Hollywood Delight 20 George Lucas

As a friend of your dear mother, George Lucas will give you the time. With his reputation in Hollywood and the world of filmmaking, even if he does not invest in your screenplay personally as producer, his recommendation is more than enough.

Why didn't you go to him in the beginning?

You wanted to create opportunities with your own power. He is also one-time use and should be use as the last resort. As you have tried and failed, there is no shame in going to him now.

"Uncle George."

You greet the man after you drove straight to his manor in San Anselmo.

"You can call me George."

George requests of you. He is sitting in a low back chair in a s.p.a.cious living room. You haven't been in this room for a long time, not since you entered College and earned your certificate.

"Please take a sit. You want some tea?"

He adds.

"Yes. Tea would be great."

You take the offered seat, and the servant sent out black tea for you. You would prefer coffee, but you have drunk so much of it already in the past day. Tea would be better. It makes your mind clearer.

As you take a small sip from your cup, George gestures his hand towards you.

"Someone has been a very naughty boy, stalking and hara.s.sing my colleagues."

You snicker. It seems that your notoriety precedes you.

"Not stalking, uncle George. Just want them to give my script a chance. I have been to many companies in Hollywood for more than a month."

"George."

He reminds. You correct yourself and explain the reason why you are here.

"Here is my script. I hope that you can invest in my movie."

You hand him the script politely. He accepts them.

"I think you should continue the family business like your mother wants you to. Your tenacity will take you very far in the advertis.e.m.e.nt world."

George puts that out before paying all his attention into your script. He is the second person to read your script seriously. The first is your mother.

As for the comment before, your mother obviously got to him before you did. You didn't mind because everyone is ent.i.tled to their own opinion.

Once George finishes reading, he puts down the screenplay on the table and picks up the cup of tea.

He takes a long time to sip from the cup before speaking up again.

"Is there anything else?"

You nod and state your intention. "I want to direct the film personally."

"Yes, I got that."

George Lucas states with a smile. He took another sip from his cup.

"I also took some footage as a showcase. Here, let me show you."

You immediately take out the elaborate videotape and left your seat. You turn on the TV and VCR in the living room before stuffing the videotape in. The music begins to play as image form on the screen.

The footage you took is not complicated. The focus of the footage is switching the scene between the front wheel of the car and the speedometer. The switching of the scene must be frequent and smooth in order to induce nervousness in the viewers.

George Lucas watches the footage very carefully. As he has read the script, he naturally thought of the setting of the movie. He knows that the vehicle will explode in the film if its speed drops below 50 mile per hour. Every time the needle touches 50, he was on the edge of his seat.

He let out a breath of relief when the footage is finally over.

"Come, sit with me."

He signals you back to the seat. You turn off the television before you did.

"Very good footage. The dazzling motion lens, the sharp editing style, the suspenseful music. You did this all yourself, didn't you?"

You nod. "Yes. It took a while. I'm glad you like it. How about –"

George waves his hand. His demeanor changes to that of a business man. "Let me tell you this straight. The script is not very good. At best, it is about average. In Hollywood, that is all needed… if you have connection. A good director can cast a bad movie, but a bad director cannot cast a good movie."

"I know that –

"Please let me finish."

You become quiet.

"The role of the director is very important in the process of filmmaking. He has many responsibilities and people he must look after. If I you give this script to an experienced director, I'm sure there is a good chance that it will be making a profit."

You frown. It seems like George didn't believe that you can do it either.

"I have seen your estimated production costs. Even if the special effects are all given to Industrial Light and Magic. The cost cannot be reduced to less than 10 million dollars."

George drinks another mouthful of tea, parching his thirst. "That is a lot of money to invest in, and no one in their right mind would invest it in a person lacking any experience or qualification. I truly hope that you won't let me down."

You sigh. "I know that I'm inexperience and lacks qualification, but I just need a chance… what!?"