Chapter 4: Theatre Production

In the evening, Charles hurried to his mother's place in North Hollywood.

"What's up? Looking for another job on a film crew?" Evelyn glanced at her son, thinking he was trying to get work experience in a new film crew again.

Charles shook his head and took out a flyer about the theater production of My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Pointing at the description on the flyer, he said, "This one-man show can be adapted into a movie. It depicts the family conflicts between Greek and American families regarding marriage - romance, comedy, and humor."

Charles continued, oblivious to his mother's expression, "Unlike the sweet romantic comedies of Meg Ryan, Julia Roberts, or Drew Barrymore, this is a lifelike comedic romance. It reflects the lives of other ethnic groups in American society.

Nia Vardalos wrote this script based on her everyday life. She's a Greek-American dealing with such troubles. It's grounded in real life and will attract the audience's curiosity."

Evelyn raised her hand and rubbed her forehead, staring at her animated son. She really didn't want to interrupt but, "Honey, first tell me what you want to do?"

"Oh, I was wondering if you have any connections to develop this movie. I think it could be a big hit," Charles seemed a bit excited.

"Do you know how long it takes to prepare a movie? The script, producer, director, actors, and crew members, the filming process, and then the marketing and distribution afterward. Do you think developing a movie is that simple?" Evelyn replied, looking at him as if he was dreaming.

"Of course I know! Although this one is a low-budget independent film, and the script and actors aren't an issue, the main problem now is funding. I'm confident that with just a $5 million budget, we can make this movie. We can take it to film festivals like Sundance, SXSW, or the Toronto Film Festival; those are independent festivals and won't cost much.

We don't have money for advertising. We'll rely on film festivals, independent art theaters, and word-of-mouth to build up its influence. This type of movie isn't a blockbuster; it thrives on long-term screenings.

Of course, I also need your help, Mom. We're broke right now, so we need investors. To ensure my role and rights in the project, I want you to talk to Nia Vardalos about the movie adaptation and possibly sign a first-option agreement for the script."

Alright, that was Charles' agenda. After all, he was a nobody right now, and no one paid any attention to him. Evelyn, at least, knew some people in the industry. If she approached Nia, she'd have a better chance of being believed.

Evelyn stared at him for a moment, seeing how serious he was, making her feel somewhat conflicted. She sighed deeply and said,

"Are you serious? You're only 19!"

Charles nodded solemnly, "That's exactly why I need you to manage things up front while I handle things behind the scenes. And this adaptation will soon catch the eye of producers. We can't afford to wait. If we miss this opportunity, we'll lose out on a massive start-up fund."

Evelyn pondered it for a moment and said, "Let me think about it. I need to go to the theater and see the performance."

She was hesitant. Purchasing a newbie's script wasn't expensive unless it attracted a lot of attention, driving the price up.

The cost of a stage play adaptation varied with its popularity, but even if she bought it, it wouldn't exceed $100,000, especially since it was a new play. Unless others showed interest and bid higher, it shouldn't cost more.

Evelyn could afford $100,000, but she didn't have much in savings. Her annual income was around $200,000 to $300,000, and she had expenses. Currently, she had about $150,000 in savings - quite the dilemma.

When Charles left his mom's house, he seemed deep in thought. He remembered clearly that this movie was discovered by a big star, Tom Hanks's wife Rita Wilson. Given Tom Hanks' reputation, developing a small-budget film for a few million dollars was a piece of cake!

The movie promotion wasn't extensive, as it didn't feature big stars or famous directors - mostly newcomers. Posters weren't plastered everywhere, relying on community theaters, art house cinemas, and positive reviews over time.

For days, Charles waited anxiously for his mom to call him. My Big Fat Greek Wedding wasn't particularly well-known in Los Angeles.

It was, after all, just a one-man show that mainly attracted the Greek community, other ethnic groups with similar issues, and some artsy types.

One day, Charles was chatting with Megan Fox. Over the past few days, they had become quite close. Being young, they didn't have many reservations.

They were cuddling and kissing in a park pavilion when Charles received his mom's call, "Wells Coffeehouse, come over!"

"Megan, I gotta go, got things to do!" As soon as he answered the call, he broke away from the kiss and ran off.

Women, they can't beat the thrill of making money!

West Hollywood, Wells Coffeehouse.

Evelyn was sitting in a corner with Nia Vardalos.

*****

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