NOVEL NEXT Chapter 195: At the Height of Fame
"Look!" the long-haired assistant pointed towards the sea, "Matthew Horn is coming back."
The short-haired paparazzo had already spotted him and immediately lifted her camera to aim in that direction, quickly adjusting the lens and beginning to snap pictures. The assistant beside her was also quick in capturing images.
"Catherine, his physique is really impressive," the assistant admired.
"It is indeed!" The paparazzo moved her lens lower, advising, "Focus on capturing the lower part."
His swim trunks, already a slim-fit design, clung tightly to his body after being soaked, accentuating a prominent bulge between his legs...
The paparazzo's eyes widened behind the camera. If there wasn't anything stuffed in those trunks, then this seemed a bit exaggerated, didn't it?
While thinking this, she didn't stop her hands. The camera's focus remained on that area as she continuously pressed the shutter, capturing detailed shots of that specific part.
Her assistant, in perfect coordination, focused on taking close-ups of specific body parts.
"The size must be impressive, huh?" the assistant mused as she photographed.
"Let's go!" the paparazzo called, "Move closer for the shot!"
After capturing enough of these unspeakable photos, they left the shade of the umbrella and ran to a spot just a few meters away from Matthew, continuing to shoot full-body close-ups.
Matthew had already noticed these two female journalists. Seeing them run over, he didn't mind and smiled slightly in their direction. He stepped on the soft sand, slowly making his way towards the changing room. Having just risen to fame, he needed constant exposure, even appearing on the pages of gossip tabloids was not bad.
This feeling of being constantly watched through camera lenses was a completely new and exciting experience for him.
Matthew not only didn't feel any discomfort but found this lifestyle full of fun.
As Helen Herman put it, his way of thinking was somewhat different from ordinary people. He knew this was a polite way of saying his mind wasn't quite normal.
However, he never saw it that way. Who wouldn't like a glamorous life?
Matthew passed by the two women, deliberately slowing down a bit as he looked at them. Seeing that they had no intention of interviewing him, he then sped up and left the beach.
The two women took a few more shots of him from behind. The short-haired paparazzo said, "Let's go! Back to the car!"
The assistant packed up the camera, asking, "Aren't we following him anymore?"
"No need," the paparazzo had been following Matthew for more than a day, "He's going to the gym next, nothing newsworthy there."
The two, each carrying a camera, quickly entered a nearby parking lot, got into an MPV car, and the paparazzo asked the assistant to drive. She sat at a makeshift work desk in the back, opened her laptop, and connected it to the digital camera.
"Eliza, head to the news agency!" she mentioned a gossip newspaper's name and instructed, "Drive steadily! I need to select photos and pair them with an article."
The paparazzo opened a document, selecting appropriate photos from the camera's memory card to add to the document. Experienced and skilled, she first added a full-body shot focusing on the area between the legs that she had captured, followed by a close-up of the same area taken by her assistant.
After adding the photos, she began typing.
"The popular movie star Matthew Horn frolicking by the seaside, highlighting the rugged masculinity and impressive physique... Has anyone ever tasted..."
A large segment of provocative yet not over-the-line text appeared swiftly in the document under her flying fingers.
Clearly, this wasn't the paparazzo's first time doing such a thing.
When she finished, the MPV had already stopped near a news agency's office. The assistant got out and back into the car, coming over to take a look at the article.
"Looking at it this way, the photos do seem a bit exaggerated. It doesn't look like it's been doctored, it must be real," the assistant, not one for traditional modesty, curiously said, "Catherine, surely a lot of women have been with this guy, right?"
Catherine, the paparazzo, glanced at her and unplugged the USB drive from the computer, saying, "Eliza, you won't get a chance with him. He's already famous, and we're naturally on the opposing side."
Eliza shrugged, "Even if I got together with him, I'd still take photos to sell for money!"
Catherine didn't continue the topic, took the USB drive, and left the car to enter the news agency. Eliza locked the car and quickly followed her.
They had been in this business for a while and soon found the office of an editorial director.
The bespectacled director briefly browsed the document edited by Catherine and said, "I'll take this article. Name your price."
"1000 dollars," Catherine stated directly.
