....
Christopher's eyebrows arched, clearly intrigued. "That's high praise, Kiara."
"...."
For a mont, the room fell into a reflective silence.
The person Christopher had initially dismissed as inconsequential had managed to earn such glowing remarks from soone as discerning as Kiara.
That was no small feat.
Finally, Christopher's face changed, replacing his earlier skepticism.
"So let get this straight. Keanu, Andrew, Grace..." He muttered, almost to himself. "A rookie with no prior acting history, an indie regular with no standout work, and an underrated and underutilized actress. And sohow, they all delivered remarkable performances?"
Anne nodded. "That's right."
"And it was a debutant director who managed to bring forth such talent together and turned a film better than the script we received?" Christopher pressed.
Anne nodded firmly. "I know it sounds unlikely, but that's exactly what happened."
Christopher's eyes narrowed as he processed the information. "So, Stephen also liked it, and I take it he is planning to recomnd it to his grandfather?"
"I am positive. He looked pretty excited about it." Anne replied, a small smile tugging at her lips.
"...then we might not have much ti." Christopher's voice dropped.
He had invited Stephen to the screening for a very specific reason - to gauge its quality by himself and maybe help give the film a chance.
If not at least get the film released, whether that ant through film festivals or direct-to-DVD.
There were no ulterior motives.
He genuinely wanted to help - but it is also true he didn't take them completely seriously either or use his full connections.
It was just that he hadn't believed the film would be any good or this good.
Yes, Christopher read the script.
The deal was simple - if Grace was involved, Christopher had to read it.
When she expressed interest in working on the project, he insisted on seeing what she was signing up for.
The script was good, no doubt.
Grace had plenty of opportunities to shine, which was a rarity in such projects. That alone had made it stand out.
But potential on paper rarely translated to reality, especially when held by soone so young and inexperienced.
Even Grace's enthusiastic praise for the director hadn't swayed him.
Sure, the kid had talent, his script writing showed promise, even if it might still turn out to be a fluke.
But directing? His first film? That was a different beast entirely.
Yet here he was, hearing Kaira, soone whose judgnt he trusted, deliver glowing reviews.
It was enough to make him pause.
Perhaps he had underestimated them, especially Regal.
Now, the prospect of the film being picked up by distributors seed real - if the right person saw it first.
If Stephen was impressed enough to involve his grandfather, the film might find itself in the hands of soone who could turn it into a serious contender.
That possibility was more than good news, it was a lifeline, especially since one of their own clients had a part in the project.
But there wasn't a mont to spare. The industry moved fast, and the risk of losing talent to competitors was very real.
"Tell everything." Christopher said, his voice steady but urgent.
Anne wasted no ti, flipping through the papers and rattling off the specifics.
The key players, the actors, the strategy.
She was quick, and Christopher listened intently, his exhaustion montarily forgotten, as the details were being told.
....
[Next Day, Evening - Hawking's Residency]
"Sir, Jr. Sir wishes to et you. He is waiting in the lounge area." - a man in a professional suit announced, his voice crisp and formal.
Stephen Hawking Sr., the one in power, didn't lift his eyes from the book in his lap, his face etched with age but still stern.
....that brat's here? What does he need from ? - he wondered.
But added. "Let him in." - his voice is rough due to old age.
"As you wish." - the man replied before leaving the room.
A mont later, Stephen, or more accurately, Stephen Jr., walked into the room - he was the sa one who just yesterday attended the private screening of [Following].
Yet, Stephen Sr. didn't acknowledge him, continuing to turn the pages of his book, his attention fully on the words.
Stephen Jr., unbothered, crossed the room and sat on the couch.
Minutes ticked by in silence, the only sound in the room the faint rustle of pages as Stephen. Sr. turned them.
....
Stephen Hawking.
Or, Stephen Hawking. Senior - since there is another one with his na now.
Nevertheless, the na echoes through Hollywood, a legacy that refuses to fade.
He made his first mark at twenty, landing a debut lead role in indie cinema back in 1960, which is still one of the most iconic indie films to date.
However, nobody guessed that was just the start.
From there, he built a career that changed the face of acting.
With every role and film, Stephen pushed boundaries, constantly redefining what it ant to perform.
But like all stories, this ca to a close.
A decade ago, he retired from Hollywood, leaving behind the glitz and the noise.
No regrets. He had no desire for the spotlight anymore.
Yet, he couldn't fully disconnect from the world of film.
