Chapter 5
Sorry for the wait everyone. Busy at work and while these chapters are the shortest, I have ever written I am still a slow ass writer. That said I what to again give a shout out to itz_Bautista who has supported me the most and alphin_cj who gave me my first review. As thanks I will let itz_Bautista pick who the MC hooks up with first. And alphin_cj if the MC wins an award for Se7en. Just leave an answer in the chapter review.
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Everyone in Hollywood wishes to walk the red carpet at least once. But I can honestly say I was never one of them. I hate the red carpet with a passion. All those cameras, all those reporters and worse having to dress up. I would prefer staying at home and watching TV in my boxers over that shit. That however is the game. If you wish to play sometimes you have to play by their rules." Caesar Espinar.
-1995-
I got the call from David, the premiere for Se7en was set and unlike the test screening for it I was invited. Read told to attend the premiere no matter what. While I had the feeling that New Line didn't want me anywhere near the movie after it was done filming on account of my age. Someone had clearly let the cat out of the bag so to speak. Seeing as before I got the call, I was reading the morning paper and there was my name in the entertainment section. And not just my name, but my age as well. Along with a not so flattering article about now New Line was risking 33–34 million dollars on a script written by an 18, now 19 year old kid. I don't think I need to tell you this didn't make the CEO of New Line or Arnold very happy.
But that was Hollywood for you, and all that negative press was coming from the competition. And while Warner Bros was doing its best to fight back there was a slight problem in doing that. That problem brings me. You see the movie itself didn't test well but New Line was pushing it forward anyways. Having spent to much at this point to back out now. That was why they didn't want me anywhere near the movie after it was done filming. My age called into question their judgment by going along with this wild idea. Then there was my criminal record that was to say the least extensive.
Now everyone loves a bad boy. Movies like Boyz n the Hood and Stand and Deliver proved that hood characters had a place on screen. But I was both young and had a very, very long criminal record. Along with being Mexican. So, I already had those three things against me. Add in my list of crimes that included things like grand theft, drug dealing, assault and attempted murder. The last one they were never able to prove, and you had a lot of problems on your hands. Ya, the press was having a field day with this. Which was both good and bad as it generated interest in the film itself. And it's like the old saying goes there is no such thing as bad press. That is so long as the movie doesn't go belly up. In which case New Line and Warner Bros becomes a laughingstock. Which wasn't good for my career or David's for that matter.
Who by the way I got a good laugh at his expense when I arrived at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and saw him sweating bullets. Of course, I didn't get to walk on the red carpet. My name may have been in the papers but up to this point I wasn't known. I was a name without a face. So of course, I had to come in from that back door. Which was find with me.
"Deep breaths David. You look like you going to pass out." I say to my friend, I guess that is what you could call him at this point.
"Easy for you to say Caesar. You're not the one whose whole life is on the line here. Have you read the papers?" David asks.
"Of course, I have, and you really need to calm the fuck down. Do you want me to get you some cocaine, weed or something to help?" I ask him.
"God dammit Caesar please tell me you don't have drugs on you right now." Daivd all but demands.
Rolling my eyes I say, "David I don't do drugs."
I watch him as he lets out a sigh of relief then add, "Doesn't mean I can't get them, if need be, however."
Then I have to stop myself from laughing as he takes a very deep breath then say "Caesar…."
"Okay, okay David calm down. Don't forget if this movie flops you're not the only one that goes down here. Do you honestly think anyone will ever buy another script from me if that happens?" I say to him.
Then I see him start to calm down a bit.
And wasn't that the truth? I may have looked calm on the outside but my bets where placed. If this didn't work recovery would not be easy. No in fact it may be impossible. So, I wasn't going to risk it by having drugs anywhere near me.
"Ah Caesar there you are." I hear the voice of our lead actress say and I turn to face her.
