American Entertainment: Starting with playing the role of Little Beaver

Chapter 7 Even a hero can be brought down by a penny
“Oh, Susie, I’m so sorry. I admit, Chris Columbus and I had already had some friction before I invited you, but I didn’t expect things to develop like this…”

"I never intended to involve you in a dispute that had nothing to do with you; everything that happened was an accident."

Move the time forward six hours.

At 12:30 pm, in a private restaurant on Park Lane, London.

Susie Figgis and J.K. Rowling sat facing each other in a private booth.

Today is Susie's first day after officially resigning, and Rowling wants to give her a farewell party to thank her for her help over the past few months. When she extended the invitation, Susie thought it would be a sad farewell, but once it started, she found that she simply couldn't control her urge to criticize Warner Bros. and the director.

“Susie, you know, this is my first time dealing with Hollywood, and I’ve never seen the shamelessness of those big companies before. Yes, Warner Bros. promised me they would put an all-British cast on Harry Potter, but even though they put that promise in the contract, they didn’t take it seriously and tried to force me to give it all up.”

“Did you know that before I received the project launch notification from Warner Bros., Chris Columbus had already started casting for Harry Potter in the United States? I’ve already found out who’s in charge: one is named Janet Hershson, and the other is named Jane Jenkins. You should know these two well, right? They’re both from the Jewish community!”

"When I heard this news a few days ago, I was almost going crazy!"

"Warner Bros. has never respected me! They only have Spielberg in their eyes! Chris Columbus has never taken my words to heart either; he just wants to take my child and promote his own people!!"

When she first spoke, Rowling's emotions were relatively stable.

But as she spoke, her voice involuntarily rose in pitch.

If Susie hadn't known that the area was a public place, she believed that screaming might have been her true nature.

“Oh, Anne, it’s not too late to know all this now, because things aren’t beyond repair.”

Susie comforted her, saying, "You may not be able to change directors, but you can still do what you want when it comes to casting. Or rather, it's because of your insistence that Warner Bros. has finally given in, isn't it?"

The preparation for the Harry Potter movie was actually a huge battleground, with conflicts arising not only among the actors but also in other areas.

Take directors, for example. Neither Spielberg nor his protégé Columbus were Rowling's preferred choices. The director she most wanted to hire was an English-American named Terry Gilliam.

His representative works include "Wild Ideas" and "12 Monkeys".

Since Gilliam's commercial success was not as good as Spielberg's—well, that's obvious, since only James Cameron of Canada could rival Spielberg commercially in the global film industry—Warner Bros. rejected Rowling's idea as soon as it came up. After they actively embraced Spielberg, the most common form of package deals in Hollywood emerged.

If you think I'm technically skilled, famous, and want me to carry the box office, then you have to accept everything about me.

Otherwise, if the project fails, we will not bear any responsibility.

In this situation, kicking out the novel's author is the best option.

Hollywood has always done this.

But no one expected that J.K. Rowling would be such a tough nut to crack.

“You’re right, the director can’t be replaced, so I can’t compromise on casting.”

Rowling nodded and said, "Susie, even though you're gone, all the casting work will continue based on your work. I will fight Chris Columbus and the others to the very end!"

Susie was somewhat touched.

She understood that Rowling was doing this to tell everyone in the industry that she, Susie, had not accomplished nothing on the HP project. Although Warner Bros. was in internal strife, she, Susie, still managed to get things done despite the pressure.

To the untrained eye, such proof may seem insignificant, but in the film industry, where roles are clearly defined, it is essential.

In the Western film industry, the producer is the central figure. Casting directors are usually the producer's people. If they can't withstand the pressure from the director and can't cast according to the hiring person's wishes, then they are considered unusable in the eyes of people in the industry.

But while feeling grateful, Susie also became serious.

“Annie, thank you for your trust, but there’s something I want to remind you: the previous results can only be used as a reference, not the basis for the final selection. I think you understand what I mean?”

"Yeah, are you reminding me to be careful before making decisions? I will."

Rowling nodded and said, "Harry Potter is my child, and I won't treat him harshly."

"Oh, your understanding is correct, but there's something else I wanted to say."

"What?"

Now, Rowling truly couldn't figure out Susie's intentions.

Susie opened her handbag, took out a file folder and a DV camera, and pushed them over.

“I’m referring to Hermione Granger.”

“All the previous candidates can be eliminated because I feel that I have found her, the real her.”

Although the conflict between Columbus and Rowling brought the film's casting process to a standstill, Susie and her team were not idle. After months of screening, they had actually discovered quite a few potential actors to play the three main characters.

