Paul Thomas Anderson stood in front of this cafe called "Love Letter", and couldn't help but become a little irritated. The nervousness in his heart made him feel uneasy. He touched his pocket, cleared his throat, and scratched his head. Finally, he turned around and walked to the red mailbox next to him, took out a cigarette from his pocket, lit one, and sucked the clouds and smog.

Paul thought he wouldn't be nervous. He was never the kind of person who followed the rules. He was expelled from the school for his bad behavior in the sixth grade. Two days after entering the film department of New York University, he chose to drop out of school by himself. After filming "Casino Zongheng" for an independent production film company, the company directly fired him because of a conflict with the concept of editing, and refused to release his directorial version...

Starting from being a TV assistant on the set and a music video director, Paul has been in the Hollywood industry for nearly five years. He has seen many top stars "Casino Mountain" starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Samuel Jackson and other big stars. He has also met many authoritative people in the industry who used the tuition refunded by New York University to shoot a short film that was well received in Sundance. He has also experienced many setbacks and tests. From being ignored during the filming stage to being suddenly popular and then temporarily stranded... Paul claims to be used to Hollywood being shrouded in the spotlight.

This is true. When the meeting with Hugo Lancaster was finally confirmed today, Paul didn't feel anything. He just hoped that the nightmare would end soon and he hoped that Hugo would give an answer, accept or refuse, and then confirm the actor and immediately devoted himself to the filming of "Unresistible Night". To be honest, he didn't mind who would play. As long as he was an actor above the level, he would be confident that he could make this work well.

On the way to Long Beach just now, Paul complained constantly, thinking that Hugo was really too troublesome, and he actually asked him to drive to Long Beach from all over the place just to meet him. If Xinyi Film Company hadn't insisted on it, he would have been stolen long ago. He would rather go to the office of the American Actors Union to shout, maybe he would have good luck.

However, when he really stood in front of the agreed cafe, Paul could not suppress his inner irritability. This feeling was really bad. When he realized that his irritability at this time was caused by tension, it made him a little angry. Even when facing a movie master like Mike Nichols, he did not have any special feeling. He firmly believed that only Stanley Kubrick could make him tremble.

"He is just an actor, an actor who has achieved some box office results and won two other cast members. There is nothing else." Paul shrugged and muttered to himself. In this way, Hugo really has nothing, because he doesn't care about box office and has no special fanaticism about Little Golden. "So he is no different from other actors, just an arrogant guy who has achieved some results and started to play big names."

Paul curled his lips and thought about it carefully. He found that he was very correct. This made him nodded with satisfaction and took a strong breath of cigarette. His anxious mood finally calmed down under the comfort of nicotine. He was sure that he was ready to enter the cafe. Paul turned around and took a step.

However, after taking a step, Paul was startled and took a step back. Instead, he took a half-step and almost threw the cigarette in his hand on the ground. Looking at Hugo with an awkward smile in front of him, Paul didn't know what to do because Hugo's expression was obviously saying: Hugo heard what he said just now. He caught him off guard, which made Paul stunned.

Hugo did hear Paul's words just now. If necessary, he could actually pretend not to hear it, but he felt that it was not bad to be honest like this. No one is perfect, and no one can make everyone like it. At least Paul did not curse him, which is a good thing.

Paul in front of him looked too young. His baby face, which was originally very tender, was now shaved with a clean beard, and he looked more like a young man who had not graduated from college. The face that had not been carved through the wind and frost of time still had a youthfulness that had not disappeared. Compared with the talented director who was later sought after by the industry, his eyes still had a clear and sharp vitality. His vigorous ambition and arrogant personality were clearly visible, and his pride was outlined bit by bit.

Of course, Paul was always like this, even in the era when Hugo knew it. However, after the precipitation of time, Paul's sharpness became introverted, and his personality in his bones was no longer outward, that's all.

"So, are we going to meet inside or meet outside?" Hugo raised his eyebrows slightly and asked politely. But Paul seemed to have no reaction, but just frowned and showed a question. Hugo quickly explained, "Sorry, I seem to be late. I am the guy who is a big name Hugo Lancaster." He started from late.

