In a quiet booth at a restaurant.
Carmen Kass, her long, straight hair pulled back, put down her knife and fork and asked Ronan curiously, “Have you been very busy lately?”
That guy had asked for her number that night but hadn’t called once.
She had already gone to Europe for a week of shows and returned to Los Angeles to finish shooting an advertisement.
Ronan picked up his napkin to wipe his mouth and said, “There’s been too much work lately. I’ve been so busy I’m dizzy; I wish I could split myself in two.”
If it hadn’t been for Carmen Kass calling him, he would have almost forgotten about her in the busyness.
“Preparing for a new movie?” Carmen Kass had heard Ronan mention it that night.
Ronan smiled, “It’s not just a new movie; it’s the company too.
It’s in the startup phase now, so there’s too much to worry about.” He added specifically, “The company needs to hire staff and formulate the next development plan.
For the new movie, I need to confirm the director, choose locations, and find suitable actors…”
Carmen Kass rubbed her forehead, “That troublesome? Just hearing about it gives me a headache.”
Ronan was calm, “It’s like that when starting a career. It must be just as hard for you models at the beginning, right?”
“Yeah.” Carmen Kass replied, seemingly recalling some painful memory.
Her already melancholy green eyes deepened, and after a moment, she said, “The competition in this industry is just as fierce as in Hollywood.”
Ronan said softly, “You’ve already made it through; unlike me, I’m still in the startup stage.”
Carmen Kass asked curiously, “Are men always this ambitious?”
“I’m not too sure about others.” Ronan said slowly, “I think that regardless of whether one is a man or a woman, a career is very important. I’m young, only twenty, and this is the time to work hard.”
Carmen Kass nodded, “That makes sense.” She picked up her water glass and raised it toward Ronan, “I need to work hard too.”
Ronan raised his glass in response, took a sip of water, and said, “I wish you success in collecting all The Big Six blue-blood brands soon.”
“That’s too difficult,” Carmen Kass said with a smile.
Ronan deliberately encouraged her, “The Big Four magazines, The Big Six blue-blood brands, The Big Eight red-blood brands. Work towards this goal, and maybe one day you’ll collect them all.”
Carmen Kass shook her head, “Even the top five supermodels haven’t achieved that.”
Although she said that, she was happy inside: This Ronan Anderson was indeed an interesting person.
Any person aspiring to be a supermodel, who wouldn’t want to achieve such an unprecedented accomplishment?
After lunch ended, Carmen Kass asked, “Do you still have to work this afternoon?”
Ronan thought for a moment, nodded, and invited her, “Carmen, would you like to visit my company?”
“Is that okay?” Carmen Kass was curious, “It won’t disturb your work, will it?”
Ronan said naturally, “Not at all.”
The two left the restaurant, and Carmen Kass rode in Ronan’s car to Sand Sea Entertainment.
Only one person was left in the office to answer phones and receive visiting Agents; everyone else was out doing outreach.
Carmen Kass carefully looked over Ronan’s office.
Like the company, the office wasn’t large, and the layout was very simple, appearing very functional.
“It’s not quite what I imagined,” Carmen Kass said.
Ronan poured her a glass of water and said, “Small company, few people, small space.”
Carmen Kass replied, “It has a good owner.”
“I can’t be considered a good owner right now.” Ronan continued to act honest, “My last movie was too aggressive and almost bankrupted the company, which is why Leonardo called me a spendthrift.”
“Everyone has times when they encounter setbacks.” Carmen Kass thought of her own experience, “Success is always accompanied by setbacks.”
Ronan was fed a bowl of chicken soup, nodded, and replied, “I hope this time won’t be a setback.” He turned behind his desk and said, “I’ll handle some emails first; feel free to look around.”
Carmen Kass asked intentionally, “You don’t have anything confidential here, do you?”
“No.” Ronan opened his computer and logged into his email, “Feel free to look.”
Marie and George had sent him emails; the former was renting weapons and props, and the latter had gone to coordinate vehicles.
The emails contained their latest work status.
James Wong’s friend, Glen Morgan, also had an email.
This screenwriter had been specifically hired by him to perfect and polish the script for the purge.
He was very clear that even if young Anderson had decent talent in screenwriting, he lacked experience.
