Jake's agent

Sophie Marceau, the renowned French rose—well-known enough. But who's Eva Green? Unfamiliar, set aside for now. As for this guy, Heath Ledger, who's been acting alongside him for so long, Jake naturally understood his capabilities and had his own considerations.

But what the heck was a romance film?

He agreed to "Brokeback Mountain" due to its unique theme, and his character's charm and personality were the type he wanted to challenge.

However, it didn't mean he enjoyed filming romance movies. Although he gained fame from roles in romantic films during his early years, starring in another one now would be like going back. Over these years, he had been trying to break free from the so-called teenage heartthrob label.

Moreover, he wasn't interested in these cliché, melodramatic stories.

He wasn't short on money, nor on industry reputation. His current pursuit was good scripts and roles.

Speaking of which, he had been following this principle for the past few years.

Still, considering Lyman's track record of successful and well-received films, Jake didn't dare dismiss the idea outright. What if this romance film wasn't the kind he imagined?

As for what he imagined, aren't love stories all the same? Regardless of Hollywood, Japan, Korea, or China, the perennial favorite is always the rich guy falling for the poor girl, or swapping their social statuses. The classic "frog turns into a prince" story.

Even the highest-grossing romance film so far, "Titanic", couldn't escape this kind of formulaic setup.

However, James Cameron's perspective on presentation was slightly different. Although the process was similar, by setting the love story against the backdrop of a sinking ship, the ending was refined to a certain extent. Looking past the surface, it was still a case of "mismatched social status" eventually leading to a union.

"Could you give me a brief overview of the story? If it's offensive, you don't have to share," Jake asked.

Lyman had no reservations. This wasn't something that couldn't be discussed. After all, the script had already been submitted to EuropaCorp for filing, and they weren't afraid of leaks.

As for copyright issues, the big film companies had countless ways to protect themselves.

This was the world of capital, after all.

Lyman then roughly outlined the creative approach and the character dynamics.

Now, Jake's mind was stirred once again.

Earlier, he had been contemplating how to reject the offer in a way that wouldn't hurt feelings, but now it seemed unnecessary.

This romance film was indeed not what he had imagined.

Interesting. He liked it.

He adjusted the cuff of his sleeve and asked, "When is the shooting expected to start?"

"In the upcoming days. Could you free up your schedule for September?"

Jake pondered for a moment, uncertain about his availability. "I'm sorry, I need to check with my agent. I'll get back to you this afternoon, is that okay?"

Actors sometimes accepted roles due to personal relationships or considerations from their agencies, which could complicate scheduling. Time constraints were genuinely challenging. Lyman understood this and nodded.

...

In the afternoon, after a light meal, Jake sat in his trailer and called his agent. He informed them about Lyman's invitation.

"There's one slightly lacking aspect: my role has relatively fewer scenes. It's a supporting role."

Lyman had indeed mentioned this point to him.

Upon hearing it, Jake's agent wasn't dissatisfied. This was an invitation from Lyman Lattes, after all. How many actors in Hollywood wouldn't jump at the chance to receive such an offer?

"I suggest you verbally accept right away. I'll handle the scheduling details," the agent said over the phone. "Jake, you mustn't miss out on this."

"I know, I understand, and I'm interested as well," Jake replied.

"That's good. You should be aware of how many actors he has propelled to fame. Just like your current film, "Brokeback Mountain", Heath Ledger's industry reputation owes much to him. A film like "Buried", another like "Fury", and then "Miscreant". You see, this director seems capable of handling any genre. Perhaps this film will also achieve great success."

Success, who didn't want it?

Not to mention that Jake also aimed to boost his reputation within the industry a bit more and make a run for the Oscars.

"Jake, you've been in this circle for a long time, so you should understand," the agent continued, "To gain the approval of mainstream authorities, besides honing your acting skills, you need outstanding works. A truly exceptional film is more beneficial than various independent productions. Right now, what you need most is a highly influential film with decent box office returns to enhance your credentials."

Jake remained silent. He had entered the industry at a young age and, under his parents' influence, understood the workings of the "circle" early on. He had a sister who was an actress and even won a Golden Globe award.

He understood himself that in good works, the presence of acting skills contributed to his reputation. But if it were a bad film, who would care about an actor's performance?

"I understand."

Hearing this, the agent chuckled. "You should agree first. I'll head over immediately, and I'll try to negotiate better shooting conditions. Of course, it's on the premise that you can join the production smoothly."

The call ended.

Jake rubbed his cheeks and let out a deep breath.

In the afternoon, the production resumed.

Lyman remained under the shade, occasionally discussing filmmaking matters with Lee An, but he refrained from disturbing the crew and quietly observed from the sidelines.

While there was no one around, Jake approached quickly.

"Director Lyman, I've checked," he smiled and continued, "After I finish my scenes in "Brokeback Mountain", I'll have free slots for the next few months."

Lyman calculated the dates. "That's quite soon. Director Lee just mentioned that we'll be wrapping up in about two days. You just need to keep your schedule open from late August to the end of September."

"Yeah, I'm okay with that." Jake finished and politely took his leave.

The afternoon was to be dedicated to shooting his scenes, so he had to prepare immediately.

Watching another key actor secure their schedule smoothly, Lyman's mood improved.

Compared to when he was casting for "Fury", his current situation was even better.

The continuous accumulation of achievements and industry recognition over the past two years had visibly boosted his persuasive power and position.

To put it bluntly, this was the reality of the entertainment industry.

But in truth, a bit more realism wasn't necessarily a bad thing.