Whoosh...
Tel Aviv Airport, the plane took off and soared into the sky - it was a flight to Los Angeles. In a few hours, it would land at Los Angeles International Airport.
"What? You mean to say you knew I would choose Los Angeles?" Gal Gadot, sitting in first class in the adjacent seat, crossed her arms and looked intently at Eric.
"Of course, I noticed something special in you, something that only future stars possess. Charlize Theron, Cameron Diaz, Meryl Streep - they all have this quality."
Gal Gadot looked at him skeptically, "So, you're not only a vice president but also a soothsayer who can see the future?"
Eric smirked, "Why not? If I hadn't appeared, your future would have unfolded like this: the army, then beauty pageants, and eventually Hollywood."
"You would have started with small roles but quickly made a splash, and then become the leading lady in your destined film. I've always believed that some actors are born for certain roles."
"Like Marlon Brando as 'The Godfather', Anthony Hopkins as 'Hannibal', Charlie Chaplin as 'The Tramp', John Travolta as 'Manero'."
Listening to him, Gal Gadot became intrigued, "What role do you think is my destiny?"
"Wonder Woman!"
"What?"
"Wonder Woman, haven't you heard of her?"
Gal Gadot frowned, "I think I've heard of it, but I don't remember exactly."
From the back row, Bar Refaeli's voice came, "I know, it's a comic book character from the DC universe, right?"
"Are you also a comic book fan?" Judy asked curiously, thinking that only nerds liked comics.
"Not exactly, I once participated in cosplay. They made me dress up as Wonder Woman, but we only got second place. The first prize went to a guy in a huge bear costume!"
"Cool!"
Yes, Bar Refaeli was also flying to Los Angeles. The day before yesterday, after Eric had given the watch and contract to Gal Gadot, she had hurried back to her hometown of Rosh HaAyin, located south of Tel Aviv.
Upon returning home, her family had a heated discussion about the contract. They were not wealthy and knew nothing about the entertainment industry. Gal Gadot, working part-time as a model, was the only one with some understanding of it.
But even she had never seen such contracts and couldn't judge their authenticity. The family didn't know what to expect from Los Angeles.
However, the antique watch changed everything: her grandfather insisted that she make the decision herself, and she decided to trust her heart.
Bar Refaeli, though a beautiful model, did not have any unique qualities that would set her apart from many other beauties in Hollywood. Eric remembered her name but didn't plan to take her with him.
Nevertheless, Judy was indeed interested in the girl and asked Eric to help. Considering that "The Walking Dead" had many roles, he decided to find something suitable for her.
On the plane, the girls chatted quietly until night fell outside the window.
The next day, at noon, the Boeing landed at Los Angeles International Airport. Seeing the people waiting for them and the long Lincoln, the girls were amazed.
"Eric, now I finally believe that you didn't deceive me. You really are the vice president of MGM."
"Huh? If you doubted me, why did you follow me?" Eric asked, looking at Gal Gadot.
Gadot shook her head and turned to her friend, "I don't know, Refaeli, what about you?"
"I doubted too, but I didn't want to miss this chance. In Tel Aviv, I would never have the opportunity to become a supermodel and step onto a bigger stage," Refaeli answered.
Judy gently pinched her nose, "Don't worry, with us and Eric, you'll quickly become a star!"
"Really?" Refaeli asked hopefully.
"Of course, Eric, right?" Judy looked at him.
Eric glanced at the girls, "For Judy's sake, I'll give you a good role, but how you take advantage of the opportunity depends on you."
"Can I play a leading role?"
Eric thought for a moment, "That will depend on the producer and the director. Not only do I make the decisions on the set."
"But you're the vice president, who can argue with you?" Refaeli persisted, hoping for the same promise given to Gal Gadot.
Sensing the tension, Judy quickly hugged her shoulders, "Don't rush things, movies aren't made with a snap of the fingers. This is your first time in Los Angeles, let's go shopping first, Gal, you too."