"That's impossible," the editor pointed at the man on the computer screen, "He's not worth that much!"
"He's not worth it?" Catherine scoffed, "Hamilton, are you still living two months ago? Do I need to introduce to you who he is?"
Without waiting for Hamilton's response, she continued, "This is Matthew Horn! The leading man of the blockbuster 'Scorpion King'! The absolute protagonist of a movie that grossed over a hundred million in North America! A star currently at the height of fame!"
Hamilton glanced again at the man on the screen, his eyes lingering on the close-up of the private area, feeling a mix of envy and jealousy.
Catherine added, "The 'Scorpion King' is still in theaters, and the global box office is nearly two hundred million dollars. If you don't want it, that's fine, many newspapers are interested in news about Matthew Horn."
Saying this, she stepped forward, unplugged the USB drive from Hamilton's computer, and emphasized, "A Hollywood star with such outstanding features as him is rare."
"Wait!" Hamilton wasn't actually living two months in the past; he was just bargaining. As the editorial director of a gossip tabloid, how could he not know who Matthew Horn was? In the past month, among the male actors who appeared in movies, Tobey Maguire and Matthew Horn were the hottest. News about Matthew Horn was guaranteed to have readers, especially with such distinctive photos. After thinking it over, he said, "One thousand is impossible, but I can do eight hundred."
"Deal!" Catherine immediately put down the USB drive, "Deal!"
With Matthew Horn's status, such purely gossip photos were worth about this much. A few months ago, his photos would have struggled to fetch even a hundred dollars.
After receiving an $800 check, Catherine and her assistant quickly left the news agency.
Leaving Santa Monica Beach, Matthew originally planned to go to the gym to continue fencing practice, but as soon as he left Santa Monica, he received a call from Helen Herman. He went directly through Westwood and headed to the Angel Agency in Burbank.
"What's so urgent to call me over?"
Entering Helen Herman's office, Matthew immediately asked, "What's going on?"
Helen Herman calling him was definitely work-related.
"Let's start with the important matter," Helen said seriously, "Next Monday, Walt Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer will jointly announce the official launch of the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' project."
"Finally announcing it, huh." Matthew wasn't surprised, as the set construction had already begun. He then asked about what he was most concerned about, "What about the script? The roles? Are they confirmed?"
Helen adjusted her black-framed glasses and said, "The script isn't final yet, it's still being revised." She had used her father's connections to gather some information from Disney, "But the overall framework is set. Unless something unexpected happens, it's a film with three main characters."
"Three protagonists?" Matthew realized it must be similar to what he remembered.
Helen knew the general situation but was unclear on the details, "Two male leads and one female lead. The male leads are a scruffy pirate and a handsome swordsman who joins the pirate on an adventure. The female lead is the daughter of a nobleman."
Matthew was reassured; it was undoubtedly the effeminate pirate, the young blacksmith, and the flat-chested female lead.
"The scruffy pirate doesn't fit your image," Helen continued, "So, our target is the handsome swordsman."
"Right!" Matthew agreed, "Someone as handsome as me playing a scruffy pirate would be a waste!"
To be honest, he didn't think he could play that role well. Moreover, with an imposing actor like him as the effeminate pirate, who knew what changes might occur?
If it flopped, it would be a real loss.
The young blacksmith was a better fit for him, and he had prepared a lot for this role.
Helen spoke again, "As soon as the casting starts, I'll submit your information. I've done a lot of groundwork, so getting an audition invitation won't be difficult."
Matthew nodded and asked, "Has Jerry Bruckheimer confirmed the director?"
Helen was about to mention this, "Not officially, but it's very likely to be Gore Verbinski. I'm trying to make contact."
Matthew had only watched the series before and hadn't cared who the director was, so he couldn't confirm if Gore Verbinski was the final choice.
However, Helen was always well-informed. If she said it was very likely, then it probably was.
The two continued discussing details about striving for the role until it got dark. Matthew looked at the time and suggested, "Let's have dinner together. My treat."
Helen packed up her bag and declined, "Another time. I have plans tonight and need to go now."
Matthew didn't insist. As he was preparing to leave, Helen reminded him, "Don't forget, the Universal Studios party tomorrow night."
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