Chapter 39: Orion

Around 7:30 PM, outside a mansion halfway up Beverly Hills.

A burgundy Ford sedan stopped on the narrow mountain road. Simon Westeros got out of the car and went around to the other side, opening the door for Janet Johnston who naturally took his arm. He joked in a low voice, "This isn't the calm before the storm, is it?"

As it was a casual cocktail party, although Simon had changed into a shirt and trousers, Janet was still wearing the pink long dress from the day. However, she seemed like a completely different person now, without any of her usual craziness and casual demeanor, looking every bit the well-bred young lady.

Hearing the jest, Janet glanced at Simon sidelong and pinched him subtly on the arm.

Feeling the pinch, Simon relaxed.

Good.

This was normal.

Entering the mansion, Simon and Janet were led by a butler to the poolside in the front yard, where Brian De Palma and David Geiler came forward to greet them.

By now, the party was well-attended, and the arrival of Brian De Palma and David Geiler at the side of a young couple drew curious glances and whispers.

After exchanging greetings, both middle-aged men showed evident curiosity about Janet, who was elegantly poised beside Simon. They were fairly familiar with Simon's personal circumstances and were thus puzzled about his bringing such a companion today.

Janet didn't look like one of those nameless actresses hoping to hitch a ride into Hollywood; she appeared more like a debutante from a wealthy family.

Feeling their curiosity, Simon took the initiative to introduce her, "Brian, David, this is Janet Johnston, she's an artist. Janet, this is Mr. Brian De Palma, and this is Mr. David Geiler."

After Simon's introduction, Janet shook hands with the two men with grace and made a few well-placed compliments.

After some small talk, Brian De Palma went off to greet other guests, while David Geiler whispered to Simon that Mike Medavoy, the president of Orion Pictures, would arrive later, then started introducing Simon and Janet to the other guests of the evening.

Hollywood seemed large, but once one entered the circle, it became surprisingly small.

It was Simon's first time at such a gathering, yet he encountered Hollywood stars like Al Pacino, Michael Caine, Harvey Keitel, and Melanie Griffith, previously out of reach.

Of course, these initial interactions were brief and couldn't immediately lead to deep connections. But Simon knew even these contacts were coveted by many trying desperately to break into the circle.

The logic was simple.

Being seen and getting familiar could lead to future collaborations, as opposed to not being recognized at all.

After mingling for a while, David Geiler stepped away, leaving Simon and Janet by a railing with a panoramic view of Los Angeles, each holding a cocktail.

Janet sipped her drink elegantly and teased, seeing Simon's focused gaze on the city lights below, "Little boy, got any big ambitions brewing?"

"No," Simon shook his head, "Just reminded of a movie, about a guy, um, quite unprofessional."

Janet noticed a fleeting emotion in Simon's expression and asked curiously, "Oh?"

Simon drained his glass and smiled, "Nothing, just a movie that hasn't been made yet, so I can't tell you about it."

Janet looked at Simon and then nodded as if understanding, her eyes bright in the light as if harboring eager little beasts, "Little boy, starting to talk crazy? I'm with you."

Simon looked at Janet's earnest face teetering on the edge of madness and almost touched her pale cheek. His arm lifted slightly but then he stopped himself, "Let's not. I still hope you maintain this elegant demeanor, it's very dignified for a man."

"Ha, sure," Janet laughed lightly, the air she had gathered dispersing, "Actually, it feels like a lot of them already know you."

Simon had noticed too, the meaningful glances during David Geiler's introductions, "Probably not for a good reason."

Relative to his recent controversial incident, Simon thought they might have noticed him for breaking five men's legs, even David Geiler had inquired if Simon had learned martial arts like Bruce Lee.

Honestly, Simon didn't quite remember that night's events as he had been near a breakdown.

Yet, lately, Simon realized his own strength far exceeded the average, and though he knew no martial arts, he had professional combat skills in his mind. But how strong he actually was in terms of combat, Simon had no concept. He wasn't a violent man and didn't care to test it.

As they talked, David Geiler appeared again with a robust, friendly-looking middle-aged man.

"Mike, this is Simon," David Geiler indicated towards Simon, then introduced, "Simon, this is Mike Medavoy, the president of Orion Pictures."

Simon shook

 hands with Mike politely and briefly introduced Janet beside him before David Geiler led them up to a terrace on the second floor of the villa. The terrace, furnished with a table and chairs, offered a better view than the railing area.

After some initial pleasantries, David excused himself, leaving Simon and Mike Medavoy to talk.

They weren't discussing secrets, so Simon didn't send Janet away, focusing instead on addressing Mike's probing questions.

In the 1980s, due to the overall resurgence of the film industry, Hollywood saw the rise of several notable independent production companies.

Compared to more famous ones like New Line and Miramax, companies like Orion, Cannon, Carolco, and Castle Rock were actually stronger during that era.

Orion, similar to Miramax, had produced and distributed films that were favorites at the Oscars, such as "The Silence of the Lambs," "Dances with Wolves," "Prague in Love," and "Platoon."

After Orion went bankrupt in the early 1990s, the Weinsteins of Miramax began to emerge at the Oscars.

Companies like Cannon, Carolco, and Castle Rock, too, faded before the new millennium, mostly becoming non-essential labels under various media conglomerates. Only New Line and Miramax, which had aligned early with major players like Time Warner and Disney, managed to survive more successfully.

On the terrace, Mike Medavoy was not very talkative, but it was clear from his conversation that he had thoroughly researched both Simon and his script for "Run Lola Run," and even seen the screenplay for "The Butterfly Effect."

Noting this, Simon realized that Orion was genuinely interested in "Run Lola Run," and the possibility of collaboration was substantial.

However, after thoughtful consideration, if it weren't so, David Geiler wouldn't have arranged this meeting so formally.

After some discussion, Mike gradually brought up the topic of a substantive partnership, "Simon, 'Run Lola Run' is indeed a novel story, and its low budget could offset its commercial risks. However, it's hard for me to agree to your demands for complete creative control."

Simon listened and replied, "Mike, 'Run Lola Run' may seem simple, but its details are highly coherent and meticulous. Besides myself, I don't think anyone else could fully convey this story. Moreover, I've said that I'm willing to finance the initial production. If Orion isn't satisfied with the early results, you can pull out immediately. But if you approve of my work, then I expect an undisturbed creative environment."

"Of course, I have no objections to the script or the story," Mike shook his head, "Simon, I'm referring to casting decisions. Frankly, Orion is not interested in very small-scale independent film projects; we're not B-movie producers like Roger Corman. Thus, Orion can offer a $1 million production budget for the film, but if we invest, we won't pull out midway."

Simon hesitated, then asked, "What do you mean, Mike?"

Mike explained, "Forget the idea of using your own money to start the production. However, I respect your desire for a chance. So, Orion will invest in this film with a $1 million budget, and we must choose the cast. We'll give you a week to shoot, and if your results are satisfactory, we'll continue without interfering much. Otherwise, we'll take over the project and replace the director. Regarding the screenplay, I can offer you $50,000, plus future royalties from video and TV broadcasts. Lastly, Orion would like an option on your next script. I know you've signed with Fox, but that won't be a conflict, right? You won't just write three screenplays, will you?"