In the early days of October, Billy began working on the upcoming romance film, one that seemed to fall right into his lap. Now he approached cinema with an entirely different understanding than before, and for that reason, he threw himself into the script with due diligence. He aimed to shape its complexities so they would adapt to him, to breathe life into each character, while also ensuring the production could begin as soon as possible. December was now set as the start date for this new love story, and Billy proposed to include Winona in the film—slightly older, but perfectly suited, and he could now say with genuine satisfaction that she was the right choice.
At first, this wasn't what Billy had expected; they were seeking a more mature artist, someone capable of delivering a different type of performance. However, the writer—none other than the renowned Nora Ephron and her team—had in her hands the legacy of films like Sleepless in Seattle and When Harry Met Sally, and now You've Got Mail.
Kathleen Kelly, the owner of a small children's bookstore, sees her business threatened when a large bookstore chain opens right next door. She meets Joe Fox, the son of the chain's owner, who instantly irritates her with his ruthless business style. What neither of them knows is that they are unknowingly engaged in an email relationship. It was one of the first times that email was used as a dramatic device in film. Nora noticed something in Billy—he was a boy who embodied the face of America, wealthy beyond measure, juggling countless enterprises, and perfectly suited to portray a businessman who rises above failure.
Drafting an email, Billy used this opportunity to stand out in the world of cinema, connecting with Nora through an assistant who trained him on Hotmail. He had even spoken with Bill Gates by phone about how a film of this caliber could be promoted.
Mrs. Ephron,
I fear, from some angles, that the idea of Joe is simply to make him that corporate man, a man who wants to love, a man who, behind the curtain, is tired of living his father's life and longs for one that fulfills him, one that doesn't lead down a path of contempt. That failure to find love—Joe craves the feeling of being truly cherished and valued in his own way, and though he is afraid, even in a bad relationship, he does not want love reduced to nonsense. He wants to embrace it fully, to live the love he so deeply desires.
And so, the way he pushes every boundary into a different, lasting timeframe makes him afraid, unable to recognize his emotions. Yet his understanding of a woman mirrors his understanding of a business—with certain nuances, since he lacks a real example to follow. That is why Joe is a man who needs to be loved. Katherine, on the other hand, is different—she's simply a young woman, vulnerable to being swept out of control.
Kind regards.
Ending the letter brought Billy a sense of closure. It was in his own way that he managed to turn the task into good work.
-Your new movie. – Carrie-Anne remarked as she glanced over the script on the table. The laptop hummed in the dim light, casting a low glow across the wires.
-In fact, I want it to be. We've got a script that could go either way—simple or not. I don't quite fit into the writers' vision, and it's more complicated to make it logical or streamlined. I'm just taking my chances. – Billy replied.
-They'd be a little crazy if they chose otherwise. – Carrie-Anne responded.
-Do you have something in mind? – Billy asked, closing his laptop, which was in truth a massive machine by 21st-century standards. Still, he did everything he could with as much determination as was expected of him.
-A role that sparks your attention. – asked the young man, watching with simplicity, while Carrie-Anne puffed her cheeks in quiet thought.
-Nothing in particular. I've been paid very well for these films, so much so that I feel like I want to rest and see how Matrix turns out. 1998 might be my year—I'll weigh my options after that. – Carrie-Anne replied.
Billy nodded, unwilling to press further, choosing instead to shape himself into a possible actor for future roles. In his hands, he began drafting a new comic series—Matrix, telling the story of a previous Neo who chose the simplest reason. He hoped it might become a film, and thanks to his skills as both producer and screenwriter, with a keen eye for the future of animation, he managed to license a project for very little money—an animated film.
This animated work would aim to challenge Pixar's animators, pushing each film to its fullest potential, with no shortcuts or small measures. Thousands of projects, each a chance to see what these geniuses could achieve, from software to hardware to the endless pursuit of cinematic reality.
Feeding their egos, Billy gave them direction for the series and films, insisting they grasped the essence of good storytelling. Recruiting them, he promised that if they completed a course in literature and screenwriting at New York University, they would earn the right to three films with no budget limits—securing money with interest, and ego with ambition.
-You seem so excited, so determined never to stop. I heard you've got a new role in the Star Wars series. Your casting sounds like more than just a casual choice. Critics say you lean toward commercial films with little depth. – Carrie-Anne said cautiously, weighing the broader value of his work.
Rolling up his sleeves, Billy replied:
-Lack of depth is nothing but misery. I'll refine my acting until it's recognized anywhere. – He paused, firm. – By any actor, in fact. That's the point of cinema—it's not just making films, it's interpreting them, and bringing them all to the highest level. –
-An ambitious idea… one that helps me understand the why of so many things. For you, goals are nothing but acts you'll perform again and again, endlessly. – Carrie-Anne observed.
The call to continue came, and each of them returned to their place. It was clear how difficult it was for anyone to seize such fleeting opportunities—to savor the final moments of cinema.
...
It's been a while since I've posted a message. Happy New Year to everyone! I hope you had a great year and have plenty to think about in the coming ones. I'm still writing; I haven't abandoned any stories. It's just a lot of work writing everything myself. I'm already on chapter 739 of this series, and I've published chapter 668 for you all. I'll keep posting until I finish. There's no doubt about that.