制霸好莱坞

Although Jenny had high hopes for the Chicago audition, she wasn't overly confident about her chances of success. Her poise and self-respect prevented her from showing her disappointment when she realized she had no chance of landing the role. So, when Lucy Liu greeted her, Jenny forced a smile and said, "It seems like our bet has come to fruition."

"Yes, but the lunch invitation is still on the table," Lucy replied with a smile. "After all, we haven't agreed on the bet yet."

They went for lunch, and it turned out to be the most enjoyable meal Jenny had had in a long time. They both opted for salads, and Lucy had an extra bowl of soup while Jenny stuck to water. This made the dining experience more comfortable—at least Jenny knew her companion was also resisting the temptation of indulgent food.

Lucy Liu, a second-generation immigrant from Queens, New York, had a personality that was surprisingly more American than Jenny had expected. She was cheerful, approachable, and far less mysterious than her screen persona suggested. However, some remnants of Asian culture were still evident in her personality, thanks to her parents. Despite their different backgrounds, the two women hit it off and found common ground quickly.

Jenny, not one to hide her struggles, shared her current financial predicament. "After this audition fell through, I might have more time to walk the dog," she said with a wry grin.

Lucy, who had her own share of hardships, responded with a chuckle. "I've had enough of poverty since I was a child. When I was 14, my brother and I worked in a black-market factory. I was almost in tears because of the smoke, but I swore that day that I would make something of myself. But it wasn't until I was 24 that I finally saw the light."

Lucy went on to recount her early career struggles. "I didn't get any real performance opportunities until I was 22. I got a small part in a movie, and I thought that was my big break. But for the next seven years, I was struggling. It wasn't until I was 29 and got a role in Ally McBeal that things turned around. During those years, I often wondered, 'Can Asians survive in Hollywood? Can I make it? Out of 2,000 acting opportunities a year, 1,400 were for white actresses. The rest were split between black, Latina, and Asian actresses, with only a handful of roles for Asians. It was tough.'"

"But you stuck it out," Jenny said, knowing that Lucy's persistence had paid off in the end. It wasn't easy, but Lucy had found her place in Hollywood, even if it wasn't always smooth sailing.

"Yeah, I stuck it out," Lucy said with a shrug. "It wasn't easy. Even now, I sometimes can't believe I'm famous. It feels like the life I lived before doesn't even matter anymore."

Lucy didn't bring up the recent audition, but Jenny could tell what she meant. Lucy had likely faced many failures during those years. Jenny, on the other hand, had been in the industry for only a few months and already had her big break. What did a failed audition really mean?

Curious, Jenny asked, "What was the first thing you bought for yourself after getting paid?"

Lucy laughed. "Oh, that's an interesting question. When I was younger, I imagined that if I became famous, I'd buy a whole floor of Macy's. But when the paycheck finally came in, my Asian side took over. I remembered my mom's constant refrain: 'Don't be lazy with your savings. Accumulate little by little, and you'll make millions.' So, instead of splurging, I saved every penny."

Jenny laughed along with her. The meal was a success. Before they parted, they made a new bet: when Jenny landed her first movie role, she'd treat Lucy to a meal. They exchanged numbers and agreed to stay in touch. In Hollywood, that meant they were now part of each other's network.

From start to finish, Lucy never mentioned Cesare, which made Jenny feel more at ease. Although Jenny knew that Lucy's friendliness was likely due to Cesare's influence, Lucy's behavior was sufficiently professional, and Jenny appreciated that.

Later, as Jenny picked up the phone, she immediately asked, "Seriously, what do you think about me taking on more dog-walking jobs?"

There was silence on the other end of the line before Cesare responded, his voice tinged with disbelief. "Is this really the opening line of your first phone call to me? It could make for good material in your memoir, but is it a little too dramatic?"

Jenny shifted gears and, in a mock-pitiful tone, half-sobbed, "Oh, Cesare, I'm sorry. Everything's a mess. The film company has clearly decided on Lucy Liu, and I've got no shot—"

She switched back to her normal tone. "How's that?"

Cesare was quiet for a moment before asking, "Chosen?"

Jenny recounted the audition, and Cesare's reply was direct: "I understand. I'll call you back in fifteen minutes."

True to his word, he called her back exactly fifteen minutes later.