To tell the truth I didn't know what to think of Gwyneth Kate Paltrow or my relationship with her. We were not friends, that was for sure but not do to any animosity between us. It was more to do with the fact we came from far different words. Hers of the white, rich and privilege type and mine the minority, broke as fuck, dirty and take what I desired type. Two different worlds so far apart we would never truly understand each other. That said she was sociable, and we had talked a handful of times on set. After all, I was the script writer and like Morgan Freeman, she wanted to meet the person behind what she called the most violent and grotesque script she had ever read.
Which to many may have sounded like an insult but it really wasn't. She actually like crime stories and found the role of Tracy to her liking. Who knew right? Anyways from the few talks we had I got to know her a bit but again we were not friends.
"Miss Paltrow." I say with a smile.
Smiling at me Gwyneth says, "Come now Caesar haven't I told you before to just call me Gwyneth."
"I prefer Miss Paltrow." I say in a dead voice.
"Always so serious. You are too young to be so serous Caesar. If you keep this up your get gray hairs before you turn 20." She teases me.
I say nothing and just keep my eyes right on hers. Trying to not show how much she was getting under my skin. Not do to her teasing me but because well…. She was hot. And I always had a weakness for hot woman.
Of course, a woman like Gwyneth can see right though my mask. So, with a knowing smile she says, "So have you started to write the script promised me?"
Looking at Gwyneth in a confused way David looks at me and asks, "Script? Your writing another one already Caesar?"
I just glare at the woman and say, "No, and I promised you nothing."
"Oh, then you don't mind if I look at this." She reaches behind me and grabs my newest notebook that I conveniently had on me.
Then opens it up to the first page and starts to read out the names with a surprised look on her face, "Love in England, To Love Shakespeare, Shakespeare in Love."
Yes, you heard right, Shakespeare in Love. To tell the truth I honestly had no desire to steal this script for my own uses. Not being a big fan of romantic comedies in general and me being who I was. It didn't make sense to do so despite being a hit movie from what the information in my head was telling me. But then she went and challenged me during one of or few talks. Well perhaps challenge isn't the right word. She more or less just pointed out that while I did a wonderful job portraying a married couple in Se7en there was no way I could do something truly romantic.
I hate being told what I can and can't do. So, I to that as a personal challenge and told her that I could if I wanted to. Clearly by the look on her face she didn't seriously think I would write anything. Well, surprise to her. However, I didn't only do it to show her I could. I mostly did it because I found out her godfather was Steven Spielberg. The very same Steven Spielberg, whose name kept on showing up in all my mind whenever I looked for something that had to do with movies. Either as a director, producer or executive producer, well into the 2000's. Hell even if it wasn't, the Spielberg of today was someone I wanted to know. Using his goddaughter to get close to him was just the smart thinking. Even if it would seem strange for someone like me to write a romantic comedy.
"Wow okay, I… I honestly didn't think you would try to write something for me Caesar." Gwyneth says. Feeling equal parts stunned and flattered.
That is till I snatched the notebook out of her hand and say, "I don't like being challenged Miss Gwyneth."
His voice is so calm and cold it sends a shiver up Gwyneth's spine. It is a feeling she likes for several reasons. Mostly because she just enjoyed getting under the skin of a clearly dangerous human being. Being only 23 years old herself, perhaps it was the bad boy thing. She thought to herself. After all, all women loved the bad boy, and she was no exception. But that was where it ended for her. Or at least that is what she told herself. Caesar just wasn't her type. He wasn't ugly but he wasn't handsome in her eyes. No Brad was more her type. Still Gwyneth couldn't deny there was just something about him that went beyond the bad boy attitude. He had the desire deep down inside to be someone. A fire that burned hotter than anything in the world. It was a very attractive quality all on its own.
"I didn't know you read Shakespeare." David says.
"I had a lot of free time in juvy." That is all I say in turn. It's all I need to say.
