Chapter 29

In November, many places in the United States had already entered winter, but the sunshine in California still kept the temperature comfortably stable.

A silver Ferrari 360 drove into Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, east of Santa Monica.

In a screening room at Screen Gems, a rough cut of Underworld was being played.

Producer Henry Winther, director Len Wiseman, and actress Kate Beckinsale, along with Screen Gems executive Peter Schleiser, were all watching Underworld on the screen.

The dark imagery, coupled with the Gothic architectural style, created a grim underground world of vampires and werewolves engaged in centuries-old bloodshed.

The heroine, dressed in a tight leather outfit and a black trench coat, displayed a cold and sexy figure.

The movie's strong points lay in the enmity and romantic conflicts between different species, vampires and werewolves, combined with a black, decadent aesthetic and cool styling that were visually appealing.

However, the flaws were also apparent: a single-threaded plot and a lack of logical world-building made the story somewhat lackluster.

"We need to cut some of the unnecessary dialogue, so there will be more fighting scenes," Peter Schleiser was the first to give an opinion, stressing the need to reduce the runtime.

"This is just a rough cut; some scenes haven't even gone through post-production, it needs more time," Charles Carpe commented. Len Wiseman did prefer not to use too many special effects, but some parts were essential!

Charles had come over to join everyone in viewing the film and to discuss the distribution plan with Screen Gems.

"We should focus on promoting Kate. Currently, she is cast as the leading actress in Universal's monster action blockbuster Van Helsing, which is generating a lot of buzz. Underworld is scheduled for next September, avoiding the brutal summer box office competition," Peter Schleiser said in the small meeting room next door to Charles and Henry.

"That gives us enough time to perfect the movie's post-production," Henry added.

Charles nodded. He had thought Screen Gems would schedule Underworld for March next year. After all, Resident Evil, released in March this year, used a production budget of $33 million to rake in over $40 million domestically and more than $62 million overseas.

And Resident Evil 2 was scheduled for 2004, so Underworld could fill the gap next year, couldn't it?

However, it was common practice for distribution companies to delay films as long as it wasn't for an excessive one to two years.

For example, Phone Booth, a low-budget movie invested in by 20th Century Fox, was completed in November 2000 but didn't premiere until this September at the Toronto Film Festival.

Its release was originally set for November this year but got postponed to next March after the recent sniper shootings in Washington D.C. and Maryland.

After leaving Sony Pictures Studios, Charles Carpe went with Kate Beckinsale to the tennis club at Ranch Park.

After sweating it out on the court, the two sat down to rest.

"The investment budget for Van Helsing is like a hundred million dollars. Universal is really going big this time," Charles remarked with a smile after taking a sip of water.

Kate Beckinsale lit a cigarette skillfully, took a puff, and smiled, "Universal has always been good at developing vampire and werewolf monster movies."

Charles agreed. Universal had originally built its name on such horror monster-type movies. Then Spielberg's rise established its reputation for blockbuster commercial films.

"Where's the location for this one?"

"Eastern Europe, Prague in the Czech Republic. There are many suitable shooting locations there," Kate Beckinsale replied. She hadn't been back from Budapest for long and was about to head out again.

"Action movies are great too. These big commercial films can't do without action scenes now. You could go in this direction. You've seen it yourself in recent years; action films with strong female leads are doing well at the box office," Charles suggested, realizing she and Len Wiseman were just regular friends now. Did he just break up a couple?

Charlie's Angels, Resident Evil, and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider were examples of this. Raising the flag of feminism was great!

"I know. Warner Brothers is investing 100 million dollars in making the DC female hero movie Catwoman," Kate noted. She was keeping an eye on movies with strong female leads and Catwoman was a major production.

"Halle Berry, this year's Oscar winner for Best Actress, is playing Catwoman," Charles shook his head without commenting further. Casting a Black actress as Catwoman, was that appropriate for this time?

Racism was indeed a taboo in the U.S., but at that time, there was no #BlackLivesMatter movement. Discrimination against African Americans was still quite evident.

Alright, aside from White people, Americans discriminated against other minorities too, in the following order: Mexicans, African Americans, and Asians.

"Is your Lost in Translation going to be released soon?"

Kate Beckinsale and Charles had spent half a month together in Budapest. Charles was seen as a promising prospect.

"Before Christmas. Focus Features is promoting it now. It's an indie film, so it won't have a huge release," Charles said.

"Alright, let's go get dinner!" Charles said as he stood up.

"Hmm, your place or mine tonight?" Kate asked while packing up.

"Mine. You're too easily spotted by reporters now," Charles replied without hesitation. Hollywood paparazzi were almost as ruthless as their British counterparts when it came to celebrity gossip.

The paparazzi from the British Empire were notorious, holding the title of world champs in invasiveness!

As they drove away from Ranch Park, they saw a lot of protesters in a nearby square.

"Is America going to war again?" Kate glanced at what seemed like an anti-war rally.

"Almost. Since 9/11 last year, the White House has been relentlessly attacking terrorism. Iraq has been labeled part of the 'Axis of Evil,'" Charles said sarcastically.

Weapons of mass destruction? The oil in Iraq was the real reason!

"Don't worry, the British will send troops too. Looks like a lot of British lads will die fighting for America again," Kate joked awkwardly and pinched Charles's leg.

"Alright, let's drop the subject. As Hollywood stars, it's better for you not to discuss politics," Charles suggested.

Kate shook her head, "Talking politics is really more of an American thing. We foreigners rarely discuss American politics."

"True enough. You did go to Oxford University, unlike most of the low-educated Hollywood stars," Charles agreed.

Most Hollywood stars lived simple-minded, hedonistic lives as their daily pursuit.

To increase their fame, they often spouted thoughtless topics without considering the consequences, leading to countless instances of eating their words.

*****

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