"I've figured it out," he said, his voice steady. "This is a disagreement between the producer and Rob. The producer wants to create an all-star effect. He believes you're too unknown, so he's pushing for Lucy Liu. Renée Zellweger's agent has also weighed in, as she's very invested in the casting."

Jenny was surprised. "I didn't know actors had a say in the casting process. Especially when my role is so small."

"Honey," Cesare's tone softened slightly, though it wasn't sweet, "there's a good line in your screen debut. For people in our business, it's all about being careful enough. Zellweger's background is similar to yours—both of you have Germanic descent, and you both have blonde hair. If it were me, I'd probably choose Lucy Liu over you as well."

"I see," Jenny replied. "So it's all about the positioning. And, of course, I want to be younger and more beautiful than Renée."

"Exactly. Renée is a great actress, but she's not known for her looks. Her agent is a friend of the producer. She's had some major comedies in recent years with huge box office success. But you—well, you're much more beautiful than her," Cesare explained. "Rob, being a first-time director, is more inclined to listen to the producer, and the producer feels that Liu's performance will add ethnic diversity to the film. We already have a white, black, and Eastern European cast, and the other lead is British. Adding an Asian would be a nice touch. At least, that's the reasoning behind it."

"So are you saying I didn't get the role?" Jenny asked, her voice edged with frustration.

"No," Cesare replied, "I just want you to see that I'm a very capable agent."

Jenny raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean? You're not going to say what I think you're going to say?"

"You already got the role," Cesare said matter-of-factly. "At least that's what Rob told me."

"...Can you tell me more?" Jenny asked, now completely confused.

Cesare sighed. "I'm assuming you know the storyline for Chicago already. Your character must threaten Roxy in every way before resorting to the pregnancy trick. This is a short role, but who do you think can pull it off better? A blonde beauty like you, who's more beautiful than Roxy? Or Lucy Liu? The role is more about appearance and temperament than acting skills. Rob agrees with me—he thinks you're more suitable than Liu."

Jenny's mind was spinning. She'd been certain she hadn't gotten the role, but now everything made sense.

"So what about the producers?" Jenny asked, her thoughts racing. "The director must have been frustrated with the control the producers have over the cast, right?"

Cesare paused. "It's not Weinstein who's pushing for Lucy Liu, it's his executives. Weinstein likes Rob, though. I think the outcome is certain."

"Then I'll start preparing for the role," Jenny said.

"Your acting skills are already strong enough," Cesare replied, a note of annoyance in his voice—not directed at Jenny, but at the situation. "Next, I'll set up some additional training for you. Just focus on your next audition."

"Wait—what movie is it?" Jenny asked, panicking slightly.

"You'll know when you need to know," Cesare replied, ready to end the call.

"Okay, thank you, goodbye," Jenny said, resigning herself to the mystery.

"Jefferson?" Cesare's voice stopped her before she could hang up. "One more thing. Rob is a very controlling person."

"I know," Jenny said.

"I'm optimistic about him," Cesare continued.

"I know."

"Then do you know how to handle him on set?" Cesare asked.

Jenny sighed. "Believe me, I know."

"Good." Cesare finally seemed ready to end the call. "And next time you call me—"

He dragged out the words. "Please don't start with a loser opening, thank you."

The line clicked off.

Jenny stared at the phone for a moment before getting up to do something productive. It had been a while since she'd exercised properly, and now that she had a role, fitness was a non-negotiable priority.

As she worked out, her mind wandered back to everything that had transpired. She came to two conclusions:

The competition in Hollywood is fierce, and the game is far more complicated than she'd imagined.Cesare Vigeri is exceptional.

Although she could hardly believe it, Cesare's influence had been crucial. Without his guidance, Rob would never have pushed so hard against the system to secure her role. Jenny had a feeling that Cesare had been behind all the subtle maneuvering.

Damn, Cesare Vigeri is too good.

Jenny suddenly realized that, with Cesare's help, dominating Hollywood might not just be a dream—it was becoming a very real possibility.

Two days later, Lucy Liu texted her: Seems like we were both wrong. Let's find a time for me to fulfill our bet.

She ended the message with a smiley face and an XOXO.

Note: Lucy Liu's financial background and early career struggles are based on factual reports. She worked in the entertainment industry for over seven years before her big break. Her first significant TV role was in 1997, and before that, she took on intermittent, minor roles.