Just Another Hollywood Story

Chapter 6

Itz-bautista you got it. Just a warning if you're looking for something really romantic. Don't expect a whole lot lol. I do love your pick, however.

alphin_cj that is what I am thinking. May have him win the BAFTA Award or at the least MTV but I do feel like he is too young to win a major award at this point in time. Also, I understand where you're coming from. The MC will branch out into TV, music and other movie genres but will stick with crime and horror. I had never thought about supporting independent films but that is a great idea. Just remind me because I won't add anything like that till after he moves up more. Of course, he will work openly with big name studios, but he won't flood Hollywood with his script. To much success could be just as bad as to little. Last, I understand where you're coming from as far as writing scripts for girlfriends, but I looked it up and Gwyneth Paltrow is the goddaughter of Steven Spielberg. Now I don't know what the relationship is but an in is a in when it comes to that guy. As for anyone else, being friends with future stars by writing scripts for them to me is just playing it smart.

Fyi to everyone else who reads my story. I almost aways answer all reviews. I you have an idea, an option or thought. Share it. Even if it's to tell me my story sucks.

There are two questions at the end of this chapter that I need help with. Feel free to leave thoughts on them at the bottom of the page.

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"Anger, lots of anger. That is what I saw when I first met Ceaser. The same anger and hate I had carried in myself for so many years. He hid it well, but he was angry and ready to do whatever it took to succeed. That is why I helped him, became friends with him. I saw myself as a young man when I looked at him and was afraid of what he would become if I didn't at least try and be a friend to him" Danny Trejo

-Late 1995-

So here I was on the set of From Dusk till Dawn, and I have to say it wasn't too bad to be honest. I mean none of the sets I had worked on where that bad to begin with but there was just something about Quentin Tarantino style of film making that I liked. Pulp Fiction of course one of the greatest movies ever made in my opinion and the man himself wasn't so bad. A bit of a self-absorbed narcissist but hey this is Hollywood. Who wasn't a self-absorbed narcissist? For real however overall, he was an okay guy. Had a bit of an obsession with feet but everyone has their thing right.

Anyways it was while I was on the set of From Dusk till Dawn that I noticed for the first time that things were changing for me. Frist there was Quentin himself. The man loved movies, most people in Hollywood do. Even most of the executives in Hollywood loved movies. Otherwise, they couldn't and wouldn't do what they did for a living. That said Quentin truly and passionately loved movies. He loves writing them, directing them, and acting in them. Especially horror films and crime thrillers. So, when Se7en came out he went to see it and loved it. Calling it one of if the best films if not the best film of the year. Even going as far as to say that he thought David should win the Academy Award for best director.

Then he found out that the person who wrote the script for Se7en was working on the set. He wasted little time coming over to speak with me about it. Which was a bit of a surprise because I was just a writer. You see in Hollywood most people saw screen writers as the lowest level employees in Hollywood, but with Quentin himself being a writer he didn't see it that way. In his own words movies started with a good script. He had seen hundreds of them during his time as both an actor and director. And according to him own words most not even worth cleaning your ass with. So, he had a lot of respect for writers who could actually write a good script. He just didn't like the WGA after they fucked him over on credit for Natural Born Killers.

Other than that, he was happy to speak with me about Se7en. Finding it equal parts fascinating and unbelievable that a 19-year-old had written it. He got a good laugh when I told him that I was actually sixteen when I started writing it and eighteen when I sold it. Hell, the man admitted he couldn't remember what he was doing at 16 non the less eighteen but it wasn't writing a hit movie. And wondered if I had any more ideas in my head.

Seeing that I was already on his good side I shared with him an idea about writing an adaptation of a book I had read called Rum Punch. A book he had not even heard about till I had told him about it. Setting the seeds for the movie Jackie Brown that he both have ended up both writing and directing if I hadn't said anything. In my mind, even if he didn't call me to write the script or anything the fact that I gave him the idea would stick in his mind. Something that could only help me down the road later.

However, as good as it was for my career to meet Quentin, he was not the most important connection I would meet on set. Even if I didn't realize how important they would be in my life till years later. Frist among those connections was a man name Danny Trejo who from the moment I first met him had my respect and for several reasons. The main reason being that like Alexandra's father, he was from that generation. When a man was only as good as his word and if you couldn't keep your word, you were not a man. The second reason was because like me he had seen shit.

You only had to meet the man and look into his eye to see that. Forget about how he looks physically. Any fool can look tough, act mean and seem violent. There is no shortage of those types in the world. It was the eyes that told a man's story and eyes where haunted by the things he had seen. It was like looking in a mirror except in his eyes I saw none of the hate or anger I still felt for the world. It took me a good while to realize that he, unlike me, had let go of that anger the filled him up inside and moved on to a better life.

Anyways, it was cool because we had a lot in common. Nothing good mind you but we were both men trying to do something with our lives. We hung out and talked, drank beers, and joked. Looking back, he was the first friend I could honestly say I ever had. If David was like a friend, then Danny was a friend. Because he didn't look at or treat me like a kid. Something that David did from time to time.

