I'm so charming, there are always men who love me

Chapter 13

Inside the office of the President of CAA in Century City, Brian Lord was waiting for Margaret's response.

It wasn't too easy a choice, with Ajani's acting talent, she was well positioned to gain attention and recognition in the world of cinema with her indie art film.

While commercial movies can increase her influence and value, if she is not careful, she will be rejected by major mainstream film festivals and her original route of acting will be in doubt.

In the past two decades, major mainstream film awards have become less and less favorable to high-grossing commercial films.

Taking the Oscars as an example, every year the commercial blockbusters at the top of the box office charts, it is difficult to get the important awards, usually can only hold back a few technical awards for solace.

Whether it's the old boys at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences or the juries at the three major European film festivals, it's clear that they're not impressed by explosions, alien invasions, and heroes saving the day.

And this Mummy that Margaret now has in her hands is clearly a good commercial movie.

For the sake of a good story and plot, commercial blockbusters will always voluntarily give up a certain amount of plausibility in favor of highlighting the splendor of the images and the sense of climactic conflict.

Now that you've pleased the audience, don't expect the movie judges to give you a good look.

Margaret put down the script in her hand, "I accept commercial movies, but the female lead in this movie is not for me."

Brian Lord mused, "It's true that the character isn't quite as bright and less played, and in current commercial movies, female characters are more often set up as ancillary to the male lead."

"And with the political turmoil in Egypt, the location is no small problem." Margaret didn't want to live a disasterous life for months just to shoot a movie.

In fact, due to the volatile situation in Egypt, which is not suitable for filming the movie, the crew will start shooting in Marrakech, and then move to Irfoud, a small town on the edge of the Sahara Desert.

Under the scorching sun of the Sahara, not to mention dehydration, sandstorms, snakes, spiders and scorpions will also be a major problem for the crowd.

Who knows what other mishaps will be encountered during the shoot.

The good thing was that she wasn't without other options-

Margaret's lack of objection to making a commercial movie apparently made Brian think of more possibilities, and he proceeded to pull out two scripts -

The Sixth Sense and The Matrix.

The Sixth Sense tells the story of a nine-year-old boy, Cole, who claims to be able to see people who have passed away. When a psychiatrist, Malcolm, tries to treat him but is not accepted, Cole decides that no one can help him out of his current situation.

But with Dr. Malcolm's constant insistence, Cole finally lets down his defenses and lets the doctor understand his problems and slowly accepts his advice, but the story has an unexpected ending.

The movie has an excellent script and is a rare thriller that balances commercialism with a good plot.

"But the role of Cole's mother is only sort of a supporting role," Brian Lord also noted, "and taking on this movie tends to stereotype you as a genre actress to the public."

Although The Story of Adele Hugo is a drama, the character of Adele has a certain neurosis and insanity that a thriller heroine possesses.

If Margot's next movie takes on a thriller again, it's obviously prone to stereotyping.

Bryan talks to Margaret about many of the details as she flips through the script, "As far as the Wachowski brothers' The Matrix-"

"Trinity is obviously the undisputed leading lady, but the action sequences are so demanding that the actors are required to undergo eight hours of the most rigorous martial arts training every day for three months in advance with a team of martial arts instructors from Hong Kong."

Margaret flipped through a page of the script, exclaiming in tandem the grueling nature of the shoot, "Wow."

"As for the male cast, Johnny Depp was the Wachowski brothers' first choice in mind to play Neo, but Warner Bros. wanted Brad Pitt or Val Kilmer to play Neo, but sadly both declined to star." Brian Lord apparently knows a lot of inside information, "Then Warner Bros. chose the latter between Johnny Depp and Keanu Reeves."

The multiracial hunk arrived in Hollywood at the age of twenty with three thousand dollars in the first car he ever bought .

He became a national teen idol in just a few years, and his career peaked in 1994 when he starred in the movie "Live and Let Die," which grossed $121 million at the box office.

Of the three films Margot has in front of her, the safest bet is The Sixth Sense, which will win at the box office, and the quality of the movie itself won't cause her to receive too many skeptical voices.

The Mummy and The Matrix, on the other hand, have unpredictable shooting environments and harsh martial arts training, both of which will obviously make these months very difficult for her.

