King of Hollywood-Chapter 249 - 247 Is it a Challenge

Chapter 249: Chapter 247: Is it a Challenge?

Chapter 249 -247: Is it a Challenge?

“It’s okay,” Adrian smiled and waved his hand, “I understand the feeling of almost losing a loved one.”

“Um, I’m sorry,” River suddenly said. He had obviously done some research on Adrian before coming.

“No need for that, after all, it’s been a long time. Just remember to live better,” Adrian waved his hand again, then continued, “Actually, you didn’t have to come here, River. I had planned to visit you in a few days, once things had cooled down a bit.”

“That would have been rude,” River shook his head. “If you hadn’t been there that night, I might really have left this world, so it’s only right for me to come here and personally express my gratitude.”

“I believe anyone in that situation would have done the same,” Adrian chuckled and then saw a flicker of skepticism pass over both River and Joaquin’s faces. It seemed they understood the situation back then, and except for Adrian, no one else had spared River, who was lying on the ground, a second glance. After all, too many people lie on the ground, unable to get up due to drunkenness or other reasons, or they might just be a homeless person. During the day it might be okay, but at night, who knows? People who meddle are always a minority.

However, pleasantries still had to be exchanged, and the two of them knew this, so they laughed again.

“Regardless, I should have come to thank you personally,” River said sincerely, with a hint of self-deprecation in his expression.

“After shooting ‘Stand by Me,’ I once said to someone that my work would outlast my existence, and I almost proved myself right.” He sighed, not knowing what he was thinking, probably feeling the topic was a bit heavy, and quickly shifted to another subject, “If you hadn’t left your name with the nurse, I might still not know who saved me. Joaquin and Silver are such fools, only focusing on the excitement and even forgetting to ask for a business card.”

“We were all concerned about you,” Silver muttered, slightly offended.

“Actually, I had my reasons,” Adrian said with a smile. “If I had stayed at the hospital, I would inevitably have been spotted by the reporters who smelled the story, and then a lot would have followed. You know, as a director, it’s better to stay behind the scenes than to confront the press too much.”

Their conversation soon shifted to movies. At just 23, River, although he rose to fame with ‘Stand by Me’ in 1985, had been acting in television dramas since 1980 and had made quite a name for himself in the industry. Joaquin had also acted in several films, and while they were quite good, they were often overshadowed by River’s acclaim. As for the youngest, Silver, he wasn’t very knowledgeable in these matters, but he still sat and listened intently with wide eyes.

The topics of conversation widened, probably because having once been on death’s door, River talked the most about his family, such as how his mother struggled through labor on the road for three days to give birth to him, the bumpy yet interesting life he had as a child, and how he and his sister used to perform on the streets to support their ever-growing family. Adrian listened earnestly throughout, and couldn’t help but marvel internally at how impressive this family of nine was, not only in survival but in each child’s remarkable talents.

“I think we should leave now.” After a brief pause and noticing the time, River suddenly said, “I’m really sorry for taking up so much of your time, and for just talking about our family.”

“No, no, no, all of that is quite interesting,” Adrian waved his hand with a smile. “I love hearing other people’s stories; they inspire my creativity. After all, every story originates from life.”

“That being said, we should take our leave,” River said, and he stood up together with his two brothers. Adrian didn’t say much more, until they reached the office door where he finally spoke again, “Take care of yourself, River. Don’t worry about the reporters. You’re a talented actor, don’t waste your life. If you want, the entire ’90s could belong to you.”

“Thank you, Ed.” River took a deep look at him, then gave a slight bow and left.

He was indeed a remarkable young man. After returning to his desk chair, Adrian leaned his back against it with hands together and thought to himself. River left a strong impression on him—handsome, calm, subdued, courteous, and well-mannered, yet there was an inherent defiance that seemed to radiate from his very core. Although some details had changed from what was in the dossier, it was expected; after all, having brushed shoulders with death, he was bound to have changed. If only he wasn’t slightly emaciated, he would have been perfect.

