How many geniuses are buried in Hollywood in Chapter 4
The opportunity he thought was the best has vanished just like that, and Murphy is somewhat dejected. What his predecessor left for him is undoubtedly a super mess.
The mainstream production method of Hollywood films often involves a film company, a prominent director, or a well-known producer coming up with an idea, then seeking investment, and subsequently hiring suitable screenwriters to transform the idea into a script
The office was as quiet as outer space, and less than three seconds had passed since Bruce Berman's rejection, yet Murphy felt it was an exceptionally long time. His thoughts raced like the most advanced computer, striving for a final effort.
Murphy encountered numerous obstacles in his pursuit of a job in the film industry, yet he did not give up. He came to understand that establishing oneself in Hollywood is far more challenging than he had imagined or understood, leading him to become more pragmatic.
Murphy was well aware that this was a road of no return; he would rather choose to work as a mover at an auto repair shop than take this path. However, the job of a mover was very arduous, and the low pay could not be settled daily.
The Chevrolet drove past Aik Park, Silver Lake, and Los Feliz, gradually arriving at Murphy's destination—the Hollywood area
Although the other party can only be considered a minor star in Hollywood, they are not comparable to someone as obscure as Murphy
In the following week, Murphy gained a deeper understanding of the realities of this world and came to realize why Ross chose to return to work after his release from prison
Having spoken, he turned around and walked forward without looking back, as if none of this had ever happened
A Chevrolet slowly drove by, and Murphy turned to look, only to see a sedan crashed into a sturdy palm tree by the roadside. Next to it were a police car and a fire truck, with police officers maintaining order. Several firefighters were busy at the scene of the burning sedan, and cries for help continuously echoed from within the vehicle
The Hollywood area today is no longer the dilapidated scene of the 1980s and 1990s. With the strong support of the California state government and the Los Angeles County government, it has regained the glory of its golden age and is now one of the most prosperous commercial districts in the entire Los Angeles area
People habitually attribute their successes to themselves and their failures to the environment
The handheld camera, notebook, and vehicle-mounted police receiver are not new; individually, they probably won't sell for much. However, if all three are sold together, Murphy believes he should be able to get by for a while
The Chevrolet turned out of the Latin community, and after turning at two intersections, Murphy drove onto Figuroa Street in the city center, intending to follow this street to Sunset Boulevard, where there are numerous businesses near Hollywood that sell or recycle photographic equipment, and it is expected that he could at least exchange the handheld camera for the necessary dollars
This Canon camera is still usable. Murphy tried it out some time ago. As a student at the film academy, photography is one of the fundamental courses. Although the functions of this camera seem somewhat outdated, after using it a few times, he became quite attached to it. However, due to the pressures of life, he can only set his sights on this camera and two other machines.
Shouts came through the open car window, "Damn it, hurry up!"
These are all the tools that Murphy used to make a living in the past, and they are about to become the expenses that Murphy now uses to maintain a basic livelihood
Even if Bruce Berman said "NO", Murphy did not completely give up, as opportunities like participating in the sequel to "The Matrix" are truly rare
She stood there, fully embodying the cold elegance, sensuality, beauty, and pride that a renowned female star should possess
For a person with a criminal record, seeking a somewhat legitimate and respectable job is exceedingly difficult
Not only in the film industry, but Murphy's interviews in other sectors also mostly ended in failure. This outcome is not surprising; how many reputable companies or establishments would hire someone like him, who lacks both a formal education and a specialized skill, and has a criminal record?
Mr. Berman, Mr. Miller. Murphy stabilized his mind, as if he did not see the two piercing gazes across from him, and earnestly said, "Intern... is that acceptable?"
On a rare evening when he finished work on time, Murphy returned home and walked into the studio, his eyes landing on the handheld camera placed on the shelf.
Picking up the handheld camera and the police receiver, Murphy stepped out of the house and drove the black Chevrolet towards the intersection
Regarding the earlier matter, Murphy appeared very calm, and in an even calmer voice, he said naturally, "I am very sorry"
The woman stood there, looking at him coldly, one hand gently flicking at the shoulder that had been brushed against by Murphy, as if the brief encounter had left it covered in a great deal of dirt
This is, after all, Hollywood, where countless individuals with dreams and a sense of exceptional talent flock in, yet only a few manage to stand out. The majority, after exhausting their youth and time, can only exit in disappointment or become part of the vast lower tier that constitutes this industry.