Brian finally inquired, after she had gone through the script all the way through, "Margot, name your options-"

Margaret picked out a script and held it up to Brian's eyes, "Just him."

"Are you sure?" Brian's voice raised.

"Looks like I should hit the gym for a little run every day starting today." Margaret raised an eyebrow, "At least there's no more worrying about character stereotyping."

Brian looked at the words Matrix and was silent for a second inquiring, "Are you sure you weren't drinking or doing drugs before you came here today?"

This crazy futuristic sci-fi movie shows imagination beyond the ordinary, but the character of Trinity seems to be the opposite of the classical temperament in Margaret.

Margaret raised an eyebrow, "Don't worry, I don't drink or have a drug habit."

"You must talk to me about the reasons for choosing to star in the Matrix."

Margaret's gaze, which looked like it could freeze everything in sight, was, at that moment, falling on Brian.

Her calm, ethereal voice was tinged with doubt and sweetness, like a tomb that would bury you -

"Have you ever had that feeling of not being able to tell if you're awake or dreaming, what's really real?"

There was no expression on her face, but it was haunting, to the point that Brian began to doubt the reality of everything in front of him, as if the place he was in would instantly turn into a dark desert.

He blanched and a chill ran down his back.

But soon, Margaret blinked, and the eerie atmosphere she had deliberately created immediately disappeared.

The corners of the brunette's mouth quirked up, "Mr. Lorde, your face is a little white right now."

If he hadn't been trying to be a gentleman, Brian Lord would have wanted to smash the book of scripts in her face.

How could she even pull off something like scaring her agent with her acting?

The trickster Margaret didn't feel the slightest bit guilty, "Anyway, I'd rather undergo eight hours a day of the toughest martial arts training than go to the desert and play a middling, ordinary role, it's challenging isn't it?"

For the next twenty minutes, the two finalized matters concerning their appearance in The Matrix, and Margo was ready to leave CAA headquarters and head back to her private apartment to read the script a few more times.

The CAA tyrant still hadn't forgotten about her nasty prank, and gritted her teeth before Margo left, "You'd better not make a stink about quitting the shoot before a couple days."

Margaret thought hard for a moment and replied sincerely, "That's not entirely out of the question."

Brian Lord: "......"

------------------------------------------

Elegant and sophisticated, this apartment is not too big, but has beautiful details in every place.

Inside the living room, Margaret was looking at her male modeling staff, "Ward, you can leave now, as for Logan, I have something I need to trouble you with."

Margaret obviously didn't know that the tall and robust bodyguard, who looked like he was not to be messed with, was the fatherly mutant leader, who had arranged a protection staff for her.

Logan had joined the X-Men three months ago, but his main job was still to protect Margot.

The reason Margot kept Logan was to consult with The Matrix ahead of time to film relevant action scenes.

After all, this bodyguard of hers seems to be very good at fighting.

But what Margo didn't know was that her comment made her assistant and babysitter, Grant Ward, very upset.

Unbeknownst to Agent Ward at this point, he had nearly been stripped of his vest by a certain tawdry eyelash-slinger.

While the official organization didn't sound evil enough to do so, Margo clearly didn't like the idea of having an undercover agent of unknown origin lurking around.

And so Grant Ward sensed - he was getting the cold shoulder today.

Especially compared to this bodyguard next to him.

Who would have thought that one day Hydra male model-double agent-Grant Ward would be fighting for the favor of a Hollywood actress.

What a sad story to hear and see.

At that moment, on the open TV screen, a middle-aged anchor in a black suit looked serious and his voice was slightly rushed -

"According to the news that has been confirmed by our reporter in Kuwait, Tony Stark, CEO of Stark Industries, was attacked by terrorists in Kuwait an hour ago."

"The body of the U.S. soldier who accompanied him has been recovered, and for the time being, the body of Tony Stark has not been found--"

"Because Tony Stark's whereabouts are unknown and it is difficult to tell if he is alive or dead, Stark Industries stock is expected to take a sharp dive -"

Margaret stared blankly at the news station for a second, and all that flashed through her mind was the back of his reluctant walk to his private jet.

And the words-

"How about you move into my place on Malibu Beach when I get back from Kuwait?"