Chapter 362: Collaboration

Chapter 362: Chapter 362: Collaboration

Suddenly, Francis tone became serious.

"The inner workings of Hollywood are far more complex than they appear on the surface. Although the Oscar is touted as the ’highest temple of cinematic art,’ there is no shortage of capital maneuvering, networking contests, and interest exchanges behind the scenes.

Some major studios, in order to get their films to win awards, will invest huge sums in public relations fees, and will even go so far as to use some dishonorable tactics. You must be mentally prepared for this Oscar campaign. You must both showcase the film’s strengths and protect yourself well to avoid being dragged into unnecessary disputes."

Irene also chimed in. "Father is right. Hollywood is just a vanity fair, filled with traps and competition everywhere. Sister, you just need to remember to hold your ground at all times. The essence of film is art, it is the expression of emotion. As long as you put your heart into making good films, you will naturally gain the recognition of audiences and industry insiders."

Sophia nodded. "I understand, Dad, Irene. Don’t worry, I will hold my ground and put my heart into everything I do. Even if I don’t win in the end, I won’t have any regrets because I will have given it my all."

The sisters and their father continued to chat about the Oscars. Francis shared his experiences of struggling in Hollywood when he was young, mentioning many stories about the older generation of filmmakers and the changes in the industry.

Irene added some information about the latest Oscar selection rules and trends, such as the role of movie fans in Oscar awards in recent years, and the impact of streaming platforms on the Oscars.

Sophia listened with great interest, occasionally raising her own questions, and the atmosphere at the dining table was warm and lively.

Unknowingly, breakfast was nearing its end, and the servants began to clear the table.

Francis took a sip of coffee, looked at Irene, and asked in a relaxed tone, "Irene, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End has wrapped up. During your upcoming break, besides the subsequent editing work and preparations for Transformers, do you have any other work arrangements?"

Irene shook her head. "There are no particularly clear arrangements for the time being. I’ve received many scripts recently — action movies, romance, fantasy, all sorts — but not many have truly interested me. Most scripts are either cliché in plot or superficial in theme, with no real novelty. I’ve been too tired lately, and Transformers won’t be easy work either, so I don’t want to make meaningless films just for the sake of money."

She paused, then added, "Perhaps after Transformers, I will lean towards making films with depth and substance that can provoke thought, just like Million Dollar Baby. Or perhaps some innovative works that can open up new markets. However, such good scripts are rare and hard to come by."

Francis nodded, saying thoughtfully, "That’s fine too. It’s better to have nothing than to have something substandard. By the way, I remember you mentioned a novel called Brokeback Mountain before, saying it had great adaptation potential and that you wanted to make it into a film. Have you found a suitable director yet?"

Hearing the words "Brokeback Mountain," Irene was taken aback for a moment, then suddenly realized.

"Oh my, Dad, I would have forgotten if you hadn’t mentioned it! I already secured the rights to Brokeback Mountain a long time ago, and the script is mostly adapted, but I haven’t found a suitable director.

Actually, I wanted to invite Director Ang Lee to direct it. His narrative style and delicate grasp of emotion are very suitable for this film. Plus, I have a good relationship with Director Ang Lee, but he was caught in the public opinion pressure from Hulk before and was a bit passive, so I haven’t proactively approached him to talk yet."

Francis smiled, pointed to Sophia sitting next to her, and said with a hint of teasing, "You, you’re just too busy, so busy that you’ve forgotten your own sister. Sophia is also a very talented director. Lost in Translation was filmed so well, delicate and profound — perhaps she could handle a subject like Brokeback Mountain? Even if you have a good relationship with Ang Lee, could it be closer than with your own sister?"

Irene’s eyes lit up. How could she not have thought of it? She had just been saying she could help Sophia find some other projects. How could she have forgotten Brokeback Mountain? This was an Oscar powerhouse.

She immediately looked at Sophia, an excited smile appearing on her face. "Sister, what do you think? The novel Brokeback Mountain tells the story of a forbidden love between two cowboys that spans twenty years. The emotions are delicate and deep, and the theme is very profound. Your Lost in Translation did an excellent job in emotional expression and atmosphere creation. I believe you can definitely make this film well!"

She took Sophia’s hand and said earnestly, "Sister, this is a rare opportunity. The story of Brokeback Mountain is very moving. As long as it’s filmed well, it will surely win something at the Oscars, and it would be a huge boost to your directing career. Plus, if the two of us sisters work together, we will definitely be able to spark something different!"

Sophia was a bit overwhelmed by Irene’s sudden proposal. She was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said,

"Irene, thank you for trusting me so much. However, I haven’t read the novel Brokeback Mountain, nor do I know the specific content of the story, so I can’t just agree to it casually. I want to read the novel and the adapted script first, understand the core of the story and the emotions of the characters, and then decide whether I can handle this subject matter."

She paused, then added, "Also, a subject like Brokeback Mountain is quite sensitive, involving homosexual love, which is a taboo topic in Hollywood right now. To make the film well, with depth, and not just skim the surface, is extremely difficult. I need to think about it carefully and see if I am really suitable for this project."

Irene nodded and said understandingly, "Okay, no problem! I will send you the novel and the script today. Take your time reading it, no need to rush into a decision. Whether you decide to direct it in the end or not, I will respect your choice." She smiled and said.

"However, I really hope you can agree. If us two sisters work together, with me as producer and you as director, it will surely be very happy!"

Francis also smiled and said, "Sophia, you can think about it carefully. Irene’s judgment has always been very accurate. Brokeback Mountain is indeed a very promising work. Moreover, if you two sisters cooperate, you can support and help each other, which is very rare in Hollywood."

Sophia nodded. "I will, Dad, Irene. I will carefully read the novel and the script and give you an answer as soon as possible."

Just then, Irene’s phone rang again. It was a call from Lisa. She glanced at the phone screen and said to Sophia and her father, "It’s Lisa. She probably has something to ask me. Let me take this call first."