After about twenty minutes, she finally found the studio location and mustered the courage to walk in.
Seeing the very young girl opposite him, Ryan’s eyes flashed with recognition. Sofia Coppola! A name he was very familiar with.
Her father was the legendary Francis Ford Coppola, who directed “The Godfather,” and her cousin was Hollywood star Nicolas Cage.
Most importantly, Sofia Coppola hailed from the influential Coppola family, which had significant sway in the American art and film industries, especially among the academic circles.
Each year, during the Oscars, the Coppola family was a major focus for PR efforts by film companies.
“Hello, Miss Sofia. I didn’t expect you to apply!”
Honestly, Ryan was completely taken aback. He never expected Helen to recommend someone like Sofia Coppola, a wealthy heiress from a showbiz family.
Even with countless classic cases from his previous life, Ryan would have struggled without meeting Helen.
But Sofia Coppola was a different story. She had been part of “The Godfather” as a baby and starred in “Rumble Fish” before she was ten.
At 18, upon graduating high school, her father gave her a role in “The Godfather Part III,” which resulted in two humiliating awards, prompting her to vow never to act again.
If Ryan remembered correctly, based on his previous life’s timeline, Sofia Coppola would soon co-found a fashion company called Milkfed and then return to Hollywood to direct her first film, “The Virgin Suicides.” She would become one of Hollywood’s few female directors, and her film “Lost in Translation,” which starred Scarlett Johansson, would become a breakout success.
This film, shot over 27 days with a budget of only $4 million, would win the 76th Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
She would also become the third woman and first American woman nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director.
A true winner in life.
Sofia Coppola didn’t mind Ryan’s surprised look. She shook his hand and curiously asked, “Ryan Gosling?”
“The creator of ‘The Blair Witch’ script, the film’s sole investor, director, and editor!”
“And, of course, the mastermind behind that astonishing marketing plan.”
Compared to Ryan’s surprise at her arrival, Sofia Coppola was filled with curiosity.
“If you mean the ‘Blair Witch’ that the media and public talk about, then you’ve got the wrong person.”
Ryan took a closer look at her. She had short blonde hair, a beautiful face, and a tall, slender figure. He then said, “But if you mean the faux documentary ‘The Blair Witch,’ then you’re right.”
Sofia Coppola was taken aback for a moment, then showed a hint of admiration. Helen was right; he was a very clever guy.
“Alright then, Mr. Ryan Gosling, let me reintroduce myself. I’m Sofia Coppola. You can call me Sofia. Helen recommended me for the assistant position.”
With that, Ryan got to the point. “My studio is preparing for a new film project, so the assistant position has high requirements. It involves familiarity with film crew operations.”
“But, Miss Coppola, may I ask a personal question first?”
“Just call me Sofia,” she corrected him quickly and agreed, “Of course.”
“Why would someone from a wealthy family like yours apply to be my assistant? Is it because of Helen?” Ryan was genuinely puzzled. Even if she was a friend of Helen, this seemed unnecessary.
Sofia Coppola frowned slightly and said, “Mr. Gosling, do you always check the family background of every applicant?”
“And let me be clear. I came to Los Angeles partly because of Helen and partly to find something meaningful to do.”
“I hope my answer is satisfactory.”
She didn’t resent her family background but didn’t appreciate such questions, as if everything she did was tied to the Coppola name.
“I apologize for that,” Ryan said, expressing his regret. He then moved to the business at hand. “My studio is newly established, so the assistant role also involves production coordination.”
In simple terms, the position required juggling multiple roles: setting up the crew, renting equipment and props, and even acting as a stagehand or extra during filming, all for a single salary.
“For someone familiar with film crew operations, these tasks aren’t difficult.”
If it were someone else from a wealthy family, they would likely reject the job without a second thought.
But Sofia Coppola was different. Growing up in a film crew environment, she knew the ins and outs of film production.
Moreover, most of her contacts were Hollywood professionals, so the job wouldn’t be difficult for her.
Besides, she had just dropped out of school and needed a suitable job.
“No problem,” Sofia Coppola agreed readily. “But I do have one condition. During the shoot, I want to be your assistant director.”
Assistant director?
Ryan glanced at her, wondering if she already had directorial ambitions.
“I can agree to that.”
An assistant director who didn’t demand a salary? Only a fool would refuse.
Besides, Sofia Coppola, with her family background, could be immensely helpful in preparing and shooting the film.
Sofia Coppola’s first task was to head to Starry Sky Agency to select actors.
“Saw,” unlike “The Blair Witch,” had higher demands for actors. However, Starry Sky Agency, being newly established, couldn’t provide all the suitable actors.
Ryan didn’t want to lower his standards, so some actors would have to come from open casting calls.
Helen was aware of this as well.
Thus, it wasn’t appropriate for Ryan to handle this task personally.
Meanwhile, “The Blair Witch” continued to climb at the box office, and with it, the voices of doubt grew louder.
In response, 20th Century Fox had to inform Helen to bring back the film’s lead actors to give the media and angry public an outlet.
The night the leads returned, including the film’s leading actress Jessica Chastain, they appeared on a Fox TV talk show.
Throughout the show, the two male leads boasted about the project, treating the marketing plan as a classic case, while avoiding any mention of the director, producer, or investors.
It was as if they had masterminded the whole thing.
Jessica Chastain, despite being the lead actress in a film that grossed over $100 million, was notably quiet. Upon returning to Los Angeles, she sensed something was amiss.
She realized that as the lead actress in a film grossing over $100 million in North America and soon worldwide, she might become despised by the public and have to leave Hollywood, ending her career prematurely.
It wasn’t until after the talk show ended and they returned to the hotel that Helen allowed them to see the TV, newspapers, and magazines.
Faced with overwhelming criticism, their initial joy vanished, replaced by pale faces.
“Damn, we’ve been duped. The media hasn’t mentioned the investor, director, or distributor at all.”
“Relax, maybe this will be a good thing. At least we’re famous now.”
“What do you know? We’re pathetic, despised by the public. We’ll be blacklisted by all Hollywood studios.”
“No way, we can’t let it end like this.”
Fueled by anger, he stood up, ready to tell the media the truth—that they were scapegoats and that Ryan, the director, and 20th Century Fox were the real masterminds.
“I advise you to calm down first.”
Jessica Chastain took a deep breath, regaining some composure. “Remember the confidentiality agreement we signed before filming? If you go to the media now and say we had nothing to do with this, you’ll face millions in penalties.”
“Moreover, 20th Century Fox, backed by News Corporation, won’t be believed. It’ll just seem like an excuse.”
Despite her reluctance, she understood the situation was irreversible.
“Helen!”
“She must have known this would happen. I need to ask her,” he said angrily, gritting his teeth.
“If I were you, I’d wait for Helen to come to us instead of confronting her in anger.”
“Despite everything, we starred in a blockbuster. North American box office over $100 million, and the overseas market will soon follow. We still hold some value for Starry Sky Agency,” Jessica Chastain said, aware it was their only remaining leverage.
That’s the harsh reality.
This was the true Hollywood.