He glanced at Aren, still brimming with passion, oblivious to the sharks circling his little raft.
Poor kid, he thought. You're bringing fire to a place that only burns for profit.
As an internet addict and part-time writer for small entertainment blogs, he had consumed more behind-the-scenes stories than most insiders. He'd read hundreds of accounts—of films made on shoestring budgets pulling in hundreds of millions at the box office.
On the surface, it looked like Hollywood was an unstoppable money-printing machine. Investors everywhere—tech moguls, sovereign funds, even governments—were seduced by the illusion. They thought all they needed was a little luck and a decent script to strike gold. But in reality? Anyone hoping to profit off Hollywood without already being a part of its inner circle was chasing a fool's dream.
