Hollywood What If Chapter 455
Enzo Park was speechless as Kazir started his lecture.
"Enzo, do you know why I never film horror movies anymore?" Kazir looked at the sky. The blue sky was no more, changed into red-orange as the sun was setting on the horizon.
The loud rap music was getting more prominent. Kazir saw Scarlett and Brianna playing around the pool, talking to other girls.
"It's because I know what I'm good at." He smiled.
He was not good at filming horror movies, so he preferred doing action movies instead.
"I've experienced hardship, failures, and betrayals. There was a point in my life where I wanted to end everything."
This was the first time Enzo had heard Kazir talk about his life. He decided to listen.
"I can say you're lucky. You are far better than me." Kazir chuckled.
Unlike him, Enzo was talented. At least he never copied anyone's movies and claimed them as his own.
"There are times when I want to make a horror movie, an original movie that I painstakingly wrote with all of my brain cells but I'm afraid."
"Director, I believe you can change. I've worked with you since The Hangover. You're the best director I've worked with. I believe you can change and overcome your fear."
Enzo tried to encourage Kazir.
"You're right. You should also say that to yourself. Enzo, what are you afraid of?"
"...I, I want to become the best version of myself." After thinking about it, Enzo realized what he was afraid of.
"I'm afraid that I will lose my place in Hollywood."
"Everyone is scared of something."
Kazir took a sip of his beer and sighed.
"There are thousands of Asian actors who are trying to enter Hollywood, but most of them fail. Only a handful of Asian actors are known in the industry. You should feel blessed that you can easily audition for roles in movies. Because I can tell you this, a lot of actors are ready to kill just to be in your place. I'm not even joking. Some people sold their souls just to get into the industry. I can say that you are fortunate to have met me and Salvatore."
Enzo nodded. For that, he was thankful.
"What you're mad about is not the rejections in movie auditions. What you're mad about, or should I say afraid of, is the fact that your presence in Hollywood is insignificant. And for that, you can only blame yourself. Don't be mad at the casting directors, they are just doing their jobs."
"Then what should I do?"
"You have to understand that Hollywood will forever be catered to Western audiences. They will rarely accommodate Asian actors in their projects. I hate to say it, but you should lower your expectations."
Kazir grabbed a chicken wing and ate it.
"You got a role in Final Destination, right?"
"Yes."
Final Destination was a script that Kazir wrote and sold to 20th Century Fox. The movie would be released in April.
"Actually, there were no Asian characters in the script that I wrote. Yet you still passed the audition. Do you understand how lucky you are?"
"...."
"Yet the fact that you're sulking because you didn't get a role in a gangster film made you mad? Grow up. Of course Martin Scorsese will not hire you. You didn't fit the movie as the protagonist at all."
Perhaps because of the alcohol, Kazir was saying hurtful things.
"Let me guess, there is a supporting character in the script and they offered you that role instead. But you didn't accept it."
"H- How did you know?"
When Enzo heard that, he was surprised. He could understand if Kazir started berating him and telling him that he was arrogant. However, he didn't expect Kazir to know about the fact that he rejected an offer to work on the movie The Departed. He never told anyone about it, not even Salvatore.
"It's just a guess. But I guess I'm right."
Kazir was actually bluffing. He was trying to probe Enzo's intention.
"Enzo, you should understand that actresses and actors in Hollywood are not irreplaceable."
The actor was ashamed of himself. Indeed, he was getting too full of himself. He was so focused on getting a leading role that he forgot his occupation. He is an actor, and he loves acting. He had just denied himself what he loved.
"Perhaps you forgot how hard it is to find a job in this industry."
"...Since when did I become arrogant?" Enzo asked himself. He tightly held the bottle in his hand because he was mad at himself. He wiped his eyes, immediately controlling the tears so that he wouldn't make a scene.
"Director, I... I think I'm losing myself. I was scared that I would lose my job, and I thought starring in the lead role would help me solidify my status. Yet I turned down a role because I was too attached to being a protagonist. I apologize."
He weakly muttered.
"Since you know your mistake, I guess I'm going to help you. First, I want to tell you that my promise last time is true. I'm going to film a CCU movie starring you, but that will take a while. Second, you're a handsome actor, Asian aesthetic-wise. We must show the audience that you're not just a pretty Asian boy."
Kazir laughed and had an idea.
"I will make you a pirate. A fucking ugly pirate that has scars all over his face, so people won't recognize you for your appearance but because of your acting."
There was a role in Pirates of the Caribbean about an Asian pirate captain. Kazir decided to cast Enzo as Captain Sao Feng, a pirate lord who would appear in the third movie of Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End.
The plan for Pirates of the Caribbean was that both the second and third movies would be filmed all at once. Enzo would work on Pirates of the Caribbean this year.
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[Second chapter of the day.]