Hollywood Secret Garden Chapter 99

Published at 4th of October 2023 10:24:06 AM

Chapter 99: Interview (1)

"Susan, don't dawdle, go to the  makeup room it's almost time." The director, Will Carant, appeared in the doorway, pointed to his wristwatch and reminded her.

"Alright, Will I'm coming." Susan Brandon, the host of FOX TV's《Face to Face》adjusted her collar, tidied the relevant materials on the table, and then walked out in front of him, saying, "Can't you stop nagging like producer Ms. Merrill? You always rush me."

"If you could get to the studio a minute earlier every time, I'd say one word less, how about that?" the director shrugged.

"That's not a good deal, you should at least skip a whole sentence." Susan said with a smile as she walked down the hall and took the elevator to the 1st floor makeup room.

"Johnny, are you there? I need you now." The hostess pushed the door open, and inside the makeup room, one makeup artist was working on a girl's face in front of a chair, while another was chatting with them off to the side.

"Oh, Miss Susan, you're finally here." The makeup artist who was chatting noticed the entering hostess and called out, then pulled out the chair next to the girl's makeup table and jokingly said, "I thought I was going to lose this job.

"Is that so? Well, congratulations then. You won't have to deal with an annoying person like me." Susan shrugged, sat down in the chair, and then looked at the girl next to her, the prodigy who had been the talk of the town these days.

"Hello, Miss Susan Brandon, I'm Angela Mason." The girl greeted preemptively, her face facing the mirror but her eyes always looking at herself, quite amusing.

"Hello, Miss. Mason, nice to meet you."

"Angela."

"All right, Angela, you can call me Susan. To be honest, you look much prettier in person than in the pictures." Susan said with a smile.

"Thank you for the compliment. I think that should be Mr. Colin's credit." Angela blinked at the person doing her makeup.

"Oh, that's none of my business," Colin shrugged and continued to work on her face, "Angela, you're the most suitable girl I've ever seen for makeup. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying you look bad without makeup, I mean, no matter what kind of makeup we put on you, you have a unique charm. I can imagine how outstanding you will be when you're a bit older."

"Well, thank you." Angela seemed a little reluctant to talk about it, so she changed the subject and said, "You know, Susan, I've watched a few episodes of your show. Your hosting style is both sharp and humorous, quite commendable."

"You're quite the talker, Angela, but I'm not going to let you off the hook that easily." Susan laughed, and Angela, having discovered her secret, blushed and stuck out her tongue in embarrassment.

"All right, ladies, let's not talk anymore. Otherwise, tonight's 'Face to Face' might be a no-show." Johnny straightened Susan's head in front of the mirror and began to apply her makeup.

Although the conversation stopped, it didn't stop Susan from sizing up Angela in the mirror. The girl in front of her really didn't look twelve years old. The roundness of her face still carried the tenderness of childhood, and few people had eyes as bright and emerald green as hers, as if they could speak.

The slightly curved corners of her mouth gave her an innocent cuteness, but that cuteness seemed to hide maturity. With years of experience in interviewing, Susan was confident she wouldn't misjudge a person. So what kind of girl was she?

...

With a piece of distinctive background music, the lights came on, and from the central host platform, Susan smiled and said, "Welcome to the 'Face to Face' program. I'm your host, Susan Brandon."

The audience burst into enthusiastic applause.

"Thank you, everyone," Susan nodded in appreciation. "Everyone seems to be in high spirits today. I think most of you have been reading newspapers or entertainment news these past few days unless you happened to be vacationing in Africa."

Laughter rippled through the crowd.

"Yes, Hollywood has introduced a magnificent young girl, and the amazing thing is that she is only 12 years old! That's right, today's guest is none other than Angela Mason! Let's give her a warm welcome."

After Susan finished speaking, there were several gasps of surprise from the audience, followed by thunderous applause. The reports of the past few days had piqued the curiosity of many about this girl.

At a specific musical cue, Angela gracefully walked from backstage to the stage, and the audience let out a few more gasps of amazement. The little girl was just too adorable and beautiful. Although she waved to the audience with confidence, there was an obvious hint of shyness in her demeanor that made her even more charming.

"Oh, it seems that Angela is quite shy," Susan remarked with a smile.

"Everyone gets shy, Susan, and this is my first time on a show. So if I say something wrong, please be a little forgiving," Angela spread her hands open and sat cross-legged on the couch with her hands in her lap, looking like a little lady. She seemed to have settled in well.