In Glen Morgan’s email, there were changes to two scenes and three subplots.
After reading them, Ronan felt Glen Morgan’s changes were more appropriate.
He replied, asking Glen Morgan to go to the studio tomorrow so the two of them, along with James Wong, could discuss it together.
Sometimes, brainstorming can bring benefits.
Ronan had read James Wong and Glen Morgan’s script, and comparing it to the the purge script he had written, aside from his advantage of foresight, he was inferior to these two veteran screenwriters in many aspects.
Regardless, he was still a newcomer with insufficient Hollywood experience.
After finishing the emails, Ronan made a call, and the employee outside brought in a large stack of documents and placed them on the desk.
Carmen Kass looked curiously; this stack of documents was over two feet thick and seemed to have photos attached.
“Are these actor profiles?” she asked.
Ronan took a stack and started flipping through it, answering as he looked, “These are all actor profiles submitted to the company by Agents.”
The modeling circle Carmen Kass was in already had intricate connections with Hollywood, so she asked curiously, “Can I take a look?”
Ronan pointed to the chair opposite the desk and said, “Come over and look together.”
These were just ordinary clients from small agencies; there were no secrets to speak of.
Carmen Kass pulled out the chair and sat down, taking a profile to read as well.
However, while her English speaking was good, her reading was slightly weaker, and she read quite slowly.
Ronan was very fast; he basically threw everything he had read to his right side.
Watching Ronan’s serious demeanor, memories of when she had just entered modeling training school welled up; she had been just as serious and hardworking back then. This chapter is updated first at NovelPing.
Being serious and hardworking might not necessarily change one’s destiny, but without being serious and hardworking, one wouldn’t even have the chance to change one’s destiny.
Carmen Kass didn’t even know what she was thinking, but she subconsciously asked, “Is there anything I can help with?”
Ronan looked up at her and didn’t stand on ceremony, seemingly treating her as one of his own, “Carmen, pick out specific actors from the files. Blonde/brown-haired girls from ten to fourteen, blonde/brown-haired actresses from sixteen to twenty, blonde/brown-haired actresses born around ’60, and male actors of the same hair color born before ’60.”
Carmen Kass replied, “Okay.”
Ronan instructed, “They must be people with acting experience; community theater experience counts too.”
According to Ronan’s requirements, Carmen Kass also started flipping through them.
Each profile had a photo attached, clear and straightforward.
This kind of work was very boring.
The two chatted while flipping through the files; most of the time, Carmen Kass asked about Hollywood, and Ronan answered.
“With your conditions, why not switch to Hollywood and become an actress?” Ronan said jokingly.
Carmen Kass didn’t take the bait, instead asking, “Why must you choose blonde/brown-haired actors?”
Ronan didn’t push it and answered, “They are a family; hair color has continuity, especially the three actresses who will play a mother and her two daughters in the film.”
“Actors can dye their hair,” Carmen Kass said.
Ronan first nodded, “They can indeed dye their hair.” Then he shook his head, “There’s a trend in Hollywood where non-blonde actresses generally don’t like to dye their hair blonde.”
He glanced at Carmen Kass’s blonde hair and didn’t continue.
Carmen Kass understood immediately and mocked herself, “I’ve spent time in both the UK and the US. This isn’t just a Hollywood problem, but a general social issue. Many people discriminate against blonde women, believing it’s an outward sign of having no brains.”
Ronan, however, said, “The people who think that are the ones with no brains.”
Carmen Kass couldn’t help but laugh.
With the help of this model, the files were quickly sorted.
Ronan obtained over a dozen useful actor resumes, among which were several familiar names that he specially circled with a pen.
“Thank you for your help.” Ronan tentatively asked, “Let me treat you to dinner tonight.”
Carmen Kass refused again, “No need.” She explained, “I have to shoot a set of photos tonight, and I’m going back to Europe tomorrow.”
Ronan sighed, “What a pity.”
Carmen Kass added, “I’ll be coming back to the United States in a while.”
Ronan said with a smile, “I’ll also go to Europe to look around when I have time.”
The sun had just turned to the west, and he saw Carmen Kass off.
Reflecting on their two times together, this woman was quite interesting; she maintained a distance while still leaving one with something to think about.
Is this her way of making me pursue her intensely?
Ronan guessed.