Chapter 8

"Could you talk about your initial intentions or the inspiration behind this script?"

Although he trusted that Pat wouldn't deceive him on such matters, and the woman and boy opposite him didn't seem to be acting, Harvey Weinstein still needed to confirm it himself to feel at ease.

"Initial intentions? Inspiration?" Ryan smiled knowingly. He was very clear that age was a big issue, but if used well, it could be a great help. After all, some things sounded completely different coming from an adult versus a child.

"Let me put it this way, Mr. Weinstein. Although I wrote this script as a thriller and mystery, it fundamentally belongs to the family drama genre. I don't know if Pat mentioned it to you, but I am an orphan. Before being adopted by Nicole, I lived in an orphanage. From the time I could understand, everyone in the orphanage, except for the old director, called me a freak. No one wanted to be friends with me, and no one wanted to play with me."

Ryan smiled bitterly. "Of course, this was partly due to my somewhat introverted personality and erratic behavior. But I can't deny that I grew up in a cold and indifferent environment. Especially when I saw my peers being adopted one by one, while I remained unadopted, I would sometimes fantasize, 'Is there anyone who could help me out of this predicament?'"

"Director Katie of the orphanage was a warm-hearted lady. If it weren't for her encouragement and help, I don't know how I would have survived those cold years. In a sense, Dr. Malcolm in the script is a manifestation of Director Katie."

"After the old director retired, I encountered even worse situations. At that time, the sky seemed not only cold but also full of darkness. This continued until I met Nicole by chance. She took me in and even went bankrupt to fight a custody battle for me. Without her, I can't imagine what I would be like."

At this point, Ryan seemed to be emotionally moved and gave Nicole a grateful smile. "Although Nicole's care has made me more outgoing, I still have some introverted and erratic tendencies and often get into trouble. Whenever this happens, Nicole would have a good talk with me, not in a didactic or scolding manner, but as an equal. As we spent more time together, we understood each other better, and our bond grew stronger. The communication issues in the script come from this. Communication reduces the fear of the unknown and deepens the bond between family members, doesn't it?"

"Most of the content in this script, apart from the supernatural elements, is based on my life experiences." At this point, Ryan added, "The single mother who deeply loves her son is actually the real Nicole. Without her, there would be no story, no 'The Sixth Sense' script. I put a lot of effort into writing this script to commemorate our special bond."

"May I ask which orphanage it is?" Harvey Weinstein's eyes sparkled.

"It's in Los Angeles, the Norston Orphanage in North Hollywood."

Ryan wasn't worried about the other party doing an investigation. After all, what he said was almost entirely true, just adapted into the script. Moreover, his words were filled with subtle hints and guidance.

Of course, with Weinstein's experience, he would notice these, but don't forget, Ryan was just a child under ten. Adults might doubt if a child was lying, but they wouldn't think that certain words were deliberately set up to trap them.

In fact, after hearing Ryan's words, Harvey Weinstein was already 90% convinced. A child under ten could express himself so clearly and logically, which was a testament to his intelligence. Besides, he was always confident in his judgment.

Moreover, the Norston Orphanage was right next to Hollywood, and the truth of these words could be easily verified.

"Ryan~" Nicole was deeply moved by his words. Although she knew they had a deep bond, she didn't expect him to remember her kindness so much. At this moment, a heartfelt hug was more meaningful than any words.

Well, he hadn't even convinced the fat man opposite him, but he had already moved Nicole to tears. Nestled in Nicole's warm embrace, Ryan felt both touched and helpless.

Harvey Weinstein had read the script more than once and noticed many small issues, especially in the camera angles. But this only proved that it was written by a novice. He and his brother Bob Weinstein had discussed it, and the quality of the story was undeniable, especially the ending, which would shock everyone.

Moreover, this type of movie didn't require a large budget. As long as there were no catastrophic problems, a profit was almost guaranteed. He even had a few candidates in mind for the director and the male lead.

But the young boy Cole was the most challenging part. Portraying such a unique character vividly was no easy task. After years in the film industry, Harvey Weinstein knew that animals and children were the two most uncontrollable elements in filmmaking. It was hard to explain to them what they needed to express, especially children. When they performed poorly, they could ruin a movie, but when they performed well, they could save it.

However, after hearing Ryan's words, a thought popped into his mind. Since most of the script was based on his experiences, why not let him play the role? He didn't even need to act; just being himself would be enough.

Most importantly, he was a complete novice, which would save a lot on his salary. Besides, even if they held a large-scale audition, who could guarantee that the chosen boy would be more suitable for a role based on his own life?

And the Australian actress was a well-known actor. He had recently seen her in "Beyond the Horizon." Apart from being too beautiful, her acting was quite good, and she could play the single mother. This way, they could transfer their real-life bond and experiences to the big screen, which would be a great promotional angle.

This was a great deal, and the age and appearance of the actress were minor issues that could be handled with makeup and post-production.

Almost instantly, these thoughts flashed through Harvey Weinstein's mind. He weighed the pros and cons, and he was indeed a profit-driven businessman.

"Ryan, Nicole, this script is excellent. Miramax has decided to produce this film, so we hope to buy the script as soon as possible. However, since Ryan is not a professional screenwriter and is a novice, the price will be lower. I can offer $50,000."

Seeing the confusion on Ryan's face, Harvey Weinstein explained, "This is a Hollywood tradition. $50,000 is actually a lot for a novice."

Although he knew Harvey Weinstein was telling the truth and understood the awkward position of screenwriters in Hollywood at that time, Ryan still found it hard to accept. Compared to the film's potential earnings, this amount was pitifully small, almost less than the royalties for one of his short stories.

Nicole was more familiar with Hollywood and knew that the offer wasn't deliberately low, but she wouldn't make decisions for Ryan. She said, "Ryan, it's up to you."

Sighing, Ryan looked at his agent, Ms. Ginsburg, who nodded. "The price is fair."

"Mr. Weinstein, I agree to sell the script to Miramax. The details can be discussed with Pat."

At this point, Ryan couldn't be sure if the other party had fallen into the trap he set. But unless absolutely necessary, saying something himself and the other party bringing it up had very different effects.

Harvey Weinstein didn't let him waste his efforts. After a brief conversation with Pat Ginsburg, he directly looked at Nicole Kidman. "Nicole, if possible, I would like to invite you to play the role of the single mother in the script."

"Me?" Nicole clearly didn't expect it to involve her.

"Of course. From Ryan's words, it's clear that the character is based on you. No one is more suitable for this role!" Before Nicole could react, Harvey Weinstein continued, "Age is not an issue. What matters is the bond between you. I'm sure Ryan would also like to see you on the big screen in this way."

"Right, Ryan." Harvey Weinstein looked over, his smile fox-like.

"Yes. Nicole is unique to me." Ryan looked at the Australian actress with bright eyes. Nicole Kidman thought for a second and nodded. "Alright, it seems I have no choice."

"Since Nicole will play the mother, what about you, Ryan?" Harvey Weinstein felt a sense of satisfaction, as if his plan had succeeded.

"Me?" Ryan feigned surprise, as if he really didn't understand what the other person meant. "What does this have to do with me?"

"Let me put it this way, Ryan. Have you ever acted before?"

"No, unless you count playing the violin and guitar on the school stage." Ryan shook his head, but his thoughts were different. Did every moment of acting count?

Ryan's response exceeded Harvey Weinstein's expectations. He said before Nicole, who had a knowing look, "I would like to invite you to play the role of Cole."

"I disagree!" The one who refused was Nicole Kidman.