Chapter 109: Audrey Hepburn
Early in the morning, Arthur lay in bed, listening to a phone call from Amy Pascal. "Steven Spielberg wants to come over next Monday to discuss Schindler's List. Is that okay?"
Hook just finished, does it have to be so soon?
After putting down the phone, Nicole Kidman, who was lying on top of Arthur, lifted her head in surprise. "Are you going to work with Spielberg?"
"Yeah, it's for a movie."
"What kind of movie?"
Arthur smiled, running his hand over Nicole Kidman's back. "A black-and-white film about Jewish concentration camps. No one is willing to invest, so Galaxy is going to be the sucker."
"A sucker?" Nicole Kidman kissed Arthur's chest. "Would a savvy person like you be a sucker?"
"What else? Spielberg's works are always with big studios. How would it fall to an independent film company like ours?"
Seeing how dedicated Steven Spielberg was to Schindler's List, Arthur felt reassured.
As the Oscars approached, Hollywood became more vibrant, with frequent parties and receptions day and night. Galaxy Orion managed to recover over $25 million by selling the four films Off and Running, F/X2, Little Man Tate and Mystery Date.
In Universal City, Hollywood, Arthur and Amy Pascal headed to a meeting room at MCA Universal to meet with MCA Universal Pictures President Sidney Sheinberg, director Steven Spielberg, and his assistant Kathleen Kennedy.
As Arthur and Amy entered Universal, they ran into Audrey Hepburn. The 62-year-old Audrey Hepburn was slender.
"Are you Arthur Smith?" Audrey Hepburn approached and asked.
Arthur nodded. "I am. Is there something I can help you with, ma'am?"
Audrey Hepburn shook her head. "I heard from Steven that your Galaxy supported his development of Schindler's List. He is very grateful to you." She hugged Arthur. "Hollywood needs more responsible filmmakers like you."
Audrey Hepburn's last film was Steven Spielberg's romance Always, released in 1989. Last year, she received the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award.
Arthur smiled. "Ma'am, how are you feeling now? As a Hollywood legend, you must take care of your health."
Seeing Audrey Hepburn's condition, Arthur guessed she wasn't doing well.
"Don't worry. I still have many places to visit," Audrey Hepburn explained. "Many children worldwide are starving, especially in Africa. So, if possible, I hope you can contribute to helping those hungry children worldwide," she continued.
Arthur pursed his lips. "The Western coalition just killed over 100,000 people in Iraq. Counting civilians, the number is even higher. The entire country is destroyed, with millions of displaced people, many of them children and women starving and their lives at risk. Ma'am, should they be ignored? How many people can you save by visiting Africa? The real issue is the damage caused by each war."
Audrey Hepburn was taken aback, then smiled wryly. "Arthur, you see things clearly for someone so young!"
Arthur smiled too. "Hollywood is quite the place, and you know it better than I do. Take this film, Schindler's List. Its budget is just over $20 million. How many Jewish bosses are there in Hollywood? Why is no one investing? Now it falls to a newcomer like me!"
"I see you understand Hollywood well," Audrey Hepburn realized the young man in front of her was not ordinary.
Arthur nodded. "Pretty much."
Trying to guilt-trip me? Arthur knew all too well about the dirty side of Hollywood, especially those who experienced the Golden Age.
"If you use your influence to oppose war, it would be far more effective than taking photos and filming clips in Africa," Arthur smiled. "But that wouldn't be very Hollywood, would it?"
Audrey Hepburn nodded. "I understand what you mean. I'll do that. It's a pleasure to meet you. Hollywood needs confident and talented young people like you!"
After chatting with Audrey Hepburn, Arthur and Amy Pascal entered the meeting room together.
"Arthur, these seasoned stars who've seen the old and new Hollywood transitions are not simple," Amy Pascal reminded with a smile.
Arthur was indifferent. "Stars of the studio era were just commodities. They are used to Hollywood's ways. Hollywood's foundation remains the same."
Amy Pascal nodded in agreement. "More and more new forces are joining Hollywood, rewriting its rules!"
Arthur knew she referred to the impact of external forces like Japan's Sony and Panasonic on Hollywood's traditional powers.
"Indeed, their entry has raised the salary standards in Hollywood," Arthur didn't mind. "Let's just sit back and watch."
Offering high salaries to directors, actors, and other filmmakers increased production costs. Arthur was pleased to see the deficits Sony and Panasonic would face in the coming years due to their cultural misfit.
"Sydney, Steven, and Kathleen are here," Amy said as Sidney Sheinberg, Steven Spielberg, and Kathleen Kennedy entered together.
After greetings, everyone sat down to discuss Schindler's List.
Steven Spielberg seemed a bit excited. "I've been preparing this script for ten years. Back then, I felt I wasn't capable enough and approached several other Jewish directors, but none succeeded.
Eventually, I gave the script to Martin Scorsese, but I wanted to direct it so badly that I traded it back with my project Cape Fear.
Arthur, you should be aware of the risks in Schindler's List. I am very grateful for your support."
As Spielberg spoke, Arthur flipped through the script. Seeing Spielberg's intent to film at the Auschwitz concentration camp site, Arthur warned, "Mr. Spielberg, do you really want to shoot at Auschwitz?"
"That's the most authentic way," Spielberg explained.
Arthur shook his head seriously. "The deceased have already rested. Why disturb their souls? You can build sets nearby. You should consult Jewish survivor organizations and memorial groups."
Sidney Sheinberg, also Jewish, agreed with this view and nodded. "Arthur makes sense."
Spielberg felt increasingly alarmed. "Thank you, Arthur. I almost made a big mistake!"
Arthur thought to himself, this would enhance his image among the Jewish community.
*****
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