For example, Hermione. Currently, there are two actresses suitable to play Hermione. One is Catherine Bryan, a resident of the stage group at the London School of Performing Arts, and the other is Hattie Jones, a professional actress who starred in the 98 film Madeline.

Before today, Susie thought they were all good, especially Hattie Jones, whom Susie believed had a high probability of making it to the finals.

But what about after today...?

"Wow~ Is this the new child you found? She's been behaving so much better than the others!"

After taking the DV camera and quickly flipping through it, Rowling's eyes lit up at the appearance of Isabella.

In Rowling's eyes, the worldview that surpasses that of her peers in the DV is Miss Know-It-All's most prominent feature, and her confident demeanor during the interview perfectly showcases the little beaver's qualities.

The sudden change in tone made Susie smile and nod, "Annie, I knew you would like her."

"She was the girl who came for her interview this morning. I was just about to leave the set when she got off the shuttle bus. I was immediately drawn to her. She's like an angel. Meeting her is truly my luck..."

Susie briefly explained the situation.

Upon learning that the little girl had secretly run away to Leaversden without telling her family, Rowling burst out laughing.

"Oh~ this feels like Miss Granger ran away from home to study at Hogwarts?"

"Yeah~Yeah~Yeah~That's exactly what I wanted to say~"

Susie laughed and clapped her hands.

In the film and television industry, casting is really all about first impressions.

If I glance at you and think you're good, then you'll get a chance to shine.

Otherwise, I'll have to say goodbye to you.

As Rowling opened the file, she was immediately drawn to Isabella, and the more she read, the more delighted she became. But as she looked, she frowned. "Susie, although this girl is very talented, don't you think she's not suitable to play Hermione?"

"Because she's so beautiful, unlike the Hermione you created, right?"

"Yes."

“Oh, Anne, I don’t think this is important.”

"Why?"

Rowling pressed the pause button, raised her gaze, and looked at her friend with a puzzled expression.

Susie replied earnestly, "Because literature and film are two different things. The reason why adapting a novel for the screen is called adaptation is because excellent ideas in literature are not necessarily brilliant ideas in the film industry, right?"

"When you want to turn a novel into a movie, what you do has to meet the standards of the film industry."

“In the Harry Potter project, I think the appearance of the main characters is very important.”

"Because Harry Potter is a commercial film."

Although Susie is on Rowling's side, as a true insider, she knows that when making a film adaptation of a novel, the author's opinions can be taken into consideration, but not entirely.

Because they are not experts, they don't fully understand the taboos within the industry.

For example, Harry Potter is considered a commercial film, and what are the production principles of commercial films? Isn't it that good looks are everything? This doesn't mean that everyone has to be good-looking, but that the main characters must be good-looking.

To put it bluntly, if you insist on creating a negative portrayal of The Little Mermaid or a black and white Snow White... then the silent majority will vote with their feet.

Susie's words made Rowling's eyes flicker.

After a long moment of eye contact, Susie, understanding her concerns, continued:

“Annie, I know what you’re thinking. You’re worried that your concessions will make Warner think you’re easy to bully, and they’ll gradually erode your influence in the project, eventually turning the Harry Potter movies into their own style.”

"On this point, I would say your concerns are valid."

"The Hollywood giants have never done anything decent. Take Chris Columbus, who you have a conflict with, for example. Didn't they want to promote Haley Osment? And what was Haley's breakthrough role? It was Forrest Gump! Forrest Gump did win an Oscar, but we all know that the movie and the novel are not exactly the same, they are completely unrelated."

"In order to demonstrate his political correctness, Robert Zemeckis completely altered Forrest Gump, which angered the original author. Therefore, your refusal to compromise is not a problem in my opinion."

"But your confrontation with Warner, in my opinion, could be a little more moderate."

"The key reason why Warner Bros. chose Spielberg over you is that no one understands business better than Spielberg. If your way of fighting for control of the project is to emphasize respect for the original work to Warner Bros., then your relationship will only become more and more strained."

"But what if you change your approach? If you proactively demonstrate your understanding of the film industry and your business acumen to Warner Bros., then even if Warner Bros. thinks Spielberg is better than you, they won't be able to find fault with your business proposals, right?"

"At that time, no one will be able to take your Harry Potter away."

Susie winked at Rowling.

Having spent thirty years in Hollywood, she had long since figured out the root of the conflict between Rowling and Warner.

When Warner Bros. invested hundreds of millions of dollars in Harry Potter, they couldn't accept the project failing.

At this point, Rowling's insistence on staying true to the original work was Warner Bros.' biggest headache.

Of course, neither Rowling nor Warner was wrong, because they were standing at different angles and therefore had different positions.

In this situation, for Harry Potter to progress smoothly, both sides must find common ground while respecting their differences...