"All right, Angela, let me ask you, did you write《The Parent Trap,》《Sleepless in Seattle》and《Hide and Seek》? I don't mean anything else, I just want to hear it from your own mouth, you're only 12 years old. You know, when I was your age, I used to think about how to make my Barbie dolls prettier every day".

"Yes, I wrote the scripts for those three movies, no doubt," Angela nodded.

"Then what made you want to write movie scripts?" Susan continued to inquire.

"Actually, the reason I wanted to write movie scripts in the first place was because... um... I wanted to make some extra money," Angela scratched her cheek a little embarrassed.

"That's a pretty... interesting reason!" Susan blinked, somewhat surprised, and there was a buzzing sound from the audience seats.

"My parents are very strict with me, and my allowance is regulated. Although I never spend it recklessly, sometimes there are things I really want, so..." Angela shrugged cutely.

"Hopefully, the newcomers in the field won't be shedding any tears over this," Susan remarked sentimentally, sparking another round of laughter.

"《The Parent Trap》marked your debut in the field, and it was your first creation. What factors contributed to your success in getting a movie made on your first try?"

"A combination of extensive reading and observations from everyday life. I've been an avid reader since I was very young, probably around 5 or 6. After practicing music every day, I would spend my time reading quietly in my room. I've delved into various genres, mostly novels, ranging from science fiction, horror, detective stories, and classic literature. I've managed to explore almost half of my father's book collection.

"That is quite remarkable. By contrast, some middle school students still struggle to read newspapers fluently. But have you really grasped the essence of all the books you've read?"

"Not necessarily, but even if I don't fully understand every book, it doesn't interfere with my enjoyment of reading."

"But how did you get the idea to write screenplays?"

"Because of my deep love for movies. Besides reading, I have a strong affinity for music and drawing. Movies seamlessly blend visuals, music and storytelling. A well-crafted movie can evoke thoughts, tears, or joy in people."

"Does that mean you've watched a significant number of movies?"

"Yes, I've seen a plethora of movies, including《Star Wars》《E.T.》《Terms of Endearment》and many more. This list also includes《The Godfather》series and《The Silence of the Lambs.》Oh, and I assure you, I watched these movies under my father's supervision. Believe me, he obeyed all the laws."

The audience responded with friendly laughter, and Susan nodded in agreement, deeply impressed. Angela didn't seem like a 12-year-old at all. 

She flipped through the materials in her hand and continued her research, "If《The Parent Trap》is a heartwarming family movie, then《Sleepless in Seattle》is definitely a romantic movie. Does that mean you have a mature perspective on love?"

Angela blinked for a moment and then quickly replied, "Oh, I can't really say. The script for《Sleepless in Seattle》was quite ingenious. If you've seen it, you might recognize that the title of another movie is woven throughout the film. Yes, it's Tom Sweet's《The Affair of the Necklace.》 The movie is essentially a tale of fate. I just adapted and reworked it."

"We have heard that this movie was made specifically for Meg Ryan and you started working on it while you were filming《The Parent Trap.》Is that true?"

Angela hesitated again, then nodded and admitted, "Yes, I admire Meg Ryan's portrayal of the quirky older sister, and that sparked a sudden burst of inspiration. I initially wrote a segment and completed the script after production on《The Parent Trap》wrapped up."

"Well, then where did the concept for《Hide and Seek》come from?" Susan didn't pursue the previous topic, but changed the subject.

"I mentioned my extensive reading of novels, which includes all of Stephen King's current works and their film adaptations. I've also seen all of Alfred Hitchcock's suspense films. Some critics have noted that《Hide and Seek》has traces of《Rear Window》and《The Shining》and I agree. However, the theme is quite prominent. The deliberate creation of suspense, eerie ambiance, and unsettling atmosphere steered the movie toward being a straightforward thriller. This is partly due to my limited exposure." Angela gave a casual answer to this question.

"We've also noticed that in addition to these three films, you've written a script for an upcoming animated feature in production and another script for an upcoming theatrical release. It seems that your creative output is quite prolific. Are you currently working on another screenplay?"

"Yes, but don't expect me to give away the plot, Susan," Angela playfully stuck out her tongue. "I can reveal, however, that it will be a comedy."

"Your accomplishments are truly remarkable, Angela," Susan chuckled heartily and then shifted her gaze to the camera. "All right, now it's time for audience questions. Our viewers at home can call in with their inquiries."

Chapter end