Laila brought a camera and took several photos of Roy from various angles. After finishing, she could organize the photos and post them on the official website, using it as a promotional tool. In the future, movies were often promoted this way, and she naturally wouldn't miss out on it.
Just like her skills in publicity planning, her photography techniques were also highly praised by fashion industry insiders. This "unprofessional" Hollywood director could have excelled in any other profession even if she wasn't a director.
Countless models were willing to do anything just to have her take a photo for them. After all, everyone she had previously photographed had become popular. Whether it was the "lively young man" Roy or the Victoria's Secret Angels, they were all elevated by her camera. Due to his acting commitments, Roy didn't take on modeling jobs, but the Victoria's Secret Angels were enough to prove her photography skills.
The photos turned out exceptionally beautiful. It seemed like heaven really favored Roy, giving him such an outstanding appearance. Thanks to his continuous training over the years, his physique also fell into the eye-catching category.
Laila believed that Roy, dressed in the specially designed clothes by Janet, could undoubtedly captivate numerous people, regardless of gender. Perhaps the term "screen licking" would be coined early because of him.
Leslie Cheung also arrived. Laila didn't want to approach him personally, to avoid gossip from other actors, so she had Demi represent her at the airport.
However, following Eastern customs, they still held a banquet for him in the evening to welcome him.
Apart from his manager, Chen Shufen, several assistants Laila hadn't met before accompanied him. Laila didn't mind him bringing a few more people. After all, he was a star-level figure, and staying abroad for so long would be inconvenient without useful assistants.
"For this movie, I have ambitions." After the banquet, Laila found an opportunity to talk privately with Leslie Cheung. In front of him, she openly expressed her thoughts, hoping he would pay more attention to this job.
"From shooting my first film at the age of 18 to now, I've released nine films. 'The Lord of the Rings' will be my tenth, and as the saying goes, Eastern people believe in perfection. That's why I'm counting it as my tenth movie." Laila leaned against the windowsill, gazing at the distant lights. "This time, my goal is the Oscar for Best Director!"
There was a brief glint in Leslie Cheung's eyes. He felt a fierce and determined aura emanating from her, even though she was calmly narrating. It was evident even though she spoke so plainly that she had unwavering determination.
Although he was of Eastern descent, he still knew a bit about the Oscars. A 20-something-year-old winning the Best Director award, and a female director at that? Achieving such a goal would be challenging.
Did she say this just to set a goal, or was she genuinely determined to achieve it?
For no reason, he found himself genuinely thinking that she could do it.
Laila turned to look at him, her ice-blue eyes revealing a clear sharpness. "Mr. Leslie Cheung, do you have any dreams?"
Does he? Yes! He had many things he wanted to achieve. But...
Life sometimes made people feel helpless, didn't it?
Leslie Cheung fell silent for a moment, finally speaking under her insistent gaze, "Yes."
"Have you achieved them?"
"Some have been realized, while some haven't."
His voice was faint, like smoke billowing from his fingertips, dissipating in the air as soon as it left his mouth.
Laila's heart ached, reminiscent of her past self. Wasn't she the same back then?
"Why not give it a try? How do you know it's impossible if you don't try? What if you succeed?" Laila's voice softened.
Leslie Cheung chuckled, shaking his head. In this world, how many "what ifs" were there? Once upon a time, he had a heart full of fighting spirit, but after constant collisions and setbacks, it eventually extinguished.
Laila could tell what he was thinking just by looking at his expression. She had worn a similar expression many times in her past life. Only those who had experienced similar situations could understand the pain of yearning but not obtaining.
"How about making a bet?" She suddenly grinned.
Leslie Cheung looked at her.
"If I win the Best Director Oscar with 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy, you agree to a condition of mine. What do you think?" Laila looked at him with a sly smile, like a fox that had spotted its prey.
Leslie Cheung laughed. Of course, he didn't think she had any special intentions towards him. He assumed she was just joking.
"Sure. Witnessing such a moment would be an honor for me."
Laila raised her right hand toward him. He smiled and shook hands with her, sealing the agreement.
Looking at his beautiful smile, she also smiled warmly. To protect this smile, she wouldn't miss any opportunity to save him.
Many reports claimed he suffered from physiological depression, but she felt that if there were no psychological issues, could physiological depression really be that severe? Perhaps she didn't understand such matters, and she didn't really grasp the difference between physiological and psychological, but she believed that if a person's mind was constantly burdened, the body would protest. The most tangible sign was stomach problems. The greater the stress, the more your stomach would "hurt," and if there were symptoms like gastric reflux or perforation, it was likely due to excessive stress.
Laila thought that real tragedies were probably related to one's thoughts. That's why she chose this method—using the only approach she, an outsider, could think of—to do something for him.
Leslie Cheung would play Elrond, and for an Eastern person to successfully portray a Western character, the makeup artist had to be skillful. Fortunately, Laila had a big ace—Xiao Ye. With his touch, the transformation was highly anticipated.
Indeed, when Xiao Ye finished the makeup, everyone present was stunned.
At this moment, Leslie Cheung could confidently be called a Westerner. However, one could still sense the Eastern charm emanating from him.
"Wasn't it mentioned in the books that he's of mixed heritage from many races? I thought leaving some Eastern characteristics would be nice. Of course, you're the boss. If you think full Westernization is better, I can change it now."
Although he said this, Xiao Ye had some ulterior motives. He was thrilled when he learned that Laila had invited Leslie Cheung. Although he had served under her and worked with many A-list movie stars, he truly wanted to transform an Eastern person into something spectacular on this splendid stage.
Fully turning Leslie Cheung into a Westerner would be effortless for him. However, if he did that, what would be the difference between casting Leslie Cheung and hiring a Western actor? So, he played a little trick, intentionally leaving some features that made it clear he was Eastern. This way, viewers wouldn't have to guess if the character portrayed was Eastern or Western by looking at a face that seemed fully Western.