"Susie, thank you."

"Ok?"

“I understand what you mean. You want me to make commercially viable choices in casting to tell Warner Bros. that my desire to control the project is simply to make it better, and that I have no intention of ruining Harry Potter.”

"Yeah~So?"

“Oh, Susie, I actually wanted to do this from the beginning, which is why I invited you, but Warner and the others…”

"Their behavior was disgusting?"

"Hmm~"

"I understand, Warner Bros. is indeed arrogant, but they've already taken the first step in resolving the issue, haven't they? They've released a statement saying they hope filming can begin before October, so at this point... a response?"

"Ah."

Rowling was persuaded.

Or perhaps she didn't want the Harry Potter movie to become a flop under Warner Bros.' meddling.

Press play again to continue watching; the one-hour recording will be finished quickly.

Let out a long sigh, pondered for a moment, and then said, "Very good. I'd like to meet her. When would be a convenient time?"

"How about we treat her to dinner tonight?"

"What?" Rowling was somewhat surprised. "You've already arranged all of this?"

Susie smiled mysteriously, "Those 'bad kids' who like to sneak away are the ones we need to keep a close eye on. Because nobody knows if they'll give us a big surprise in the next second."

"After the interview, I asked Jesse to take her home, check her family information, and invite her parents for afternoon tea."

“If nothing unexpected happens…” Susie glanced at her watch, “Jesse should have made contact with her parents…”

Isabella could sneak off to the interview, but no entertainment company would dare to openly hire a minor.

Therefore, what Isabella considered a deception was completely exposed by Susie and her team's legal awareness.

At two o'clock in the afternoon, Vivian had just come out of the West End theater when she noticed a missed call on her phone.

She pressed the button to call back, and half an hour later, she met Jesse at a coffee shop in the West End.

After talking for several hours, the two parted ways around 4:30 p.m.

Back in the car, Vivian leaned back in her seat, lost in thought for a long time, until five o'clock, when she finally started the car and drove home.

Immediately afterwards, at 6:30.

After getting ready, Vivian arrived at Ruth's Restaurant at 35 Ladies' Lane, Covent Garden, with her daughters.

This is one of London's oldest restaurants, and the waiters are dressed like the old Daisy from Downton Abbey.

After announcing their names to the gray-haired, top-hatted greeter at the entrance, the three were immediately led to a private room on the second floor. Upon identifying themselves and hearing "Please come in," a rich British ambiance greeted them as the door opened.

The floor inside was covered with a thick red carpet, the walls were inlaid with brown wooden planks, and a solid wood round table was covered with a snow-white custom-made tablecloth. The three figures beside the table were all acquaintances.

J.K. Rowling naturally sat in the main seat, while Susie and Jesse sat on either side.

Logically, they should have greeted Rowling first, but Isabella didn't follow that rule. Looking at Jesse, she said, "So, Director Jesse, the blessing you sent me at noon, wishing me happiness at receiving the audition invitation, meant you would call my mom?"

"Hahaha~" Everyone burst into laughter.

As he stood up to welcome her, Director Jesse also spread his hands and said, "Isa, it's illegal to talk about work directly with minors."

Isabella sighed; she knew the other person was right.

Susie raised an eyebrow at her helpless expression.

"Honey, what's with that look? Did our actions cause you a lot of trouble?"

As she spoke, she reached out her hand to Vivian, and after exchanging greetings, she winked at Isa.

"I don't think so, right? Look at your mom, isn't she pretty good to you?"

These words made Isabella turn her head to look at her mother, who was now looking at her with a smile on her face.

As Susie said, they did not cause Isabella any trouble, because Vivian did not scold her.

Vivian was also surprised when she received the call from director Jesse.

But after meeting Isabella, Vivian quickly accepted her 'outrageousness'.

There are three reasons:

First, Isabella's interview process went very smoothly.

It went so smoothly that Vivian thought she was born to do this job.

Secondly, director Jesse explained the preparations for the film to her. All filming would take place in the UK and would not be moved to other places. Furthermore, once filming officially began, executive producer J.K. Rowling would be stationed on set.

This explicit statement means that the dirty dealings of Hollywood and old Europe won't reach them.

Third, the family genuinely needed the money.

A penny stumps the hero.

　Notes: ① Janet Hirshenson and Jane Jenkins were both casting directors for *Home Alone*, and they also handled casting for *When Harry Met Sally*, *Jurassic Park*, and *Young Indiana Jones*. They belong to the Amblin, DreamWorks, and Lucasfilm group in Hollywood, and are also affiliated with Steven Spielberg. ② Kathleen Bryan is British singer Katy B, who was also considered for the role of Hermione Granger.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)