The Best Movie Actor In Hollywood!

Chapter 587

Stephanie pulled up to the cafe where she had arranged to meet her publisher. After parking the car, she took out a compact mirror to check her reflection, then stepped out and headed for the entrance.

The afternoon was so hot that a sheen of sweat had already formed on her forehead, but the cafe was air-conditioned, and a refreshing coolness washed over her the moment she walked in.

This was a regular spot for her. A waiter approached to greet her, and Stephanie asked, "Has Ms. Christina arrived?"

"This way, please." The waiter quickly led the way.

Stephanie followed him toward the far-right section of the cafe. As she rounded a corner, she saw her publisher, Christina, who was facing her and appeared to be talking to someone—a man whose back was to her.

The reason for her visit today was singular and momentous: her publisher had informed her that the great Matthew Horner was very interested in "Twilight" and wanted to adapt it into a film.

She had always dreamed of seeing her novel on the big screen, a dream that felt tantalizingly close when "Twilight," "New Moon," and "Eclipse" consistently topped the New York Times bestseller list. Yet, that final step into Hollywood had remained just out of reach.

Initially, she had assumed that the fame and sales of her novels would have Hollywood studios knocking on her door, but the reality was nothing like she had imagined.

She had even enlisted a screenwriter friend from Phoenix to co-write a script, which they submitted to several Hollywood companies, only to hear nothing back for six months. After several inquiries with the most prominent one, Paramount Pictures, they simply replied that they would review it...

The company reviewed it for more than half a year, but still, there was no news.The best offer she and her agency had received from any production company came last month, but the rights fee was a mere one million dollars, and the post-production budget for the adaptation would not exceed eight million dollars at most.

She was still wrestling with it. Besides, if the film turned out to be too poorly made...

Stephanie shook her head. At first, she thought "Twilight" couldn't be made for less than fifty million dollars. Now, her expectations had plummeted to a very low point—around twenty million.

"Hello, Steph." Christina saw her, stood up, and waved her over.

Hearing this, Matthew also rose and turned around. He saw a woman in her early thirties approaching, with auburn hair, a red necklace, and a matching red dress.

The housewife-turned-author was not a particularly sharp dresser.

The thought crossed his mind, but he kept it to himself, the smile on his face as bright as the sunlight outside.

When Stephanie reached the table, Christina made the introductions. "Steph, this is someone I'm sure you know, Matthew Horner, a Hollywood star and a producer."

Then she introduced Stephanie to Matthew. "Matthew, this is Stephanie, the author of 'Twilight,' 'New Moon,' and 'Eclipse'."

Matthew extended his hand and said warmly, "Hello, Ms. Meyer. It's a great pleasure to meet you. You've written three incredible novels."

Such praise from a celebrity was certainly different from that of an ordinary person. It had only been two years since the "Twilight" series was published, and Stephenie Meyer had not yet completed her transformation from housewife to famous author. She looked a little flustered.

She shook Matthew's hand. "Hello. It's an honor that you enjoy my books."

Christina interjected, "Let's sit down and talk."

"After you, miss."

Once Stephanie was seated, Matthew sat opposite her and got straight to the point. "Ms. Meyer, I've taken the liberty of coming here today mainly to discuss the film adaptation of 'Twilight'."

Helen had already done extensive research. Stephanie herself was eager to see her novel on the big screen, and there was a chance that Summit Entertainment might increase its offer at any moment to finalize a deal for the rights.

That's why he opted for a direct approach.

Before he even arrived in Phoenix, Helen had already smoothed things over with the publisher. As long as the publisher helped persuade Stephanie, they would receive a hefty commission once his side secured the film rights to the series.

Here in North America, unless authors are writing specialized custom novels or working under a specific system like Marvel or DC, they almost always own the rights to their own work.

Much like Hollywood, the publishing industry in North America had a well-established business system.

Although Christina had mentioned it before his arrival, hearing Matthew say it himself still thrilled Stephanie. Her voice trembled slightly as she said, "Mr. Horner, you... you really want to adapt my novel?"

"Yes. I came across 'Eclipse' at a friend's house a week ago and found the world you created very interesting. I then went out of my way to find 'Twilight' and 'New Moon,' and I read all three novels from cover to cover. They were truly captivating."

Stephanie looked surprised. "But the studios I've approached said the adaptations aren't worth anything, that my work is just vulgar, cheap, young adult romance."

"Hollywood..." Matthew couldn't help but shake his head. "I've been in Hollywood my whole life, and I know the film industry very well. The machinery of Hollywood is incredibly harsh, and the minds of many studio executives are stuck in a rigid model of success. All they think about is making sequels, science fiction films, or superhero movies based on comics to make money. They don't care about the once-popular romance genre, which now..."

He sighed, then raised his tone and declared to Stephanie, "In my opinion, your novel is not just a romance, and the film adaptation won't be some trashy, cheap teen drama."

Stephanie looked at Matthew but said nothing.

Matthew continued, "Your novel blends vampire lore, werewolf tales, high school life, horror, comedy, and adventure—all sorts of compelling elements. But the piercing and poignant romance is the true heart of the story."

Of course, these were not conclusions he had drawn himself, but points Helen had carefully prepared for him after reading the novels.

But with a prepared script and a suitably passionate delivery, it was more than effective.

Stephanie nodded unconsciously.

Coming from the superstar sitting across from her, such words of praise were deeply flattering, and she naturally absorbed every bit of it.

Matthew said, "Miss, your novel might seem like a typical high school love story, but when you add supernatural powers, everything becomes thrilling."

He adopted a serious expression. "The novel is full of love-hate tension, yet it's as elegant and exquisite as Jane Austen, reaching a kind of peak in romantic fiction that I believe will become a literary phenomenon. After reading it, I imagined the adaptation and thought that 'Twilight' should be a fantasy story with twists and turns, a subtle and sincere emotional portrayal, a moving theme of love, and even the parts about vampires and werewolves are less about violence and bloodshed and more about a moral code of grace and purity. They offer an alternative canvas for romantic encounters."

"And the heroine." His words flowed on. "Through a film adaptation, every girl can see herself in the protagonist. She's exactly how we imagine a teenage girl to be. We were all young once, and we all know that seventeen or eighteen is a crucial time in life, old enough to make fateful decisions and fall in love, yet too young to think everything through and decide on her own. This gives the film enormous room for adaptation."

Stephanie kept nodding as she listened to Matthew.

Many of these were things she hadn't even bothered to think about, but they would be truly wonderful if they could be realized on film.

It was clear that Matthew hadn't approached her on a whim but had thought everything through carefully, right down to the core concept of the adaptation.

In contrast, the company currently negotiating with her... Stephanie thought of Summit Entertainment and mentally shook her head. They had never once told her how they planned to adapt the film, what philosophy they would follow, or anything of the sort.

This work was her baby, and she didn't feel that Summit Entertainment valued her creation, at least not at the moment.

Matthew didn't expect these words to completely win Stephanie over. After all, she was in her thirties and had some life experience. He had more practical offerings prepared.