hollywood system: art

An ice cream under the mid-year afternoon, the moment wasn't uncommon. They attended a mansion far from all the noise, with an invitation, dressed in much more elegant evening wear. Monica clicked her heels beside him as people came and went in absurd numbers. Many were from the Hollywood elite, searching for a more cinematic and artistic atmosphere among the bohemian crowd.

The circle, once considered large, was growing smaller. After a while, many people settled in at the party, which seemed like a modern, intricate society of new relationships. Nothing extraordinary, but it did have a rather strange vibe.

Vases filled with various drugs were marked in the back of the room: the drinks, an assortment of cocktails overflowing with flavors beyond the usual alcoholic rule. Meanwhile, beautiful butlers handed out drinks. It was curious to see how everyone took a cigarette in their hand and chatted, with no clear dance floor, in a room that seemed designed more for sharing ideas.

-These are the most boring parties you could ever attend in your life... but of course, you'll make lots of contacts, the kind you'd probably like, - Winona whispered, disappearing to talk about some papers she needed. Monica sat down, while Billy had a drink. The security service was stationed at the front, waiting for their arrival, demanding of course… but Billy's distrust of this type of environment was evident.

-I've been to some of these, but I'd call them cocktails more than anything, - Monica commented.

Billy nodded.

Taking a bottle of soda, was the only thing without alcohol, even the water seemed overcrowded.

-I can't believe Madonna's here, - Monica whispered. She had been a huge fan of Madonna for some time.

-Do you want to meet her? Not long ago, I invested in a movie she's going to be in. Maybe I could reach out and get some ideas about her role, and you could talk to her a bit, - Billy whispered back, barely audible.

-No, darling, it's better if they come to you, - Monica replied, her big deer-like eyes filled with a particular, dazzling idea.

-How's your movie Life is Beautiful going? - Billy asked, knowing it would be a huge success both commercially and artistically. It was true that behind the scenes, Miramax, a company that constantly had some issues with Disney, had made two fatal decisions. They were still in what could be called a cold war, but it was likely that something similar to what happened in 2005 would happen when they decided to take everyone from the company to form their branch, The Westin Company.

-Amazing. Roberto Benigni is undoubtedly a great idol, he has ideas, ways of telling stories, and narrating. Throughout the production, he's taught me so many things. I almost feel grateful for the opportunity you created, - Monica said, stopping. She knew the back story. - You invested a lot, mostly trying to recover your money and some distribution rights in TV and internet markets, but your decision to consider me for the role was essential. It makes me shyly think that sometimes beauty isn't enough to achieve the things we want.-

The contract wasn't very demanding; maybe Jim exaggerated, but Billy saw a golden opportunity when an Italian group, Gori Group, sought American investment for a mega-production. Billy quickly released money before Miramax and hired some of their producers to help the film develop smoothly. For Billy, 16 million liras wasn't much compared to the return Lux Films would make.

-It's what someone like me should do. If I don't defend your dreams, no one else will, - Billy said to Monica, who melted with his words. The way it represented the freedom he gave her, and the maturity he expressed despite his youth, was a hot way of embodying the man she was searching for. What a shame he was born ten years too late! Even so, maybe they wouldn't have met otherwise.

Winona arrived with three men: the famous Robert Redford, who couldn't be denied as one of the great actors of the time, the heartthrob of the era, along with Michael G. Wilson, who had long been one of the producers of James Bond, working for many years in everything related to Bond, and in his way, was a fan of the saga, even writing for it. Along with a young Marlon Brando, whose success belonged to past eras, but who was still beloved for what his roles represented and the uniqueness of every piece of work in his career.

-This is Billy, - Winona introduced, beaming. -These gentlemen are probably the ones who made cinema what it is today… we have Marlon, Robert, and of course, Michael. -

-It's a pleasure to meet all of you. I know a bit about you, Mr. Michael. Your work on James Bond has been a pleasure to watch, - Billy said, shaking his hand. - And of course, I know you. You're legends in your own right, though I'm sure it's hard not to know you. -

The young man murmured as he shook the hands of the great actors. After introductions, Winona went to chat with Michael about the movie, while Robert, who had come with Marlon, told Billy that he admired his animated films. While he preferred other types of cinema, he still thought they were great movies.

Marlon was making a movie produced by Francis Coppola, which is why Winona ran into him. He spoke a bit, a man with a strong voice and few words, but he gave Billy a lot of advice and helped him think about the roles he had taken so far. "Take a gangster role." "Men and gangsters belong together," he said, not as advice to take such a role, but it was refreshing to represent a part like that.

-I'd love a role like that, but my schedule stopped me from taking such a part recently, - Billy said, listening to the advice of the old-timers. The old school had a love for art and beauty, one that invited you to dream.

-Do whatever you feel like, - Marlon responded. He was still rebellious and tough.

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