As he posed his question, Laila lightly tapped her fingers on the table, a meaningful smile playing at the corners of her lips. "Who would complain about having too many talents at hand?"
She was reborn too late; directors like Spielberg and James Cameron had already established themselves and wouldn't pay attention to her small company.
But the emerging directors were different; they had proven talent but lacked the opportunity to shine. If not for Laila, it might have taken them years to showcase their abilities.
Laila was providing them with a chance to demonstrate their skills ahead of time. A desire for opportunity met with the ability to provide it—wasn't that the best combination? So, what was the problem with recruiting them?
Artistic careers had their time limits, but what differed was when individuals got their chance.
Laila was granting them a few extra years to shine, allowing them time to learn more, make more films, and, most importantly, lay down foundations earlier and build beneficial connections. The benefits for these young directors' future development were enormous.
Moreover, the Dragon Soul Company itself was already a substantial platform. Grasping this opportunity as new directors had numerous advantages; it could prevent them from taking many wrong turns and shield them from the oppression of some unscrupulous production companies.
Thus, Laila never felt guilty about her "taking advantage of the situation." She provided funding and opportunities, and in return, they received a platform for growth. It was a mutually beneficial arrangement, the healthiest development model.
Watching Laila sipping her tea, Anthony couldn't help but compare her to Old Oswald. The results were astonishing; aside from lacking some of the old man's fierceness, Laila didn't falter in any aspect.
It wasn't surprising that she lacked some ruthlessness; after all, Old Oswald was a product of his era. In that time, one couldn't get ahead without a bit of darkness. It wasn't suited for the kind-hearted; while there were good people, they either remained stagnant or became prey to others.
But Laila was different. She was born in the safest and happiest of times and was meticulously cared for by her family and those around her due to her illness from a young age. So, it was perfectly normal for her to lack a killer instinct.
Moreover, it was a time of peace; one didn't need to be excessively ruthless. In Anthony's view, Laila, approved by Oswald, was undoubtedly the most suitable heir to the conglomerate. Even Janet and Quentin's son, William, probably couldn't shake her position. With Laila's abilities and talent, there was no doubt that the future of the conglomerate would undergo earth-shattering changes.
Of course, for the better!
After discussing some details, Laila returned home to Hollywood in a cheerful mood. As she luxuriated in her bathtub, enjoying the comfort of her body, she contemplated the future.
She was eagerly anticipating her meeting with Nolan on the show. This director, who had shown remarkable money-making ability in the future, possessed an impressive imagination envied by many directors. Whether it was the future "Inception" or "Interstellar," they brought a refreshing perspective.
Many people might not know that the producer and screenwriter behind the future blockbuster "Superman: Man of Steel" was the talented Christopher Nolan.
In Hollywood, what kind of director was the most popular? Those who won awards or those who made money?
Many might hypocritically choose the former, but the latter was what everyone scrambled for.
Why did envy and jealousy arise whenever she occasionally helped an outside company make a film? Even though they knew she rarely did such projects, scripts kept coming to her, promising everything as long as she agreed to direct.
Wasn't it because of her strong money-making ability?
Making one hit after another, earning hundreds of millions of dollars—what production company wouldn't love such a director?
Laila was no exception. She established her company not only to operate her films but also to use the film industry to develop her career. That's why she created the New Talent Plan at the beginning of her career to support talented young directors and later bet with Michael Bay, bringing him into the company.
First-class directors like Nolan were naturally not to be missed.
There had been no contact with him for the time being, mainly because he was currently a competitor, directing films for DC. Even after the film's release, if Nolan didn't come, she would take the initiative to contact him.
Unexpectedly, Nolan took the initiative to meet with her, which made Laila, upon hearing the news, feel a bit elated. Could this be the so-called "mutual respect"?
The program was scheduled for Saturday prime time at 8:30 PM and was hosted by one of NBC's heavyweight hosts, Jimmy.
Laila had cooperated with Jimmy several times before, and their exchanges were always pleasant, so she chose him again this time.
Knowing that the two most popular directors at the moment would appear on the show, Jimmy thoroughly researched both of them and prepared many questions that the audience would find interesting. Of course, Anthony had previously conveyed Laila's message, advising the station not to be too harsh on Nolan.
Jimmy understood Laila well and knew her bottom line, so even without Anthony's reminder, he wouldn't go too far.
So, at 8 p.m. on Saturday, he met the two great directors backstage.
To be precise, it was Nolan who saw Laila first.
To see Laila as soon as possible, Nolan arrived an hour early and was waiting outside the television station.
When Laila arrived at the station, she saw him standing by the roadside, sweating profusely.
"Nolan, why are you standing here?" Laila looked at him in surprise as he ran towards her.
At this moment, Christopher Nolan was still somewhat reserved compared to his future self. Clearly excited as he rushed over, upon hearing the person he had been eagerly waiting to see, he didn't know where to begin.
Seeing his face grow redder with each moment, Laila knew that this was not a good time for jokes. "It's too hot here, Nolan. Let's go inside and rest for a bit first; otherwise, the sweat will ruin your makeup."
To maintain a good appearance in front of the camera and not look dull and lifeless, makeup artists always arrange to apply makeup for guests before appearing on a show.
Reminded by her, Nolan wiped the sweat from his forehead and, feeling somewhat embarrassed, followed her inside the television station's gates.