Yet in every story there is the woman. In my case there would be several but perhaps the most important of them all was Salma Valgarma Hayek Pinault. Fuck I don't even know what to say about her other than beautiful both in appearance and soul. As well as being what some would call a firecracker. Full of passion and a desire to shine as brightly as she could. She wanted the entire world to know who she was while not being over-baring about it. You could say we got along well from the start. Just not in the way I would have preferred.

We were on set after all, so I wasn't going to make a move on her anyways. That said I didn't hide how if felt about her. Not that I could because she gave me that knowing look. You know the kind I am talking about. The type of look women gives to men when they know you're interested but are not interested themselves. Which sadly was understandable. After all I was 10 years younger than her. Something that didn't matter a whole lot in Hollywood, but she was also very goal oriented. She wanted to breakthrough in Hollywood and while Desperado and given her career the push it needed. That movie was more Antonio Banderas time to shine then hers. Frankly, she didn't have time to think about having a relationship or even a fling with a writer who had one hit movie under his belt.

"Cut, take 15 everyone." I heard the voice Robert Anthony Rodriguez yelled in frustration.

"God damn it Robert again." I hear Quentin say in anger.

Not that I could blame him for being angry as this was the 12th retake, we had done of Salma dance scene. At this point everyone was getting a little pissed off.

"I am sorry Quentin but there is still a glare on the camera 4 and 5." Robert says in annoyance. He had already had the lighting crew adjust the lights half a dozen times and fix the camera angels four times only to get the same glare.

"Well, someone please come get this snake off me." Salma say and the animal trainer comes over to remove it. Then she puts on some slippers and grabs a newspaper before she spots me and makes her way over.

No looking up from where I was sitting and eating an apple I say, "I thought I told you before Miss Hayek if you are going to walk up to me dressed like that it had better be for something more then to bum a smoke."

"Oh, shut up and give me a cigarette." She says in a playful voice.

Putting down my apple I stand up and reach into my back pocket. Taking out a pack of cigarettes I gave her one. Then take out a lighter and light it for her.

After she takes a few drags of her cigarette she says, "You know for someone who has made his desires for me clear. I have noticed you haven't been watching me lately."

"Ya well what can I say the first time you came out in that get up it was a treat, the 2nd time was nice, it was the 3rd through 15th time that it lost its appeal." I say to her in a flat voice.

"Aw I know, I think I am getting blisters in my feet, and I know I have picked up more than one splinter from those tables." She moans in annoyance.

"Such is the price of fame Miss Hayek. Just stick with it and this one movie will make you a star." I tell her which makes her smile.

"You know you have been saying that from the first day Danny introduced us. At first, I thought it was just you trying to hit on me. But you honestly believe it don't you?" She asks me.

"Of course I do. Just wait and see. Soon you will be the jack off material of a whole generation." I say right when she is taking another drag of her cigarette. Making her cough upon hearing this and hit me in the chest with her hand.

"Cough, cough, Ceaser really, cough that isn't something you say to a lady." She says in a scolding tone.

"Why not, I think it sounds quite flattering." I say with a smile on my face.

Rolling her eyes at me Salma, "Of course you do but no matter what you think it's still not something to say to a woman."

That said Salma couldn't keep the smile off her face upon hearing it. Yes, it was rude and normally she would get upset or even angry at someone for daring to say something like that to her. But in Ceaser's case she didn't mind it so much. In a place as fake as Hollywood meeting someone who was so honest was refreshing. There was no subtlety with him. He didn't flirt or come on to her like most guys. He said what he was thinking, made his attentions and desires clear but kept a respectful distance form her person. She had experienced a lot worse from those so-called respectful people of Hollywood. Who had laid a hand on her more than once without her permission. Something she was unable to do much about if she wanted to keep acting. Between that and blunt honestly, she would take the honestly.

"Speaking of being famous did you see the latest box office?" Salma asks me.

"No, why?" I ask her.

She hands me the paper with the box office totals and says, "Se7en just cleared 100 million and is still climbing."

"So, it has," I say to her in a calm voice.

And Salma just rolls her eyes again. She hadn't known Ceaser for that long, but she was starting to get a feel for his overall personality. Behind his blunt honestly, he was also very cool and calm individual. Who was not easy to impress. As he was showing by how he took the news that the movie he had written had just cleared a huge milestone. Over four thousand movies were released each year and out of all those movies, maybe 6 or 7 would clear one hundred million dollars at the box office. It was a big deal and yet he didn't seem to care at all. She honestly couldn't tell if it was due to supreme confidence and a belief that it was only natural that it did. Or he honestly just didn't care.

Whatever the reason she can't help but say, "Can you at least try and sound bit more excited."

I just look over at her. Right in her eyes. Not at her chest which I normally did and say, "Oh but I am Miss Hayek. The first obstacle has been cleared. All I need is another hit, and no one can deny my abilities."

"Speaking of hits, you ever call those people back from Miramax. They wanted to by one of your scripts, right?" Salma asks. Recalling Miramax calling for him while they were on set.

