Kazir stood in front of the mirror, carefully adjusting his collar, and scrutinizing himself in the reflection. He looked to be in good shape.
Especially the stubborn fat on his stomach, a good portion of it was now gone. It seemed his hard work at the gym had paid off.
Compared to a while ago, he was clearly more energetic.
Although he still had dark circles under his eyes, like two smudges of ink, he had, after all, pulled several all-nighters in the editing suite.
If Rekote hadn't practically dragged him out of the editing room, he would have truly intended to work continuously until the very end, without a moment's rest.
He carefully selected a crisp suit and put it on, then walked into the New Line Cinema building with a confident stride.
Upon reaching the front desk, he politely asked the staff for directions to the screening room. Guided by the front desk, he smoothly arrived at the entrance of the screening room.
As soon as he entered, he saw David Fincher and Arnold Kopelson standing aside, conversing. Both their faces showed a hint of fatigue, yet their excitement was undeniable.
"Kazir! Long time no see, several months! I heard you're making your own film?"
David smiled and turned around, and upon seeing Kazir, he walked over enthusiastically.
Both of them had dark circles under their eyes, but their gazes radiated the excitement of being at the 'peak of their lives.'
"Yes, I just wrapped up and rented a studio to edit the film!" Kazir replied with a smile.
"That's great. If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask me. In Hollywood, helping each other is the only way to go further," David said sincerely, patting Kazir's shoulder.
"Then I won't be polite; I'll certainly bother you when the time comes," Kazir said with a smile, feeling very grateful for David's loyalty.
"Kazir."
Just then, Arnold Kopelson also walked over, extending his hand to shake Kazir's.
They had some previous interactions, and their relationship was quite good.
"Arnold, how are you today? Seeing your spirits, I presume everything is going smoothly," Kazir asked politely.
"Everything's going well. David has been working incredibly hard lately, day and night, for this film," Arnold said with a smile, his gaze toward David full of admiration.
A few minutes later, the New Line Cinema people arrived. Robert Shaye walked in front; his gaze swept around, and upon seeing Kazir, he nodded slightly.
The screen lit up, and Se7en began to play.
Everyone was engrossed in the brilliant plot, watching intently. The screening room was so quiet that only the film's sounds could be heard.
Kazir knew in his heart that from today onward, David Fincher's directorial career would soar.
He firmly believed that everything David directed would be a classic.
In Kazir's opinion, besides Christopher Nolan, David Fincher was currently the best film noir director.
"Film noir..." Kazir couldn't help but murmur to himself.
He once harbored dreams of becoming a top director in this genre, putting in countless efforts, but the result was a crushing defeat.
So this time, he was determined to completely transform, never touching dark R-rated films again, especially horror films.
From now on, he would focus on making PG-13 action films (a type of film rating in the America Film Association's film rating system).
"Action films, action films made purely for the audience, not for critics."
Kazir silently chanted in his heart.
He felt that art films and such were now far behind him; to hell with them!
He now wanted to make commercial blockbusters, to carve out his own niche in this competitive Hollywood.
However, for now, he still had to use napoleon dynamite as a stepping stone. This film had a budget of only five hundred thousand, but he was determined to make it the best it could be.
Once he had status and money, he would immediately dive into the action film genre to fulfill his new dream.
"David, the film is incredible." After the screening, Kazir excitedly walked up and hugged David.
Seeing the script he had once written turn into such a brilliant film, he felt an indescribable joy and a sense of accomplishment that words could not express.
"Don't congratulate me yet; it hasn't been released! Although I have great confidence in this film, everything still depends on the audience's reaction after its release," David said modestly, but his eyes conveyed confidence.
"Don't worry, it's definitely going to be a hit. With this plot and this production, it would be an injustice if it didn't succeed," Kazir said firmly.
As he was speaking, someone else walked over: "David, the film is excellent. Your creation has reached a new height this time."
"Thank you, Mr. Shaye. I hope there will be opportunities for future collaboration. It's an honor to work with a big figure like you."
David replied politely.
Robert Shaye grunted, then turned to Kazir.
The founder of New Line Cinema looked a bit haggard, with a hint of fatigue on his face: "I heard you're making your own film?"
"Yes, I just finished filming and am currently editing. I hope to present a brilliant work that lives up to everyone's expectations," Kazir said earnestly.
"If you're interested, you can contact New Line. We at New Line Cinema always welcome talented directors and excellent works. As long as your work is up to par, we'd be happy to collaborate."
Robert Shaye didn't mind buying a profitable film; after all, in the world of commercial cinema, profit is key.
"That would be my honor. To be favored by New Line Cinema is a validation for me," Kazir quickly said, secretly pleased. Although his original first choice was Fox Searchlight Pictures, having an opportunity was never a bad thing. He didn't need to be too picky; an extra path meant extra hope.
After Robert Shaye left, David leaned over and whispered to Kazir: "I heard Time Warner is going to acquire Turner Broadcasting System. Shaye is probably quite annoyed these days! New Line Cinema is under Turner Broadcasting, and once it's acquired, many things will change."
New Line Cinema is managed by Turner Broadcasting, and once acquired by Time Warner, it would naturally become a subsidiary of Warner Bros. This would undoubtedly be a huge transformation for New Line Cinema.
Kazir smiled and didn't respond. This wasn't just a rumor; New Line would belong to Warner Bros. soon, and this was no longer a secret in Hollywood.
He only hoped that Se7en wouldn't be affected, as it was David's hard work and a long-awaited masterpiece of his.
David pulled Kazir to eat, and they chatted a lot along the way.
With work now at a temporary end, David just wanted to drink beer to his heart's content and relax properly.
"You're actually making a comedy? That's a bit surprising; I thought you preferred horror films!"
David knew Kazir's previous three films were B-grade horror films and assumed this one would be the same, so he was very surprised to hear Kazir was making a comedy.
"No more, David. I want to transition. The path of horror films is no longer viable for me. I want to try new areas. Making comedies is like shedding my skin, allowing me to completely bid farewell to the past."
For Kazir, transitioning was an inevitable choice. He wanted to start anew and embark on a new cinematic journey.
"Transitioning is a good thing. When it's released, save me a ticket. I'm really looking forward to seeing your new work, and I'm sure it will surprise me," David said with a smile.
"No problem. I'll make sure to get you a ticket as soon as it's out," Kazir readily agreed.
"Where do you plan to screen it first? The Berlin Film Festival?" David then asked.
"Only if absolutely necessary. The Berlin Film Festival doesn't open until February, and the film will definitely be edited by then. However, film festivals are a last resort; I still hope it can be released directly in theaters so more audiences can see it," Kazir said earnestly.
"Once Se7en becomes a hit, companies will be lining up for you. You'll have more choices then, and you can screen it wherever you want," David encouraged.
"I'll take your word for it. I hope everything goes as I wish," Kazir said with anticipation.
The two drank glass after glass, temporarily putting work behind them. It was a rare moment of relaxation, and under the influence of alcohol, their spirits were particularly high.
Kazir woke up the next day with a headache that felt like it had been drilled through; every movement made his head feel like it was going to explode. the hangover was truly unpleasant.