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Chapter 414 - Chapter 414 - Nesting Instinct

In truth, Ovitz didn't believe that Roy's feelings for Laila were genuine love. He saw it more as a form of nesting instinct. When he first arrived in Hollywood with nothing to his name, it was akin to a newly hatched bird imprinting on the first thing it saw as its mother, giving Roy a special connection to Laila. Ovitz believed that once he made Roy understand this, it would change his perspective.

He was well aware that if he were to directly confront Roy and tell him that it was all in his head, that he was treating Laila as a surrogate mother figure, he would likely get a beating before he could finish his sentence. So, he introduced a few experts who were experienced in the field and skilled in persuasion under the guise of helping Roy become a "real man," hoping to subtly awaken him to the truth.

During his time away from Hollywood, Roy had indeed been exposed to many things. It had broadened his horizons and made him realize, for the first time, how tough it was to function without Laila carefully arranging roles for him.

Previously, to guide him onto the right path, Laila had primarily made him star in her films. She knew that in other film crews, he would face criticism, whereas on her sets, the atmosphere was always harmonious, with no room for bullying. Aside from occasionally being treated as a handyman, his life on set with Laila was carefree.

In the beginning, even though he had taken on some small roles in other films to get accustomed to the filming process and gain experience, he was still new to the industry. The best he could get were background extra roles. Those petty tricks actors used on each other in bigger productions were never directed at him. After all, who would focus on minor roles with just a few scenes or a line or two?

Now, things were different. Roy had become a rising star in Hollywood and was under Ovitz's management. He no longer enjoyed the privileges that Laila had provided, and the harmony he experienced on her sets was absent.

Before, when he had worked as an extra, he hadn't minded. But now that he was in a better position, he began to notice the challenges faced by those in the outer circles of the film industry. For instance, the project he was currently involved in, one that Ovitz had secured as an important role.

The movie was titled "Ocean's Eleven," directed by Steven Soderbergh. The success of Julia Roberts' starring role in "Erin Brockovich" in March had earned him much praise and positioned him as a strong contender for the 2001 Oscars. Therefore, the movie has garnered significant attention since its inception.

The film brought together big-name stars like George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and Matt Damon, making Roy, a rising young actor, seem much less prominent in comparison.

He had taken on the role mainly because he believed in the quality of the film's content. Ovitz had also repeatedly assured him that the movie would perform well at the box office next year. Furthermore, with so many Hollywood A-listers in the cast, fans from around the world would be willing to pay to watch their performances. Just by making a brief appearance in this destined-to-be-classic film, Roy could gain recognition, a crucial step for establishing a global presence in the future.

If Laila heard this, she would probably scoff. After all, once "Pirates of the Caribbean" was released in the summer of the next year, Roy's fame would skyrocket along with the pirate ship, rendering any attempt to gain recognition through a minor role in someone else's film unnecessary.

Ovitz was not unaware of such a film, but like most people, he wasn't particularly fond of pirate-themed movies. He didn't believe that a 20-year-old girl could make a good pirate film. Why did people always say that piracy was the romance of men? It was the ocean, adventure, and the unknown that got their blood boiling.

It wasn't that he looked down on Laila; he just didn't believe that a young girl could understand that kind of fiery passion. If she couldn't even understand it, how could she make such a film?

So, he chose to ignore "Pirates of the Caribbean." He had only agreed to participate in promotional activities and such because of his good relationship with Laila. Otherwise, he had no desire for his artists to be associated with a movie that was destined to flop so shamelessly!

One of the reasons he decided to "rescue" Roy from Laila's grasp was to prevent wasting a precious diamond like Roy on a box office disaster.

Roy's role in the film didn't have much screen time, but he had arrived on set early to avoid Laila. He believed that his younger brother, Abel, would be well taken care of, and he hadn't returned home once during the filming.

He couldn't go back home; the thought of his past actions made him want to bang his head against a wall. It wasn't that he was ashamed of confessing his feelings or kissing the girl he liked, but he regretted running away afterward. He had run away from the girl he liked, treating her like she was a monster. He hadn't even dared to hear Laila's response.

What a missed opportunity!

If he could turn back time, he would want to hear her answer, even if it was a rejection. At least he wouldn't be plagued by regret like he was now, endlessly speculating about how she might respond. If he were going to fail, he should have accepted it cleanly, started over, and not kept a knife hanging over his neck. 

The atmosphere on the film set was also uncomfortable, with internal power struggles, scene-stealing, line-stealing, and even fights over seats. It was as if they would lose face if they were a bit slower in grabbing something. Of course, such minor matters were usually handled by their assistants, so the big stars only needed to focus on showing their exceptional acting skills or their charisma on camera.

Previously, Roy had never imagined that competition among the cast would be so fierce or that making a film would involve so much rivalry. Take the battle for screen time, for example; as long as an extra played their part without any mistakes, they could steal the spotlight from the main actor. After all, the camera angles were relatively fixed, and even if they moved, they followed a predetermined path. Before filming, the actors would know where the camera would be and would position themselves accordingly.

As a result, if a supporting character suddenly appeared in front of the camera during a shot with the main actor, regardless of whether they bowed obsequiously or stood upright with unyielding resolve, the audience's attention would be drawn to the supporting character, making them the focal point instead of the intended main character.

To ensure that a relatively minor character with minimal screen time left an impression in the film, one had to be prepared to steal the spotlight. Once achieved, mere familiarity with their face could make them known to the audience.