The passion for cinema never left him.
Even after retiring, he kept up with the latest releases, always curious, always watching.
But recently, sothing has changed.
He wasn't looking to return as an actor - not unless sothing truly exceptional ca his way.
But producing, helping new talent?
That idea had started to grow on him.
He had been reading indie scripts from people he trusted, but each one left him disappointed.
None of it felt worthy of his na, of the legacy he had worked so hard to build.
He wasn't going to settle for diocrity.
Stephen had always been a man of principle, especially when it ca to his craft.
His reputation ant everything to him, and he protected it fiercely.
But now, as he sat across from his grandson, Stephen realized that maybe his principles were part of the problem.
Stephen Hawking Jr.
Sa na, but a strained connection.
A gulf between them, filled with silence and unspoken resentnt.
If he were honest, Stephen knew the fault wasn't entirely his grandson's.
It ran deeper - the distance between them started with his own failures as a father.
And now, his grandson was paying the price for that neglect.
Naming him after himself had been his way of seeking redemption, a quiet attempt to make things right.
He had thought, perhaps naively, that the na might serve as a bridge, sothing tangible to connect what had been fractured, to nd wounds that had long festered unseen.
But it didn't work that way - a na couldn't fix years of neglect.
Now, their bond was too fragile to be saved by a title.
What could he say? What could he do to fix it?
....
After what felt like an eternity, though it was likely no more than five minutes, Stephen Sr. finally broke the silence.
He asked. "So, what do you want? It must be important if you have co all the way here." - still not lifting his head.
His voice was calm but carried an edge, the kind of sharpness that demanded an answer without delay.
...well, I guess that's enough for permission. Stephen Jr. thought.
So, instead of replying, he rose from his chair and walked over to the ho theater system. He powered it on and retrieved the hard disk from the envelope he had been carrying.
Stephen Sr. didn't comnt on his grandson's behavior as he watched him open an envelope, and inside it was a film tape and ....a letter that seed -
A contract? He wondered but still maintained his silence - it wasn't the first ti they experienced these kinds of monts.
In fact, that is how they converse typically - and that is by actions rather than explaining personally.
So he simply waited for whatever that was to co.
On the other hand, Stephen Jr. put away the contract without the least bit of formality it deserved or he cared to give it.
It is Hollywood, and nothing ever proceeded without so form of docuntation - that is what the piece of paper reminds him of.
But apparently the contract is called - Film Content Viewing Agreent.
It was signed between him and Keanu, who is representing Regal - when Stephen Jr. requested a few clips of the movie, a trailer.
Keanu didn't decline but imdiately put Regal on the line.
Regal, however, paused briefly before agreeing. 'If this helps the movie' - he said plainly - 'then I am fine with it'.
And just when he thought it was proceeding smoothly, Anne, being her ticulous self, wasn't satisfied with how things unfolded.
Watching Keanu hand over the recorder so casually, without securing any formal assurances - though she tried to temper it with the knowledge that he was still relatively new to the industry.
Perhaps he genuinely didn't know better.
Still, she expected Regal, despite his limited experience as an author, would be more thorough - and she didn't even wish to entertain the possibility that Regal might also be unaware of such formalities... that is impossible.
And rightly so, because Regal did, in fact, know the procedures.
So she simply waited on the sideline, expecting Regal to include so reference to the contract in the accompanying ssage.
But no such ntion was made.
For a mont, she was taken aback - then, she rembered again.
Regal was, after all, the sa man who had agreed to Grace's verbal commitnt to the movie, despite her delaying the signing of any official paperwork.
In hindsight, Anne realized that expecting more from the n involved in this project might have been overly optimistic.
Still, she had ensured the handoff was handled with a modicum of professionalism, though it earned her a few quips from Stephen Jr., who labeled her a 'party pooper' and threw in a few other remarks for good asure.
anwhile, Stephen Jr. had finished setting up the system to play the short video.
He had deliberately chosen this trailer instead of presenting the entire film.
Stephen Jr. turned around, his eyes darting curiously to his grandfather still seated in his chair, his expression unreadable, a perfect poker face.
Stephen Jr. could feel the sweat starting to bead on his forehead.
The reason was simple - this brief clip was enough.
For Stephen Sr., it wasn't necessary to show more.
Anyone else might need the full film, but not for him.
.
....
[To be continued...]
★─────⇌•★•⇋─────★
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