Regardless of what other film companies thought, Norton's Eye was already in a state of excitement.
Everyone was eagerly anticipating Fifty Shades of Grey reaching a new height.
On the sixth day of its release, the film officially crossed the 100-million-dollar mark.
However, at this time, Ethan was already traveling in Iceland with Avril.
They had rented an RV and were taking a road trip around the island.
Because the nights in Iceland were longer, they usually woke up around eight in the morning. Ethan would then drive Avril to various scenic spots.
By four or five in the afternoon, they would park the vehicle and stay at an RV campsite, cooking their own meals while enjoying some unique pleasures.
In the RV, outside the RV.
Iceland's vast, uninhabited landscapes gave them a great sense of security. They didn't have to worry about being discovered or recognized.
All they needed to do was indulge in their love and desires to the fullest.
At night, as the two lay inside the RV, Avril rested her head on his chest, drawing circles on it with her finger.
"Ethan, this place would be perfect for a concert."
Ethan chuckled. "Filling up this place with people would be really difficult."
"True. I even doubt if Iceland has enough people to gather for a concert."
In the past few days, Avril had seen fewer than twenty people in total.
Even in towns, the streets were mostly empty—there were fewer people than in the airport.
"Hahaha, there are still quite a few people in the capital."
"Yeah, but they don't drive around like us, just wandering everywhere."
"Don't you think this is very relaxing?"
"Extremely relaxing." Avril leaned on his shoulder. "It's been so long since I felt this relaxed. Unlike before, now every day when I wake up, it's just music, music, music. I love it, but my brain always feels a bit fuzzy."
"Baby, you need to relax… and so do I. That's why we should find a place with no people and enjoy some quiet time."
"You mean the script you're writing? I really like the story about a girl getting pregnant before marriage."
"That's right. I think it's very interesting, so I want to perfect it as much as possible and turn it into a movie."
"If I were an actress, I'd definitely want to play this role."
"Or maybe you can play it out in real life?"
Hearing Ethan's words, Avril bared her little fangs and bit him. "Then let's do it. FXXK ME!"
Five Days Later, Sweden
Ethan and Anne Hathaway stood on the streets of Stockholm, wearing large sun hats and leather boots, looking like two long-distance travelers.
"Ethan, you seem very tired lately. Is it because of the script?" Anne Hathaway looked at Ethan, noticing that he didn't seem as energetic as before.
"Yes, because I'm working on two scripts at the same time…" Ethan explained. "Both are very important to me, so I have to give them my all."
"You don't have to travel with me, you know." Anne Hathaway held Ethan's hand, feeling sorry for him. "You can wait until you're done before coming to find me."
"No, no, this is something we planned. It can't be changed so easily." Ethan smiled, squeezed her hand, and walked forward.
"Besides, traveling here is also good for my scriptwriting."
"It gives you inspiration, right?"
"Exactly. I'm creating a vast, intricate dream, and I need something to stimulate my imagination."
"So… do I have a chance in this movie?"
"Hmm… I'm considering it. Maybe you should show me your strengths?"
"Hahaha, Ethan, are you testing me?"
"Of course not. I'm just seeing if a certain actress is truly sincere."
"Alright, Ethan, then I have to show my sincerity…"
After a brief silence—
"Hmm, this level of sincerity is just so-so."
"If you want more sincerity, you'll have to wait until tonight."
"Really? I hope a certain actress keeps her word."
"Of course, my great director."
When Jimmy saw Ethan again, he felt that his good friend's complexion seemed even paler than before.
"Ethan, what's wrong? Have you finally exhausted yourself?"
Jimmy closed the door and winked at Ethan as he asked.
"Get lost." Ethan crossed his legs and said, "You know, dealing with too many women is tough. It's not just physical; it's more of a mental challenge."
"That's why I really admire you. You have way too much energy."
Jimmy poured himself a cup of tea. "So, when are you planning to start shooting the new movie?"
"New movie? It starts now." Ethan tossed the script onto the table.
Jimmy immediately picked it up and took a look.
"Juno? Inception?" Jimmy glanced at the titles and said, "I think the second one will be a bigger hit."
"Yeah, the second one is indeed a pure commercial blockbuster. But the first one isn't bad either." Ethan tapped his knee. "Plus, the first movie has a very low production cost and a quick shooting schedule."
He didn't mention the return on investment, but if he revealed Juno's ROI, it would surely shock the entire film industry.
That's because Juno had a global box office of $220 million.
And its production budget was only $6.5 million.
It was an undeniable super hit. A single movie like this could save a struggling studio.
Except for MGM.
So, of course, Ethan wasn't going to miss out on it. As soon as he thought of it, he wrote it down immediately.
However, the success of Juno was largely due to its witty and humorous dialogue. Ethan's own draft wasn't suitable for shooting.
After all, he wasn't a native-born American and couldn't naturally write that kind of humor.
So, he immediately instructed Jimmy to find a truly American screenwriter, preferably one skilled in comedic scripts.
By comparison, Inception didn't need an extra writer. It was so famous that even someone like Ethan, who wasn't particularly interested in blockbusters, had to watch it three times just to accompany a girl.
Why watch the same movie multiple times?
Because the people watching it weren't the same.
So, Ethan was very familiar with its plot, story, and dialogue—to the point that he could practically recite them.
After setting up the scriptwork, he had Kane find Hollywood's best prop-making team.
This movie would require a lot of practical effects, just like how Nolan shot it.