Paul saw the apologetic smile on Hugo's face, and for some reason he suddenly wanted to laugh, and for some reason, so Paul stretched out his right hand, "No, you are definitely not late. In fact, there are still ten minutes before we make an appointment. When we first met, I'm very happy to know you. I'm Paul Thomas Anderson, the slut who talks bad things behind others."

Hugo smiled, suddenly realized, he lit up his chin, and then grabbed Paul's right hand, "I'm glad to know you. This is the case. I want to apologize to you. I have decided to take on another work, and I can only regretfully refuse the "Bulie Night". Although I really like this work, especially the setting of the male protagonist." Hugo pursed his lips and nodded sincerely, but obviously there was something in his words, which made Paul, as the screenwriter, understand immediately, and the smile on the corner of his mouth outlined, "But due to my reasons, it has delayed your filming time, and the meeting was postponed several times in a row, so I think I owe you an explanation and an apology. Unexpectedly, because of my personal reasons, you were asked to drive over to Long Beach. It seems that my apology should be endless."

Paul was stunned, but then he laughed. He had to say that he liked Hugo like this, "Wait, so you said, you like my script, are you telling it seriously? I mean, except for the talent part of the male protagonist."

"Of course. I read it several times, but I think the characterization of the male protagonist is still not delicate enough. You know, many times, small details can make the character full, maybe just one or two shots. Just like when Eddie first appeared, I think his lines could be changed, and the way he gets along with others, laying the foundation for his later arrogance, confidence and transformation..."

Before Hugo could finish his words, Paul nodded, "Yes, yes," and then took over the conversation, "You mean, showing the vigorous vitality in Eddie's personality."

"I think it should be more detailed. He must use confidence to hide his inferiority complex. I once thought that a man like Eddie can almost be said to have accomplished nothing, no education, no family, no skills, and even his eloquence is so bad. But like all young people, he hopes to do something and hopes to make other women favor him, so he must show that kind of confidence, but..."

"But it seems that there is no confidence." Paul took Hugo's words again, and this time Hugo nodded with a smile, "Yes, that's what I mean. So, Eddie's personality changes when facing difficulties later will not only become more convincing, but also give actors more room to play and make the plot of the movie full. Of course, this is just my personal opinion. From the perspective of the actors, every actor hopes that he can play, right?"

"Of course..." Paul nodded, pondered for a while and looked at Hugo carefully, then showed a big smile, and said with certainty again, "Of course!" Paul couldn't help but tighten his right hand and grabbed it excitedly. Only then did he realize that he was still holding Hugo's right hand, so he shook it twice, "I'm glad to know you, Mr. Lancaster."

"Hugo, Mr. Lancaster is now in Wyoming." This sentence made Paul laugh again, and then he let go of Hugo's right hand. Paul then noticed that his left hand was still holding a cigarette. It was rumored that Hugo had never caught a cold in the cigarette, so he quickly threw it into the sewer next to him, "Sorry, please forgive me for being rude."

"This is a public area, that's your right." Hugo said with a smile, then pointed to the coffee house next to him, "That's why I made an appointment to meet here." There was a big "no smoking" sign hanging at the door of the coffee house, which was very conspicuous. Paul couldn't help but smile awkwardly.

Hugo looked around and spoke politely again, "Then, I think my meaning has been conveyed. You must be impatient to go back and start work, so I won't bother you. I hope this misconduct will not affect our future cooperation opportunities."

Hugo's modesty made Paul a little flattered, but it was more unexpected because it was less than five minutes after they met, and it ended like this. This really made Paul completely unexpected. Looking at Hugo's back as he left, Paul stood there and thought for a while, and couldn't help but chased after him again, "Hugo, hey, wait!"

Paul ran to Hugo and looked at Hugo's eyes seriously, "I mean, I originally expected you to be the leading actor in my work... At least New Line Film was so expecting, but now it seems obviously impossible. I wonder if you can solve the big problem of our crew?"
Chapter completed!