Gray, a man who, by all accounts, should have been annihilated and turned to dust after being violently struck by 'Great Fortune,' inexplicably found himself reborn, his soul possessing a young man in America.
Recalling his previous life, he was merely an obscure director, brimming with passion for film, who had directed a few movies.
He poured his heart and soul into every single one, investing immense effort and energy, but the results were always disappointing; each film bombed, failing to make even a ripple in the film market.
Now, reborn, he couldn't help but fall into deep thought, constantly pondering the true extent of the gap between himself and David Fincher.
In terms of directing experience, he graduated from a prestigious film school, where he systematically studied various film theories, making his theoretical knowledge extremely rich.
He believed he had unique insights into film conception and shooting techniques, yet he had never achieved fame or success, always hovering on the fringes of the film industry.
Back then, he dedicated himself wholeheartedly to art house and horror films.
To create the masterpieces in his heart, he spared no expense or effort, meticulously preparing every scene and refining every shot.
However, reality was cruelly indifferent, and all he got in return was an outcome where his works went unnoticed.
The works into which he had poured countless efforts were like old toys abandoned in a corner, drawing no attention.
But he truly loved this profession, loved it to his core, to the point where even if he died, he wished to die on a film set.
That's why he was so eager to understand why David Fincher could succeed and carve out his own niche in the film industry, while he himself was destined to be a mediocre director, spending his entire film career in obscurity.
"I'm not stupid; I've lived for most of my life, and I still have that much discernment.
The difference lies in luck and opportunity.
In this life, I've never encountered a real opportunity that could truly help me."
He often uttered such laments to the ceiling when the night was quiet and deep.
His personal life, moreover, was a mess.
In his previous life, his marriage ended in failure, and after that, he remained single, never entering matrimony again.
He had a few relationships in between, but none of them lasted long.
"What I need is the 'opportunity and luck' that all great directors possess," he secretly vowed to himself, his eyes revealing determination and longing.
Hollywood, a place full of dreams and temptations, has countless talented directors, but only a few truly prove themselves and leave a significant mark on film history.
He knew that his old experience alone was far from enough; he had to go a few steps further and seek his own opportunity.
"It seems you two had a good chat."
Arnold Kopelson looked at the two directors before him, his gaze carrying a hint of scrutiny.
"We agreed on the phone: David directs, and Kazir joins the screenwriting team.
I'll reiterate it to avoid any issues later."
He intentionally emphasized his words.
"Don't worry, Arnold, I won't contend for the directing position.
David will definitely make this film excellent; I have faith in him," Kazir quickly assured him, a sincere smile on his face.
"That's good," Arnold nodded, turning his gaze to David, "I believe this film can make us all a profit, as long as we work together and craft it carefully."
Arnold smiled, speaking while reviewing their proposal, his gaze focused and serious, but he didn't respond immediately.
"Honestly, the script has great potential, but to get the company's approval, I need more reasons.
Kazir, how much do you want for this script, including the copyright?"
People in film and television companies are well aware of the value of copyrights—video sales, merchandise licensing, most of the profits come from here.
A good copyright is like an inexhaustible treasure, capable of bringing huge returns to the company.
"How much does Arnold think it's worth?"
Kazir calmly countered, a hint of wisdom in his eyes.
"85,000," Arnold said after a moment of contemplation, offering a price.
"95,000, let's settle on that, and the subsequent procedures are negotiable.
I believe the value of this script is definitely more than 85,000," Kazir's attitude was firm, without the slightest hesitation.
"Pleasure working with you, Kazir," Arnold, seeing Kazir's resolve, didn't press further and extended his hand with a smile.
"I'll have my lawyer review the contract, and if there are no problems, we'll sign."
Kazir also extended his hand and shook Arnold's, his heart full of anticipation.
The three shook hands, marking a preliminary agreement on the cooperation.
Kazir currently had no agent—his previous agent had long since fallen out with him, and they parted ways unhappily, so now he had to handle all sorts of matters himself.
For him, this amount of money was already quite substantial.
Typically, a screenwriter might receive two to three tenths of the total budget, and if lucky, a bit more, but he currently lacked fame and experience, so getting such a price was already good.
'What I need now isn't money, but the opportunity to learn from David Fincher.
As long as I can learn real directing skills and experience from him, what is this small amount of money?' he thought to himself, clear-headed.
After Kazir and Arnold finished their discussion, David took over: "Arnold, regarding the film..."
"Don't worry, David, I'll communicate with the company.
If you want to join the project, you can anytime.
But I'll be frank, the salary might not be high—after all, that alien 3 incident..."
Arnold didn't finish, but his meaning was clear: David's market appeal had diminished due to the failure of alien 3, so his salary might be affected.
"I'll have my agent contact you to discuss it.
I don't expect a high salary; what I lack now is an opportunity to prove myself.
As long as I can direct another good movie, I'm willing to accept a lower salary."
David also didn't expect a high salary; he only had one thought in his mind now: to prove his capabilities again through this film.
"Alright, let's talk in detail tomorrow and strive to make this film a classic."
Arnold shook hands with both of them again, then turned and left, his steps firm and confident.
The first negotiation went smoothly enough; at least all three parties had a genuine intention to cooperate and hoped to jointly create an excellent film.
"Which two actors do you think are suitable for the main roles?"
Walking along the road, David suddenly asked Kazir.
As a screenwriter, Kazir should have a deeper understanding of the characters, so David was willing to hear his opinion.
"If I had to say, how about Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman?" Kazir's eyes lit up as he named his choices.
"Morgan is fine; his performance in The Shawshank Redemption was absolutely brilliant; he portrayed the character's resilience and wisdom vividly, leaving a deep impression.
But Brad Pitt? The one who starred in Interview with the Vampire?" David frowned slightly, his impression of Brad Pitt still rooted in that film.
"Yes, that's him.
I think his demeanor and image are very fitting for our character; he possesses a unique charm and intensity that can bring out the complex emotions of the role," Kazir quickly explained.
"Let me think... he does fit the character well.
Once the project is approved, let's quickly invite him for an audition to see his performance," David considered it carefully, found Kazir's words reasonable, and had no objections.
"What about Denzel Washington or Al Pacino?
I think they're also quite suitable; they are both strong actors with rich acting experience," Kazir smiled, proposing two more choices.
"They are also good; they both have their own unique acting styles and charm," David nodded, also expressing approval for these two actors.
Kazir secretly rejoiced, 'David will definitely like Brad, after all, he later cast him as the protagonist in Fight Club and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, both of which were deeply moving films, and Brad's acting was fully showcased in those works.'
The next day, the two received a call from New Line Cinema—they wanted to discuss a collaboration for Se7en, that crime thriller destined to be a hit.