HWI 180

Hollywood What If Chapter 180

A female flight attendant gently pushed the cart into the first-class section of the airplane. 

This section of the plain had many small rooms that occupied people who could afford first-class tickets. 

The room was tiny and only one person could use it at best. Still, in this situation, having a kind of privacy like this was already a luxury. In fact, only a few airlines had first-class sections that had private rooms like this.

"Here's your meal, Ma'am."

The flight attendant knocked on the door and informed the woman inside one of the rooms. 

"Thanks." 

Stella Willow opened the room and said her gratitude. 

Actually, this was her dinner. When she was at the JFK International Airport, it was still 9 p.m. 

In a way, the food she ordered was her dinner. 

However, the scenery outside showed that it was already morning. The sun was blooming. She looked out the window and all she could see was blue. The blue sky and blue sea. 

She was going to land in Italy a few hours later. 

After resigning from her position at NBC, Stella Willow applied for the General Manager position at Grey Pictures. 

She heard that this Production Studio created Taken and John Wick. She watched those movies and she could say that she was a fan. 

To be precise, she was Director Grey's fan. As a Production Manager, Stella Willow realized that Kazir's filmography didn't have similarities at all, except for the fact that they were created by one person. 

His filming style was different from every movie. 

'Almost as if he has a reference and just copying it.'

Still, all of his movies didn't have the strong artistic style that most Directors have. His movies were created for the purpose of entertainment. It was amazing that Kazir Grey could control his artistic sense in filming and limit it. 

Directors always have an artistic sense/style in them, it is their signature. 

David Fincher loves using gray and brown tones in his films, reflecting the dullness/heaviness theme in his movies. 

Director Tim Burton, his movies were always gothic style. Whenever someone thought of gothic-style movies, Tim Burton was always on the list. 

As for Quentin Tarantino. A famous director known for his portrayal of extreme violence in his movies. 

After watching all of Kazir's movies, Stella Willow realized that Kazir Grey evolved when he created Napoleon Dynamite. 

'His past movies before Napoleon Dynamite are small-budget horror movies and they are all slasher movies with blood showering all around.'

His first three horror movies had similarities but he changed his style when Napoleon Dynamite was released. How could a director who filmed Blood movies make a wholesome comedy movie? Where did the inspiration come from?

As for Se7en that Kazir wrote and sold to New Line Cinema, she didn't feel anything strange about it. After all, Se7en was a bloody movie as well. 

'But his writing clearly improved since Se7en.'

When she decided to work for Grey Pictures, Stella Willow started researching about Kazir. She then realized that Kazir's life changed after his divorce.

Slicing the medium rare steak with a knife, Stella Willow recalled how she was hired. 

The management of Grey Pictures chose her because she was the most suitable for the position. The two people before her had experience in showbiz but their achievements were nothing compared to her. 

Being a production manager, she was responsible for so many TV shows on NBC. The performance of NBC was better because of her lead. 

At the age of 36 years old, she was a career woman who proved herself to the world. 

'With my savings, I don't have to think about working anymore, I even bought an RV to travel across the country. However, I realized that my passion for my work is very strong and I want to work. At least I want to prove to the people in NBC that I can do better.'

When she heard that Grey Pictures was looking for a General Manager, she used her connection to apply. 

First, she was interested in the production studio because Kazir Grey was planning something big. 

Second, she knew that it would be hard for her to get a good position in the Big Six. 

Third, she could create her own company. Perhaps a talent agency or production studio but she was not an agent or director. 

'I can be a producer.'

Being a producer, she was good at managing people and teams. 

'Kazir Grey is planning to create a big project that will connect all of his action movies. Clearly, his current project, The Bourne Identity is part of the said project.'

She was interested to see the outcome. No, she wanted to see the success of this project. So joining Grey Pictures was a good thing for her. 

Before officially getting hired. She had to meet Kazir Grey first. They already talked on the phone but meeting in person was important.

So the company bought her a first-class ticket to go to Italy. 

After eating her breakfast/dinner, Stella Willow realized that the plane was going to land. 

The flight attendant smiled at gave them a farewell. When Stella Willow was at the airport, she found her contact which would take her to the filming site of The Bourne Identity. 

"Miss Willow?" A young man, in his early twenties, greeted her. The man was holding a cardboard with her name written. 

"That's right. What's your name?"

"My name is Palenque Simone. I'm Director Grey's assistant."

Stella Willow nodded when she heard his name. After she watched Taken, she became conscious about people who might kidnap her after leaving the airport. 

She knew that Palenque Simone would be her contact. With that, her mind was at ease.