He has already accidentally injured a British director; if he were to injure another renowned producer, it is likely that no one in the entire film industry would hire him
However, after some thought, Murphy decided to keep the notebook. In his spare time from work, he also attempted to write scripts for some future blockbuster movies, which required this laptop. However, the writing progress was far from ideal, and even if he managed to complete them, the chances of selling them were quite low
Murphy stopped in his tracks, turned his head to look, and the woman across from him looked very familiar. Even if it were not in the frame of a movie, he could recognize her at a glance: the famous Italian actress Monica Bellucci
To earn the respect and deference of individuals like Bruce Berman and Monica Bellucci, mere words are of no use at this point. If mere rhetoric could conquer others, the sticks would have unified the world long ago
This car will explode
After the most difficult words jumped out of his mouth, the remaining words flowed smoothly, "Many people are willing to take unpaid positions to become familiar with an industry, and I am willing to do so as well"
The woman's reaction pierced Murphy, but he was well aware that in the very pragmatic circle of Hollywood, respect was never equal, and the respect of others did not come from nowhere; it had to be earned through one's own actions.
Currently, Murphy is faced with the issue of money. He has already been very frugal, but with over 200 dollars nearly depleted, if he does not find a way to make money, he is afraid he will not last until next month when the auto repair shop pays its wages
Murphy's hands clenched tightly. If this were in a prison, the fat man across from him would, in just three seconds, turn into a rolling gourd, clutching his belly and howling in agony. However, this is not a prison; the rules of the prison do not apply here.
Taking a gentle breath, Murphy said nothing further and turned to walk out of the office.
His tone is very flat, devoid of any emotion or color, yet it sounds exceptionally harsh.
Just after passing an intersection, flames appeared by the roadside ahead, prompting Murphy to quickly reduce his speed
While contemplating what to do next, Murphy walked towards the entrance of Warner Studios. As he passed by the entrance of a soundstage, he almost collided with a woman coming from the opposite direction due to his distraction
Bruce Berman, however, laughed, saying, "I will not hire a thief and a murderer."
As night has fallen, Murphy turned onto Sunset Boulevard, which stands in stark contrast to the decay of the city center. On both sides of the road are the sprawling palm trees and towering movie billboards, with the constantly flashing neon lights transforming this road into a city that never sleeps
For the future, Murphy has set the baseline very low
However, such thinking is of no help in solving real-world problems
Hello, what do you want to do
How many geniuses are buried in Hollywood? Perhaps only God knows
In fact, Murphy could seek assistance from Ross again, but he does not intend to do so. Even with friends who have a good relationship, if one only knows how to take, it is inevitable that both parties will gradually drift apart. Aside from temporarily borrowing a mobile phone, a car, and over 200 dollars, he did not accept any further help from Ross
Especially that arrogance, even Murphy, who does not understand women very well, can clearly feel it—that is the indifference of the Hollywood elite towards the little people
For a period of time, Murphy almost daily cursed his ex and the hellish social environment of America, but it wasn't long before his state of mind returned to calmness
Whether it is this incarnation of Murphy or another version of himself from the past, both emerged from extremely ordinary families. The mundane and even impoverished life he experienced from a young age made him understand an important truth early on: opportunities do not simply fall from the sky; they must be fought for. In the entertainment industry, countless individuals are willing to fight tooth and nail for a chance to rise to prominence.
Is it really necessary to sell heroin and illegal firearms
A clear, crisp female voice then rang out, pointing at another voluptuous woman with long hair standing beside her, saying, "You almost bumped into Miss Monica, so hurry up and apologize."
Help!
Murphy once had enough understanding that most Hollywood films are not made after an outstanding script is written and then selected by a film company for investment and production
This is a real society, not a fairy tale world
However, Murphy rarely paid attention to the sides of the road, as his focus was entirely on driving. Sunset Boulevard meandered in many places, with the narrowest section being only four lanes wide. Due to the countless hairpin turns, blind spots, and the absence of median barriers in most areas, collisions frequently occurred here
At this point, there is no need to continue; no matter how hard one tries, such an opportunity will not come one's way.
In this production model, screenwriters and scripts are not the starting point of a project; they are merely a part of the Hollywood assembly line that comes into play later on
Monica Bellucci indeed has the qualifications to disdain him, especially considering that he almost accidentally bumped into her
Of course, the chances of newcomers being assigned new scripts are extremely low, but it cannot be said that there is absolutely none. Murphy just wants to take a chance; perhaps one day he will truly turn his luck around
Murphy has interviewed with two production teams, but they merely glanced at his information and rejected him without a second thought. Even at the third, much smaller production team, where he was only seeking a position as a general laborer, he was turned away.
Stepping out of the office area, Murphy looked up at the bright sunny sky, yet he could not see where his future lay. It would be impossible to say that he was not feeling down just moments ago, but he quickly managed to lift his spirits.