After Simon finished speaking and Amy Pascal nodded slightly, he turned and walked away.
This party was hosted by Orion at Simon's request after he heard Ron McMillan's message last time. Everyone who helped complete 'Run Lola Run' was invited, and Simon diligently socialized.
The party continued until late at night, but Simon still woke up early the next day.
Because he was moving out.
His newly chosen residence was a mansion of about one acre, located halfway up the mountain in the Palisades area, north of Santa Monica. It was more than twice the size of Janette's place in Malibu, occupying a private cliff with excellent views. From the mansion, one could easily overlook the entire Los Angeles urban area and the magnificent seascape at the foot of the mountain.
Of course, the monthly rent was as high as $15,000.
Although he didn't have a particular preference for mansions, Simon found that to ensure privacy, he basically had no choice but to rent this type of residence.
Speaking of which, Simon's current net worth was more than enough to buy a mansion, and he inherently preferred living in his own home. However, it was currently the peak of the stock market and real estate bubbles in the United States during the 1980s.
If he couldn't see the future, Simon might have chosen to buy a mansion in such a hot market. But he clearly remembered that with the stock market crash in the second half of this year, the US real estate market would also be affected and fall sharply. Buying a house then would not only mean much lower prices but also certainly more choices.
After a busy weekend, a new week quickly arrived.
However, early Monday morning, Simon was still asleep when he was awakened by the phone ringing, followed by Mike Meadow's anxious voice telling him to receive a fax.
After some fuss, Simon finally saw an article in the East Coast's 'New York Times'. The article's title was just one word, "Scam," and it was written by a contributor named Mark Hollington from 'The New York Times'.
"The first time I saw 'Run Lola Run,' I fell deeply in love with this film. Every detail of the film, its cinematography, colours, soundtrack, editing, gave me a refreshing feeling."
"Movies can actually be made like this".
"However, when I heard that this film came from an 18-year-old, I immediately fell into an inexplicable confusion, and then, as the article from my West Coast colleague said, I began to recall my own 18th year, and even the 18th year of everyone around me".
"I grew up in a decent family, received a decent education, and had many intelligent people around me. But I ultimately found that among everyone I knew, no one had the potential to complete such an excellent film at the age of 18. Yes, I said 'potential.' Even if they had received comprehensive professional training in directing, cinematography, music, lighting, and other aspects of filmmaking since childhood, I still don't think anyone among them could have completed a film as stunning as 'Run Lola Run' at the age of 18".
"Now, someone has done it."
"He personally wrote the script, personally directed, personally wielded the camera, personally completed the editing, personally handled the soundtrack... And all of this was done so excellently that it was impeccable".
"Is this really possible?"
"So, while repeatedly watching this film, I began to closely follow everything about this young director named Simon Westeros. When the information in newspapers could no longer satisfy my personal needs, I even personally rushed to San Francisco and stayed there for a full week".
"Simon Westeros, perhaps he prefers to be called that now".
"This boy grew up in a children's welfare institution in San Jose, San Francisco County. He had no relatives and was never in a foster home, which is indeed regrettable. Subsequently, Simon Westeros quietly completed his education from elementary school to high school with the support of the federal welfare system and then, with a bang, was admitted to Stanford University. I interviewed many people around Simon Westeros, and they indeed stated that he was a very hardworking boy. But at the same time, these people also revealed that they had never discovered any film talent in Simon Westeros, and many didn't even remember Simon Westeros watching movies".
"So, I can basically conclude that Simon Westeros's film talent definitely did not come from his teenage years".
"Next, Simon Westeros entered Stanford University. However, in less than two months, the poor young man was admitted to a mental hospital for nine months of treatment due to a sudden mental illness".
"Clearly, the two months at Stanford University were also insufficient for Simon Westeros to accumulate any film-related skills".
"Subsequently, I also visited that mental hospital. Simon Westeros's attending physician was very cautious when I questioned him and did not reveal too much to me. I even tried to obtain Simon Westeros's medical records, but was told they had been lost".
"Very cleverly 'lost'".
"Although I cannot determine what exactly happened during the nine months in the mental hospital, it is already very rare for a violent schizophrenic patient to be able to leave a mental hospital again in nine months. He obviously couldn't have received any film skills training during these nine months either".
"Then, a miracle happened".
"When Simon Westeros appeared in Los Angeles, he immediately became a film genius proficient in various professional skills".
"Yes, definitely a 'genius'".
"Every detail of 'Run Lola Run' makes him worthy of that word".
"But, is this really possible?"
"Someone who had no connection with film since childhood suddenly became a director; someone who had never touched a camera suddenly became proficient in cinematography; someone who could not possibly have received any music training suddenly became proficient in soundtrack? And editing, and lighting, and all the others?"
"As a film critic, a senior film enthusiast, and a film practitioner who has barely stepped into the industry by writing one or two screenplays, although I have not participated in film production, I am very clear that any job involved in the film production process, to reach the top, requires long and focused sharpening; no one can appear at the top of the mountain without climbing".
"Now, looking at the explosive box office of 'Run Lola Run,' looking at the media's fervent discussions, watching the audiences queuing up in front of cinemas, watching Simon Westeros being chased by paparazzi like a handsome young singer, my heart is increasingly unable to shake off a thought".
"Scam".
"All of this is just a scam".
"First, I must reiterate that I absolutely do not doubt the excellence of 'Run Lola Run'; it is an outstanding film worthy of being enshrined in Hollywood film history".
"But",
"I absolutely do not believe that so many of the jobs listed in the film's credits were personally completed by a young man like Simon Westeros. I am more willing to believe that all of this is simply a farce orchestrated by a behind-the-scenes manipulator for enormous profit".
"So, Simon Westeros, if I am wrong, prove it to me! If you can prove it, I am willing to apologize to you in any form, in any setting. But if I am right, then tell everyone the truth, tell all the film fans who deeply love this movie but have been deeply deceived".