Chapter 256: Luca Says He's Not Acting Anymore

"Ugh~"

At noon, in a café beneath the BRA Studios building in West Hollywood, sunlight poured through the large floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a warm, golden-orange glow, much like the comforting smell of hot coffee in the air.

Luca, seated on a beige sofa, yawned as he set down a stack of documents.

"Luca, what's up? You look so out of it."

Billy, the director, looked up from his paperwork across the table.

"I've been working on a new script the past few days, and last night I suddenly had a burst of inspiration, so I stayed up late writing."

Luca took a sip of hot coffee, the rich flavor waking him up a bit.

"Ah, I thought you were out partying at a nightclub."

Billy gave him a playful smirk.

"I don't like nightclubs. They're too loud and crowded."

"You don't act like a young guy at all!"

Billy teased.

Luca smirked and tapped the folder. "Let's talk business. Everything seems fine, but why did we name the company 'BRA Studios'? People are gonna think we're selling lingerie."

After deciding to work together, Billy and Annie Fletcher had moved quickly, setting up the company within a week. Luca invested $2.2 million, Annie $1 million, and Billy $800,000, with Luca owning 55% of the shares.

During that time, Luca had been busy with modeling gigs, leaving company matters to Billy and Annie, only hiring someone to oversee the finances.

Now that he had some free time, he came by to check on the company's progress.

The company had hired more than ten people and was running smoothly under Billy and Annie's management. But the name? A real issue.

BRA Studios? What kind of name is that?

Billy chuckled and swiped a finger across the table. "BRA wasn't just some random name. 'B' is for me, Beeley; 'R' is for you, Luca; and 'A' is for Annie. We could have gone with RAB or ABR, but this one sounded more... stylish, so we went with it."

Luca raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Alright, how's the movie coming along?"

"The crew and production team are nearly set. We're aiming to finish casting before the end of the year and start shooting by March or April next year."

Luca nodded. "Nice, anything you need help with?"

Billy hesitated for a moment. "Annie and I disagree on the lead actress. She knows a few dancers who can act and wants to cast one of them."

"Sounds good. You don't agree?"

"Yeah, those actresses have dance skills, but they're not well-known and aren't particularly striking. Plus, they've never played a lead role, so it's a big risk."

"My suggestion is to cast someone with good looks, dancing skills, and box office appeal—a second-tier star like Natalie Portman, Jessica Biel, Anne Hathaway, or Katie Holmes. We have plenty of options.

"You're a second-tier star yourself. Pairing you with another second-tier actress would guarantee decent box office numbers."

Luca stroked his chin, thinking. Annie's approach was practical, while Billy's was more about marketability. Considering Annie was the original director, Luca leaned more towards her choice.

"Billy, your idea's solid. A second-tier actress would minimize financial risks, but have you thought about this?"

Luca slyly added a transition.

"What?"

Billy frowned.

"Our production budget is only $8 million. Not a penny more. If we hire a big name, that's at least $2 million in salary. Do you think you can make a high-quality film with just $6 million left?"

"..."

Billy went silent for a moment before responding, "So, you think we should go with a lesser-known actress?"

"For a coming-of-age dance film like this, it makes sense to cast a newcomer. 'Step Up' is an inspirational story, and using fresh faces adds to its authenticity. Besides…"

Luca paused for a moment. "I'm not planning to play the male lead anymore."

"What?"

Billy was stunned. "But we agreed on this! Why the sudden change?"

Luca shrugged. "Billy, have you seen the papers recently? People have a lot of opinions about me, and there's a lot of gossip circulating in the industry. If I take the lead role, it could hurt the film's success.

"To be safe, I suggest casting someone else as the lead."

Before investing, Luca was eager to play the male lead. It would have boosted his star power if he did well, and even if he failed, it wouldn't be a big deal.

But now that he was investing in the movie, he had to think more carefully. Should he take the lead, or let someone else handle it?

After much consideration, he decided to step back and focus solely on writing and producing.

Ever since "Honey" premiered, he'd been having a rough patch. The media kept bashing him, and it influenced how many American viewers perceived him.

Recently, some even claimed that many people refused to watch "Honey" because of him.

The situation was bad.

If he took the lead again, the risk was high.

His main goal in investing in movies was to make money. As long as the film made a profit, he didn't care about much else.

Besides, part of the film's charm was the chemistry between the male and female leads. Right now, he had a girlfriend, and with all the rumors surrounding him, he wasn't suited to play a wholesome young man.

There were other considerations too.

Since coming to Hollywood, he'd written songs, copied scripts, and acted in films, but none of it had amounted to much. 

Although his two songs received positive reviews, they were only recognized within the music industry, and he was just a lyricist.

Since he couldn't prove his acting skills on screen, he figured he'd focus on his writing.

If the script he wrote became a box office hit or won awards, it would certainly improve his reputation with audiences.

This would be his way of redeeming himself.

It would be a slow process, but it was necessary.

During this period of rebuilding his reputation, he'd focus on honing his acting skills by playing smaller roles, gradually shifting public perception.

Once things were more neutral—let's say "Fifty Shades of Grey" neutral—he'd go for the male lead again.

"Luca, you don't have to take those media reports too seriously. They're just targeting you on purpose. Your acting is solid, and you look great for the part. I think you should reconsider."

Billy earnestly tried to persuade him.

Luca spread his hands. "If I hadn't invested in this movie, I would've jumped at the chance to play the lead. But now that I'm an investor, I'm more cautious, and it's affecting my mindset.

"I'm not confident I can do this role justice, so I think it's best we recast."

"I see."

Billy scratched his chubby chin and sighed heavily. "If that's your decision, I respect it."

"Thank you."

Luca smiled softly and shook Billy's hand.

"Let's talk about the script. That's my expertise. Also, regarding filming locations, I agree with Annie's decision. Baltimore would be a better fit. I'll be heading back to New York soon, and I can swing by Baltimore to scout out better spots."

After discussing the casting, the two of them chatted about other matters until around 3 PM, when Luca finally left.

"Goodbye, Luca! I'll be in touch if anything comes up!"

Billy waved as Luca walked away, then suddenly clenched his fist and shouted, "Yes!!!"

"Hey, Annie, I've got great news. You're gonna be thrilled when you hear it!"

Billy excitedly pulled out his phone.

"What's the news?"

Annie sounded tired from work.

"Luca said he's not playing the male lead anymore."

"Really?!!"

Annie asked over the phone, "Is this for real?"

"Of course, he told me himself."

"Hahaha, that's great news! Honestly, he's not a good fit right now. Casting him would've been risky."

Annie sighed with relief.

"Yeah, I thought so too. Looks like Luca was worried about that as well. I've got to give it to him—he's pretty self-aware.

"That guy's always in the tabloids, stirring up trouble and pissing people off. If a scandal broke out around the time of the movie's release, we'd be done for.

"Now that he's stepping back, I feel a huge weight off my shoulders. Hahaha~"

Billy laughed, but then suddenly felt a chill behind him. He turned around in confusion and froze.

"Uh, Luca, why are you back?"

"..."

(End of Chapter)