The entire ’90s belonged to him, or so the media had judged him after his death. They said every movie he took part in was unforgettable—from shining bright at the age of 15 to becoming the youngest Venice award winner. This young man with a stunning face and astonishing acting skills always captivated people. He was supposed to have a boundless future, but tragically, his life was frozen beautifully under the spotlight and in the hearts of numerous fans due to a drug overdose.

But now, it seemed he was destined never to receive such honors. He might even become a negative figure, as could be seen from how the media reported his hospitalization due to drug use. It wasn’t surprising; both in the East and the West, there is a tradition of honoring the dead, especially those talented souls who died young.

For instance, James Dean might have become one of America’s top cultural icons by starring in only three movies, and a key reason for that was his premature death. A car crash claimed his life just a year older than River.

In fact, at least half of America’s top cultural icons, from Kennedy to Monroe to Hemingway, met their untimely deaths. River was highly praised as “the man of the ’90s” because he died a tragic death. This made him fully live in people’s memory; he could never act out in ways that might displease the mainstream society and was perfect to be idolized and placed on a pedestal. Adrian was willing to bet that if he suddenly died in the next year following the release of that movie, people would say that as a director, the ’90s belonged to him.

But now, because Adrian saved River’s life, who knows if River could ever deliver another fine performance in the future? He might become embroiled in some scandal. Of course, he might perform exceptionally well and shine brilliantly, but how does it matter? A person filled with endless possibilities is never put on a pedestal.

But… was that really the case? Adrian suddenly stood from his chair and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window to look at the street outside. The film company had moved to Burbank three months earlier for steady growth. The streets weren’t as bustling as before, but the greening was much better than the previous locale, creating a pleasant view.

“Do you think you could break the pattern?” Adrian murmured, touching his chin as he looked at his own blurred reflection in the glass, a hint of excitement in his expression.

The reason he remembered River Phoenix’s name in the hospital was because of his brother, Joaquin Phoenix, a remarkable actor himself and an Oscar nominee for Best Actor. This reminder, along with a previous movie connection with Keanu Reeves and some knowledge about “My Own Private Idaho,” had jogged his memory of River.

It has to be said, the Phoenix family boys were quite phenomenal; River and Joaquin need no mention, and even the young Silver showed a lot of potential, prompting Adrian to take an interest.

Despite the exaggerated praises due to River’s early demise, it didn’t mean he lacked talent. As Adrian often said, without quality as a foundation, no amount of publicity or PR would help. Not everyone can be praised for both looks and acting ability. In Hollywood, being overly handsome was often the greatest enemy of male actors who wanted to be recognized for their talent.

Take Tom Cruise as an example; despite his efforts to showcase his acting, the conservative old bunch at the Oscars still wouldn’t give him a nod.

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Adrian really wanted to know, if he created the right conditions for him, could he continue to maintain this reputation?

“There has to be some change for it to be interesting. Since I am building my own empire, it has to contain something truly mine,” Adrian smiled and stretched his hand to touch the bright glass, having discovered Dennis for this reason. Now he was grabbing this meteor meant to fall; this small change might change some things while keeping the consistency on a broader scale. Accumulating perhaps a significant transformation in due time, but once a certain period had passed, changes wouldn’t matter anymore.

And with that decision made, he set aside the matter for now. Reporters were still fervently covering the news of River’s drug hospitalization, which wouldn’t quiet down anytime soon. Besides, he needed rest at the moment, and Adrian had his own work to attend to.

“Piano Lesson” screenings and box office were gradually increasing, promotional activities for “Schindler’s List” were well underway, “Philadelphia Story” was scheduled to release in early December, and preliminary promotions for “The Professional” had begun. Adrian now had to dedicate time to resolve another matter, which had been delayed a bit too long. The other party had reached a point where each meeting was argumentative, and it was time to let him go. (To be continued. For future updates, please visit www.qidian.com, with more chapters, supporting the authors, and promoting legitimate reading!)