"Are you serious about interviewing her?" Sean asked, glancing at Norris.
"Sign the agency contract for this guy with the company," Norris replied. He paused to call in the newcomer and turned back to Sean. "Okay, boss. Do you like him?"
"Yes, I'm very optimistic about him. You can sign his agency contract for as many years as you think is appropriate. Just one requirement: set the liquidated damages high enough," Sean emphasized.
Norris raised an eyebrow, surprised. "How high?"
"50 million, or even 100 million if you prefer—whatever you think is best," Sean said casually.
Norris's mouth twitched at the outrageous figure. Director John looked on in astonishment.
Later, Sean selected two actors: Kiefer Sutherland, who would later star in the TV series 24, and James Spader from Boston Legal. While Sean couldn't recall their names at first, their faces were familiar as soon as they walked in.
Ideally, Sean would have liked Norris to sign a brokerage contract, but he didn't insist on it.
Once the main roles for heroes and villains were decided, Sean stepped back, leaving casting decisions entirely in John's hands. Norris also refrained from interfering, respecting John's authority, especially with Sean involved.
John was thrilled to have such significant control over his first directorial project, and his enthusiasm was palpable.
In the morning, all the male actors took a break after the final round of interviews, while the afternoon was reserved for the female roles.
The film primarily featured a male protagonist, with female characters serving more as decorative elements. However, John proposed a change: one of the robbers should be female.
His reasoning was simple—while a male-centric story could be engaging, adding some diversity would enhance the narrative, especially since most robbers are typically men. "We want to keep the audience engaged," he argued.
Sean appreciated John's commercial instincts and recognized the importance of box office appeal.
News of this change delighted the actresses invited for final interviews, and they arrived well-prepared.
Before the interviews began, Norris approached Sean. "Boss, I need to discuss something."
Sean nodded, encouraging him to continue. "Isn't there a new heroine for the film? I have someone in mind."
Sean raised an eyebrow. "Who?"
"Elizabeth McGovern," Norris replied, handing him a photo.
Sean's expression shifted as he recognized her. "Deborah? Why would she be interested in a small production like ours?"
His surprise was understandable. McGovern had starred in Once Upon a Time in America, a critically acclaimed film. It seemed unlikely that she would join a project of this scale.
"Well, her last film flopped at the box office and the company went bankrupt shortly after. The team faced significant backlash, and even De Niro's value took a hit. Elizabeth is looking to revitalize her career," Norris explained, shrugging.
Sean recalled the dismal performance of Once Upon a Time in America, which had a budget of $40 million but grossed just over $5 million globally. It was a cautionary tale of how a film could fail spectacularly.
Looking at the photo, Sean couldn't help but remember McGovern's performances. But then an alarming thought struck him—Deborah might be too young for the role.
"Wait, isn't she... only 15?" Sean exclaimed.
"Well, she could be considered for the reserve list," Norris suggested, unfazed.
"Elizabeth McGovern, on the other hand, is 24 and still quite beautiful. Hollywood has its share of stunning talents," Sean mused.
"Is it urgent?" he asked Norris.
"It's not too pressing, but…" Norris smirked, "she's available tonight, and we could arrange the interview at your villa."
Sean frowned, surprised. "Are you serious about this?"
"Discussing the script at my villa? What does that imply?" he thought to himself.
He couldn't agree unless...
Sean's expression softened slightly. "This puts me in a tough spot. But fine, I'll do it." It seemed he would be working overtime tonight, but he wanted the film to succeed.
They stepped out together, heading towards the actress interviews.
Sean couldn't help but notice the array of talent before him. Hollywood truly was a melting pot of beauty, far surpassing what he'd seen in Newark.
One actress caught his attention, and he did a double-take. "Is that... Superman?"
To be precise, it was the young version of Superman. He glanced at her resume: Diane Lane. She had a remarkable background, having started acting in her teens and even graced the cover of Time Magazine in 1983.
Norris leaned closer, noticing Sean's fascination. "Diane just broke up with Jon Bon Jovi."
Sean turned, confused. "What does that have to do with me?"
Norris shrugged but grinned. "I just thought you should know. It's quite the buzz."
Despite himself, Sean found Diane's presence captivating. He shook off the distraction and focused on the interviews. Rather than rushing to a decision, John instructed everyone to wait for further news, knowing that the selection process was about more than just the interviews.
In the end, John compiled a list of actresses he felt satisfied with and handed it to Sean, leaving the final decisions up to him.
As the interviews progressed, Sean couldn't shake the feeling of excitement mixed with pressure. He understood the stakes—this first film could pave the way for his career, and he needed to make the right choices.
"Let's see how this all unfolds," he thought, ready to dive into the next round of interviews, determined to assemble a talented cast for what he hoped would be a successful project.