Hollywood Secret Garden

Chapter 86: Secret?

Angela, unaware of the great calamity that was about to befall her, had already returned to her home in Los Angeles. Now she was sitting upright in front of an elderly man with a few gray hairs on his temples.

Well, he should be considered old, since he was already over fifty, right?

Like most directors, Michael Mann had a bald spot on his forehead, thinning hair, and wore glasses perched on his prominent nose. Could it be that being a director causes hair loss due to excessive brain use?

James Cameron was like that, David Fincher was like that, even Nancy's husband, Mr. Charles, was like that. However, Nancy herself was not, so it seemed that male directors had the most threatening profession when it came to their hair!

"I'm glad you could come to my house, Mr. Mann. I hope those few pages of writing samples didn't cause you any trouble," Angela said with a smile.

Michael didn't answer right away, instead, he took out the few pages of paper and placed them on the coffee table before speaking slowly. His voice was soft yet powerful, giving a sense of control over everything.

Among the few directors Angela had interacted with, Mr. Charles Sawyer was the most cultured, though of course he had his moments of temper. James Cameron exuded a subtle arrogance, while David was serious during filming and animated during breaks. But none of them gave her the feeling she had with the man in front of her. No wonder someone once said that every actor who worked with him felt a different sensation.

"Let me be direct, Miss Mason," Michael smiled faintly. "When I first received your letter, I didn't pay much attention to it. Although your writing is impressive, and your transitions between scenes show promise, your grasp of character personality is weak and shallow. So I didn't give it much thought."

'And besides, it was written by a young girl,' Angela added in her mind, but she didn't say it out loud. She just nodded. She knew her shortcomings too. Wasn't the café scene a classic?

Yes, everyone who had read it said so, but that effect was achieved after a whole hour of buildup. On its own, even with good writing, it wouldn't be captivating enough. Moreover, to avoid complications, she didn't even write the classic line by De Niro, "Your life should have no attachments so that when you need to, you can leave within thirty seconds."

It was evident that something heavily edited like that wouldn't catch anyone's interest. So, why did Michael Mann come looking for her again?

Sensing the girl's confusion, the old man continued, "The movie《Heat》was a crime story I had been thinking about for a long time. On a deeper level, however, it was meant to explore the lives of two lonely men. In the beginning, I never had a complete script, and I didn't intend to direct it myself. But in the last few years, with the persuasion of Warner Bros., I decided to bring the story to life. So I started gathering information again and based each character on real-life inspirations.

"The criminal character was inspired by a notorious gangster named Neil McCauley who was active in Chicago in the 60s. On the other hand, the cop character was based on Detective Chuck Adamson, who relentlessly pursued him. They had a fascinating love-hate relationship that fascinated me. During an interview with Chuck, he recounted a captivating incident with a playful smile.

"Chuck revealed that during their pursuit of Neil, they ran into each other unexpectedly in the parking lot of a small mall in Chicago. Although they recognized each other, instead of resorting to violence, Chuck had a sudden idea and invited Neil for a cup of coffee. His intention wasn't just to extract valuable information from Neil or expect him to turn into a saint after a few words. Rather, Chuck genuinely wanted to understand Neil as a person and delve into his inner world in hopes of predicting his future actions.

"As Chuck recounted this incident, it struck me that it mirrored a scene you had sent me earlier. As I reviewed the scene, I realized how perfectly it fit into the script with just a few minor adjustments. It is truly fascinating how life imitates art and vice versa.

As he mentioned this, his gaze suddenly fixed on Angela for a long moment, causing her inner emotions to stir. Trying to appear composed, the young girl braced herself as the old man delved into the story. Her palms began to sweat slightly, aware that the movie was based on a true story, and Michael Mann had emphasized the appeal of real events over fiction.

However, Angela couldn't remember if the cafe scene had any factual basis. Over time, some details had naturally faded from her memory. Fortunately, Michael had received her letter before the meeting with the policeman, sparing her the need to explain the uncanny resemblance. Even now, the task didn't seem easy.

"So?" Angela raised her hands in a show of curiosity towards the old man.

Michael chuckled as if a revelation had struck him. "I'm intrigued, it's like a gift from God that your writing fits so seamlessly with my work, and the author is a young girl! Naturally, I decided to do a little research on you, Miss Mason, and to my surprise, everyone who has come in contact with you, including Al, speaks of your genius. However, they also note that you possess an unusual maturity, that your thinking goes beyond that of a typical child. I had my doubts, but your expressions and demeanor during my narration just now did not resemble those of a child, or more specifically, a girl. A director's powers of observation are not to be doubted, my dear Miss. It's amazing that you can capture such a masculine essence in your writing".

Angela bit her lip, filled with regret. Impulsivity was the devil, haunting her actions once again. Why did she always give in to such temptations? Acting on impulse made her forget who she really was - a girl.

The story of《Heat》was undoubtedly male-centric, and she feared how others would perceive her involvement in it. Would they see her as some kind of freak?

"So what's your verdict?" Angela pressed, still pretending to be tough.

"I haven't come to a conclusion. We've only met for a few minutes," Michael replied, deflecting the question and passing the ball back to her.

Frustration gripped the young girl. What was he trying to say? Fortunately, her parents, Jennifer, Mr. Sparrow and Michael's assistant were all outside, leaving her undisturbed.

"So, Mr. Mann, what do you want to know? About my motives?" Angela decided to be honest.

"No, no, no. I'm really curious. How does such a lovely girl create such male-dominated content? What kind of thinking is behind it? I really want to understand," Michael expressed his sincere curiosity.

"You want to collect it, maybe use it later?" Angela chuckled helplessly.

Once again, Michael spread his hands, giving off a mischievous air, while his eyes sparkled with interest. Angela sighed and explained, "In truth, I've been mature beyond my years since I was young. Perhaps I could be considered a genius when it comes to understanding society. That's why I've often felt that I have similarities with boys in certain ways."

"For example?"

"I do not like dolls, I prefer Transformers, various models, and the like. Even in my choice of books and movies, I tend to go for those that boys usually enjoy, like the《The Godfather》series. Sometimes I've even wished I was a boy, thinking it would save me from some of the troubles I have," Angela looked up and sighed. "Of course, I never shared these thoughts with my parents. After all, I am a girl, and some things might be considered unconventional. So I've always tried to be the good girl they expect me to be..."

At this point, Angela suddenly became cautious and decided to hold back. She realized that she might have given away too much information. 

Glancing at Michael, who seemed intrigued, he inquired, "And then?"

Collecting herself, she shook her head and continued, "All right, Mr. Mann, as you know, everyone has their secrets, and I have the right to keep mine. If you have no further questions about this script, I think we can call it a day. And of course, if possible, I hope you won't reveal what I told my parents, okay?"

"Too bad," Michael replied with a hint of regret, but he respected her boundaries. He rose from his seat and said, "Well then, Miss Mason, let's leave it here. As for the script, I think I can discuss it further with your agent. If you're open to it, I'd like to offer you a part in the movie."

"A role?" Angela's expression showed a hint of surprise.

"Yes, in the movie, Al's character, the detective, has an adopted daughter, and I'd like to offer you that part," Michael Mann said with a smile.

As expected, Angela felt a pang of disappointment. There was only one female role in the movie, and it was played by Natalie! However, looking at Michael Mann's smiling face, it seemed that he had already made up his mind. Did he see her as some kind of experimental case?

"I think... I think I can consider it. After all, your script isn't finished yet, and there's still some time before the shoot," Angela finally hesitated but didn't refuse outright.

"Well then, I hope you'll keep an open mind when the time comes," the old man nodded.