became the music composer, editor, and colorist. When I asked him in Park City if handling so many roles was exhausting, he said it wasn't; it saved money."

"Of course, his filmmaking was indeed cost-effective; with a budget of $650,000, he only spent $597,000. Clearly, in Hollywood where cost control is usually elusive, any film studio boss would absolutely desire such a type of director."

"However, I think it's more because he's too proud, feeling that no one else's work matches up to his own, so he prefers doing it himself."

"Although everyone I asked thought he should be proud, including myself, it's hard for anyone to detect any arrogance in him; he always seems to be a very ordinary and calm young man. Regarding this, his girlfriend Jenny's words might shed some light: 'He is too proud to bother being proud, like a god from another world, suddenly come to conquer.'"

"We were in a small restaurant in Park City just after attending the premiere of *Run Lola Run*. I was overwhelmingly shocked by his film, repeatedly questioning if this truly could be the work of an 18-year-old."

"As lunch was about to end, I finally couldn't resist asking him: 'Simon, are you a god?'"

"He said no, he is a man. A man who likes women."

P.S.: After so many years, I've suddenly discovered that I too can make a triple post.