Chapter 245: Exploding the Box Office and Theaters

"Where's your girlfriend?"

Just as he returned from a round of socializing, Duke heard Aerin Lauder's voice.

"Why didn't she come with you?"

"Two glasses of champagne, thank you."

Taking two glasses from a waiter, Duke handed one to her, raised his own, and took a sip. "Didn't I tell you? That was just to promote the film."

Aerin Lauder drew her gaze back from the sprawling banquet hall and shook her head. "The complexity of Hollywood completely exceeds my imagination."

"The temptation of fame and fortune is magnified a hundredfold in this circle."

The two walked over to a quiet corner. Duke completely agreed with Aerin. "The competition is also magnified a hundredfold. Wanting every effort to succeed, to bring about the desired result..."

"Means using every possible method?" Aerin Lauder finished for him. "Actually, every business circle is similar. Every success comes hard. If you don't give it your all, it's likely to slip right past you."

Duke smiled. "It seems you've gained a lot of insight these past two years."

"I want to succeed too. I want a career of my own, just like you." Aerin Lauder shrugged. "I have an inherent advantage. If I still don't work hard, I'll be no different from those guys in New York who only know how to eat, drink, and play around."

"Do you have a plan?" Duke asked curiously.

"Of course, though I still can't break away from my family's support." Aerin Lauder didn't keep him in suspense. "I plan to collaborate with Estee Lauder to launch my own cosmetics brand. Hmm... products aimed more at the general public."

"The general public means a broader consumer base," Duke added. "And smaller risks."

Although Estee Lauder wasn't the most high-end cosmetics brand, it held the largest market share in North America, its sales accounting for over thirty percent of the total market. This was a very normal phenomenon. Duke had occasionally heard his mother mention that Victoria's Secret, which took a more populist route, had nearly a billion dollars in lingerie sales alone last year, whereas total revenue for the entire Versace brand was barely 300 million dollars.

After chatting a bit more, Duke noticed the crowd on the other side thinning out. "Aren't you interested in the cast of the new Star Wars? Let's go over and meet them."

"Sure."

Aerin took Duke's arm, and together, they walked toward the cast. They were the true center of tonight's party.

Star Wars had long ceased to be just a movie; it had become a cultural phenomenon. As long as someone joined this cast as a main member, it would be difficult for them not to attract attention.

Of course, if they didn't work hard enough or lacked good luck, leaving this cast could also turn into a tragedy.

"George..."

Upon reaching the cast, Duke found George Lucas. "Aren't you going to introduce us?"

Duke actually already knew the main cast members; this was primarily to introduce them to Aerin Lauder. It was almost exactly the same as his past life: Liam Neeson was playing Qui-Gon Jinn, Ewan McGregor was playing Obi-Wan, Natalie Portman was playing Padme Amidala, and Anakin Skywalker was being played by a little kid...

The latter two were not yet of age, and both were accompanied by their respective mothers.

Duke's eyes naturally drifted to Natalie Portman. She had been his favorite movie star in his past life. He had seen her from a distance in Central Park a few years ago during the filming of Independence Day. However, having lived on this land for so long, deeply influenced by his mother, and having fought hard in Hollywood, he had long understood that he couldn't look at these current stars with his past perspective.

Take Sean Connery, for instance. He used to really like many of the roles the man had played, yet over the past few years, he had unhesitatingly sent him into the abyss, forcing him to retire.

"I really like your movies, Director Rosenberg."

"Thank you, it's my honor."

The current Natalie Portman could only be considered a girl who hadn't fully developed yet, a full head shorter than Duke.

"Miss Portman, I watched your performance in Léon. It was deeply impressive."

"Thank you," she first replied politely, then added, "That role troubled me deeply. For a time, I even wanted to leave the acting profession."

Naturally, Duke didn't believe a word of it. A hint of a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Then Hollywood would be missing a genius."

However, what she said wasn't entirely false. Léon, or The Professional, was not only far from a success in North America; it was practically a failure. Its North American box office only reached over 19.5 million dollars. Furthermore, everyone from director Luc Besson to lead actress Natalie Portman suffered a barrage of criticism from the North American media. The latter even became synonymous with lust in the gossip rags. A subject matter like that was highly controversial—let alone a few years ago, even ten years from now it would still face scrutiny.

The only benefit was that it allowed Luc Besson to break into Hollywood.

Facing an overwhelming torrent of mudslinging, the then-preteen Natalie Portman didn't fall like other child stars. That alone was enough to prove just how resilient her nerves were, or how deep her scheming went.

