Old Gun

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"The film crew found themselves at odds with the director on the very first day of its formation. You guys have the worst luck"

The entire day was devoted to a pre-production meeting. Although they did manage to clarify some aspects, the quarrels and intrigues left Christian utterly drained. Upon his friend Richard Arsenal's invitation, who also happened to be part of the crew, they gathered at Richard's home. Together, they prepared a few small dishes and discussed their experiences from the day.

"By the way, when did you switch to something like Kvass? Weren't you into agave like me before?" Christian inquired.

"Quit. I don't want to end up dying of alcoholism in my forties," replied Richard.

Christian peered at the man in front of him. Richard Arsenal, a steadfast friend from a previous chapter of his life, was a dozen years his senior, sported a bushy red beard, and had a robust physique, somewhat resembling a Viking. Despite his fierce appearance, he had a penchant for cooking. The side dishes they were indulging in were primarily his creations.

"In any case, quitting can save you a lot of trouble," Richard sighed, struggling to explain himself.

"But based on your past reputation, I always thought you'd either be found drowned in your vomit after binge drinking or wake up one morning with a girl you'd just bedded pointing a gun to your head. Bang"

"Hey?" Christian's face contorted, but he eventually saw through Richard's teasing, particularly the latter part, which reminded him of an incident where he had a gun pointed at him by Charlize.

"Old Gun, you're just plain envious. And haven't you noticed that I'm drinking Kvass now?"

"Old Gun" was Richard's nickname in their inner circle. His surname matched that of the Premier League team Arsenal, and since he was one of the few American men who enjoyed soccer but not American football, he was often playfully called "Gunner" by those close to him. For those like Christian, who was much younger, he was simply "Old Gun."

"Quitting is indeed a good choice," Richard raised his tequila glass, his gaze becoming somewhat hazy.

"You're still young. Keeping away from that darn stuff is a good thing. Unlike me, I'm stuck with it, even though I know better."

Richard had been through a divorce three years earlier, losing a substantial part of his net worth and custody of his children. The cause was a weakness well-known to all men but tough to overcome.

"If I'd drunk less back then, maybe I wouldn't have ended up hanging out with her best friend..."

Richard drained the tequila from his glass, his mood growing more somber.

"Did you know, Christian? Women's best friends are natural adversaries for men. When they're not acquainted with you, they nitpick and slander you at every turn. And once they get to know you, they..."

"Old Gun, did you hear what happened today?"

To prevent the despondent man in front of him from dwelling on the past and self-pitying, Christian steered the conversation back to the day's events at the film's pre-production meeting. Besides, he had questions for Richard. The "Old Gun" had a broader network and more experience than most. He was also an assistant director in charge of casting for the new crew, making him well-suited to answer some of Christian's uncertainties.

"That darn Alan seems to be making trouble for me, probably because his script demands an extensive set and we're quite short on funds. So, putting pressure on me, the one in charge of the set, is an inevitable choice. The problem is, as a rookie director, how can he boss around the producer, a heavyweight like Westwood? Isn't it usually the other way around?"

"True," Christian was cut off by the question and looked up from his reverie. The "Old Gun" Richard regained his shrewdness, typical of seasoned professionals on a film set.

"But I heard that even though Newline is the producer this time, they didn't invest that much. They are relying on Alan's connections for most of it. The real capital comes from Alan McElroy."

"So when it comes to funding, Alan, as the director, is acting all high and mighty, while Westwood, the producer, is somewhat short on breath."

"Exactly! Moreover, Alan's funding includes investments from companies owned by top-tier celebrities like Jodie Foster. That's added to his confidence."

In Hollywood, many accomplished stars with capital establish their production companies or studios, investing in low-budget films. This is partly for future financial gain and partly to secure their evening prospects. Of course, not all of these celebrities have the same financial acumen, leading to different fates for their companies. The fortunate ones manage to carve out a niche in the shadow of major distribution and production companies, ensuring a steady return even in tough times.

As they say, a producer who can't protect investors' money isn't good. While Jodie Foster, as one of the shrewdest female stars in Hollywood, can't be easily duped, her support undoubtedly boosted Alan's confidence as a director.

"So, Alan has quite the impressive backing. I wonder how he got Jodie Foster's support?"

"While I'd love to say it was through a romantic involvement, his..."

The "Old Gun" raised an eyebrow. Christian concurred with the viewpoint. Although such relationships were common in Hollywood, they couldn't be ignored, and Alan's appearance didn't exactly scream charm. Moreover, even in this era, people had some inkling of Jodie Foster's less-than-vanilla reputation.

"Anyway, the film's budget isn't massive. With support from investors like Foster, Alan's position is as solid as a mountain. But if that's the case, why would he undermine Westwood, the producer? In our industry, the producer is the boss"

Christian tossed an empty Kvass bottle into the nearby trash can.

"Is he trying to court disaster or something?"

"He might not necessarily self-destruct, but the chances of him going off the deep end are high."

The "Old Gun" continued from where Christian had left off.

"I've been in this business since my teens. I've seen a variety of people taking charge for the first time, and their behaviors vary. Some are cautious, while others are audacious. It's no surprise that they crack under immense pressure. Of course, there's also the possibility that they're just putting on a show."

"Putting on a show? You mean Westwood intentionally teamed up with him and let himself be a stepping stone to elevate Alan's authority?"

Christian had experience leading team projects even before his arrival here. While office politics was less cutthroat, he wasn't entirely oblivious to it.

"Usually, such a setup is reserved for a celebrity who cooperates well with the director. It seems a bit excessive for the producer to take on that role."

"The problem is..."

The "Old Gun" shrugged.

"Don't forget, we haven't even selected the cast. Can we attract any celebrities with our budget?"

"You make a valid point, and I can't argue against it."

Christian offered a wry smile.

"But this leaves us with two potential Scenarios:

1) The director, with a powerful background, reigns supreme, while the producer is powerless and the director becomes a difficult boss;

2) The director manipulates the producer into sacrificing their authority to bolster the director's image. This route gains the support of all the investors and distribution companies, granting the director considerable power. In this case, the director becomes adept at machinations, making it even more challenging to work with.

Hey, why do these scenarios all spell trouble and more trouble?"

"Isn't that the norm?"

Richard poured himself another glass of tequila. In many situations, there are no ideal choices. Often, it's about picking between the bad and the worse.

"Isn't it like an election every four years?"

"Yes, it's like a general election!"

The "Old Gun," with a beard reminiscent of a Viking pirate, raised his glass as if it were rum, not tequila.

"To the worst scoundrel"

*******

Although Christian was worried about the director's challenges, the preparations for the new film proceeded without a hitch. Staff various of departments fell into place step by step, and the props and set work Christian managed went surprisingly smoothly. With some creative problem-solving, he managed to achieve the set design effects required by Alan's script within the limited budget, earning the previously skeptical director's admiration.

The new movie's script resembled "Wrong Turn" from Christian's memories and bore some resemblance to his predecessor's unfinished script. It revolved around several young individuals undergoing mutations and being pursued by ghosts.

Christian couldn't help but suspect there was something more to it. After watching numerous American horror films, he realized that many scripts followed similar patterns. The difference lay in the methods of death and the design of the shock factor. Alan's script, however, surpassed "Wrong Turn" in its finesse.

Nonetheless, the intricacies of the script presented Christian with greater challenges when arranging the sets. Thankfully, he ultimately resolved the issues, and everything continued to progress smoothly until...

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