Returning to his hotel room, Lucas wasted no time in reaching for the phone. He dialed the international service to connect with Jennifer back in the USA. After a minute of ringing, her familiar voice came through.
"Lucas! Hi, babe," Jennifer greeted warmly, her voice filled with affection.
"Hey, Jen," Lucas replied, his tone equally warm. They exchanged sweet nothings for a few moments, catching up on their respective days.
Finally, Lucas broached the subject of his call. "Listen, Jen, I've got something exciting to talk to you about. I'm currently involved in a project, and there's a role I think you'd be perfect for."
"Oh?" Jennifer's curiosity was piqued. "Tell me more. What's the project?"
Lucas took a deep breath. "It's called 'The Artist'. It's... well, it's a silent film."
There was a pause on the other end of the line. "A silent film?" Jennifer repeated, surprise evident in her voice. "As in, no dialogue at all?"
"Exactly," Lucas confirmed. "It's set in the 1920s, during the transition from silent films to talkies."
He could almost hear Jennifer's mind working as she processed this information. "Wow, that's... different. I've never done anything like that before."
Lucas seized the moment. "That's why I think you'd be perfect for it. It's a challenge, sure, but think of the opportunity to tell a story purely through your expressions and movements. It's acting in its purest form."
There was another pause before Jennifer spoke again. "It does sound intriguing. But a silent film in today's age? Do you really think it could work?"
Lucas's voice filled with passion as he replied. "I really do, Jen. I've met with the director, Michel Hazanavicius. He's brilliant, and his vision for this film is incredible. Plus, think about it - a film without language barriers. It could reach audiences all over the world in a way that other films can't."
He paused, then added softly, "And... we'd be working together again. On screen, I mean."
"That would be nice," Jennifer admitted, a smile in her voice.
Lucas took a deep breath. "So, what do you think? Would you consider taking on the role?"
***
Meanwhile, in the USA, Jennifer was in her Beverly Hills home, a modern, spacious house she had recently purchased following her rising success. She held the phone, her mind racing with thoughts about Lucas's offer.
She mused silently, her heart pulling her towards accepting the role. The idea of working with Lucas again, on such a unique project, was incredibly appealing. But she also knew the complications that would arise with her agency, which had a significant say in her career decisions.
Taking a deep breath, Jennifer spoke into the phone, "You know what, Lucas? I want to do it. I believe in your vision."
Lucas's excitement was palpable even through the phone.
They discussed a few more details before ending the call, both feeling a mix of anticipation and nervousness about the project ahead.
As soon as she hung up, Jennifer dialed another number, steeling herself for the conversation ahead. After a few rings, her agent, Lisa, answered.
"Jennifer, what's up?" Lisa's voice was crisp and professional.
"Lisa, I've just accepted a role in a new project," Jennifer began, her voice firm despite her nerves. "It's a silent film called 'The Artist'. I'll need to rearrange my schedule."
There was a pause before Lisa responded, her tone cautious. "A silent film? Jennifer, you're scheduled to start filming 'X-Men' soon. That's a high-profile project we can't just walk away from."
Jennifer felt her frustration rising. "I understand that, but this is important to me. Can't we work something out?"
Lisa sighed audibly. "Look, Jennifer, I get that you're excited about this new project, but 'X-Men' is a major franchise. We can't just cancel it."
"But--" Jennifer started to argue, but Lisa cut her off.
"How about this," Lisa proposed, her voice taking on a conciliatory tone. "You don't need extensive preparation for your role in 'X-Men'. We can try to work out a schedule where you can do both projects. It'll be tight, but we can make it work."
Jennifer hesitated, torn between her desire to fully commit to 'The Artist' and the practical reality of her existing commitments.
Lisa continued, sensing Jennifer's hesitation, "We have some time. Let's look at the schedules for both projects and see if we can make it work. You can do 'The Artist', but we need to honor your 'X-Men' contract too."
Jennifer let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. "Okay," she agreed reluctantly. "Let's try to make it work."
***
The next morning, Lucas arrived at the studio of La Petite Reine. He found Michel already there, poring over some sketches for the film's set design.
"Michel," Lucas called out, a broad smile on his face. "I've got great news. Jennifer has agreed to take the role!"
Michel's face lit up. "C'est magnifique! This is wonderful news, Lucas."
Lucas nodded, sharing in Michel's enthusiasm. "So, how are we doing with the rest of the cast?"