"Not yet, Quentin advised me to hold off till I get an agent this time. So, I was waiting to hear back from your agent at CCA to see if they would sign me." I say to her.

"Oh, that is right. Now did that go by the way?" She asks me.

"Not well, we couldn't come to an agreement. Your agent is more focused on your career right now and those of the other talent he had signed. As for another agent they have expressed no real desire to sign me either." I say to her.

Her eyes widen a bit at hearing this and say says, "I don't believe it. Really, they don't what to sign you?"

"They would but the deal they are offering isn't very good," I tell her.

Really, she shouldn't have been surprised. I was just a writer after all. Not an actor. There was little upside to sighing a writer who they said in not so many words just got lucky. They didn't believe a 19-year-old had anything else to offer Hollywood and wouldn't give me the deal I was looking for. At least that was until they got word that Miramax was interested in another one of my scripts. As was New Line, who wanted to see if I could do it again. When they heard that they had been trying to get ahold of me again, I ignored their calls, however. After all someone else had shown up wanting to talk and their offer was a lot better than the one CCA gave me. United Talent Agency was a new agency that had just opened its doors in 1991, but they were growing fast and looking for talent.

"Well, I am sure you will find someone willing to sign you." Salma says.

"I am counting on it." I tell her.

"Alright everyone let's get back to work" We hear the I hear the director say.

"Time to get back to work." I say to her.

"Yes, I guess so talk later Caesar." Salma says to me but before she walks off but turns back around and adds, "Oh and let my agent know if you think I could play a role in your new script."

"I will keep you in mind." I say to her with a smile.

And I would. Making friends with a future sex symbol was not a bad idea. In fact, in Scream the reporter Gale Weathers who I currently had dub as annoying reporter in the script didn't need to be the original actress. While Courteney Cox was good any woman over the age of twenty-five who was a half decent actress could play the part. So why not see if Salma could do the role? Plus, I wasn't a fan of Friends anyways, so I why not help someone I already knew.

Walking into the office building of the UTA with my lawyer Alexandra in troll I am immediately greeted by a man name Theodore Petersen. The very man who would become and stay my agent for the rest of his life. A somewhat short and pudgy men. He was a lot younger than your standard agent. Which wasn't a surprise as he had just graduated from collage 2 years ago and started working for UTA six months ago. Considered young and inexperienced by his colleagues he had called me up the moment Se7en took off in theaters.

At the time, however, I was unwilling to talk with him do to being in talks with the CCA. But the moment that fell through I called him back. Now being much more open to discussion. And after a bit of back and forth we had agreed on your standard contract of 3 years at 10 percent commission with the option to drop me if I don't sell a script within two years. Something we both knew wouldn't be a problem as I had already informed him that I had already gotten calls about Scream.

Today we were just meeting so Alexandra could look over the paperwork before I signed up. Which came as a surprise to Theodore who didn't think I would already have a lawyer. Not that he was worried about me having one. As he had no desire to screw me over right now. He after all was just starting off himself and had only a few no-name clients under him. He couldn't afford to play such dirty games at this point in his career.

"Everything looks good Ceaser. You can sign now." I hear Alexandra say to me.

Picking up a pin I sign the contract. Then hear Theodore clap his hands in joy then says, "Wonderful, shall we get down to business."

"Yes, lets." I say to him coldly.

"Your script Scream you said you have gotten calls from several interested parties current?" Theodore asks.

"That is right Miramax and New Line." I answer him.

"Have you already agreed to anything with either of their companies?" He asks because if I did it could prove a problem going forward.

"No but, if possible, I want you to cut a deal with New Line and Arnold Kopelson." I tell him.

"I see, is there a reason why?" Theodore asks.

"I have worked with him before." That is all I say.

Honestly, I had debated on what to do with the script of Scream. The moment Miramax had called me and told me they were interested in my script I had thought about selling out right away. It didn't matter what they offered me so long as the movie got made and it was a hit, it would have served its purpose. Now I was happy I held off. Since Arnold had called me only a few days later waiting to buy the same script.

Having worked with Arnold before and knowing he now had at least some respect for me. It just made sense to work with him again. So long as the key players were put into place. Like director Wes Craven and actress Neve Campbell there shouldn't be a problem with me selling the script to New Line over Miramax. Hell, even Neve could probably be replaced. So long as Wes directed it, I saw no real problems with the teen slasher movie being successful.

"Then I will start there but I hope you understand Ceaser as your agent it's my job to get the best deal for you." Theodore says.

"Of course, just make sure that like with Se7en the project involves me as much as possible." I tell him. Ending our short little talk.

Now all there was left was to see who got the script Miramax or New Line.

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Okay my first question is an obvious one. Do I replace Courteney Cox with Salma Hayek or someone else? I personally don't think it matters either way. So, I am on the fence so to speak.

The second question is whether I should go with Miramax or New Line again. Again, I don't think it matters all that much. But with Miramax being a part of The Walt Disney Company at this point in time and New Line becoming subsidiary of Warner Bros. Pictures in 1996. It could set things up for future films.