Chapter 123: The Creator

[Chapter 123: The Creator]

"Why are you two even talking about this?!" Elizabeth Olsen panicked, having stood up from the arm of the couch she was perched on.

"We need to discuss this to make sure you aren't treated unfairly," Ashley quickly said.

"If we don't clear up this matter, there won't be any point in collaborating," Mary-Kate added.

So this was why they had been waiting for me? Those two looked determined to defend their sister.

Ryan, however, was unfazed and shrugged, "It started out impulsively but ended up making sense..."

Seeing the twins fall silent, he dove into more details.

"Stop talking! Just stop!" Elizabeth urged, her face flushing a deep red.

Ashley shot her a glare.

"That's the gist of it. I didn't force her," Ryan said.

"Is everything he said true?" Ashley asked.

"I was drunk at that time," Elizabeth mumbled.

"You don't have such a terrible tolerance, do you? Did he mess with your drink?" Mary-Kate analyzed for her sister.

"I willingly went along with him... that." Elizabeth struggled to get the words out.

It's likely that Elizabeth's earlier version of events didn't line up with the truth, leading to some misunderstandings between the twins and Ryan. Now that everything was out in the open, it seemed to be settled.

"Then, from now on, you'll handle the coordination between us and Ryan. You're still in touch with him, right?" Mary-Kate stated.

"Uh? I'm not sure I can do that." Elizabeth immediately shook her head.

"What's so hard about it? You don't want to be an actress, do you? So, try to improve those skills," Ashley said nonchalantly.

Ryan looked at the twins, wondering what they were really up to. Were they trying to set up their sister with him?

"Instead of worrying about Elizabeth, why not worry about your own relationships? Are you two married yet?" Ryan examined the pair, taking the lead in the conversation. In terms of looks, the twins weren't any less striking than Elizabeth; they just had that intense, slightly intimidating gaze that probably tied back to their positions as businesswomen.

"It's still early for that," Ashley shook her head.

Ryan discovered the Olsen twins were born in 1986, the same year as Daddario, with Daddario even being three months older.

This was the power of child stardom. After so many years, they were barely in their twenties, meanwhile Daddario would probably still be playing supporting roles if she hadn't met him.

"Do you have boyfriends?" Ryan curiously looked at the twins, who were identical in voice, height, and hair color. If they dressed the same, it would be tough to tell them apart. They had first entered the industry playing the same character.

If you're in bed and turn off the lights, it would be nearly impossible to distinguish between them.

Ashley shot Ryan a glare.

"I was just asking. Is that such a sensitive topic? Or do all three of you like the same type?" Ryan chuckled.

"Shut up." Elizabeth was getting annoyed. How had the conversation turned into Ryan making cheeky comments about her sisters?

Feeling the tension since the sisters kept acting so formal and stifled, Ryan figured the discussion had run its course and began to get up to leave.

"I'll walk you out," Elizabeth stood up.

...

As they watched Elizabeth trail after Ryan into the elevator, the doors slid shut. Ashley let out a huff, thinking Ryan was pretty bold.

She was indeed in between relationships, having broken up with Lance Armstrong about a year ago.

Meanwhile, Mary-Kate sighed, likely reflecting on her ex, Heath Ledger.

Heath had died this past January due to an overdose of prescription drugs. His role as the Joker in The Dark Knight became his peak, and that film, one of the top three on IMDB's all-time list, propelled director Christopher Nolan into immense fame.

...

The driver started the car, heading north, eventually arriving in Harlem, where Ryan had a dance studio he had visited before. There he contacted a young dancer named Kyle, who had just been invited to choreograph Beyonce's Single Ladies, which was a significant accomplishment.

Time was pressing; Scott had received an invitation to the American Music Awards. This year, Ryan and Taylor had both been nominated and received opportunities to perform on stage. Ryan decided to officially perform Where Are U Now on the AMA stage.

Most preparations for the single were already underway, but he still had to make a trip to Los Angeles...

...

On the plane to Los Angeles, Trey asked Ryan, who was flipping through a Playboy magazine, "Did you get the graffiti art ready?"

Ryan nodded, closing the magazine and picking up a different one to browse through.

"After this trip to LA, we need to start shooting the new MV. But by the way, why did you ask me to join you?" Trey voiced her curiosity. Trey had recently led a group to start a new production company and had been super busy, but the client list had dwindled.