And there it was again. Gwyneth thinks to herself. His fearlessness in stating the fact that he was a criminal. Many in his position would have tried to hide it or come up with an excuse for what he had done. He didn't, however, nor did he care to even try and to do so. Perhaps it was foolish of him to do so but she could help but admire him for it. Even if she thought it was both a foolish and naive thing to do.
Before she can say anything more, she hears the ring for the movie to start. Then everyone in the room starts to enter the room where it would be shown and take their seats. She sits opposite Brad and Caesar on David's. Then takes one more look at Caesar before the movie starts.
I didn't watch the movie. There was no need to watch the movie seeing as I have watched it hundreds of times in my head. No, I watch the audience. The actors, the producers, the directors, models and other people that are both important and not so much. All of them immersed in the movie I stole, and David made. Not that I could blame them. Se7en no matter how it came to be, was still a great movie. Groundbreaking some would later call it. A movie that single handedly changed the way the crime thriller genre was filmed.
For a moment and just a moment I allowed myself to bask in the glory, which is the film I helped make. Then I allowed reality to bring back down to earth. Unlike that fool who flew too close to the sun I wasn't about to allow myself to be burned. This was not my movie. It would never be my movie. No matter what I told myself. This film belonged to Andrew Kevin Walker, even if he didn't know it. Know that I fucked him over for my own selfish reasons.
Did I feel guilty about it? No, that would be stupid. Only the weak felt bad about doing what it took to reach the top. No matter what era or what business, you don't make it to the top without screwing somebody over. Andrew Walker just so happened to my first victim. Maybe if I am feeling generous, I will let him keep Sleepy Hollow. It only made double its budget anyways. It was hardly worth my time to write and sell it to anyone. Though I did honestly like the movie and Tim Burton was one of my favorite directors. Plus, I liked many of Johnny Deeps movies. So, I kind of wanted to work with him. Well Food for thought. I thought to myself as surprise twist started and a I heard a collative gasp of shock at what everyone had just seen. Clearly only those who had worked on the film saw that coming.
I hear David whisper in my ear, "Thank you Caesar for making this possible."
I answer back, "No, thank you David for giving me a chance to see my creation come to life."
After the premiere of Se7en I didn't stick around for the after party or anything. No one would miss me after all and intel the box office numbers came out there was little point in me showing up. Everyone may have been congratulating David on a clearly amazing film, it was just lip service. No matter what anyone in the room personally thought, all that mattered was the box office numbers. Not the words of the critics or anything else. So, I just went home and straight to bed without a care or worry in the word. After all, I knew what the results would be or at least that is what I told myself. The media attention surrounding me did cause me to worry just a bit, but I put it out of my mind.
Now to tell the truth if I knew that those jackasses in the media where doing me a favor by being up my past. Well, I would have sent them a fucking fruit basket or something. But how was any of use supposed to know that by pointing out that I was only 18 at the time the script was bought, and an ex-con would work in our favor. No one could have foreseen that my fellow dregs of dregs of society would come out in force. The very same people that others wrote off as having no value. They flocked to the movies to see what one of their own had created and in its opening weekend Se7en grossed a total of $17,497,795 million. Over 3 million more dollars then in did according to the information I had in my head. By the end of that first week, it totaled 23.1 million dollars.
To say David, Arnold and the CEO of New Line Pictures Robert Shaye where ecstatic would be an understatement. Especially Arnold, who from what I found out later had never told Robert that he brought a script from an 18 year old for over 50,000 dollars and then convinced him to budget it for 34 million dollars without telling him all the facts. His head was literally on the chopping block till those numbers came out. Now he looked like a fucking genius. So did David for that matter and of course me as well. But that is for later. Right now, I am off to work on another movie. Courtesy of Dante Spinotti recommendation to Guillermo Jorge Navarro Solares who was hired to work on From Dusk till Dawn. Only this time at a slightly higher position. I was now the assistant to the gaffer. Not a bad bump up after only working on two movies if I don't say so myself.