Speaking of Christopher Nolan, he was currently preparing The Dark Knight, with Heath Ledger getting ready to play the Joker.
As for the role of Arthur in Inception, originally played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ethan planned to give it to Heath Ledger instead.
As for the female lead, Ethan wasn't planning to change the casting. Ellen Page was a very talented actress—her performance was excellent, and she fit the role perfectly.
Although Anne Hathaway wanted to be part of the project, to be honest, Ethan prioritized the compatibility between actors and their roles.
The characters in Inception didn't suit Anne Hathaway—either they were too young or too mature for her.
On the other hand, a supporting role in Juno was perfect for her.
So, during his days in Sweden, he spent time convincing Anne Hathaway to accept this decision.
Luckily, she trusted Ethan enough and didn't throw a fit, eventually accepting the role.
After settling these pre-production details, Ethan checked in on Angel Declaration.
Hot Angels was running smoothly as always. Although members frequently left, the theater performances remained stable.
Occasionally, a song would become popular enough to justify a small tour in other cities.
Taylor Swift, on the other hand, was Ethan's main concern. After experiencing sudden wealth and touring, she had matured significantly. Her makeup and fashion style had evolved, moving away from the country-girl image.
Now, she was working on her next album at the company, with the same producer from her previous one.
When she saw Ethan, she immediately lit up and pulled him into the recording studio to listen to her new songs.
After listening to the first track of the new album, Ethan gave high praise.
"It's fantastic, Taylor. You were born for this!"
"Really?" Taylor's eyes sparkled under the studio lights.
"Of course. I think this album will surpass your debut one."
Ethan encouraged her, "So go ahead and write freely. I'll always have your back."
"Thank you, Ethan."
Since her last album's success, many major record labels—including Universal and Sony, who had previously rejected her—had reached out with lucrative offers.
They promised top-tier equipment and production teams, far better than what she currently had.
But she never considered leaving Angel Declaration.
For her, this was where her dreams took flight—the first place that believed in her.
If not for Ethan painstakingly finding her the best producer, filming her music videos, and marketing her work, she wouldn't have achieved such success with her debut album.
She even won the Best New Artist award at the MTV Awards last year.
So, Taylor had no intention of leaving. She felt incredibly lucky here. If she left, who knew what would happen?
Besides, there was someone here whom she admired deeply.
After leaving Taylor's recording studio, Ethan joined a conference call to check in on the Tokyo branch.
Yasushi Akimoto's first female idol group, AKB48, had officially debuted and already completed multiple performances at their theater.
Reports indicated that the group was highly popular, attracting many devoted fans from Akihabara.
The theater was already generating revenue, and the production of their first single was underway—it would be released soon.
Compared to his past life, this time Akimoto's progress was slightly slower, but that was because he had more funding and could afford to refine everything.
Ethan remained optimistic about his investments in Tokyo—at least for the next decade, they would bring substantial returns.
After catching up on company affairs and attending several days of meetings, the production team for Juno was finally ready.
Kane even found Ethan a talented Hollywood screenwriter—Diablo Cody.
She was instantly drawn to Juno's story and actively recommended herself for the job, passing Ethan's screening process.
Soon, Ethan received the polished script.
The dialogue was sharp and witty—even when rereading it, Ethan found himself laughing multiple times.
The refined script also better conveyed the film's core message.
Once the script was finalized, the confirmed cast members began receiving calls from Norton's Eye Productions.
In her Los Angeles apartment, Ellen Page had just hung up the phone when the bathroom door behind her opened.
A girl in a bathrobe walked up from behind and hugged her. "Baby, I heard you scream just now. What happened?"
Ellen Page leaned in and excitedly touched foreheads with her girlfriend. "I just got a call from Ethan! He invited me to be in his new movie!"
"Wow, Ethan? The director you always talk about?"
"Yes, the one who made Saw and Memoirs of a Geisha. Though personally, I love his music videos for Avril and Nothing But Everything the most."
"You really know everything about him. Well, this is great—you finally get to meet your idol."
"You're right."
"So, what role are you playing?" her girlfriend asked curiously.
"I'm playing a teenage girl who gets pregnant out of wedlock…" Ellen Page raised an eyebrow. "Quite the challenge, huh?"
"It is, but I know you'll do great." Her girlfriend leaned in and kissed her cheek.
A spark ignited in Ellen Page's heart. She wrapped her arms around her girlfriend and fell back onto the white bed.
The next day, Ellen Page arrived on set with her agent.
Inside the office, she met her idol—Ethan Li Norton.
"Hello."
"Hello." Seeing her voluminous, curly hair, Ethan joked, "Looks like your hair has made a comeback."
Ellen Page chuckled. "You're absolutely right."
During the filming of Mouth to Mouth, she had played a rebellious girl—cussing a lot and even shaving her head.
Looking at her now, Ethan felt she had always taken an unconventional path.
For example, her earlier film Hard Candy was another bold, unsettling thriller.
Not to mention her later coming-out announcement and eventual gender transition.
Ethan thought to himself—it's a good thing she's still a girl at this point.
"Take a seat. Let's start the script meeting."
Ethan introduced the production team and had everyone introduce themselves.
Anne Hathaway was also there. Though she was playing a supporting role, Ethan had deliberately given her a lot of the couple's dialogue.
Strictly speaking, her screen time was almost equal to the lead's.
After introductions, Ethan opened the script. "Alright, let's take a look at the first scene…"
.....
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