From Hollywood to Media Empire

Beverly Hills, Los Angeles Country Club.

Nicole Kidman arrived at the edge of the track in a sightseeing car while Charles Carpe was riding a horse, running laps.

"Oh," Charles noticed Nicole approaching, got off the horse, and handed his hat and whip to a nearby staff member.

"Nicole, good afternoon. Want to give it a try?"

"Nice riding. But I'm not dressed for riding today," Nicole Kidman said, looking at her dress.

They embraced, exchanged cheek kisses, and then went to a nearby rest area, ordering a bottle of champagne.

"Always wanted to ride since I was a kid. Never had the chance before, but now that I do, I come often," Charles smiled.

"I have a big ranch in Australia and get to ride often. Maybe you should manage a ranch or a farm - vast lands, wide skies, it's quite nice," Nicole suggested with a sip of champagne and a smile.

"True, there's plenty of land and not many people compared to the vast spaces in both the U.S. and Australia," Charles nodded.

Nicole brushed her long hair behind her ear and looked at Charles with a smile, "Only two years and you've achieved so much. I started making a movie last year but couldn't reach your level."

"In the Cut, right? Naomi mentioned it," Charles responded. Nicole Kidman had released three movies last year: Cold Mountain, Dogville, and The Human Stain, aiming for a comeback, but couldn't escape the Oscars curse.

All three movies had poor box office performance and only decent reviews, with no major awards.

"So, why did you come to see me today?"

"Mr. & Mrs. Smith. It clashes with Nora Ephron's Bewitched, so I can't work with you. It's a real pity!"

Charles looked at Nicole Kidman, unsure whether to say she had poor judgment or was just unlucky.

She had starred in flops for several years since 2003 but always managed to secure roles each year.

"You starred in The Stepford Wives last year, right?" Charles asked. Given that Bewitched could also be called Magic Wives, it seemed she had a streak with the "wives" series.

Nicole Kidman nodded; both were family romance comedies.

"We have a few candidates for Mr. & Mrs. Smith!"

"Is it Angelina Jolie and Catherine Zeta-Jones I heard about?"

Charles nodded, smiling, "It will likely be Angelina Jolie!"

Nicole understood; Catherine Zeta-Jones' older husband might require script changes.

Even though scripts are usually adapted to fit actors, changing the overall storyline would be tricky if it were Catherine Zeta-Jones.

After dinner, Charles and Nicole Kidman went their separate ways.

As Charles left, he glanced at Nicole's high heels. She couldn't wear them with Tom Cruise, but now--wow!

No wonder she exclaimed to the media, "Finally, I can wear high heels again!" after their divorce.

Imagine Tom Cruise's relief.

A foreign actress reaching Nicole Kidman's height in Hollywood was no small feat; she was very smart after all.

She knew what sacrifices were needed for certain gains, becoming Mrs. Cruise for a decade to avoid potentially compromising situations.

After her divorce, she won an Oscar, solidifying her place. Her beauty and talent justified her continued success, even being labeled a box office poison but still securing resources and multi-million-dollar paychecks yearly.

It wasn't until after 2008 that her pay significantly dropped and resources dried up.

...

Once Nicole Kidman announced her withdrawal, Brad Pitt soon followed suit, prompting Universal's Donna Langley to personally call and inquire.

Quickly, as per Charles' instructions, Director Doug Liman arranged for Angelina Jolie to audition opposite Brad Pitt.

It went well, and Director Doug Liman was very satisfied with their chemistry.

...

Shortly before the Oscars, Universal announced that Carpe Productions would produce Mr. & Mrs. Smith for release next summer.

At the Beverly Hills Waldorf Hotel, Charles, accompanied by Director Doug Liman and lead actors Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, held a grand media launch event.

"This is a refreshing commercial action film. With Pitt and Jolie's outstanding performances and Doug's understanding of the film, everyone will be delighted!" Charles spoke confidently.

Pitt: It's exciting to work with Hollywood's youngest producer, one of the best directors, and one of the top actors.

Director: Pitt and Jolie will undergo firearm and combat training to deliver realistic and sharp action sequences.

Jolie: I've had many action roles before, but this new attempt is insanely cool!

With Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, the reporters didn't care about the film rolls.

"Charles, next Wednesday is the release of Carpe Productions' The Passion of the Christ. What do you say about its controversial reception?"

Indeed, the controversy surrounding The Passion of the Christ never seemed to die down. Charles was conflicted about whether to be happy or troubled.

Fahrenheit 9/11 was even more controversial; though it hadn't found a distributor yet, shouldn't you focus on that documentary?

Charles sighed and said, "I donated $50,000 to the anti-war coalition, yet it didn't stop the Iraq War! The Passion of the Christ is merely a movie about love. Why it's so controversial, only God knows."

The event host professionally redirected the topic back to Mr. & Mrs. Smith.

Charles couldn't tell if Pitt and Jolie admired each other, but he did feel sympathy for Pitt's wife, Jennifer Aniston.

After the release event, it was time for the cocktail party, including movie company executives, celebrity friends, media reporters, and more.

"Doug, let's start production in April," as Universal's investment funds were already in the production account and ready to roll.

As for Carpe Productions' funding, it could wait until after the release of The Passion of the Christ, or through loans against the Saw sequel rights, or by finding other investors. Carpe Productions still had over $30 million in cash flow.

Universal wouldn't doubt Charles' ability to gather the remaining funds.

Doug Liman nodded, "Necessary script revisions and a month of firearm training for Pitt and Jolie, then we are ready for action!"

*****

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