Now with Ryan and Taylor as super clients and Ryan planning to sign other artists, the production company was getting on its feet, with Ryan as the secret financier.

"I'm helping you build your skills in film and television -- unless you plan to make MVs your entire career?" Ryan retorted.

Ideally, Ryan hoped Trey could direct an episode of The Vampire Diaries. It wasn't a wild idea; during filming, the role of the director was often secondary, as directors frequently changed throughout a season.

This made Trey pause, as any director wanted to land big productions to make a name for themselves; it's not like they had much choice. Trey had adapted well, and she was currently one of the most recognized directors in the country music MV scene. Her entering the film space would benefit Ryan significantly.

"But are you really confident? Or has the other party already agreed?" Trey knew Ryan was set to negotiate with the creator of The Vampire Diaries.

The creator, by definition, was the core creative force behind the series and often also served as writer or executive producer -- sometimes both. In television, the writer held the most crucial position.

Directors didn't have as much sway, and their significance paled in comparison to the lead actors.

"Let's just see how it goes," Ryan replied candidly, not feeling entirely sure about the situation.

...

Everything proceeded smoothly until Ryan arrived at Dimension Films' office to meet Kevin Williamson, the creator of The Vampire Diaries. Behind him hung a showcase of his works, including the first two films of the Scream horror series, where he served as the core screenwriter.

He also wrote the screenplay for I Know What You Did Last Summer among several others.

In the TV realm, Williamson had produced shows like Glory Days for Warner Brothers and several others for WB, but none had really caught fire.

By mid-year, he began preparations for an adaptation of a novel -- the series titled The Vampire Diaries.

He had been in collaboration with Dimension Films for years. It's worth noting that Dimension was a subsidiary of Miramax, having been acquired over a decade ago to focus solely on horror films. After being acquired by Disney, it was eventually bought back by Weinstein. Kevin Williamson's first film as a director was backed by Weinstein, establishing their superior-subordinate relationship.

When Ryan expressed his wish to invest in the series, Kevin didn't refuse and promptly suggested casting Daddario for a supporting role.

Since the last time Daddario reached out, Kevin had confirmed Ryan's connection with her, believing Ryan was investing in the project solely for Daddario.

"Not just a supporting role, but the lead role," Ryan corrected him.

"Come on, Ryan, I'll be honest; she lacks the ability to play the lead. She doesn't match the character in the script at all," Kevin countered.

"If you want her to play an important role, why not consider something else?" Kevin continued.

"How about a more prominent supporting role instead?" Ryan took a step back.

Kevin shook his head, "Those choices have already been finalized."

His tone suggested that Daddario's role would likely be one that wouldn't survive past the first episode.

Kevin then discussed investment returns, presenting conditions that were frankly harsh -- not only were there risks of losing capital, but profitability was capped and couldn't be collected until several years later.

It felt like Kevin viewed Ryan as a naive fool with deep pockets lacking understanding.

"You know our project is highly sought after; we don't lack for investors, and honestly, the amount you mentioned isn't that appealing," Kevin chuckled.

"Excuse me," Ryan stood up abruptly.

"Not staying a bit longer? This lady hasn't spoken yet; you must be Trey Fanjoy, right? I've seen some MV award shows," he turned to Trey, seemingly ignoring Ryan.

Trey knew negotiations had fallen through but smiled politely as she stood to leave with Ryan.

At that moment, Kevin walked around the desk and approached Trey.

"With your beauty, if you ever want to direct a series, please reach out to me. Here's my business card," he disregarded Ryan completely, handing a card to Trey .

As they were about to part, he extended his hand to shake Trey's, which she felt obligated to accept. Little did she expect that he had ulterior motives, as he not only rubbed at her hand but also tried to lift it to kiss it.

Trey instantly pulled her hand back in alarm.

Kevin quickly turned to Ryan, reaching for his hand, but then suddenly his face flushed red, and he let out a yelp.

"Oh my God, no -- let go of my hand!" His back bent awkwardly, contorting as Ryan gripped his hand tightly like a vice.

At that moment, a fat woman entered, having just arrived after a delay, and quickly intervened to stop Ryan. She was another creator of the series who just so happened to walk into the scene.

"Security! Security! I want to report this! You little punk, you aren't getting away!" Kevin shouted after breaking free.

*****

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