Laila couldn't help but burst into laughter, "Sure, a bit of singing and dancing wouldn't hurt. I bet many people will buy our CD just for that segment."
"Tsk tsk, it seems my charm is still not small, but with age, the bones aren't as lively. Let's keep it simple," he chuckled.
After a few jokes, Laila got to the point, "When are you free? Let's shoot that scene."
"No problem, I'm available anytime."
Laila pondered, "How about next week? I'll have someone pick you up."
"OK, I'll be waiting for you at home."
"Great! Dress handsomely; let's show our Iron Man what real charisma looks like."
The old man laughed heartily, "No need to prepare; I'm always the most charming one."
After hanging up, Laila chuckled again.
This old man was quite interesting; he was none other than Stan Lee, the magical old man who created most of Marvel's superheroes.
Speaking of him, not only did comic book enthusiasts know him well, but moviegoers were also familiar. His greatest joy was making cameo appearances in every Marvel superhero movie. It could be a passerby or a character with one or two lines, but his appearance had become an Easter egg in the films, making people speculate about the role he played each time.
This time, filming Iron Man, Stan Lee naturally wanted to join the fun again. The time Laila had just set with him on the phone was precisely when he would join the crew.
On the day of the shoot, Stan Lee indeed showed up, dressed as spirited as Laila described, wearing a sharp suit that gave him a dignified look.
After a warm welcome, Laila led him into the dressing room.
"I've prepared a fantastic role for you." Laila grinned and gestured to her assistant, prompting three blond beauties to approach, each with a voluptuous figure.
"Let me introduce them to you." She pointed to the three, "This is Carina, Rita, and Tess. Today, they will accompany you for the shoot."
Stan Lee laughed heartily, "It's my honor. Now, can you tell me what kind of character I'll be playing? Just so you know, I can't remember too many lines."
"Don't worry; it won't be too difficult. Have you heard of Hugh M. Hefner?"
"You mean the founder of Playboy magazine?" Stan Lee raised his eyebrows as if he already understood.
Laila knew he would know and smiled, "Exactly. Today, I want you to play him."
"Surrounded by beautiful women. This must be the most interesting cameo experience for me."
Laila and he exchanged smiles, "I feel the same way."
The scene in the movie portrayed Tony Stark getting out of a luxury car and walking into a party. On the way, he would pat Stan Lee's shoulder, who was chatting and laughing with three beautiful women. When the old man turned to look at him, Tony would already be walking away.
It was a fun scene; not only did Stan Lee's appearance add an Easter egg, but it also made Tony's character more vivid. A person who could laugh and chat casually with such an old prankster would reveal a lot about his nature.
"Wait a moment." Just as they were about to start shooting, Laila stopped and had someone bring a shiny silver luxurious scarf and a pipe to Stan Lee. Seeing the old man drape the scarf over his chest and place the pipe in his mouth, she nodded in satisfaction, "Much better."
Downey on the side couldn't stop laughing, "Well done, truly capturing Hefner's charismatic elegance."
"I'm much more handsome than him," the old man struck a smoking pose, earning cheers from the crew.
Laila chuckled without saying a word. In these people's hearts, Hefner was still just a playboy, but she knew that in a few years, at over 80 years old, Hefner would marry a model in her twenties. That was real sexual life.
The old man's acting skills were superb; he nailed the scene in one take. However, to make him enjoy himself, Laila shot a few more shots, and they could decide which one was more suitable during editing.
After finishing the night shoot, Laila got into Roy's car to go home.
"If you're tired, take a nap first. I'll wake you up when we get home." Roy felt sorry for her faint bluish under eyes.
Laila waved her hand, "I'll sleep well at home. Now, there's something I want to ask you."
"What is it?"
"Did Louise give you a script?" Roy fell silent for two seconds, "Did she complain to you?"
"Yes, she told me she got a very good script, but you rejected it without even reading it. Can you tell me the reason?" She knew him well; he was not someone who would refuse work because it was difficult or dangerous. What worried her was that he had rejected the script without even reading it.
"Ever since we finished 'Chicago,' you haven't accepted any scripts. Why is that? Don't tell me you're more interested in doing odd jobs."
"Well, yes." Roy chuckled twice, "I'm more interested in learning from you, being by your side. Is that not okay?"
Laila didn't believe his words, "If you're really interested in directing, I won't mind you learning by my side. But are you genuinely interested? How many times during shooting have you genuinely observed how I direct a film?"
Roy was caught off guard; he really knew nothing about directing. Moreover, he wasn't interested in the director's role. The thought of coordinating the entire crew gave him a headache.
"I just don't want to take on any projects."
Laila shook her head, "That's not a reason. I need a reason that I can be convinced of. Is there a problem you're facing?" He always loved making money; there was no reason for him to suddenly change his attitude towards life. This made her unable to resist thinking about other possibilities, such as him not feeling well or something happening to his brother, Abel.
"No problem." Roy's voice sounded a bit muffled, and he couldn't come up with a suitable reason. Moreover, he didn't want to use lies to deceive her, "Do you want me to take the role?"
"Yes, I've read it; it's a great script. It might even get you another Oscar nomination."
Roy hesitated, "Do you know that if I take that role, I might be away for several months?"
Laila understood, "Are you worried about Abel? Don't worry; he's a very stable kid. I think, in some ways, he's even more reassuring than you." At least the boy didn't land her in the police station three times for bail, right?
Roy felt a bit frustrated; hearing his girlfriend say that his younger brother, who was several years younger, was more reassuring made him feel quite disheartened.
"I'm not worried about him. I'm worried about you!"