Gal Gadot smiled sweetly, "Okay!"
….
Having seen the girls off, Eric did not return to MGM but headed straight to the office of A.K. Films. The preparation for the shooting of "Sharknado" was nearly complete, and now he had a meeting with someone.
The director of "Scary Movie," Keenen Ivory Wayans, had already read the "Sharknado" script and flatly refused to direct it.
Wayans had said, "While I love making parody films, there is a difference between a parody and outright garbage. And your 'Sharknado' is just crap, excuse my bluntness. Whoever wants to make it can, but not me."
According to Bema Hardy and Warren, if the director's fee was increased by $200,000, they might be able to persuade Wayans. But this was a low-budget film, and an overrun of $200,000 was impossible. Moreover, the quality of the film did not heavily depend on the level of the director, so it was better to save money.
When Eric opened the office door, the man in the guest chair immediately stood up. It was a face Eric would recognize anywhere - Ryan Reynolds.
"You look very young, Mr. Reynolds."
Ryan seemed a bit flustered, "Aren't we supposed to say something like 'nice to meet you' when we first meet? What kind of strange compliment is that?"
He extended his hand, "Nice to meet you, Mr. Cooper. I'm Ryan Reynolds."
Eric, examining the young actor, noticed that Ryan was also sizing him up.
"Right, this is the guy from the papers. He seems even younger than me. Damn, what am I even thinking!"
Eric invited him to sit, "Have a seat, let's talk. Warren said you wanted to see me. What's the matter?"
Ryan gathered his thoughts, "Mr. Cooper, I read the 'Sharknado' script, and honestly..."
Seeing that Ryan hesitated to continue, Eric added, "Nonsense, complete rubbish, right?"
Ryan nodded embarrassedly, thinking, "So you do understand."
"Yes, I understand it perfectly. That's exactly what 'Sharknado' is, that's the whole idea."
"Mr. Cooper, I can't quite grasp that."
Ryan knew that "Sharknado" was a failure but still hoped for a meeting with Eric. Now it was up to Eric to convince him.
"Mr. Reynolds, let's take an example. In the entertainment industry, who becomes famous faster: someone with a mediocre appearance or someone with a distinctive feature?"
Ryan pondered, "You mean the peculiarities of actors?"
"Sort of. In Hollywood, many films are released each year. Films like 'The Godfather' are rare, but so are films like 'The Room.'"
"'The Room'? What's that?" Ryan asked.
"It's one of those films that have gone down in history as the worst... no..."
Eric suddenly realized that "The Room" had not yet been released, just like "Perfume." It was easier to fool Gal Gadot, unfamiliar with the film, but Ryan Reynolds was not someone who could be easily deceived.
"Perhaps I should put it differently. For example, films like 'Plan 9 from Outer Space' are also rare."
Ryan Reynolds nodded, "Ed Wood's film. Although I don't particularly value them, they are so bad that it becomes art. I think I'm beginning to understand what you mean."
"Exactly. A good actor should not be afraid to appear in bad films. If you are truly talented, you can stand out even in the most disastrous project!"
"Mr. Cooper, your words make sense, but I still have one question."
"Please, go ahead."
"Mr. Warren said that if I participate in 'Sharknado,' MGM would consider me for their other films. Is that true?"
This question was crucial for Reynolds. "Van Wilder: Party Liaison" was just an average film, but even that had taken ten years. Who knew how long it would take for the next opportunity? Now, with MGM extending a hand, he did not want to miss this chance.
"If there's a suitable role, I will definitely consider you. I can promise that in the future, you will get at least one significant supporting role in a major film. How does that sound?"
Hearing this, Ryan Reynolds felt incredible joy. A supporting role in a major project was far more valuable than a lead role in a low-budget comedy like "Van Wilder: Party Liaison." They were on entirely different levels.
"In that case, Mr. Cooper, I think I have no reason to refuse your offer."
They shook hands firmly.
"To a successful collaboration!"
"To a successful collaboration!"