From Hollywood to Media Empire

"Your office is really...," Sophia planned to snipe a few comments as soon as she entered Carpe Productions.

"Temporary, just temporary. Soon we'll move to a bigger place and hire more staff," Charles quickly explained. Truly, the rich have no idea what it's like to be poor.

"So, when can we start filming Lost in Translation?" Sophia asked directly.

"Anytime. As long as you're ready, we can start anytime," Charles said, though even if Sophia's preparations were nearly complete, there still needed to be some work with the crew, right? Two to three months, at the very least?

Sophia nodded. Seeing Charles's confidence, she felt reassured!

"$4 million, no less. I will handle the filming, the rest is up to you. You get what I'm saying?"

"I understand. I'll handle the distribution. Worst case, I'll distribute it myself," Charles boasted.

"Alright, I'll wait for your notification!" Sophia thought Charles was purely imagining things. Self-distribution, how many people did a young kid even know?

After Sophia left, Charles alone picked up the script and started reading. Lost in Translation was actually a pretty decent script.

Two lonely people in a foreign land spark a romance, but since they are both married, they don't take the plunge in the end.

Night fell on Los Angeles. The city lights began to shine, and the dazzling neon lights created a mesmerizing view.

West Hollywood, known for the most vibrant nightlife in L.A., had the most bars where many Hollywood stars would come to unwind.

In the Eighth Club bar, Charles approached the bar and ordered a cocktail, pondering his thoughts.

Underworld was commissioned by Screen Gems for Carpe Productions to make, and Charles earned a production fee. Lost in Translation would be his own investment, and the distribution company was yet to be decided.

In another part of the bar, two British actresses striving in Hollywood were chatting and laughing.

"Kate, your daughter's 2 years old now, right?"

"Yes, she's about six months older than your son," replied Kate Beckinsale.

The other woman, who had married an American, was Catherine Zeta-Jones.

"You've taken on an action film? Something about vampires and werewolves?" Catherine inquired.

"Yes, we're set to shoot in Eastern Europe in July," Kate Beckinsale didn't hold back.

"The producer is very young, only 20. The current movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding is also produced by him!"

Catherine Zeta-Jones smiled, "I know Carpe Productions. His name is Charles Carpe. Last year, during filming in Chicago, our sets were close by."

Catherine Zeta-Jones vividly remembered that night in the Chicago Hilton Hotel lounge, where she and Charles had a wild time almost all night!

"Now I see. He looks very steady, mature for his age, diligent in his work, and polite. A good young man," Kate Beckinsale praised with a smile.

"I need to go to the restroom!"

With that, Kate Beckinsale left the booth for the restroom.

"I'm sorry, I'm really tired!" Charles turned down another girl's flirtation, casually placing a bill on the bar counter before leaving.

"Charles."

"Kate."

In the hallway, Charles ran into Kate Beckinsale returning from the restroom.

"What a coincidence. Alone?" Kate Beckinsale seemed not to notice any friends with Charles.

Charles nodded, "Feeling a bit down tonight, so I came out for a drink. Just came over from the office."

After all, Carpe Productions was right on the next street, but Charles lived in North Hollywood.

"I'm here with a friend you know, Catherine Zeta-Jones. You guys were on the set together in Chicago," Kate Beckinsale said as she invited Charles to join them.

From Catherine Zeta-Jones' chatter, it was clear she thought the young man was alright.

"Catherine, long time no see!" Charles greeted with a smile as he entered the booth.

"About six months! Congratulations, My Big Fat Greek Wedding is doing really well," Catherine responded with a polite smile, without any awkwardness.

"When does Chicago release?"

"End of the year, December!"

"A Christmas release is good for Oscar contention, gives you an edge," Charles commented casually, as Miramax had a lot of expertise in award strategies.

"Moulin Rouge has received rave reviews. Looks like there's still a market for musicals," Catherine had heard before that Charles wasn't optimistic about musicals. Yet last year's Moulin Rouge had also been a success.

Moreover, from the internal screenings of Chicago, everyone felt it was better than Moulin Rouge!

"Let's drink," Charles said. What more could he say? Over the years, only these two musical films had succeeded. What about the failures?

"By the way, Charles, how do you balance commercial and art films?" Kate Beckinsale brought up. It was known that a few actresses under Evelyn's management were ones Charles thought highly of.

Especially fellow Brit Keira Knightley, whom Charles had suggested his mother sign. In just a few months, she landed the lead role in the big movie Pirates of the Caribbean.

Charles looked at Kate Beckinsale, then at Catherine Zeta-Jones. In his eyes, during their peak, they were only second-tier stars at best.

Catherine was doing slightly better, nearly a top-tier star before she got married. As for Kate Beckinsale, in Charles's view, she was barely second-tier. If it weren't for the Underworld series, she wouldn't have had much attention.

*****

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