Michel gestured to a board covered in headshots. "We've actually just wrapped up auditions for the supporting roles. Most of them are filled by French actors - talented individuals who can convey emotion without words. For the smaller parts, it doesn't matter as much if they're not American."
"That's great." Lucas replied, studying the faces on the board.
Michel clapped his hands together. "Now that we have our cast, it's time to move our operation to Hollywood. After all, we can't make a film about 1920s Hollywood without being in Hollywood, non?"
Lucas chuckled. "Very true. Where exactly will we be filming?"
"We've secured locations all over Los Angeles," Michel explained. "We'll be using some historic studios, like Paramount and Warner Bros., for authenticity. We've also got permits for exterior shots on Hollywood Boulevard and other iconic locations."
***
A few days later, Lucas, Michel, the production team, and the cast gathered at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris. They boarded their flight to Los Angeles.
Upon arriving at LAX, Lucas stepped off the plane wearing a simple hoodie and sunglasses, forgoing his usual elaborate disguise. As they made their way through the terminal, it didn't take long for people to recognize him.
"Oh my god, it's Lucas Knight!" a young woman exclaimed, approaching him with her phone out. "Can I get a picture?"
Lucas smiled apologetically, shaking his head. "I'm sorry, but I can't do pictures right now. I hope you understand."
The fan's face fell slightly, but Lucas quickly added, "But I'd be happy to sign an autograph if you'd like."
The woman's expression brightened again. "That would be great!"
As Lucas signed autographs for a small group of fans that had gathered, he couldn't help but remember the incident from a while back when a seemingly innocent photo with a young fan had led to his location being swarmed by paparazzi. He was determined not to repeat that mistake.
Michel watched the interaction with interest, noting how Lucas handled the situation with grace and professionalism. As they continued walking, Michel patted Lucas on the shoulder.
"Mon ami, you are quite the celebrity," Michel said with a chuckle. "It seems you can't go anywhere without being recognized."
Lucas shrugged modestly. "It comes with the territory, I guess. But it's important to set boundaries, you know?"
Michel nodded in understanding. "Oui, I see that. You handle it well. It's good practice for our film, non? Silent communication, expressing yourself without words."
Lucas laughed at the comparison. "I hadn't thought of it that way, but you're right. Maybe all this fame is just preparing me for my role."
As they arrived at the main filming location, a beautifully preserved Art Deco building that would serve as their primary studio, Lucas and Michel were in deep conversation about the day's schedule.
"So, we'll start with a read-through of the script, then move on to some silent exercises?" Lucas asked, to which Michel nodded enthusiastically.
Their discussion was interrupted by the arrival of a sleek black car. As it pulled up, Jennifer Lawrence stepped out, her blonde hair catching the California sunlight.
Lucas's face lit up at the sight of her. Without hesitation, he strode over to Jennifer and greeted her with a light kiss, right there in front of the entire cast and crew.
"Hey, you," Jennifer said softly, a warm smile on her face.
"Glad you made it," Lucas replied, his arm naturally finding its way around her waist.
Michel watched this interaction with keen interest, his director's mind already at work. He couldn't help but think how perfectly Jennifer might embody the role of the protagonist's wife. A thought crossed his mind - how would Jennifer, as the character of the wife, react to seeing her husband (played by Lucas) potentially being unfaithful? The jealousy, the hurt, the complexity of emotions - all of it would need to be conveyed without a single word spoken.
Michel shook his head, pulling himself out of his reverie.
Lucas turned to Jennifer, gesturing towards Michel with a smile. "Jen, I'd like you to meet Michel Hazanavicius, our director. Michel, this is Jennifer Lawrence."
Jennifer stepped forward, extending her hand with a warm, professional smile. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Michel. I've heard so much about your vision for this film. I'm really excited to be a part of it."
Michel took her hand, shaking it firmly. "The pleasure is all mine, Jennifer. I've admired your work for some time now. I'm thrilled to have you on board for this project."
As they shook hands, Michel couldn't help but notice the poise and confidence Jennifer exuded.
"Lucas has told me about the unique challenges of making a silent film," Jennifer continued. "I'm looking forward to exploring this new form of expression."
Michel nodded approvingly. "It will be a journey of discovery for all of us, I think. The art of conveying emotion without words... it's a return to the very essence of cinema."