HWI 23

Hollywood What If Chapter 23

After a whole night of drinking beer, Kazir weakly sat up and groaned when the headache hit him.

"... Coffee."

Kazir didn't know the best way to ease the hangover. He loved drinking alcohol but he drinks in moderation. However, because David Fincher invited him to drink last night, he didn't have a choice but to stay. In the end, Kazir called David's wife because he was dead drunk. 

Even Kazir's car was still in the bar's parking lot because he used a taxi. He just remembered that he was wobbling when he reached his place. 

"Euugh..."

He frowned when he realized that there was acidic vomit on the floor, probably from him. 

"Damn it, David. I will never join you for a long night drinking again."

With an aching head, Kazir mopped the floor. 

He realized that was already 8:30 am, only half an hour before the studio opened. 

Kazir took a cold bath to wake his senses. He ordered a coffee on the way to the bar's parking to take the old bumpy car. 

When he reached the studio, it was already past 8:50 am.

Thankfully, Rector just arrived. As usual, they started editing the movie at the start of the morning. 

As a man who had experienced four decades of being a director, Kazir knew what was the best angle to use. The transitions, cuts, everything was in his head. 

He even make sure that the line delivery was good. In comedy, line deliveries were important, especially when the character would deliver the jokes. 

"Pfft--" 

Rector cracked a good laugh after watching the scene where Pedro Sanchez razored his hair and went bald. He didn't expect that the young man would do something like that just to cool his head. 

"You sure you're the one who wrote this?" Rector glanced at Kazir, laughing. 

He didn't expect that someone serious like Kazir would make a comedy. On top of that, he wrote the script too. 

"Yes. It's enlightenment. Although I'm not sure if I can write another one like Napoleon Dynamite."

"Indeed, in my opinion, this will be your last comedy. Don't get me wrong, we have worked thrice now and most of your movies are B-Grade horror movies. I believe you have more chances with horror movies."

Considering that the script named Se7en was bought by New Line Cinema, Rector believed that Kazir had a talent for bloody movies. 

Kazir just smiled bitterly. His opinion was different from Rector's. Horror movies brought him nothing. That's why Kazir wanted another breakthrough.

He dreamed of shooting an action movie. Unfortunately, action movies had big investments and it was impossible for a small director like him. 

Days passed and the celebration of Napoleon Dynamite arrived. Of course, it was just a small celebration. The big party would happen once the movie was released in the theaters and succeeded big time. 

Renner and Harold were the ones who prepared the party. Most of the actors attended. 

Just like what happened last time, Ed Helms and the others newbie actors said their gratitude to Kazir. Kazir was actually losing his patience hearings their repeated gratitude, once was enough. 

"Um, Director Grey?"

"Reese, the shooting is already over. You don't have to call me Director, Kazir is fine."

"Then, Kazir... Do you want to go on a date with me?" Reese was nervous after what she said. Her face was blushing. 

Thankfully, they were having a conversation far away from the party. No one heard what she said. 

"Date? I'm sorry Reese, I'm busy." Kazir shook his head. He would rather spend his time editing the movie. 

"I see..." She bit her lip. It was embarrassing. She braved her heart to invite him yet Kazir declined her. For a woman, it was a bit painful to hear rejection. 

Kazir was not a child. He knew what was happening.

Kazir just divorced last October and he didn't want to enter another relationship. At least, not now. 

Furthermore, Reese was young. She was just 19 years old. He didn't know if the woman was taking it seriously, or perhaps she had other motives. 

"Then, see you around Kazir."

She smiled, but it was obvious that she was glaring at Kazir with teary eyes.

Kazir sighed. 

"Are you free on September 22?"

In the end, Kazir felt bad.

"September 22? That should be two weeks from now." Reese Witherspoon was confused why the man in front of her asked her if she was free two weeks from now. 

She was just a small actor, she probably won't have any work at that time. 

"It's like this, a movie is going to be released that day and I have two tickets. If you want, we can watch it together."

"A movie?" She tilted her head. 

Reese didn't know a movie that would be released this month. 

"Yes, I was the screenwriter of that movie so they gave me two tickets." 

"Okay then, I will call you if I'm free." She smiled mischievously and left... She was actually adorable. 

"... Why do I feel like I played myself?"

Anyway, he didn't care at all. A young woman like Reese never takes him seriously. 

Kazir had bad love lives his entire life, he didn't believe in true love. 

"Well, everyone who's living deep in Hollywood doesn't believe in true love."

Hollywood was the city of vanity. Love? Only appearance, sex, money, and benefits worked here. If you can't give any of these, might as well leave. 

After that day, Kazir started putting all of his time into editing. He wanted to finish the post-production before the release of Se7en. Se7en would be the key to increasing his chips to sell his movie.