"I've seen your movies as well," Aerin Lauder said, shaking her hand. "You truly are an acting genius."

"Actually, I don't think I'm entirely suited to being an actress," Natalie Portman said with a frown. "I feel that the frivolous identity of an actor might affect my upcoming studies..."

Frivolous? Duke glanced at her. Perhaps she really was an acting genius. Since she thought the profession was frivolous, why not just quit outright?

After a few more words, Aerin Lauder took Duke's arm, and they turned back to George Lucas's side. She looked back at the petite girl and whispered in Duke's ear, "Not very old, but far too calculating. Her outside doesn't match her inside."

"Which proves she really is an acting genius," Duke chuckled softly. "Perfectly suited for Hollywood."

When they walked over, Duke happened to overhear George Lucas discussing Natalie Portman with someone. He nodded to George and stood to the side, in no hurry.

The man seemed to be Natalie Portman's agent, and he was apologizing profusely to George Lucas. The girl wanted the production to push back the filming of Padme Amidala because she wanted to finish starring in The Diary of Anne Frank on Broadway before reporting to the Star Wars set.

A very smart girl, wasn't she? If George Lucas didn't agree, she could change her mind; if George Lucas did agree, it would show the public that she didn't care about fame and fortune. And whether George Lucas agreed or not, as long as the matter spread, it would always win the goodwill of a certain group of people.

Given the subject matter of The Diary of Anne Frank, combined with her own advantages, everything was falling into place naturally.

Not long after, Natalie Portman also walked over. Facing the hesitant George Lucas, she said, "George, I'm begging you! I must perform in The Diary of Anne Frank. We have been through so much suffering—not me personally, but it's precisely because so many people made enormous sacrifices that I can live in this world today. They fought so hard, so I feel a sense of responsibility. I have to do something."

If an adult actor had said this, George Lucas probably would have ignored them entirely. But coming from a sixteen-year-old girl who still carried an air of pure innocence, such words were quite moving.

Not only did George Lucas ponder for a moment before slowly nodding, but even Aerin Lauder beside them remarked, "She does have quite a few redeeming qualities."

Duke merely smiled and nodded without saying anything. In Hollywood, certain privileges belonged exclusively to those of Jewish descent. As long as one grasped the advantage of their ethnic identity, had a capable behind-the-scenes team, wasn't an idiot themselves, and could also gain the appreciation of someone like George Lucas, rising to the top wasn't too difficult.

Thinking back to the Natalie Portman of his past life, she had actually dated just as many boyfriends as anyone else. During her time at Harvard University, she even accidentally took birth control pills unsuitable for her constitution after the deed, resulting in months of amenorrhea where she couldn't even leave her room. Yet, these incidents only spread within a very small circle. The mainstream media never used them to report or smear her. Aside from the credit due to her behind-the-scenes team, it had to be said that her Jewish identity also played a significant role.

Even during the crucial moments of her upward climb, one could barely find much dirt on her. A lot of the scandalous material was actually proactively revealed by her as a joke to attract attention, but only after her position was already secure.

Having finished speaking with George Lucas, Natalie Portman turned to Duke and Aerin. Flashing a sweet smile, she extended an invitation: "Miss Lauder, Director Rosenberg, if you're in New York at that time and happen to be free, you can come watch The Diary of Anne Frank."

"If I have time, I will definitely go."

Obviously, Aerin Lauder possessed most of the traits of those of Jewish descent. Duke followed up with a polite remark of his own. "If I'm in New York then, I'll go as well."

Mrs. Leah walked over at this moment, taking Aerin Lauder away to expand her network in Los Angeles. Duke followed George Lucas toward the other side.

"Do you need me to mobilize some people to help you vote?" George Lucas suddenly asked. "Even though I'm not a member of the School, I still have a bit of influence."

Favors diminished every time they were used; Duke was very clear about this. "George, let's forget it this time. If I need it in the future, I'll ask."

"Patience is a rare and commendable quality." George Lucas nodded at him. "Duke, don't worry about those film critics. You have advantages that others do not. Once the time is right, no one can snatch away what belongs to you."

Not long after Lucasfilm's Christmas reception party, Duke escorted his mother back to New York. He temporarily stayed there as well, waiting until after the New Year before preparing to return to Los Angeles.

The year 1997 quietly entered his life just like that. Returning to the Vanity Fair of Los Angeles in mid-January, Duke also attended various events alongside Penny Kalis. He had to secure an Oscar nomination for Chicago in order to reap greater benefits.