"Hello, Mr. Clint." It was the first time Catherine had met him.
"Hello, Miss Edson."
Eastwood was a veteran actor, but he had always felt frustrated in Hollywood. So when he received Catherine's invitation, he accepted immediately and quickly arrived in New Mexico.
He had already received Catherine's script.
In fact, the plot adapted from the novel was quite solid.
Catherine had also wanted to adapt the Harry Potter series, but in her view, the current level of technology was simply inadequate.
"What do you think of the script?" Catherine asked.
"The script is good, but the cost seems too high for a television series."
Since he would be directing, Eastwood naturally felt the need to voice his opinion.
Catherine nodded.
"That's true. But I've already directed a film, and I think we can 'recycle' it."
Unexpectedly, Eastwood shook his head.
"That might not work. Television scenes are much longer than film scenes. I have an idea—maybe we could use miniatures."
"Miniatures?"
"Yes. I was inspired by your strategy game series. A lot of people already use this approach. I know you're aiming for realism. For some scenes, we can start with an aerial view and then cut to the protagonist's location. That way, the audience gets the illusion that the protagonist is already there, even though everything was shot on a soundstage."
Catherine nodded. It was a very solid suggestion.
"Then I suppose we can start filming our first TV series?"
The other party nodded.
Eastwood knew he had passed a small test.
In the series, Eastwood plays a member of a vault designed to remain sealed for centuries. However, due to a malfunction in the water purification system, the vault's administrators send Eastwood into the wasteland to search for replacement parts from an abandoned vault.
The vault would simply be the same one used in the previous film.
They would refurbish it to make it look brand new, and that would be enough.
For the subsequent village wasteland scenes, Catherine also rearranged the buildings to ensure a visual style different from the film.
Eastwood seemed to enjoy filming, and after watching for a while, Catherine felt reassured. She only asked to review the master tapes and the edited footage.
Even though this was a television series, Catherine insisted on filming it exactly like a movie, striving for visual perfection.
Then the script was handed over.
At the same time, Catherine began thinking about a new screenplay.
Perhaps because she had grown fond of adaptations, Catherine's choice this time was also quite unique.
Moreover, she had been considering this project for a long time.
This was Crysis.
Catherine had even already chosen the lead actor: Bruce Lee.
In the film, Bruce Lee wears a mask until the very end, when his Asian face is finally revealed.
Just imagine how interesting that would be.
A group of Americans marveling at the almost divine combat movements of the character—then, at the end, Bruce Lee removes the mask, revealing a Chinese face. Wouldn't that be fascinating?
Bruce Lee was a star who could captivate Western audiences. Catherine might have had concerns about other actors, but with Bruce Lee, she had almost none.
Maybe this would even boost box office revenue?
In truth, Catherine's intention was quite simple: she wanted to surprise the audience.
However, while the game Crysis was excellent, adapting it into a film would require many changes, making it a major undertaking.
So Catherine simply wrote it down in her notebook, along with ideas from Crysis and Crysis Warhead.
Bruce Lee was still in Hong Kong, and after returning he would also be filming the third season of Fallout, so he wouldn't have the time.
Still, while on set, Catherine sketched two nanosuit designs before rushing back to Pennsylvania.
Catherine was about to enter high school and take her exams.
Thanks to her tutor's support, her studies hadn't suffered. While the SAT and ACT might be somewhat tricky, regular high school exams posed no problem for her.
However, at that time, Eastwood wanted Catherine's advice on the lead roles for the second and third seasons of Fallout.
Catherine wanted Bruce Lee and Freeman to be the leads, but the script had already been written, and they were secondary protagonists. The main role was still vacant.
In fact, Catherine had considered playing the lead in Fallout herself.
After thinking it over, it seemed feasible. Although she looked young, she was tall enough, and if she played the lead, she would only need makeup.
But would other actors accept a girl as the lead?
Catherine wasn't sure, so she remained cautious.
Besides, the script was male-dominated; changing it now would ruin the structure.
Catherine simply made a phone call.
She hoped Eastwood could offer some advice.
Eastwood was very attentive during filming, and after receiving her call, he began the casting process.
Meanwhile, back in New York, Catherine discovered that personal computers were causing quite a stir in the city due to the development of the benchmark standard.
"Are you ready for the electronic age? Jerry Sanders has opened the benchmark for Microsoft computers, meaning anyone can now produce components for them. We cannot yet say whether this decision is correct, but we can see that the standard for personal computers has been born…"
—The New York Times
The Washington Post offered an even sharper summary:
"The electronics industry—a rapidly emerging gold mine. 'Personal Computer,' a term coined by the brilliant Ms. Katherine Edson, showcases her rich imagination and extraordinary creativity. From EL—or rather, from the entire Edson Ark Group—the electronics industry has become a foundational pillar. In this 'electronics gold rush,' many manufacturers have expressed interest in becoming third-party hardware or software suppliers for Microsoft computers. We ask you: are you ready, prospectors?"